Keza MacDonald

Games are supposed to be fun — so what happens when the logic of games, points and competition escapes the playground and starts reshaping everyday life? The novelist and games-writer Naomi Alderman and her guests explore how the joy of play collides with the pressures of a gamified society.Philosopher C Thi Nguyen introduces The Score, his examination of how ranking systems and numerical targets can both sharpen and warp our values, revealing how life becomes less playful when everything is reduced to points.Journalist and critic Keza MacDonald discusses Super Nintendo, her cultural history of the iconic console, tracing how its games, aesthetics and innovations transformed the medium and helped define what play means for generations of players.The Financial Times' commentator Stephen Bush examines the growing role of games and game like incentives in public life, exploring how the techniques of play — from reward structures to competitive framing — are reshaping political behaviour and communication.Producer: Katy Hickman

Keza MacDonald, Guardian video games editor and author who studies Nintendo's history and cultural impact. She recalls childhood sparks like Mario and Zelda. She maps Nintendo's century-long evolution, its focus on play and family, visits to Kyoto, and how its resistance to online trends shaped its appeal. She also discusses industry scale, politics around gaming culture, and why playfulness still matters.

Keza MacDonald, video games editor and critic at The Guardian and author of a cultural history of Nintendo, reflects on falling for games later in life. She discusses Nintendo's early pull, changing habits from rentals to lasting titles, the rise of cozy games, gaming stigma for women and queer players, and practical ways adults can rediscover play.

Zachary Small, NYT games reporter, offers reporting-based angles. Keza MacDonald, Guardian games editor and author of Super Nintendo, brings historical context. Maddy Myers, Mothership co-founder and critic, shares personal and critical takes. They discuss Nintendo history, Zelda origin stories, a playful draft of favorite Links, maps, items, bosses, dungeons, songs, and companion characters.

Guardian journalist and lifelong Nintendo superfan Keza MacDonald is the author of a new history of that reveals how the company's unique culture transformed a Kyoto playing card manufacturer into one of the most loved organisations in the history of popular entertainment. Whether you know the names of every Pokemon or are simply fascinated by how a major corporation can consistently innovate, delight, and enthral millions of adults and children across the world, this conversation is an unmissable guide to the story of a company unafraid to buck trends, resist market forces, and subvert everyone's expectations in the pursuit of excellence.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Keza Macdonald, Scottish games editor at The Guardian and author of Super Nintendo, reflects on two decades covering games. She recounts interviewing Nintendo legends, structuring her book around cultural themes, and early magazine life. Conversations touch on breaking into games journalism, battling online harassment, and how key games reshaped play and careers.

Keza MacDonald, veteran video games editor and author of Super Nintendo, reflects on Nintendo’s design philosophy and cultural reach. Joshua Bote, Pokémon fan and collector, shares how Pokémon shaped social play. They discuss Nintendo’s curiosity-driven design, intergenerational appeal, Pokémon’s social mechanics, retro nostalgia, and the company’s influence on gaming culture.

Keza McDonald, veteran video game journalist and author of Super Nintendo, chats about her book and career in games journalism. They discuss Obsidian’s future after Outer Worlds 2’s disappointing sales. Conversations cover studio ownership pressures, the push for smaller focused RPGs, Ubisoft’s turmoil, and ethical risks of AI-generated game podcasts.

Keza MacDonald, veteran video game journalist and author of Super Nintendo, guides a lively tour through Nintendo’s surprising origins and forgotten stories. She traces Yamauchi’s ruthless reshaping, Yokoi’s tinkering and the Ultra Hand, and Miyamoto and Iwata’s partnership that reinvented play. Short, vivid history and industry turning points told with curiosity and grit.

Keza MacDonald, a video games editor at The Guardian and a renowned Nintendo journalist, joins the conversation to discuss the Switch 2's rocky Christmas sales. She shares insights on her upcoming book about Nintendo's cultural history and reflects on the demand and media coverage surrounding the Switch 2. The duo also explores Nintendo's history of surprising hits, upcoming titles, and the impact of TV adaptations like Fallout on gaming engagement. Plus, they touch on the new indie publishing venture by the Phasmaphobia team.