A Gamer Looks At 40

LJN The name alone brings shockwaves of terror to retro gamers everywhere. But what was it like back in the day? Join podcaster Michael  Colby and I as we discuss three titles: The Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine, and Spider-Man: Return of the Sinister Six.  And be sure to check out Michael's show Jack Billings Presents: Haunted Apartment Complex - https://open.spotify.com/show/1hi3mFv6Cezcf0WsmsTsx...

Last week, we looked at the various nuts and bolts of the Final Fantasy franchise to see what it structurally needed to be a member of the family. On this week's episode, we explore personal stories, connections made, and communities built over this landmark series of games. STARRING (all handles from Twitter) Aiden Moher (@adribbleofink) Carson Clark (@DesireeKorrupt) Josh of Still Loading P...

From its humble beginnings as a "last gasp" for a fledgling game designer to the billion dollar monolith it is today, Final Fantasy's rise from niche to mainstream mirrors videogames as a whole. On this episode of A Gamer Looks at 40, we launch our multi-month deep dive into the world of this storied franchise, meet some of its super fans and try to answer the unanswerable: what mak...

When A Gamer Looks at 40 first launched in May of 2021, my intention was for it be a year long project. To date, I've been at it for over two and half. So, it's time for a break! On this episode, I announce a three month hiatus from producing new episodes for the show. Give this quickie a listen to learn why the break, what to expect during the pause in new work, and what to look forward...

Another week, another chance to share even more videogame stories from the gaggle of lovely people I got to chat with over the last few months. Enjoy Side Quests Volume 8, Intros Part 2, etc, etc! STARRING (all handles from Twitter X) Brian aka @DayandKnightly Cat Blackard (@NeonFeline) of the Mother, She Wrote Podcast (@EarthBoundPod) Ian aka @teacherbloke85 Jodi aka @Bakuiel Lucas White aka @Hok...

Whenever I get the opportunity to chat with people about games, the conversation rarely stays on topic. Invariably, my guest and I start jibber-jabbering about all sorts of gaming related topics. In this action packed addition to my Side Quests series, we learn the backstories of a few of my favorite guests from the last four months of podcast interviews. Volume 8 is coming next week! STARRING (al...

Rather than swelter in the Austin sun listening to music or attending one of the many festivals in town, I decided to pony up a few bucks and fly to Oregon to attend the Portland Retro Gaming Expo. I expected a giant convention where I'd spend too much money on retro goodies, check out a panel or two and see my pals at Gamer's Week host a competition. What happened was infinitely more im...

While Madden was always a good time, EA's NHL Hockey was video game magic. As a starry eyed street hockey goalie in West Caldwell, New Jersey, NHL '94 was my escape. My opportunity to pretend I was Marty Brodeur, if only on the screen. A masterpiece of control, gameplay, and pure joy, the early NHL games set the gold standard for sports simulations, a mark that few games every reached. J...

With football season in full swing and hockey just getting started, my mind drifts to the games of yesteryear. And for my 11 year old money, there was no finer distraction than EA's Madden and NHL franchises. Join EA developers Troy Lyndon and Richard Hilleman as they discuss the birth of these classic games, the technological marvels that made them possible and their storied legacy. NOTE: In...

Take it from somebody who appreciates every single one, there's nothing better than passionate fans. Gaming communities can run the gambit from welcoming to toxic, engaging to gatekeeping. Whenever people are around people, people will do people things.  The community surrounding Earthbound is unique in both its welcoming nature and wide variety of people involved. Over 30 years worth of fans...

Some say a game is only as good as its ending. While I think that's an inaccurate statement, if the adage is true, than Earthbound is a masterpiece. A culmination of theme, character arc, story and emotion, this game's final encounter and conclusion is among the best of the 16 bit era. Join myself and a joy filled crew of fellow adventurers as we discuss the final moments of Earthbound. ...

A passing glance at a mid-90's Game Pro magazine would likely reveal an ad or two for Earthbound. Not a mention of deep themes, relatable characters and a story that crosses the ages. Nope! Master Belch and "This Game Stinks". Luckily, this wonderful SNES experience is more than the claims of its marketing and my cast of nine are here to tell you exactly why.  STARRING (all handles...

Fuzzy Pickles! The first time a diminutive photographer stopped my game to take a snapshot of my team, I felt two things: joy and minor annoyance. Joy because it was a charming moment of connection for my crew and annoyance because I'm a modern gamer dad who has precious seconds to spare. But regardless of where I land, it was a big moment. On Part 2 of our ongoing Earthbound saga, my friends...

When Earthbound landed on American shores in 1995, nobody knew quite to make of it. In an RPG landscape where Final Fantasy 6 and Chrono Trigger ruled supreme, a silly game about farts and fuzzy pickles didn't garner much interest. At least according to the marketing. Fast forward nearly 30 years, and Earthbound has grown from 16 bit outcast to the stuff of legends.  On this initial decent in...

Hear ye, hear ye! Come hither and hear the latest going on's with the show, the schedule of upcoming episodes, a neat announcement and a wonderful AMA starring my charming wife. All sorts of frivolity on this week's episode. Thanks, as always, for listening! My Discord: https://discord.com/invite/SdaE4atGjC My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40 My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlooksat40 My Insta:...

How much do you know about Dick Tracy. If you're a person of my vintage, it's the campy 90's movie starring Al Pacino and Madonna and James Rolfe screaming about the video game adaptation.   On this episode of Tales From the Bargain Bin, Mike Albertin of Games My Mom Found fame talk about this strange, ill fated game, AVGN videos, the Sopranos, and the bizarre lengths Warren Beatty...

Salutations lovers of the underworld!  Doom 2016. A lightning blast of blistering gameplay, buckets of blood and an incomprehensible lore nobody cares about, this Bethesda backed splatterfest is a joy to experience. Join my brother and I as we talk potential TV series, make comparisons to the original Doom, and share the dangers of standing still in the bowels of Hell. LIKE THIS EPISODE? BECOME A...

In Part 2 of our exploration of rental houses and video stores, we talk about games. All. The. Games. From the love-at-first-play titles to the weekend ruining disappointments, we swap stories of purchases yore. And we conclude the conversation by thinking back to what it was like as a kid wandering the aisles of our favorite video shop searching for the perfect game. STARRING (all handles from Tw...

Remember your local video store? Maybe it was a mom and pop shop on the outskirts of town. Perhaps it was a big box chain in the corner of a strip mall. Regardless of where it was or what it was called, video stores were more than a weekly fix of random games. It was an oasis of exploration and discovery. A place where $4 could buy you a brand new favorite or a weekend of disappointment. Join myse...

Time to dip into the deep bowels of the Disney well and chat about a game we played to death because we - well - owned it. And the funny thing? This strange licensed piece of children's software isn't half bad. Join my brother and I as we discuss oddly fun mini games, why adults go to Disney World, Nintendo Power's Pak Watch and how standing in lines is a waste of our ever dwindling...

Mario Paint. For a generation of kids in the early 90's, that title alone conjures up images of star studded music staffs, spraypaint drawings and one killer fly swatting game. A safe place where anyone could create, Mario Paint was the launchpad of imaginations, passions and in some cases careers for millions of people. On this episode, we share stories of pictures drawn, music composed, and...

Back in the mid 90's, there was nothing more exciting than getting a PC. That is, until, you realized it was purchased for homework and researching term papers on ancient Roman civilizations. And forget about asking mom and dad for PC games. That's what your SNES was for. For many young people of that era, myself included, the pack in software of our grey box PC's were the only ente...

When Marc Ericksen landed a gig to pen a box cover for a middling videogame franchise, he had limited information. What he didn't know was what that game would become legendary for all the right reasons and his art would become infamous for all the wrong ones.  Join Marc and I as we discuss his road to creating the box art for Mega Man 2, a story that takes us from a military career in Vietna...

Six months ago, I asked Greg, CJ (from the Player One Podcast) and Dan "Shoe" Hsu to join me for an E3 episode. Swap stories of the conference and celebrate the return of an in person event. Two months later, the conference was cancelled. Undeterred, the trio kept the appointment and joined me for an E3 retrospective. Rather than craft a eulogy, the crew shares their favorite moments, li...

Ready for a massive smorgasbord? Prepare to dive in forks first as we present a summer barbeque's worth of random thoughts, opinions and recollections culled from months worth of interviews. Zelda (again), light guns and gaming with kids highlight this fun, random episode. Starring (all handles from Twitter) Celeste (@faeriecrypt) of @AnotherZeldaPod Greg Sewart of the Player One Podcast (@p1...