A Gamer Looks At 40

Ever have a conversation that goes delightfully off the rails? One minute you're talking about the NHL playoffs, the next you're debating theology and the nature of creation. That's the sort of conversation Mike Fallek and I had back in November of 2022. What was intended as a recording about Ocarina of Time quickly morphed into topics like art history, the plight of the struggling...

Over the course of nearly two and a half years of recording for this show, I've chatted with a wide swath of lovely people. Early in my explorations, I chatted with Shaan Shirazi, a man of the moment and retro gamer extraordinaire. On this week's episode, we discuss videogame competitions in the era of quarters and arcades, Revolution X, and Taylor Swift Guitar Hero. NOTE: This episode,...

When I first met Brett Weiss during Classic Games Fest 2022, I knew he would be a required guest. With nearly 40 years of gaming experience, Brett's covered the medium in every possible way. From his 13 published books to his YouTube channel to an impressive collection of games and consoles, Brett is a foremost authority on all things retro. Join us as we discuss the perils of being an author...

Sunlight streaked onto Ace's face Monday morning, the aftereffects of Sunday Funday still on his breath. The smell of bad whiskey and worse cigars lingered in the air. Bleary eyed, Ace glanced at his Samsung and noticed a series of notifications. Past due credit cards, ads for hair gel and a three day old text from his Aunt Mildred. But in the midst of this sea of digital distractions, Ace sp...

Unlike any game in the Zelda canon, Majora's Mask brought out deep emotions and touching stories. So much so, I think it's worthwhile to take one more trip through Clock Town with two people whose lives were irrevocably touched by this uniquely personal experience. Join Seth Sturgill of the All N Podcast, Helena (@hellhathfury on TikTok), and I as they share their final thoughts on Major...

When people think of YouTube documentary series, a handful of names spring to mind. My guest for this week's episode is one of those channels that deserves to be in that conversation. With over 148k subscribers and 17 million total views, Classic Gaming Quarterly is one of premier videogame documentaries currently on YouTube. Join host Chris Alaimo and I as we discuss his first entry point in...

Howdy, hoops fans! With NCAA March Madness firmly in the rear view mirror, what better way to capitalize on the tournament than talk about the SNES game of the same-ish name. Nothing like releasing an SEO friendly episode one week after the event ends, is there? Sorry, folks, but the Zelda series came first... Join my brother and I as we talk about this interesting game, its hockey sibling, penalt...

Hear ye, hear ye! Come hither friends and noble people to hear tales of the past and dreams of the future. And questions asked my brethren on Discord. On this month's State of the Show, I discuss the Zelda series, share the schedule for the next couple of months, talk about a new project and answer questions asked by my amazing Discord community. Thanks for checking out the show!  My Discord:...

By the time you hear this episode, everyone in the gaming universe will have an opinion on the Super Mario Bros Movie. Yours truly is no different. But what about the rambling thoughts of the film's target audience - kids? On this episode, I chat with my 6 year old son about his experience with a movie designed for him and then follow up with my thoughts on a film destined to be divisive beca...

When Nintendo's latest adventure was teased in January of 2013, it was intended to be a killer app for the then fledgling Wii U. Four years later, it launched the Switch into superstar status, left the old tablet console behind, and marked a new, bold direction for an over 30 year old franchise. Join myself and a cast of fellow Zelda lovers as we explore Breath of the Wild while taking some f...

When you spend dozens of hours interviewing people for a huge, six month series, bits and pieces of the conversation inevitably end up on the cutting room floor. This episode resurrects those lost nuggets of goodness and lets us all experience more thoughts, opinions and first impressions of this incredible franchise. Starring (all handles from Twitter) Christian (@brakeman90) of the Franchise Fes...

Before nearly every interview I conduct, I ask my guests three random, silly questions that deserve random, silly answers. This time around, in honor of our ever-running Zelda series, all of this episode's question are related to the world of Link, Hyrule and Gannon. Join myself and 13 amazing guests as we chat in game pals, remasters and the Hookshot. Lots and lots of Hookshot. Starring (all...

Nintendo in the 2000's was a period of transition. Moving to the world of more "adult gaming" while keeping their core "fun over all" values led to strange experiments and commercial triumphs. Both The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword are examples of this shift in philosophy. Going from Wind Waker cute to Twilight dark and back to Skyward bright not onl...

When Wind Waker was originally announced during Space World 2001, fans revolted. With one trailer, Nintendo reversed course on the "adult gamer" trend and planted their flag as the maverick company unafraid to buck tradition. Twenty years later, it's a beloved game. On this episode of A Gamer Looks at 40, we explore the memories and recollections of the people who loved this game th...

Good day, wonderful listeners! Lots of news and updates on the future of the podcast, so rather than a long Discord or Twitter post, why not share it to your earholes? In this update, I talk Patreon, new shows, brand new platforms, and a BIG announcement you won't want to miss.  My Discord: https://discord.com/invite/SdaE4atGjC My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40 My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlook...

When most think about The Legend of Zelda, giant adventures on 20 inch TV screens flood to mind. But what about the quests that fit in the palm of our hands? On this episode of our Zelda series, we take a look at the games that packed big fun into small, bite sized packages.   Starring (all handles from Twitter unless otherwise noted) Allen Petrozzi Christian of the Franchise Festival Podcast (@Br...

We've all heard stories over first dances, couple's songs, and the sappy rom-com that brought two people together. But why not videogames? If electronic entertainment is on par with the big players of the world, why can't it ignite relationships like anything else? On this special Valentine's Day episode of A Gamer Looks at 40, we listen to five short stories of people who conn...

Universally loathed, endlessly memed, and the laughing stock of an entire franchise, the Zelda CD-i games are notorious duds. So why do an episode on them? Because one person attempted to  resurrect these despised fossils and transform them into playable games. This is his story. Starring (all handles from Twitter): Christian S (@brakeman90) of the Franchise Festival Podcast Seth aka Dopply (@thed...

In Part 1 of our two part Majora series, we dove into two stories of lives impacted by this now beloved game. In Part 2, we widen the scope. Join myself and a cast of moon hungry mask fans as we discuss themes, time, and the greatest character not named Link or Zelda to feature in a LOZ game. Starring (all handles from Twitter unless otherwise noted) Allen Petrozzi Christian of the Franchise Festi...

So far in our Zelda journey, we've talked stories and swords, lore and loyalty. Of all the games we've covered so far, Majora's Mask is one of the first that inspired personal change. While we'll cover the nuts, bolts, favorites, and first impressions in another episode, on this edition of A Gamer Looks at 40, we zoom in on how this bizarre yet fascinating game helped pull two...

In 1998, the most people knew of Zelda was 16 bit adventures framed in a top down style. And nobody minded. Zelda was still a top three Nintendo franchise. But when Ocarina of Time hit stores in time for holiday 98, it became a sensation. Nobody would have guessed the leap from 2D to 3D would be so dramatic, so immersive, and so special. On this episode of A Gamer Looks at 40, we continue our romp...

Nothing says "holidays" like the annual tradition of filling out greeting cards for friends and family. And nothing says excess like receiving a two page essay on the year long going-ons of people you barely knew. Jimmy got a gold medal in his swim meet back in May, Addy is expecting their 3rd child in February, etc.  For me, nobody cares what my son did back in August. Most likely picki...

Do you remember your first video game? Do you remember learning how to play that game? If you're like me, probably not. For me, Super Mario Brothers just made sense. There was trial and error, but nothing too challenging. So why do us as parents feel pulled to teach our kids how to enjoy our favorite medium? Is it even possible? And where do we draw the line between trying to guide and lettin...

What's real? What's fake? Can you trust everyone you mean on your journey and even if you can, should you do what they say? While this may sound like the thesis behind The Stanley Parable, it's one of the many complex themes in Link's Awakening, a 4 bit Game Boy game released in 1993. On this episode, myself and a host of Zelda fans talk about this miracle of a game. First expe...

Before 2011, Zelda music was relegated to the world of chiptune themes, YouTube creator covers, and the occasional red herring download from Kazza or LimeWire. So, when Symphony of the Goddesses arrived in 2012, it not only gave fans the chance to hear timeless music the way it was intended to be enjoyed, it let non-gamers understand what us Zelda heads were raving about.  And in the midst of it a...