Best Maddie Higgins Podcasts (2024)

1
Eliot Higgins, founder of Bellingcat. 1:12:41

5d ago1:12:41

1:12:41

My guest today is Eliot Higgins, a British citizen journalist and founder of Bellingcat, a website that specialises in open-source intelligence. In 2012, while unemployed, he became involved in online discussions about the conflict in Syria, where few journalists were able to operate. Despite having little prior interest in the region, he began to …

1
Bonus: Game Club vs. The Messenger 34:44

10d ago34:44

34:44

In this special episode, Simon is joined by comedian Glenn Moore to discuss the subject of July's My Perfect Console 'Game Club', The Messenger. Throughout July 2024, Glenn and Simon, along with many of you, the listeners, played through the 2018 platformer The Messenger, a game chosen by Abu Salim during his episode of My Perfect Console. Glenn an…

1
Maddy Thorson, game-maker (Towerfall, Celeste). 1:08:51

12d ago1:08:51

1:08:51

My guest today is Maddy Thorson, a Canadian writer and designer for video games. At the age of 14, she obtained a copy of GameMaker, software on which she learned to make simple games. After studying computer science at Grande Prairie Regional College in Alberta, she moved to Vancouver and there rented a house in which she and her friends began wor…

1
Thank Goodness We're Back! 1:03:32

33m ago1:03:32

1:03:32

This week Evan is joined by Naomi Higgins, Millie Holten and Frankie McNair to talk about Thank Goodness You're Here! and VR chairs! Make sure you subscribe! ► http://gameygame.com/sub Stream live on Twitch! ► https://twitch.tv/gameygameyshow Support us on Patreon ► http://www.patreon.com/gameygame Check out our clips channel ► http://gameygame.com…

1
Holly Gramazio, curator, novelist (The Husbands). 1:18:30

27m ago1:18:30

1:18:30

My guest today is Holly Gramazio, a writer, curator, and game designer. Born in Australia, she earned her PhD in Creative Writing at the University of Adelaide, then moved to London where she founded the Somerset House-based games festival Now Play This, an annual celebration of experimental games. In 2019 she wrote the script for Dicey Dungeons, a…

1
Listener Console Special #1 21:32

3d ago21:32

21:32

In this special episode, five My Perfect Console supporters share the games they would like to put on their ideal, fictional games machine, and the reasons behind their choices. If you would like to share your console with the My Perfect Console audience, head to www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole where you can become a supporter and receive a raft o…

1
Luke Muscat, gamemaker (Fruit Ninja, Jetpack Joyride). 1:20:44

26d ago1:20:44

1:20:44

My guest today is Luke Muscat, the Australian video game designer behind some of the best-known smart phone games yet made. After graduating from Queensland University of Technology with a degree in IT and Games, he joined Halfbrick Studio, a game developer in Brisbane that specialised in games licensed from film and TV. There he designed a simple …

1
Tribute Episode: Brett Jones, artist (Goldeneye 007, Perfect Dark, Guardians of the Galaxy). 33:53

1M ago33:53

33:53

A special episode to celebrate the life and work of Brett Jones, an artist and animator for video games, film and television who passed away in July. Jones worked on the seminal N64 movie tie-in game, Goldeneye 007, which successfully brought the first person shooter genre to consoles. He made instrumental contributions to its sequel, Perfect Dark,…

1
Steve Meretszky, author of interactive fiction (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy; A Mind Forever Voyaging). 1:18:00

1M ago1:18:00

1:18:00

My guest today is the American video game developer Steve Meretzky. Born and raised in Yonkers, New York, he attended MIT, where he earned a degree in construction management. In 1981, after two years spent working in the construction industry, a friend asked him if he would like to become a tester for Infocom, a publisher that specialised in inter…

1
Rhianna Pratchett, writer for games (Heavenly Sword, Mirror's Edge, Tomb Raider). 1:18:25

2M ago1:18:25

1:18:25

My guest today is an English writer for video games, TV, film, comics, and books. Born into a literary household – her father was the celebrated fantasy novelist Terry Pratchett –– she studied journalism at the University of Arts in London. After graduating she joined the staff of PC Zone, where she worked her way up from editorial assistant to the…

1
Richard Sparks, librettist, writer (L.A. Opera, Not the Nine O'Clock News). 1:11:55

28d ago1:11:55

1:11:55

My guest today is the British scriptwriter and librettist for opera, Richard Sparks. In 1978 he wrote a sketch for Rowan Aktinson, the actor who later played Mr Bean, which Atkinson performed in the Secret Policeman’s Ball, a series of benefit shows organised by John Cleese to raise funds for Amnesty International. The success of the sketch led my …

1
Kelsey Beachum, narrative designer (Outer Wilds). 1:21:37

2M ago1:21:37

1:21:37

My guest today is the American game writer and narrative designer Kelsey Beachum. After graduating from Michigan State University, she worked in publishing, first as editor of the Cryogenic Society of America, then in editorial operations for the satirical current affairs publication, The Onion. In 2012 stared work on a space-mystery game titled Ou…

1
Mike Drucker, comedy writer, the Tonight Show. 1:13:48

2M ago1:13:48

1:13:48

My guest today is Mike Drucker, an American comedy writer and producer. After graduating with a master’s degree in literature from New York University, he worked as a localisation editor for Nintendo, writing English language jokes for games such as Kid Icarus: Uprising. After a year working as Head Video Writer for the website IGN, he joined Late …

1
Michael Sherman, director of e-sports, Riot Games. 1:14:13

2M ago1:14:13

1:14:13

My guest today is Michael Sherman, director of esports for Riot Games. While attending the University of Texas at Dallas for Computer Science, he worked as an Automotive Safety Software Engineer for Texas Instruments, inventing a wireless car-seat that would sound an alarm if a child was left in the car. In 2013 he moved into the emerging world of …

1
Correspondence Special #3: What was the best year for video games? 34:41

3M ago34:41

34:41

In this special correspondence edition, host Simon Parkin reads out listeners' correspondence, answers questions, and offers at least one clue about a forthcoming special guest. Hear Simon discuss which was the best year for video games, which video game characters would make the best stand-up comics, and what Hollywood will do for #content when th…

1
Eric Barone, creator of Stardew Valley. 1:15:06

3M ago1:15:06

1:15:06

My guest today is the American game designer and musician Eric Barone. Born in Los Angeles, he spent his childhood in the suburbs of Seattle. In 2011 he graduated from the University of Washington Tacoma with a degree in computer science, but was unable to find employment. He started developing a video game to hone his programming skills. Supported…

1
Nina Freeman, gamemaker (Cibele, Tacoma, Last Call). 1:12:51

2M ago1:12:51

1:12:51

Nina Freeman is an American independent video game writer and designer. While a student at Pace University in New York, she was drawn to the work of Frank O’Hara and other poets of the New York School, who documented their lives through witty, confessional verse. She began to explore ways in which she could employ a similar tone, not in poetry, but…

1
Abubakar Salim, actor (Napoleon, House of the Dragon). 1:13:06

3M ago1:13:06

1:13:06

My guest today is the British actor Abubakar Salim. Born in Hertfordshire to a family of first-generation Kenyan immigrants, he joined the National Youth Theatre at the age of sixteen, then won a scholarship to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He made his professional stage debut in 2010 playing Osric in Prince of Denmark at t…

1
Chet Faliszek, gamemaker (Half-Life 2 series, Left 4 Dead series, The Anacrusis). 1:22:20

3M ago1:22:20

1:22:20

My guest today is the American writer and game designer Chet Faliszek. In the nineties he and his friend Erik Wolpaw founded the website Old Man Murray. The satirical online publication poked fun at video gaming’s sacred cows and established a tone that is still prevalent across the internet today. After catching the attention of Half-Life creator …

1
MPC Game Club: Stephen's Sausage Roll (feat. Glenn Moore). 37:25

4M ago37:25

37:25

Friend of the podcast Glenn Moore joins Simon for a special bonus episode to discuss April's book-club-game, Stephen's Sausage Roll edition. This previously supporter-only episode gives a taste of the bonus monthly episode My Perfect Console supporters receive through Patreon. Throughout April 2024, Glenn and Simon, together with many of the My Per…

1
Veronica Roth, novelist (The Divergent Trilogy, When Among Crows). 1:10:00

4M ago1:10:00

1:10:00

My guest today is the American novelist and short story writer, Veronica Roth. Born in New York and raised in Illinois, she studied creative writing at Northwestern University. While a student, she wrote Divergent, a dystopian science fiction novel set in a post-apocalyptic version of Chicago. The book sold to a publisher even before she graduated,…

1
Correspondence Special #2: The best game Keita Takahashi never made. 33:20

4M ago33:20

33:20

In this special correspondence edition, host Simon Parkin reads out listeners' correspondence, answers questions, and offers at least one clue about a forthcoming special guest. Hear about the genius game that Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi never made, the latest on film director Steven Spielberg's adaptation of 'A Game of Birds and Wolves…

1
Teddy Dief, gamemaker (Hyper Light Drifter, We are OFK). 1:16:29

4M ago1:16:29

1:16:29

My guest today is the American videogame designer and writer, Teddy Dief. Born in Illinois, they graduated from Columbia University with a degree in music, computer science, and Japanese. Then while studying for an MFA in filmmaking and game design at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, they worked on Pirates of the Caribbean Online, and as a designer …

1
Keith Stuart, journalist & novelist (A Boy Made of Blocks, Love is a Curse). 1:20:18

4M ago1:20:18

1:20:18

My guest today is the English author and journalist, Keith Stuart. He grew up in a town near Stockport in Greater Manchester, then studied English and Drama at Warwick University. After graduating he joined Big Red Software, testing Game Genie codes for the Game Boy, and coming up with names for the vehicles and tracks in Big Red Racing. In 1995 he…

1
Masaya Matsuura, musician, gamemaker (PaRappa the Rapper). 1:19:20

4M ago1:19:20

1:19:20

My guest today is Masaya Matsuura, a Japanese musician and game designer widely considered to be the inventor of rhythm action video games. Born in Osaka City, music ran in the family; his father often performed with his guitar in clubs around Shinagawa Station in Tokyo. My guest was an unruly student until he discovered a love of keyboards and syn…

1
Sarah Keyworth, comedian. 1:18:11

5M ago1:18:11

1:18:11

My guest today is the English stand-up comedian Sarah Keyworth. Born in Nottingham in 1993 they studied drama at De Montfort University, where they became an active member of the university's comedy club. After graduating, my guest then worked for the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, while performing on the circuit. Their first show, Dark …

1
John Johanas, creative director Tango Gameworks (The Evil Within, Hi-Fi Rush). 1:26:29

5M ago1:26:29

1:26:29

My guest today is John Johanas, creative director at the Tokyo-based studio Tango Gameworks. Born on Long Island, New York, he played in a Radiohead covers band while in High School. After graduating with a degree in East Asia studies from Brandeis University, he moved to Japan to work as an English teacher. He started translating Japanese books in…

1
Siobhan Reddy, co-deputy chair, BAFTA. 1:13:34

5M ago1:13:34

1:13:34

My guest today is Siobhan Reddy, a video game executive and the co-deputy chair of BAFTA. Born in South African to Irish and Australian parents, at the age of four she moved to Campbelltown, New South Wales in Australia. There as a student she became interested in filmmaking and technology. At eighteen she moved to the UK and began working for Perf…

1
Correspondence Special #1: Revisiting Jack Thompson. 38:25

5M ago38:25

38:25

In this special correspondence edition, host Simon Parkin explores feedback from the recent episode with Jack Thompson, reads out listeners' correspondence, answers questions, and offers at least one reveal about a forthcoming special guest... Be attitude for gains. https://plus.acast.com/s/my-perfect-console. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy…

1
Wes Fenlon, senior editor, PC Gamer. 1:22:44

5M ago1:22:44

1:22:44

My guest today is Wes Fenlon, a San Francisco-based writer and senior editor at the video game publication PC Gamer. Having graduated from The University of Georgia with a degree in journalism and magazines, my guest freelanced for The Wirecutter –– the product review website now owned by the New York Times –– and Tested.com where he reviewed and r…

1
Jack Thompson, Former lawyer, "anti-video-game activist." 1:15:32

6M ago1:15:32

1:15:32

My guest today is former lawyer who gained recognition in the late nineties and early 2000s as an "anti-video game activist", criticizing the content of violent video games and their alleged effects on children. Via a series of high-profile lawsuits, including several against Rockstar, the creator of the Grand Theft Auto series, he claimed that Mat…

1
Abhi Swaminathan, gamemaker (Venba). 1:13:15

6M ago1:13:15

1:13:15

My guest today is a game developer and founder of Visai Games. At the age of twelve he moved to Canada from Southern India, then, hoping to enter the games industry, studied Computer Science at the University of Toronto. After graduating, my guest took a programming job at the mobile games studio, Uken Games. In his spare time he and an artist frie…

1
Be the change | Helldivers 2 and Google DeepMind (with Grace Jarvis, Scout Boxall and Naomi Higgins) 1:10:15

6M ago1:10:15

1:10:15

This week Evan is joined by Naomi Higgins, Grace Jarvis and Scout Boxall to talk about Helldivers 2 and Google DeepMind! Make sure you subscribe! ► http://gameygame.com/sub Stream live on Twitch! ► https://twitch.tv/gameygameyshow Support us on Patreon ► http://www.patreon.com/gameygame Check out our clips channel ► http://gameygame.com/clips Faceb…

1
Val McDermid, crime writer, Booker Prize judge. 1:07:12

6M ago1:07:12

1:07:12

My guest today is a Scottish crime writer. Born into a working-class family in Fife, she studied English at St Hilda’s College Oxford, where she was the first student to be admitted from a Scottish state school. She first worked as a journalist, then a dramatist and, in 1987, published her first novel, Report for Murder. Since then, my guest has re…

1
It gets better | Fight Crab 2 and bullying (with Mish Wittrup, Patrick Durnan Silva and Naomi Higgins) 1:17:50

5M ago1:17:50

1:17:50

This week Evan is joined by Naomi Higgins, Mish Wittrup and Patrick Durnan Silva to talk about Fight Crab 2 and bullying! Make sure you subscribe! ► http://gameygame.com/sub Stream live on Twitch! ► https://twitch.tv/gameygameyshow Support us on Patreon ► http://www.patreon.com/gameygame Check out our clips channel ► http://gameygame.com/clips Face…

1
Patrick House, neuroscientist and writer. 1:20:49

6M ago1:20:49

1:20:49

My guest today is an American neuroscientist and writer. Born in New York, he earned his Ph.D. in neuroscience from Stanford University in 2014, researching Toxoplasma gondii, the single-celled feline parasite that infects mouse brains and may––or may not––mess with their fear of cats. As well as studying ancient genetics – specifically conducting …

1
I don't like what you've become | Pacific Drive and games you can smell! (with Naomi Higgins, Bec Petraitis and Ben Russell) 1:14:35

6M ago1:14:35

1:14:35

This week Evan is joined by Naomi Higgins, Bec Petraitis and Ben Russell to talk about Pacific Drive and games you can smell! Make sure you subscribe! ► http://gameygame.com/sub Stream live on Twitch! ► https://twitch.tv/gameygameyshow Support us on Patreon ► http://www.patreon.com/gameygame Check out our clips channel ► http://gameygame.com/clips …

1
Yoshinori Kitase, director & producer (Final Fantasy series, Chrono Trigger). 1:05:27

6M ago1:05:27

1:05:27

My guest today is a Japanese video-game director, producer, and executive officer of Square-Enix. Born in 1966 in Fussa City in the suburbs of Tokyo, he studied filmmaking at Nihon University. After graduating, he was working at an animation studio when he first played Final Fantasy on the Famicom, and immediately saw the dramatic potential of the …

1
What a thrill to be on the Titanic! | Titanic VR horror game and Xbox news! (with Naomi Higgins, Ashley Apap and Han Arbuthnott) 1:22:04

7M ago1:22:04

1:22:04

This week Evan is joined by Naomi Higgins, Ashley Apap and Han Arbuthnott to talk about a new Titanic VR horror game and Xbox news! Make sure you subscribe! ► http://gameygame.com/sub Stream live on Twitch! ► https://twitch.tv/gameygameyshow Support us on Patreon ► http://www.patreon.com/gameygame Check out our clips channel ► http://gameygame.com/…

1
Rod Fergusson, SVP Blizzard Entertainment (Gears of War, Bioshock Infinite, Diablo IV). 1:18:03

7M ago1:18:03

1:18:03

My guest today is Senior Vice-President of Blizzard Entertainment and General Manager of the Diablo video game series. After attending the University of Ottawa for Computer Science, my guest joined Microsoft as a Microsoft Consultant, before he moved to the company’s games division to work titles including Microsoft Train Simulator, then the Xbox v…

1
This is a lot to take in | Silent Hill: The Short Message and giant dildos! (with Maddy Weeks, Annie Louey and Naomi Higgins) 1:16:48

6M ago1:16:48

1:16:48

This week Evan is joined by Naomi Higgins, Maddy Weeks and Annie Louey to talk about Silent Hill: The Short Message and giant dildos! Make sure you subscribe! ► http://gameygame.com/sub Stream live on Twitch! ► https://twitch.tv/gameygameyshow Support us on Patreon ► http://www.patreon.com/gameygame Check out our clips channel ► http://gameygame.co…

1
Helen Macdonald & Sin Blaché (Writers, H is for Hawk, Prophet). 1:18:24

7M ago1:18:24

1:18:24

My guests today are co-authors of the techno-thriller novel Prophet. Helen Macdonald is an English writer, naturalist, and an affiliated research scholar at the University of Cambridge. Their 2014 book “H is for Hawk” tells the true story of a year spent training a northern goshawk while grieving. The book won, among many other things, the Samuel J…

1
Soggy cronut | Palworld and studying games in school! (with Greg Larsen, Michael Hing and Naomi Higgins) 1:28:22

6M ago1:28:22

1:28:22

This week Evan is joined by Naomi Higgins, Greg Larsen and Michael Hing to talk about Palworld and studying games in school! Make sure you subscribe! ► http://gameygame.com/sub Stream live on Twitch! ► https://twitch.tv/gameygameyshow Support us on Patreon ► http://www.patreon.com/gameygame Check out our clips channel ► http://gameygame.com/clips F…

1
Iain Lee (broadcaster, comedian, counsellor). 1:19:30

7M ago1:19:30

1:19:30

My guest today is an English broadcaster, writer, television presenter and stand-up comedian. Born in Slough, he began working as a comic in the early nineties, soon landing a gig as co-host of Channel 4’s The 11 O’clock Show, the satirical comedy programme that launched the careers of Sacha Baron Cohen and Ricky Gervais. A slew of high-profile TV …

1
Gary Whitta, screenwriter (The Book of Eli, Star Wars: Rogue One). 1:20:44

7M ago1:20:44

1:20:44

My guest today is a British author and screenwriter for film and video games. Born in London, he began his career as a writer for the games magazine Commodore User, then joined the team that founded PC Gamer, of which he later became editor-in-chief. In 2010, my guest found success in Hollywood as the writer of The Book of Eli, a post-apocalyptic n…

1
Best of 2023 (Part 2). 1:11:32

8M ago1:11:32

1:11:32

Another selection of some of our favourite clips from My Perfect Console's amazing line-up of guests from 2023. Cast in Order of Appearance Henk Rogers Dylan Cuthbert Charles Cecil Jörg Tittel Ellie Gibson Danny Pudi Joseph Mackertich Josh Wardle Dan Vecchitto Tarn Adams Kelsey Lewin Stella Wisdom Tetsuya Mizuguchi Nolan Bushnell Thanks for listeni…

1
Best of 2023 (Part 1). 58:29

8M ago58:29

58:29

It's been a thrilling first year for My Perfect Console. Here are some of our favourite clips from 2023. Cast in Order of Appearance Dara Ó Briain Heather Ann Campbell Pierre Novelli Ashly Burch Jennifer Hale Dominic Armato Phil Wang Jason Schreier Lucas Pope Meghan Jayanth Peter Molyneux Ronan Farrow Naomi Alderman Mike Rose Susan Calman Josh Sche…

1
Console of the Year Award (2023) 29:12

9M ago29:12

29:12

A special episode announcing the winner of the My Perfect Console of the Year (2023) Tournament. It's time. Fifty-two consoles have now been whittled down to two final machines. It's an all-North American final, as the U.S.A.'s Heather Anne-Campbell takes on Canada's Phil Fish. Both machines are spectacular, potential best-sellers: Heather Anne-Cam…

1
Nolan Bushnell, co-founder Atari. 1:13:44

9M ago1:13:44

1:13:44

My guest today is an American scientist, entrepreneur, and a founding father of the video game industry. Born in 1943, he grew up in Utah, in a Mormon family, before leaving to study engineering and business at Utah State University. While a student he played Spacewar!, one of the earliest digital games designed for the PDP-1 computer. After gradua…

1
Josh Scherr, narrative director (co-writer Uncharted 4, The Last of Us Part II). 1:21:46

9M ago1:21:46

1:21:46

My guest today is an American writer and narrative designer for video games. After graduating from the USC School of Cinematic Arts with an MFA in Animation, he worked as an animator in Hollywood, contributing to an early version of Shrek at DreamWorks, Dinosaur at Disney, and to the music video Californication by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. In 2001…

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