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PODCAST

Mind Controllers

Brandon Craw and Joe Moreno

Welcome to a podcast about shining the light behind the psychological aspects of some of our favorite video games! Hosts Brandon Craw (MA Clinical Psychology) and Joe Moreno (MA and Associate Therapist) dive deep into video games, exploring the background behind some characters, point out which parts of their traumatic life can be attributed to their potential mental illness or explain their behavior, and discuss the human factors behind video game design. Then, we like to chat about what we"re

leisure video games

All Episodes

1:05:35

Scatterbrained - EVO 2025

Mind Controllers ·

2025/08/15

Spoilers for: And Roger, Donkey Kong BananzaJoe has returned from EVO 2025! Craw played several short indie narrative heavy games that made him feel things. Come hang out while we chat about why we cried for different reasons!Games we talked about this week: Marvel Tolkon, Donkey Kong Bananza, Nightreign, Dead Take, And Roger, PeakArticle of the Week:If you are experiencing any sort of mental health distress, or just need someone to talk to, please call 988 contact some of these resources gathered

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3:01

Delayed Week

Mind Controllers ·

2025/08/08

In typical fashion, we have overbooked ourselves a bit and were not able to line up our schedules this week. We are hoping next week we will get to tell you all about Joe's time at Evo 2025! Thank you again for your support! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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56:15

Scatterbrained - Umamon Presents

Mind Controllers ·

2025/07/25

Joe and Craw are back and had a surprisingly fun time with the Horse Girl Gacha Game, Uma Musume?! We talk about Nintendo’s latest game: Donkey Kong Bananza, then dive into our disappointment with the latest Pokemon Presents. Come join us in this week’s salt factory!Games we talked about this week: Death Stranding 2, Nen Impact, Donkey Kong Bananza, Uma MusumeArticle of the Week:If you are experiencing any sort of mental health distress, or just need someone to talk to, please call 988 contact some

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59:37

Scatterbrained - Horse Girl Gacha Game

Mind Controllers ·

2025/07/11

Slight spoilers for Death Stranding 2Joe and Craw are having a great time with Death Stranding 2! But first, we catch up on Monster Hunter Wilds and Nightreign’s latest bosses. And talk a bit about the wildest craze, a Horse Girl Gacha Game??? Come join us for the fun!Games we talked about this week: Monster Hunter Wilds, Nightreign, Uma Musume, Death Stranding 2Article of the Week: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartle_taxonomy_of_player_typesIf you are experiencing any sort of mental health

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55:26

Episode 15 - Death Stranding and Human Connection

Mind Controllers ·

2025/06/27

Spoilers for Death StrandingToday, Joe educated us all about Death Stranding’s first act, and how it portrays a world that desires to be connected, and what this means in a post covid world we now live in. Is Kojima a fortune teller?? Come listen and find out!!Timestamps:Introduction - 00:09Our Experience with The Game - 01:10What is this Game? - 04:22First Arc - 19:42Forging Connections Study - 36:41If you are experiencing any sort of mental health distress, or just need someone to talk to, please

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58:52

Scatterbrained - Death Stranding Labubu

Mind Controllers ·

2025/06/20

Slight spoilers for Nightreign, Fantasy Life, and BallerinaBack from Summer Game Fest, and we have our Switch 2s! Joe and Craw discuss their experience with the Switch 2 and Mario Kart (spoiler, I’m not too sure we like it), then chat about some of the other games we’ve been playing. Sit down, chill out, and get ready to ease your mind!Games we talked about this week: Mario Kart World Tour, Nightrein, Fantasy Life, The AltersArticle of the Week:If you are experiencing any sort of mental health

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50:10

Scatterbrained - Fantasy Life Better Than The Real One

Mind Controllers ·

2025/06/06

We got a new State of Play this week, but also happy Switch 2 Release and Summers Game Fest!! Joe and Craw catch up with what games they’ve been playing after their Expedition 33 adventure, and then they dive into the news and their hype for all the new stuff coming out!Games we talked about this week: Nightrein, Fantasy Life, Fatal FuryIf you are experiencing any sort of mental health distress, or just need someone to talk to, please call 988 contact some of these resources gathered on

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1:39:40

Episode 14 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Spoilercast

Mind Controllers ·

2025/05/30

MAJOR SPOILERS for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33!!!Joe and Craw have been absolutely obsessed with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and just had to talk about it. Join us as we dissect the amazing gameplay, enticing narrative, and how it all comes together for the final fight and post game. If you haven't played this game yet, please give it a try if you have gamepass. You do NOT want to miss this one!If you are experiencing any sort of mental health distress, or just need someone to talk to, please call

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43:28

Scatterbrained - Expedition Me

Mind Controllers ·

2025/05/09

Craw and Joe are back after a little break! We ease into it by just talking about the games (and maybe movies?) we’ve been enjoying this week. So our article of the week will return next week! Come chill with us as we talk about our current obsession: Expedition 33!Games we talked about this week: Monster Hunter, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33Article of the Week:If you are experiencing any sort of mental health distress, or just need someone to talk to, please call 988 contact some of these resources

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46:58

Scatterbrained - I'm Too Dumb For This Game

Mind Controllers ·

2025/04/18

Join Craw and Joe as we discuss an interesting article about video games improving cognitive function. Then, Joe tells us more about his time with Monster Hunter and Craw dives into his love and subsequent frustrations with Blue Prince! Also, no episode next week due to some scheduling conflicts!Games we talked about this week: Monster Hunter Wilds, Split Fiction, Erenshor, Blue PrinceArticle of the Week: Effects of Action Video Game Play on Cognitive Skills: A Meta-AnalysisIf you are experiencing

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48:46

Scatterbrained - I'm Sorry, Canada

Mind Controllers ·

2025/04/11

Slight Mechanic Spoilers for Split FictionCraw and Joe start us off with an overview about an article that showed playing video games reduces stress! Then we discuss Monster Hunter Wilds and South of Midnight. Finally, we end it with some more Switch 2 updates! Hangout with us, we don’t bite!Games we talked about this week: South of Midnight, Monster Hunter WildsArticle of the Week: Stress-Reducing Effects of Playing a Casual Video Game among Undergraduate StudentsIf you are experiencing any sort of

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49:57

Scatterbrained - Nintendo's Salt Factory

Mind Controllers ·

2025/04/04

Craw and Joe start us off with an article about playing video games as a form of acting. Then we discuss the biggest event of the week: the Nintendo Switch 2 direct! Come listen to why Craw and Joe are so salty about the big direct.Games we talked about this week: Monster Hunter WildsArticle of the Week: Character immersion in video games as a form of acting.If you are experiencing any sort of mental health distress, or just need someone to talk to, please call 988 contact some of these resources

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51:20

Scatterbrained - Venom's Orbs Are Locked In

Mind Controllers ·

2025/03/28

Craw and Joe return to talk about an interesting Psych article about violent video games and social behavior. Then we catch up with the video games we’ve been enjoying this week! Lastly, we dive into a bit of Nintendo news happening this week. Did we get our predictions right? Come hang out with us during this journey!Games we talked about this week: Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Monster Hunter WildsArticle of the Week: The dark and bright side of video game consumption: Effects of violent and prosocial

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43:55

Scatterbrained - Enjoy Your Games!

Mind Controllers ·

2025/03/21

Craw and Joe are back and shaking things up! We first talk about an article that says it’s okay to play video games for long hours! Then we chat about our times with Pirate Yakuza, Avowed, a bit of Monster Hunter, and our thoughts on Split Fiction after being halfway through. Come hang out with us since it’s been a while!Games we talked about this week: Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza, Avowed, Monster Hunter Wilds, Split FictionArticle of the Week: Perceived value of video games, but not hours played,

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1:27

Break Week

Mind Controllers ·

2025/03/14

As some of you might know, I've been looking for a job. Fortunately, after 9 months of searching, I finally have one! Unfortunately, that means a lot less time in my schedule to work on the podcast. So, the schedules weren't able to align this week and we are taking a break for this week! Joe and Craw have been playing Split Fiction, in addition to more Avowed, and we will tell you all about it next week. Thank you so much for being a fan and listening! Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast

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1:00:30

Episode 13 - It Takes Two: Couples Therapy, the Game

Mind Controllers ·

2025/03/07

Spoilers for It Takes TwoTrigger Warnings: DivorceToday we dive deep into It Takes Two, the award winning game of the year from 2021 that features the most extensive cooperative gameplay of any game we’ve seen. We chat about the foundations of Couples Therapy, what makes a strong relationship, and how the game pivots our main characters, who are on the brink of divorce, into something more healthy. Come hang out with us as we talk about what makes this game so special from both a gameplay and

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47:03

Scatterbrained - Musical Majima

Mind Controllers ·

2025/02/28

Craw and Joe reunite to talk about Street Fighter League and this past weekend’s latest Fatal Fury beta. We then touch on Joe’s time with Pirate Yakuza, Craw’s debate over getting monster hunter, and speculate what occurred in the latest Pokemon Presents! We also touch on the (unfortunate) latest studio closures. We finish it up with an article on Problematic Video Game Use. So come hang out with us as we dive into games this week!Games we talked about this week: Fatal Fury, Like A Dragon: Pirate

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59:18

Scatterbrained - Help A Noob Understand Monster Hunter

Mind Controllers ·

2025/02/21

Craw, Joe, and Courture have come together to have a more focused discussion on Monster Hunter Wilds! We chat about our history with the franchise, what defines Monster Hunter, our likes and dislikes of the game, and what to expect from Wilds! Then we chat a bit about the other games we’ve been playing and the news from this week!Games we talked about this week: Monster Hunter Wilds, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, Avowed, Elden Ring NightreignIf you are experiencing any sort of mental health distress,

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39:24

Scatterbrained - Slow Down Homeboy

Mind Controllers ·

2025/02/14

Spoilers for Thank Goodness You’re HereCraw has been having a crazy time with Thank Goodness You’re Here, a silly game filled with British humor that feels more like watching a cartoon than playing a video game (not a bad thing)! Joe is back on his favorite genre with Romancing Saga Minstrel Song, and spending some time with Street Fighter. And we both played a decent amount of Monster Hunter Wilds Beta this past weekend. We also spoke a bit about the superbowl, and speculate what’s coming with the

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1:04:10

Episode 12: Metaphor Refantazio Deep Dive

Mind Controllers ·

2025/02/07

Spoilers for Metaphor RefantazioTrigger Warnings: RacismToday, we talk about the world of Metaphor Refantazio and how it creates and manipulates anxiety as a key part of its story. We then apply Affect Control Theory to our favorite antagonist, Louis, and how that shapes our view of him throughout the game.Timestamps:Introduction - 00:09Description - 01:10Experience with the Game - 03:48Spoiler Warning and Fictional Disclaimer - 06:30The World - 08:08Anxiety - 17:38The Power of Fantasy - 29:39Game’s

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