Episodes
Bob shares audio from a recent history conference panel called "Taking Video Games Seriously." Topics include the critical analysis of games by historians, using video games in historical research, and teaching American history with video games. Panelists include Jonathan Jones, Anne Ladyem McDivitt, Esther Wright, Jeffrey Lawler, Sean Smith, and Robert Whitaker. The audio from this panel came from a video recording that you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHuq9aTVBMs
Published 05/25/21
Bob talks with Dr. T.J. Tallie about the Zulu Civ. Topics include the long history of Shaka in popular culture, the emphasis on military exploits in Zulu history, the potential for other Zulu leaders in Civilization, and Dr. Tallie’s longstanding grudge against Wilfrid Laurier. *This podcast features audio taken from a video recording.
Published 05/19/21
Bob talks with Adam Chapman and Esther Wright about the Historical Games Network (HGN). Topics include the origins of HGN, goals for the network, and HGN events. We wrap up by talking about what Adam and Esther have played recently, including Enlisted, Cyberpunk 2077, Witcher 3, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and the Last of Us 2. To learn more about the Historical Games Network, visit them at https://www.historicalgames.net/ and follow them @HistoryGamesNet on Twitter. Please consider...
Published 05/11/21
Bob talks with Dr. Kate Cook about the Greece Civ. Topics include the new leaders for Greece in Civ VI, Athens versus Sparta in historical memory, Greece as the "cradle of civilization," and the influence of Athens on the idea of Greek civilization. *Apologies for Bob's audio on this episode. The original wav file was lost and a backup was used. Kate's audio, however, came out sounding great, which is good because she does most of the talking in this episode! Please consider supporting us...
Published 05/03/21
On the introductory episode of our new limited series, Civs 101, Bob talks with Dr. Robert Greene II about the America Civ. Topics include the idea of an American "civilization," Rough Rider versus Bull Moose Teddy Roosevelt, and other possible, non-presidential, leaders for the America Civ. *This podcast features audio taken from a video recording.
Published 04/19/21
Bob and John discuss a new upcoming limited series for History Respawned. Plus, a new WWII Call of Duty Game, a new WWI game, Humankind delay, Suzerain, Monster Hunter, Bowser's Fury, and Days Gone.
Published 04/02/21
John welcomes Professor Andre Sorensen to talk about Night City, the setting to CD Projekt Red's mammoth, ambitious - and troubled - follow-up to The Witcher 3. We talk about the setting as an urban dystopia, the historic notion of the city as a corrupting influence, and why Tokyo - or an imagined version of Tokyo - represents the future in so much speculative fiction.
Published 03/22/21
John and Bob sit down to offer their takes on the news of the gaming day, specifically Gamestop's sudden rise to the forefront of the American public imagination and problems at Amazon Games. After that Bob gives initial reviews of his Playstation 5 and John talks some Cyberpunk 2077... again.
Published 02/01/21
Bob and John discuss their favorite history games of 2020 (check show notes for categories). Topics include Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Iron Harvest, Pendragon, Command and Conquer, Cyberpunk 2077, Warsaw, Mobius Front '83, Hades, Radio General, Troy: A Total War Saga, Dionysus, Through the Darkest of Times, Attentat 1942, Humankind, Old World, The Last of Us 2, and Mario Kart. Shout-out Games – 3:05 We are old, the 1990s are history now – 12:40 Best Stocking Stuffer – 24:19 History Game for...
Published 12/28/20
Bob talks with returning guests Dr. Chris Dietrich and Dr. Joseph Parrott about Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. Topics include the Cold War in the 1980s, Operation Fracture Jaw, the game's depiction of Ronald Reagan, Reagan in popular memory, and the reality of the communist threat in the United States. *This episode includes minor spoilers for the game's single player campaign. Please consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyrespawned Music is Symphony 40 in G minor...
Published 12/18/20
Bob and John discuss Bob's play through of Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War. Plus more talk of Crusader Kings III, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and exploring the history of the future in Cyberpunk 2077. Please consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyrespawned Music is Symphony 40 in G minor by texasradiofish (c) 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0)license.dig.ccmixter.org/files/texasr…iofish/49560 Ft: W. A. Mozart, Big Bonobo Combo
Published 12/10/20
Bob talks with Dr. Daniel Melleno about Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Topics include the history of the Viking Age, raiding monasteries, Paganism vs. Christianity, Vikings and slavery, Norse Mythology, Roman ruins in England, and Vikings in popular culture. Please consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyrespawned Music is Symphony 40 in G minor by texasradiofish (c) 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial...
Published 11/19/20
John and Bob get together to let John exult in the glory of Crusader Kings 3 coming out, and from there talk about the challenges in celebrating historical memory during a pandemic. We also talk about representations of the Cold War in the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and our excitement about the alternate history game Iron Harvest.
Published 09/08/20
Bob, John, Holly Nielsen, and Esther Wright discuss the history game news from July and August. Topics include Ubisoft's scandal, AC Valhalla, Far Cry 6, Watch Dogs Legion, Skull and Bones, Beyond Good and Evil, We Happy Few, Xbox Game Pass, game preservation, and upcoming consoles. Please consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyrespawned Music is Symphony 40 in G minor by texasradiofish (c) 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial...
Published 08/18/20
Bob talks with museum professional Kyle Dalton about historical games and museums. Topics include Assassin's Creed Discovery Tour Mode, BioShock Infinite, what museums can learn from games, what games can learn from museums, and gamifying historical reenactment. Please consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyrespawned Music is Symphony 40 in G minor by texasradiofish (c) 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial...
Published 08/01/20
Bob and John discuss the history game related news from June. Topics include Civilization VI, Old World, Total War Troy, Humankind, Little Devil Inside, Paradise Lost, Horizon Forbidden West, and The Last of Us II (no spoilers). Please consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyrespawned Music is Symphony 40 in G minor by texasradiofish (c) 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0)license.dig.ccmixter.org/files/texasr…iofish/49560 Ft: W. A....
Published 06/30/20
Bob and John discuss the reveal of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Topics include the Viking raids, historical revisionism, refugees, Brexit, RPG mechanics, and the long history of the Assassin's Creed series. Please consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyrespawned Music is Symphony 40 in G minor by texasradiofish (c) 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0)license.dig.ccmixter.org/files/texasr…iofish/49560 Ft: W. A. Mozart, Big Bonobo Combo
Published 05/01/20
From coronavirus induced isolation, Bob and John discuss the depiction of resistance in a set of recent World War II games, including Attentat 1942, Warsaw, and Through the Darkest of Times. Please consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyrespawned Music is Symphony 40 in G minor by texasradiofish (c) 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0)license.dig.ccmixter.org/files/texasr…iofish/49560 Ft: W. A. Mozart, Big Bonobo Combo
Published 03/23/20
Bob and John discuss John's playthrough of Anno 1800 as well as the history games that will be published in 2020. Topics include Anno 1800, Assassin's Creed, Iron Harvest, Crusader Kings III, Empire of Sin, Nioh 2, Ghost of Tsushima, Skull and Bones, and Humankind. Please consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyrespawned Music is Symphony 40 in G minor by texasradiofish (c) 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial...
Published 01/31/20
Bob and John discuss their favorite history games of 2019, including Total War Three Kingdoms, Unity of Command 2, Disco Elysium, Heaven's Vault, Astrologaster, Assassin's Creed II, Age of Empires II Definitive Edition, Imperator Rome, and Kards. Please consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyrespawned Music is Symphony 40 in G minor by texasradiofish (c) 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial...
Published 12/30/19
Bob talks with Dr. Anne Proctor about Assassin's Creed II. Topics include Renaissance Florence, the Medici family, Leonardo da Vinci, popular historical fiction, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Please consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyrespawned Music is Symphony 40 in G minor by texasradiofish (c) 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0)license.dig.ccmixter.org/files/texasr…iofish/49560 Ft: W. A. Mozart, Big Bonobo Combo
Published 12/22/19
John gets very, very excited about the official announcement that Crusader Kings III is coming out in 2020, Bob and John chat together about the joys of Crusader Kings II, and we talk about what we've been playing: Far Cry 5 and Disco Elysium.
Published 10/30/19
John and Bob talk about Amplitude's recently announced Humankind. Is someone going to take on one of the biggest names in the history of video games? How will it turn out? Can Amplitude bring change to the Civilization series, if even indirectly? Bob also shares his thoughts on the impending discovery tour mode in Assassin's Creed Odyssey.
Published 09/13/19
Bob and John talk about John's playthrough of Wolfenstein Youngblood (minor spoilers), Bob's research trip to the Strong Museum of Play, and the non-historical games we've been playing. Games discussed include Days Gone, No Man's Sky, League of Legends, Spider-man, and Civilization VI. Please consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyrespawned Music is Symphony 40 in G minor by texasradiofish (c) 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial...
Published 08/16/19
Bob talks with Dr. Lauren Kassell about Astrologaster. Topics include Elizabethan London, Medical Astrology, Forman and Napier's Casebooks, and consulting on historical games. To learn more about Simon Forman and to see his casebooks, visit https://casebooks.lib.cam.ac.uk/ Please consider supporting us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyrespawned Music is Symphony 40 in G minor by texasradiofish (c) 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial...
Published 08/01/19