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Artwork for 8-4 Play

8-4 Play

8-4, Ltd.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Elden Ring
Dragon's Dogma 2
Super Mario RPG
Crisis Core
Nintendo
Alan Wake 2
Yakuza
Shadow Of the Erd Tree
Animal Well
Tekken 8
Assassin's Creed
Japan
Control
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Yakuza Series
Final Fantasy VII
Cyberpunk 2077
Baldur's Gate
Palworld

Every other week, tune into 8-4 Play for talk about Japan, video games, and Japanese video games, straight from the 8-4 offices in beautiful downtown Tokyo.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes402Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Video GamesLeisureTechnology

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for 8-4 Play

Latest Episodes

Get your canned beverage of choice and your ticket for the green car -- it's time to board the bullet train for TGS! For the ride over, we've got a Tight 60 filled with Silksong impressions and a breakdown of all the big news out of last week's mega-... more

Turn down the Silksong BGM and turn UP the talk about Metal Gear Solid Delta, the Lumines Arise demo, Exit 8 and Platform 8, and a whole buncha news.

Time — Topic Discussed

00:52 — Nicknames 03:32 — Exit 8 and Platform 8 19:50 — Metal Gear Solid ... more

UFO 50 (buy it!), Mina the Hollower demo (try it!), Neorude (look it up!), Phantasy Star IV (dust it off!), Off (turn it on!), and a whole messa news (listen to it!)

Time – Topic Discussed

01:14 – Nicknames 08:36 – Mina the Hollower impressions 1... more

Oops, all games! The Adventures of Elliot, Rematch, Mario Paint, Lunar 2, Earthion, Shin-Chan Summer Vacation, Shinobi, Ninja Gaiden, Dyson Sphere Program (the game, not the vacuum), and news!

Time – Topic Discussed

00:57 – Nicknames

10:33 ... more

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Roy Blakely
Ghibli enthusiast and returning guest
Episode: 8-4 Play 7/25/2025: BANANZA REPUBLIC
Tina Love Review Carter
Episode: 8-4 Play 6/27/2025: SUMMER REVUE
Roy Road Warrior Blakely
Episode: 8-4 Play 6/27/2025: SUMMER REVUE
John Linneman
Anchor of Digital Foundry
Digital Foundry
Episode: 8-4 Play 5/30/2025: SWITCH 2 COMETH
Roy Herbs
Semi-regular guest and gaming enthusiast
Episode: 8-4 Play 5/30/2025: SWITCH 2 COMETH
Shit Blakely
Contributing commentator and friend
Episode: 8-4 Play 5/30/2025: SWITCH 2 COMETH
Roy Plumpeach Blakely
Lead producer on the localization of Monster Hunter Wilds
Episode: 8-4 Play 3/14/2025: PUMP 'N' DUMP
JP Wentz
PCFX enthusiast and gaming historian
Episode: 8-4 Play 12/6/2024: PODCAST DE GOZARRE
Roy John
Former host and podcast member returning to discuss games
Episode: 8-4 Play 6/28/2024: SCOOB OF THE SKEDADDLETREE

Hosts

Mark Ganges-McDonald
A key host with vast gaming knowledge and industry experience.
Gabriel de Leon
Co-host and gamer known for insightful commentary and a sense of humor.
Tina Carter
Co-host and gamer with a passion for unique cultural discussions.
Dermot Cregan
Co-host and gaming expert focusing on cultural insights within gaming.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • If you're gonna rush, why do it at all?

    Used to really enjoy this show but they just rush through everything while trying to cover all the major news so you end up with shallow discussion and everyone seems barely interested. When they started to move to a tight 1-hour show is when everything started to go downhill.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Lord Turkish
    United States2 months ago
  • Favorite

    This has been my favorite podcast since 2015. Great show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sir Bentok
    United States6 months ago
  • Politics talk is ruining this show

    I really enjoyed this show early on but the political talk is just too much. I come to be entertained and listen to life in Japan and video games. Instead every episode they go into politics, and how many times do I have to hear why you’re no longer on X aka Twitter and only on Blue Sky. Great, just tell me where you’re at to find your messages, I don’t care why you left one for another. If someone caught one episode in the past 2 years they would know why, it doesn’t need to be repeated. ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Sinizar360
    United States10 months ago
  • Be nice to Gabe.

    I have no idea what John’s problem is with Gabe, but it’s made the show unlistenable. Be nice to the dude or part ways, what are you guys doing?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    SkullsMuldoon
    United Statesa year ago
  • Horrid

    Wizardry talk was great, but show rubbish now. Used to be great. Gabe is inane and show has not been good since Sarah P was on.

    Enough of your uninformed and idiotic politics. Still brainwashed by covid and it is mid 2024…

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    fulltilted
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Critiques have emerged about the podcast's shift towards more political content, which may not resonate with all listeners.
Many listeners appreciate the humorous and engaging style of the show.
There's a general sentiment that the show balances gaming discussions with insights into Japanese culture well, which is enjoyable for most.
Fans express strong loyalty and have followed the podcast for years, valuing content related to Japan and gaming.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#67
United States/Leisure/Video Games
Apple Podcasts
#235
United States/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#17
Canada/Leisure/Video Games
Apple Podcasts
#89
Canada/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#143
United Kingdom/Leisure/Video Games
Apple Podcasts
#109
Italy/Leisure/Video Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

8-4 Play 1/3/2025: NEW YEAR'S ROCKIN' Q&A SPECIAL
Q: Would you like to work with any game series or publisher that you haven't yet?
Working on a project for The Legend of Dragoon 2 would be a dream.
8-4 Play 1/3/2025: NEW YEAR'S ROCKIN' Q&A SPECIAL
Q: What are your top three months to visit Japan?
March, April, and November, considering the weather and cultural experiences.
8-4 Play 1/3/2025: NEW YEAR'S ROCKIN' Q&A SPECIAL
Q: Is there any game which you feel you can't ever replay purely because your first experience with it was so memorable?
Nier Automata is one such game because the emotional journey is too significant to recreate.
8-4 Play 1/3/2025: NEW YEAR'S ROCKIN' Q&A SPECIAL
Q: What continues to be your favorite thing about working in Japan?
The entire lifestyle and the creative opportunities provided by living in Japan.
8-4 Play 10/25/2024: RING THE ALARMO
Q: What was your biggest takeaway from the experience with 'Alarm-O'?
It has a motion sensor that detects if you return to bed after the alarm goes off, waking you up again if necessary.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About 8-4 Play

What is 8-4 Play about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focusing on the intersection of Japan and video gaming culture, this show brings listeners unique insights and humorous commentary surrounding various gaming topics. Episodes frequently highlight experiences with Japanese video games, notable releases, and community events, melding personal anecdotes with exploration of gaming mechanics and community trends. The conversational nature among hosts and guests creates a vibrant atmosphere, inviting both nostalgia and current gaming discourse, along with a touch of Japanese culture, making it particularly appealing for anyone interested in video games and Japan's pop culture landscape.

Where can I find podcast stats for 8-4 Play?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for 8-4 Play. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to 8-4 Play and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does 8-4 Play get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for 8-4 Play, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for 8-4 Play?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for 8-4 Play, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does 8-4 Play have?

To see how many followers or subscribers 8-4 Play has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to 8-4 Play?

These podcasts share a similar audience with 8-4 Play:

1. The Jeff Gerstmann Show - A Podcast About Video Games
2. The Nextlander Podcast
3. Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast
4. Giant Bombcast
5. Retronauts

How many episodes of 8-4 Play are there?

8-4 Play launched 15 years ago and published 402 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact 8-4 Play?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for 8-4 Play?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for 8-4 Play from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for 8-4 Play?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of 8-4 Play. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on 8-4 Play?

Recent guests on 8-4 Play include:

1. Roy Blakely
2. Tina Love Review Carter
3. Roy Road Warrior Blakely
4. John Linneman
5. Roy Herbs
6. Shit Blakely
7. Roy Plumpeach Blakely
8. JP Wentz

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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