Fewer, Better, Super, Stronger

Fewer, Better, Super, Stronger

Author: Video Game History Foundation May 14, 2022 Duration: 2:03

We have a quick announcement about the podcast this week - Frank explains: we're changing our publishing frequency, why, and what it means moving forward. We'll be back at it next week; see you then!


Ever wonder how the stories behind your favorite games actually get uncovered? Video Game History Hour pulls back the curtain on that process, hosted by Frank Cifaldi from the Video Game History Foundation. Instead of dry lectures, each episode feels like you’re overhearing a fascinating conversation between experts. Frank invites game developers, historians, and storytellers to share their discoveries and the real, often messy work of preservation. You’ll hear about the frustrating dead-ends that make researchers want to bang their heads against the wall, followed by those incredible breakthroughs when a forgotten piece of history suddenly clicks into place. This podcast is built on the genuine thrill of sharing a find, capturing the human side of digging through old code, tracking down obscure prototypes, or interviewing pivotal developers whose contributions have been overlooked. It’s a casual, engaging dive into the layers of an industry often focused only on the future, reminding us that every game has a past worth saving. Tune in for a refreshingly authentic look at the passion and persistence required to keep video game history alive, one surprising story at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Video Game History Hour
Podcast Episodes
Ep. 99: 9/9/99 - Launching the Dreamcast (Again) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:12
Dreamcast Junkyard veterans Tom Charnock and Brian Vines join us to share their knowledge and experiences of the Dreamcast’s launch in both the European and US markets, respectively, and even a little on the Japanese mar…
Ep. 98: The Sacred Pools [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:54
Dylan Mansfield, gaming historian and archivist, joins the show to share an odd piece of Sega history from his recent article Saving Sacred Pools: Sega’s Million Dollar Adult Game. This mid 90’s FMV game with adult theme…
Ep. 97: Club Penguin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:27
Chris Gliddon, archivist and producer at RocketSnail Games, takes a look back at the inception and evolution of Club Penguin, an MMO virtual world filled with games and activities from 2005. In this episode: Chris and Ke…
We Need Your Memories! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:14
As the end of the year approaches, so does our 100th episode and we can't wait to celebrate by hearing about your favorite memories from the last 99 shows. Please send your stories, questions, and comments to podcast@gam…
Ep. 96: Margot Comstock - “The Glue” of the Early Apple II Era [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:26
Computer and video game historian, NYU assistant professor, and all-around rad friend of the show Laine Nooney discusses their recent article One of the most important women in Apple’s history never worked for Apple. In…
Ep. 95: PRGE 2022 Post-Mortem (Don’t worry, it’s very alive!) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:02
Chris Kohler returns to the show, this time to chat with Frank Cifaldi about the Portland Retro Gaming Expo held annually in Portland, Oregon. In this episode: a creepy merry-go-round, PRGE museum iterations, a drive-by…
Ep. 94: Magnavox: The Great Voice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:46:55
Alex Smith hijacks the show from co-hosts Kelsey and “the other Kelsey” to dive deep into the history of Magnavox, manufacturer of the first commercial home video game console: Odyssey. In this episode: a ‘loudspeaker’ r…
Ep. 93: Street Fighter II: What’s in a Name? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:21
Drew Mackie, author and owner of gaming blog Thrilling Tales of Old Video Games, joins the show this week to share the history of some of Street Fighter II’s character names. We start off with a recent article of his, If…
Ep. 92: SharkWire Online [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:43
Ernie Smith, editor of website and newsletter Tedium and chum of the show, hooked our attention with his recent article Surf Like A Shark highlighting the SharkWire Online, a totally unlicensed device which brought inter…
Ep. 91: Life Before Final Fantasy VII [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:23
Journalist and critic Kim justice recently released a video, The Story of JRPG's in the UK BEFORE FFVII: Super Play Magazine | Kim Justice, challenging the traditional narrative about how JRPGs were introduced in the UK,…