{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"GGJ Podcast","title":"Forever Punk | Thorsten S. Wiedemann","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2508,"description":"In episode 4, Susan talks with Thorsten S. Wiedemann, founder and artistic director of AMAZE, the international art house games and playful media festival that helped redefine how the world sees independent games. From Berlin bar nights and DIY talk shows to a global network of experimental, subversive, and deeply personal games, Thorsten’s journey is about building spaces where artists, punks, and misfits can treat games as culture, not just products.  As A MAZE approaches 15 years, Thorsten traces his path from Berlin nightlife and DIY talk shows to festival-making, endeavor that began after attending GDC in 2007 and discovering indie games. He then discusses launching A MAZE with a focus on game art and cultural critique, key milestones including early bar-based events, the first full festival in 2010, A MAZE Indie Connect in 2012, and adopting an arthouse games focus around 2016–17. He reflects on struggles with funding, a 2024 code-of-conduct breach, personal growth,  and how the community came together in 2019 to save A MAZE with a Kickstarter campaign. Thorsten also shares about his international work including A MAZE Johannesburg (2012–2017) and supporting Playtopia a in Cape Town, South Africa, plus goals like broader Global South representation and an arthouse game archive.Guest Bio: Thorsten S. Wiedemann is the founder and artistic director of the games culture brand A MAZE., an international platform and festival curating the intersection of independent and arthouse games, playful media, and experimental game culture.Thorsten's SocialsLinkedInBlueSkyX (Twitter)InstagramFacebookYouTube Checkout A MAZELinkedInBlueSkyX (Twitter)InstagramFacebookYoutubewww.a-maze.net www.amaze-berlin.de www.amaze-magazine.de www.amaze-space.com","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/Chl8pFb4rJoP8SI7G-VJCytVjjbgFZ9UPwhhdq9XVxw/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS84ODJl/MTEyMzZhZTc5YTg3/OGZkN2M1ZWIxZDMy/OTU4ZS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}