Nick Jones is a narrative designer and transmedia storyteller, author of the new book “The Player and the Pentacle: Folkloric Motifs for Narrative Design”. 

Follow Nick on twitter, visit his website, and get your copy of The Player and The Pentacle.

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Outline:

Here are the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.

(00:00) - Introduction

(01:10) - Recent gaming: Horizon Forbidden West, Elden Ring, Bloodborne. From Software

(12:42) - Formative experiences: PS1, PaRappa the Rapper, Crash Bandicoot, Hercules, Tomb Raider

(14:18) - Working in the gaming industry 

(15:11) - Evangelical/pentecostal christian upbringing. Sexual identity and leaving the church 

(19:39) - Church history, fantasy cultures, folklore 

(22:24) - Terry Pratchett’s Discworld, and living as an outsider 

(27:47) - The Player and the Pentacle

(31:52) - The hero's journey vs Jeff Gomez’s collective journey.  Tribalism no longer serves the greater group

(40:44) - Being the hero of your story - creative responsibility and chasing transcendence 

(46.44) - Predatory game mechanics. The magic circle of narrative desig 

(51:44) - Finishing up

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Producer for this episode is Kearin Armstrong, production assistant is Prea Millar.