Eric Stein is a game designer (itch.io) and games researcher (Academia) who teaches in the Foundations and Game Development programs at Trinity Western University. His research uses the tools of literary theory and phenomenology to interpret the varied meanings of video games—especially those developed by FromSoftware—and their material effects in and upon the lives of their players. His design work primarily operates in the tabletop roleplaying space, where he enjoys bringing together philosophy and play, and introducing players to story and free-form roleplaying systems.