Best Simon Parkin Podcasts (2024)

1
Matt Firor, founder of ZeniMax Online Studios (The Elder Scrolls Online). 1:10:34

3d ago1:10:34

1:10:34

My guest today is the founder and director of ZeniMax Online Studio, Matt Firor. After studying history at George Washington University, he co-founded the developer Interesting Systems Inc., where he created a MUD-style text adventure titled Darkness Falls. In 1995 he co-founded Mythic Entertainment, where he produced pioneering online games such a…

1
Pitof Comar, film director (Catwoman, Alien: Resurrection). 1:11:51

3d ago1:11:51

1:11:51

My guest today is a French film director and pioneer in the world of digital imaging. Born in Paris, he studied architecture and medicine at university before joining the film industry. He co-founded Duran Duboi, a postproduction house that created visual effects for music videos by artists including Prince, Madonna, Lenny Kravitz, and Boy George. …

1
Hannah Nicklin, playwright, narrative designer (Mutazione, Saltsea Chronicles). 1:16:10

8d ago1:16:10

1:16:10

My guest today is Hannah Nicklin, a British writer and narrative designer for video games. After studying Drama at Loughborough University, and Playwriting at the University of Birmingham, she returned to Loughborough for a doctorate in interactive design as anti-capitalist practice. After several years working as a poet, theatre-maker, and academi…

1
Danny Wallace, writer & broadcaster (Yes Man, Assassin's Creed series). 1:06:48

24d ago1:06:48

1:06:48

My guest today is the award-winning humourist, writer, and presenter Danny Wallace. Born in Dundee, Scotland, he published his first professional video game review at the age of thirteen while conducting work experience for Sega Power, a magazine that subsequently offered him a job. At 22, after graduating from The University of Westminster, he bec…

1
Nainita Desai, composer (Immortality, Call of Duty, Tales of Kenzera: Zau). 1:14:12

1M ago1:14:12

1:14:12

My guest today is Nainita Desai, the British composer for film, television and video games. Born and raised in London by her Indian parents, she earned a degree in mathematics, then studied sound design at the National Film and Television School. She started her career as a sound designer on the films Little Buddha, Lessons of Darkness and Death Ma…

1
Eugene Jarvis, gamemaker (Defender, Robotron: 2084, Smash TV). 1:16:25

1M ago1:16:25

1:16:25

My guest today is the American video game designer and programmer Eugene Jarvis. Born in California, he studied computer science at Berkeley, where, in the basement of the physics laboratory, he played the early video game Spacewar. After graduating he worked for Hewlitt Packard, but quit after three days to join Atari, where he began programming f…

1
Uwe Boll, film director (House of the Dead, Alone in the Dark, Postal). 1:13:24

1M ago1:13:24

1:13:24

My guest today is the German filmmaker Uwe Boll. Born in Wermelskirchen he decided he wanted to direct films at the age of ten, after seeing Marlon Brando star in Mutiny on the Bounty. It wasn’t until he was in his mid-thirties, however, that he directed his first major motion picture, Blackwoods, a psychological thriller that a critic for the New …

1
Derek Yu, gamemaker (Spelunky, UFO 50). 1:11:10

2M ago1:11:10

1:11:10

My guest today is the American video game artist and designer, Derek Yu. Born in Pasadena, California in the early eighties, he started mapping out games on graph paper when he was still a child. After graduating college with a degree in computer science, he moved to San Francisco to work as a freelance illustrator. In 2007 he developed a satirical…

1
Correspondence Special #4: Clickbait? 35:20

2M ago35:20

35:20

In this special correspondence edition, host Simon Parkin reads out listeners' correspondence and answers your questions. Hear Simon discuss the recent, headline-making episode with former PlayStation President Chris Deering, listener responses to the controversy, as well as discussion of what term we should use to describe the genre formerly known…

1
14. Alanna Okun (Writer, Programmer) 1:25:37

2M ago1:25:37

1:25:37

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) Kni…

1
Chris Deering, former President of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. 1:14:25

2M ago1:14:25

1:14:25

My guest today is an American businessman and the former and first president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, Chris Deering. Raised in Boston, Massachusetts to immigrant parents, my guest had a strict upbringing. Despite the disadvantages he faced, he graduated with distinction with a degree in computer science at Boston College, then studied…

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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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
Holly Gramazio, curator, novelist (The Husbands). 1:18:30

2M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

4M 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

4M 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

4M 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
MGIF S6: That's A Wrap! 2:16

4M ago2:16

2:16

To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe! THAT’S A WRAP on Season 6 of MGIF. I'm taking time over the summer to put together S7 and EVOLVE this thing we call MGIF. Thank you to ALL my guests without whom this would be a very boring podcast where I’m just ta…

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

4M 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
MGIF S6 E20: Jess Nesling 1:23:06

4M ago1:23:06

1:23:06

To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe! This episode is with the fabulous voice actor Jess Nesling! We talked about: Growing up in Swansea, finding your “real voice”. how Ice Age inspired Jess to get into voice acting, overcoming shyness, using voice acti…

1
13. Tasha Sounart (Creative Director @ Pixar, Theme Parks) 1:11:26

5M ago1:11:26

1:11:26

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…

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

4M 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
MGIF S6 E19: Shay Thompson 1:02:30

5M ago1:02:30

1:02:30

To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe! This episode is with the spectacular Shay Thompson! I met with Shay at Alexandria Palace - or Ally Pally as it is known - and we had a stroll in the beautiful sunshine before sitting down in a corner of Alexandria P…

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

5M 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

5M 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
MGIF S6 E18: Anna Hollinrake 1:03:12

5M ago1:03:12

1:03:12

To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe! This episode is with third time guest, a MGIF staple, podcast soulmate Anna Hollinrake! I met up with Anna at our favourite sandwich shop and we loaded up on nice stuff before struggling to balance various bagels, c…

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

5M 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
MGIF S6 E17: Moo Yu 1:17:43

5M ago1:17:43

1:17:43

To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe! This episode is with industry veteran, Mr Moo Yu! I met up with Moo outside Waterloo station in London, where we went for a short stroll on a rainy afternoon before finding a covered space outside a cafe to chat abo…

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

5M 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
MGIF S6 E16: Lana Zgombic 1:15:14

5M ago1:15:14

1:15:14

To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe! This episode is another returning guest - it’s the majestic Lana Zgombic! I visited Lana at home where she gave me the grand tour of her lovely flat, complete with Elden Ring and Bloodborne themed painted portraits,…

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

5M 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
MGIF S6 E15: Rory Powers 1:37:37

5M ago1:37:37

1:37:37

To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe! This episode is with the POWERFUL Rory Powers. Rory is one third of the colossal let’s play youtube channel known as RKG, one half of wildly successful podcast This Paranormal Life, a musician, a writer - the guy do…

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

6M 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

6M 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
MGIF S6 E14: Masud Milas 1:10:18

6M ago1:10:18

1:10:18

To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe! This episode is with the one and only, Mr Masud Milas! Masud is a comedian, comedy writer and makes up one third of the Mystery on the Rocks podcast. We met up in our favourite coffee place then walked around Soho, …

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

6M 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

6M 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
MGIF S6 E13 Alex Donaldson 1:13:47

6M ago1:13:47

1:13:47

To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe! This episode is with the marvellous Alex Donaldson. Alex is a video game critic, the owner of RPG Site and Assistant Editor / editor at large for VG247. We walked around the mean streets of Solihull and took in some…

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

6M 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
MGIF S6 E12 Simon Parkin 1:02:37

6M ago1:02:37

1:02:37

To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe! This episode is with the absolutely wonderful Simon Parkin! Simon is a journalist, non-fiction writer and games critic. He also hosts the podcast My Perfect Console, where guests are invited to choose five games tha…

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

6M 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
MGIF S6 E11 Paul Kilduff-Taylor 1:20:40

6M ago1:20:40

1:20:40

To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe! This episode is with the guy they very often call Paul Kilduff Taylor! Paul is a previous guest of the show, and the man behind Mode7 Games. He is also an extremely brilliant music man who is behind several soundtra…

1
Sarah Keyworth, comedian. 1:18:11

7M 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
MGIF S6 E10 Frankie Ward 1:33:03

7M ago1:33:03

1:33:03

To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe! This episode is with the fabulous Frankie Ward! Frankie is an amazing, highly experienced presenter and streamer. She is an Intel Gaming Ambassador and is currently working on FC 24, VALORANT and Fortnite, but she’s…

1
12. Simon Parkin (Journalist @ The New Yorker, My Perfect Console) 56:11

7M ago56:11

56:11

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…

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Simon Parkin Podcasts

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