Chris Lawrence

Don’t Leave/I’m Ready

A Farewell Editorial in Three Parts

betsy brey, Chris Lawrence, Rob Parker

As you may or may not know, the editorial team at FPS is run by grad students. That means our team changes from year to year. This year, three longtime editors are stepping down from the publication: betsy brey, Chris Lawerence, and Rob Parker. What will FPS look like next year? Well, we already know, but you’ll just have to wait and find out. But, before our August publishing break, they commandeered the weekly post one last time. Here’s what they have to say. Continue Reading →

Play During Quarantine

Betsy Brey, Patrick Dolan, Chris Lawrence, Sarah Stang

Since the FPS crew are all working at home too right now, we have decided to collect some of our thoughts here on how play factors into our routines along different axes right now. Feel free to join in the discussion either in comments or on our social media channels, and stay safe. Continue Reading →

First Person Podcast Episode 33: Role Play

Lia Black, Giuseppe Femia, Chris Lawrence, and Sabrina Sgandurra

This month on the First Person Podcast, you join Lia Black, Giuseppe Femia, Chris Lawrence, and Sabrina Sgandurra to look at the roles they have filled. What experience are they looking for in the characters they portray? How do they… Continue Reading →

First Person Podcast Episode 31: 2019 Game of the Year

Chris Lawrence, Lia Black, and Patrick Dolan

This month on the First Person Podcast, we sit down with Chris Lawrence, Lia Black, and Patrick Dolan to discuss their all time favourite games of 2019. How have these games impacted the genre? What function do their narratives play through social commentary? We also talk about prospective games on our list for 2020. Continue Reading →

First Person Podcast Episode 30

Game of the Year

First Person Scholar

Welcome back to First Person Podcasts. It’s been some time and we are grateful to those of you who are coming back to us after a little hiatus. We’re back and raring to go with a totally original, out of… Continue Reading →

First Person Podcast Episode 29

Reflections on Surviving Subterfuge

Betsy Brey, Chris Lawrence, Jeremy Antley, Elise Vist, Will Fast, Rob Parker, and Jason Lajoie

Will FPS ever be the same?

Probably, but the experience nonetheless caused the participants to consider the porous nature of the magic circle. How can we navigate the rhetoric of games that reward betrayal, dishonesty and colonial domination, all of which run contrary to our own principles? To what extent do we perform ourselves in the games that we play? How can we be ethical actors while still engaging in a spirit of play? Continue Reading →

First Person Podcast Episode 27

Dude, Where's My Colony? The Logic of Controlling Space in Games

Jason Lajoie

Jason Lajoie is a PhD candidate in English Language and Literature at the University of Waterloo. His work explores how gay identities are constructed and negotiated through media and technology, particularly in domains like online gaming and social media. He is… Continue Reading →