About this episode

George Osborn discusses the intersection of video games, politics, and global influence in his new book.

George Osborn is a journalist, strategist, and analyst whose work explores the increasingly fraught intersection of video games, business, and politics. He has worked as a reporter, consultant, and as Head of Campaigns and Communications at Ukie , the UK trade body for games, developing a rare vantage point on how the medium shapes, and is shaped by, power. He is also the founder of Half-Space Consulting and the editor of the Video Games Industry Memo newsletter, where he examines the forces driving the modern games business. In his new book, Power Play: Video Games, Politics, and the Battle for Global Influence , he argues that games have become far more than entertainment: they are now digital third places, contested spaces in which authoritarian regimes, populists, and extremists seek to wield influence. LINKS: George Osborn: The book:  Power Play  – buy via Bookshop.org UK (supports independent booksellers) Power Play  – Waterstones Power Play  – Bookshop.org US   The newsletter: Video Games Industry Memo – George's newsletter (free to subscribe) The Games:   GoldenEye 007 (N64, 1997)   The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (N64, 2000) &nbsp…

People in this episode

Host: Simon Parkin

Guest: George Osborn

Topics covered

• video games
• politics
• business
• influence
• journalism
• strategy

Keywords

• video games
• politics
• Power Play
• George Osborn
• influence
• Ukie
• Half-Space Consulting
• Bellingcat

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Ukie, Half-Space Consulting, Video Games Industry Memo, Bellingcat

Products: GoldenEye 007, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Championship Manager 01/02, Mass Effect 2, Balatro

Books & works: Power Play: Video Games, Politics, and the Battle for Global Influence

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