Podcast
Gamer Era
Hosted by Friendly Mushroom Productions · EN
Since the dawn of time, humanity has tried to establish just what it is about gaming that draws us in, shapes us, drives us to greater things. Whether it be the simple pleasure of Mario, the complex twists and turns of Master Chief, the beauty of Chuckie Egg, we have all been defined by what we play, in a way, wouldn't you say? Yeah! So join Sam and David (and guests!) as they delve into the games, consoles, and phenomena that have defined their lives and explore just what makes their Gaming Eras tick.
26episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Episode 016 – Nickel and Slimed
Jul 24, 202401:40:54Tap to summarizeIt’s better than bad - it’s good! It’s time to get goopy, gacky, and all kinds of wacky, as Sam invites resident millennial Kit back on the pod to talk through two of Nickelodeon’s earliest animated efforts and their vibrant history in games. How close did Ren & Stimpy get to capturing the anarchic spirit of the show? How much content was cut from the Rugrats’ premiere 3D outing? And how many times can we say the words “lost media” before it loses all meaning? Whatever the answers, one thing’s clear - a gamer’s gotta do what a gamer’s gotta do. Gaming, that is. Follow us on Twitter, Bluesky and Backloggd: @GamerEraPodcast Topics discussed: The Ren & Stimpy Show (Veediots!, Stimpy’s Invention, Fire Dogs, Time Warp); Rugrats: Search for Reptar, Rugrats in Paris, Rugrats: Studio Tour, Totally Angelica! Also mentioned: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Pokémon Red Nuzlocke, Rayman Redemption, Connie and the Essence of Chaos, Sonic P-06, Sonic SMS Remake, Corn Kidz 64, Tiny Terry’s Turbo Trip; Doug’s Big Game, Smiling Friends, Stan Lee’s Stripperella, Cans Without Labels, Kickstarter, Indivisible, Omori; The Rugrats Movie (Game Boy), n-Space (developer), Duke Nukem: Time To Kill / Land of the Babes, Heroes of Ruin Music used: “Gay Activity” [as heard in “Ren & Stimpy Production Music”] - Clive Richardson "lead past evil leavs" [as heard in “Corn Kidz 64”] - Gammis Fire Station - The Ren & Stimpy Show: Fire Dogs Dog Pound Hop - The Ren & Stimpy Show: Time Warp “Take Me There” [from “The Rugrats Movie”] - Blackstreet and Mya (ft. Mase & Blinky Blink) Training - Rugrats: Search for Reptar Happy Happy Joy Joy - The Ren & Stimpy Show Further reading: “Sick Little Monkeys: The Unauthorized Ren & Stimpy Story” (Thad Komorowski, 2017) [ISBN: 1629331821]: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=YRqKDwAAQBAJ “Cans Without Labels” (John Kricfalusi, 2019): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSZqX5Io6AY "Rugrats: Search for Reptar" original design document (1997): https://archive.org/details/rugrats-design/mode/2up?view=theater “THQ, Sony Team in Rugrats Marketing Bonanza” - IGN (1998): https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/12/04/thq-sony-team-in-rugrats-marketing-bonanza Nickelodeon Animation Podcast with Arlene Klasky (2017): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/arlene-klasky/id1112655996?i=1000369921438&mt=2 "Rugrats at 30: Grown-Up and Revolutionary" – Pop History (2021): https://pophistory.club/analysis/rugrats-at-30-grown-up-and-revolutionary
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Episode 015 – A Sporting Chance
Jul 10, 202401:52:50Tap to summarizePut me in, coach - I’m ready to play! In the spirit of a VERY sporting summer, Gabe beams in from @The_Pauldcast to share memories of digital bats, clubs and racquets. In the first half, Sam provides commentary on the contributions of a certain moustachioed plumber to the arcade sports genre, before David rises from the bench to analyse some truly bizarre football (soccer!) tie-ins and off-shoots. Also tangents. So, so many tangents. (small content warning for NSFW material in the second half of the pod!) Follow us on Twitter, Bluesky and Backloggd: @GamerEraPodcast Topics discussed: Wordle (and its derivatives), Lego Indiana Jones 2, Euro Truck Simulator 2; Mario Sports (predominantly Golf, Tennis and Baseball), Camelot Software Planning, Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball; Mario Strikers Charged Football, The Mission (PS1), International Superstar Soccer 2000 Also mentioned: Duolingo, I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, Rayman; Ace Golf, Tennis for Two, Color-TV Game: Block Kuzushi, Mario’s Tennis, Everybody’s Golf/Stress Buster, Wii Sports, Mario Hoops 3-on-3, NHL Slapshot, Kevin Costner in Field of Dreams; Jumpers for Goalposts, eFootball / PES, Red Card, Lego 2K Goooal! Music used: “Light and Tuneful” [BBC Wimbledon Theme] - Keith Mansfield Mario Brothers Court - Mario Tennis (N64) Artist on the Court - Mario Power Tennis Mario Stadium - Mario Superstar Baseball Toad Highlands - Mario Golf (N64) Training Mode - International Superstar Soccer 64 Football (Edit Mode) - Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 Monkey Soccer - Super Monkey Ball 2 Further reading: Fake Baseball Player names: https://twitter.com/lrgmnn/status/813635533658144768, https://twitter.com/ProductiveOuts/status/1504918421762285568 Nike: The Mission advert (2000): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIpHlhY03Pw
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Episode 014 – Call of the Cyber-Maniac
Jun 26, 202401:48:36Tap to summarizeDim the lights, set the stage - it’s gaming’s biggest night! After Sam swipes right on Nintendo’s clumsy first year in smartphone gaming, David rolls out the red carpet for Cybermania ‘94 - one of the industry’s earliest attempts at an Oscars-style game awards show. There’s surprise star appearances, incredibly stilted comedy bits, and the secret origins of gaming's strongest warrior, Geoff Keighley. A gala ripe for the picking. Follow us on Twitter, Bluesky and Backloggd: @GamerEraPodcast Topics discussed: Goofy’s Fun House, Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom; Miitomo, Pokémon GO, Super Mario Run; Cybermania ‘94: The Ultimate Gamer Awards Also mentioned: Fortnite, Sam gets a Steam Deck; The Mobile GB Adapter, iPad vs. 3DS, Angry Birds, Metroid Prime: Federation Force; Leslie Nielsen, William Shatner, Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, NBA Jam, Double Dragon V, Mortal Kombat Music used: International Superstar Soccer 2000 - Menu Music 3 (“Okay Fellas”) Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom - Arcade Panik Miitomo - Mii Studio Super Mario Run - Underground Theme Prestige Production - Neil Richardson “The Naked Gun” Theme - Ira Newborne Further reading: Cybermania '94: The Ultimate Gamer Awards (Full Show) - LearnToCounter (2012): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af9M8llS9JA Hillary Clinton interviews 100-year-old French Clown - bababoi (2023): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdkX5mVo5Aw “iPad 2 fans square off against Nintendo 3DS fans in our queue-clashing video” - CNET (Luke Westaway, 2011): https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/ipad-2-fans-square-off-against-nintendo-3ds-fans-in-our-queue-clashing-video/ Iwata addresses smart device concerns in investor meeting (Nintendo, 2012): https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/events/121025qa/03.html Miyamoto on the philosophy of Mario Run’s pricing (Nintendo Everything, 2016): https://nintendoeverything.com/miyamoto-nintendo-felt-strongly-about-paying-just-once-for-mario-run-bringing-back-lapsed-fans-with-mobile/ Super Mario Run - Apple Event announcement (NintendoWire, 2016): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aivv_RNoM3s
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Episode 013 – Death by Chocolate
Jun 12, 202401:29:40Tap to summarizeNow the biting makes sense! Unleashed once more from their cellophane wrapping (and accidentally spilling off a bit under the table), Gamer Era RETURNS with a chock-a-block confectionary themed pod! David brings the crunch with a hard-shelled punch-up on the inexplicable M&Ms game “series”, before Sam chews over the surprisingly solid gaming history of Kyoro-chan - the Japanese marketing juggernaut that became so huge he was directly parodied by Nintendo. Chow down, Gamers! Follow us on Twitter, Bluesky and Backloggd: @GamerEraPodcast Topics discussed: M&Ms: The Lost Formulas / Shell Shocked, M&Ms Kart Racing, M&Ms Adventure (DS); Pyoro / Bird & Beans, Kyoro-chan Land (aka Nebulus/Castelian), Pocket Kyoro-chan, Kyoro-chan no Purikura Daisasuken Also mentioned: Jackass: The Game (PS2), Family Guy Video Game, Burnout Paradise Remastered, Dangerous Driving / Wreckreation; Simon & Schuster Interactive, M&Ms: Break ‘Em / Gem Smasher; WarioWare, Fish ‘n Feathers (Playdate), Reel-istic Fishing, Crank War, Space Boy Solan, Jupiter (developer), the Picross series Music used: International Superstar Soccer 2000 - Menu Music 3 (“Okay Fellas”) M&Ms: The Lost Formulas - Get Out of Town Lose Yourself - Eminem O Fortuna ~ Carmina Burana - Carl Orff Pyoro S - WarioWare: Smooth Moves BGM #03 (Kyoro-chan’s House) - Pocket Kyoro-chan “Summer Halation” [from “Kyoro-chan”] - Coconuts Musume M&Ms: Mini Madness - The Conveyors Further reading: “Kyoro-chan Time-Travel: Choco-Ball History” (Morinaga Co.): https://www.morinaga.co.jp/kyorochan/history “The Birth of Kyoro-chan!” [episode 1 of the anime series] (1999): https://archive.org/details/KyoroChanEP1 “The Story of Nebulus” - Antstream Arcade (Graeme Mason, 2021): https://www.antstream.com/post/the-story-of-nebulus “Pocket Kyoro-Chan” playthrough with English commentary (Pixelated Crown, 2020): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckskwIfo1Mg “The most hidden "hidden gem" ever: Kyoro Chan no Purikura Daisakusen” (UHVGN, 2019): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ48z79iIU4
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Episode 012 – Season of the Glitch
May 1, 202400:52:00Tap to summarizeHave you tried blowing on it? As we wrap up this first run of Gamer Era, Sam and David take turns sharing stories around the pixelated campfire, reflecting on editing woes, the emotional gamble of a nostalgic hit, and various highs and lows of producing the show so far. It’s a much smaller and looser episode than usual, but a necessary one as we regroup and prepare to return with a whole new slate of eps in a couple of months’ time. Look forward to it! Follow us on Twitter, Bluesky and Backloggd: @GamerEraPodcast Topics discussed: David's visit to London, CeX price outrage, the Powkiddy RGB30, Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase, Monsters, Inc. Scare Island, Reflecting on the Season Also mentioned: Mirror’s Edge, Winky the Little Bear (PS1), Treasure Planet (PS1), Ape Escape, Donald Duck: Goin’ Quackers, Plok Music used: International Superstar Soccer 2000 - Menu Music 5 Atari Karts - Bentley Bear Monsters, Inc. - Main Theme Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins - Seaside
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Episode 011 – Eye on Sony (ft. @DekuDeluxe)
Apr 24, 202402:01:50Tap to summarizeYou mean the Walkman guys?! Okay, good luck… Sam invites on fellow Nintendo community alum Dylan (@DekuDeluxe) to chat all things PlayStation, and specifically the golden age of creativity in the PS2 days. There’s examinations on Team Ico, Japan Studio, the EyeToy, and big-name executives “doing backflips down the corridor”. There’s also lamentations on what the hell Sony have become in the years since, and our prods and nudges on where they perhaps go from here. Contains no more than the medically-advised dosage of Jim Ryan patter. Follow us on Twitter, Bluesky and Backloggd: @GamerEraPodcast Topics discussed: PlayStation Memories, Pokémon Legends Arceus, Donkey Kong ‘94; Team Ico, Japan Studio, Demon’s Souls, Bloodborne; the EyeToy, London Studio Music used: Ape Escape - Mission Briefing [ft. audio from the UK dub] Mario vs. Donkey Kong (2024) - Mario Toy Company A Face Raiders - Main Menu Ico - heal PaRappa the Rapper 2 - Noodles Can’t Be Beat (Instrumental) EyeToy: Play 2 - Bubble Pop Theme Wii U Chat - Menu Ape Escape - Oceana ~ Crabby Beach When I’m Cleaning Windows - George Formby [as heard in “EyeToy: Play - Wishi Washi”] Further reading: “Military fears over PlayStation 2” - BBC News (2000): http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/716237.stm “Smile, Gamers: You're in the Picture” - The New York Times (Noah Robischon, 2003): https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/13/technology/smile-gamers-you-re-in-the-picture.html “EyeToy Springs From One Man’s Vision” - LA Times (Alex Pham, 2004): https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-18-fi-eyetoy18-story.html “PlayStation cam proves a hit” - BBC News (Alfred Hermida, 2003): http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3123993.stm “The Making of EyeToy Play” - Time Extension (Matt Poskitt, 2023): https://www.timeextension.com/features/the-making-of-eyetoy-play-the-ps2-casual-hit-that-predated-wii-and-kinect
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