Vault: Melissa's video game is now available

Summary

The Bert Show: "Vault: Melissa's Video Game Is Now Available"
Episode Date: June 17, 2026

---

Episode Overview

This special episode of The Bert Show celebrates a major milestone for co-host Melissa Carter: her in-game debut as a character in "Global Agenda," a video game developed by Hi-Rez Studios in Alpharetta, Georgia. The show details the journey from a lighthearted New Year's resolution to the realization of Melissa's geeky dream, featuring guest appearances by key members of Hi-Rez Studios. The discussion is lively, funny, and filled with supportive camaraderie as Melissa shares her excitement about seeing her digital self come to life.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Birth of a Dream: New Year's Resolutions and Serendipity

• Background (01:36-02:22):
  • Melissa recounts how the idea began as a non-traditional New Year's resolution in 2009 after Bert encouraged the team to set "frivolous" goals that year.
    • "I am the geek on the show and...I love gaming. And I thought, you know, I'm in radio, so why not try to get my voice in a video game?" — Melissa Carter (02:26)
  • Hi-Rez Studios, a local game development company, heard about it on the show and reached out.

From Radio to Video Game: Melissa in "Global Agenda"

• Game Launch Celebrations (03:30-03:59):
  • The entire studio celebrates "launch day" for Global Agenda.
  • The Hi-Rez Studios team presents Melissa with a boxed copy of the game and points out her inclusion in the voice actor credits.
    • "Oh my goodness. I'm on voice credits on a video game." — Melissa Carter (03:53)
    • "You're in the industry." — Co-host (03:55)
  • Joking about union dues and compensation.
    • "You're a union member, so that's a thousand bucks, right?" — Show Host (03:59)
    • "Melissa Carter. That is so awesome...That's fantastic. Thank you." — Melissa Carter (04:01)

Melissa’s Role in the Game

• Where to Find Melissa in Global Agenda (04:09-05:37):
  • The game’s developers explain how Melissa is featured in the virtual “Dome City,” a public, social space.
    • "Melissa owns a shop in the Dome City." — Hi Rez Studios Developer (04:12)
    • "It's more like a boutique for flair...Agents can upgrade their suits, dye them different colors, and go to Melissa's shop to buy flair." — Co-host (04:39)
  • Melissa’s shop offers unique cosmetic items (flair), including seasonal specials—like a flaming pumpkin head for Halloween.
    • "I mean, all kinds of stuff that you want to make yourself unique from all the other people on your team. I'm the person that you come to." — Melissa Carter (05:03)
  • Playful banter about in-game interactions:
    • "Can I fight you?" — Caller or Guest (05:37)
    • "No." — Melissa Carter (05:39)
    • "Can we make love?" — Caller or Guest (05:39)
    • "Well, I'll talk to them about making sure that only your character can." — Melissa Carter (05:41)
    • "We clutch you close to our bosom and tell you everything's gonna be okay." — Show Host (05:44)

Game Details and Perks for Listeners

• How to Buy and Exclusive Offers (05:51-06:35):
  • Information is given for listeners to see Melissa’s in-game shop via a behind-the-scenes video and website link.
    • "If you want to see a glimpse of Melissa's shop and how she interacts with players in the game, you can go to www.globalagendagame.com Q100..." — Co-host (05:51)
  • Special $10 discount code for Amazon purchases: BERTQ.
    • "If you put in code BERTQ, it'll give you $10 off the game and the special limited edition box." — Co-host (06:23)

Behind the Scenes: Making "Global Agenda"

• Game Development Journey (06:45-07:27):
  • Development spanned about 4.5 to 5 years; it's an ever-evolving, player-driven world.
    • "It's been about what, four and a half, five years or so." — Hi Rez Studios Developer (06:52)
    • "Global Agenda releasing is just the first step...It's player driven content...that's going to help determine what content we create next..." — Hi Rez Studios Developer (06:59)
  • Hi-Rez Studios is completely focused on supporting and expanding the game for the foreseeable future.

Local Pride and Community Support

• Hi-Rez Studios’ Georgia Roots (07:51-08:18):
  • Melissa and the team highlight that the studio is based in Alpharetta, Georgia, and encourage local and new gamers to try Global Agenda.
    • "...you're supporting a local company that's competing with everybody else in the market." — Melissa Carter (07:51)
    • "The shop, I'm looking at the video and the shop is called Carter's. Is it me?" — Caller or Guest (08:14)
    • "That's right...A geek's dream come true. Because I mean, this character is going to outlive me..." — Melissa Carter (08:18)

Memorable and Lighthearted Moments

• Running Gags and Team Banter:
  • What happened to everyone else's resolutions? (08:30)
    • "Just for the record, I think it's cool that Wendy's not dating a football player. Bird hasn't caught a fish or I haven't been on a game show." — Caller or Guest (08:30)
    • "By the way, I don't think any of that's cool." — Show Host (08:36)
  • Bert’s mythical quest to catch a marlin resurfaces throughout the segment.

---

Notable Quotes

• "My virtual self may just do a little more than my physical self in real life, but no, it was...I love gaming. And I thought, you know, I'm in radio, so why not try to get my voice in a video game?" — Melissa Carter (01:37–02:26)
• "You're in the industry." — Co-host (03:55)
• "This character is going to outlive me. I'm telling you, I'm international now." — Melissa Carter (08:18)

---

Highlighted Timestamps

• 01:36–02:26 — Origin story of Melissa’s New Year's resolution
• 03:30–04:01 — On-air celebration of Melissa’s video game credits
• 04:09–05:37 — Description of Melissa’s shop character in the game
• 05:51–06:35 — Where to see Melissa’s virtual shop and get special offer info
• 06:45–07:27 — Game development and player-driven world details
• 07:51–08:18 — Local pride and lasting legacy

---

Conclusion

This episode of The Bert Show encapsulates both the humor and heart of the team, as they celebrate Melissa Carter's unique achievement becoming part of a video game—a journey underscored by local collaboration, persistence, and geek pride. Listeners are encouraged to check out "Global Agenda," see Melissa's character in action, and support local creators, while sharing in the entertaining banter and memorable moments that make The Bert Show a beloved part of many mornings.

Transcript

[Bert]

Okay, can we talk about how confusing weight loss has become? Like, one minute it's carbs are bad and then the next it's no, actually carbs are fine, but only if you walk 10,000 steps and drink a green juice. And honestly, it's just a lot. And then even if you do lose the weight, keeping it off is a whole different story. If you're struggling and want something that fits your real life, hers can help. It's designed to support you in reaching your goals in a way that actually fits your life. That's why weight loss by hers is getting so much attention right now. Hers connects you with licensed medical providers who create doctor developed treatment plans tailored to you. They offer access to an affordable range of FDA approved GLP1 medications, including the Wegovy pill and the Wegovy pen. It helps regulate your appetite so you eat less and keep the weight off. If you're ready to reach your goals and want to try something new, visit for hers.combert to get personalized, affordable care that gets you. That's F O R h e r s.comb for hers.com Bert Weightliftsbyhurst is not available in all 50 states, but go via registered trademark of Novo Nordisk A S to get started and learn more, including important safety information with Gobi clinical study information and restrictions, visit borhears.com Happy birthday, America.

[SpinQuest Announcer]

It's time to celebrate and play your favorite Las Vegas casino games by American owned spinquest.com what's better than fireworks and American pie? Hitting a blackjack in the palm of your hand and you won't lose your fingers. Over a thousand games, including slots and live dealers and 30 coin packs are on sale for 10 spinquest.com buy American players.

[SpinQuest Disclaimer]

For American players, Spin Quest is a free social casino boy where prohibited. Visit spend quest.com for more details.

[Show Host]

Hey, the Bird show. So Melissa Carter. Today you can play with Melissa Carter.

[Co-host]

She's in a video game.

[Melissa Carter]

That's right. My virtual self may just do a little more than my physical self in real life, but no, it was. And I hate to have this conversation on the tail end of Bert talking about his search for his marlin, but it was, but it was. It was a year ago. It was January of 2009 that Bert said, everybody, I want you to make, you know, a New Year's resolution. But not the typical quit smoking and lose weight and that kind of thing, but kind of frivolous something, you know, just, you know, I don't know, just something light hearted that you want to do. This year and we'll try to accomplish it. So Bert had said he wanted to try to catch a marlin.

[Show Host]

Still trying.

[Melissa Carter]

Jeff was going to be on a TV show. Well, I'm coming close. Jen said that she was going to play 18 holes of golf. And one of the things that I said I wanted to. Oh, and Wendy wanted to date an NFL player. Yeah, we didn't have to mention that.

[Show Host]

Really what Melissa is establishing here is everybody,

[Melissa Carter]

I'm being inclusive. I'm being inclusive with my team. We're a team. So I'm just letting what everybody else said they wanted to do. And so then I said that I am the geek on the show and that I love gaming. And I thought, you know, I'm in radio, so why not try to get my voice in a video game? I thought that would be really cool. And so I said that on air. And sure enough, here in Alpharetta, we have high res studios who heard us on air and came in and made me the offer to not only have a voice in their game that they were developing at the time, but called Global Agenda. But also they were going to put my image in the game as well. And so we talked about it throughout 2009. I blogged about it. And today is the day, this afternoon, that Global Agenda goes live online and everybody can play nice. It's exciting. So we have some members from hi Rez Studios. We have Daniel, we have Mick, we have McCall who are all in here from hi Rez Studios who gave me the offer, have been working really hard to get me in the game and I'm sure are exhausted. But today's the day that their game goes live.

[Show Host]

Today is launch day.

[Co-host]

Yes, A very exciting day. Launch day for Global Agenda. So we have a game box to present for you.

[Show Host]

Nice.

[Co-host]

And Melissa, you are resolution complete. I'm gonna. I brought my copy. Cause it's already open.

[Melissa Carter]

Okay.

[Co-host]

And I'd like to show you. This is our game manual inside and the very back lists the credits of everyone who participated in the game. And if you look down by the voice credits.

[Melissa Carter]

Oh my goodness. Amon voice credits on a video game.

[Co-host]

You are. You're in the industry.

[Caller or Guest]

That's awesome.

[Melissa Carter]

That's cool.

[Show Host]

You're a union member, so that's a thousand bucks, right?

[Melissa Carter]

Melissa, Car. That is so awesome. Actors. Melissa Carter. That's fantastic. Thank you.

[Show Host]

Where would you see Melissa in this game?

[Hi Rez Studios Developer 1]

Well, well, when you. When you go into the game, one of the first things you see is the big public dome city is what we call it. It's kind of the public social space where you get to meet other players and form agencies and that kind of thing. You do some shopping. And so Melissa owns a shop in the Dome City.

[Melissa Carter]

That's right. And there I am. And I mean, it's a really nice shop. I mean, come on.

[Caller or Guest]

Is it like a publix?

[Melissa Carter]

I think it's the best. I think it' best shop in the whole market.

[Show Host]

It's more like an insurrection. I think if Melissa's.

[Co-host]

It's more like a boutique for flair. So agents have player agents in the game have suits where they can upgrade their suits. They can look different from other players, they can dye their suits different colors. And they can also go to Melissa's

[Caller or Guest]

shop and buy flair because every character is a T.G.I. friday's waiter.

[Co-host]

Blinky buttons lapped out of bow tie, flare.

[Melissa Carter]

Yeah, exactly. Yeah. And the beauty of this shop is that there, I mean, we can always add different we because I'm in the credits, so now I'm part of High Rise. But there's all the different things that you can buy and also seasonal items. So for instance, if you were, you know. Because my favorite, you know, holiday is Halloween. And so there's like a flaming pumpkin head. If you decide that that's what you want as part of your uniform, then you come to me to get it. That I'm the only place that you can come to get it. Rabbit ears, you know, Santa hat. I mean, all kinds of stuff that you want to make yourself unique from all the other people on your team. I'm the person that you come to.

[Caller or Guest]

Can I fight you?

[Melissa Carter]

No.

[Caller or Guest]

Can we make love?

[Melissa Carter]

Well, I'll talk to them about making sure that only your character can.

[Show Host]

We clutch you close to our bosom and tell you everything's gonna be okay.

[Co-host]

This is a team for team game.

[Show Host]

Oh, it is.

[Melissa Carter]

There you go.

[Co-host]

I do want to say though, for everyone who's listening, if you want to see a glimpse of Melissa's shop and how she interacts with players in the game, you can go to www.globalagendagame.com Q100 and see a little video that we've put together. And in addition, we have a little perk for Burt show listeners. You can purchase the game on Amazon.com or.

[Melissa Carter]

Daniel, you're being shy.

[SpinQuest Announcer]

She's got all the information.

[Show Host]

The mic freaks me out on a

[Melissa Carter]

day to day also.

[Show Host]

You take it, you take it, you take it, you take it.

[Co-host]

Yeah, I always win the arm wrestle. If you go to Amazon.com and search global Agenda. You can buy the game there and if you put In a code BERTQ, it'll give you $10 off the game. And the special limited edition box.

[Show Host]

Cool, that's a lot to take in right there. So we'll put it all up on our website at Q100.

[Caller or Guest]

Is the limited edition box the only one that has Melissa's name in it and is it written in pen?

[Melissa Carter]

Don't tell me while I'm in here. Don't tell me while I'm in here, tell them.

[Caller or Guest]

I am.

[Melissa Carter]

I am fascinated though by video games. How long have you guys been working on this game?

[Hi Rez Studios Developer 1]

It's been about what, four and a half, five years or so.

[Melissa Carter]

Have you one project for four, almost five years. Five years out of your life on that?

[Hi Rez Studios Developer 2]

Yeah, well, and we're actually not even done. Global Agenda releasing is just the first step because this is an expansive world and we're going to continue to build it and it's player driven content, meaning what alliances people form in game, what politics and tactics they do, we're going to continue to support that and that's going to help determine what content we create next and where people are going to go in the world. So.

[Caller or Guest]

So as your tea for teens grow up, can I make love to Melissa?

[Hi Rez Studios Developer 2]

You're on your own.

[Hi Rez Studios Developer 1]

It's kind of been like, you know, like developing a pilot episode for four and a half years and now that the pilot's launching, we're gonna now continue on the series and have it an ongoing project that's, you know, we're always adding new things to.

[Show Host]

So I'm assuming this is the only game that your company does if it's taking five years or are you guys working on different things at the same time?

[Hi Rez Studios Developer 1]

Currently we're completely focused on Global Agenda and supporting that.

[Show Host]

Well, congratulations. Big day for y'.

[Hi Rez Studios Developer 2]

All.

[Melissa Carter]

And it's a Georgia company here in Alpharetta. I mean, hi Rez is in Alpharetta and that's their home base. That's the only offices they have and they've created this game. So I encourage people who our gamers to do it and people who've never gamed and thought about it to try it. Global Agenda because I mean, you're supporting, you know, a local company that's. That is competing with everybody else in the market. You know.

[Show Host]

Congratulations, you guys.

[Caller or Guest]

The shop, I'm looking at the video and the shop is called Carter's. Is it me?

[Melissa Carter]

That's right. That's fun and thank you so much. Hi Rez Studios for letting me be to make a dream come true. A geek's dream come true. Because I mean, this character is going to outlive me. I'm telling you, I'm international now.

[Caller or Guest]

Okay, just for the record, I think it's cool that Wendy's not dating a football player. Player Bird hasn't caught a fish or I haven't been on a game show.

[Show Host]

By the way, I don't think any of that's cool. All of the info for Melissa's game is going to be up online at q100atlanta.com Congratulations you guys.

[Safeway/Albertsons Announcer]

The Bird show hey everybody.

[Lady Luck]

Lady luck here. And we're celebrating America's 250th birthday. Now all summer long I'm going to be celebrating by playing on spinquest.com which is an American owned social casino. It obviously features over a thousand slot games and live blackjack, live craps, live bubble craps. Head on over to spinquest.com get yourself a $30 coin pack for just 10 bucks.

[SpinQuest Disclaimer]

Spinquest is a free to play social casino void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details.

[Safeway/Albertsons Announcer]

Save on family essentials at Safeway and Albertsons this week. Extra meaty pork back ribs bone in are $2.99 per pound limit 2 member price and Sweet Red cherries are $2.99 per pound Limit 6 lb member price with coupon plus signature select 80% lean ground beef sold in 3 pound twin pack bricks is $4.99 per pound limit 1 member price with coupon. Fresh and delicious savings for every meal. Hurry in. This deal won't last. Visit safewayeralbertsons.com for more deals and ways

[Thumbtack Announcer]

to save avoiding your unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start. Thumbtack knows homes so you don't have to don't know the difference between matte, paint, finish and satin or what that clunking sound from your dryer is. With thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro, you just have to hire one. You can hire top rated pros, see price estimates and read reviews all on the app. Download today.