Six months ago, The Well Red Mage asked me if Chrono Trigger is a Final Fantasy. From that innocent question grew a six month quest to mine the patience of my guests and test the temperance of my listening audience. On this episode, I ask a bunch of people if this episode should exist and through those questions, learn about the connective tissue between these two games.

STARRING (all handles from Twitter)
 
Chrono Katie (@ChronoKatie)
Julian Titus (@julian_titus) of The Stage Select Podcast (@StageSelectPod)
Mekel Kasanova (@MekelKasanova)
Mike Albertin of Games My Mom Found (@mom_found)
Moses aka @TheWellRedMage
Ryan aka @GameswCoffee
Ryan Lindsay of KISS 105.3 in Ottawa (@THERyanLindsay) 
Tim Knowles of The Leetist 
Trevor and Jeff of New Dad Gaming Podcast (@NewDadGaming)

My Website: agamerlooksat40.com
My Discord: https://discord.com/invite/SdaE4atGjC
My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
My TikTok: @agamerlooksat40
My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlooksat40
My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlooksat40
My Email: agamerlooksat40@gmail.com
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D  

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Whew! After two long months of scouring Final Fantasy 6, we've reached the final episode. On this culminating edition, a wide variety of my FF6 friends share random thoughts, stories, and opinions that didn't make it into the main episodes. An Emperor Gesthal's banquet of content, if you will. Enjoy this last foray into the game!

STARRING (all handles from Twitter)
 
Aiden Moher (@adribbleofink)
Chrono Katie (@ChronoKatie)
Greg Sewart of the Player One Podcast and Generation 16 (@sewart) 
Julian Titus (@julian_titus) of The Stage Select Podcast (@StageSelectPod)
The Lets Play Princess (@TheLPPrincess) 
Mekel Kasanova (@MekelKasanova)
Mike of the Distorted Illuminations YouTube channel (@MadMonarch_DI) 
@Mustin
Nate McLellan (@natedoescomedy79 on TikTok)
Ryan aka @GameswCoffee
Ryan Lindsay of KISS 105.3 in Ottawa (@THERyanLindsay) 
Seth Sturgill (@twodollarhero) from @allnpodcast
Tim Knowles of The Leetist 
Trey of the NintenDomain Podcast (@Ninten_Domain) 
Xerxex
Yurik (@YurikArkady on TikTok)

SONG COVERS 

Kefka's Theme - Final Fantasy VI - Mandolin and Guitar Cover (Feat. Chalmers Croft) by Tommy Norris - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5d8-cZu0go

Epitaph (Final Fantasy VI) | Classical Guitar Cover by John Oeth Guitar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gltRvu-Zd8U

My Website: agamerlooksat40.com
My Discord: https://discord.com/invite/SdaE4atGjC
My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
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My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlooksat40
My Email: agamerlooksat40@gmail.com
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D  

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When I asked Justin Hamm of The Stage Select Podcast which game he would like to do for Tales From the Bargain Bin, he immediately responded, "NBA All Star Challenge on the SNES". Almost too quickly.

Turns out, Justin was trying to exorcise some 16-bit demons 'cause this is - whew - this is a game. Join Justin and I as we play "Guess the Team", bemoan the dunk button and spend an hour working through trauma, one feature at a time.

STARRING: Justin Hamm of the The Stage Select Podcast (@TheStageSelect on Twitter)

My Website: agamerlooksat40.com
My Discord: https://discord.com/invite/SdaE4atGjC
My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
My TikTok: @agamerlooksat40
My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlooksat40
My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlooksat40
My Email: agamerlooksat40@gmail.com
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D  

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The name's 40. A Gamer Looks at 40.

When Goldeneye 007 shadow dropped into the hands of N64 players in the winter of 1997, few thought it would be more than a movie tie-in title. Thanks to revolutionary physics, a tight relationship to the source material and a multiplayer mode the likes of which console players had never seen, it became the 3rd best selling game on the console. 

But ask anyone who's played it today, and they'll usually say the same thing - Goldeneye 007 kinda stinks. The visuals are ugly, single stick shooters are a relic of the past for a reason, and playing 4 player on a tiny quarter of the screen isn't terribly fun. 

So the question becomes - which is it? Is Goldeneye 007 an outdated artifact or a misunderstood gem? Can we stay nostalgic for a game with glaring flaws or is the title fine as is. No emotional ret-con necessary. Join myself and a gaggle of awesome people as we dive into the memories, the stories and the realities of Goldeneye 007.

Starring (all handles on Twitter):

Bobby Tucker
Greg Sewart of the Player One Podcast (@sewart, @p1podcast)
Mike Albertin of Games My Mom Found (@mom_found)
Dan of Retrologic Podcast (@retrologicgames)
Andrew Craig
Trevor and Jeff from the New Dad Gaming Podcast (@newdadgaming)
Andy from the Cafe, BTW podcast and Twitch stream (@LoveRetroBTW)
Raji aka SuperNin10Bros on Twitch (@supernin10bros)

My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlooksat40
My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlooksat40
My Email: agamerlooksat40@gmail.com
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D

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What do you get when you mix a circus clown's preferred method of transportation with a 16 bit videogame console? Uniracers, the super fast, super fun, and super strange SNES title that is exactly as advertised - sentient unicycles racing at lightning speed along colorful 2D tracks. Join  Dan of Retrologic Podcast as we discuss the game, his memories, evil Pixar lawyers, late 90's Cher, games as investible commodities, and the word mondo. Lots and lots of mondo.

Be sure to follow Dan on Twitter at @RetroLogicGames. Follow me on any and all of the following platforms:

My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlooksat40
My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlooksat40
My Email: agamerlooksat40@gmail.com
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D

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An AMA so nice, we recorded it twice - in two days, that is. Join Joey, Bobby, and myself for another round of Q&A fueled by the fine listeners of this audio podcast thing. Thanks again for participating! 

Starring:

Mike from Games My Mom Found (@mom_found)
Nancy Tucker-Datrio
Eric Highland
Michelle Corio
Derek Tagliarino
Heather Aspergren
Ben Bazzrea
@wrytersview

My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlooksat40
My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlooksat40
My Email: agamerlooksat40@gmail.com
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D

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In honor of the podcast's 40th episode, I asked friends, listeners and family to submit questions and boy did they. Listen to Joe Corio, my brother Bobby and I answer questions, have some laughs, and chat about utter nonsense in this sprawling milestone special.

NOTE: Due to the massive 2.5 hour length, I decided to break the AMA into two episodes. If you submitted a question and didn't get an answer, it should been addressed in Part 2. Thanks!

Answering questions from (all handles from Twitter):

Indie Rabbitree (@sommerfeldt_r)
@thewellredmage
@knightfall247
@cipherxzero
@gameswcoffee
@WizardofZardoz
@teacherbloke85
@info_sprinkles
Mark Wilson via Facebook
Mike of @mom_found

My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlooksat40
My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlooksat40
My Email: agamerlooksat40@gmail.com
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D

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From spinning in circles to soaring through the sky, Mario 64 offered gamers untold control and freedom. It's endured through the years, enjoyed new life in remasters and still considered by many to be a Top 5 N64 game ever made.

But who did the game impact, and more importantly, what are the stories behind the accolades. Beyond the graphics, the sound, and the unprecedented control, we explore the tales of the people who played it as kids and still love it as adults. 

Starring (all handles are on Twitter):

Andrew Craig
Bobby Tucker
Greg Sewart (@sewart)  of Player One Podcast (@p1podcast)
Julian (@julian_titus) of the Nerds Without Pants Podcast (@NWPcast)
Raji aka @supernin10bros on Twitter and Twitch
Blue (@wryterzview) of the Gamer's Week Podcast.
Dan of the RetroLogic Podcast (@RetroLogicGames)
Trevor and Jeff of the New Dad Gaming Podcast (@newdadgaming)
Andy of CafeBTW podcast and Twitch show (@LoveRetroBTW)

My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlooksat40
My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlooksat40
My Email: agamerlooksat40@gmail.com
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D

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Come on down to South Park, and meet a crappy game.

In the late 90's, South Park was a cultural phenomenon. Annoying kids like me lived off Cartman impersonations, "You Killed Kenny" t-shirts were everywhere, and parents were horrified by this crew of foul mouthed children. And like anything good and awesome, we needed a videogame. 

Enter South Park: The Game. A port of the 1998 N64 game of the same name and design, the 1999 PS1 version took a barely average 1st person "shooter" and thrust into the hands of unsuspecting hands of early South Park fans. The result is a nearly unplayable mess made more frustrating by a sprinkling of good ideas and flavor. Does this game stay on our shelf or does it get chucked into the bin? Join me and ducksindisguise as we spend a half hour reminiscing about the game, the show, and impact it continues to have on popular culture. 

Starring @ducksindiguise on Twitter, Twitch, and wherever you ingest awesome stuff.

My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlooksat40
My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlooksat40
My Email: agamerlooksat40@gmail.com
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D

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How do you follow one of the most popular consoles ever made? If you're Nintendo, take every risk and break every convention. While my memories of the Nintendo 64 are mostly rosy, this 64 bit workhorse brings just as much ire to retro game fans as it does excitement. The controller is strange, the visuals less than crisp, and the games came on carts. But for many of my guests, the N64 brings good memories of traversing 3D space for the first time and playing multiplayer games with friends. On this episode, we look at both sides of the N64 coin and attempt to find the truth therein. 

Starring (all handles are on Twitter):

Ryan (@retrogamebrews) of the Gamer's Week Podcast (@GamersWeekPC)
Blue (@wryterzview) of the Gamer's Week Podcast.
Greg Sewart (@sewart)  of Player One Podcast (@p1podcast)
Julian (@julian_titus) of the Nerds Without Pants Podcast (@NWPcast)
Raji aka @supernin10bros on Twitter and Twitch
Dan of the RetroLogic Podcast (@RetroLogicGames)
Mike Albertin of the Games My Mom Found Podcast (@momfound)
Adam of the Retro Gaming Bygones Podcast (@RBygones) and the Commodore Chronicles (@C64Chronicles)
Bobby Tucker 

My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlooksat40
My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlooksat40
My Email: agamerlooksat40@gmail.com
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D

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A perennial YouTube punching bag, the reputation of this flawed but oddly ambitious title's been dragged through the mud for decades. But what's the truth? My brother and I scratch the surface on this infamous title and attempt to separate fact from fiction. And talk about Snoop Dog's many contributions to society.

My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlooksat40
My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlooksat40
My Email: agamerlooksat40@gmail.com
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D

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Us old-timey gamers didn't have Amazon, Game Pass, or streaming sites. We had retail stores. Grand playgrounds full of scannable treasures and playable games. And it wasn't just a place to pick up the latest titles. It was a part of social circle. An important element of our growing up experience.

On this episode, I chat with Julien from Nerds Without Pants Podcast (@NWPCast) and actor, cartoonist, and contributor to the Digital Noise podcast John Gholsen as we explore their experiences as employees of the Game Fellas store in Austin, TX. 

My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlooksat40
My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Email: @gamerlooksat40
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D

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How would you like it if you had an invisible tether between you and your partner as you traversed the dangers of life together? That's the main gameplay conceit of Mickey Mousecapade, a below average action platformer for the NES. Join my brother and I as we chat about the game, the evils of kid's TV, and how the Mouse Ears will eventually enslave us all. Well, maybe not the last bit...

Starring: My brother Bobby!

My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlooksat40
My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Email: @gamerlooksat40
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D

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While North American gamers dined on Mystic Quest, our pals in the East were chowing down on Final Fantasy 5. Full of customization, intrigue and a killer soundtrack, this game was often considered unattainable aside from emulation and a handful of re-releases. Is this game worthy of celebration or did Square do us Western fans a huge favor? Find out in this week's episode!

STARRING (all handles from Twitter)

Aiden Moher (@adribbleofink)
Barry Carenza of Premium Edition Games (@HawkHellfire)
Greg Sewart of the Player One Podcast and Generation 16 (@sewart)
Julian Titus (@julian_titus) of The Stage Select Podcast (@StageSelectPod)
Mekel Kasanova (@MekelKasanova)
Mike aka MageORage on Twitch and YouTube (@mageorage)
Ryan aka @GameswCoffee
Xerxex

SONG COVERS

'The Day Will Come' (Final Fantasy V) | Classical Guitar Cover by John Oeth Guitar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVR32UbyOfg

FFVII SOUNDFONT: Battle On The Big Bridge - FFV by Neo-Midgar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_mr8YEJWlI

My Website: agamerlooksat40.com
My Discord: https://discord.com/invite/SdaE4atGjC
My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
My TikTok: @agamerlooksat40
My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlooksat40
My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlooksat40
My Email: agamerlooksat40@gmail.com
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D  

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Imagine if you had a full set of your favorite console. Now imagine you had a full set of every console ever made. With a combined 100 years of game collecting experience, Joe Santulli, John Hardie, and Sean Kelly amassed an epic collection of gaming consoles, games, and memorabilia. 

When they could have cashed in on our current state of crazy game selling and buying.  they chose another route. Instead, the trio built an epic museum dedicated to preserving these artifacts and educating gamer of all ages on videogame history. On this week's episode, I chat with the team as they share stories of acquiring games back in the old days, the current state of the market, and why they chose to build a 10,000 sqft shrine to the medium they loved.

Check out the National Videogame Museum at  nvmusa.org

My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
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My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Email: @gamerlooksat40
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D

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After months of interviews and awesome chats, it's time to release the next edition of Side Quests. A collection of bits and bobs from a dozen different conversations that didnt fit the main show, this series is a great way to get to know many voices in a slightly structured way. In this episode, we have PC talk, awesome retro projects and two - count 'em - two people who don't like Metroid Dread.

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Surprise! Welcome to episode 2 of Tales From the Bargian Bin! A rotating cast of friends discuss the strange titles well meaning family members gave us as presents and decide if they are worth keeping or sending back to the store. And there are non sequiturs galore. 

On this episode we discuss Marble Madness. Who would have thought rolling a tiny ball down a series of hazards and narrow slopes would be so much fun? Join my brother and I as we talk about all things marbles, Milton Bradley and whatever the Omni is.

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Updates on Patreon, episodes, and what's coming up on your 8th favorite podcast. 

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When Id Software released Doom in 1993, it became a national sensation. It replaced the whimsical characters of Mario and Zelda with demonic creatures. Kids were carrying their PC's to LAN parties, and parents were appalled. But does the game hold up to modern thumbs? I talk to a host of Doom fans about the mechanics, visual style, and looking over both shoulders as you play. 

Starring:

Adam of the Retro Gaming Bygones podcast and the Commodore Chronicles podcast (@rbygones and @C64Chronicles on Twitter)
Trevor and Jeff of New Dad Gaming (@newdadgaming on Twitter)
Justin from the Baseball and Whatever Podcast (@baseballandwhat on Twitter)
Ryan aka @retrogamebrews on Twitter and co-host of Gamer's Week podcast.
Raji aka SuperNin10bros on Twitch.
Greg Sewart of Player One Podcast (@p1podcast on Twitter) and Generation 16 (@sewart on Twitter)

Promoting:
@supernin10bros on Twitter and Twitch
@GtotheNextLevel on Twitter and Twitch
@redauxpsx @Twitter and Twtch
@ducksindisguise @Twitter and Twitch
@thewellredmage @Twitter ad Twich

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GIVE. PICK UP. TALK TO. 

For many gamers, these simple commands were the first steps into the world of interactive storytelling. More than Mario jumping, Mega Man shooting or Zelda's thin narrative, point and click adventures brought playable King Arthur stories and Saturday morning cartoons to kids in an accessible, easy to digest way. It was magic. On this episode of A Gamer Looks at 40, we dive into the masters of the genre, Sierra and Lucasarts. 

Starring:

Adam of Retro Gaming Bygones Podcast and The Commodore Chronicles (@RBygones and @C64Chronicles on Twitter)
Bobby Tucker
Andrew Craig
Trevor and Jeff of New Dad Gaming (@newdadgaming on Twitter)
Andy aka @LoveRetroBTW on Twitter

Follow me at @agamerlooksat40 on Twitter.
Twitch streams every Tuesday at 8:30 PM CST at twitch.tv/agamerlooksat40pod
Support the show on Patreon at patreon.com/agamerlooksat40
 

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Originally brought into our homes for book reports and digital encyclopedias, a generation of kids cut their gaming teeth on their home PC's. From basics like Solitaire and Ski-Free to heavy hitters like Decent and Doom, the boring grey boxes held a world of electronic wonders to uncover. Join myself and gaggle of gaming pals as we dive into the memories of yesterday regarding our favorite PC games.

Starring:

Adam from Retro Gaming Bygones Podcast
Ian aka @teacherbloke85 on Twitter
Justin from the Baseball and Whatever Podcast
Trevor and Jeff from New Dad Gaming Podcast
Ryan aka @retrogamebrews on Twitter and co-host of Gamer's Week podcast.
Raji aka SuperNin10bros on Twitch.
Bobby Tucker
Andy aka @LoveRetroBTW on Twitter and host of Cafe, BTW on Twitch.
Andrew Craig

Show Plug: Gamer's Week (@gamersweekpc on Twitter)

Join me on Patreon at www.patreon.com/agamerlooksat40/
Hang out with me every Tuesday at 8:30 CST on Twitch at www.twitch.tv/agamerlooksat40Pod 

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Paetron: www.patreon.com/agamerlooksat40

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On the SNES episode, I opened the show with the real moment I received my Super Nintendo. It was, and continues to be, the greatest gift I've ever received. This is the full, uncut audio of the entire Christmas video with full narration by yours truly. It's steeped in nostalgia and brought back a healthy dose of feels. Hope it does the same for you.

Happy Holidays!

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Happy Holidays to all my listener friends! In an attempt to get as many interviews completed as possible before the holidays, November was extremely busy. As a result, I have a brand new batch of people (some you know, some you don't) answering three brand new questions, all of varying degrees of ridiculousness. Three new questions plus nine people answering equals a whole lot of fun. And listen to the end for a teaser for an announcement coming January 3rd. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

Starring

Andrew Craig
Blue Williams (@wytersview on Twitter)
Bobby Tucker
Michael K Hughes of Games My Mom Found podcast (@momfound on Twitter and everywhere else)
Trevor and Jeff of New Dad Gaming Podcast (@newdadgaming on Twitter)
Raji aka SuperNin10Bros on Twitch and everywhere else.
Paul Tesi aka @megaretroman on Twitter
Moses Norton aka @thewellredmage on Twitter, owner of www.the-pixels.com
Ryan aka @retrogamebrews on Twitter and RGB High Score on Twitch.

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While Final Fantasy was already a Japanese phenomenon, things here in the states were slower to gather steam. FF4 did well in stores, but nowhere near the numbers overseas. So, what to do with Final Fantasy 5? Release this complex, job heavy dungeon crawler to a market not ready for it or maybe soften the blow. Just a bit.

That lighter game became Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest, a stripped down version of the Final Fantasy formula made accessible to everyone. By combining the bare bones of an RPG with the kinetic fun of platforming, this oft maligned game remains a fascinating artifact, if nothing else. 

STARRING (all handles from Twitter)

Carson Clark (@DesireeKorrupt)
Greg Sewart of the Player One Podcast and Generation 16 (@sewart)
Ian aka @teacherbloke85
J.R. Sommerfeldt (@sommerfeldt_r)
Julian Titus (@julian_titus) of The Stage Select Podcast (@StageSelectPod)
Mekel Kasanova (@MekelKasanova)
Mike Albertin of Games My Mom Found Podcast (@mom_found)
Tim Knowles of The Leetist.
Xerxex

SONG COVERS

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest : Beautiful Forest Acoustic Cover by Steven Morris - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Oyv3PQwdCs

FINAL FANTASY MYSTIC QUEST "Boss Battle" Metal Cover by Ferdk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1da5k2Hpyw

My Website: agamerlooksat40.com
My Discord: https://discord.com/invite/SdaE4atGjC
My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
My TikTok: @agamerlooksat40
My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlooksat40
My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlooksat40
My Email: agamerlooksat40@gmail.com
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D  

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Join me and the author/screenwriter of the book/film 8-Bit Christmas, Kevin Jakubowski, as we chat about epic holiday gifts, NES memories, making a movie during a pandemic, and Christmas songs you wouldn't mind hearing all year long. Many thanks to Kevin for taking the time out of his busy schedule for this fun and enlightening conversation.

Starring:

Kevin Jakubowski (@kevjakubowski on Twitter)
8-Bit Christmas, the book, is now available to read on Amazon Kindle.
8-Bit Christmas, the film, is available to stream on HBO Max.

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This week's continuation of the difficulty in games conversation involves Moses Norton, also known as The Well Red Mage. We discuss difficulty settings, accessibility, should developers include difficulty options, creator intent, and a variety of other topics. Hopefully this capstone to last week's discussion spurs some new ideas and helps temper the negative ones.

Starring Moses Norton (@thewellredmage on Twitter) of www.the-pixels.com.

Promoting: The Pixel People: NPC's & Us Podcast -  anchor.fm/pixel-people

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Do you enjoy a good challenge or do you prefer casual experiences? Are you the type of person that pumps the difficulty to the highest settings or do you bump it down due to time constraints? Have you ever bounced off a game because you simply couldn't progress?

We've all experienced the effects of a developers decision to provide difficulty options in video games, for good and for ill. In this week's episode, I chat with three people with unique perspective on this topic using Metroid Dread as a starting point for the conversation.

Starring: 
Blue Williams aka @wrytersview
Andrew Craig
Joe Coiro 

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On Part 2 of Taking Down the Tetris King, we learn how Paul Tesi became involved in competitive Tetris, his history at the Classic Tetris World Championship and the 2019 run that made him a legend. And after it all, we ask a simple yet striking question - was it all worth it? 

Starring Paul Tesi aka @MegaRetroMan on all social media and streaming platforms. 

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Ever imagine what it would feel like to be the best in the world at something? To me, it's near unimaginable. Over the next two weeks, I talk to Paul Tesi, a multiple world champion, who in 2019, took on and defeated the best Tetris player in the world. In Part 1 of this story, we examine his beginnings in competitive gaming , some of the standout events he experienced, and touch on who he is as a person. 

Starring:

Paul Tesi aka @MegaRetroMan on Twitter and all other platforms. 

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Ah, Side Quests. A catch all episode that gathers humorous, entertaining, and occasionally poignant stories that may have been left on the cutting room floor or didn't fit an episode. This week's show is the best example of the format., We talk about playing unheralded games, retro collecting, local bars, and the beauty of never assuming. Enjoy the show!

George aka GtotheNextLevel on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube
Joe Corio
@sincespacies on Twitter, Twitch, and YouTube
Allen Petrozzi
Ian aka @teacherbloke83 on Twitter.

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Whenever I interview a new person, I open the conversation with three questions. Intended to be a simple warm up to the recording, the questions morphed into an experiment - ask a group of people the same three questions and see how they respond. This episode is the result of those questions and I think it serves as a neat cross section of opinions, thoughts, and fandoms. At least I hope so!

Starring:

George aka @GtotheNextLevel on Twitter, Twitch, etc
Ryan aka @gameswcoffee on Twitter
Allen Petrozzi
Greg Sewart (@sewart on Twitter)
Ian aka @teacherbloke85 on Twitter
Adam from Retro Bygones Podcast (@RBygones on Twitter)

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in 1991, Sega released Sonic the Hedgehog to a gaming public hungry for a Mario killer. What they got was a lightning fast title and an edgy wise cracking mascot to go with it. in this episode, we look at Sonic the character, the mechanic, and the - well - hedgehog. It's an interesting journey you'll need to listen t the end to get the full effect. 

Starring: 

Joe Coiro
Justin from Baseball and Whatever Podcast (@baseballandwhat on Twitter)
Since Spacies (@sincespacies on Twitter)
Allen Petrozzi
George aka @GtotheNextLevel on Twitter.
Ryan aka GamesWithCoffee (@gameswcoffee on Twitter)

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Ever want to know what happened behind the scenes at the biggest videogame magazine of late 90's / early aughts? Former editor of EGM magazine, Greg Sewart, shares stories about life at the magazine, what we've lost with the decline of print media, and journalistic integrity. It's a timely conversation and I hope you enjoy it.

Follow Greg Sewart on Twitter @sewart
Player One Podcast: https://www.playeronepodcast.com/
Generation 16: https://www.youtube.com/c/sewart

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While most of my friends and I were knee deep in our SNES fandom in the early 90's, another contender was making waves and taking names. The Sega Genesis, or the Mega Drive outside North America, was becoming a cult classic and an irritating bug in the ear for those of us still fighting the Bit Wars. Year later, I've come to appreciate the Genesis for it's unique take on 16 bit gaming and some of the classics on the system. Join me and a panel of Sega crazies as we discuss the Genesis. 

Starring

Andrew Craig
George aka GtotheNextLevel on Twitch, Twitter, and YouTube
Jeremy aka duckindisguise on Twitch and Twitter
Justin from Baseball and Whatever Podcast
Joe Corio
Ryan aka RGBHighScore on Twitter and Twitch
Brian aka Since Spacies on Twitch, YouTube, and Twitter
Michael K Hughes of Games My Mom Found Podcast
Greg Sewart from the Player One Podcast
Ian aka teacherbloke85 on Twitter.

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As we put a bow on our virtual round table regarding Final Fantasy 4, there's still so much to discuss. In this, the third and final installment on FF4, we take a shotgun approach to the stories by sharing - well - all the things we didn't on the previous episodes. We talk themes, story, logos, sound effects, and one particularly nasty wall in this omnibus episode. 

STARRING (all handles from Twitter)

Barry Carenza of Premium Edition Games (@HawkHellfire)
Greg Sewart of the Player One Podcast and Generation 16 (@sewart)
John Trenbeath (@crazyjohnt)
Julian Titus (@julian_titus) of The Stage Select Podcast (@StageSelectPod)
Mekel Kasanova (@MekelKasanova)
Mike of the Distorted Illuminations YouTube channel (@MadMonarch_DI)
Mike aka MageORage on Twitch and YouTube (@mageorage)
Moses aka @thewellredmage of the-pixels.com and Gamelogica on YouTube
Mustin, music producer (@Mustin)
Ryan Lindsay of KISS 105.3 in Ottawa (THERyanLindsay)
Trevor and Jeff of New Dad Gaming Podcast (@NewDadGaming)

SONG COVERS

Main Theme of FINAL FANTASY IV (Piano Cover) by Animalisa Keys - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlUFeCJ7T5c

Final Fantasy 4 / IV Guitar Cover - Theme of Love by Sam Griffin - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-79Ntl3pyHc

My Website: agamerlooksat40.com
My Discord: https://discord.com/invite/SdaE4atGjC
My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
My TikTok: @agamerlooksat40
My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlooksat40
My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlooksat40
My Email: agamerlooksat40@gmail.com
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D  

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War. War never changes. On this episode of A Gamer Looks at 40, we examine a strange time in gaming history where friendships hinged on consoles and fandoms more than sports teams and musical taste. And yes, since it's still happening today, we examine the phenomenon through modern eyes and try to sort out why we're still battling over which system is best. 

Staring: 

Greg Sewart of Player One Podcast (@sewart and @p1podcast on Twitter)
Steve Luzader
Jeff and Trevor from New Dad Gaming Podcast (@newdadgaming on Twitter)
Ian aka TeeBee (@TeacherBloke85 on Twitter)
Justin of Baseball and Whatever Podcast (@BaseballAndWhat on Twitter)
Joe Corio

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When I was in college, my first job was as an after-hours janitor in an elementary school. Brian, also known as Since Spacies on Twitch, Twitter, and YouTube, started his professional career as a Sega game counselor. On this week's episode, Brian shares his unique position as a part of Sega's most exciting era along with personal stories of his history with games .

Starring:

Brian aka Since Spacies - @sincespacies on Twitter, Twitch, and YouTube

Check out Level Zero Podcast - @levelzeropod on Twitter.

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The world of retro videogame collecting is in a strange place. Once an opportunity to rebuild the libraries, and memories, of childhood, the hobby's become big money and big business. On this week's episode, we look at retro collecting from two perspectives - through the stories of the collectors and the point of view of a retro retailer.

Starring:

Ryan aka @retrogamebrews on Twitter and Twitch.
Jeremy aka @ducksindisguise on Twitter and Twitch.
George aka G to the Next Level (@gtothenextlevel on Twitter Twitch, and more)
Andy aka @LoveRetroBTW on Twitter and host of Cafe, BTW on Twitch.
David Kaelin, founder of Game Over Videogames (www.gameovervideogames.com) Classic Game Fest (www.classicgamefest.com)
  

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The SNES was THE RPG machine. Dozens of genre classics were developed for the system in the early to mid 90's. And while we deep dived into one of them last week, this episode is all about the best of the rest. Time to celebrate an amazing array of world class titles on this week's A Gamer Looks at 40.

Starring

Moses Norton aka @thewellredmage on Twitter.
Bobby Tucker
Steve Luzader
Mike Albertin from Games My Mom Found Podcast (@momfound)
Blue Williams (@wrytersview on Twitter)
Darryl (@MysterThou on Twitter)

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A game so beloved by the world it warrants it's own episode, Chrono Trigger is a defining moment in the genre of JRPG's. Join myself and a cast of fellow Chrono Crazies as we delve into the heart of what makes this legendary title worthy of every accolade it's ever recieved.

Starring:

Moses Norton of the-pixels.com (@thewellredmage on Twitter).
Mike Albertin of Game My Mom Found Podcast (@momfound on Twitter)
Ryan of RGB High Score (@retrogamebrews on Twitter).
Darryl (@MysterThou on Twitter)

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Ready for a random complication of memories, thoughts, and opinions? Side  Quests Vol 2 has you covered. Our largest episode yet features rental stories, recollections of the Intellivison, Mario 3 competitions, demo discs, and descending into parental madness. A grab bag of good times!

Starring:

Andrew Craig
Andy of Cafe, BTW (@LoveRetroBTW on Twitter)
Jeremy aka @ducksindisguise on Twitter
Steve Luzader
Daryl aka @MysterThou on Twitter
Mike Albertin of Games My Mom Found Podcast (@momfound on Twitter)
Jeff and Trevor of New Dad Gaming Podcast (@newdadgaming on  Twitter)
Joe Corio

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One a charming platformer that saved the SNES from Bit War irrelevance, the other a planet scouring adventure the likes nobody had seen before, Super Metroid and Donkey Kong Country ruled the 16 bit landscape. Join myself and a cast of fellow fans as we look back on these classic titles one memory at a time.

Starring:

Blue Williams (@wrytersview on Twitter)
Jeremy aka @ducksindiguise on Twitter
Joe Corio
Trevor and Jeff from the New Dad Gaming Podcast (@newdadgaming on Twitter)
Bobby Tucker

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While we can all agree the SNES was a landmark console, it's nothing without the titles to play on it. In this episode, we share stories of the games that marked our history with this 16 bit wonder. From the familiar classics to weird relics of a bygone era, this episode covers them all!

Starring

Blue Williams (@wrytersview on Twitter)
Greg from the Level Zero Podcast (@LevelZeroPod on Twitter)
Bobby Tucker
Steve Luzader
Jeremy (@ducksindiguise on Twitter)
Joe Corio
Trevor from New Dad Gaming Podcast (@newdadgaming on Twitter)
Mike Albertin from Games My Mom Found (@momfound on Twitter)
Ryan of RGB High Score on Twitch

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For kids of my generation, the Super Nintendo equaled magic. A sea change evolution from our tired NES's, it captured our imaginations in immeasurable ways. On this episode, we talk about the console, our memories of how we acquired it, and some of the standout titles that made it sing. 

Staring: 

Blue Williams
Bobby Tucker
Greg of the Level Zero Podcast (@LevelZeroPod on Twitter)
Steve Luzader
Jeremy aka Ducks in Disguise (@ducksindiguise on Twitter)
Justin of the Baseball and Whatever Podcast (@baseballandwhat on Twitter)
Mike Albertin of the Games My Mom Found Podcast (@momfound on Twitter)
Trevor and Jeff of the New Dad Gaming Podcast (@NewDadGaming on Twitter)
Ryan of RGB High Score on Twitch

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It's amazing when a character changes your life. When a bunch of pixels on a TV screen touches you in a way no other medium can manage.  Ryan from the Games With Coffee blog shares three personal stories of how he was sculpted by Sonic the Hedgehog.

Ryan's Story: https://normalhappenings.com/2020/06/23/sonic-the-character-that-defines-ryan-from-games-with-coffee/
Ryan's Fan Ficton Epic, Mobius VII: https://gameswithcoffee.com/fanficton/mobius-vii/

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Last week, we started the FF4 fire by documenting our initial impressions. On this week's episode, we go deeper into the big (and small) moments that left an impact along with the  characters that made this SNES launch title a game to remember. 

STARRING (all handles from Twitter)

Barry Carenza of Premium Edition Games (@HawkHellfire)
Greg Sewart of the Player One Podcast and Generation 16 (@sewart)
John Trenbeath (@crazyjohnt)
Julian Titus (@julian_titus) of The Stage Select Podcast (@StageSelectPod)
Mekel Kasanova (@MekelKasanova)
 Mike of the Distorted Illuminations YouTube channel (@MadMonarch_DI)
Mike aka MageORage on Twitch and YouTube (@mageorage)
Mike Albertin of Games My Mom Found Podcast (@mom_found)
Moses aka @thewellredmage of the-pixels.com and Gamelogica on YouTube
Ryan Lindsay of KISS 105.3 in Ottawa (THERyanLindsay)
Trevor and Jeff of New Dad Gaming Podcast (@NewDadGaming)

SONG COVERS

Final Fantasy IV - Overworld Main Theme - Classical Guitar Cover by Atomix - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hux9iMPdYkQ

Final Fantasy 4 Celtic Moon Track 5 Main Theme by Ozzylifeson Soundtracks - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX2vIjZgxuY&list=PLBCFB68C388EC836D&index=5

FINAL FANTASY IV: 'Rydia's Theme' | Classical Guitar | John Oeth by John Oeth - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgsyimjKsxk

My Website: agamerlooksat40.com
My Discord: https://discord.com/invite/SdaE4atGjC
My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40
My TikTok: @agamerlooksat40
My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlooksat40
My Insta: @agamerlooksat40
My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlooksat40
My Email: agamerlooksat40@gmail.com
My Phone Number: Ehhhhh, not gonna happen. :-D  

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In this two part episode, we explore how The Legend of Zelda helped shape a person's life for the better and tell a cautionary tale of the tragic ramifications of skipping 16 bit dialogue boxes.

Starring:

Andrew Craig
Greg of the Level Zero podcast (@levelzeropod on Twitter).

Check out Classic Game Fest at classicgamefest.com. Runs July 24th and 25th in Austin, TX at the Palmer Events Center. Tickets still available as of this recording. 

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Y'all keep talking about it, so I'll  keep recording it! On this episode of AGLA40, we continue to deep dive into our beloved Game Boys. Not only do we hear more about the games that made it special, we show some love to the competition and talk for days about Links Awakening. Join me for another 100 miles further down the Game Boy Highway.

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In 1989, a grey brick dropped from the heavens into the laps of a generation of bored kids on road trips across the world. Join me and a crew of fellow portable gamers as we explore the Game Boy phenomenon through the stories of our time with it.

Guests:

Joe Coiro
Blue Williams: @wrytersview on Twitter
Ryan aka RBG High Score: @Retrogamebrews on Twitter
Trevor Alexander: Co-host of New Dad Gaming (@newdadgaming on Twitter)
Michael K Hughes: Co-host of Games My Mom Found (@momfound on Twitter).
Bobby Tucker

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