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My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin

Simon Parkin

In My Perfect Console, Simon Parkin, award-winning author video game critic for The Observer invites well-known guests from the worlds of gaming, film and television, music, comedy and more to pick the five video games they would like to immortalise on a fictional games machine. They discuss those five games in chronological order of release, interspersed with biographical chat about the guest’s life and career –– a lens that often leads to new and unexpected insights.

"Thoroughly modern and ahead of its time...a gift." - NEW YORK'S VULTURE

"Charming, insightful." -- THE GUARDIAN

TIME OUT'S 50 Best Podcasts

VULTURE's Best Podcast of the Year

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#180
Tuesday · 1 hr 21 min
Paolo Pedercini, founder MolleIndustria (McDonald's Videogame, The New York Times Simulator, Future? No Thanks!)
Paolo Pedercini is an Italian game designer, artist, educator, and activist whose work has spent more than two decades challenging assumptions about what video games are for, and what they are allowed to say. In 2003, he founded Molleindustria as a project dedicated to the "reappropriation of video games and the radicalisation of popular culture." Since then, he has created a remarkable body of short, provocative games about labour, capitalism, religion, technology, and political power, including McDonald’s Videogame, Oiligarchy, Every Day the Same Dream, Phone Story, and Democratic Socialism Simulator. His games have often been satirical, often controversial, and always interested in using play as a way of thinking through systems and ideology. Now he is working on his most ambitious project yet: Future? No Thanks!, an open-world comedy adventure about a grumpy old man completing his bucket list in a solarpunk future. NOTES: Paolo Pedercini / Molleindustria Molleindustria – official site (all Paolo's games) Paolo Pedercini – Wikipedia Paolo Pedercini – Bluesky (@molleindustria.org) Future? No Thanks! (out now) Future? No Thanks! – Steam Future? No Thanks! – official site Other Molleindustria games mentioned McDonald's Video Game – play free in browser Oiligarchy – play free in browser Every Day the Same Dream – play free in browser Phone Story – Wikipedia Democratic Socialism Simulator – itch.io Faith Fighter – play free in browser Sweatshop (as mentioned by Simon) Sweatshop – play in browser The New Yorker piece (as mentioned by Simon) The Division 2 and the Severing of Politics from Video Games – The New Yorker Paolo's Perfect Console Cannon Fodder (Sensible Software, 1993) – Wikipedia Sensible Software – Wikipedia Shadow of the Colossus (2005) – Wikipedia Grand Theft Auto V – Rockstar Games Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – Wikipedia Push Me Pull You – House House (Steam) House House – developer of Untitled Goose Game and Big Walk Radiator Forever – Robert Yang (itch.io) Robert Yang – game designer Other games and references mentioned Theme Park – Bullfrog Productions (1994), Wikipedia Postal 2 – Wikipedia GTA San Andreas Hot Coffee mod – Wikipedia The Yes Men – activist/prankster duo Foxconn suicides – Wikipedia itch.io – indie games platform Aftermath – independent games journalism Tom Bissell – My Perfect Console episode Untitled Goose Game – House House Next week's guest Úna Míng Kavanagh – IMIRT emerging talent award 2026 Úna Míng Kavanagh – TikTok (@unamingkavanagh) Support the show My Perfect Console – episode archive Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#179
September 22 · 1 hr 30 min
Anna Donlon, head of Valorant Studios (Valorant, League of Legends, Call of Duty: Black Ops)
My guest today is an American game producer and studio leader whose career has been shaped by a deep love of competitive shooters and more than two decades spent building some of the genre’s major titles. She began at Treyarch, where she worked as a senior producer on Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops II, before joining Riot Games in 2015. There, she first helped lead League of Legends’ cosmetic content and in-game events. She later moved into leading a new tactical shooter project, becoming Executive Producer of VALORANT and guiding the game to its launch in 2020. Today, as Head of VALORANT Studios, she oversees the franchise’s wider creative and strategic direction, while also championing initiatives such as VCT Game Changers, Riot’s programme supporting women and marginalised genders in competitive play. LINKS Anna Donlon – Valorant & Riot Games Valorant – official site (free to play) VCT Game Changers – Riot's programme supporting women and marginalised genders in competitive play Riot Games – official site Anna's Perfect Console Silent Hill 2 (PS2, 2001) – Wikipedia Silent Hill 2 Remake (2024) – Steam Grand Theft Auto III (PS2, 2001) – Wikipedia Shadow of the Colossus (PS2, 2005) – Wikipedia Shadow of the Colossus Remake (2018) – PlayStation BioShock (2007) – Wikipedia Ghost of Tsushima – official site Ghost of Tsushima – PlayStation Ghost of Tsushima: Iki Island – Wikipedia Also mentioned Kaboom! (Atari 2600) – Wikipedia ICO (PS2, 2001) – Wikipedia Red Dead Redemption 2 – Rockstar Games Arc Raiders – Steam Call of Duty: Black Ops – Wikipedia Call of Duty: Black Ops II – Wikipedia Treyarch – Wikipedia JumpStart – educational games series, Wikipedia University of California, Santa Cruz Next week's guest Paolo Pedercini / Molleindustria – official site Future? No Thanks! – Steam (out now) Support the show My Perfect Console – episode archive Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 17 · 38 min
Correspondence Special #9: Which games should have been on the podcast by now (and much more)
In this special correspondence edition, Simon reads out your letters and answers your questions. Is there a cut-off point for working in games journalism? Which video game does Simon think should surely have been picked by now but hasn't? Who decides how long guests talk about their game choices? How does Simon actually make the show — from bookings to post-production to those musical stingers? What is Simon's new book about, and how did he uncover the untold legal battle thxat changed the shape of the video game industry? And did you know the UK government has a Head of Video Games and Esports who listens to the show? Us neither! All this and much more. And congratulations to letter-writer Chris Law, who wins a signed copy of Blood Echoes: A Bloodborne Anthology. . Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#178
September 15 · 1 hr 29 min
Chris Cantrill, comedian, writer Saturday Night Live UK.
Chris Cantrill is a British comedian, writer, and actor from West Yorkshire whose work combines rapid-fire jokes with an off-kilter view of everyday life. He first came to prominence as one half of the acclaimed sketch duo The Delightful Sausage, alongside Amy Gledhill, earning Edinburgh Comedy Award nominations for Best Show in both 2019 and 2022. As a solo performer, he added another nomination in 2024, before returning to Edinburgh this summer and finally winning the Comedy Award for Best Show in 2026. Alongside stand-up, he has appeared in programmes including Alma’s Not Normal, Daddy Issues, Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared, and Avoidance, while his writing credits stretch across television and radio. Most recently, he joined the writing team of Saturday Night Live UK, which returns for its second season this week. LINKS Chris Cantrill Website Instagram The Delightful Sausage Saturday Night Live UK SNL UK on Sky Simon's Observer Features How Saturday Night Live Landed in the UK Jack Shep on That Princess Di Impression Chris's Perfect Console Duke Nukem: Time to Kill Final Fantasy VII Bloodborne Animal Well The Case of the Golden Idol Other games discussed Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Dark Souls Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Resident Evil 2 Remake The Witcher 3 Elden Ring Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#177
September 8 · 1 hr 25 min
Sarah Maria Griffin, poet, author (Eat the Ones You Love; Strange is the Light)
My guest today is an Irish writer, poet, critic, and podcaster. Born and raised in Dublin, she began writing seriously as a teenager, studied English, Media and Cultural Studies at IADT, and later completed a Master’s in Creative Writing at NUI Galway. Her early work included the poetry collection Follies and Not Lost, a book of essays about emigration written after she moved to San Francisco in 2012. Since returning to Ireland, she has published a series of acclaimed novels, including Spare and Found Parts and Other Words for Smoke, which won Teen and Young Adult Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards. Her 2025 horror novel Eat the Ones You Love was followed by a shortlist for Author of the Year, and she is now the 2026 Arts Council Writer Fellow at Trinity College Dublin. Alongside her fiction, she writes about games for The Guardian. Her new horror novel, Strange Is the Light, is out now, and she is currently working on another book, about video games, titled Everything Not Saved. LINKS Sarah Maria Griffin – books & socials Sarah Maria Griffin – official website Sarah Maria Griffin – Instagram (@sarahgriffski) Sarah Maria Griffin – Substack Sarah Maria Griffin – writing about games for The Guardian Strange as the Light (out 8 September 2026) Strange as the Light – Waterstones Strange as the Light – Titan Books Strange as the Light – Bookshop.org UK Earlier novels Eat the Ones You Love – Waterstones Other Words for Smoke – Waterstones Sarah's Perfect Console EarthBound (SNES, 1994) – Wikipedia EarthBound – Nintendo Switch Online The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask – Wikipedia Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door – Nintendo Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door – Wikipedia Night in the Woods – official site Night in the Woods – Steam Wandersong – official site Wandersong – Steam Other references mentioned Disco Elysium – Steam Chicory: A Colorful Tale – official site (Greg Lobanov, also made Wandersong) 826 Valencia – literacy non-profit, San Francisco Dublin Youth Theatre Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin – Waterstones Rock, Paper, Shotgun – games journalism Glenn Moore – Button Boys podcast Next week's guest Chris Cantrill – Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Show winner 2026 (Rewilding) Chris Cantrill – Chortle profile Saturday Night Live UK – ITV Support the show My Perfect Console – episode archive Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#176
September 1 · 1 hr 27 min
Mike Diver, journalist, author (Aliens: The Video Games)
Mike Diver is a British journalist, editor, and author whose career has moved fluidly between music criticism and video games writing, always with an eye for subculture, history, and stories beyond the mainstream. He began at the music website Drowned in Sound, where he rose to become content editor, before going on to work with Clash and contribute to publications including Kerrang! and Rock Sound. Later, he turned increasingly to video games, writing for outlets including Edge and Kotaku - as well as heading up teams at VICE Gaming (later Waypoint) and GAMINGbible - and bringing the same curiosity and critical energy to games culture, retro hardware, and the history of the medium. Alongside his journalism, he has written six books on video games and edited several more, covering subjects from indie games and esports to Sonic the Hedgehog and Final Fantasy. His latest book, Aliens: The Video Games, continues that fascination with the way great pop-cultural worlds mutate and endure through interactive form. LINKS Mike Diver – website & book Mike Diver – Aliens: The Video Games: An Unofficial Guide (Waterstones, out 30 August 2026) Aliens: The Video Games – publisher White Owl / Pen and Sword Alien games discussed Alien: Isolation – Steam Aliens: Dark Descent – Steam Aliens: Colonial Marines – Wikipedia Aliens: Infestation (Nintendo DS) – Wikipedia Aliens vs. Predator (Capcom, 1994 arcade) – Wikipedia Alien: Rogue Incursion – Steam Alien: Isolation 2 – official announcement trailer Mike's Perfect Console Sensible Soccer (1992) – Wikipedia Sensible World of Soccer – Wikipedia Streets of Rage 2 – Wikipedia Streets of Rage 4 – official site Snatcher – Wikipedia 1944: The Loop Master – Wikipedia Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium (includes 1944) – Steam The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – official site The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Steam Other games and references mentioned Drowned in Sound – Wikipedia (music website where Mike began his career) Vice Gaming / Waypoint – Wikipedia Aftermath – independent games journalism site Respec – independent games journalism site Mina the Hollower – Yacht Club Games Yuzo Koshiro – composer of Streets of Rage 2 soundtrack, Wikipedia Hideo Kojima – Wikipedia Evercade – retro gaming handheld Next week's guest Sarah Maria Griffin – official website Eat the Ones You Love – Sarah Maria Griffin's latest novel (Waterstones) Sarah Maria Griffin – writing about video games for The Guardian Support the show My Perfect Console – episode archive Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#175
August 25 · 1 hr 36 min
Soren Johnson, game designer (Civ III, Civ IV, Spore, Old World)
Soren Johnson is an American programmer and game designer whose work has helped shape the modern strategy genre. After earning a master’s degree in Computer Science from Stanford University, he joined Firaxis Games, where he worked as both a programmer and designer on Civilization III before going on to lead the design of Civilization IV, one of the most celebrated strategy games yet made. Over the years he has contributed to a wide range of projects, including Spore, Dragon Age Legends, and Offworld Trading Company, bringing a distinctive blend of historical insight, systemic thinking, and player-driven design. Today he is the founder and design director of Mohawk Games, where he recently led the development of the acclaimed historical strategy game Old World. Alongside his development work, he continues to explore the craft of game design through his long-running blog and podcast, both of which are titled “Designer Notes”. Soren Johnson – website & podcast Soren Johnson – Designer Notes blog Designer Notes podcast – episode archive Designer Notes – Apple Podcasts Designer Notes – Spotify Mohawk Games & Old World Mohawk Games – official site Old World – official page Old World – Steam Old World – GOG Old World – Epic Games Store Old World: Empires of the Indus DLC – Mohawk Games Soren's Perfect Console Pinball Construction Set (1983) – Wikipedia M.U.L.E. (1983) – Wikipedia Seven Cities of Gold (1984) – Wikipedia Legacy of the Ancients (1987) – Wikipedia Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri (1999) – Wikipedia Other games and references mentioned Civilization IV – Wikipedia Civilization III – Wikipedia Sid Meier's Pirates! (2004 remake) – Wikipedia Civilization Revolution – Wikipedia Offworld Trading Company – Steam Spore (2008) – Wikipedia Balatro – Steam Vampire Survivors – Steam Schedule I – Steam Lethal Company – Steam Bennett Foddy – personal site Danielle Bunten Berry – Wikipedia (designer of M.U.L.E.) Trip Hawkins – Wikipedia (founder of Electronic Arts) Jake Solomon – Wikipedia Game Developers Conference (GDC) – official site Simon's book Trial of the Space Invaders – pre-order (Bookshop.org UK) Trial of the Space Invaders – pre-order (Amazon UK) Support the show My Perfect Console – episode archive Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#174
August 18 · 1 hr 15 min
Glen Henry, gamemaker, co-founder Jamaica Game Developer Society.
My guest today is a Jamaican game developer and studio founder. Based in Kingston, he is the founder of Spritewrench Studios, a narrative-focused micro studio he built after realising, in his final year at university, that he did not need to leave Jamaica or join a hundred-person team to make games of his own. Inspired by that possibility, he began creating small projects, taking part in game jams, and steadily turning Spritewrench from a name into a company. His work is shaped by a commitment to cultural representation that reaches beyond cliché, and by a wider effort to grow the local scene through the Jamaica Game Developer Society, where he has worked to connect creators and open up pathways into the industry. Now, with Duppy Detective Tashia, a point-and-click mystery rooted in Caribbean folklore, he is bringing that vision to a wider audience. Glen Henry & Spritewrench Studios Spritewrench Studios – official website Spritewrench – itch.io (all games) Glen Henry – Instagram (@spritewrench) Duppy Detective Tashia Duppy Detective Tashia – Steam Duppy Detective Tashia – itch.io Jamaica Game Developer Society Jamaica Game Developer Society – official site JGDS – YouTube channel (Crash Course series) Glen's Perfect Console The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker – Wikipedia Viewtiful Joe (GameCube, 2003) – Wikipedia Spelunky Classic – free download (Derek Yu's site) Spelunky Classic – Wikipedia Hades – official site Hades – Steam Hollow Knight: Silksong – official site Also mentioned Bastion – Supergiant Games Transistor – Supergiant Games Indie Game: The Movie – official site Black Voices in Gaming – community Discord Rami Ismail – game developer and advocate Chase Bethea – composer (Duppy Detective Tashia) Bubblexity – BChaotic (Jamaican student dev team, Steam) TIGSource – indie game development forums Global Game Jam Next week's guest Soren Johnson – designer of Civilization IV Old World – Mohawk Games (Steam) Simon's book Trial of the Space Invaders – pre-order (Bookshop.org UK) Trial of the Space Invaders – pre-order (Amazon UK) Support the show My Perfect Console – episode archive Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#173
August 11 · 1 hr 10 min
Amelia Tait, journalist, children's author.
Amelia Tait is a British journalist and author whose work has made her one of the sharpest observers of modern life online and off. As a freelance writer, she has built a reputation for following the strange, revealing currents of contemporary culture — writing about the internet, and remarkable people for publications including The New Yorker, The Guardian, Wired, and the New York Times. Her reporting is often drawn to the places where technology and absurdity collide, finding the human story inside subjects other people might dismiss as niche or ephemeral. Now she has turned that same wit and curiosity to fiction with her debut children’s book, Lily Tripp: Diary of an Accidental Time Traveller, a funny, fast-moving adventure about a girl bouncing through history while trying to survive friendship drama and the general embarrassment of being thirteen. LINKS Amelia Tait – website & writing Amelia Tait – official website The Waiting Room – Amelia's Substack newsletter Lily Tripp: Diary of an Accidental Time Traveller Lily Tripp – Waterstones (Waterstones Children's Book of the Month, June 2026) Lily Tripp – Amazon UK Amelia's Perfect Console Theme Hospital (1997) – Wikipedia The Simpsons: Road Rage (2001) – Wikipedia The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker – Wikipedia The Sims Bustin' Out (Game Boy Advance, 2003) – Wikipedia Stardew Valley – official site Stardew Valley – Steam Other games mentioned Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo The Simpsons: Hit & Run – Wikipedia Amelia's journalism – selected pieces Are Disney Adults the Happiest Debtors on Earth? – The New Yorker Amelia Tait – articles on The Guardian Next week's guest Duppy Detective Tashia – Glen Henry / Spritewrench Studios – Steam Spritewrench Studios – itch.io Support the show My Perfect Console – episode archive Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#172
August 4 · 1 hr 16 min
James Trickey, comedian.
James Trickey is a British comedian whose work blends sharp writing, physical comedy, and, in his new show, one of the more extraordinary Edinburgh Fringe stories in recent memory. By day he works as an accountant; by night he has been building a reputation as one of the most promising young voices on the live circuit, with appearances across the UK, a Chortle Student Comedy Award nomination, and a Best New Show nomination at the Leicester Comedy Festival. Last year, his sold-out Edinburgh debut, Don’t Count on Me, marked him out as a rising talent, earning strong reviews and an enviable word-of-mouth reputation. Since then, he has appeared on the BBC’s Funny Parts and returned to the Fringe with a new show shaped in part by the strange and unexpectedly dramatic events of last summer. LINKS: James Trickey – follow & tickets James Trickey – Instagram (@jamestrickey_) James Trickey: Split – Edinburgh Fringe 2026 tickets (Pleasance Courtyard, 9:25pm, 5–30 August) James Trickey: Split – Avalon press release James's Perfect Console The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion – Wikipedia The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered – Steam Halo 3 – Wikipedia Undertale – official site Undertale – Steam God of War (2018) – PlayStation God of War (2018) – Wikipedia The Last of Us Part II – PlayStation The Last of Us Part II – Wikipedia Bristol comedians to watch Abi Clarke – comedian and content creator Alex Kitson – Chortle profile Jessie Nixon – Chortle profile Ted Milligan – British Comedy Guide Pravanya Pillay – PBJ Management Also mentioned Alfie Brown – comedian Glenn Moore – at the Monkey Barrel, Edinburgh Fringe Pokémon Crystal – Wikipedia Super Mario Advance (Game Boy Advance) – Wikipedia League of Legends – official site Support the show My Perfect Console – episode archive Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#171
July 28 · 1 hr 32 min
Pierce Brown, science fiction novelist (Red Rising series).
Pierce Brown is an American novelist whose work has made him one of the defining voices in modern science fiction. After a restless childhood that saw his family move repeatedly and left him passing through more than ten schools, he began writing in earnest just after high school. After years of rejection, he found his breakthrough with Red Rising, the first instalment in an epic saga that fused classical tragedy, Roman myth, and space opera into an international bestseller. Since then, the series has grown into a global phenomenon, winning a devoted readership for its high-stakes politics and fierce emotional intensity. Alongside his work as a novelist, he has embraced gaming culture—contributing to the Red Rising board game and speaking openly about his love of everything from StarCraft II to Mass Effect and Cyberpunk. Now, as the series is being reissued in special tenth-anniversary editions, a new generation of readers is discovering the world that made his name. LINKS Pierce Brown – website & books Pierce Brown – official website Red Rising – the complete saga Red Rising: Sons of Ares – prequel comic series Pierce Brown – Instagram (@piercebrownofficial) Red Rising board game Red Rising – Stonemaier Games (designed by Jamey Stegmaier) Pierce's Perfect Console Command & Conquer (1995) – Wikipedia Command & Conquer: Red Alert – Wikipedia Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun – Wikipedia Shogun: Total War (2000) – Wikipedia Total War series – official site Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn – Wikipedia Black & White (2001) – Wikipedia The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind – Wikipedia Books and other references mentioned Plato's Republic – Wikipedia Antigone by Sophocles – Wikipedia The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas – Wikipedia Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card – Wikipedia The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie Gattaca (1997 film) – Wikipedia Gustave Doré – illustrator, Wikipedia Support the show My Perfect Console – episode archive Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#170
July 21 · 1 hr 36 min
John Robertson, comedian, creator The Dark Room.
John Robertson is an Australian comedian, writer, and performer who has carved out a singular space between stand-up, theatre, and video games. Beginning his career on the UK and international comedy circuit, he became known for his high-energy, unpredictable style—before creating The Dark Room, a live-action text adventure where audiences shout commands, face absurd deaths, and attempt to survive his chaotic world. The show has toured globally, sold out runs at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and grown into an online phenomenon, streamed to millions and adapted into digital formats. Alongside this, he has written and performed a wide range of solo shows and interactive work, creating a unique space where comedy, games, and audience participation collide. John Robertson – website & show John Robertson – official website The Dark Room – live show information The Dark Room – live dates and tickets The Dark Room – Edinburgh Fringe 2026 at the Gilded Balloon The Dark Room – Dark Room Deathstravaganza at Leicester Square Theatre, 22 November John Robertson – Twitch (Robbotron) John's Perfect Console Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Mega Drive, 1992) – Wikipedia Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo – Wikipedia Wii Sports Resort – Wikipedia Sid Meier's Civilization V – Wikipedia Hitman: World of Assassination – official site Hitman: World of Assassination – Steam Other games and references mentioned Caves of Qud – official site Caves of Qud – Steam PAX West – Seattle gaming convention Switch Sports – Nintendo Next week's guest Pierce Brown – official website Red Rising – Pierce Brown's debut novel Support the show My Perfect Console – episode archive Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#169
July 14 · 1 hr 19 min
Andreas Thorstensson, former Counter-Strike champion, founder GOALS AB.
Andreas Thorstensson is a Swedish entrepreneur, former professional gamer, and studio founder whose career has moved from the early days of esports to the challenge of rebuilding one of the world’s biggest sports genres from the ground up. Born in Stockholm, he began programming as a child and later emerged in competitive Counter-Strike under the name ‘bds’, becoming world champion in 1999 and earning a reputation as both a player, and builder of tools, platforms, and communities around the game. In 2001, he co-founded SK Gaming, helping turn esports into a more professionalised business, and later spent a decade in technology and startups. In 2021, frustrated by the state of football games, he returned to development to found GOALS AB, a Stockholm studio with an ambitious aim: to give football the video game it deserves. Its first title, GOALS, is a free-to-play, cross-platform football simulator built around a gameplay-first, fully skill-based philosophy. Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#168
July 7 · 1 hr 24 min
Abigoliah Schamaun, comedian.
Abigoliah Schamaun is an American comedian, writer, actor, and podcaster whose open-hearted style has made her one of the most distinctive voices on the UK stand-up circuit. After cutting her teeth in the clubs of New York, she moved to Britain and there steadily built a reputation as a charismatic performer, becoming a popular headliner on the live comedy scene. Alongside her stand-up, she has appeared on shows including Pointless Celebrities, Captive Audience, Outrageously Funny Comedy, and I Live with Models. More recently, through the podcast Neurodivergent Moments, which she co-hosts with Joe Wells, she has spoken with warmth and candour about ADHD and neurodivergence,. Now, that podcast has inspired a new book, Neurodivergent Moments: Sex, Sunscreen, Turtles and How (Not) to Pack a Suitcase, a funny, personal collection of essays out now. Abigoliah Schamaun – official site & socials abigoliah.com – official website Neurodivergent Moments – the book Neurodivergent Moments: Sex, Sunscreen, Turtles and How (Not) to Pack a Suitcase – Linktree (buy links & live events) Neurodivergent Moments – the podcast Neurodivergent Moments podcast – Acast Neurodivergent Moments – Patreon (bonus content) All British Comedy Explained – the podcast All British Comedy Explained – official site All British Comedy Explained – Apple Podcasts All British Comedy Explained – Spotify Abigoliah's Perfect Console Super Mario Land – Wikipedia Mortal Kombat (1992) – Wikipedia Beat Saber – official site Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Nintendo Other people and references mentioned Joe Wells – co-author and podcast co-host Sea of Thieves – official site Penelope Keith – Wikipedia Nerd of Mouth podcast Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#167
June 30 · 1 hr 31 min
Luke Whittaker, gamemaker. (South of the Circle, Lumino City).
Luke Whittaker is a British game designer and creative director. With a background in animation and games design, he co-founded the BAFTA-winning indie studio State of Play in 2008, helping establish a reputation for meticulous, hands-on craft and playful experimentation. He was the creator and lead designer of Lumino City, the puzzle adventure built entirely from hand-made paper and card models, which won a BAFTA for Artistic Achievement. Since then he has worked on a string of distinctive projects including the Apple Award-winning pinball painting game INKS and the paper-crafted puzzle games KAMI and its sequel. As writer, director, and lead artist on South of the Circle, he even travelled to Antarctica to research a deeply human Cold War love story. Now, with Spycraft, a 1960s spy adventure that blends a physical board with video game mechanics—and comeswith a physical gadget built to play it—he continues to blur the boundaries between digital play and physical craft. Relevant Links: Luke Whittaker & State of Play State of Play Games – official site State of Play – about the studio Spycraft & the Board device Spycraft – State of Play Games page Spycraft – on the Board store Board – the gaming device Spycraft runs on South of the Circle South of the Circle – State of Play Games page South of the Circle – Steam South of the Circle – Apple App Store Luke's Perfect Console North & South (1989) – Wikipedia Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure – Wikipedia Sega Rally Championship – Wikipedia ICO – Wikipedia Firewatch – official site Firewatch – Wikipedia Other games and references mentioned Lumino City – State of Play Games page Samorost – Amanita Design Machinarium – Amanita Design KAMI 2 – State of Play Games page Shadow of the Colossus – Wikipedia Oxenfree – Night School Studio RetroPie – retro gaming on Raspberry Pi The Turner Contemporary – Margate Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#166
June 23 · 1 hr 53 min
Rob Dubbin, comedy writer, game designer (The Colbert Report, Scripto).
Rob Dubbin is a comedy writer and game designer whose work spans late-night television, journalism, and interactive storytelling. After studying History and Literature at Harvard University, he began his career in comedy, becoming an Emmy-winning writer on The Colbert Report and later The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Away from television, his writing has appeared in publications including The New Yorker and The Verge. More recently, he has moved into game design and tools, becoming the co-creator of Scripto, a collaborative writing platform for format-driven work—from television scripts to video games—where he serves as Head of Games. His current projects include co-hosting The Secret Lives of Games podcast and he recently launched the boardgame Starfriends. Across all of his work, he has become a thoughtful advocate for clarity and economy in writing—particularly in games, where he believes every word must earn its place. SHOW LINKS: Rob Dubbin Rob Dubbin – official website Rob Dubbin – work & projects Roblemsolving – Rob's blog Rob Dubbin – itch.io Brainfruit Studio / Star Friends Brainfruit Studio shop Star Friends – official site Star Friends – Kickstarter campaign Scripto Scripto – collaborative writing software Scripto – about Scripto – eight takes on game writing The Secret Lives of Games / Eggplant Eggplant – the Secret Lives of Games podcast network Eggplant – about The Secret Lives of Games – on Apple Podcasts Rob's Perfect Console ZZT – zzt.org archive and community ZZT (1991) – Internet Archive Star Control 2: The Ur-Quan Masters – open source port Free Stars: The Ur-Quan Masters – Steam Master of Magic Classic – Steam Master of Magic Classic – GOG Slice & Dice – developer site Slice & Dice – itch.io Slice & Dice – Steam Caves of Qud – official site Caves of Qud – Steam Caves of Qud – itch.io Other games and references discussed Letterboxd – film rating and diary app Wavelength – party game Apples to Apples – official site Game Developers Conference (GDC) Harvard University The Colbert Report – Comedy Central The Late Show with Stephen Colbert – CBS Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#165
June 16 · 1 hr 29 min
George Osborn, strategist, author (Power Play: Video Games, Politics, and the Battle for Global Influence.)
George Osborn is a journalist, strategist, and analyst whose work explores the increasingly fraught intersection of video games, business, and politics. He has worked as a reporter, consultant, and as Head of Campaigns and Communications at Ukie, the UK trade body for games, developing a rare vantage point on how the medium shapes, and is shaped by, power. He is also the founder of Half-Space Consulting and the editor of the Video Games Industry Memo newsletter, where he examines the forces driving the modern games business. In his new book, Power Play: Video Games, Politics, and the Battle for Global Influence, he argues that games have become far more than entertainment: they are now digital third places, contested spaces in which authoritarian regimes, populists, and extremists seek to wield influence. LINKS: George Osborn: The book: Power Play – buy via Bookshop.org UK (supports independent booksellers)Power Play – Waterstones Power Play – Bookshop.org US The newsletter: Video Games Industry Memo – George's newsletter (free to subscribe) The Games: GoldenEye 007 (N64, 1997) The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (N64, 2000) Championship Manager 01/02 Mass Effect 2 Balatro Also mentioned Bellingcat – investigative journalism outlet founded by Eliot Higgins Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#164
June 9 · 1 hr 22 min
Gabríel Ólafs, pianist, composer, founder Reykjavík Orkestra.
Gabríel Ólafs is an Icelandic pianist, composer, and producer whose work blends classical tradition with fantasy and a strikingly modern sense of atmosphere. Born in Reykjavík in 1998, he began playing piano at the age of five, receiving both classical and jazz training before emerging as a recording artist while still a teenager. His debut album, Absent Minded, was released in 2019, and his subsequent work has expanded steadily in scope—from the solo intimacy of Piano Works to the folk-inspired Lullabies for Piano and Cello, which grew out of a 1906 Icelandic songbook he discovered in an antique shop. He is also the co-founder of the Reykjavík Orkestra, and has quickly become one of the most distinctive young voices in contemporary instrumental music. Most recently, with Polar, he has moved further into speculative, atmospheric composition, drawing in part on the dreamlike emotional language of video games. Gabriel Ólafs: Website Releases Archive Spotify Apple Music YouTube Instagram Polar: Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Music Buy CD (Decca Classics) Buy from Decca Records US YouTube Playlist Polar: Traveler's Log: Listen on Spotify Polar: Building A World: Watch on YouTube The Waves: Listen on Spotify Forza Horizon 6: Official Site Xbox Other Gabriel Ólafs Releases / Labels: Oli Records Decca Classics Releases Archive Jóhann Jóhannsson / IBM 1401: Listen on Spotify Watch on YouTube Nils Frahm: Website Spotify Gabriel's Perfect Console: World of Warcraft The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered God of War Death Stranding Baldur's Gate 3 Other Games Discussed The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Diablo IV Metal Gear Solid 2 Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#163
June 2 · 1 hr 31 min
Elise Kova, romantic fantasy novelist.
Elise Kova is a fantasy novelist whose rise from online serial writer to international bestseller has made her one of the defining voices in modern fantasy. She began writing young, producing her first novella in sixth grade, and later returned to storytelling in earnest when she started Air Awakens in 2012 as a hobby, posting chapters online and building an early community of devoted readers. After querying the book without success, she chose to publish it independently in 2015, a decision that gave her full creative control and transformed her career. Within a year she had become a full-time author, and soon afterwards her work began appearing on bestseller lists, from USA Today to the New York Times. Since then, her novels have reached readers around the world, selling millions of copies and spawning a string of beloved fantasy series, including the Loom Saga, Married to Magic, Dragon Cursed and Arcana Academy. Next, she returns to that world with Prince of Swords, one of her most eagerly awaited books yet, publishing in July 2026. Elise Kova – Website & Books: Elise Kova's official website Elise Kova – About & FAQ Prince of Swords – Elise Kova's website Prince of Swords – Penguin Random House The Games: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Final Fantasy X Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne Persona 3 Bloodborne Music mentioned: Zedd – Clarity (Spotify) Simon's books & projects: Trial of the Space Invaders: The Case that Changed Video Games Look for the Light: The Last of Us Anthology – Tune & Fairweather (pre-order) Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Next week's guest Gabríel Ólafs – Polar (Spotify) Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#162
May 26 · 1 hr 23 min
Brendan Greene, game-maker (PUBG, Prologue: Go Wayback!)
Brendan Greene is a game designer whose work reshaped the landscape of competitive multiplayer video games. Raised on a barracks in County Kildare, he grew up in an army family with little more than an Atari 2600 for company. He studied Fine Art in college, taught himself web design, and spent years freelancing — even moving to Brazil — before rediscovering video games through the DayZ mod for Arma 2. What began as hobbyist tinkering on Reddit forums became something much bigger when he created the Battle Royale mod in 2013, inspired by the cult Japanese film. Three years later, the mod became PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. PUBG’s brutal, hundred-player survival format exploded into a global sensation, helping cement the battle royale genre as a dominant force in modern video games. Now, through PlayerUnknown Productions, he has returned to his fascination with emergent storytelling with Prologue: Go Wayback!, a game that challenges players to navigate nature’s unforgiving systems and carve their own path through the wilderness. Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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