Indie and Retro
38 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 months ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsGet a taste of new and old with the bi-weekly Indie and Retro podcast! We look at the current gaming world through the lens of indie and retro video games.
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Episodes
Edutainment
December 07, 2023 17:11 - 40 minutes - 39.9 MBEdutainment! It’s when you learn and it’s fun! Are you in your adult years and wondering why so many of us played the same handful of educational video games during “computer class” growing up? There’s a reason! Is there still computer class in school? The young people have apps and tablets instead. There are educational apps! Maybe too many. Join us as we edutain you on a journey through 60 years of video games meant to teach while also being fun to play, and find out what happened to The ...
Super Nintendo World and Mario Wonder
November 07, 2023 20:14 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBMario had TWO big events in the same week for us, specifically: Super Mario Wonder came out on the Switch, and we got to go to Super Nintendo World in Hollywood for the first time ever. Hear us talk about both of these things, including development history of both and what we think! We rode the rides! Well, the ride. And we played the games! Both in real life and on the TV. What is real anymore, truly?
The Video Game Awards
September 04, 2023 15:00 - 50 minutes - 47.4 MBThe Game Awards - the annual Oscars show but for video games - are almost ten years old. But where did they come from? Was it all just some strange concoction cooked up in Geoff Keighley’s little gamer brain? Turns out the answer is: mostly, yeah! Join us as we delve into the history of The Game Awards: where they came from and where they’re going. You might think they’re bad! But just wait until you see how things used to be before Geoff made them what they are today… Special part of this...
Super Mario Bros Movie (1993)
August 09, 2023 14:01 - 1 hour - 63 MBSuper Mario Bros. (1993) is NOT The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023). It’s something much weirder, for many reasons. Money. Inexperience. Nine different writers and daily script changes. It’s not a good movie, but it is a very interesting one. No one can say that it didn’t have ideas, but maybe it could’ve had some different ones? Because a Patreon suggested it, join us as we recap the film and our reactions to it, before delving in to why and how it ended up the way it did. Then you can wat...
Nintendo's Daisy
July 07, 2023 14:21 - 39 minutes - 38.1 MBDaisy is NOT Princess Peach - she is her own character! And she’s been around maybe longer than you thought, although it wasn’t until the last 20 years or so that she’s firmly established herself in Mario canon as the sassy, sporty, “will Luigi make a move or what” wild princess of Sarasaland. Learn where she came from and hopefully where she’s going as we take you on a journey allllll the way back to the launch of the original Game Boy. And as she says whenever it’s her turn in Mario Part...
Tomb Raider Part 2
November 27, 2022 21:18 - 41 minutes - 37.4 MBPart 2 of the Tomb Raider podcast shows what happens when you force a team to make a slightly improved version of the same game every year for five years in a row, and then you try to scale that game from PS1 to PS2 size without any real direction or leadership.
Tomb Raider Part 1
September 13, 2022 15:05 - 53 minutes - 50.7 MBLara Croft was an icon that made video games mainstream in a way that Mario never managed.
Season 3: CreepyPasta
June 20, 2022 15:44 - 1 hour - 67.8 MBWarning: spooky stuff! This is a podcast about the creepypastas, and the scary stuff your friend said his cousin saw in a game once, and secret codes in games that may not actually exist (unless they do…?). How much is real? How much is completely made up by someone being impish? And how much is a perversion of something that did really happen once, but has morphed beyond all recognition into something new? Maybe don’t listen to this one right before bed… Additional stuff: The Polybi...
Season 3: Team Fortress 2
May 18, 2022 02:47 - 47 minutes - 32.6 MBWe're back! Get ready for a summer edition of the Indie & Retro Podcast. Kicking things off: Team Fortress 2. This episode we talk about my formative years playing the game, get into the dev stuff, and ramble about hats. Yes, I said hats!
Episode 27: Sonic the Hedgehog Part 2
September 20, 2021 19:35 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBPart 2 of our Sonic podcast is about the marketing and legacy of his first game. Lots of good games are around, but very few had the cultural impact of this little blue hedgehog with attitude. If it wasn’t packaged specifically for the American market and showed people what the 90’s were all about, he may be more of an Alex Kidd today: just another platformer beaten by Mario. While the long-term hasn’t been completely kind to Sonic, there was a time he was on top of the world. How’d he get t...
Episode 26: Sonic the Hedgehog Part 1
September 13, 2021 17:51 - 51 minutes - 47.4 MBSonic is a fast boy, and - like Blur’s “Song 2” - is exactly what America wanted at the right time, even when it seemed almost too obvious. He made games cool. He brought a speed and a style that had never been seen before. And he was sold to us in exactly the right way. Sonic the Hedgehog changed the course of video games and accomplished his goal (at least for a little while) of defeating Mario. Part 1 of our Sonic podcast discusses his development history and shows you some indie games yo...
Episode 25: Dragon Age
May 24, 2021 23:17 - 58 minutes - 53.4 MBDragon Age games take way too long to make, or aren’t given enough time at all. They weren’t supposed to have dragons, or fireballs, or guys with horns. But guess what! It has all of those things, and even the “bad” games in the series have so much to offer. Join your lovely hosts as we talk about the series that proved hardcore Western RPG’s (with romance, even!) still had an audience, an audience ever eager for more. How retro will Origins be when Dragon Age 4 releases? At least a little...
Episode 24: Famicom Disk System
February 09, 2021 02:41 - 1 hour - 70.6 MBLinks to indie games I mentioned: Unknown Castle One Dreamer Ocean's Heart And now, a word from Nick: The Famicom Disk System is a weird little thing that only came out in Japan, long before console add-ons like the 32X and Sega CD destroyed all interest in ever trying them again. Would it work? No one knew - it was the video game Wild West of the late 80’s! A few things kept it from ever catching on or releasing overseas, but we recently found one in great condition at a retro ...
Episode 23: Prince of Persia
December 07, 2020 04:05 - 55 minutes - 51.3 MBIndie games I mention: Tukoni Amazing Cultivation Simulator I am Dead And, yes I did research to see that the Cowboy Bebop fight scene was animated by the same dude. Now a word from Nick: Prince of Persia was made pretty much by one man: movie loving Yale graduate Jordan Mechner. He wasn’t great at animation, so he used rotoscoping. He wasn’t developing for a console with a lot of memory, so his enemies had to be very efficiently programmed. There were a lot of constraints, a...
Episode 22: ET
September 15, 2020 20:38 - 57 minutes - 52.3 MBHoward Scott Warshaw’s Atari 2600 game E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is known by many as the worst video game of all time. Was it, though? Or is the truth a little more nuanced? Learn the history behind one of the most infamous games ever created, “a game that Steven Spielberg liked,” according to a quote they should’ve put on the box.
Episode 21: Rockband
August 01, 2020 21:27 - 1 hour - 56.5 MBHarmonix didn’t invent the music game, but they did perfect it, so no man could challenge them in the art of rhythm! Games where you just push the buttons on the screen at the right time got very popular, very quickly, and seemed to die just as fast. Rock Band was the peak of this trend, featuring hundreds of dollars of plastic instruments cluttering the closets of nerds everywhere. Where did it come from? Where did it go? What is the story of Rock Band, Joe? Join hosts Nick and Mumbles as w...
Episode 20: SimCity
May 19, 2020 00:26 - 1 hour - 62.7 MBSimCity is not a game I've played, but it is a game that helped inspire the stuff I love now! Here's links to all the indie games I mention: Parkasaurus Simmiland Game Dev Tycoon And a word from Nick: SimCity is what happens when one guy (Will Wright) is really interested in a very specific, very gamifiable subject like city planning and building, and then he turns that interest and a love of building virtual islands into a video game where all his political views hang out fo...
Episode 19: Monkey Island
March 19, 2020 22:26 - 58 minutes - 53.4 MBWe delve into the mystery of monkey island! Well, actually, that's Ron Gilbert's secret to keep.
Episode 18: Metroid Prime
February 18, 2020 04:25 - 1 hour - 59.7 MBLinks to the indie games I talk about: Alone With You Still There Journey to the Savage Planet And a word from Nick: Metroid Prime is a terrific game... but it was not made without a cost. Join your Indie and Retro hosts on a wild journey of crunch, excess, and neglect. Hear how a new studio got handed the reins to one of Nintendo’s most beloved franchises, dropped the ball big time, then picked it up and ran for a last-second touchdown. We also start a listener mailbag in thi...
Episode 17: Our Favorite Games of the Decade
January 24, 2020 01:34 - 1 hour - 93.2 MBThese may not be the BEST, but they are our favorite :)
Episode 16: 2019 Favorite Games
January 09, 2020 06:00 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MBThis is part 1 of a long, long end of the decade podcast! Next week, we go over our favorite games of the decade!
Episode 15: Hideo Kojima
November 18, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour - 75.5 MBHideo Kojima is one of the last video game auteurs. In a world where AAA games are increasingly made by hundreds of people, “A Hideo Kojima Production” means you’re getting a singular vision. That vision can be a little wacky and convoluted, but it’s a vision honed by years upon years of movie watching and hard work. Join us as we follow the journey of this man from humble beginnings to where he is now, at the top of the mountain with a stack of boxes strapped to his back.
Episode 14: Portal
October 15, 2019 15:20 - 1 hour - 67.5 MBFirst released as the smallest part of The Orange Box in 2007, Portal and its sequel went on to become two of the most important games of all time. How did two little games made by a bunch of college students go on to change the gaming landscape as we know it? Join your lovely hosts Nick and Mumbles as we take you on an adventure from… a lot longer ago than any of us want to admit. Portal Month is here!
Episode 13: Donkey Kong Part 2
September 03, 2019 14:53 - 1 hour - 69 MBAfter the first few Donkey Kong games made literally boatloads of money, the titular ape didn’t always get the respect he deserved. Sure, there were bright spots (Donkey Kong Country, Donkey Kong ‘94, Diddy Kong Racing), but there were also entire series you’ve probably barely even heard of, let alone played. The license was passed around from one developer to the next, and we haven’t had a new game in the series for years. Still, he’s instantly recognizable and an important part of Nintendo...
Episode 12: Donkey Kong Part 1
August 26, 2019 16:46 - 44 minutes - 40.9 MBDonkey Kong made SO MUCH MONEY that Nintendo survived the Great Video Game Crash. This gorilla is a pop culture phenomenon, and its sound effects are still used as de facto “game sounds” when modern TV shows or movies need to show that something is a video game. It had a lot of firsts, too: first jump button, first in-game story cutscenes, and the first appearance of Mario. It’s also HARD, and the learning curve is steep. That, plus the 2007 documentary King of Kong, has kept the quest for ...
Episode 11: Animal Crossing
July 22, 2019 03:58 - 1 hour - 62.6 MBAnimal Crossing! What a nice game for all to enjoy. We have some memories to share, some indie games and some OPINIONS about the mobile game. Below are some words from Nick and the links to many things I talked about! And now, some words from Nick: Animal Crossing is a life simulation game where you get the life you deserve instead of the one you have. Hang out, eat fruit, play video games inside your video games, plant trees, chop down trees, shop, fish, dig up fossils… it’s an ideal w...
Episode 10: Swordquest
June 24, 2019 16:33 - 55 minutes - 50.9 MBDelve into the mysterious Swordquest contest! Learn about alternate reality games that utilize indies to share secrets across the web~
Episode 9: Colorado Pinball
June 03, 2019 16:28 - 53 minutes - 49.1 MBThis week we take you on a deep dive of Colorado Pinball! We go to the Pinball Expo, take a history tour, and chat about our favorite arcades.
Episode 8: Microphone Games
May 20, 2019 23:41 - 45 minutes - 41.8 MBWe wanted to do something less intense than a Harvest Moon episode, so we decided to talk about a small niche of games that use mics. And, not for multiplayer! Unsurprisingly, this gimmick wasn't something heavily used in retro games and is not that common in new indie ones, either. Still, I think they're pretty interesting to look at! Here's links to the two games I talked about: Lurking One Hand Clapping And, here's a word from Nick: We’ve been shackled by the controller fo...
Episode 7: Harvest Moon Part 2
May 06, 2019 23:00 - 1 hour - 67.7 MBWelcome to part 2! We discuss the history and development of the Harvest Moon games. I also give my take on Story of Seasons, as well as the most recent HM games! From Nick: Welcome to Harvest Moon: Part 2, a.k.a. the retro half of the Indie and Retro Podcast! Harvest Moon will always be remembered as “the farming game,” but that – to creator Yasuhiro Wada – was always just the part of it to break up all the friend-making and animal raising. What can you do in a game besides fight and ...
Episode 6: Harvest Moon Part 1
April 29, 2019 06:00 - 46 minutes - 42.8 MBHarvest Moon and the games that were inspired by it are a passion of mine! Which means this episode is a two parter! First, we talk about what Harvest Moon means to us and then I take us on a deep dive into the indies out today that echo this wonderful game!! Slime Rancher Stardew Valley Eternal Home Floristry
Bonus Episode: April Fools Day
April 08, 2019 14:40 - 19 minutes - 17.9 MBGaming has a long history with April Fools Day, so we talk about this year's and what happened in the past!
Episode 5: Tetris
March 25, 2019 16:02 - 1 hour - 81 MBEnjoy the tale of the video game gold rush! Indie games we mention: GNOG Cook, Serve, Delicious! Here's a few words from Nick: Tetris is the best-selling video game of ALL TIME, but it’s journey from an outdated Russian computer lab to being the first game in outer space wasn’t an easy one. Miscommunications, assumptions, and intellectual property right sales by people that didn’t even own them? Secret trips to Moscow? Par for the course in the story of the most impor...
Episode 4: LOOM
March 11, 2019 08:00 - 53 minutes - 49.2 MBSnail Trek: https://store.steampowered.com/app/751280/Snail_Trek__Chapter_1_Intershellar/ The Gardens Between: https://store.steampowered.com/app/600990/The_Gardens_Between/
Bonus Episode: Nintendo Direct
February 21, 2019 16:18 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MBWe talk about the Nintendo Direct and what is in store for the company as we barrel towards E3. If you like this content, you can get bonus episodes and full episodes early over at my patreooon!
Episode 3: Myst
February 18, 2019 19:09 - 1 hour - 62.2 MBWhat Remains of Edith Finch? https://store.steampowered.com/app/501300/What_Remains_of_Edith_Finch/ The Eyes of Ara: https://store.steampowered.com/app/454250/The_Eyes_of_Ara/
Episode 2: Kingdom Hearts
February 04, 2019 20:16 - 42 minutes - 39.2 MBRelevant links: HEARTBEAT: https://shepple.itch.io/heartbeat Bouncer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bouncer_(video_game)
Episode 1: Bandersnatch
January 21, 2019 16:43 - 1 hour - 62.4 MBIn this episode, we talk about the real life studio that inspired the Black Mirror: Bandersnatch game/movie. We also discuss indie games that share the same focus on meta and choice. Want to know more? Here's some fun links we found in our research: My video on Stanley Parable: https://youtu.be/4gHLnMNyiTU Her Story: http://www.herstorygame.com/ Pony Island: https://store.steampowered.com/app/405640/Pony_Island/ Design docs and comics: https://tiredoldhack.com/2019/01/02/banders...