The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers with John Szczepaniak, Balloon Kid, Öoo

Podcaster JT from Nintendo Maniacs and The House of Mario returns as we look at the Switch 2, one year later. From launch to now, we touch on the weird and wonderful first twelve months of the Switch 2’s life. And I also take you inside a cool retro game shop in Akihabara, Rare Item Studio!Follow our guest!The House of Mario: https://thehouseofmario.captivate.fm/listen(0:00) - IntroGames(0:49) - Switch 2, one year later w/ JT from The House of MarioFeature(1:33:53) - Rare Item StudioNews(1:42:55) - Pictonico!, Dragon Quest XII, new Tokyo collabsSocial media:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.socialTwitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelifeWebsite: https://tokyogamelife.com/Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Type designer and YouTuber Kaihatsu returns as we chat about Ainu in video games! We discuss how northern Japan’s indigenous people have been portrayed in games like Ghost of Yotei, Samurai Shodown, Pokemon Legends Arceus, and how their culture may have influenced countless games. Plus I give some final thoughts on Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream and Monster Hunter Stories 3! And I dig deep into a lot of Nintendo news including the newest Star Fox game and analyze the financial report!Follow our guest!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/KaihatsuBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kaihat.suTwitter: https://x.com/KaihatsuYT(0:00) - IntroFeature(0:55) - Ainu in Video Games w/ KaihatsuGames(52:34) - Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream final thoughts(1:02:30) - Monster Hunter Stories 3 final thoughtsNews(1:09:47) - Star Fox, Nintendo FY26 analysis, Tokyo eventsSocial media:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.socialTwitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelifeWebsite: https://tokyogamelife.com/Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Indie developer Chris from KaniPro Games returns to chat about his newest title: Hong Kong 2097, the sequel to one of Japan’s worst doujin games. We get into how he secured rights to the sequel, how to make a follow-up to an infamously bad game, and the rocky road to actually getting it released! In the feature, I highlight all the exciting collabs and the movie going experience of watching The Super Mario Galaxy Movie in Japan!Follow our guest!KaniPro Games: https://x.com/KaniProGamesHong Kong 2097: https://kanipro.itch.io/hong-kong-2097(0:00) - IntroGames(0:55) - Hong Kong 2097 w/ KaniPro GamesFeature(21:26) - The Super Mario Galaxy Movie in JapanNews(35:46) - New merch, pop ups, and Splatoon RaidersSocial media:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.socialTwitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelifeWebsite: https://tokyogamelife.com/Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!Send questions and suggestions to: [email protected]

Media historian Rex from Beyond Electric Sheep is here to chat about Evangelion video games! From visual novels to fighting games to mahjong, we (magma) dive into how one of Japan’s most important anime is also emblematic of a special time in Japanese gaming history. Plus, I look at the wacky Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream and the deathly serious Pokemon Champions.Follow our guest!Website: https://www.beyondelectricsheep.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BEYONDELECTRICSHEEPBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rnaboursiii.bsky.socialAnd check out this week’s special ad: Kirby Conversations Podcast!https://www.soundstone.network/kirby-conversations(0:00) - IntroFeature(0:55) - Evangelion Video Games w/ Beyond Electric SheepGames(37:44) - Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream(47:14) - Pokemon ChampionsNews(56:22) - Rhythm Heaven Groove, new Nintendo merchSocial media:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.socialTwitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelifeWebsite: https://tokyogamelife.com/Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Author John Szczepaniak is here to chat about his anthology of dev interviews: The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers! We chat about the lesser known corners of Japan’s gaming scene, the people who built it, and general sake consumption. In the games section, I look at some short and sweet games like Balloon Kid and Öoo!Follow our guest!Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.jp/Untold-History-Japanese-Game-Developers-ebook/dp/B00Q93N29I(0:00) - IntroFeature(0:52) - The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers w/ John SzczepaniakGames(44:35) - Balloon Kid(50:29) - ÖooNews(56:53) - The Super Mario Galaxy Movie news, Tokyo updatesSocial media:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.socialTwitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelifeWebsite: https://tokyogamelife.com/Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

YouTuber Oceaniz flies into the podcast to chat about Monster Hunter Stories 3! We examine all the ambitious additions to this underrated spinoff JRPG series and nail down which franchise rep will be in Smash Bros. Plus I gush even more about Pokemon Pokopia, and pop inside the newly opened Capcom Store Ikebukuro!Follow our guest!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OceanizBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/oceaniz.bsky.social(0:00) - IntroGames(0:57) - Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection w/ Oceaniz(35:17) - More Pokemon PokopiaFeature(45:00) - Capcom Store IkebukuroNews(54:23) - Pokopia sales, Mario DaySocial media:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.socialTwitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelifeWebsite: https://tokyogamelife.com/Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Returning guest and Japan explorer Daan Koopman is back to bring us to PokePark Kanto, the newest Pokemon theme park in Japan! We explore every nook of this amazing new section of YomiuriLand, and what you should say if you meet Junichi Masuda! And I take a look at Pokemon Pokopia, one of the biggest Switch 2 surprises! Plus, the news including a peek at Pokemon Winds and Waves!Follow our guest!Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/nintendaan.comTwitter: https://x.com/NintenDaanTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/nintendaan(0:00) - IntroFeature(0:53) - PokePark Kanto w/ Daan KoopmanGames(39:30) - Pokemon PokopiaNews(52:16) - Pokemon Winds and Waves, Indie WorldSocial media:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.socialTwitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelifeWebsite: https://tokyogamelife.com/Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Nintendo superfan and YouTuber AK Family Home joins to chat about the revival of the Virtual Boy thanks to Nintendo Switch Online! We dive into the hardware, the games, and Virtual Boy’s unique stamp on Nintendo history. Plus, I take you into the retro game pop up shop/exhibit, Parco Game Center!Follow our guest!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AkfamilyhomeBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/akfamilyhome.comTwitter: https://x.com/Akfamilyhome(0:00) - IntroGames(0:51) - Virtual Boy on NSO w/ AK Family HomeFeature(30:59) - Parco Game CenterNews(39:54) - Capcom Store Ikebukuro, Nintendo updates, State of PlaySocial media:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.socialTwitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelifeWebsite: https://tokyogamelife.com/Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!Send questions and suggestions to: [email protected]

Developer Lucy Blundell shares her experience creating the Miiverse inspired visual novel, Videoverse! We dive deep into a unique era of online gaming fandom and the challenges of making your own Miiverse. And we also chat about Capcom Creations, one of the best gaming exhibits I’ve ever visited! Plus, I analyze a flurry of Nintendo news!Follow our guest!Website: https://www.kinmoku.games/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kinmoku.bsky.socialVideoverse on eShop: https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/videoverse-switch/(0:00) - IntroGames(0:55) - Videoverse w/ Lucy BlundellFeature(23:36) - Capcom Creations exhibit in TokyoNews(43:55) - Nintendo Direct analysisSocial media:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.socialTwitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelifeWebsite: https://tokyogamelife.com/Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!Send questions and suggestions to: [email protected]

George from the Nintendormant podcast joins to chat about Chibi-Robo, which was recently added to Nintendo Switch Online! We chat about this cult hit’s enduring legacy and nail down how much a real Chibi-Robo would actually cost. Plus I return to my once abandoned island to bring you the details on Animal Crossing New Horizons 3.0. And I take you inside Tobichi, the official shop of Hobonichi. And yes, there is Earthbound merch inside!Follow our guest!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NintendormantBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/nintendormant.bsky.social(0:00) - IntroGames(0:50) - Chibi-Robo! w/ Nintendormant(26:16) - Animal Crossing New Horizons 3.0Feature(36:04) - Tobichi: Hobonichi’s official shopNews(44:55) - Kensuke Tanabe update, more Tokyo eventsSocial media:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.socialTwitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelifeWebsite: https://tokyogamelife.com/Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!