Opening Stage VGH

Dean and Meredith are once again joined by Friend of the Podcast, Chicago artist and candle daddy Joseph Ramski to discuss video game "visionary" Jeff Spangenberg and his slimy masterpiece, The Guy Game. Get your hand sanitizer ready for this one. You're gonna need it.

A majority of the information from this episode game from two of Matt McMuscles' video game essay from his "Wha Happun?" series. They can be found here:

• The Guy Game: https://youtu.be/CIdYCs8nNHo
• Metroid Prime: https://youtu.be/tuc8X9qKePo

Pre-order Meredith'a book, Ghost Tamer, now! https://camcatbooks.com/Books/G/Ghost-Tamer

Dean & Meredith are joined by host of the "Peace, Love and Baseball" podcast, Kelsey Burd, and head of indie pop-rock group "Validity," Wesley McKinney as they discuss the formation of the Seattle Mariners and their ties to Nintendo of America. Choke up on the bat and slide into our longest episode yet!

A vast majority of the information comes from Norman Carsuo's (The Gaming Historian) documentary, "Foreign-Owned Nintendo and the Seattle Mariners." MLB has unfortunately requested that he take the video down from YouTube, so here's a link to his Patreon account. Please consider donating, if you can: https://www.patreon.com/gaminghistorian

Check out Kelsey's podcast, "Peace, Love and Baseball" for a weekly recap of her thoughts regarding the St. Louis Cardinals and the MLB at large: https://open.spotify.com/show/2d17JQbetqOtrRURMMaiFb?si=c9cced69a1494e3f

Check out Wesley's group "Validity" on Spotify. I hear there's a new song on the horizon! : https://open.spotify.com/artist/4AC02BkzJts3zXLe69wIh8?si=OgPUqVDzQgSSs7HKRRWmew

Pre-order Meredith's book, "Ghost Tamer" : https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Tamer-Meredith-R-Lyons/dp/074430279X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2G18RNA86BGNC&keywords=ghost+tamer+meredith+r+lyons&qid=1680581679&sprefix=ghost+tam%2Caps%2C109&sr=8-1

Thanks for listening!

While setting up for the Color Dreams/Wisdom Tree episode, we had a candid and genuinely interesting discussion about horror video games and Konami's last avant garde project: Hideo Kojima's "P.T." This is even more free-form than we typically are, so we hope you enjoy.

Dean & Meredith are once again joined by Josh Zagoran to discuss what might be the most prolific unlicensed video game developer for the NES, Color Dreams and Wisdom Tree. We go over Nintendo's rigorous licensing policies, and Meredith tries WAY too hard to reconcile the plot of Sunday Funday.

A lot of the information in this episode came from MattKC's video, "Why do some NES games say 'Starting Machine'?" Please give it a watch!: https://youtu.be/SWGEy8H8V5M

Check out Josh's podcast, Chad the Birdcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1QsZKtaJP0V9rgZbkR1Iw9?si=82eb511e155e4d80

Pre-order Meredith's book, Ghost Tamer: https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Tamer-Meredith-R-Lyons/dp/074430279X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=SYOX4TZX5AVK&keywords=ghost+tamer+meredith+r+lyons&qid=1679371807&sprefix=ghost+tamer%2Caps%2C106&sr=8-1

During the course of the episode, we briefly touch on a number of resources available to those in need. If you need their services, please find them below:

SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 (HELP)

Crisis Text Line: text 741741

RAINN (Rape Abuse and Incest National Network): 1-800-656-4673 (HOPE)

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): 1-800-950-6264 (NAMI)

S.A.F.E. Alternatives (Self-Abuse Finally Ends): 1-800-366-8288 (1-800-DON'T-CUT); http://wwwselfinjury.com

Dean & Meredith are once again joined by official Friend of the Podcast, The Sky Hook's own Chris Pennant to discuss one Shaquille O'Neal's licensed fighting game, Shaq Fu. Dean questions what he calls the thing he writes, and Chris describes the subtle nuances of breaking backboards. We recorded this episode a little while ago, so some of the references are a little untimely. We're working on getting things back on track.

A vast majority of the information for this episode comes from Matt McMuscles' video essay, "Shaq-Fu: The Worst Fighting Game." Please check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpgIWtQob9w

Check out Chris' podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6zMWYjLsVu5M2UwMF3G05E?si=74fbd18cbf7f4597

Pre-order Meredith's book: https://camcatbooks.com/Books/G/Ghost-Tamer

Thanks for listening!

Dean and Meredith are joined by their friend Elyse Dawson to discuss Kowloon Kurosawa and what might be the most offensive Super Nintendo game ever created, Hong Kong '97. Just a heads-up, but this episode gets a little spicy, as we dive into the complex relationship between China and Hong Kong, the limits of good (and bad) taste, and the only Super Nintendo game to drop the f-bomb.

Thanks for listening!

Dean and Meredith are joined by All-Around-Nice-Guy Alex Blanchette to discuss the lives of influential Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi and video game designer Sid Meier, and how the two collided with near-nuclear results. We discuss getting DOOM to run on various electronics, an unexpected Robin Williams cameo, and how we probably should have known more about Gandhi's life as human in 2022.

Dean and Meredith are joined by the Speak Beasty Podcast's own Ann Lysy to discuss the history of the Addams Family and its 1989 video game spin-ff, Fester's Quest. Meredith recounts the horrors of pre-Audacity sound editing, while Dean and Ann also delve into the dark cost of retro video game collecting.

No, you're not reading that incorrectly. Dean and Meredith are joined by Jeff Newman, host of the Movies 4 Dayz podcast to discuss James Cameron's 1997 cinematic blockbuster Titanic and the bootleg Chinese Famicom game it spawned. We talk about whether the Oscars are still necessary and the evils of boyhood sleepovers, as well as narrating a badly-translated synopsis of the film.

Interested in hearing Jeff's podcast? You can find it here: https://open.spotify.com/show/3w47yIz6N1PTUFylmVWAgS?si=ca3d52c39b7e43be

Outro credit to Matt Mulholland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2WH8mHJnhM

Dean & Meredith are joined by not one, but two previous guests: Joseph Ramski and Brian Zinda to discuss the life of influential filmmaker Takeshi Kitano and what might be the first intentionally-bad video game, "Takeshi's Challenge." Brian learns the meaning of the phrase "Press the flesh," and we end the episode having a big discussion about whether or not video games are a valuable pursuit of one's time. Spoiler alert: they are if you think they are.

Dean and Meredith are once again joined by co-host of The Skyhook Podcast, Chicago's own Chris Pennant to discuss the life of Yasunori Mitsuda and the composition of one of the most influential game soundtracks ever, Chrono Trigger. Dean and Chris reminisce about their college improv team, and Dean explains why he's probably the only adult over 30 that still enjoys Dragon Ball Z to an extent.

Interested in learning more about Chris? Check out The Skyhook Podcast here: https://theskyhook.podbean.com/

Dean & Meredith are joined by video game enthusiast Brian Zinda to discuss the prototypical meme, All Your Base Are Belong To Us. We have another dramatic reading and discuss Elon Musk in the sky, forbidden childhood things, and Dean's volleyball career, in comparison to a secret character in X-Men: Children of the Atom.

Dean and Meredith are joined by Chicago voice actor and Chad the Birdcast's own Josh Zagoren to discuss American sitcom Home Improvement and its not-necessarily-needed video game adaptation, Power Tool Pursuit! Josh gets a great excuse to dig out his Nintendo Power collection while reminiscing about 90's haircare with Meredith, and everyone brings their A-game to a dramatic reading of the game's moving dialogue.

Want to hear more from Josh? Check out the Chad the Birdcast! https://open.spotify.com/show/1QsZKtaJP0V9rgZbkR1Iw9?si=4c72401a5f494157

Dean and Meredith are once again joined by their good friend Justin Verstraete to discuss the legendary match between Daigo and Justin Wong at EVO 2004. We discuss the basic structure of fighting games, Daigo's superhuman reflexes, and the day Justin and Meredith met.

Check out the match for yourself! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzS96auqau0

Just in time for Halloween, Dean and Meredith are once again joined by Dean's older brother, Gene, to discuss the horror movie/video game combo Sweet Home, as well as its spiritual successor, Resident Evil. Meredith languishes in the weak setup of a ghost story, while Dean and Gene reminisce about horrible voice acting and their father's superhuman timing.

*Small tech note- Gene's recording device went in and out during this recording. Is it haunted? Maybe. We tried to edit most of it out, but it's still a little crunchy in some spots, so thanks in advance. 

Dean and Meredith are joined by big boy movie fiend Justin Verstraete to discuss big-budget 1995 flop Waterworld and its subsequent video game adaptations. We recount memories, both beloved and cringeworthy, while sampling Dean Evans' superior Super Nintendo soundtrack.

Dean and Meredith are joined by Chicago martial artist Charles Parrott to discuss the creation of grotesque arcade smash-hit Mortal Kombat, its impact on the industry, and the resulting legislative hearings which resulted in the creation of the Entertainment Software Ratings Board. Dean and Charles bond about being baby-sat by mall arcades and choosing who to hang out with based on what video games they had, while Meredith is disappointed when she sees a half-human, half-dragon with four arms.

Editor's Note: Towards the end of the episode, Dean mentions that Jurassic Park was responsible for the PG-13 movie rating. This is incorrect. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is responsible for the PG-13 rating, while Jurassic Park is responsible for the inclusion of digital sound in movie theaters. The editorial staff (Dean) regrets this error but finds it interesting that both Temple of Doom and Mortal Kombat involve pulling out hearts.

Dean and Meredith are joined by Rachel Cason, a Zelda enthusiast with a special place for a certain 35-year-old fairy man cartographer. Together, they discuss "The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask" and it's subsequent spin-off, "Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland" for the Nintendo DS.

Dean and Meredith are joined by Nashville-based author Melissa Collings to discuss the life of Socks the Cat and the video game that almost was. Dean makes the same bad joke twice, Meredith and Melissa get entranced with a completely different cat, and we all stick it to Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN). Stick around after the episode for a Marvel-esque look behind the scenes!

*Small note: Dean forgot to put the theme song in. Sorry! Won't happen again!

Dean & Meredith are joined by Chicago's own Chris Pennant to discuss the beginning of EA Sports and unravel the mysteries of the Madden Curse. 

Please note that there are some audio blips here and there, mainly in the beginning with the intro song. Apologies, and we'll figure out how to get around that in the future.

Through the magic of teleconferencing, Dean and Meredith are joined by Chicago artist Joseph Ramski to discuss counterculture scientist John C. Lilly and the effect he had on forming the iconic Sega Genesis/Mega Drive game, Ecco the Dolphin. Be forewarned, this is one of the crazier episodes we've done, so you may want to skip this one unless you're comfortable hearing about federally-funded dolphin hand jobs.

Dean and Meredith discuss the creation of Nintendo's crossover fighter, Super Smash Bros., and the series' creator, Masahiro Sakurai. Dean attempts to give Meredith a Japanese-sounding alias, and Meredith laments Shigeru Miymoto's legal inability to bike to work.

Dean and Meredith are joined by the latter's mother, Kris Lyons, to discuss the creation of the Metroid series and it's iconic heroine, interstellar bounty hunter Samus Aran. Kris learns the secret of Samus' identity because Dean forgot to remove a pronoun, and we discuss what constitutes a "bird person."

Dean and Meredith are join by Dean's older brother, Gene Beever to discuss the 1994 hit/flop, "Street Fighter: The Movie." Meredith is sleep deprived and filling up on Triscuits, while Dean and Gene do what they do best: say quotes from things at each other and laugh at themselves.

Dean and Meredith are joined this time by Vanderbilt University Law student and environmental advocate Patti Moore to discuss the creation of arcade hit Final Fight and one of its more controversial figures, Poison. 

Dean and Meredith are joined by horror-enthusiast Haley Stocker to discuss the history of Sierra Entertainment (formerly Sierra Online), developers of the Kings Quest, Space Quest, and Leisure Suit Larry games, among other classics. We also discuss self-imposed challenges in The Sims 4 and a dark secret from Dean's past.

Dean and Meredith are joined by technological consultant and neighbor Ryan Brisentine to discuss the life and achievements of one of Nintendo's forefathers, visionary designer Gunpei Yokoi.

Dean and Meredith are joined by Bigg of Big Sports Talk & Entertainment to discuss the career of heavyweight boxing champion Mike "Kid Dynamite" Tyson and the effect he had on video gaming in the late 80's and early 90's. We meander a bit at the end, delving briefly into Star Wars and whether or not Dean's mom is cool.

Dean and Meredith are back to briefly discuss roving gambler Setzer Gabbiani of Final Fantasy VI and the mysterious circumstances behind his bandana.

Dean is joined by his wife, Meredith Lyons, to discuss the history, events, and rumors surrounding Pokemon's earliest spooky city, Lavender Town. 

*Please note that the original title of this show, "Level One," is used. Turns out, there's another podcast that uses that name. Please go and listen to them, too!