More Than Just a Game: Gaming and Activism

The gaming industry has taken the world by storm since the 1970s. Technological advancements over the past several decades have allowed PC, mobile, and console games to incorporate new designs and new storylines. These advances have helped the industry to expand dramatically, attracting diverse audiences with various interests, including sports, music, and current events. Recorded at SXSW 2022, this panel discussion explores how video games have become not only a hobby, but also even an avenue for activism. Guests include Kristin Bässe, Public Relations Officer at Reporters Without Borders Germany; Jerry Chan, Co-founder of Zeitgeist Studio; Navid Khonsari, Founder of iNK Stories; and Alvaro Piaggio, Policy Advisor at HRF.

Om Podcasten

“Dissidents and Dictators” is a podcast dedicated to bringing listeners stories and analysis from those on the frontlines of the fight for democracy. Hosted by Casey Michel and Elisha Maldonado, the podcast features democracy campaigners, investigative journalists, artists, musicians, scholars, and many more targeted by authoritarian regimes around the world. Guests share their personal histories and how they’ve dedicated themselves to standing up to dictatorship. Mixing news, commentary, and humor, the podcast provides impactful, unflinching conversations from those who’ve sacrificed everything to spread democracy — and who want to share their story with the rest of us.