Panic Podcast

Given enough time, even a business starts to collect some interesting stories. And Panic, Portland's long-standing software company/video game publisher/hardware developer/who knows what, has been around for a long time. Our host, Christa Mrgan, takes a look at the strange, funny, interesting, and useless parts of Panic, through interviews, stories, and Cabel's rambling asides. Now Panic lore can be shared by everyone, for better or worse.

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Episodes

PAX At It Again

Why would anyone—and in particular Panic—want to make a trade show booth? A look back at our completely normal trade show history, plus a look ahead to some of our Season 2 episodes! Show Notes Campo Santo Firewatch Panic Podcast S1E4: Audion & On Playdate Podcast S1E22: Forrest Byrnes: Up In Smoke Panic Podcast S1E1: Untitled Goose Game Macworld/iWorld PAX West A machete is a big knife Jardiniere Playdate Nour Arco Time Flies Greem Cafe Despelote Thank Goodness You’re Here! Episode Transcri...

May 13, 2024•45 min•Season 2Ep. 1

The Story of Playdate

Discover the intricate decade-long saga behind Playdate, Panic's surprising handheld gaming console. What began as an offhand idea for a company anniversary gift evolved into a unique device with a black-and-white screen and a crank, developed through intense hardware and software engineering, industrial design challenges, and a crucial partnership with Teenage Engineering. The episode delves into the complexities of manufacturing in Malaysia, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on production, and the innovative approach to delivering new games weekly, all while fostering an inclusive developer community.

Jul 29, 2021•1 hr 36 min•Season 1Ep. 6

Totally Sidetalkin'

How the Nokia N-Gage failed so spectacularly that it became a meme before social media really existed. And what that has to do with Panic, exactly. Show Notes Sidetalkin.com Sidetalking.com The Nokia N-Gage on Wikipedia The N-Gage website as it appeared in April 2004 Sidetalking on Know Your Meme "No More Sidetalking" Nokia N-Gage QD commercial Chris Kohler Alex Pasco Ola Carlsson Chris Morris Jussi Solja Gedeon Maheux K. Mike Merrill Iconfactory The Sexy Beast KMikeyM...

Apr 17, 2020•45 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Audion & On

How did a fierce competition with a rival lead Steven Frank and Cabel Sasser to make a life-changing decision in a meeting with one of their biggest idols… and one of their arch nemeses? Show Notes Capture of the Audion Faces page from February 2001 Cabel’s 2004 blog post on the story (and retirement) of Audion Welcome to Macintosh Episode 12: Don’t Panic SoundJam MP Casady & Greene Felt Tip Software Jeremy Bailey on Twitter Jake Rodkin on Twitter Wade Cosgrove on Twitter Dan Messing on Twit...

Mar 03, 2020•46 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Our Monogamous Follow Heart

An act of social media spite, an unlikely friendship, and a lot of fast food coupons. How did signing up for a Twitter account to do support lead to an odd and endearing relationship… and whatever happened to the cardboard friends we made along the way? Show Notes Panic’s Twitter Carl’s Jr.'s Twitter Donold Duck’s Twitter Eat the Ball Burnside, our tweet-to-email gateway A Twitter thread about the chef checks...

Feb 18, 2020•35 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Pantscast

Most of us remember the iPhone app store launch in 2008 and the iPhone app gold rush that followed. Indie developers flocked to the platform, all determined to build a breakout app that would earn them millions. And pretty soon that gold rush… turned into a brown rush. Enter Panic, with a ridiculous novelty app and an elaborate fake backstory for a German company that didn’t exist. Show Notes Twitterrific 2008 Apple Design Awards Chevy’s Daring Fireball The Coding Monkeys Idle Thumbs Overcast...

Feb 04, 2020•34 min•Season 1Ep. 2

Untitled Goose Game

It’s a lovely morning in the village, and you are a horrible goose. How did four-person indie game studio House House create the anti-hero internet sensation that honked its way into our hearts in 2019? And how did a small-ish company on the other side of the world — one known primarily for making Mac and iOS software — come to be the publisher of that game? Show Notes House House Untitled Goose Game Préludes by Claude Debussy Panic’s booth at PAX West • 2018 2019...

Jan 15, 2020•45 min•Season 1Ep. 1

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