Kevin Nguyen, author and Features Editor at The Verge, discusses his new novel "Mỹ Documents", what it means to write about video games, comparisons between mediums as a critic, and the unfortunate sale of Polygon. (01:30) - Intro and Blue Prince (03:08) - The sale of Polygon to Valnet (06:42) - Pivoting to My Documents (15:04) - Brazil and Bossa Nova in New Waves and My Documents (16:34) - First gaming memory (18:47) - How does gaming come up in the writing? (30:08) - Gaming sweet spots (34:40)...
May 08, 2025•57 min•Ep. 16
Video game journalist Andy Robertson discusses his new project Ludocene — a game discovery service in the form of a deck-building dating app. Ludocene is based on human-curated data and offers users the ability to augment their recommendations with filters and "Expert cards" — games journalists and trusted curators who've been paid to provide recommendations — to offer a truly one-of-a-kind discovery experience. Andy also dives into his origins with video games and why he thinks they're importan...
Feb 21, 2025•52 min•Ep. 15
Writer and programmer Alanna Okun shares how video games influenced the recent decision to leave her tenured career in journalism for an education in interactive technology — a conversation through the boom and bust of the 2010s media landscape to a revelation of control and expression found in making video games. ------ Links bitsy ( website ) Knit a Hat: A Beginner's Guide to Knitting ( Microcosm Publishing ) NYU Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) ( website ) ------ Social Guest: Ala...
Sep 10, 2024•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 14
Pixar Creative Director (Theme Parks), Tasha Sounart, discusses her career journey, from animating at Pixar on A Bug's Life through Cars to directing Double Fine's Costume Quest , to her return to Pixar and overseeing the implementation of Pixar properties in Disney Parks. She shares how video games influence physical attractions, gaming as a family, and her fondness for RPGs and MMOs. [ DISCLAIMER : Kyle here. My Host audio quality is subpar in this episode. I failed to realize that I was peaki...
Jun 25, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 13
Award-winning journalist and non-fiction writer, Simon Parkin, discusses his journey into journalism, curiosity about video games, the transition from 2D to 3D gaming, and informing the broader culture about the medium. ------ Simon Parkin's website (with links to his books, articles, and audio) simonparkin.com My Perfect Console shows.acast.com/my-perfect-console Pushing Buttons newsletter from The Guardian theguardian.com/games/series/pushing-buttons Raiden ( Youtube ) DoDonPachi ( Youtube ) R...
Apr 17, 2024•56 min•Ep. 12
Chris Plante, Editor-in-chief of Polygon and co-host of The Besties podcast, chronicles his journey into games journalism, his fondness for "7/10 (rated)" video games, and what makes video games different (and the same!) as other mediums. ------ Polygon: Gaming and Entertainment News, Reviews, and More Polygon.com The Besties (podcast) themcelroy.family/besties The Besties (newsletter) thebesties.substack.com GameDiscoverCo (Simon Carless's awesome newsletter) gamediscover.co 1994 Fisher Price M...
Feb 16, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 11
Stephen Hilger, co-host of Into the Aether podcast, discusses the power of video games on childhood, art, and imagination. ------ Into the Aether intothecast.online ------ Social Guest : Stephen Hilger (Into the Aether) Twitter/X | Instagram Host : Kyle Starr Mastodon | Threads | Twitter/X | Instagram Show : Y-Button Mastodon | Twitter/X...
Aug 24, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 10
Music industry extraordinaire and founder of Washed Up Emo, Tom Mullen, joins the show to discuss his lifelong fascination with video games, the link between music and games, staying relevant with the youths, and his love of strategy guides. Can you guess the song he brought to Guitar Hero III? ------ Washed Up Emo https://www.washedupemo.com/ Is This Band Emo? http://isthisbandemo.com/ ------ Music 'Liminal Fields' by Vulture Feather https://vulturefeather.bandcamp.com/album/liminal-fields ----...
Aug 10, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 9
Y-Button producer AJ Fillari doubles up as a guest to discuss their fascination with games, why video games media doesn't get old, how chip tunes change their world, and why it's important to enjoy the simple act of playing. Podcasts Ten Very Big Books - A Malazan Read-through Podcast https://www.patreon.com/tenverybigbooks Into the Aether - A Low Key Video Game Podcast https://intothecast.online/ Asynchronous - A Video Game Catch-Up Show https://feeds.transistor.fm/asynchronous Frog of the Week...
Jul 27, 2023•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 8
Paul Levering and Paul Owens discuss the history of 2 Player Productions, the game development insights they learned over seven years of filming PsychOdyssey — Double Fine's 32 episode documentary of the making of Psychonauts 2 — and depths of artistry, critique, and misunderstandings of video games. PsychOdyssey https://www.doublefine.com/dftv/psychodyssey 2 Player Productions https://www.youtube.com/user/2PlayerProductions Behind the Scenes Making of Halo 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0q69...
Jul 13, 2023•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 7
Naoko Takamoto, Principle Producer at Double Fine Productions, shares how music led her into games and ultimately production, working at Double Fine and on Psychonauts 2, the challenges of working through the pandemic, and what games mean to her. https://www.naokotakamoto.com/ Double Fine PsychOdyssey https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIhLvue17Sd70y34zh2erWWpMyOnh4UN_ Princess Problems https://www.princessproblemsmusic.com/ That Handsome Devil http://www.thathandsomedevil.com/...
Jun 29, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 6
From creating a self-published zine, to writing for EGM, to working for one of the most innovative game studios in Enhance, Chris “CJ” Johnston shares his extensive journey in the industry, the games that opened his eyes to what’s possible, and the through line that holds it all together. Mastodon @superpac Twitter @superpac Humanity https://humanity.game/ Player One Podcast http://www.playeronepodcast.com/ "Mystery Box" Vintage Video Game Magazines - Video Game History Foundation https://the-vi...
Jun 15, 2023•57 min•Ep. 5
Robert Ashley, host of A Life Well Wasted, talks about games journalism, podcasting, music, food, parenting, learning, and why he cares about video games. A Life Well Wasted https://alifewellwasted.com/ I Come to Shanghai https://icometoshanghai.com/
Jun 01, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 4
Riot Games (League of Legends, VALORANT, Team Fight Tactics) Associate Art Director Lana Bachynski shares stories about her love of video games from a young age, her journey into animation, community in video games, work... in general... but also what it's like to work on something you love. The Riot Games Super Art Power Hour | Episode 4: Animation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRMCGJk_hN8 DLC Patreon https://www.patreon.com/dlcpod...
May 18, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 3
Brendon Bigley (co-host of Into the Aether ) shares his experience being around video games since birth, the tolls and triumphs of generating loads of video game podcast content, Sketch Turner, and the excitement of the unknown. Into the Aether: https://intothecast.online Wavelengths Blog: https://www.wavelengths.online/ Wavelengths Podcast: https://www.wavelengths.online/podcasts/...
May 04, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 2
Christian Spicer shares his story as a former attorney turned comedian, writer, and podcaster, and why he cares about video games. https://www.christianspicer.com/ DLC Podcast with Jeff Cannata and Christian Spicer: https://dlc.fireside.fm/ The Official Last of Us Podcast : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-official-the-last-of-us-podcast/id1514792212...
Apr 20, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 1
