Retronauts Episode 207: Capcom's Disney Afternoon
East meets West, and then some! Jeremy Parish and Chris Sims (east) meet with Bob Mackey and Nina M. (west) to talk about the franchise that brings people of all coasts together: Capcom's Disney games for NES.
1hr 35m Mar 18, 2019
1hr 35m
Retronauts Episode 206: Final Fantasy VII, Pt. 1
Jeremy Parish and Bob Mackey once again meet with Chris Kohler and Kat Bailey to deep-dive their way through the history of Final Fantasy. This time they've hit the Big One: Final Fantasy VII, a game SO monumental in impact it's a two-episode discussion.
1hr 50m Mar 11, 2019
1hr 50m
Retronauts Episode 205: Katamari Damacy
Jeremy Parish and Bob Mackey roll up Benj Edwards and Ben Elgin into an ever-growing ball of garba—errr, that is, an ever-growing podcast retrospective about Namco's delightful trash-gathering simulation Katamari Damacy.
1hr 8m Mar 08, 2019
1hr 8m
Retronauts Episode 204: Spider-Man Games Part 2
We left you hanging for over a year after our first exploration of Spider-Man games (episode 135), and now we're back to see what the world of polygons held for Marvel's arachnid hero. Spidey had quite a bit of video game history between his 2000 self-titled game and his... 2018 self-titled game, and we're here to comb through the webs of the past to see if there's anything worth salvaging. On ...
1hr 36m Mar 04, 2019
1hr 36m
203: A Tale of Two Tribes
Jeremy Parish talks to Martijn Reuvers and Collin van Ginckel about the history of their development studio, Two Tribes, a company that bluffed its way into existence in the sunset days of Game Boy and became indie game pioneers with Toki Tori and Rive.
1hr 53m Mar 01, 2019
1hr 53m
Retronauts Episode 202: Listener Comments Catch-Up
It's been six months since Bob's last listener comments episode, and plenty of feedback has built up since then, practically screaming to be read live on the air! And in this episode, Bob and guest Henry Gilbert will be doing just that: reading and responding to various questions and comments (left on the Patreon and Retronauts dot com) on topics as varied as BioShock, Pokemon, Wario Ware, the ...
1hr 11m Feb 22, 2019
1hr 11m
Retronauts Episode 201: First Encounters
Jeremy Parish, Bob Mackey, Nadia Oxford, and Kallie Plagge look back at some the greatest publishers of all time and the games that helped define them in our eyes. From Donkey Kong and Mario Bros. to The Sims and Halo, it's an episode chock-full of meet-cutes!
1hr 34m Feb 18, 2019
1hr 34m
Retronauts Episode 200: The 2019 Years-in-Review Revue, Pt. II
Continued from episode 191! The whole Retronauts East gang gathers once again to complete their look back at the years that have come before—the most notable gaming (and pop culture) events of 1989 and 1999.
1hr 51m Feb 11, 2019
1hr 51m
Retronauts Episode 199: Nintendo's Stairway to Rhythm Heaven
Live from MAGfest 2019! Jeremy Parish, Bob Mackey, and Chris Sims explore the musical legacy of Nintendo R&D1 from Donkey Kong to the grand culmination of the studio's love for brilliant music and sound design: Rhythm Heaven. Special thanks to Trey Johnson for an assist with the audio!
51m Feb 08, 2019
51m
Retronauts Episode 198: Dragon Quest XI
Every once in a while, we like to focus our attention on (gasp!) modern games to see how well they've stuck to tradition over the passing decades. And there's no series more traditional than Dragon Quest, which still plays pretty close to how it did 30-some years ago. On this episode of Retronauts, join Bob Mackey, Jeremy Parish, and Henry Gilbert as the crew takes a look at how Dragon Quest XI...
1hr 34m Feb 04, 2019
1hr 34m
Retronauts Episode 197: Konami on MSX
Kurt Kalata and Rob Russo of Hardcore Gaming 101 join Jeremy Parish to explore the alternate reality version of Konami's legendary run of NES games: Their extensive MSX home computer library. From Metal Gear to Nemesis, it's all familiar, and yet... not.
1hr 20m Jan 28, 2019
1hr 20m
Retronauts Episode 196: Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom
You've heard of Hudson's Adventure Island, but how about Hudson's adventure games? Though the developer was mostly known for platforming and bomber men, in their pre-console-development years, Hudson cashed in on the adventure game craze. And one remnant from this era managed to sneak over to American shores: the NES port of Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom. On this episode of Retronauts, j...
1hr 6m Jan 25, 2019
1hr 6m
Retronauts Episode 195: A History of Game Piracy
Chris Kohler joins Jeremy Parish and Bob Mackey to tackle the topic of piracy. It's not the same thing as emulation! But it's closely related? And it's bad! But it's important, good, and essential to game preservation!? There's a lot to unpack this week!
1hr 39m Jan 21, 2019
1hr 39m
Retronauts Episode 194: Brian Fargo on Wasteland, Fallout, and The Bard's Tale
Interplay and InXile boss Brian Fargo offers fresh insights into his pioneering work with role-playing games like The Bard's Tale, Wasteland, and Fallout.
1hr 15m Jan 14, 2019
1hr 15m
Retronauts Episode 193: Mark Turmell on NBA Jam & NEMO
In an episode that's nearly retro itself, we go back to GDC 2018 for an interview with Zynga's Mark Turmell on his historic work, including NBA Jam, NFL Blitz, Hasbro's failed NEMO console, and the spiritual connection between arcade and mobile gaming.
1hr 1m Jan 11, 2019
1hr 1m
Retronauts Episode 192: WarioWare
Wario started out as literally the anti-Mario, and his platforming series did a great job of playing with the tropes of the genre. But in 2003, Wario would have a much bigger task: subverting the ongoing trend of bloated game design with sheer minimalism and absurdism. On this episode of Retronauts, join Bob Mackey, Jeremy Parish, Ray Barnholt, and Henry Gilbert as the crew examines the subvers...
1hr 44m Jan 08, 2019
1hr 44m
Retronauts Episode 191: The 2019 Years-in-Review Revue, Pt. I
The whole East gang's here: Ben, Benj, AND Chris join Jeremy for the traditional New Year's look back at 10/20/30/40 and even 50 (!) years ago. Naturally, the usual Retronauts East banter and digressions take the whole thing so far off track we only get halfway through our planned discussion this time through. See you for the follow-up in 2019!
1hr 56m Dec 31, 2018
1hr 56m
Retronauts Episode 190: Holiday Special 2018 - Pokemon's "Holiday Hi-Jynx"
It's that time of the year again: when listeners brave the harsh climates, territorial wolves, and malfunctioning home security devices for a chance to visit the Retronauts Holiday Cabin in parts unknown. And, just like in past years, we'll be using this holiday getaway as a good excuse to discuss a video game-related Christmas cartoon. For 2018, we set our sights on the long-running Pokemon ca...
1hr 15m Dec 28, 2018
1hr 15m
Retronauts Episode 189: Neon Genesis Evangelion
You mustn't run away… from this episode! Classic sci-fi anime Neon Genesis Evangelion is coming to Netflix soon, and Wes Fenlon and Henry Gilbert join Jeremy Parish and Bob Mackey to explore the show, its legacy, and (of course) its video game tie-ins.
1hr 39m Dec 24, 2018
1hr 39m
Retronauts Episode 188: Netflix's Castlevania with Adi Shankar & Zillion with Funimation
An animated feature double feature! First, Funimation walks us through the decades-overdue English version of Sega tie-in anime Zillion. Then, Netflix's Castlevania creator Adi Shankar talks about indie games and preserving Belmont lore for television.
1hr 27m Dec 17, 2018
1hr 27m
Retronauts Episode 187: Drill Dozer
After Pokemon took off in a huge way, developer Game Freak didn't exactly have the time or incentive to dabble outside of their cash cow. But all that changed in 2006, when they created Drill Dozer: a fun, compact little game built entirely around the concept of drilling. Unfortunately, Drill Dozer's release on the Game Boy Advance well into the DS's lifespan means very few people got a chance ...
47m Dec 14, 2018
47m
Retronauts Episode 186: Inside SNK's Archives
SNK 40th Anniversary Collection producer Frank Cifaldi walks us through the process of creating a definitive playable historic record of SNK's decades-old pre-Neo•Geo catalog.
58m Dec 10, 2018
58m
Retronauts Episode 185: The Music of PlayStation 1
Shane Bettenhausen joins Jeremy Parish, Bob Mackey, and a plethora of Retronauts listeners to enthuse about the games that took advantage of Sony PlayStation's groundbreaking audio capabilities by including bangin' soundtracks.
1hr 38m Dec 03, 2018
1hr 38m
Retronauts Episode 184: PC Roguelikes
By patron request, we delve into the cryptic history of what might be the world's most complex genre: PC roguelikes. Genre aficionado Steve Tramer walks Bob and Jeremy through the unforeseen consequences of Rogue, Nethack, Dwarf Fortress, and more!
1hr 42m Nov 26, 2018
1hr 42m
Retronauts Episode 183: SNK's 40th, Pt. 1
Retronauts contributor and SNK ultra-fan D. Feit joins Jeremy Parish for a casual conversation about the games of SNK's 40th Anniversary Collection for Switch—the first in a two-part exploration of this landmark anthology!
1hr 47m Nov 19, 2018
1hr 47m
Retronauts Episode 182: SEGA Genesis 30th - Expert Mode
Ken Horowitz from Sega-16.com joins Jeremy to offer some perspective on SEGA's 30-year-old console from someone who's been on the front lines with it nearly from the beginning, in this side story to our recent Genesis anniversary tribute.
53m Nov 16, 2018
53m
Retronauts Episode 181 - Dragon Ball/Sailor Moon Games
Ah, Dragon Ball and Sailor Moon: The twin jewels of '90s anime. Though many series have surpassed these two in longevity and popularity, these anime titans hold sole responsibility for getting so many Americans into anime during the late 90s, when Japanese animation wasn't so commonplace in our country. And, of course, when you have two properties so huge and influential, you're gonna see a who...
1hr 57m Nov 12, 2018
1hr 57m
Retronauts Episode 180: SEGA Genesis Turns 30
Jeremy Parish, Benj Edwards, Chris Sims, and a host of Retronauts listeners recount the best moments and memories of SEGA's 16-bit Genesis on the occasion of the console's 30th birthday.
1hr 45m Nov 05, 2018
1hr 45m
Retronauts Episode 179: Luigi's Mansion
Hey, this game really SUCKS! But only because it's supposed to. This week on Retronauts, we jump back to the ancient year of 2001 to dig deep into Luigi's Mansion: the GameCube launch title that underwhelmed at the time, but really holds up today. And, thanks to a new 3DS port, it's more playable than ever before! On this episode, join Bob Mackey and Henry Gilbert as they shine their flashlight...
1hr 19m Nov 02, 2018
1hr 19m
Retronauts Episode 178: Remakes, Reboots, and Reinventions
Jeremy Parish and Bob Mackey talk to USgamer's Caty McCarthy and Polygon's Matt Leone about modern-day takes on classic series--their history, the best and worst of them, and whether or not they're even necessary.
1hr 44m Oct 29, 2018
1hr 44m
Retronauts Episode 177: Double Dragon
Jeremy Parish teams up with HG101's Kurt Kalata and Rob Russo to take on the violent, deadly history of the Double Dragon franchise (and hopefully save Marion in the process).
1hr 52m Oct 22, 2018
1hr 52m
Retronauts Episode 176: G.I. Joe
America's daring, highly trained special podcasting force of Jeremy Parish, Benj Edwards, and Chris Sims take on G.I. Joe, the ruthless comics/toy/games franchise that ruled the world during the ’80s.
1hr 39m Oct 19, 2018
1hr 39m
Retronauts Episode 175: Chrono Trigger
Jeremy Parish and Bob Mackey travel back (and forward) in time with Kat Bailey and Chris Kohler to revisit one of the greatest RPGs of all time: Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest mash-up Chrono Trigger.
1hr 57m Oct 15, 2018
1hr 57m
Retronauts Episode 174: Dylan Cuthbert's Road to Star Fox
Jeremy drops by the offices of Q-Games to speak to Dylan Cuthbert (and Mark Lentz) about the early days of gaming and how tinkering with Game Boy hardware led to the creation of the first true 3D game on Super NES, Star Fox.
1hr 34m Oct 08, 2018
1hr 34m
Retronauts Episode 173: The Many Voices of Mario
When Mario debuted in 1981's Donkey Kong, he entered a gaming landscape devoid of voice acting, so Nintendo never stopped to think, "Hey, what's this little guy supposed to sound like?" Over the years, though, as Mario entered the world of cartoons, live-action TV shows, and movies, someone had to sit down and decide on the voice of this formerly voiceless character. And decide they did! On thi...
1hr 6m Oct 05, 2018
1hr 6m
Retronauts Episode 172: PlayStation 2
We at Retronauts regret to inform you once again that something is very old. (Hey, we're just doing our job.) That's right: The PlayStation 2 turns 18 this month, and to celebrate its passage into adulthood we've put together two whole hours of podcasting fun about Sony's market-dominating beast of a console. Just how important was DVD support? And will any console ever outsell the PS2? On this...
1hr 57m Oct 01, 2018
1hr 57m
Retronauts Episode 171: Namco's arcade history, part 2
The Retronauts East survey of Namco's arcade legacy continues! Jeremy, Benj, and Chris tackle the coin-op doldrums of 1983-1985 while dreaming of more interesting days to come.
1hr 33m Sep 24, 2018
1hr 33m
Retronauts Episode 170: Iron Man
To mark the 10th anniversary of the movie that changed the face of modern cinema (for better or worse), Jeremy talks Iron Man—the character, the games, and the weird lack of games—with comics expert Chris Sims and long-time Iron Man superfan Benj Edwards. Also this episode: The end of "Micros"! Now the biweekly Friday episode will just be plain ol' "Retronauts," whatever their length. Because t...
1hr 21m Sep 21, 2018
1hr 21m
Retronauts Episode 169: Dragon Quest I & II
Jeremy and Bob go international to examine the origins of the world's most influential console RPG series. First, we stop in Nagoya to talk Dragon Quest with Alex Fraioli. Then, USgamer's Nadia Oxford beams in from Canada to lament the cruelty of DQII.
1hr 39m Sep 17, 2018
1hr 39m
Retronauts Episode 168: SEGA's Arcade History - The Finale
The end is nigh! Sort of. Jeremy, Ben, and Benj return to look one last time at SEGA's classic arcade legacy, exploring their coin-on megabits of the late ’90s. From Virtua Fighter 3 to Crazy Taxi, it's like crib notes for the Dreamcast era...
1hr 55m Sep 10, 2018
1hr 55m
Retronauts Micro 95: Mailbag - Final Fantasy VII, Dragon Quest, and more
Nadia Oxford dials in to swap listener mail submissions with Bob and Jeremy for episodes we've recorded but not yet published. Get a preview of things to come in the weeks ahead with community opinions on Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy VII, and more!
45m Sep 07, 2018
45m
Retronauts Episode 167: Super Mario Oddities - Mario Bros., Wrecking Crew, Lost Levels
Ray Barnholt and Henry Gilbert join Bob and Jeremy to talk about the OTHER Super Mario Bros. 2—plus, we fill in the 8-bit Mario gaps we've never touched on before. Call Foreman Spike, 'cause we're the Wrecking Crew, baby.
1hr 53m Sep 03, 2018
1hr 53m
Retronauts Episode 166: Chasm - Making a Modern Metroidvania
Jeremy talks to Chasm's James Petruzzi about creating the best IGA-vania style exploratory platformer in a decade, along with the challenges of meeting modern player expectations with a game built so clearly in the classic spirit of Symphony of the Night.
1hr 55m Aug 27, 2018
1hr 55m
Retronauts Micro 94: Tron
Greetings, programs! Anthony Schwader of the Game & Movie podcast joins Jeremy to discuss games about a movie about games: Disney's Tron, and all its tie-in video game creations.
1hr 15m Aug 24, 2018
1hr 15m
Retronauts Episode 165: The Bard's Tale
It's a double dose of bardy delight! First, Jason Wilson and Rowan Kaiser join Jeremy and Bob in the studio to talk about the importance of Interplay's The Bard's Tale. Then, designer Michael Cranford regales us with the saga of its creation.
1hr 26m Aug 20, 2018
1hr 26m
Retronauts Episode 164: Online Pioneer Days & Mailbag
A potpourri of topics this week as Ben Elgin and Benj Edwards talk Jeremy through the early days of dial-up gaming and BBS madness. Then, Shivam Bhatt and Bob help tackle a long-overdue listener mailbag.
1hr 52m Aug 13, 2018
1hr 52m
Retronauts Micro 93: Sega Pico
In 1994, Sega released the Pico: a cute little purple-and-teal suitcase that ran on Genesis hardware and promised to enhance young minds rather than rot them. While it was a neat little piece of tech at the time, America didn't take as kindly to the Pico as Japan did--though Sega's little "learning computer" managed to touch a few tiny lives before it disappeared with only 20 releases to its na...
51m Aug 10, 2018
51m
Retronauts Episode 163: BioShock
Back in 2007, Irrational Games wowed the world with BioShock, an FPS experience that bridged the gap between PC and console games with its role as the "thinking man's shooter." With 2013's Infinite closing the book on the series—and Irrational Games as a whole—and still no new Ken Levine game to speak of, there's never been a better time to revisit the recent past and a game that really kicked ...
1hr 53m Aug 06, 2018
1hr 53m
Retronauts Episode 162: Wizardry - Podcast Chat of the Mad Overlord
Jeremy talks to Wizardry programmer Robert Woodhead about the history and inspirations behind his influential all-time role-playing classic.
1hr 46m Jul 30, 2018
1hr 46m
Retronauts Micro 92: Raiders of the Lost Ark
Jeremy, Chris, and Benj take a wildly disorganized (one might say "postmodern") journey through the original adventure of Indiana Jones... and eventually remember to touch on the games based on the film, too.
1hr 11m Jul 27, 2018
1hr 11m