Episode 229: What Memoir Games Have to Teach Us About Therapy, with Emma Kidwell

The 1099

Memoir games - that is, a video game designed as a personal reflection on some part of your life. They have a LOT to teach us about ourselves, both their creators and the people who play them. Emma Kidwell is a former Gamasutra editor who's made a number of really beautiful memoir games (check out "Nod if You Can Hear Me" and "Half" on her itch.io page linked below), and she's learned a lot about herself, her craft, and also some negative stuff. While memoir games can be therapuetic, they can also easily be a crutch that game devs rely on. So Emma and I unpack what makes for a good memoir game, and what makes for a constructive experience making one. We also talk plenty about therapy in general, and how our favorite artform has impacted our journeys to healthier living. Check out Emma Kidwell's work: https://emmkid.itch.io/ Emma Kidwell on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmmaKidwell Support The 1099 by following us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/The1099Podcast Follow Joe: https://twitter.com/JosephKnoop Support our musician ZWBuckley: https://www.zwbuckley.com/