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PODCAST

A Trip Down Memory Card Lane

David Kassin and Robert Kassin

Would you like to learn new things about your favorite video games, and the people who create them? A Trip Down Memory Card Lane is a weekly video game history podcast that uses the current week in gaming history as a guide to tell you interesting stories about the history of video games, gaming consoles, game designers, the gaming studios they"ve founded, and more. Join hosts David Kassin and Robert Kassin as they take an often-chronological look at the people, companies, technologies, and

leisure video games

All Episodes

00:53:13

Ep.277 – A Star is Born: Why Phantasy Star Became...

A Trip Down Memory Card Lane ·

2025/12/18

In 1987, Phantasy Star arrived on the Sega Master System and proved that Sega could compete in a genre dominated by Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. This week, we explore how a small internal team led by Kotaro Hayashida, Yuji Naka, and artist Rieko Kodama set out to build an RPG that broke from medieval tradition. We trace how the game blended science fiction and fantasy, introduced one of the earliest female protagonists in Alis, and pushed the Master System far beyond expectations with full screen

en-US

01:09:01

Ep.276 – Spirited Away to a New World: How Level-5...

A Trip Down Memory Card Lane ·

2025/12/11

In 2010, Ni no Kuni: Dominion of the Dark Djinn introduced players to a world where Studio Ghibli’s hand-drawn warmth met Level-5’s heartfelt RPG design. In this episode, we explore how a studio famously cautious about video games found unexpected harmony with a developer that valued emotion as much as mechanics. We follow the project from its DS origins and physical spellbook to the deeper PS3 reimagining that blended animation, music, and storytelling into something that felt unmistakably Ghibli

en-US

01:01:47

Ep.275 – Scanning for Fun: Exploring the History of...

A Trip Down Memory Card Lane ·

2025/12/04

In 2001, Nintendo released the e-Reader, a quirky card-scanning accessory for the Game Boy Advance that blended trading cards with tiny bursts of digital content. This week, we explore the long road that led to its creation, tracing the evolution of barcode gaming from Japan’s Barcode Battler craze to Bandai’s Datach and even arcade hits like Mushiking and Love and Berry. We follow how Pokémon cards, dot-code technology, and Japan’s card culture shaped the device, and why the e-Reader thrived

en-US

01:01:37

Ep.274 – 64-Bits of Trouble: The Rise and Fall of...

A Trip Down Memory Card Lane ·

2025/11/27

In 1993, Atari launched the Jaguar, a console that promised 64-bit power and a bold return to gaming glory—but the reality was far more complicated. In this episode, we explore how Atari partnered with Flare Technology, canceled its 16-bit Panther system, and aimed to leapfrog the competition with a futuristic design that was ambitious, confusing, and notoriously difficult to develop for. We trace the Jaguar’s tangled architecture, marketing push to “Do the Math,” and the hardware quirks that doomed

en-US

00:57:03

Ep.273 – Silent Assassin: Exploring the Origins and...

A Trip Down Memory Card Lane ·

2025/11/20

In 2000, \Hitman: Codename 47\ introduced players to Agent 47 and a new breed of stealth gaming built on improvisation, experimentation, and precision. In this episode, we trace how a small team of Danish demoscene veterans formed IO Interactive, built the Glacier Engine from scratch, and turned a 'simple shooter' concept into one of the most influential stealth franchises in history. We follow the evolution from Codename 47’s experimental beginnings to Silent Assassin’s refinement and Contracts’

en-US

00:59:00

Ep.272 – Mattel’s Vision: The Rise and Fall of Mattel...

A Trip Down Memory Card Lane ·

2025/11/13

In 1979, Mattel entered the console wars with the \Intellivision\, a machine that promised to outthink Atari with its 'intelligent television' design. This week, we explore how a toy company known for Barbie and Hot Wheels transformed into a technological powerhouse, creating one of the first true competitors to Atari’s 2600. We discuss the innovations that made the Intellivision stand out, its 16-bit processor, unique keypad controllers, and focus on realism, and the missteps that led to its fall

en-US

01:06:32

Ep.271 – Chainsaws and Cover: How Epic Games...

A Trip Down Memory Card Lane ·

2025/11/06

In 2006, Epic Games released Gears of War, a brutal and cinematic reinvention of the third-person shooter. In this episode, we trace Cliff Bleszinski’s journey from teenage shareware designer to creative director at Epic, and how his vision helped transform a scrapped Unreal prototype into one of gaming’s most iconic franchises. We explore the birth of the Lancer, the evolution of cover-based combat, and how Epic’s technical mastery of Unreal Engine 3 changed console gaming forever. Our conversation

en-US

01:08:46

Ep.270 – The Magazine That Started It All: ...

A Trip Down Memory Card Lane ·

2025/10/30

In 1981, a trio of writers—Arnie Katz, Bill Kunkel, and Joyce Worley—released Electronic Games, the first magazine dedicated entirely to video games. In this episode, we trace how their early ‘Arcade Alley’ column evolved into a full publication that gave the gaming world its first real voice. Our conversation explores the magazine’s creation, from pitch meetings and prototype covers to its bold editorial vision that treated games as art rather than toys. We discuss the rise and fall of the magazine

en-US

01:11:22

Ep.269 – The Tanooki Takeover: The Story of Super...

A Trip Down Memory Card Lane ·

2025/10/23

In 1990, Nintendo released Super Mario Bros. 3, the NES encore that pushed 8-bit gaming to its absolute limit. In this episode, we explore how Shigeru Miyamoto and his team built a theatrical masterpiece from the ground up, transforming technical constraints into creative brilliance. Our conversation traces the journey from Donkey Kong to the Mushroom Kingdom’s final curtain call, covering the team’s innovations in overworld maps, new power-ups like the Super Leaf and Tanooki Suit, and the MMC3 chip

en-US

00:53:34

Ep.268 – Click, Chop, Conquer: How Ensemble Studios...

A Trip Down Memory Card Lane ·

2025/10/16

In 1997, Ensemble Studios released Age of Empires, a real-time strategy game that transformed history into spectacle. We trace Tony Goodman’s journey from running a Dallas software company to founding Ensemble, and how veteran designer Bruce Shelley brought board game and Civilization experience to the team. The episode highlights the creation of “Dawn of Man,” the challenges of pathfinding and dial-up multiplayer, and Microsoft’s gamble on a game that mixed Warcraft’s immediacy with Civilization’s

en-US

00:53:28

Ep.267 – Monkey Business: The Struggle to Develop...

A Trip Down Memory Card Lane ·

2025/10/09

In 2010, Ninja Theory released Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, a post-apocalyptic reimagining of the Chinese epic Journey to the West. We trace Tameem Antoniades’ turbulent path from Kung Fu Chaos and Heavenly Sword to founding Ninja Theory and building Enslaved on a shoestring budget. The episode highlights the extraordinary creative lineup—Andy Serkis shaping Monkey, Alex Garland embedding with the team as co-designer, and Nitin Sawhney composing its score. Our conversation explores its lush

en-US

00:55:36

Ep.266 – Basement Blues: Faith and Trauma in The...

A Trip Down Memory Card Lane ·

2025/10/02

In 2011, Edmund McMillen and Florian Himsl released The Binding of Isaac, a crude Flash project that grew into one of the most influential indie games of its era. We trace McMillen’s path from comics to Super Meat Boy, his partnership with Himsl, and the deeply personal religious themes that shaped Isaac’s grotesque story. The episode highlights its Zelda-inspired dungeons, roguelike randomization, and item transformations that turned every run into a new tale of survival. Our conversation explores

en-US

00:56:09

Ep.265 – Heroes in the Cockpit: Chris Roberts and...

A Trip Down Memory Card Lane ·

2025/09/25

In 1990, Origin Systems released Wing Commander, Chris Roberts’ groundbreaking space combat simulator that aimed to feel like a movie you could play. We trace Roberts’ path from teenage programmer on the BBC Micro to his time at Origin, where Times of Lore shaped his cinematic ambitions. The episode explores how Roberts taught himself 3D tricks, pitched Squadron, and assembled a small team to bring branching campaigns, cockpit chatter, and dynamic music to life. Our conversation highlights critic

en-US

00:56:23

Ep.264 – Storming the Beaches (and the Servers): How...

A Trip Down Memory Card Lane ·

2025/09/18

In 2002, Battlefield 1942 redefined multiplayer shooters by combining infantry, tanks, ships, and planes on massive, team-based maps. We rewind to the roots of DICE and Refraction Games, from digital pinball tables to the ambitious Codename Eagle, and how their merger set the stage for Battlefield’s debut. The episode highlights EA’s role in finally backing the project, the Refractor engine’s technical leap, and the launch maps that turned every match into a story generator. Critics praised its

en-US

00:53:05

Ep.263 – Swinging Through History: How Pitfall!...

A Trip Down Memory Card Lane ·

2025/09/11

In 1982, David Crane pushed the Atari 2600 to its limits with only four kilobytes of memory, creating Pitfall!, a jungle adventure that became one of the system’s best-sellers. Our conversation traces Crane’s journey from Atari to co-founding Activision, his experiments that led to the iconic “running man” sprite, and the algorithm that generated 255 screens on the fly. We highlight how Raiders of the Lost Ark, Saturday cartoons, and clever coding shaped Pitfall Harry’s swings on vines, leaps across

en-US

00:57:33

Ep.262 – Motorcycles and Mayhem - Road Rash’s Wild Ride

A Trip Down Memory Card Lane ·

2025/09/04

Kick, punch, and weave through traffic—this week we’re diving into Road Rash, the Genesis classic that turned ho-hum racing into all-out street brawling. We trace its unlikely origins from a scrapped Andretti sim to EA’s rebellious in-house hit, unpacking the tech tricks behind those winding roads and the decision to make wipeouts cartoonishly fun. You’ll hear how named rivals, taunting cops, and an attitude-forward aesthetic made Road Rash stand out, why multiplayer had to wait, and how the series

en-US

00:59:42

Ep.261 – Horror in Full Motion – Exploring the...

A Trip Down Memory Card Lane ·

2025/08/28

In 1995, Roberta Williams trades fairy tales for fear with Phantasmagoria, a seven-disc FMV horror epic that looks like a movie and plays like an adventure. We talk about how Sierra built a real film studio, shot actors on bluescreen, and composited them into 1,000+ CG backdrops to create its eerie mansion setting. We also dig into the controversy: graphic gore, mature themes, and a notorious assault scene that led to bans and retailer pushback. While sales soared, critics questioned whether this

en-US

00:56:32

Ep.260 – Tactical Revolution - Rainbow Six and the...

A Trip Down Memory Card Lane ·

2025/08/21

Today, we’re breaching into the tactical world of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six, the 1998 game that redefined the first-person shooter genre with its emphasis on realism, planning, and precision. We begin by tracing the origins of Red Storm Entertainment, born from Tom Clancy’s desire to bring his military fiction to the digital battlefield. Then, we explore how a book and a game were developed in tandem—one shaping the other—resulting in a groundbreaking experience that traded run-and-gun chaos for

en-US

00:57:53

Ep.259 – Flat Out Fun - The Story of Paper Mario

A Trip Down Memory Card Lane ·

2025/08/14

Today, we’re flattening expectations with Paper Mario, the 2000 RPG that reimagined the Mushroom Kingdom through a papercraft lens. We begin by tracing its origins as a follow-up to Super Mario RPG, developed after Square’s departure from Nintendo. Then, we’ll explore how Intelligent Systems overcame the limitations of the Nintendo 64 to create a charming, accessible RPG full of humor, heart, and strategic depth. Along the way, we’ll look at its unique battle mechanics, the legacy of the ring-style

en-US

00:57:53

Ep.258 – The Mana Legacy - The History of Secret of...

A Trip Down Memory Card Lane ·

2025/08/07

Revisit the lush world of Secret of Mana (1993), the SNES action RPG that redefined real-time combat and cooperative play in the genre. Born from the ashes of a canceled CD-ROM project, this episode explores how development constraints transformed a once-massive vision into a streamlined yet unforgettable experience. We trace the Mana series’ roots back to Final Fantasy Adventure, delve into Koichi Ishii’s ambitious worldbuilding, and break down the legacy of its ring menu system, drop-in

en-US

277 results

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