Video Game History Hour

Host Frank Cifaldi is joined this week by Wes Fenlon, author of the bi-weekly newsletter Read Only Memo, which focuses on emulation, ROM hacks, translations, and decompilations. The two discuss the niche nature of Wes’ content while he emphasizes the importance of emulation and fan translations, highlighting their role in making old games accessible. Wes and Frank get way into the weeds as they chat about the challenges and innovations in emulation, such as static recompilation and decompilation, the impact of companies like Nintendo on the emulation community, and the potential for fan-driven innovations to influence commercial retro game releases.

Mentioned in the show:

GitHub ShaderBeam and Blur Busters article - an overlay you can run over a window: https://github.com/mausimus/ShaderBeam 

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

See more from Wes Fenlon:

Bluesky: @wes.readonlymemo.com

Newsletter: Read Only Memo

PC Gamer: pcgamer.com/author/wes-fenlon 

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: [email protected]

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

In this episode, Phil Salvador sits down with Lindsey Kurano, the Curator of Electronic Games at The Strong Museum of Play, to explore the intricate world of video game preservation. Lindsay shares her unconventional journey from a high school exchange student in Japan to a specialist in film preservation, and ultimately, a lead steward of gaming history.

We delve into the behind-the-scenes of museum life from building massive collections through donor outreach to the meticulous process of curating an engaging exhibit. In this episode, we also discuss her recent exhibit on Japanese indie games, the prioritization of preserving both hardware and software, how independent collectors and enthusiasts play a vital role in the preservation ecosystem, and a sneak peak at upcoming exhibits.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

See more from Lindsey Kurano:

Bluesky: @lindseykurano.bsky.social

Email: lindseykurano (@) gmail.com

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: [email protected]

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Historian Alex Smith (author and host of They Create Worlds) joins us to challenge the prevailing "Genesis does what Nintendon't" narrative. While Sega’s bravado captured the American imagination, the reality behind the ledger was far more precarious. We dissect how aggressive price wars and a strengthening Japanese yen turned market-share victories into hollow financial gains, creating a "leaky bucket" that even Sonic couldn't outrun.

Our conversation traverses the internal friction between Sega of America and Sega of Japan, the fragmented rollout of the 32X and Saturn, and the precise moment when ambition collided with fiscal reality. It’s a deep dive into the corporate motivations and economic pressures that dictated the rise and decline of a hardware titan.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

See more from Alex Smith:

Website: theycreateworlds.com

Blog: videogamehistorian.wordpress.com

Podcast: podcast.theycreateworlds.com

Book: https://www.routledge.com/They-Create-Worlds-The-Story-of-the-People-and-Companies-That-Shaped-the/Smith/p/book/9781138389908

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: [email protected]

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Well before Xbox Game Pass or Steam, we had Sega Channel: a visionary service that delivered video games directly into homes via cable TV lines. This week, host Phil Salvador is joined by some of the team that made the "impossible" happen: Michael Shorrock, Ray McFadden, and Willard Stanback.

In this mini Sega Channel reunion, the team discusses the technical hurdles of digital data distribution over 1990’s cable infrastructure, reminisces about the high-stakes world of game licensing, and shares how partnerships and the bold leadership of Stan Thomas shaped the service. We explore how transparency and community engagement turned a risky experiment into a beloved cult classic, and what the Sega Channel legacy tells us about the future of cloud gaming and subscription services today.

*This episode has a follow-up bonus episode available to our paid tier Patreon members.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: [email protected]

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

In this episode, host Phil Salvador is joined by two digital preservationists, Ellen Cooper and Max Solensky, to explore the world of Japanese mobile game preservation. Before app stores existed, Japan was living in the future thanks to i-mode: a 1999 revolution that put the internet (and Capcom and Sega) right in your pocket.

Today, these games are disappearing, and quickly. From brutal encryption to servers that no longer exist, saving this history is a high-tech race against time. We discuss the i-mode explosion and how Japan’s feature phones beat the world to the web; why saving a mobile game is way harder than dumping a cartridge; the small community groups saving early iOS and Android gems from the digital void; and how you can help keep gaming history from being "delisted" forever. 

Mentioned in the show:

Video of max swinging keyboard in the monkey game https://youtu.be/I1VJw_yYI1U?si=s_9nXIAZS2hwuNLC&t=355 

Transforming phone: https://hitsave.org/wild-land/ 

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

See more from Ellen Cooper “Unabandonware”:

YouTube: youtube.com/@Unabandonware/featured

Bluesky: @unabandonware.bsky.social 

TikTok: @unabandonware

See more from Max Solensky “RockmanCosmo”:

Bluesky: @rockmancosmo.bsky.social

X/Twitter: @RockmanCosmo

Website: rockmancosmo.weebly.com

Website: keitaiarchive.org 

Website: keitaiwiki.com/wiki/KeitaiWiki 

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: [email protected]

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

From vacuum tubes to virtual worlds, Dr. Flori Pierri, Associate Curator of Science and Technology at the MIT Museum, joins us to explore their unexpected journey into the world of video game preservation. Dr. Pierri oversees diverse collections from science photography to physics  homework, and, of course, video games. MIT Museum has had a recent focus on computer games and a focus on play, starting with the Michael Dornbrook Collection and plans for a 2028 computer game exhibition. Dr. Pierri shares the importance of using original equipment for exhibits and the new challenges of preserving born-digital objects. They also discuss the museum's efforts to engage with both the public and with researchers, including a collection of unreleased Infocom game materials.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

Mentioned in the show:

Whirlwind I: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whirlwind_I

Royal Game of the Dolphin: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Game_of_the_Dolphin,_1821.jpg 

Milliways: The Restaurant at the End of the Universe

Claude Elwood Shannon, Bell Labs, “father of information theory”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Shannon 

See more from Dr. Flori Pierri:

Bluesky: @flori-p.bsky.social

Website: https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/collections/collections-search 

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: [email protected]

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

It’s our 9th birthday and our 150th episode all at once; let’s party! Host and VGHF Director Frank Cifaldi is joined by two founding board members Simon Carless and Steve Lin. This casual retrospective meanders through the foundation's origins, its mission to preserve and interpret video game history, and its growth over the years. Our three hosts highlight the foundation's journey from a small, resource-constrained organization to a robust digital library with over 100,000 unique users. The conversation covers their initial challenges, the importance of community support, and future goals, including expanding the team, increasing interpretive content, and addressing recent digital preservation issues. Thank you to everyone who supports the work we do through Patreon, individual donations and support, our annual fundraisers, and so much more. Happy Birthday!

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

See more from Simon Carless:

Website: http://www.gamediscover.co/

See more from Steve Lin:

Bluesky: @stevelin.bsky.social

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: [email protected]

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Frank is joined by Guest Host Kate Willaert, author, historian, and YouTuber, to interview Jeremy Parish, media curator at Limited Run Games, author, YouTuber, and podcaster. Jeremy has a series of “Works” books and videos as part of a massive project to chronologize the 8-bit era. Jeremy’s work covers various consoles, including Game Boy, NES, SG-1000, and Famicom, highlighting the significance of third-party developers and the impact of the NES on game design. We share a universal complaint of the challenges of maintaining a comprehensive and accurate release list for systems like the SG-1000 and the importance of community feedback in refining our work. The conversation touches on the potential for both future projects and genre-specific series, such as Metroidvania and Shmup games.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

Mentioned in the show: Jaws Retro Edition (pre-orders closed): https://limitedrungames.com/collections/all-in-production/products/jaws-retro-edition-bigger-boat-edition-switch-ps5?_pos=3&_sid=a0a6bd1b1&_ss=r 

See more from Jeremy Parish:

Bluesky: @jparish.bsky.social 

Youtube: @JeremyParish 

Podcast: patreon.com/retronauts 

Website: limitedrungames.com  

See more from Kate Willaert:

Bluesky: @katewillaert.bsky.social

YouTube: /a critical hit

Website: acriticalhit.com

Patreon: /acriticalhit

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: [email protected]

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Our podcast Producer Robin Kunimune sits down with Director Frank Cifaldi and Library Director Phil Salvador to wrap up the final quarter of 2025. Listen to some of our behind-the-scenes thoughts on the NES panel we put together for the Portland Retro Gaming Expo; the many facets of this year’s Winter Fundraiser, including a new old game release, updated VHS recovery technology, and our $30k goal with some surprise donations; and finally our look ahead to 2026. Enjoy the show!

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: [email protected]

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Atari game developer John Van Ryzin and Digital Eclipse Technical Director Kevin Wilson both join host Frank Cifaldi to reminisce about the Atari 2600 title, and Frank’s favorite game, H.E.R.O.. We also explore John’s early career, his entry into game development, programming limitations of the 2600 (RAM, timing issues, etc.), the spiritual sequel to H.E.R.O. and John’s most recent title Alien Abduction!, the differences in modern development, and so much more.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

See more from John Van Ryzin:

Alien Abduction!: https://adgm.us/

See more from Kevin Wilson:

Website: digitaleclipse.com

Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection: https://www.digitaleclipse.com/games/mortal-kombat-legacy-kollection

Video Game History Foundation:

Email: [email protected]

Website: gamehistory.org

Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg