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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

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

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... more

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 exchan... more

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... more

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Recent Guests

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
Max Solensky
RockmanCosmo
independent researcher/curator
Episode: Episode 152: Japanese Mobile Game Preservation
Flori Pierri
Associate Curator of Science and Technology at the MIT Museum
MIT Museum
Episode: Episode 151: Games Preservation at MIT Museum

Hosts

Phil Salvador
Library Director of the Video Game History Foundation; multiple-cite contributor to preservation and history projects
Frank Cifaldi
Founder/Director of the Video Game History Foundation; leads preservation initiatives and storytelling

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 363 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.

The hosts are deeply informed and friendly, pulling out fascinating details from guests.
High regard for the depth and breadth of interviews; thoughtful and well-researched.
Guests are experts, and topics stay engaging and relevant to game history.
Listeners appreciate the behind-the-scenes storytelling and historical context.

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 history-focused show that explores the origins, evolution, and preservation of video games through in-depth conversations with archivists, historians, curators, and industry veterans. Episodes dive into topics like early digital distribution, preservation of keitai/mobile games, museum curation of hardware and software, licensing dramas, and veteran design storytelling. The format combines technical detail with behind-the-scenes storytelling and personal journeys, often featuring guests who helped shape or preserve the medium's history. It's likely to appeal to listeners who enjoy deep dives into archival work, game history milestones, and the confluence of technology, culture, and industry dynamics.

Where can I find podcast stats for Video Game History Hour?

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How many listeners does Video Game History Hour get?

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How many subscribers and views does Video Game History Hour have?

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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. Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast
3. Post Games
4. Triple Click
5. The MinnMax Show

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.

How do I contact Video Game History Hour?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Video Game History Hour?

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What guests have appeared on Video Game History Hour?

Recent guests on Video Game History Hour include:

1. Wes Fenlon
2. Lindsey Kurano
3. Alex Smith
4. Michael Shorrock
5. Ray McFadden
6. Willard Stanback
7. Ellen Cooper
8. Max Solensky

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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