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Artwork for Video Game History Hour

Video Game History Hour

Video Game History Foundation
Video Game Preservation
Video Game History Foundation
Save the Games Symposium
Nintendo
Video Game History
Myst
Cyan
Video Games
Riven
Digital Preservation
The Strong Museum Of Play
Spyro the Dragon
Game Studies
Nintendo Entertainment System
Copyright Issues
Digital Library Archive
Sarge's Heroes
Insomniac Games
Todd Howard
Sega Channel

Industry expert Frank Cifaldi, Executive Director of the Video Game History Foundation, brings on fellow content creators, game developers, video game historians, and storytellers to teach us a little bit about video game history. Our casual, “chatting over coffee” style interviews let us see the true life of a researcher: bang-your-head-against-a-wall dead-ends, “I can’t believe no one’s told thi... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes162Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureVideo Games

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Artwork for Video Game History Hour

Latest Episodes

Phil Salvador hosts a special episode of the Video Game History Hour featuring Carolyn Rauch and Doug Lowenstein to discuss the origins and evolution of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3).

As the former senior vice president of the Entertainment... more

This year’s first update starts off with the huge announcement of our newest team member, Meera Swanson, as Development Director. Meera shares some of her background as well as her vision for the rest of this year as she establishes this new departme... more

In this episode of the Video Game History Hour, host Phil Salvador interviews Willem Hilhorst, Media Manager for Games and Online at the Netherlands Institute for Sound & Vision regarding their video game preservation efforts within the context of an... more

Library director Phil Salvador and producer Robin Kunimune take you through the process of preserving a collection of over 10,000 digital files from our GamePro CD collection. Phil discusses how he tackles physical and philosophical dilemmas such as ... more

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Recent Guests

Meera Swanson
New development director hired to grow fundraising and donor relations
Video Game History Foundation
Episode: Episode 159: Q1 & Q2 Update
Willem Hilhorst
Media Manager for Games and Online at the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision
Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision
Episode: Episode 158: What’s Your Deal, Willem Hilhorst?
Wes Fenlon
Author of Read Only Memo; day job at PC Gamer
PC Gamer
Episode: Episode 156: Read Only Memo
Lindsey Kurano
Curator of electronic games at The Strong Museum of Play in Rochester, NY
The Strong Museum of Play
Episode: Episode 155: What’s Your Deal, Lindsey Kurano?
Alex Smith
Historian, author of They Create Worlds (Volume 2)
Historian and author
Episode: Episode 154: Sega in the 90’s: An Economic Post-Mortem
Michael Shorrock
Former Sega Channel VP of Programming
Sega Channel
Episode: Episode 153: Sega Channel
Ray McFadden
Director of Programming, Sega Channel
Sega Channel
Episode: Episode 153: Sega Channel
Willard Stanback
Legal counsel for Sega Channel
Sega Channel
Episode: Episode 153: Sega Channel
Ellen Cooper
Unabandonware
independent researcher/curator
Episode: Episode 152: Japanese Mobile Game Preservation

Hosts

Frank Cifaldi
Host of the show, guiding discussion; Executive Director of the Video Game History Foundation
Phil Salvador
Co-host, Library Director at the Video Game History Foundation; involved in research and curation discussions
Robin Kunimune
Podcast producer and occasional host; leads research and archival discussions

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 366 ratings
  • Love this show! I look forward to it!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Luther Bob
    a year ago
  • Incredibly interesting and entertaining. If you love old video games and the whole shebang behind their production and preservation, you'll love this.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    JonPQ
    3 years ago
  • Great content

    Really enjoyable. Frank is a fascinating individual who is knowledgeable and interesting. He gives of the vibes of someone with a pack of cigarettes rolled up into his sleeves that plays old punk and rock vinyl while waxing the woes of the system.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Baradale
    United States3 years ago
  • Kelsey and Frank know their history

    And it shows! Delightful and informative, with cool guests and awesome topics like the N-Gage!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Weewaw
    United States3 years ago
  • Lovely Show!

    Frank and his Team share details on their work and what the VGH Foundation is all about. Lovely people and very entertaining and of course informative!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    O_Vitali
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Fans praise depth and guest quality, noting niche history insights.
Listeners value rigorous research and accessible storytelling.
The show is considered a must for gaming history enthusiasts and professionals.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 156: Read Only Memo
Q: How do you distinguish between decompilation and static recompilation, and why does that matter for people building or porting old games?
Decompilation translates a game's code back into a readable form to enable porting to different platforms, while static recompilation compiles translated code with the system functions it needs, producing a runnable version that can leverage modern hardware more directly; understanding this helps readers grasp the trade-offs between fidelity, performance, and ease of porting.
Episode 156: Read Only Memo
Q: What is Read Only Memo, and what gap did you see in retro coverage that led you to start it?
Read Only Memo began as a way to digest multiple retro and emulation feeds into a single, readable newsletter, focusing on emulation, fan translations, and related topics to serve readers who prefer concise stories and exclusive insights beyond long streaming video content.
Episode 155: What’s Your Deal, Lindsey Kurano?
Q: What is your approach to playable experiences in exhibits, given the fragility of hardware?
Emulation is used as plan A to protect hardware, while select interactive elements are designed to be robust, with careful balancing to give researchers and visitors an authentic experience without excessive risk to delicate machines.
Episode 155: What’s Your Deal, Lindsey Kurano?
Q: How did the Japanese indie games exhibit come about, and how did you build the collection for it?
The exhibit grew from a collaboration with Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, with shared research and a mix of items sourced from The Strong and material provided by the Japanese partner, plus acquisitions to flesh out the narrative.
Episode 155: What’s Your Deal, Lindsey Kurano?
Q: Walk us through like soup to nuts. What's the whole process of curating a video game exhibit?
Lindsey explains that curation is about deliberate narrative choices, balancing the outlay of objects with a cohesive story, and selecting items that support the overarching theme rather than simply filling space.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Video Game History Hour

What is Video Game History Hour about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A deep focus on the history, preservation, and cultural context of video games. Episodes center on archival work, emulation debates, and the evolution of how games are documented, exhibited, and legally navigated, often featuring curators, historians, developers, and librarians who share behind-the-scenes stories, sourcing practices, and practical tips for keeping game history accessible. The show stands out for its hands-on, research-driven approach, collaboration across institutions, and a mission to democratize access to game history through a growing digital library and community initiatives. It's likely to appeal to listeners who want authoritative context on how the medium's past informs its present and future, from preservation techn... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Video Game History Hour?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Video Game History Hour:

1. Retronauts
2. The MinnMax Show
3. 8-4 Play
4. Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast
5. Post Games

How many episodes of Video Game History Hour are there?

Video Game History Hour launched 6 years ago and published 162 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Video Game History Hour?

Recent guests on Video Game History Hour include:

1. Meera Swanson
2. Willem Hilhorst
3. Wes Fenlon
4. Lindsey Kurano
5. Alex Smith
6. Michael Shorrock
7. Ray McFadden
8. Willard Stanback

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