Post Games

Seth Davis, President and CEO of Stern Pinball, recounts how Stern survived the downturn and modernized pinball for homes. Lewis Gordon, reporter and critic, breaks down Crimson Desert and the rise of Korean AAA games. They discuss manufacturing complexity, designing tables for home play, connected features and leaderboards, and how franchises and collectors shape the market.

C. Thi Nguyen, philosopher and author exploring how scoring systems shape who we become, and Gita Jackson, critic and editor focused on games and internet culture, dive into gamification, metrics corrupting institutions, and how scoring can both liberate and oppress. They discuss optimization in modern games, why some titles feel joyless, the promise of democratic scoring, and what makes Marathon feel intense and meaningful.

[Editor’s note: This week, all subscribers will have access to the Patreon-exclusive bonus segment. If you enjoy this extra material, or would just like to support the long-term health of the show, please consider subscribing on Patreon or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts.]Want full show notes for free, including links to everything we mention? Visit www.post.gamesGet weekly bonus segments, video episodes, monthly exclusive episodes, and more at patreon.com/postgames for only $5INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to incogni.com/postgamesThis week on Post Games:Act 1: The 17-Year Fight to Protect Games from the GovernmentAct 2: The ESA’s President on AI, Child Safety, and Calls for UnionizationPatreon Bonus: Three Big Takeaways from the Interview Guests:Stanley Pierre-Louis: President and CEO, ESAClosing Song: “Jumping Voices (Big Walk Theme)” by aksfx (Big Walk)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tanja Välisalo, a researcher of game and fandom studies exploring fictosexuality. Nicole Carpenter, reporter covering gaming and safety issues. They discuss what fictophilia is and how it differs from ordinary crushes. They explore fandom communities, parasocial ties, JRPGs, VTubers, and AI. They also cover Roblox’s scale, moderation challenges, and child-safety controversies.

Paul W.S. Anderson, filmmaker behind Mortal Kombat and the Resident Evil films, shares his path from shopping-set director to genre auteur. Kazuma Hashimoto, game critic and analyst, guides newcomers through Resident Evil play order and hidden gems. They discuss adapting games to film, design choices like Goro, franchise longevity, and how remakes reshaped the series.

Edmund McMillen, indie designer behind The Binding of Isaac and Super Meat Boy contributor, talks about provocative beginnings and how shock turned into purposeful, emotional game design. He explores Mewgenics’ long, controversial development, integrating real disorders into mechanics. He explains turning difficult subjects into playable strengths and why this project feels like his career culmination.

Nathan Grayson, investigative reporter who co-founded Aftermath, examines Epstein-linked emails and their ties to gaming. Mohale Mashigo, novelist and narrative director, discusses African futurism shaping Relooted’s story. Ben Myers, Nyamakop co-founder and creative director, talks about reclaiming looted heritage through playful heist design. They explore museum repatriation, balancing joy with trauma, and unsettling industry revelations.

Andrew Webster, senior entertainment editor at The Verge and longtime games journalist, walks through Dragon Quest’s creators, evolution, and push to Western audiences. Short takes cover the series’ charm, its influence on JRPGs, the school-day release myth, why DQ8 and DQXI mattered overseas, and which modern remakes make the best entry points.

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.

Meredith Gran, a talented game creator and cartoonist known for her work on Octopus Pie and Perfect Tides, explores the art of adapting personal experiences into interactive storytelling. She delves into how interactivity enhances reader engagement, using second-person narration to create unique emotional distance in her characters. Meredith also reflects on the significance of early internet culture, the blending of real-life elements with fiction, and the impact of memoir games on players. Her insights illuminate the innovative mechanics that transform life into immersive gameplay.