Joel Jordon and the real time bandit of capitalism

Joel Jordon (they/them) is the solo game developer of Time Bandit (2022), a real-time anti-capitalist work sim about how our subjective experience of time is shaped by our relationship to labor and historical forces. With Time Bandit’s first part releasing soon, Joel took some time to join me in talking through the game’s themes, how effective games can be as political instruments, and the hazy ethics of games-as-work.

You can wishlist Time Bandit on Steam and play the free prologue on itch. Joel is on Twitter @pumbertop.

Joel’s Encouraging Thing to Share
Recognizing that everything is constantly moving and evolving; that change will come even when it feels impossible

Things Discussed
Time Bandit
Joel’s blog, “The Game Manifesto”
VESPER.5 (Michael Brough, 2012)
Animal Crossing (2001-present, Nintendo)

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