Games as a Podcast
We are two SEGA alums who love talking about the past, present and future of games and the industry that makes them. Each week we explore a gaming topic, often mixing in our perspectives from our time at Big Blue and beyond. Some weeks we’ll have a guest, usually someone whose career has crossed ours, and talk about their own experiences and perspectives.
Episodes
20 episodes
Half-Baked but Ahead of Its Time
From the SEGA Nomad to the Virtual Boy, gaming history is littered with devices that stumbled at launch but paved the way for the future. In this episode, we dive into the tech that was “half-baked but ahead of its time” - motion controls befor...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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56:45
Working in and Writing About the Games Industry
In this episode, we sit down with Jennifer Tsao, a fellow Sega veteran. Before her time as a creative director at SEGA, Jennifer was managing editor for Electronic Gaming Monthly and Next Generation, and she later contributed to VentureBeat and...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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1:11:24
An Inside Look at Being a Video Game Deal Maker
We talk with David Wood, who has been working on video games since the Genesis era. At SEGA, he helped drive business development by signing titles across Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii. His portfolio ranged from licensed blockbuster...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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58:57
Disc to Cloud: a career journey from SEGA to Stadia
Michelle Vuckovich’s career in gaming traces a path from licensed console titles to the cutting edge of cloud gaming. She began at SEGA, contributing to projects like The Incredible Hulk and the trend-chasing Daisy Fuentes Pilates ...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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1:15:54
Why RPGs Still Rule Games
From Phantasy Star IV to Elder Scrolls IV, RPGs have a way of enduring. In this conversation, we celebrate the genre’s persistence, from the grind that comforts casual players to the progression systems that now define almost ...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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1:00:45
From Star Wars to Marvel to AAA Indie
Andy Alamano’s career spans two decades of game development across some of the industry’s most storied studios. He began at LucasArts, with Bounty Hunter as an early highlight, before moving to SEGA to work on titles like Super Mon...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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1:31:48
When Sonic Met Mario
Remember when SEGA and Nintendo were sworn enemies? In this episode, we trace the unlikely journey from the 16-bit console wars to the modern era of cooperation. From Sonic on GameCube to the wild success of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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37:33
SEGA as a Pioneer of Online Gaming
Afsal Kuner’s career has traced the evolution of online gaming. He helped shape the early days of SEGA’s online presence, navigated bold experiments like Nokia’s N-Gage, and brought his technical and leadership skills to PlayStation. In this co...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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1:08:43
Driving Innovation via a Player-First Mindset
From studio founder and CEO (Demiurge Studios) to bedroom game developer, Al Reed has always taken an entrepreneurial approach to mining the gaming landscape for pockets of opportunity. His success has come from his commitment to creating game ...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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1:12:36
SEGA and PlayStation's Glory Days
We sit down with Klay Vorlick to explore the cross-cultural complexities of game development and publishing. Klay shares stories from his time at SEGA and Sony, diving into what it was like helping bring Japanese titles like Panzer Dragoon ...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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1:17:19
From Codemasters to Crazy Taxi
From Sonic Dash to Crazy Taxi to a near-mythical PS3 Bayonetta rescue mission, Chris Southall’s journey through the games industry is a masterclass in adaptation, precision, and passion. In this episode, we talk about...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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54:41
Immersed in VR: Games, Challenges, and Possibilities
(This episode was recorded in October 2024)VR veteran David Jagneaux joins the podcast to talk all things virtual reality—what’s working, what’s not, and where we go next. From design hurdles like motion sickness to the thrill of immersi...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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1:02:01
Designing with Empathy in Games
Game designer Katina Noonan joins the show to talk about building games with empathy, intention, and awareness. From her work on titles like Game of War and Castle Story to broader reflections on representation, community buil...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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1:10:25
From San Antonio to Shibuya: US vs. JP Game Dev
Former SEGA insider Marc Cellucci takes us behind the scenes of titles like Shenmue and Jet Set Radio. Hear stories about working with legendary developers like Nagoshi-san and the impact of Japanese culture on gaming.
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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1:20:30
Switch 2: How Does the Launch Stack Up?
Chris and Ethan are joined by veteran games journalist Chris “CJ” Johnston for a deep dive into Nintendo’s latest handheld, the Switch 2. Drawing on CJ’s 30 years in the industry,including his influential time at Electronic Gaming Monthly, the ...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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1:19:08
Switch, Steam Deck & Beyond: Playing Anywhere
Chris and Ethan dive deep into the world of portable gaming, from handheld consoles like the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck to mobile gaming. They explore the challenges of adapting AAA games to touch screens to the rise of free-to-play models ...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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50:48
Physical vs. Digital: The Future of Game Distribution
(This episode was recorded in late 2024)Ethan, a passionate collector, makes the case for physical game ownership, while Chris champions the convenience of digital. Together, they explore nostalgia, preservation, and how distribution is ...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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56:49
The Future of Fun: Multiplayer, VR, and Online Identity
Note: This episode was recorded in late 2024Mary Casey joins to discuss immersive experiences in games like Astro Bot, GTA Role Play, and Beat Saber. The episode also explores the role of anonymity in social VR...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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1:23:00
From NES to PS5: A Lifetime in Game Dev
Veteran developer Mike Gallo joins the show to share stories from a career that spans Konami classics to genre-defining RPGs like Knights of the Old Republic. We discuss the challenges of porting complex games to consoles, the importan...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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1:18:47