A Trip Down Memory Card Lane

This week, we take a break from the usual format to celebrate the wonderfully weird side of gaming. From blood-sucking puzzles in Mister Mosquito and talking fish in Seaman to the human-faced robots of Natural Ultimate Digital Experiment and the unforgettable arcade cabinet Boon-Ga Boong-Ga, our conversation covers some of the strangest ideas ever turned into games. We also look at surreal classics like Katamari Damacy, the dating sim Hatoful Boyfriend, and the floppy physics of Goat Simulator. Along the way, we reflect on how creativity, culture, and plain absurdity shape the gaming landscape. Join us as we swat mosquitoes, roll katamaris, and question everything on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.Read transcript

In 1984, Jordan Weisman and L. Ross Babcock founded the FASA Corporation and launched BattleTech, a tabletop universe of giant mechs, mercenary wars, and futuristic politics. This week, we trace Weisman's journey from struggling student to simulation innovator, exploring how a fascination with training tech led to one of sci-fi’s most enduring franchises. Our conversation follows the evolution from BattleDroids to BattleTech, the licensing drama behind the 'Unseen' mechs, and the rise of the franchise across books, tabletop games, and virtual reality pods. We cover its many video game adaptations, from The Crescent Hawk’s Inception to MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries, and discuss FASA’s partnerships with Westwood, Activision, and Microsoft. Join us as we stomp, blast, and strategize through BattleTech’s mechanical legacy on today’s trip down Memory Card LaneRead transcript

In 1999, Sega reimagined their zombie shooter The House of the Dead 2 with a twist and released Typing of the Dead, a game where you type your way through hordes of the undead. This week, we trace the roots of typing from the first mechanical keyboards and the rise of touch typing to early training programs like TypeQuick and Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. Our conversation explores how Sega’s parody turned educational software into arcade chaos, its sequels and spin-offs, and how it paved the way for modern titles like Epistory – Typing Chronicles and The Textorcist. We also share memories of learning to type, strange typing competitions, and the games that made it fun to master the keyboard. Join us as we increase our words per minute with Typing of the Dead on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.Read transcript

In 1993, Nintendo and Argonaut Games released Star Fox, a 3D space shooter that pushed the Super Nintendo far beyond its limits. We trace how Jez San and his small team at Argonaut caught Nintendo’s attention by hacking the Game Boy, leading to a partnership that birthed the groundbreaking Super FX chip. Our conversation explores how Shigeru Miyamoto and Katsuya Eguchi shaped the animal cast, the shrine that inspired Fox McCloud, and the collaboration that turned Argonaut’s tech demo into a hit. We discuss the game’s sales success, critic reactions, and the long-lasting impact of the Super FX chip on Nintendo’s future. Join us as we take flight with Fox, Falco, Peppy, and Slippy in Star Fox on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.Read transcript

In 1991, DMA Design released Lemmings, a puzzle game that turned tiny green-haired creatures into one of the most beloved icons in gaming history. This week, we trace how a group of Scottish developers went from animating exploding stick figures to creating a strategy classic published by Psygnosis. Our conversation explores the origins of DMA Design, the legacy of Psygnosis, and how quirky animations and clever level design made Lemmings a worldwide phenomenon. We also dig into the myths behind the real animals, the game’s charming music, and its influence on the rise of indirect-control gameplay. Join us as we climb, dig, and build our way through Lemmings on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.Read transcript

In 1998, Square released Xenogears, a PlayStation RPG that mixed giant robots, religion, and philosophy into one unforgettable story. We explore how Tetsuya Takahashi and Soraya Saga pitched their dark, psychological script for Final Fantasy VII before it became its own standalone project. Our conversation dives into the game’s development challenges, its ambitious themes drawn from Jung and Nietzsche, and how limited time and resources shaped its unfinished second disc. We also discuss its controversial localization, its lasting cult following, and how it inspired future titles from Monolith Soft, including the Xenosaga and Xenoblade Chronicles series. Join us as we pilot our Gears and confront the divine in Xenogears on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.Read transcript

In 1982, Atari followed up the success of Adventure with an even grander idea: Swordquest, a series of four interconnected games that blended comics, contests, and real-world treasure. This week, we explore how Atari’s marketing team turned the concept of the Easter egg into a $150,000 competition, complete with jeweled prizes made by the Franklin Mint and comics from DC. We discuss Tod Frye’s role, the elaborate puzzles of Earthworld, Fireworld, and Waterworld, and how the collapse of Atari left the final game, Airworld, unfinished for decades. Our conversation dives into the bizarre contest rules, the fate of the legendary prizes, and how Atari finally completed the saga in 2022 with Swordquest: Airworld. Join us as we decode clues, chase treasure, and wield The Sword of Ultimate Sorcery on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.Read transcript

In the early 1990s, Nintendo tried to prove that video games could be educational, and who better to lead the class than Mario? This week, we explore the odd era of licensed edutainment through titles like Mario is Missing, Mario’s Time Machine, and Mario Teaches Typing. Our conversation digs into how companies like Interplay and The Software Toolworks reimagined Mario as a teacher, historian, and world traveler, all while Nintendo stayed hands-off. We share stories of inaccurate geography, Bowser’s bizarre schemes, and the surprisingly deep history behind Mario’s educational outings. Join us as we boot up MS-DOS, grab our passports, and ask where in the world is Mario on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.Read transcript

In 1998, Capcom released Resident Evil 2, the sequel that turned survival horror into a blockbuster phenomenon. We revisit how Hideki Kamiya stepped into the director’s chair, how early prototypes known as Resident Evil 1.5 were scrapped, and how Yoshiki Okamoto’s vision for a shared universe saved the franchise from an early end. Our conversation explores screenwriter Noboru Sugimura’s Hollywood-inspired rewrite, the creation of Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield, and the debut of the groundbreaking Zapping system that tied two perspectives together. We dive into the game’s troubled production, its record-breaking sales, and its legacy through remakes, ports, and sequels that still define the series today. Join us as we escape Raccoon City and uncover how Resident Evil 2 reshaped horror on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.Read transcript

In 1980, Atari released Adventure, a groundbreaking Atari 2600 title that transformed text-based exploration into a visual quest. We trace how Warren Robinett, inspired by Colossal Cave Adventure, built the game under strict memory limits and corporate pressure. Our conversation covers Robinett’s inventive programming tricks, from repurposing missile code to simulate rooms, to creating autonomous creatures like the bat and dragons. We also discuss how frustration with Atari’s refusal to credit developers led Robinett to hide the industry’s first Easter egg—his own name—sparking a decades-long gaming tradition. From early critic reactions to its influence on The Legend of Zelda, we explore how one programmer’s rebellion became legend. Join us as we chase dragons and pixels through Adventure on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.Read transcript