Maximum Power Up

Maximum Power Up episodes:

• 01.04.2024

  Episode 120 - Rob Leane Interview

  Chris Smith is joined by regular host Paul Monaghan and special guest Rob Leane, gaming editor for the Radio Times. We discuss Rob's career so far, the beloved status of Radio Times and how it came to have a gaming...

  
• 12.20.2023

  Episode 119 - Maximum Catch Up

  Chris and Paul once again realise almost another year has gone by since they last recorded. Join us as we catch up on the year just gone, and manage to almost entirely avoid talking about Christmas. 

  
• 02.13.2023

  Episode 118 - Gaming in 2023

  You wait weeks for a podcast, then two hours come along at once. Chris is joined by returning host Paul to look at their highlights from the games that have been announced for the year ahead. With a brief diversion...

  
• 12.20.2022

  2022 End of Year Show

  Chris Smith the Newer is joined by returning hosts Jake and Tommy to discuss the last 12 months, and what they've been up to in life and videogames since Maximum Power Up last released an episode.

  
• 11.10.2021

  Episode 116 - Atari Jaguar

  Chris Smith mk 2 is joined by returning host Tom Charnock to share fond memories of Atari’s much maligned console. They cover their own introductions to the console, and discuss their favourite games on the platform.  As always, if you...

  
• 10.20.2021

  Episode 115: Making Of Tomb Raider & SEGA Powered

  This episode features two interviews discussing two new print productions.   First up is Daryl Baxter who has written the Making Of Tomb Raider book. This book covers the stories behind the making of the first two games by Core...

  
• 08.21.2021

  Episode 114: Ashley Day Interview - From GamesTM to Team17

  Our latest guest is Ashley Day, currently employed by Team17. Over this three hour chat we discuss all aspects of his career. Starting out writing for GamesTM, Ashley discusses his love of games mags and the challenges faced in his...

  
• 07.29.2021

  Episode 113: Maximum Power Up Meets The Back Page Podcast

  This episode we are joined by two guests, both writers and they also produce their own podcast. Samuel Roberts and Matthew Castle join Paul to discuss their career working on games magazines. Both starting in the mid '00's we cover...

  
• 06.21.2021

  Episode 112: Tim Ponting Interview

  Our 42nd magazine related guest is Tim Ponting. Paul spoke to Tim about his career in games magazines and PR. Starting out on drumming magazine Rhythm, he soon joined Dennis Publishing on the much loved magazine Zero. He shares some...

  
• 05.23.2021

  Episode 111: Keith Stuart Interview

  Paul is joined by best selling author and journalist, Keith Stuart. Keith started his career in the 90's at Big Red Software helping write game manuals. However in 1995 previous MPU guest Jason Brookes gave him his first games magazine...

  
• 03.15.2021

  Bonus Episode: Pandemic Pod - Coronavirus and Robin

  The same motley crew as the last bonus episode return for another pandemic related show, as Chris, Chris, Jake and Arron do their best to appear like they still have it together as we approach the anniversary of the pandemic. ...

  
• 03.07.2021

  Episode 109: Marcus Dyson Interview

  There is plenty for Commodore Amiga fans in this episode. Paul sits down to speak to Marcus Dyson who spent 4 years on Amiga Format, as well as some time at Team 17. Starting in 1990 at Future Publishing Marcus...

  
• 01.13.2021

  Episode 108: John Davison Interview

  Our latest interview is with VP of IGN, John Davison. John started his career in the games industry over 30 years ago with his first fulltime role on Games-X magazine. John shares the challenges he faced on a weekly games...

  
• 12.22.2020

  Episode 107: Gary Whitta Interview

  This episode we are joined by a huge guest! Gary Whitta joins Paul to discuss his career in games journalism, writing Hollywood screenplays, Animal Crossing talkshows and more! Covering a 30 year plus career, Gary started off on Commodore User...

  
• 12.13.2020

  Bonus Episode: Pandemic Pod - Covid Hard with a Vengeance

  In this third pandemic related bonus episode, the two Chris Smiths are joined by Jake and Arron for as they check in on each other, and talk life, games and a bit about the new systems. Oh and some of...

  
• 11.05.2020

  Episode 106: Tim Weaver Interview

  Tim Weaver has been writing for decades. Currently he has 10 David Raker novels under his belt, a very popular crime/ thriller series. He started his career at Future Publishing back in 1996 on Nintnedo magazine Total! Tim shares the...

  
• 10.11.2020

  Episode 105: Better Call Paul(s)

  In this episode Paul sits down to discuss CVG magazine and more with Paul Glancey and also another Paul, this time Davies! Yes three people on one call all called Paul (that's a mouthful). Paul Glancey makes his MPU debut...

  
• 09.25.2020

  Episode 104: Chris Scullion Interview

  Chris Scullion joins us this episode to discuss his career as a games writer. Starting on Official Nintendo Magazine in 2006, he has also written for the online versions of N Gamer and CVG as well as being a regular...

  
• 09.09.2020

  Episode 103: Paul McNally Interview

  In this episode Paul interviews Paul McNally about his career in videogames journalism and much more. Paul started his career on ST Action under the guidance of previous guest Nick Clarkson. Working up-to editor he stayed there until the magazine...

  
• 08.31.2020

  Episode 102: Martyn Carroll Interview

  In this latest interview, we speak to original Retro Gamer magazine editor Martyn Carroll. We cover several magazines for the first time on the podcast as Martyn shares his early experiences of the magazine industry.   It wasn't a games...

  
• 08.16.2020

  Episode 101: Listeners Choice Mega Drive

  This episode we revisit the "listener choice" format, previously used on our Dreamcast, Game Boy and Commodore 64 shows. Back before the world went mad, we asked our listeners to share their five favourite SEGA Mega Drive games with us,...

  
• 07.26.2020

  Episode 100: The Episode 100 Show

  In this episode we celebrate 100 episodes of Maximum Power Up. Since the show started in 2015 we have covered a mixture of modern and retrogaming. Most of the team share their experiences of making the podcast, fave episodes, games...

  
• 07.13.2020

  Bonus Episode: Games That Weren't

  In this bonus episode we have two guests, Frank Gasking and Sam Dyer. Frank runs the excellent and informative website Games That Weren't for the last 20 years. Sam is known for his excellent work over at Bitmap Books. Games...

  
• 06.14.2020

  Episode 99: Dominik Diamond Interview

  In this episode we are very happy to have Dominik Diamond on the show. For many gamers in the 90's he was the face of gaming on television as the host of GamesMaster. The show covered so many amazing challenges,...

  
• 06.08.2020

  Bonus Episode - Pandemic Pod Returns

  The Maximum Power up team for another special bonus episode as Lockdown 2020 continues. In this new Pandemic Pod, the team discuss the two "big hitters" Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Streets of Rage 4, and also share what else...

  
• 05.21.2020

  Episode 98: Danny Wallace Interview

  We are delighted to have Danny Wallace on the show discussing his career. In this 90 minute chat we discuss how he started out doing work experience on Sega Power magazine before being taken on by Future and had several...

  
• 05.12.2020

  Episode 97: 1998 Part 2

  Following on from episode 94 we continue our walk down memory lane looking at July to December 1998. Many gamers see 1998 as one of the greatest years in gaming. All the main machines had several must own titles that...

  
• 04.16.2020

  Episode 96: Glen O'Connell Interview

  In this episode we speak to Glen O'Connell about his career in the games industry as well as sports PR. Starting out at Psygnosis  he shares some great experiences of visiting games magazines helping promote new titles and his early...

  
• 04.03.2020

  Bonus Episode - Pandemic Pod

  For this special bonus episode of the Maximum Power Up podcast, we have an almost full house* as the team gather to keep each other sane during Lockdown 2020. What games do the team reach for in times of trouble?...

  
• 03.26.2020

  Episode 95: David Wilson Interview

  We are very happy to welcome David Wilson on the show for this new episode. David recently left Sony after almost 20 years as Head of UK PR and Director of Communications.   Starting in the games industry on classic...

  
• 02.15.2020

  Episode 94: 1998 Part 1

  Is this one of the greatest years for games releases? Paul, Chris, Arron and Chris sit down to discuss if it truly is. The major players in the industry were still battling it out to be number one with each...

  
• 01.16.2020

  2020 - New Year Special

  Once again Chris Smith mark 2 is joined by Paul & the other Chris Smith, with Arron coming along for the ride too. After the fairly well received Christmas episode, the boys are back with their highlights from 2019, and...

  
• 12.22.2019

  Christmas Special

  Chris Smith mark 2 is joined by Paul & the other Chris Smith for a bit of Christmas chatter. Somehow Maximum Power Up hasn’t done this before. Tune in as your hosts compare Christmas memories. Some of them are bleaker...

  
• 12.05.2019

  Episode 91: Jason Brookes Tribute

  This is a special one off episode celebrating the games writing of Jason Brookes who sadly passed away recently. In 2016 and 2019 Paul had the pleasure of interviewing Jason to discuss his time on Super Play and Edge. These...

  
• 11.18.2019

  Episode 90: Disney's Aladdin

  In this episode we take a look at one of the most loved 16bit game tie ins. Released in 1993 for the Sega Megadrive and Super Nintendo, gamers were treated to two very nice looking but very different games based...

  
• 09.30.2019

  Maximum Power Up Presents: The Lost RetroCollect FM Chronicles Part 1

  Well this is a blast from the past, back in 2014, Chris got together with Martin Hinson and Kurt Kalata from Hardcore Gaming 101 to talk all things Castlevania. Now these were thought lost after a laptop containing the files...

  
• 08.15.2019

  Episode 89: Amiga Power With Cam Winstanley

  Paul sits down with Cam Winstanley to discuss one of the most popular Amiga magazines, Amiga Power.  Lasting over 5 years Amiga Power built up a passionate readership that Cam was there to witness for several years starting as a...

  
• 06.10.2019

  Episode 88: Microsoft XBox

  In November 2001 Microsoft released their first console into a market that was changing. Sega's Dreamcast had failed so they left the market. However Microsoft knew how to make an entrance! From the off they set out to do things...

  
• 05.07.2019

  Episode 87: Super Mario Brothers The Movie

  Join Chris, Phil and Aaron as they take a trip to the movies. In what’s hopefully a first of many movies based on games episodes the crew take a look at 1993’s Super Mario Bros The Movie. We take you...

  
• 04.09.2019

  Episode 86: Top Ten Games Magazines Part 2

  Welcome to part 2 of the Top 10 Games Mags. These are the final 5 magazines that have been voted by our listeners on Twitter, Facebook and more. Paul sits down with a guest from each magazine again to discuss...

  
• 03.24.2019

  Episode 85: Top 10 Games Magazines Part 1

  Games magazines have always been a popular part of gaming. Although there aren't too many around these days, in the 80's & 90's there were loads to choose from. In January we asked our listener's to tell us their 5...

  
• 02.07.2019

  Episode 84: Video Pinball

  Chris Smith Mk. 2 takes the reins for this episode looking at some highlights from the history of bringing pinball to the world of video games. Chris is joined by Phil, and our hosts discuss their favourite pinball games and...

  
• 01.21.2019

  Episode 83: Dave Upchurch Interview

  In this episode Paul interviews Dave Upchurch. Starting his career at EMAP on popular 90's magazine ACE he soon was moved to The One Amiga where he became the magazines editor. At the time the Amiga was going from strength to...

  
• 12.23.2018

  Episode 82: Batman

  Witness Phil using powers that rival those of the World’s Greatest Detective, as he supervises the first joint appearance of Chris Smith original and Chris Smith redux on a journey through the highs and lows of the caped-crusader’s video game...

  
• 12.04.2018

  Episode 81: Farewell GamesMaster Magazine

  In October this year it was announced that after almost 26 years GamesMaster magazine would be ending. A mainstay on magazine racks for so long the mag had many great writers over the years. From the SNES, Mega Drive and...

  
• 11.13.2018

  Episode 80: Geoff Glendenning Interview

  In this episode Paul sits down with Geoff Glendenning to discuss his career in games marketing. Spending over a decade working in advertising and then onto marketing for companies such as Commodore, Acclaim but most importantly Sony gave us a lot to...

  
• 10.30.2018

  Episode 79: Run & Gun

  Join our intrepid three as we go runnin’ and gunnin’, and diving into the shoot’em up sub genre of run’n’gun games. Messers Phil, Jake and Chris Smith MkII pick up some heavy weaponry, don their bandanas and camo kecks, and...

  
• 10.12.2018

  Episode 78: Neil West interview

  Paul sits down to chat to ex games journalist Neil West in this episode to discuss his career. Neil started his career on Sega Power alongside Andy Smith (another previous guest). Learning the ropes working on tips, reviews etc Neil...

  
• 09.19.2018

  Episode 77: Gary Penn interview

  In this episode Paul chats with Gary Penn about his career in the games industry that spans over 30 years. They discuss his work on well known games magazines Zzap 64, The One, Amiga Power and more. As well as...

  
• 09.09.2018

  Episode 76: H.P. Lovecraft

  “That is not dead which can eternal lie, And with strange aeons even death may die.” Hot on the heels(ish) of the Dreamcast Listener’s Choice episode, Phil, Tom & Chris reunite to tackle nameless horrors and eldritch terrors as they...