Select and Start

Live, Laugh, Love A Live! Keifer brings on cartoonist John P Golden (BONEMEN and Adventure Time: The Test For Heroes) to talk about a video game that changed the way he Lives His Live: Live A Live. Other topics we discuss include: how Live A Live is even pronounced, the incredible music of Yoko Shimomura, the intersection of nerd culture with wrestling culture, monster-taming games, fan translatio...

War, war never changes. Keifer returns with the most ambitious episode of the show to date, bringing on Jane from the Unwise Girls podcast to talk about war through Spec Ops: The Line. We also talk about perspective as artistic intention, exploring gender through customizable characters, life on the road with a Steam Deck, and more.  Other games discussed in this episode: Bastion, Transistor, The...

It's good to be back. Keifer brings on Emmett, co-host of the ASOIAF Re-Read Podcast NotACast, to talk about the PS2 classic Sly 2: Band of Thieves. We also talk about the rise and decline of 3D platformers, the platformers of the PS2 era, inappropriate games to play next to your partner, and more! Other games discussed in this episode include Jak and Daxter, Ratchet and Clank, The inFamous series...

Writer, editor, and critic Autumn Wright joins me to talk about the Boycott, Divest, Sanction Movement and the Microsoft Boycott. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 6:35 - What is BDS? 9:42 - Boycotting Microsoft 12:58 - We can do it 36:05 - Ideology, values, and the material 50:07 - What is to be done? 1:08:15 - No Azure for Apartheid 1:12:02 - External Pressure 1:14:52 - Developer Pressure 1:16:10...

After an unscheduled hiatus, Select and Start returns! Shannon Strucci comes on to discuss the polarizing Twin Peaks-inspired open world horror game Deadly Premonition! We also talk about video game creator SWERY65, mourn the loss of artist David Lynch, talk about how he was one of the most influential filmmakers on the medium of video games, and interview beloved writer and video game character A...

Here comes a new podcast! Award-winning podcaster, author, and game designer Jeff Stormer stops by to talk about why the crossover fighting game Marvel vs. Capcom 2 means so much to him! We also talk about Jeff’s love of Dan Hibiki and the biggest losers in video games, Akira Toriyama's impact on the video game medium, how RPGs got Jeff into tabletop games, the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collectio...

Keep on rocking! YouTuber and fighting game aficionado IdolismJ drops in to talk about Guilty Gear Xrd and how it changed his life! We also talk about the fighting game community, what makes a good fighting game, the delightful vision of Daisuke Ishiwatari, eroge games, and more! 0:00 - Intro 0:56 - Introducing IdolismJ 13:36 - The Huniepop Talk 18:18 - Fighting games 34:10 - Introducing Guilty Ge...

About that podcast I owe ya! Select and Start is back to talk with artist Anthony Barbara about Half-Life 2, its impact on the game industry, the world, and himself. We also talk about video games on field trips, the far-reaching impact of the Source engine and Steam, and more! Other games discussed in this episode: The Portal series, The Halo series, Super Mario World, Mario Party 5, Team Fortres...

Hey! Watch out! I break from format a bit and bring on Petra, co-host of the wonderful Hello Hyrule podcast, to talk about our experiences with Zelda randomizers! We talk about how randomizers alter our perception and relationship with the games, their appeal, and the myriad of games with their own randomizers! Other games discussed in this episode:   The Zelda series, the Pokemon series, Ghost Tr...

Hey! Listen closely as Keifer brings on animator and illustrator momopatchi to talk about The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and the monumental impact it left on both of their lives. We also talk about the ways Ocarina of Time impacted the video game industry, its status as the "best game of all time", whether or not it's showing its age as Time marches on, the real-life lessons it ta...

I've hosted podcasts, you know. Happy Halloween! Filmmaker and co-showrunner of the Savannah-Pooler Indie Comics Expo Roman Fruehan returns to the show! No, not as a member of the undead, but as a guest to talk about Dead Rising and the impact it made on his life! Since it's a horror episode we also get into all things spooky! We talk about our favorite horror games and our favorite horror films,...

Independent video game developer Nate Purkeypile comes on the show to talk about how Shadow of the Colossus changed his life and influenced his new video game: The Axis Unseen! We also talk about his storied career with video game companies like Terminal Reality, Retro Studios, and Bethesda, and what prompted him to go independent and develop and publish his own games. Other games discussed in thi...

OPEN YOUR SENSES! Andrew Elmore, video game composer and visual designer stops by to talk about the musical rail shooter Rez and why it's his favorite work of art. We also talk about his experience with being laid off at Bungie, and the ways the video game industry have shifted over the years. We also reflect on the overlooked Sega Saturn and Dreamcast, talk about the unique composers of the video...

Wahoo! It is the 50th episode of Select and Start! Dre drops by to talk about Super Mario Galaxy and the impact it made on his universe. We also try to pitch our own Mario spin-off games and talk about the past, present, and future of 3D Mario!  Other games discussed in this episode: The Super Mario franchise, the Mega Man series, Capcom Fighting Collection, Astro's Playroom, Octopath Traveler 2,...

Listen here, bub. Avry Robin Ott returns to the show to discuss another Raven Software's video game adaptation of X-Men Origins: Wolverine. It gets very silly. We also talk about the appeal of the X-Men, the best comics to read, and talk about our relationship with the various films and cartoons. Other games discussed in this episode: Batman: Arkham Asylum (a lot), Hulk Ultimate Destruction, Spide...

I take orders from the Octodad. Emma, a fellow Moonshot creator (Unnatural Selection, Dead Teen House Party) drops by to talk about Young Horses' Octodad: Dadliest Catch and why it means so much to them! We also talk about how they grew up in a no video game household, the Nintendo DS that changed everything, the mystery game genre, book-to-game adaptations, and more! Other games mentioned in this...

Fellow Moonshot creator Jacqueline Swampert (co-host of Unwise Girls and Dead Teen House Party) rolls by to talk about Neversoft's Tony Hawk's Underground and the impact it made on her life! We also talk about the visual novel-to-lesbian pipeline, the plight of being a Mega Man fan, and try to come up with a new Percy Jackson video game! Other games discussed in this episode: AI: The Somnia Files,...

Designer, developer, and educator at the NYU Game Center Jesse Fuchs drops by to talk about the 1989 computer game Prince of Persia! We also talk about Prince of Persia creator Jordan Mechner and the illuminating, detailed notes he wrote during the game's development! We also talk about Prince of Persia's legacy and influence, 80s computer games, Broderbund as a company, and more! Other games disc...

Two guests! Two games! Gooey and McKenna, co-hosts of Flashback 64, a chronological Nintendo 64 podcast, stop by to talk about Pokémon Red and Blue (and Yellow) and the impact they left on their lives. We also talk about the Nintendo 64, how Flashback 64 came to be, their relationship with Pokemon as a franchise, and more! Other games discussed in this episode: The Legend of Zelda franchise, Mario...

GREGG RULZ OK! Writer Alex Kane stops by to talk about the incredible 2017 indie sidescrolling adventure game Night in the Woods and the impact it made on his life. We also talk about Alex's career as a writer. Getting into video game journalism, the rust belt, deindustrialization, community, the rot of capitalism, and more! Other games discussed in this episode: Destiny, Destiny 2, Halo, Minecraf...

The last podcast is in captivity. The galaxy is at peace. Digital artist Alzandah stops by to talk about the impact Metroid Dread left on his life! We also talk about Alzandah's artistic inspirations, labor conditions in the video game industry, and put Alzandah's favorite games in a March Madness bracket. Other games discussed in this episode: Elden Ring, The Legend of Zelda series, Dragon's Dogm...

Are you ready to Rock (Band 2)? Streamer and comedian Will Lepper returns to the show to talk about the beloved Harmonix hit, Rock Band 2. We also talk about the peripheral-based rhythm game phenomenon of the 2000s, the rise and fall and survival of Harmonix, our taste in music, and more! Other games discussed in this episode: Balatro, Fortnite, Grand Theft Auto V, the Guitar Hero franchise, Hi-Fi...

I wish for a great podcast episode! Alex Kazanas (Artist, One Piece Podcast co-host, Weeb Simpsons creator, and more!) comes on the show to talk about why Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars means so much to him! We also talk about One Piece video games and anime-to-game adaptations, localization, importing Japan-exclusive titles, other Mario RPGs, and more!  Other games discussed in this e...

Wildlife biologist, artist, and co-host of the PokeScience Podcast, Chelsea Connor, stops by to talk about why Capcom's first RPG, Breath of Fire, means so much to her.  We also talk about the challenges of accessing video games on the island country of Dominica, the science and biology behind dragons and Pokémon, the challenges of localization, lizards, magical girls, and more! Other games discus...

This is the pod where he casts you. Bailey Meyers (Writer for Honest Game Trailers) comes on the show to talk about Valve's incredible Portal 2 and why it means so much to her! We also talk about Nancy Drew games, Alan Wake, getting emails from your dad about Baldur's Gate 3, and JK Simmons' rich acting career. Other games covered in this episode include: Threads of Fate, Avatar: Frontiers of Pand...