In the time it took to record and release this episode, several game studios have laid off staff while countless creative decisions have been made based on minimizing Gamer Rage. But not too long ago, those were both much less common occurrences in the world of gaming. Mass Effect 3 might not be the first time fan backlash and corporate decision-making have clashed online, but it's hard not to see Gamergate looming on the horizon when you look back at the conclusion of Commander Shepard's adventures.

This week we are joined by video game history expert Kevin Impellizeri of the podcast Scandalous Games https://www.buzzsprout.com/1780299

Follow him on Bluesky at @tierpargon.bsky.social and check out the companion Transformers rewatch show So We Were Talking About Beast Wars at https://open.spotify.com/show/66RwtCKRyxV3s5RlYEX5bS

Our first piece of show merch is out: ENEMY OF THE POD bumper stickers! https://www.winslowdumaine.com/stickers/enemy-of-the-pod-bumper-sticker

Get over 50 bonus episodes of IFTI, hours of solo episodes every month, and more fun bonuses for just $1 at https://www.patreon.com/IFTIpod

You can review this episode's document with sources (and pictures) at https://tinyurl.com/IFTIPodMassEffect3Doc

Submit episode concepts at https://tinyurl.com/IFTIpodIdeas, or contact the show directly at IFTIpod@gmail.com

Created and Hosted by

Winslow Dumaine - www.winslowdumaine.com/

Jay Brandstetter - linktr.ee/jaybrandstetter

Produced and Edited by:

Steve Brown - linktr.ee/killhamster

Intro and Outro music is "in failure" by steveisbroke off of their album "steve and his week of wonders", used with permission. https://steveisbroke.bandcamp.com/album/steve-and-his-week-of-wonders

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