HEAR YE, HEAR YE! …or whatever it is they say on the telly these days. Hark! Yon SEASON FINALE of Gamer Era beckons thee with greate haste. Who be among those summoned (by a wizard) to solve the time-tested conundrums of Definitely David and live to tell the tale? Why, it be that scurvy dog Sam, and their gleeful deck-swabber Nathan (@wokejohnwayne.bsky.social)! But how will they answer ye these riddles three-or-five? How doth thou dappled question strike ourst tender hearts’ mind? What’s going on with the mixed old-English metaphors in this copy? Tune in! Smash that red button! Year of the Gamer!

Find us at: http://gamertime.online

Main topics:

1. 0:01:52: Gaming Fortnight #1 - Sam
2. 0:06:10: Gaming Fortnight #2 - Nathan
3. 0:10:59: Gaming Fortnight #3 - David
4. 0:15:07: Round 1 - The Weakest Link
5. 0:23:49: Round 2 - Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
6. 0:55:35: Final Round - “The Special World of Quiz Round”

Also mentioned:

1. Turok 2: Seeds of Evil, Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition
2. Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Runescape
3. Shrek: Fairytale Freakdown, Ruffy and the Riverside
4. Traveller’s Tales, Jon Briggs (former Siri voice)
5. Charles Ingram (“Major Fraud”), John Carpenter ($1 Million Winner), Hothouse Games
6. Family Fortunes / Family Feud, Deal or No Deal, Golden Balls; Wheel of Fortune / Jeopardy! (N64)

Music used:

• Half-Time (“Okay Fellas”) - International Superstar Soccer 2000
• Happy Canyon - Ruffy and the Riverside
• “The Weakest Link” - Paul Farrer
• “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” - Keith & Matthew Strachan
• Title Screen - Jeopardy! (Genesis)
• Winner! - Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (GBC)

I’m havin’ a PAC-ATTACK! In a very special episode, the Gamer Era crew remove their iconic caps in solidarity for the passing of a beloved gaming icon. Joining David and Sam for this fortnight’s services is the indomitable Lewis Clark (@SonicYoda, SEGADriven.com), who chips in on thinking about shit we remember and smiling. It’s our most serious and solemn instalment to date, and not a single joke will be told across its runtime. I mean… not any good ones at least. Wakka wakka!

Find us at: http://gamertime.online

Main topics:

1. 0:04:41: Gaming Fortnight #1 - David
2. 0:13:32: Gaming Fortnight #2 - Lewis
3. 0:24:44: Gaming Fortnight #3 - Sam
4. 0:31:53: The Eulogy
5. 0:56:06: The Wake - Pt. 1

• Professor Pac-Man, Chomp-Chomp, Pac & Pal

1. 01:31:54: The Wake - Pt. 2

• Jr. Pac-Man, Baby Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man

1. 01:48:29: The Investigation
2. 02:21:18: The Reconciliation (+ Movie Games)

Also mentioned:

1. Metroid Fusion, Metroid II: Samus Returns; Metroid Prime Pinball, Super Game Boy,
2. Kane & Lynch, MindsEye, The Darkness, MTX vs ATV Reflex
3. Deliver at All Costs, Pikmin 1 & 4, Sonic Frontiers
4. Pac-Man Arrangement, Pac-Man Championship Edition (NES), Libble Rabble, Sheep
5. Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness, Bally Midway; Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures, Super Pac-Man; Secret Level: Circle, Shadow Labyrinth, Bomberman: Act Zero, Bionic Commando (2009), Namco Bandai’s “ShiftyLook”
6. Atari 2600 ports, Tod Frye, Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures
7. Missile Command, Super Missile Attack, General Computer Corporation, Crazy Otto, Dynablaster, Oreo vs. Hydrox
8. Atari: Game Over, Xbox Entertainment Studios, Pixels (2015)

Music used:

• Ranking - Pac-Man Championship Edition (NES)
• Ending - Pac-Man Arrangement
• Aquarium - Pac Man 2: The New Adventures (SNES)
• Main BGM - Libble Rabble (SNES)
• World 1 - Pac-Man Arrangement
• Crystal Caves - Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness
• Puzzle Pit - Pac-Attack
• Title Screen - Pac-Man Vs. (DS)

Further reading:

• “AtGames, sued by Ms. Pac-Man’s owner, buys up royalty rights to the icon” - Polygon (Owen Good, 2019): https://www.polygon.com/2019/9/26/20886032/ms-pac-man-lawsuit-bandai-namco-atgames-rights-royalties
• “The Erasure of Ms. Pac-Man” (Jonii Vee, 2025): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puoaqrXxHPs
• “Pac-Manufactured” - YouTube [Lewis’ side channel on Pac-Man clones and spin-offs!]: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJrWN46a9i9QA2QTLvLJakw

Trust your instincts… In a world of ray-tracing and ultra high resolutions, it can be easy to forget the plight of the humble flat-shaded poly. Take formation for an extended segment on Argonaut Software, as Sam takes David through a context-rich history of the team behind the original SNES Super FX titles (as well as the early days of a certain vulpine space-farer). Plus - our full thoughts on the Switch 2 launch!

Find us at: http://gamertime.online

Main topics:

1. 00:02:27: Gaming Fortnight #1 - David
2. 00:06:18: Gaming Fortnight #2 - Sam
3. 00:16:56: Gaming Fortnight #3 - Nintendo Switch 2 Launch
4. 00:37:24: Argonaut’s Early Days

• Jez San, Dylan Cuthbert, Giles Goddard

1. 00:49:56: Birth of the Super FX Chip

• X (Game Boy)

1. 01:01:02: Star Fox / Starwing (SNES)
2. 01:15:58: Super FX Speed Round

• Stunt Race FX, Vortex, FX Fighter

1. 01:25:42: Argonaut Beyond Nintendo

• Star Fox 2, Croc: Legend of the Gobbos, Catwoman: The Game

Also mentioned:

1. Limp Biskit Mashup, Google Solitaire, Mario Clash, Balatro
2. Breakout: Pilgrim in the Microworld, Infinity Nikki 1.5, Luigi’s Mansion Arcade, Deliver at All Costs
3. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, Mario Kart World
4. Amstrad PCW, Q-Games, Chuhai Labs (WildBlue)
5. Race Drivin’, Space Football, Starglider
6. Omega 6: The Triangle Stars, Ex-Zodiac
7. Winter Gold (SNES), “BRender”
8. The Emperor’s New Groove (PS1), Buck Bumble

Music used:

• Opening - Vortex
• Slot Machine - Star Fox
• Warp Tunnel - X-Scape
• Opening Demo ~ Titania - Star Fox
• Eladard - Star Fox 2
• Main Theme - Croc: Legend of the Gobbos

Further reading:

• “Jez San On Argonaut, Star Fox And Working With Nintendo" - Time Extension (Damien McFerran, 2022): https://www.timeextension.com/features/jez-san-on-argonaut-star-fox-and-working-with-nintendo/
• “Retronauts - Episode 174: Dylan Cuthbert's Road to Star Fox” (Jeremy Parish, 2018): https://retronauts.com/article/983/episode-174-details-the-prehistory-of-star-fox/
• “Video Game History Hour - Episode 132: Croc Remaster” (Frank Cifaldi, Phil Salvador, 2025): https://gamehistory.org/episode-132-croc-remaster/
• “The Making Of Super Mario 64 – full Giles Goddard interview” (Mark Green, 2010): https://pixelatron.com/blog/the-making-of-super-mario-64-full-giles-goddard-interview-ngc/
• “Iwata Asks - Star Fox 64 3D” - Nintendo (Satoru Iwata, 2011): https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/3ds/starfox/0/0/

Love is a many-numbered thing… In a Skip-flavoured special, Sam brings on friend of the show Middlethought (@middlethought.bsky.social, bowserblr) to discuss the oft-overlooked Art Style series! On this tour of the gallery, we also cover the splintered history of Love-de-Lic, the twilight years of the GBA, and how it all ties into Nintendo’s early download experiments through the DSi and 3DS eras. There are plenty of side-passages and tangents, but it all fits together like all great puzzles should. Spread the happiness!

Find us at: https://gamertime.online/

Main topics:

1. 00:02:44: Gaming Fortnight #1 - Middlethought
2. 00:08:47: Gaming Fortnight #2 - Sam
3. 00:21:02: History of Skip Ltd. - Pt. 1

1. 00:48:40: Bit Generations (GBA)

• Boundish, Soundvoyager

1. 01:16:40: History of Skip Ltd. - Pt. 2

1. 01:36:00: Art Style (DSiWare / WiiWare)

• PiCTOBiTS, Aquia, Precipice, Base 10 / Code
• Boxlife, Zengage, Digidrive
• Cubelo, Orbient

1. 02:06:16: History of Skip Ltd - Pt. 3

• Final Days and Spiritual Successors

Also mentioned:

1. Phantom Spark, Replicube (see also: Parking Garage Rally Circuit, Jellycar), Breakout Beyond, The Talos Principle Remastered
2. StreetPass Mii Plaza Games (via NetPass), Nintendo Switch 2 Speculation, Donkey Kong Bananza
3. Love-de-Lic (Moon: Remix RPG Adventure, L.O.L.: Lack of Love); Punchline (Rule of Rose, Chulip); Vanpool (Freshly-Picked Tingle’s Rosy Rupeeland, Dillon’s Dead-Heat Breakers); Pullblox, Splash or Crash, Freakyforms; Doshin the Giant, Cubivore, Custom-Robo, Animal Crossing
4. Mother 3, Rhythm Tengoku, WarioWare: Twisted!, Mario Party Advance; Rotohex
5. Captain Rainbow, Disaster: Day of Crisis, Rhythm Heaven Fever, “Project Rainfall”
6. UFO 50, Q-Games, Shin’en Multimedia, Glow Artisan
7. Bit.Trip series; Snowpack Park, Chibi-Robo: Photo Finder, Zip-Lash; Ko-Robo, Tetrachroma, Mixolumia, Lumines, Meteos

Music used:

• Curator Event - Chibi Robo: Photo Finder
• Salesbunny Introduction - StreetPass Mii Plaza
• Rank 5 - Art Style: Code
• the flow - Bit Generations: Soundvoyager
• Devil World II - Art Style: PiCTOBiTS
• After All - Soundodger

Further reading:

• “Unearthing Bit Generations: Nintendo's Long Lost Coffee Table Games” - Eurogamer (Edward Hawkes, 2022): https://www.eurogamer.net/unearthing-bit-generations-nintendos-long-lost-coffee-table-games
• “A good looking man explains his love for Captain Rainbow” - Destructoid (Jonathan Holmes, 2011): https://www.destructoid.com/a-good-looking-man-explains-his-love-for-captain-rainbow/
• “Lovedelic Life” (Ashley Day, 2008~2014): https://lovedelicgames.wordpress.com/

This Fortnight, it’s for The Gamers. Reflecting upon the erstwhile E3 conference in its continued absence, Sam and David invite friend of the show CC McLoughlin (ccmcloughlin.com) to the stage to discuss where Gamer Christmas came from, went... and could potentially be hiding. Plus - David finally gets to do another much-vaunted quiz segment! It’s a real exciting episode that’s massively ambitious, built from the ground up, with all-new in-engine REAL chat. Apart from the bits we quite clearly faked. Bring your own Lambo.

Find us at https://gamertime.online/

Main topics:

0:01:43: Gaming Fortnight

0:16:15: The First E3 - 1995

0:52:24: David’s E3 Quiz

1:10:31: Wrapup - E3 Memories

Also mentioned: Despelote, Silent Hill (movie); Marvel Rivals, Peglin, Blue Prince; Nubby’s Number Factory, A Hat in Time, Nintendo Switch 2 Experience London; Gizmondo, Sega Saturn, N-Gage, The Game Awards

Music used:

• Half-Time / Menu Music 3 [from “International Superstar Soccer 2000”] - Kazuhiko Uehara
• Neos City (Night) [from “Pokkén Tournament”] - Hiroki Hashimoto
• Monkey Race 2 - Expert Track [from “Super Monkey Ball 2”] - Hidenori Shoji, Haruyoshi Tomita
• Cranky’s Cabin [from “Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest] - David Wise

Further reading:

• “The story of the first E3” - Polygon (Colin Campbell, 2019): https://www.polygon.com/features/2019/6/7/18653968/e3-history-1995-sega-saturn-nintendo-64-playstation-launch
• “Behind the Scenes at the Last Ever E3” - Noclip (Danny O’Dwyer, 2019): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deB5opzbjSE
• “E3 1995 Directory” - Video Game History Foundation Library (ESA, 1995): https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/26c6a022-652b-4a8d-bcf4-bcaf8f2a3188
• “E3 1995” - Video Gaming Central (Ken Cagne, 1995) [republished at: https://www.gamebits.net/e3/e395/]
• “Reliving The Drama Of E3 1995: When Sega Took On Sony And Lost” - Time Extension (Christopher Dring, 2023): https://www.timeextension.com/features/flashback-reliving-the-drama-of-e3-1995-when-sega-took-on-sony-and-lost
• “E3 1995 - E3 Guide” - IGN Wiki: https://www.ign.com/wikis/e3/E3_1995

Somebody call for an exterminator? Once upon a time, colourful cartoon mascots were the video game industry’s lingua franca, and yet only one has a history as colourful as Ubisoft’s very own pal in purple - Rayman! In advance of the big guy’s 30th anniversary, Sam and David welcome Pitch Please’s very own Alexander Gaither to the fray, cross-examining a seemingly ‘armless individual with quite the array of skeletons in his closet. There’s also our preserved-in-amber Nintendo Switch 2 Direct predictions, and a surprisingly spirited discussion on Netflix games (of all things!), all while we skirt closer and closer to the line for what counts as an acceptable French accent. YAHOO!

Find us at: https://gamertime.online/

Topics discussed: Rayman, Rayman 2: The Great Escape, Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc; “Rayman 4” / Rayman Raving Rabbids, Rabbids Go Home, Rabbids Invasion: The Interactive TV Show, “Killer Freaks From Outer Space” (ZombiU); Rayman Origins, Rayman Legends, Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle / Sparks of Hope

Also mentioned: Powerwash Simulator, Gangs of London; The Behemoth (studio), Bloons Tower Defence, Netflix Games; The Smurfs: Mission Vileaf, UFO 50 (Caramel Caramel); Ubisoft Montpelier, Atari Jaguar, Tonic Trouble, Gameloft; Beyond Good and Evil 2, UbiArt Framework, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I; Google Stadia, Ouya, Captain Laserhawk, Connie and the Essence of Chaos

Music used:

• Opening / World Map / The Band Awakens [from “Rayman”] - Rémi Gazel, VA
• The Walk of Life (Reprise) [from “Rayman 2: The Great Escape”] - Eric Chevalier
• The Hunt is On! [from “Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc”] - Plume, Fred Leonard, Laurent Parisi
• Phantom Returns (Act 1 Overture) [from “Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope”] - Augustin Chemelle, Grant Kirkhope
• World Map ~ Sea of Serendipity [from “Rayman Origins”] - Christophe Héral, Billy Martin
• Making Fun (Of Everyday Life) - The Raving Rabbids

Further reading:

• “Rayman (SNES)” - The Cutting Room Floor: https://tcrf.net/Rayman_(SNES)
• “Rayman 4 - Unseen 64” (Liam Robertson, 2015): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CvVT8cWWUY
• “Rayman 4's Prototype was COMPLETELY Different” (FrameRater, 2022): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_X5iKoz6Bk
• “Freaks and tweaks: ZombiU’s winding path to launch” - Polygon (Andrew Hayward, 2012): https://web.archive.org/web/20121116061603/http://www.polygon.com/2012/11/13/3592140/zombiu-path-to-wii-U-launch

Feels different this time… Freshly bi-generated and ready for Round 2, those fine folks from Podtor Whocast RETURN to restore the deeply cursed timeline of modern Doctor Who games. After a catch-up with Michel over yet more Fallout London talk (Atomfall who?), it’s right back into action on a conversation that’s as much about Who as it is a lamentation on the state of mobile gaming in general. And tangents? Oh, we got ‘em. Bada-boom-ba!

Missed Part One? Click here for “A Brief History of Time and Space”!

Find us at https://gamertime.online/

Topics discussed: Doctor Who: The Mazes of Time, Torchwood: Miracle Day - Web of Lies, Doctor Who: The Adventure Games - The Gunpowder Plot, Doctor Who: Worlds in Time, Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock, Doctor Who Legacy / Infinity; LEGO Dimensions, The Saviour of Time (Skype), Doctor Who: The Runaway, “Thirteen” (2048 clone), Doctor Who: The Edge of Time / Reality, Doctor Who: The Lonely Assassins; Doctor Who: Lost in Time

Also mentioned: PowerWash Simulator, House Flipper 2, While Waiting, Freerunning (PS2); Fallout: London, Infinity Nikki, The Unholy Return of Acclaim; Balatro, Michel gets back into the Steam Deck, The Sims 2 Legacy Collection; Quantum Break, the PS Vita, “The Power of Three”, Family Guy Online; Ghostbusters, Star Trek: Lower Decks - The Badgey Directive, Back to the Future: The Game

Music used:

• “Dr. Who Disco” - Mankind
• The Shepherd’s Boy / Breaking the Wall [from “Heaven Sent”] - Murray Gold, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
• Ol’ Blighty (Cinematic Mix) [from “Fallout: London”] - Daniel Morrison Neil, Team FOLON
• Westminster Bridge [from “Rose”] - Murray Gold, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
• Cassandra’s Waltz [from “The End of the World”] - Murray Gold, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
• A Noble Girl About Town [from “Partners in Crime”] - Murray Gold, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
• “Whorhythmics” [based on “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” - Eurythmics] - JeX

Further reading:

• “Balatro’s ‘Cursed’ Design Problem” - Game Maker’s Toolkit, 2024: https://youtu.be/zk3S3o1qOHo?si=6-1ynji38SzXhFul
• “The Balatro Timeline” [Developer Diary] - LocalThunk, 2025: https://localthunk.com/blog/balatro-timeline-3aarh
• “Granada The Program - Celebrities”[Jon Pertwee plays Star Wars Dark Forces, 1995]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia463EOvZxk&t=375s

Thunderbirds are GO! It’s all hands on deck and action stations in a series of tales so tall that not even the Mole could get to the bottom of it. Prepare for launch with Sam and David, as they bash their mighty vinyl craniums together in the name of stringing up just what pulled the venerable Anderson puppets along through trials across screens big and small. Oh, and I suppose we’ll talk about some "computer games" too. F.A.B.!

Find us at: https://gamertime.online

Topics discussed: Thunderbirds (1965 - 1966), Thunderbirds (2004 film), various “Thunderbirds” tie-in games (1985 - 2004)

Also mentioned: Cruis’n USA (and other N64 racers), PowerWash Simulator, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (PS2), Grand Theft Hamlet, You Are Peter Shorts, Nordic FuzzCon, Magical Cat Adventure, Kurinu E-Pets; “Supermarionation” shows (The Adventures of Twizzle, Torchy the Battery Boy, Four Feather Falls, Supercar, Fireball XL5, Stingray, Captain Scarlet, Joe 90, Secret Service); Firebird Software, “Don't Buy This: Five of the Worst Games Ever”, Pack-In Video, “Scientific Rescue Team Technoboyger” (Thunderbirds 2086), Carlton; Pukka Games (Cool Bricks, Digital Road, Hot Potato), SCi Interactive, Vivendi, Saffire

Music used:

• Thunderbirds (Main Theme) - Barry Gray
• Tracy Island / Thunderbirds Are Go! [from “Thunderbirds TV Soundtrack”] - Barry Gray
• Thunderbirds Are Go [from “Thunderbirds: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack”] - Hans Zimmer
• “Track 10” [from “Gerry Anderson’s Thunderbirds”, GB (1993)] - composer unknown
• Thunderbird 3 [from “Thunderbirds: International Rescue”, GBA (2001)] - Allister Brimble, Audio Arts

Further reading:

• “FILMED IN SUPERMARIONATION: The Rocket Powered Story Behind Thunderbirds” (Century 21 Films, 2014): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV4Co0rD0y4
• “BEHIND THE SCENES of Thunderbirds Anniversary Specials – Supermarionation Puppets & Special Effects” (Century 21 Films, 2023): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnY7VqGSRkA
• “Thunderbirds (1965-66). "When We Was F.A.B." Apart from Alan” (Stam Fine Reviews, 2022): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-pYHRwm0Hk
• “Thunderbirds (2004). Alan of Confusion.” (Stam Fine Reviews, 2025): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5jPN1xkf5k

It all comes back to the egg… In honour of Pokémon Day, we’re once again taking an askew look at the biggest franchise in games, this time by showcasing two properties that are often (and perhaps unfairly) compared against it. Sam leaps from your keychain and beeps aggressively to give an essential timeline on Tamagotchi, explaining the lore and dispelling the myths, while Kit (@kitenby) wrangles with the wild history of Digimon and its wealth of spin-off media. There’s also plenty discussed on the key link with their parent company, and the wider bubble of the virtual pet craze of the late 90s. Tight!

Find us at: https://gamertime.online/

Topics discussed: Bandai, Tamagotchi, the Sega Dreamcast VMU, Pokémon Pocket Pikachu, the Pokémon Mini,; Digimon V-Pets, Digimon Adventure, Digimon World, Digimon: The Movie, Digimon Survive

Also mentioned: Metaphor: ReFantazio, Like a Dragon: Yakuza, Donkey Kong Country (TV series), Anbernic handhelds; the Apple Pippin Atmark, vTech v.Smile, Osutchi & Mesutchi, Santaclautch; NiGHTS into Dreams, Chao Garden, Seaman, the Sony PocketStation, Hey You! Pikachu, the Pokéwalker, Skillz (UK magazine), Professor Sherry Turkle; the WonderSwan, 4-Kids, Saban Productions, Angela Anaconda, Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth

Music used:

• Pokémon Stadium Opening - Masafumi Kawamura, Junichi Matsuda
• Menu Music 3 (“Okay Fellas”) [from “International Superstar Soccer 2000”] - Kazuhiko Uehara
• Tamagotchi (Tschoopapa...) - Sqeezer
• Join Us 4 Happy Time [from “Sonic Adventure”] - Fumie Kumatani
• Pokéwalker [from “Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver”] - Junichi Masuda, Shota Kageyama
• Digi Rap [from “Digimon: The Movie”] - M.C. Pea Pod, Paul Gordon, Shuki Levy, Haim Saban
• File City Day [from “Digimon World”] - Koji Yamada, Yuko Ishii,
• Hey Digimon [from “Digimon: The Movie”] - Paul Gordon, Shuki Levy, Haim Saban
• Brave Heart [from “Digimon Adventure”] - Ayumi Miyazaki, Ōta Michihiko

Further reading:

• “the tale of tamagotchi: the never-ending rabbit hole.” (planetclue, 2023): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQHU9m90VLU
• “The CRAZY History Of Tamagotchi” (Retro Dodo, 2023): https://youtu.be/VmJresLF3ho?si=zAa40gi27pPIdLg7

“A Complete History of Digimon Virtual Pets” (Lost in Translationmon, 2023): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKk7WNz6SmI

We’re over a barrel now… Beat your suspiciously smooth chest and descend from the canopy, because it’s time to talk about one of gaming’s oldest icons! David and Sam zoom in on two time periods that distinctly represent the “mid-point” of DK’s life from today: the Country-seasoned heyday of a life in the Rare barnyard, and Nintendo’s subsequent attempts to re-bottle that lightning in a post-buyout vacuum. No need for an Expansion Pak, because there’s plenty of developer deep-dives, Kiddy Kong cross-sections, and more tangents than you can shake an ostrich at. Bananaaa slamma!

Find us at: https://gamertime.online/

Special thanks to Jammin’ Sam Miller for their Donkey Kong Country soundtrack restorations as used throughout the ep!

Topics discussed: Ultimate Play the Game, Rare, Ltd., Donkey Kong Country 1-3, Donkey Kong Land 1-3, Donkey Kong 64; Nintendo vs. Namco, the DK Bongos, Donkey Konga 1-3, Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat, DK: King of Swing / Jungle Climber, the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series

Also mentioned: House Flipper, “Groverhaus”, Control, the Nintendo Switch 2, Balatro, The Zachtronics Solitaire Collection, Mindwave; E3 2010, the ZX Spectrum, Slalom, Donkey Kong Jr. Math, Popeye no Eigo Asobi, Donkey Kong ‘94, Donkey Kong Country (GBC/GBA), Yooka-Laylee; It’s Mr. Pants, Donkey Kong Racing, Banjo-Pilot, Taiko no Tatsujin, Ele-Conga, Odama, Plesschen Twist & Paint; the New Play Control! Series, “Bull Beat” (UE5 tech demo), Beat Nebula, Squat Bot; Paon, Clu-Clu Land, Heave-Ho, Turnip Mountain, Nintendo Software Technology

Music used:

• Fanfare, Title Theme, Simian Segue [from “Donkey Kong Country”] - David Wise, Eveline Novakovic
• DK’s Island Theme [from “Donkey Kong 64”] - Grant Kirkhope
• Chuckie Egg Theme - Nigel Alderton
• Forest Interlude [from “Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest”] - David Wise
• Treetop Tumble [from “Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble”] - Eveline Novakovic
• DK Rap [from “Donkey Kong 64”] - George Andreas, Grant Kirkhope
• Song Select [from “Donkey Konga”] - Junko Ozawa, Jesaan
• Hint Movie [from “Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat”] - Mahito Yokota
• Pirate’s Scorn [from “Donkey Kong Country” (TV series)] - Ron Rubin, Pure West Music (2023 remaster by Josi Molina)

Further reading:

• “Developer Lookback: A Rare Breed” - Retro Gamer #20, pg. 26-33 (Darran Jones et. al, 2006)
• “The Evolution of Donkey Kong Country” - Retro Gamer #237, pg. 18-27 (Rory Milne, 2022)
• “A Rare Celebration” - Retro Gamer #250, pg. 18-43 (Paul Drury et. al, 2023)
• “Return of a Legend: Rare co-founder Tim Stamper on the past, present and future” - MCVUK (James Batchelor, 2015) [available at: https://web.archive.org/web/20230925222428/https://mcvuk.com/development-news/return-of-a-legend-rare-co-founder-tim-stamper-on-the-past-present-and-future/]
• “Nintendo's Project H.A.M.M.E.R: The Untold Story” - Unseen64 (Liam Robertson, 2015): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lMLRIwiB_c