Video Game History Hour

Latest Episodes:

Episode 135: Baldur’s Gate 3’s Lawrence Schick and His Decades of Work in Game Development Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

Veteran game designer and author Lawrence Schick shares stories from his early 80's work with the ColecoVision, Atari 2600, and Intellivision. With over four decades of experience in the industry, Schick details how he helped pioneer a multi-discipline, team-based approach to game development designing games like Smurf: Rescue and Tarzan while pulling from a wealth of experience in pen-and-paper RPGs.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

See more from Lawrence Schick:

Website: https://swashbucklingadventure.net/

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Episode 134: Preservation Work Inside the University of Michigan Library Computer and Video Game Archive Jun 25, 2025

Show notes

Host Phil Salvador and guest host Colleen Barrett, Rare Books Librarian at UK Libraries, chat with David Carter, Video Game Archivist and Comic Librarian at University of Michigan Library Computer and Video Game Archive, about the work he does in archiving video game material within such a large and academic institutions. We discuss what tools are available, what problems typically arise, the pros and cons of institutional preservation, and so much more.

Mentioned in the Show:

MIDSAC Pool: https://www.masswerk.at/nowgobang/2019/michigan-pool

U-M Video Game Studies: https://guides.lib.umich.edu/videogamestudies (particularly the “Other Resources” section)

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

See more from David Carter:

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/umcvga.bsky.social

U-M CVGA Website: https://www.lib.umich.edu/locations-and-hours/computer-and-video-game-archive

See more from Colleen Barrett:

Bluesky: Colleenlovesbks https://bsky.app/profile/colleenlovesbks.bsky.social

Institution Instagram: UK Libraries (@uklibraries)

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Episode 133: Spyro the Dragon artist Craig Stitt talks Sega and Insomniac Jun 11, 2025

Show notes

On this special video episode of the Video Game History Hour, we sat down with Craig Stitt, retired game artist and designer. Craig worked on games including Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Kid Chameleon, Ratchet & Clank, and Spyro the Dragon. He gave us a tour of his portfolio and talked about working at Sega in America, creating Spyro, dealing with burnout, and what it means for fans to connect with his work.

Access the Craig Stitt art and design papers at the VGHF Library: https://archive.gamehistory.org/folder/cbcc6ed2-324c-43f0-9002-8e07455484bc

*This episode was recorded as a video, with visual components, available on our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAN6AD2_fs0.You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Episode 132: Croc Remaster May 28, 2025

Show notes

Frank Cifaldi and Phil Salvador host a discussion with Jez San, Jason Smith, and Mike Arkin from Argonaut Games about the development and remastering of the 1997 game Croc: Legend of the Gobbos. We touch on what went into the original game - incorporating 3D technology and character design influences from traditional animation - as well as enhancements for the remaster, improved controls and a virtual museum of bonus content showcasing the game's history and development process. The team’s discussion centers on the challenges and efforts in game preservation and the personal dedication of researchers who meticulously uncovered and documented game history for the sake of this remaster. Finally, we mention the potential for future updates and expansions in game preservation projects.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

See more from Argonaut Games:

Linktree: linktr.ee/argonautgames

Website: argonautgames.com

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Episode 130: Spycraft Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

Phil Salvador hosts Polygon’s Clayton Ashley and Simone de Rochefort to discuss a documentary they produced last year called The Great Game: The Making of Spycraft | Full Polygon Documentary about the 1996 FMV CD-ROM game, Spycraft.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

A full transcript of this episode is available on our website: https://gamehistory.org/episode-130-spycraft/

See more from Polygon:

Website: polygon.com

YouTube: /polygon

Clayton Ashley’s Podcast: https://rss.com/podcasts/temporalculturewar/

Simone de Rochefort’s social handle: @doomquasar

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Episode 129: Powerhouse Chloe Appleby Apr 16, 2025

Show notes

Phil Salvador and Robin Kunimune chat with Chloe Appleby, games curator at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, Australia, who shares how she turned her passion for games into a dream role blending community, culture, and quirky preservation. From Sydney’s post-COVID game scene revival to tracking down lost media and organizing a free indie games festival, Chloe shows how playful curiosity can power serious cultural impact. She emphasizes the importance of community engagement and the museum's efforts to preserve Australian game history, including notable games like Untitled Goose Game and Nightmare.

Mentioned in the show:

Nightmare: Nightmare Presenter Video

Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future 87/697-3 and Shogun 87/697-6 (specifically the leaflet)

Sega World audio: Sonic Live in Sydney (Full & Complete CD - 1997 - Sega World Sydney)

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

A full transcript of this episode is available on our website: https://gamehistory.org/episode-129-powerhouse-chloe-appleby/

See more from Chloe Appleby:

Linktree: @chloeappleby

Instagram: @c.appleby_

Bluesky: @chloeappleby.bsky.social

X: @AppleBee180

See more from Powerhouse:

Website: powerhouse.com.au

Instagram: @powerhousemuseum

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Episode 128: DMCA 2024 Copyright Ruling Apr 02, 2025

Show notes

Phil Salvador and Kendra Albert, a partner at Albert Sellars LLP, digest, discuss, and dissect the 2024 DMCA exemption petition to make it easier for libraries and archives to preserve video games and the subsequent ruling by the US Copyright Office. Join us for an insightful look at the recent ruling, legal implications, and what it all means for the future of video game copyright and digital access.

*This episode has a follow-up bonus episode available to our paid tier Patreon members.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

A full transcript of this episode is available on our website: https://gamehistory.org/episode-128-dmca-2024-copyright-ruling/

See more from Kendra Albert:

Bluesky: @kendraserra.bsky.social

Mastodon: @kendraserra@dair.community

Law firm website: albertsellars.law

Software Preservation Network: https://www.softwarepreservationnetwork.org/

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Episode 127: Sarge’s Heroes Mar 19, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Video Game History Hour, Michael Mendheim joins host Frank Cifaldi and guest-host John Rairdin to reflect on his career, from early work on Fester’s Quest to cult favorites like Mutant League Football and Sarge’s Heroes. Mendheim shares stories about creative risks, industry shakeups, and the challenges of keeping games alive — with Rairdin diving deep into his personal love for Sarge’s Heroes, expanding the definitive Vikki Grimm lore, and discussing the development materials Mendheim saved along the way.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

A full transcript of this episode is available on our website: https://gamehistory.org/episode-127-sarges-heroes/

See more from Michael Mendheim:

Twitter/X: @mmendheim

Website: https://www.digitaldreamsentertainment.com/

Website: mutantfootballleague.com

See more from John Rairdin:

Twitter/X: @jtsknight92

YouTube: /ninwrtv

Website: nintendoworldreport.com

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Episode 126: A Fireside Chat with Gail Tilden Mar 05, 2025

Show notes

Gail Tilden, Nintendo of America’s marketing mastermind, takes Frank Cifaldi on a trip down memory lane in a panel at the Long Island Retro Gaming Expo, reminiscing about everything from the early days of NES branding to the explosive rise of Pokémon. She shares behind-the-scenes stories about marketing mishaps (hello, Zelda Rap), strategic pivots like the iconic "Nintendo Seal of Quality," and how a quirky Game Boy RPG took over the world. From robotic flops to Pikachu-branded cars parachuting into Topeka, her journey is a testament to the creativity and unpredictability that helped shape the gaming world.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

A full transcript of this episode is available on our website: https://gamehistory.org/episode-126-a-fireside-chat-with-gail-tilden/

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Episode 125: ROMchip, What’s Next? Feb 19, 2025

Show notes

Laine Nooney, an associate professor at NYU and managing editor of ROMchip: A Journal of Game Histories, joins Phil Salvador on The Video Game History Hour to chat about the journal’s mission to make game history more than just timelines. ROMchip is an open-access, independent journal that brings together academics, enthusiasts, and industry pros, supported by community fundraising instead of traditional academic publishing. They discuss ROMchip's success, its growing community, and dreams of what the future holds for the journal.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

A full transcript of this episode is available on our website: https://gamehistory.org/episode-125-romchip-whats-next/

See more from Laine Nooney:

Linktree: linktr.ee/lainenooney

See more from ROMchip:

Website: romchip.org/

Socials, Events, Blog: donate.romchip.org/

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: podcast@gamehistory.org

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg