1997 was a special year in gaming. Final Fantasy 7, Fallout, Diablo, Grand Theft Auto, and...Virtual Springfield!

We gush about this wonderful walking simulator set in the town of Springfield, discuss whether it counts as a "cozy game," dismiss the arguments that it's not actually a game, and more as we break down this massive and often overlooked gem.

Plus we discuss the landscape of The Simpsons in 1997 including the infamous Simpsons House Giveaway!

Episodes discussed:

• The Principal and The Pauper
• The Springfield Files
• The Secret War of Lisa Simpson
• The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson

-Derek's Other Projects-

Twitch: twitch.tv/misterdarebear⁠

Gimmicks:

Bluesky: ⁠⁠‪@gimmickspod.bsky.social‬

Where to Listen: ⁠glitterjaw.com/gimmicks⁠

Walloping Websnappers:

Bluesky: ⁠⁠@wallopingwebpod.bsky.social‬

Web: ⁠⁠wallopingwebsnappers.com⁠⁠

Skreeonk! A Godzilla Movie Marathon:

Web: ⁠⁠⁠glitterjaw.com/skreeonk⁠

-Tommy's Other Projects-

Twitch: ⁠twitch.tv/awkwardcomma⁠

Distant Echoes: A Star Wars Podcast:

Bluesky: ⁠@distantechoespod.bsky.social‬

Web: ⁠glitterjaw.com/distant-echoes⁠

-Theme Music: Max Power!-

Facebook: ⁠The Real Max Power Band⁠

Instagram: ⁠@therealmaxpowerband

Sources and extended show notes

All audio clips are used under Fair Use and belong to their respective copyright owners.

We have a packed show for today. First up, we sat down with Brad Goodwin the kick-ass musician who played guitar and drums for our amazing theme song! We talked to Brad about music in the Simpsons, his bands--Max Power and Taylor's Version, a Taylor Swift cover band--and his history with The Simpsons and Simpsons Games.

Then, Derek and Tommy break down some of their favorite finds from the Mark Flitman Files at the Video Game History Foundation's digital library!

- Check out Taylor's Version on social media -

Linktree: linktr.ee/taylorsversionva

Instagram: instagram.com/taylorsversionva/

Facebook: facebook.com/people/Taylors-Version-VA/61560837935863/

Be sure to grab your tickets to see Taylor's version live, Saturday May 10th

https://thebroadberry.com/event/taylors-version-va-2/richmond-music-hall/richmond-virginia/

-Derek's Other Projects-

Twitch: twitch.tv/misterdarebear⁠

Gimmicks:

Twitter: ⁠⁠@GimmicksPod⁠⁠

Where to Listen: ⁠glitterjaw.com/gimmicks⁠

Walloping Websnappers:

Twitter: ⁠⁠@WallopingWebPod⁠⁠

Web: ⁠⁠wallopingwebsnappers.com⁠⁠

Skreeonk! A Godzilla Movie Marathon:

Web: ⁠⁠⁠glitterjaw.com/gimmicks⁠

-Tommy's Other Projects-

Twitch: ⁠twitch.tv/awkwardcomma⁠

Distant Echoes: A Star Wars Podcast:

Twitter: ⁠@DistantEchoesSW⁠

Web: ⁠glitterjaw.com/distant-echoes⁠

-Theme Music: Max Power!-

Facebook: ⁠The Real Max Power Band⁠

Instagram: ⁠@therealmaxpowerband

Sources and extended show notes

All audio clips are used under Fair Use and belong to their respective copyright owners.

In 1996, Fox Interactive released their first game in The Simpsons Gaming pantheon and it's...really good? The Simpsons Cartoon Studio gave players the tools they needed to create their own Simpsons videos, and while the tool is limited, it's a lot of fun.

Tune in for our breakdown of this creative studio and our discussion on filmmaking video games as a whole! And of course we the show, checking out classic episodes from Seasons 7 and 8:

• Homerpalooza
• Summer of 4 Ft. 2
• You Only Move Twice

-Derek's Other Projects-

Twitch: twitch.tv/misterdarebear⁠

Gimmicks:

Twitter: ⁠⁠@GimmicksPod⁠⁠

Where to Listen: ⁠glitterjaw.com/gimmicks⁠

Walloping Websnappers:

Twitter: ⁠⁠@WallopingWebPod⁠⁠

Web: ⁠⁠wallopingwebsnappers.com⁠⁠

Skreeonk! A Godzilla Movie Marathon:

Web: ⁠⁠⁠glitterjaw.com/gimmicks⁠

-Tommy's Other Projects-

Twitch: ⁠twitch.tv/awkwardcomma⁠

Distant Echoes: A Star Wars Podcast:

Twitter: ⁠@DistantEchoesSW⁠

Web: ⁠glitterjaw.com/distant-echoes⁠

-Theme Music: Max Power!-

Facebook: ⁠The Real Max Power Band⁠

Instagram: ⁠@therealmaxpowerband

Sources and extended show notes

All audio clips are used under Fair Use and belong to their respective copyright owners.

An action packed cartoon-within-a-cartoon known for it's over-the-top violence has to make for a great game right?

...right?

On this week's episode, we seek to answer that question as we fight and bite (and fight and bite and fight) our way through The Itchy & Scratchy Game! Plus, we discuss a brief history of the murderous mouse and cat duo along with several pivotal episodes of The Simpsons centered on Itchy & Scratchy.

Wondering which one's the mouse? Tune in to find out!

-Derek's Other Projects-

Twitch: twitch.tv/misterdarebear⁠

Gimmicks:

Twitter: ⁠⁠@GimmicksPod⁠⁠

Where to Listen: ⁠glitterjaw.com/gimmicks⁠

Walloping Websnappers:

Twitter: ⁠⁠@WallopingWebPod⁠⁠

Web: ⁠⁠wallopingwebsnappers.com⁠⁠

Skreeonk! A Godzilla Movie Marathon:

Web: ⁠⁠⁠glitterjaw.com/gimmicks⁠

-Tommy's Other Projects-

Twitch: ⁠twitch.tv/awkwardcomma⁠

Distant Echoes: A Star Wars Podcast:

Twitter: ⁠@DistantEchoesSW⁠

Web: ⁠glitterjaw.com/distant-echoes⁠

-Theme Music: Max Power!-

Facebook: ⁠The Real Max Power Band⁠

Instagram: ⁠@therealmaxpowerband

Sources and extended show notes

All audio clips are used under Fair Use and belong to their respective copyright owners.

Choose your club (might we suggest a putter?), enter the force of your swing, and meet us on the green as we break down 1994's Itchy and Scratchy in Miniature Golf Madness for the Game Boy (and Super Game Boy)!

Before we do, though, we get our bearings with a brief history of the game of Minigolf and then discuss three extremely popular episodes of the series, "Bart's Girlfriend," "Lisa on Ice," and "Homer Badman."

-Derek's Other Projects-

Twitch: twitch.tv/misterdarebear⁠

Gimmicks:

Twitter: ⁠⁠@GimmicksPod⁠⁠

Where to Listen: ⁠glitterjaw.com/gimmicks⁠

Walloping Websnappers:

Twitter: ⁠⁠@WallopingWebPod⁠⁠

Web: ⁠⁠wallopingwebsnappers.com⁠⁠

Skreeonk! A Godzilla Movie Marathon:

Web: ⁠⁠⁠glitterjaw.com/gimmicks⁠

-Tommy's Other Projects-

Twitch: ⁠twitch.tv/awkwardcomma⁠

Distant Echoes: A Star Wars Podcast:

Twitter: ⁠@DistantEchoesSW⁠

Web: ⁠glitterjaw.com/distant-echoes⁠

-Theme Music: Max Power!-

Facebook: ⁠The Real Max Power Band⁠

Instagram: ⁠@therealmaxpowerband

Sources and extended show notes

All audio clips are used under Fair Use and belong to their respective copyright owners.

With the Bartmania chapter of Simpsons tie-in games coming to an end as we approach the halfway point, what better time to look back at the (very few) spectacular and (several) mediocre-to-blatant-cash-grab Simpsons games of the early 90s.

You know what that means...it's time for a tier list! That's right, we're officially ranking the best of the worst in this episode and looking back on our original predictions.

Plus, we discuss Pamela Hayden's retirement and give our thoughts on her final episode: "Treehouse of Horror Presents: Something Simpsons This Way Comes!"

-Derek's Other Projects-

Twitch: twitch.tv/misterdarebear⁠

Gimmicks:

Twitter: ⁠⁠@GimmicksPod⁠⁠

Where to Listen: ⁠glitterjaw.com/gimmicks⁠

Walloping Websnappers:

Twitter: ⁠⁠@WallopingWebPod⁠⁠

Web: ⁠⁠wallopingwebsnappers.com⁠⁠

Skreeonk! A Godzilla Movie Marathon:

Web: ⁠⁠⁠glitterjaw.com/gimmicks⁠

-Tommy's Other Projects-

Twitch: ⁠twitch.tv/awkwardcomma⁠

Distant Echoes: A Star Wars Podcast:

Twitter: ⁠@DistantEchoesSW⁠

Web: ⁠glitterjaw.com/distant-echoes⁠

-Theme Music: Max Power!-

Facebook: ⁠The Real Max Power Band⁠

Instagram:⁠@therealmaxpowerband

All audio clips are used under Fair Use and belong to their respective copyright owners.

We are somehow, inexplicably, at the halfway point of Simpsons Games already and we're only in 1994?!

To help us explain this virtually baffling situation and help us rescue Bart from Martin's Lawnmower Man-esque virtual reality machine in Virtual Bart, we're joined by Fox Kids Historian and host of Fox Kids Club, a video essay series on the history of Fox Kids, and Disney Afternoon, Jess Matthews!

We chatted about her history as a video essayist and, since we had an expert in the building, we talked about the two times The Simpsons crossed over with Fox Kids (Louie Anderson and about 200 donuts were involved as well).

Plus, we discussed Season 6's "Bart of Darkness," "Lisa's Rival," and "Another Simpsons Clipshow"

Where to find Jess:

YouTube: youtube.com/@HulkieD

BlueSky: @foxkidsclub.bsky.social

Patreon: patreon.com/jessmatthewsproductions

-Derek's Other Projects-

Twitch: twitch.tv/misterdarebear⁠

Gimmicks:

Twitter: ⁠⁠@GimmicksPod⁠⁠

Where to Listen: ⁠glitterjaw.com/gimmicks⁠

Walloping Websnappers:

Twitter: ⁠⁠@WallopingWebPod⁠⁠

Web: ⁠⁠wallopingwebsnappers.com⁠⁠

Skreeonk! A Godzilla Movie Marathon:

Web: ⁠⁠⁠glitterjaw.com/gimmicks⁠

-Tommy's Other Projects-

Twitch: ⁠twitch.tv/awkwardcomma⁠

Distant Echoes: A Star Wars Podcast:

Twitter: ⁠@DistantEchoesSW⁠

Web: ⁠glitterjaw.com/distant-echoes⁠

-Theme Music: Max Power!-

Facebook: ⁠The Real Max Power Band⁠

Instagram: ⁠@therealmaxpowerband

Additional Show Notes and Sources: Google Docs

All audio clips are used under Fair Use and belong to their respective copyright owners.

Breaking news out of Springfield...we have new Simpsons gaming news to discuss! We discuss everything we know about The Simpsons: Tapped Out shutting down and share what we think that means for the future of Simpsons games.

Then, unfortunately, we have to go back in time to 1994 to discuss Bart & The Beanstalk, a disappointing, but pretty, Game Boy title. But, hey, at least it gives us the opportunity to revisit some banger episodes, "Bart Gets Famous," "Homer and Apu," "Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy," and "Deep Space Homer."

It's a packed episode!

-Derek's Other Projects-

Twitch: twitch.tv/misterdarebear⁠

Gimmicks:

Twitter: ⁠⁠@GimmicksPod⁠⁠

Where to Listen: ⁠glitterjaw.com/gimmicks⁠

Walloping Websnappers:

Twitter: ⁠⁠@WallopingWebPod⁠⁠

Web: ⁠⁠wallopingwebsnappers.com⁠⁠

Skreeonk! A Godzilla Movie Marathon:

Web: ⁠⁠⁠glitterjaw.com/gimmicks⁠

-Tommy's Other Projects-

Twitch: ⁠twitch.tv/awkwardcomma⁠

Distant Echoes: A Star Wars Podcast:

Twitter: ⁠@DistantEchoesSW⁠

Web: ⁠glitterjaw.com/distant-echoes⁠

-Theme Music: Max Power!-

Facebook: ⁠The Real Max Power Band⁠

Instagram: ⁠@therealmaxpowerband

Additional Show Notes and Sources: Google Docs

We were bound to record a 3-hour episode eventually, why not do it for an episode about a game helmed by Bart's alter-ego Bartman, a character that's appeared only 3 times across the series 34 seasons.

That's right, we're talking Bartman Meets Radioactive Man and a brief history of comics in video games.

TW: There is a Simpsons clip in this episode that references death by suicide

Derek's Other Projects-

Twitch: ⁠

twitch.tv/misterdarebear⁠

Gimmicks:

Twitter: ⁠⁠@GimmicksPod⁠⁠

Where to Listen: ⁠glitterjaw.com/gimmicks⁠

Walloping Websnappers:

Twitter: ⁠⁠@WallopingWebPod⁠⁠

Web: ⁠⁠wallopingwebsnappers.com⁠⁠

Skreeonk! A Godzilla Movie Marathon:

Web: ⁠⁠⁠glitterjaw.com/gimmicks⁠

-Tommy's Other Projects-

Twitch:

⁠twitch.tv/awkwardcomma⁠

Distant Echoes: A Star Wars Podcast:

Twitter: ⁠@DistantEchoesSW⁠

Web: ⁠glitterjaw.com/distant-echoes⁠

Theme Music: Max Power!

Facebook: ⁠The Real Max Power Band⁠

Instagram: ⁠@therealmaxpowerband

Additional Show Notes and Sources: Google Docs

From Godzilla to Indiana Jones, fighting viruses in Bart's bloodstream to flying high as Bartman, Bart's Nightmare for the Sega Genesis and SNES has so much going for it. So did we have fun playing it?

Not really.

Did we enjoy talking about it and the 16-bit era, including the rise of Sega, the SNES, Killer Instinct, Chrono Trigger, Donkey Kong, and so much more?

You bet we did!

Plus, we talked the two episodes nearest to the game's release - "Homer the Heretic" and "Lisa the Beauty Queen".

It's a packed episode!

Derek's Other Projects-

Twitch: ⁠

twitch.tv/misterdarebear⁠

Gimmicks:

Twitter: ⁠⁠@GimmicksPod⁠⁠

Where to Listen: ⁠glitterjaw.com/gimmicks⁠

Walloping Websnappers:

Twitter: ⁠⁠@WallopingWebPod⁠⁠

Web: ⁠⁠wallopingwebsnappers.com⁠⁠

Skreeonk! A Godzilla Movie Marathon:

Web: ⁠⁠⁠glitterjaw.com/gimmicks⁠

-Tommy's Other Projects-

Twitch:

⁠twitch.tv/awkwardcomma⁠

Distant Echoes: A Star Wars Podcast:

Twitter: ⁠@DistantEchoesSW⁠

Web: ⁠glitterjaw.com/distant-echoes⁠

Theme Music: Max Power!

Facebook: ⁠The Real Max Power Band⁠

Instagram: ⁠@therealmaxpowerband

Additional Show Notes and Sources: Google Docs