A Trip Down Memory Card Lane

In 1988, Interplay released Wasteland, a post-apocalyptic RPG that laid the groundwork for Fallout and decades of open-world storytelling. We trace how Rick Loomis’s Flying Buffalo connected a team of authors and artists, Ken St. Andre, Michael Stackpole, and Liz Danforth, whose tabletop experience shaped the game’s world. Our conversation follows Brian Fargo’s rise from Bard’s Tale to Wasteland, his partnership with Electronic Arts, and how the team blended narrative and systems to create one of the first persistent worlds in gaming. We discuss its critical success, odd sequels, and the long path that led to inXile’s revival of the franchise decades later. Join us as we wander the wasteland, one pixel at a time, on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.Read transcript

As 2022 comes to a close, we take a break from our usual gaming history deep dives to look back on the past year of Memory Card Lane. From the early days of RuneScape and SimCity to journeys through Fallout, Assassin’s Creed, and Final Fantasy, we revisit the moments, lessons, and laughter that defined our episodes. The conversation turns reflective as we share what stood out most from 2022, the games that surprised us, and the ones we still can’t stop thinking about. We also look ahead to what’s coming in 2023, with new topics, new stories, and plenty more nostalgia to come. Join us as we wrap up the year and look forward to another trip down Memory Card Lane.Read transcript

In 1987, Square released Final Fantasy, a game born from desperation that became a cornerstone of the RPG genre. We trace Hironobu Sakaguchi’s journey from aspiring musician to game designer, Square’s early struggles as a part-time software branch, and how a small team created one of gaming’s greatest turnarounds. Our conversation explores the influences of Wizardry and Ultima, Nobuo Uematsu’s early music career, and how Yoshitaka Amano’s art brought life to the Warriors of Light. We discuss the game’s mix of D&D mechanics, crystal lore, and the now-legendary story behind its name. Join us as we relive the humble beginnings and lasting legacy of Final Fantasy on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.Read transcript

In 1999, Nintendo released the 64DD, a magnetic disk drive add-on for the Nintendo 64 that promised innovation but arrived far too late. We explore how it began as an ambitious solution to the cartridge-versus-CD dilemma and evolved into a bold experiment in rewritable media, online play, and creative expression. The episode dives into Nintendo’s partnership with Recruit to form the Randnet online service, the Mario Artist suite that inspired everything from WarioWare to the Mii Channel, and the strange fate of canceled projects like Cabbage. We also discuss how Doshin the Giant and SimCity 64 became its most memorable titles and how the 64DD’s legacy lived on in later consoles. Join us as we spin up Nintendo’s forgotten drive for innovation on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.Read transcript

In 1995, Namco forged Soul Edge, a bold experiment that swapped fists for steel and set the stage for the Soulcalibur saga. We explore how Hiroaki Yotoriyama and Namco’s Division-1 built the game on PlayStation-based System 11 arcade hardware, taking risks with new 3D motion capture and a focus on character storytelling rare for the genre. Our conversation dives into how Mitsurugi, Siegfried, Voldo, and Cervantes brought personality to the fight, and how Soul Edge’s historical roots and cinematic flair helped it stand apart from Tekken and Virtua Fighter. We share critic reactions, fan memories, and how this ambitious debut cut a path toward one of the greatest fighting franchises in history. Join us as we clash blades and uncover the origins of Soul Edge on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.Read transcript

In 1992, Westwood Studios released Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty, the game that turned strategy into real time. We revisit how Martin Alper’s obsession with Frank Herbert’s novel led from Cryo’s canceled adventure game to Westwood’s genre-defining classic. The episode explores how Brett Sperry and Louis Castle drew inspiration from Herzog Zwei and Populous to create resource gathering, base-building, and tech trees that would become RTS staples. We share critic reactions, discuss the game’s early AI quirks, and trace its influence on Command & Conquer, Warcraft, and Starcraft. From sandworms to spice harvesters, we dive into how Dune II laid the foundation for decades of strategy games. Join us as we mine melange and build our dynasty on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.Read transcript

In 1994, Rare released Donkey Kong Country, a visual powerhouse that redefined what the Super Nintendo could do. We trace how Chris and Tim Stamper’s journey from Ultimate Play the Game to Rare led to a partnership with Nintendo and the creation of a jungle platforming legend. The episode explores how Silicon Graphics workstations brought the game’s pre-rendered visuals to life, how Diddy Kong emerged from a redesign debate, and how Rare’s technical gamble paid off in record-breaking sales. We also discuss the impact of its soundtrack, the critical divide over style versus substance, and how the success of DKC cemented Rare’s future as a Nintendo powerhouse. Join us as we swing through the trees and relive Donkey Kong Country on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.

In 2007, Ubisoft released Assassin’s Creed, a game born from the ashes of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and inspired by the real-life Order of Assassins. We revisit how creative director Patrice Désilets drew from Vladimir Bartol’s novel Alamut and the legend of Hassan-i Sabbah to craft Altair’s world of stealth, parkour, and historical intrigue. The episode explores the challenges of bringing medieval cities to life, the birth of the Animus concept, and how the phrase “Nothing is true; everything is permitted” became the series’ moral core. We also discuss its mixed reviews, repetitive missions, and enduring legacy as Ubisoft’s flagship franchise. Join us as we take a leap of faith into Assassin’s Creed on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.Read transcript

In 2000, Valve released Counter-Strike, the Half-Life mod that forever changed online shooters. We revisit how Minh Le, a Vietnamese Canadian computer science student, and Jess Cliffe, a web designer from the Action Quake 2 community, turned a small class project into a tactical phenomenon. The episode traces Le’s early modding roots, the birth of the terrorist-versus-counter-terrorist concept, and the moment Valve bought the IP and brought the team in-house. We discuss the rise of online teamwork, Valve’s battle against cheating with the launch of VAC, and how Counter-Strike built the foundation for modern esports. Join us as we plant the bomb, defuse the tension, and relive the rise of Counter-Strike on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.Read transcript

In 1976, Fairchild Semiconductor released the Channel F, the world’s first cartridge-based console and one of gaming’s forgotten pioneers. Our episode traces how engineer Jerry Lawson and his team transformed Alpex’s RAVEN prototype into a revolutionary home system, introducing features like swappable games, a pause button, and rudimentary AI opponents. We dive into Fairchild’s roots with the “traitorous eight,” the competition that quickly followed, and how Atari’s rise buried Channel F’s contributions under the sands of time. Along the way, we reflect on Lawson’s legacy as a Black engineer who helped shape modern gaming and discuss how his innovations still echo in today’s consoles. Join us as we pop in a cartridge and celebrate the overlooked console that started it all on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.Read transcript