Checkpoints

This is a show about videogames, the people who play them and the people who make them. Each episode, a guest on the show talks about the games that have shaped their life in one way or another. Games that have inspired them, games that forged connections with others & games that have soothed wounds. Checkpoints!

My guest today is Jon McKellan, one of the founders of NoCode studios, creators of Stories Untold and Super Arc Light. Previous to setting up his own studio, Jon spent many years in a band, before getting working in AAA game development on games like Alien Isolation and the now infamous APB.

We talk about his work at these studios, including being there when Realtime Worlds folded, and the human as well as financial impact this can have. We also hit on the job of a lifetime working on the Alien franchise,   and why he ended up leaving a job at Rockstar Games to form his own studio.

Wetalk about early loves on the Amiga and Atari 2600, why Dead Rising doesn't get the credit it deserves, the demands of being a mayor in Star Wars Galaxies, the muscle memory of Wipeout, why all open world games should let you turn off the collectibles and the heart breaking truth behind Super Mario Kart path finding.

" I admire its purity. A survivor... unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality."

PATREON - patreon.com/checkpoints

iTunes HERE -  SUBSCRIBE / RATE / REVIEW

Games discussed: Super Arc Light, Alien Isolation, Dead Rising, Half Life 2, Doom, Wipeout, Inside, Horizon Zero Dawn, Star Wars Galaxies, Stories Untold, Alien Isolation, APB, Grand Theft Auto, Super Mario Kart, Bloodborne, Crackdown, Trials HD, Bioshock

This is a show about videogames, the people who play them and the people who make them. Each episode, a guest on the show talks about the games that have shaped their life in one way or another. Games that have inspired them, games that forged connections with others & games that have soothed wounds. Checkpoints!

My guest today is Brandon Sheffield, founder of Nercrosoft games, former editor of Game Developer Magazine & Gamasutra, ad creator of Insertcredit.com and No Girlfriend Comics.

We talk about why all of Brandon's early videogame memories are blurry or in the third person, his deep level of discovery and delving into the forgotten history of games, university rivalries with the Maryland Puyo Puyo champion, his incredibly esoteric CV, and how the discovery of a video game in a store in Torrance, California changed his life.

"Sorta, yeah. But no idealized shit. No phony bullshit. The real thing, y'know? Ordinary life is pretty complex stuff. "

PATREON - patreon.com/checkpoints

iTunes HERE -  SUBSCRIBE / RATE / REVIEW

Games discussed: Fantasy Zone, Beam Rider, Advanced D&D, The Smurfs, Gunstar Heroes, Freak Out, Puyo Puyo, Land Maker, Asuka 120% Burning Fist, Shadow Hearts, Star Cruiser, Princess Pyjama, Clash Royale, Nier, Ribbit King, Valkyria Chronicles, Gears of War, Jeanne d'Arc, Bullet Witch, SOS, Pup Breeder, Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom,

This is a show about videogames, the people who play them and the people who make them. Each episode, a guest on the show talks about the games that have shaped their life in one way or another. Games that have inspired them, games that forged connections with others & games that have soothed wounds. Checkpoints!

My guest today is Brie Code, speaker, writer, AI programmer, and the CEO and creative director of Tru Luv Media, a video game studio making games with people who don't like games.

We talk about playing Snake on a mainframe, the importance of Roberta Williams, how she reinterpreted Warcraft & Starcraft to suit her game playing needs, how AI programming is the sweet spot between psychology and computer science and how and how her non game playing friend's relationship with a character in Skyrim completely shifted her perspective of video games.

We also hit on her time working at Relic on Company of Heroes and at Ubisoft on Child of Light and Assassin's Creed 2 & 3, what inspired her to start her own studio, how much the diversity of game makers around the world continually inspires her, and how being completely honest transformed her as a public speaker.

"Sonny, true love is the greatest thing in the world. But that's not what he said! He distinctly said "to blave." And, as we all know, "to blave" means "to bluff," huh? So you're probably playing cards, and he cheated—"

PATREON - patreon.com/checkpoints

iTunes HERE -  SUBSCRIBE / RATE / REVIEW

Games discussed: Snake, Zack McCracken, The Colonel's Bequest, Skyrim, King's Quest, Warcraft 3, Starcraft, Drop7, Company of Heroes, Assassin's Creed, Child of Light, Destiny, Kim Kardashian Hollywood, Maniac Mansion

This is a show about videogames, the people who play them and the people who make them. Each episode, a guest on the show talks about the games that have shaped their life in one way or another. Games that have inspired them, games that forged connections with others & games that have soothed wounds. Checkpoints!

My guest today is Mathew Kumar, a video game designer, a writer, a zine creator and a podcast host. This is a very game heavy episode and Mathew's lifelong enthusiasm and passion for video games is incredibly infectious.

We also hit on growing up playing games in Scotland, the forgotten treasures of the home computer scene, why he always wanted to be a videogame journalist, why he always has a Saturn ready to play, and the physical wonder of the joystick on a Neo Geo Pocket Colour,

"What I do is I just try to take my hat and I turn it around, and it's like a switch that goes on."

PATREON - patreon.com/checkpoints

iTunes HERE -  SUBSCRIBE / RATE / REVIEW

Games discussed: Asuka 120% Burning Fist Limited, Star Wars Arcade, SNK vs. Capcom, Bikini Zombie Slayers, Deadly Premonition, Garouden Breakblow: Fist or Twist, Netrunner, Bangai-O, Loot Rascals, Video Ball, Spy Party, Uncharted 4, N++, Animal Crossing New Leaf, NHL 94, Goldeneye, Roland on the Ropes, Civilisation, Castlevania 2, Bill & Ted's Excellent Game Boy Adventure: A Bogus Journey!, Tiny Toon Adventures, Polybius

This is a show about videogames, the people who play them and the people who make them. Each episode, a guest on the show talks about the games that have shaped their life in one way or another. Games that have inspired them, games that forged connections with others & games that have soothed wounds. Checkpoints!

My guest today is Violet Berlin, a writer, educator, producer and presenter, perhaps best known to listeners as the presenter of the video game TV series Bad Influence.

We talk calculator games, Space Museums, Game & Watch, the hidden adventure within Zelda, a deep love for Castlevania, how Eternal Darkness tricked her a little too hard and bonding with her children through video games.

We also talk about how she never owned a TV until she worked on TV, her unlikely route to becoming a TV presenter, working for the biggest museum project in the world, the thrill of meeting curators, gunge recipes, being passionate about your interests and how she ended up as a playable character in Micro Machines 2.

BONUS GUEST! In a particularly bumper episode I also speak to Dr. Jennifer Hazel about her non profit company Checkpoint (good name!) which acts at the intersection of mental health and video games. We have a fascinating chat about the clinical use of video games in treating mental health issues, and about their Kickstarter campaign to create a web series about these issues. If you're curious and you'd like to support it, there are still a few days left to back it - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/checkpoint/the-checkpoint-series

"Remember to set your video recorders for the datablast!"

PATREON - patreon.com/checkpoints

iTunes HERE -  SUBSCRIBE / RATE / REVIEW

Games discussed: The Legend of Zelda, The Legend of Zelda - Breath of the Wild, Eternal Darkness, Papers Please, Castlevania 2, Sam and Max, The Lawnmower Man, Mega Man, Space Invaders, Micro Machines 2, Stories Untold, Amplitude, Space Channel 5

This is a show about videogames, the people who play them and the people who make them. Each episode, a guest on the show talks about the games that have shaped their life in one way or another. Games that have inspired them, games that forged connections with others & games that have soothed wounds. Checkpoints!

My guest today is Omar Cornut, founder of Lizardcube and creator of the recent, and excellent, remake of Wonder Boy : The Dragon's Trap.

We talk growing up in Paris and Egypt, the SEGA Computer 3000 (!), how he traded up from a home made Inidiana Jones board game to a Game & Watch, his founding of a video game course while still a student, and why Psycho Fox is burned into his brain.

We also hit on Omar's role in the emulation scene of the late nineties when he created MEKA, one of the best Master System emulators, his time at Media Molecule, the complicated IP history of Wonder Boy, and how his quest to seek out every secret in The Dragon's Trap led to the founding of a company and the creation of a game.

"What was that? An exhibition? I said emotional content, not anger. Now try again!"

PATREON - patreon.com/checkpoints

iTunes HERE -  SUBSCRIBE / RATE / REVIEW

Games discussed: Wonder Boy 3, Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Alex Kidd in Shinobi World, River Raid, Aztec Adventure, Ice Climber, Tetris, Evil Twin, Psycho Fox, Soul Bubbles, Kid Chameleon, Super Hexagon, GNOG, Super Mario Kart.

This is a show about videogames, the people who play them and the people who make them. Each episode, a guest on the show talks about the games that have shaped their life in one way or another. Games that have inspired them, games that forged connections with others & games that have soothed wounds. Checkpoints!

My guest today is Dominique Ferland AKA Dom2D an illustrator and game designer who most recently designed the excellent Finthook for Tribute Games.

We talk about the lack of games in small town Quebec, the incredible music of Pictionary on the NES, early graph paper game designs and the inspirations behind Flinthook.

We also talk through his strange journey to game design via advertising, how Spelunky took over his life, the joy of playing games with a guide and how Proteus taught him to stop worrying and love video games.

"Death is the only adventure I have left, Smee."

PATREON - patreon.com/checkpoints

iTunes HERE -  SUBSCRIBE / RATE / REVIEW

Games discussed: Pictionary, Flinthook, Fez, Proteus, Spelunky, Guitar Hero, Slender Man, Gladiator School, Resident Evil 7, Dune, Towerfall, Jaipur, Worms, Bionic Commando, Wario Ware, The Legend of Zelda

This is a show about videogames, the people who play them and the people who make them. Each episode, a guest on the show talks about the games that have shaped their life in one way or another. Games that have inspired them, games that forged connections with others & games that have soothed wounds. Checkpoints!

My guest today is Margaret Roberston, former editor of Edge magazine, now game director at PlayDots and industry liaison for the New York Game Centre.

We talk about forgotten classics of the Atari ST & Amiga era like Captive and Midwinter, the absurdist joy of Ranarama, the Playstation homebrew scene and how she fought through the pain for the love of Guitar Hero.

We also reminisce about the genuine magic of early internet forums, how she got the job on Edge in the bar after the interview, why Final Fantasy 12 is conclusively the best and how designing brilliant games can be the way to someone's heart.

"My, Earth really is full of things! ."

PATREON - patreon.com/checkpoints

iTunes HERE -  SUBSCRIBE / RATE / REVIEW

Games discussed: Ranarama, Harrier Attack, Captive, Midwinter, Super Mario Kart, WipeOut, PN03, Katamari Damacy, Manhunt, Guitar Hero, Final Fantasy 12, Half Life 2, Amped 3, Uplink, World of Warcraft, Drop 7, Horizon Zero Dawn, Home Free, Kileak the Blood,

This is a show about videogames, the people who play them and the people who make them. Each episode, a guest on the show talks about the games that have shaped their life in one way or another. Games that have inspired them, games that forged connections with others & games that have soothed wounds. Checkpoints!

My guest today is Hannah Nicklin an award winning game designer, writer, academic, theatre maker, bike rider and talk giver. As the myriad of adjectives suggest, she's a brilliant guest.

We talk about weird Comic Relief tie in game Sleepwalker, how Tony Hawk Pro Skater introduced her to punk rock, why controller literacy is such a forgotten problem,  that time she bought 100 CDs and a Gamecube on a camping trip and how theatre is a game so old we've forgotten it's a game.

We also hit on street games, her work at Hide & Seek, zines about grandpas, her passion for cycling, how Kentucky Route Zero is one of the greatest games ever made and why Jazz really makes her laugh.

"Hey man, Jaws was never my scene and I don't like Star Wars."

PATREON - patreon.com/checkpoints

iTunes HERE -  SUBSCRIBE / RATE / REVIEW

Games discussed: Sleepwalker, The Lion King, Deus Ex Machina, Loot Rascals, Kentucky Route Zero, Proteus, Cribbage with Grandpas, A Good Snowman is Hard to Build, Mario Kart, Burly Men at Sea, Portal, Tony Hawks Pro Skater, Discworld Noir, Command and Conquer Red Alert

This is a show about videogames, the people who play them and the people who make them. Each episode, a guest on the show talks about the games that have shaped their life in one way or another. Games that have inspired them, games that forged connections with others & games that have soothed wounds. Checkpoints!

My guest today is the studio director and co founder of Media Molecule,  Siobhan Reddy. We talk about the founding of the studio, the development of Little Big Planet and their upcoming title Dreams.

We also meander through Siobhan's video game history, from her early love of the Game & Watch, how Resident Evil really shifted her understanding of games and awakened a life long love of horror games, why Bioware games are like a warm blanket, how working on punk fanzines influenced her career and how you never really learn how to make games, you just learn how to make that one.

"In my dreams I can walk. My legs are strong. In my dreams I am the Wizard Master."

PATREON - patreon.com/checkpoints

iTunes HERE -  SUBSCRIBE / RATE / REVIEW

Games discussed: Game & Watch, Soma, Resident Evil, Flame and the Flood, SSX, Burnout, Little Big Planet, Dreams, Dragon Age, Dead Space, Monkey Island, Hitman, DIscworld Noir, D & D,