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PODCAST

My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin

In My Perfect Console, Simon Parkin, award-winning author video game critic for The Observer invites well-known guests from the worlds of gaming, film and television, music, comedy and more to pick the five video games they would like to immortalise on a fictional games machine. They discuss those five games in chronological order of release, interspersed with biographical chat about the guest’s life and career –– a lens that often leads to new and unexpected insights."Thoroughly modern and ahead of

leisure video games

All Episodes

1:33:58

Alexander O. Smith, translator (Vagrant Story,...

My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin ·

2025/09/29

Alexander O. Smith is a translator, writer, and creative producer whose work has brought some of Japan’s most acclaimed stories to audiences around the world. After graduating from Harvard University with a degree in classical Japanese Literature, he went on to become one of the most respected voices in literary and video game translation.He is best known for his celebrated work onFinal Fantasy XII,Vagrant Story, and thePhoenix Wright: Ace Attorneyseries, as well as his translations of Japanese

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1:27:51

Charlie Rosen, bandleader, The 8-bit Big Band.

My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin ·

2025/09/23

Charlie Rosen is a Grammy award-winning musician, composer, and arranger whose work sits at the intersection of jazz, pop, and video game nostalgia. As the founder and leader ofThe 8-bit Big Band, a 35-piece jazz-pops orchestra, he had transformed classic video game soundtracks into virtuosic symphonic showstoppers.Under his direction, the ensemble has reimagined themes fromSuper Mario Bros.,The Legend of Zelda, andSonic the Hedgehog, with flair—earning critical acclaim, viral attention, and a

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1:22:12

Andy Robertson, journalist, entrepreneur (BBC,...

My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin ·

2025/09/16

Andy Robertson is a veteran journalist, editor, and entrepreneur who has spent his career exploring how video games can bring people together. After graduating fromBrunel Universitywith a degree in Computer Science, he worked as a freelance games critic for theBBCbefore launching Family Gamer TV, aYouTube channel designed to help parents and caregivers confidently navigate the increasingly complex world of games.An advocate of games in diverse spaces, including theTEDxandGreenbeltfestivals, he’s now

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1:21:12

Lizzie Killian, musician (Teens in Trouble).

My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin ·

2025/09/09

Lizzie Killian is the lead vocalist and guitarist ofTeens in Trouble, an indie rock band known for its anthemic melodies, sharp lyrics, and emotionally charged hooks. Before taking to the stage, she started her career as a writer covering games, then moved into communications, collaborating with titans of the industry suchCapcom,EA, andRiot.In 2022 she released her first E.P. with her band Teens in Trouble, which included the tracks “I’m Not Worried” and “Decomposing,” both of which have been

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1:20:12

Jonathan Jacques-Belletête, creative director, Hell...

My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin ·

2025/09/02

Jonathan Jacques-Belletête is a French-Canadian creative director and artist whose work has helped shape some of the most stylish and thought-provoking contemporary video games. After graduating from Dawson College in Montreal, he worked as a commercial illustrator before joining Ubisoft as an artist on the Far Cry, Prince of Persia and Assassin’s Creed series. In 2007 he joined Eidos Montreal, where he helped reimagine the Deus Ex universe with the games Human Revolution and Mankind Divided,

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1:31:44

Tonda Ros, gamemaker, Blue Prince.

My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin ·

2025/08/26

My guest today is an American visual artist whose work is redefining how we think about mystery, architecture, and imagination in interactive storytelling. In 2013 he founded Dogubomb, a Los Angeles-based independent Film and Game Studio making music videos, films, and commercials for clients such as Magic the Gathering and Netflix. In 2016 my guest started work on a video game of his own. Having been selected for the interactive category at Tribeca last year, the game, Blue Prince, launched in

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1:17:34

Brian Gibson, artist, musician (Lightning Bolt,...

My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin ·

2025/08/19

Brian Gibson is a musician, artist, and game designer best known for blurring the lines between sound, movement, and chaos. As the bassist for the legendary noise-rock duo Lightning Bolt, he’s released seven studio albums and played countless ferocious, high-velocity live shows. But he’s also spent much of his life working on video games, first as an artist for the music-game developer Harmonix, which he joined in 2001, and more recently as the co-designer of Thumper—a rhythm-violence game that

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36:54

Correspondence Special #7: Zelda snubs, lost gaming...

My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin ·

2025/08/14

In this special correspondence edition, Simon reads out your letters and answers your questions.Why hasThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Timenever made it onto a Perfect Console? Where have in-person gaming communities gone, and can they be revived? What happened to educational games after the days ofOregon TrailandCarmen Sandiego?Which made-up game languages are the most memorable? And where exactly is the line between a video game and… not a video game? All this and much more.Become a My Perfect

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1:23:05

Ralph Panebianco, critic, YouTube creator (Skill Up).

My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin ·

2025/08/12

Ralph Panebianco is an Australian video game reviewer and YouTube creator known for his sharp insights, no-nonsense delivery, and deep love of the medium. His reviews have been watched more than three hundred million times, and since 2015 his channel, Skill-Up, has become one of the most popular destinations for game criticism, both in Australia and around the world. He has built a loyal following with his in-depth reviews, industry commentary, and honest takes on everything from blockbuster

en

1:31:03

Greg Jenner, historian.

My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin ·

2025/08/05

Greg Jenner is a historian, author, and broadcaster who has made the past delightfully accessible to millions. Born in Kent, he studied Archaeology & History at the University of York, then mediaeval studies, before serving as historical advisor to the BBC’s hit children’s series Horrible Histories. He has since authored several acclaimed books that combine rigorous research with witty storytelling, including Dead Famous, Ask A Historian, and You Are History.Since 2019 he has been the host of

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1:28:51

Nathan Brown, writer, analyst, former editor Edge.

My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin ·

2025/07/29

Nathan Brown is a writer, editor, and consultant with a deep well of experience in the video game industry. After starting his career in finance he switched to become a journalist, he spent more than a decade at the British publicationEdgemagazine, where he eventually rose to the role of editor.Since leaving traditional games media, he has carved out a unique space withHit Points, a widely read industry newsletter offering sharp analysis and insider perspective on the ever-evolving world of games

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1:06:56

Kat Abughazaleh, influencer, politician.

My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin ·

2025/07/22

Kat Abu is a journalist, influencer, and digital powerhouse who’s taken her sharp wit and political insight from the internet to the campaign trail. Best known for her viral videos dissecting right-wing media as a senior video producer at Media Matters for America, she built a vast following online by blending incisive commentary with biting humour. Now, she’s making a leap into politics as a candidate for Congress in Illinois, bringing her fierce advocacy, media savvy, and Gen Z energy to the

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1:16:30

Jimi Famurewa, food critic.

My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin ·

2025/07/15

Jimi Famurewa is a British-Nigerian author, broadcaster and food critic whose writing blends cultural insight, wit, and deep empathy. As the former restaurant critic for theEvening Standard, he’s become one of the most recognisable voices in British food writing, known for capturing not just what’s on the plate, but also the people, stories, and histories behind it.A regular guest judge on theBBC OneseriesMasterChef, he was also one of the lead judges onChannel 4’sThe Great Cookbook Challenge with

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1:11:03

Ed Night, comedian.

My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin ·

2025/07/08

Ed Night is one of the sharpest and most original voices in British stand-up. He began performing comedy as a teenager and, in 2017 his debut hour at the Edinburgh Fringe, Anthem For Doomed Youth, saw him become one of the youngest ever nominees for the Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Newcomer. Since then, he’s established a reputation for his darkly funny, politically charged material. His writing has been featured on shows including The Mash Report, 8 out of 10 Cats, The News Quiz, Mock the Week,

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1:27:49

Cabel Sasser, co-founder Panic (creators of the...

My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin ·

2025/07/01

Cabel Sasser is a designer, developer, and co-founder of one of the most beloved indie software companies in tech. In 1999, he co-founded Panic, the Portland-based studio known for its beautifully crafted Mac software and, later, its publishing work on standout indie games like Firewatch and Untitled Goose Game. Most recently, he helped lead the creation of Playdate—a quirky handheld console that blends nostalgia, invention, and delight, to reimagine what portable gaming can be.Become a My Perfect

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1:21:49

Peter Whalen, game director (Hearthstone, Teamfight...

My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin ·

2025/06/24

Peter Whalen is a game designer and creative lead known for his work at the intersection of strategy, storytelling, and competitive play. After graduating fromPrincetonwith a degree in Mathematics, he earned his doctorate in algorithms atGeorgia Tech.He then began his career in video games, first atBlizzard, where he was a senior designer onHearthstone. He then moved toRiot Games, where he now serves as the Game Director forTeamfight Tactics, Riot’s ambitious chess-like game set in the world

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1:21:29

Ray Chase, voice actor (Final Fantasy XV, Xmen '97,...

My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin ·

2025/06/17

Ray Chase is an American voice actor whose range and versatility have made him one of the most recognisable voices across anime, video games, and audiobooks. Known for bringing to life characters such as Noctis in Final Fantasy XV, Bruno Bucciarati in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Cyclops in Xmen ’97, and Zukuna in Jujutsu Kaisen, he has also voiced major titles like Genshin Impact, Persona 5, and Demon Slayer. After a career spanning everything from gritty protagonists to eccentric sidekicks, he’s now

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1:07:20

Robbie Singh, streamer, studio founder (Omeda).

My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin ·

2025/06/10

Robbie is a studio head with one of the most unusual origin stories in the games industry. A former content creator and streamer, he fell in love with Paragon, the ambitious MOBA from Epic Games—so much so that when Epic closed the game in 2018, he refused to let it die. With no prior game development experience and no plans to enter the industry, he founded Omeda Studios and set out to rebuild and evolve the game alongside its passionate community. The result was Predecessor, a fresh take on the

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49:18

Listener Console Special #3

My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin ·

2025/06/05

In this special episode, five My Perfect Console supporters share the games they would like to put on their ideal, fictional games machine, and the reasons behind their choices.If you would like to share your console with the My Perfect Console audience, head tothis postfor more details.Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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1:14:17

Elena Lobova, Ukrainian entrepreneur, game developer.

My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin ·

2025/06/03

My guest today is a Ukrainian game developer, entrepreneur, and one of the most respected community-builders in the video games industry. After graduating from East Ukrainian Volodymyr Dahl National University with a Master's in Computer Science she began her career in mobile game development. She founded initiatives such as Achievers Hub and Global Games Pitch, platforms that connect indie developers with publishers, investors, and collaborators around the world.Since then, she’s become a tireless

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