Writer and podcaster Drew Mackie is here to chat about the unknown origins of Mario! We explore everything you THINK you know about Mario, why lore is inconsistent between Japan and the west, and if they should bring back Mr. Video. Plus, I tell you if Star Fox is a perfect remake or not!Follow our guest!Mario 101: For Super Players: https://www.thrillingtalesofoldvideogames.com/blog/mario-101-historyGayest Episode Ever Podcast: https://www.gayestepisodeever.com/BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/drewgmackie.bsky.socialNeed more podcasts? Check out Nintendo Dads: https://www.nintendodads.org/(0:00) - IntroFeature(0:52) - The Unknown Origins of Mario w/ Drew MackieGames(28:03) - Star FoxNews(42:26) - Animal Crossing x Baskin RobbinsSocial 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!

Hard Off ambassador Alex Kraus returns as we chat about Hard Off Shinjuku, a new major retro games hotspot in Tokyo! We delve into why Hard Off opened up a shop in one of Tokyo’s biggest shopping districts, if it lives up to expectations, and ponder about the future of the company. In the games, I take a look at the Zelda-inspired Mina the Hollower! Plus, all the stuff you should care about from the Nintendo Direct!Follow our guest!BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/alexfkraus.bsky.socialEtsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/retrodreamgames/Need more podcasts? Check out Nintendo Dads: https://www.nintendodads.org/(0:00) - IntroFeature(0:56) - Hard Off Shinjuku w/ Alex KrausGames(23:31) - Mina the HollowerNews(34:48) - Nintendo Direct June 2026 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!

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]