EP 79 - The Man Behind The Box of Mega Man 2 w/Marc Ericksen

EP 79 - The Man Behind The Box of Mega Man 2 w/Marc Ericksen

Author: Bill Tucker June 19, 2023 Duration: 49:26
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 Vietnam, to Silicon Valley in the 1980's to a career that spawned over 150 pieces of videogame art. S...

Hosted by Bill Tucker, A Gamer Looks At 40 is a personal and often nostalgic audio documentary that frames the evolution of video games through intimate, firsthand accounts. Instead of dry historical timelines, each episode unfolds like a conversation among friends, gathering personal recollections from a diverse group that includes family members, fellow enthusiasts, gaming journalists, and developers who were there. This podcast digs into the cultural and technological shifts of the last three decades, exploring how gaming intersected with everyday life, from the living room console to the arcade cabinet. You’ll hear specific, sometimes humorous, sometimes poignant stories that collectively paint a richer picture of this dominant leisure activity. The tone is reflective and grounded, focusing on the human experiences behind the pixels and soundtracks. By prioritizing these individual narratives, the series offers a unique lens on society and technology, making it more than just a history lesson. It’s about the memories formed around games, the communities they built, and the personal milestones they accompanied. Listening to this podcast feels like uncovering a shared scrapbook, where each story adds another piece to understanding how interactive entertainment became woven into our collective culture.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

A Gamer Looks At 40
Podcast Episodes
Ep 128: Final Fantasy 7 (Part 10) - Odds, Ends and Random Thoughts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:00
It's almost over! After nearly three months of chatting, recording, and discussing, we're at the "random thoughts" section of the Final Fantasy 7 series. Join us as we chat materia, mini games, and that bizarre PC port o…
Ep 125: Final Fantasy 7 (Part 7) - Memories and Moments [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:52
More than the pillars of Cloud, Sephiroth, and Aerith, Final Fantasy 7 is filled to the brim with memorable moments, both big and small. On this week's episode, we discuss everything from dens of ill repute to epic slap…
Ep 124: Final Fantasy 7 (Part 6) - Story and Themes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:56
As we continue down the road of dissecting Final Fantasy 7 like some bizarre Hojo experiment, we arrive at story and themes. From the opening tales of corporate greed and environmental espionage to the eventual themes of…
Ep 123: Final Fantasy 7 (Part 5) - A Memorable, Enduring Cast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:35:16
When lost in the dueling seas of Cloud and Sephiroth, it's easy to forget there's an entire cast backing them up. From the drama of Aerith to the strong-willed Barret, there's plently of gold to be mined in Final Fantasy…
Ep 121: Final Fantasy 7 (Part 3) - MORE Intros and First Impressions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:48
Welcome back to our multi-month exploration of Final Fantasy 7! This week, we continue to share our first impressions and initial thoughts about this incredible, enduring title. Many thanks to all my guests who helped ma…
Ep 120: Final Fantasy 7 (Part 2) - Intros and First Impressions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:43
Before FF7, our first impressions of a game were generally in a home. Huddled around a CRT TV in a friends basement or stuffed on the family couch, experiencing games for the first time was an intimate experience. But wi…