The Back Page: A Video Games Podcast

He *loves* it.

Tomorrow, we record another Games Court episode. But did you know we've officially ran out of anecdotes about secondhand game purchases, as of this coming episode?

We'd absolutely welcome more horrors at backpagegames@gmail.com, or in the relevant submissions channel in the Discord!

They invited me back so I put Sam's tolerance for Ghostbusters to the test by making him play a bunch of old games and then listen to me prattle on about them endlessly for hours.

Ghostbusters Games and gamesTM Memories (with Dave Scarborough) The Back Page: A Video Games Podcast · Episode

New episode! With Matthew away, @scarbs.bsky.social joins Samuel to talk about their memories of working in print together and the history of Ghostbusters games.

Allegedly, some of the games are good. Listen wherever podcasts are available: open.spotify.com/episode/1J28...

The jury for drafts is a great idea, and I hope they don't announce themselves, because there is huge potential for a deductive metagame involving listening out for any suspiciously out-of-character picks and working out which member of the Back Page extended universe they are designed to win over

- Two Giant Men Play Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – August 22nd
- XXL Episode: Film Club: Galaxy Quest (1999) and Tropic Thunder (2008) – August 25th
- The All-Star Japanese Game Developer Draft (with Ashley Day and Dave Scarborough) – August 29th

August schedule:
- Ghostbusters games and gamesTM memories (with Dave Scarborough) – today
- Games Court – August 8th
- XL Episode: Playdate and Niche Handheld Consoles – August 11th
- The Inaugural Metacritic Game – August 15th...

Pretty sure that's an errant bit of moustache rather than a nose hair, but who can really say. I adore this podcast, have been thinking about what I'd pick if I was invited on since the day it launched. Whittling 40-odd years of games down to just five was, nonetheless, absolute agony. Go!

Via rwobke:

Castle Island has been found! (Via Nige in the Discord)

This episode is available now!

Mad (and excellent) that Samuel wanting an outlet to talk about Onimusha 2 five years ago led to a band of strangers becoming online mates and meeting in real life today.

New Patreon episode, available shortly! Two top 10 lists of our favourite films from the 21st century – 'inspired' by the NY Times list.

Here's a preview of a rather jolly episode:

Despite our long history of upsetting the north, too.

The Sunday Papers The Sunday Papers is our weekly roundup of great writing about (mostly) videogames from across the web.

Here’s to @grahamsmith.bsky.social, signing off from RPS after 20 years in game journalism with the wisest thoughts about games media you’ll read www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-sunday-p...

Loads of Donkey Kong chat here - and a sneaky character hall of fame at the end. I'm mostly just relieved that Sam liked the game too, thus preventing us from having to end the podcast forever.

Cursed.

Thank you friend!

Just put 50 more of these on sale. I was holding them back to sell at a later date or maybe in person sometime, but I keep getting messages from people telling me they missed out. This is definitely the last 50, though.

Two Giant Men Play Donkey Kong Bananza (which *has* to be better than Astro Bot) The Back Page: A Video Games Podcast · Episode

Finally, here it is: Two Giant Men Play Donkey Kong Bananza (Which *Has* To Be Better Than Astro Bot – Which Game Has The Sauce, The Juice, Or The Gravy?).

Listen wherever you get podcasts: open.spotify.com/episode/0dMm...

The audio version of Perfect Organism, my Alien: Isolation companion book, is out today!

- Learn the story behind the game's creation
- Play along with a huge mission-by-mission analysis
- Professionally narrated
- Unabridged (8 hours 37 minutes)

🔗 www.audible.co.uk/pd/The-Perfe...

"Flanking is made difficult by dreaded tanks that don’t keep still. Hair-raisingly, the latter have to be approached directly from behind if you’re to pop a grenade in their hatch. Even in today’s gaming landscape, where the silent takedown has become a staple, it’s a rarity to stealth-kill a Panzer."

Wanna support independent games media? Then read the new free edition of The Peel Perspective, and don't listen to anyone who says 'pop a grenade in their hatch' is a euphemism. Seriously? Come on. Disgusting. www.patreon.com/posts/134860...

A mockup of three copies of One More Win: Ridge Racer Type 4 Fanzine on a white surface.

A feature titled GARAGE TALK about the storytelling in the game's Grand Prix mode.

A spread about the Namco JogCon controller.

A spread detailing the game's tracks.

ONE MORE WIN
Ridge Racer Type 4 Fanzine
Digital / Physical
Available now
🔗 ultrabrilliant.etsy.com

Went to the middle of nowhere in Virginia to see a show this weekend, and found a retro games store next door. Is the most cursed UMD the Cursed UMD? Tempted to buy for Games Court. Resisted the urge. @backpagepod.bsky.social

Been hatching some new Back Page draft episode rules with Matthew Castle. The word 'escalation' comes to mind...

Absolutely loved listening to this as it covers the same era I was working on the mag. Pure nostalgia and joy thinking back to those times.

If you didn’t work on the mag… This interview is so insightful it may well make you feel like you did!

In the summer months, when our brains are toast, there's nothing better than getting a super thoughtful guest on the pod to do all the heavy lifting. And a fellow Matthew to boot. Do give this one a listen - lots of good stuff.

A print magazine team with staff members in the double figures...we can only dream of such things.

gamesTM vs Edge (with Matthew Handrahan) The Back Page: A Video Games Podcast · Episode

New episode! gamesTM versus Edge with Matthew Handrahan.

A slightly misleading title because it's only 40% about that, really. But that's the internet, baby.

Great guest! Get it on all podcast platforms: open.spotify.com/episode/6JGD...

Coming tomorrow! A far-reaching chat about gamesTM magazine, including how it competed with Edge, with @handrahan.bsky.social.

Much more is discussed besides, including the most ostentatious press trip stories ever told.

Here's a preview: