My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin

Simon Parkin
  • 4.9 (69)
  • Video Games
  • Updated Weekly

In My Perfect Console, Simon Parkin, award-winning author video game critic for The Observer invites well-known guests from the worlds of gaming, film and television, music, comedy and more to pick the five video games they would like to immortalise on a fictional games machine. They discuss those five games in chronological order of release, interspersed with biographical chat about the guest’s life and career –– a lens that often leads to new and unexpected insights. "Thoroughly modern and ahead of its time...a gift." - NEW YORK'S VULTURE "Charming, insightful." -- THE GUARDIAN TIME OUT'S 50 Best Podcasts VULTURE's Best Podcast of the Year Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 1d ago

    Replay: Dr Greg Zeschuk, co-founder BioWare.

    Yesterday came the news that EA plans to close BioWare, the Edmonton studio behind Baldur’s Gate, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect and Dragon Age. I thought it was a good moment to revisit my conversation with Dr Greg Zeschuk, one of BioWare’s co-founders. We talk about the games that shaped him, and the long, remarkable journey of a studio that defined computer and console role-playing games for millions of people. Here’s my conversation with Greg Zeschuk. [Original description] Greg Zeschuk is the co-founder of Bioware. While a medical student at the University of Alberta he told his future wife that, if he could, he’d make video games for a living. After he graduated, the dream came true when, in 1995, he and two friends y founded Bioware in his basement. The following year the trio released Shattered Steel and, two years after that, Baldur’s Gate, which revolutionised the world of computer role-playing games. In the years that followed Bioware released a string of blockbuster hits, including Mass Effect, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. In 2007, just 12 years after its founding, the companywas sold to Electronic Arts as part of a deal worth $860 million. In recent years, my guest started a brewing company, Blind Enthusiasm, and today runs two microbreweries and a restaurant in Edmunton, where he has spent most of his life. NOTES Greg Zeschuk – BioWare & brewery Greg Zeschuk – Wikipedia Blind Enthusiasm Brewing Company – official site Blind Enthusiasm – The Monolith taproom, Edmonton Greg Zeschuk on BioWare’s closure – Wired BioWare BioWare – Wikipedia Ray Muzyka – BioWare co-founder, Wikipedia Augustine Yip – BioWare co-founder, Wikipedia Greg’s Perfect Console Adventure (Atari 2600, 1980) – Wikipedia Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (Apple II, 1981) – Wikipedia Dungeon Master (Atari ST, 1987) – Wikipedia Diablo (1996) – Wikipedia Elden Ring (2022) – official site Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC – Wikipedia BioWare games discussed Baldur’s Gate (1998) – Wikipedia Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn (2000) – Wikipedia Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003) – Wikipedia Star Wars: The Old Republic (MMO) – official site Jade Empire (2005) – Wikipedia Mass Effect trilogy – Wikipedia Dragon Age: Origins – Wikipedia Dragon Age: The Veilguard – Wikipedia MDK2 (2000) – Wikipedia Shattered Steel (1996) – Wikipedia Anthem (2019) – Wikipedia Other games mentioned Baldur’s Gate 3 – Larian Studios Elden Ring – Wikipedia Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Pool of Radiance (1988) – Wikipedia Lords of the Fallen (2023) – Steam Context and references mentioned EA Spouse – the 2004 open letter that sparked the games industry crunch debate Elevation Partners – Wikipedia (private equity firm that invested in BioWare) Interplay Entertainment – Wikipedia (early publisher partner) Blizzard North – Wikipedia (developers of Diablo) Order of Canada – Wikipedia (Greg was appointed in 2018) TSR, Inc. – Wikipedia (original owners of Dungeons & Dragons) Ian M. Banks – Culture series author, Wikipedia Alastair Reynolds – science fiction author, Wikipedia Support the show My Perfect Console – episode archive Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Replay: Dr Greg Zeschuk, co-founder BioWare.

  2. 3d ago

    Daryl Baxter, author and journalist (The Making of Tomb Raider).

    Daryl Baxter is a British writer and podcaster from Lincoln whose work has ranged across games, technology, and the history of the medium. He has written for outlets including WIRED, TechRadar, Den of Geek, and the Radio Times, and now publishes Springboard, a free newsletter about gaming, technology, and mental health that deliberately avoids chasing SEO or relying on AI. Growing up with series including Sonic, Metal Gear and, especially, Tomb Raider, he eventually turned that fascination into his first book, The Making of Tomb Raider, published in 2021 and based on extensive interviews with the original Core Design team. His new book, The Making of Tomb Raider: 1997–2000, picks up the story as a new team took control of the series, tracing the creation of Tomb Raider III, The Last Revelation, Chronicles and the expansions, while exploring the punishing annual release cycle and the pressure of sustaining one of gaming’s biggest phenomena. LINKS Daryl Baxter – website & newsletter Daryl Baxter – official website Springboard – Daryl’s newsletter on games, tech and mental health (free to subscribe) The Making of Tomb Raider: 1997–2000 (out 30 October 2026) The Making of Tomb Raider: 1997–2000 – Waterstones The Making of Tomb Raider: 1997–2000 – Pen & Sword Books The Making of Tomb Raider: 1997–2000 – Amazon UK Daryl’s earlier books The Making of Tomb Raider (2021) – Pen & Sword Books 50 Years of Boss Fights – Pen & Sword Books Daryl’s Perfect Console Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Mega Drive, 1994) – Wikipedia Sonic 3 & Knuckles – Wikipedia PlayStation Demo One disc (1995) – Wikipedia Tomb Raider II (1997) – Wikipedia Metal Gear Solid (1998) – Wikipedia Metal Gear Solid – Steam Half-Life 2 (2004) – Wikipedia Half-Life 2 – Steam Also mentioned TR30 Tomb Raider Day – Derby Quad, 24 October 2026 Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis – Crystal Dynamics & Flying Wild Hog (out 12 February 2027) Tomb Raider: Catalyst – Wikipedia Alix Wilton Regan – the new voice of Lara Croft (Wikipedia) Peter Connelly – Tomb Raider 4 & 5 composer (Wikipedia) Judith Gibbons – Lara Croft’s voice in Tomb Raider II, Wikipedia Shelley Blond – Lara Croft’s voice in Tomb Raider I Keeley Hawes – Lara Croft in Tomb Raider: Underworld Half-Life 2 source code leak – Wikipedia Games Master magazine – Wikipedia GamesRadar – Rosalie Newcombe Death by Video Game – Simon Parkin (buy via Bookshop.org UK) Support the show My Perfect Console – episode archive and data Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Daryl Baxter, author and journalist (The Making of Tomb Raider).

  3. Oct 13

    Will de Renzy-Martin, actor (The Blood of Dawnwalker, 007 First Light, Crimson Desert).

    Will de Renzy-Martin is a British actor and voice performer whose career has increasingly become intertwined with video games. As a child, he was fascinated by storytelling and by watching his older brothers play Ocarina of Time, but initially followed a rather different path, reading Computing at Imperial College London. Before long, however, he changed direction, training as an actor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he discovered voiceover shortly before graduating in 2017. Since then, he has built an extensive career in games, with roles in Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, Zenless Zone Zero, Warframe: The Old Peace, 007 First Light, Nioh 3, and many more. His biggest role to date, however, is Coen, the lead character in Rebel Wolves’ dark fantasy RPG The Blood of Dawnwalker, a performance that’s put him at the centre of one of 2026’s most ambitious new games. NOTES Will de Renzy-Martin – website & socials Will de Renzy-Martin – official website (WillVoice.it) Will de Renzy-Martin – Bluesky (@willvoiceit.bsky.social) Will de Renzy-Martin – Instagram (@willvoiceit) The Blood of Dawnwalker The Blood of Dawnwalker – official site The Blood of Dawnwalker – Steam Rebel Wolves – the studio behind the game Will’s Perfect Console Breath of Fire II (SNES/GBA, 1994) – Wikipedia The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (N64, 2000) – Wikipedia The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006) – Wikipedia The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered – Steam Devil May Cry 4 (2008) – Wikipedia Devil May Cry 5 – Steam Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009) – Wikipedia Other games and references mentioned Agatha Christie – Hercule Poirot: The First Cases – Wikipedia (Will’s first major game role) Zenless Zone Zero – Wikipedia (Will voices Von Lycaon) Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader – Steam 007: First Light – official site Leonie Schliesing – voice actor who first encouraged Will into games VO (Cyberpunk 2077, AC Valhalla) Big Mouth Audio – the Glasgow audio studio where Will auditioned for Dawnwalker Guildhall School of Music and Drama – where Will trained Imperial College London – where Will studied Computing Darksiders – Wikipedia Meat Machine – the AI voice acting experiment Will references Ninja Theory – British studio (DMC reboot, Hellblade) Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice – Steam A Game of Birds and Wolves – Simon Parkin’s book (optioned for film) My Perfect Console website myperfectconsole.com – the new searchable episode archive and data site Support the show Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Will de Renzy-Martin, actor (The Blood of Dawnwalker, 007 First Light, Crimson Desert).

  4. Oct 6

    Úna-Minh Kavanagh, writer, producer and Irish-language game localiser (Among Us, VVVVVV).

    My guest today is an Irish writer, producer, and multimedia creator whose work spans journalism, video games, language, and digital culture. Born in Vietnam, she was adopted at three days old by a primary school teacher from County Kerry, and brought to Ireland at six weeks of age. Irish became one of her spoken languages, and it would go on to shape both her education and her career: she later studied Irish and Journalism at Dublin City University, building a body of work that moves across reporting, video games, and digital culture. She has written books and essays on video games, migration, identity, and food, and has become a leading voice in Irish-language digital media through her localisation work on games including Among Us and VVVVVV. In 2026, she was recognised with the Emerging Talent award at the Irish Games Awards. NOTES Úna-Minh Kavanagh – website & socials Úna-Minh Kavanagh – Bluesky (@unaminh.bsky.social) Organic Matters – Úna-Minh's new Irish indie studio Organic Matters – itch.io CTRL: Essays on Video Games (the book featuring Úna-Minh's essay) CTRL: Essays on Video Games – Lilliput Press (Waterstones) Lilliput Press – publisher Among Us – Irish language localisation Among Us – official site (Innersloth) Among Us on Steam VVVVVV – Irish language localisation VVVVVV – Terry Cavanagh, official site VVVVVV – Steam Úna-Minh's Perfect Console Final Fantasy IX (2000) – Wikipedia Final Fantasy IX – Steam Nobuo Uematsu – composer, Wikipedia Hotel Dusk: Room 215 (Nintendo DS, 2007) – Wikipedia Persona 4 Golden (PS Vita, 2012) – Wikipedia Persona 4 Golden – Steam This War of Mine (2014) – official site This War of Mine – Steam Saltsea Chronicles (2023) – Die Gute Fabrik Saltsea Chronicles – Steam Also mentioned Die Gute Fabrik – studio behind Saltsea Chronicles Hannah Nicklin – studio lead and creative director, Die Gute Fabrik Citizen Sleeper – Gareth Damian Martin / Jump Over The Age Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector – Steam Limit Break – mentorship programme for marginalised game developers IMIRT – Irish Game Makers association (Irish Games Awards) Global Game Jam itch.io – indie games platform Dublin City University – where Úna-Minh studied Irish and journalism Support the show My Perfect Console – episode archive Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Úna-Minh Kavanagh, writer, producer and Irish-language game localiser (Among Us, VVVVVV).

  5. Sep 29

    Paolo Pedercini, founder MolleIndustria (McDonald's Videogame, The New York Times Simulator, Future? No Thanks!)

    Paolo Pedercini is an Italian game designer, artist, educator, and activist whose work has spent more than two decades challenging assumptions about what video games are for, and what they are allowed to say. In 2003, he founded Molleindustria as a project dedicated to the "reappropriation of video games and the radicalisation of popular culture." Since then, he has created a remarkable body of short, provocative games about labour, capitalism, religion, technology, and political power, including McDonald’s Videogame, Oiligarchy, Every Day the Same Dream, Phone Story, and Democratic Socialism Simulator. His games have often been satirical, often controversial, and always interested in using play as a way of thinking through systems and ideology. Now he is working on his most ambitious project yet: Future? No Thanks!, an open-world comedy adventure about a grumpy old man completing his bucket list in a solarpunk future. NOTES: Paolo Pedercini / Molleindustria Molleindustria – official site (all Paolo's games) Paolo Pedercini – Wikipedia Paolo Pedercini – Bluesky (@molleindustria.org) Future? No Thanks! (out now) Future? No Thanks! – Steam Future? No Thanks! – official site Other Molleindustria games mentioned McDonald's Video Game – play free in browser Oiligarchy – play free in browser Every Day the Same Dream – play free in browser Phone Story – Wikipedia Democratic Socialism Simulator – itch.io Faith Fighter – play free in browser Sweatshop (as mentioned by Simon) Sweatshop – play in browser The New Yorker piece (as mentioned by Simon) The Division 2 and the Severing of Politics from Video Games – The New Yorker Paolo's Perfect Console Cannon Fodder (Sensible Software, 1993) – Wikipedia Sensible Software – Wikipedia Shadow of the Colossus (2005) – Wikipedia Grand Theft Auto V – Rockstar Games Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – Wikipedia Push Me Pull You – House House (Steam) House House – developer of Untitled Goose Game and Big Walk Radiator Forever – Robert Yang (itch.io) Robert Yang – game designer Other games and references mentioned Theme Park – Bullfrog Productions (1994), Wikipedia Postal 2 – Wikipedia GTA San Andreas Hot Coffee mod – Wikipedia The Yes Men – activist/prankster duo Foxconn suicides – Wikipedia itch.io – indie games platform Aftermath – independent games journalism Tom Bissell – My Perfect Console episode Untitled Goose Game – House House Next week's guest Úna Míng Kavanagh – IMIRT emerging talent award 2026 Úna Míng Kavanagh – TikTok (@unamingkavanagh) Support the show My Perfect Console – episode archive Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Paolo Pedercini, founder MolleIndustria (McDonald's Videogame, The New York Times Simulator, Future? No Thanks!)

  6. Sep 22

    Anna Donlon, head of Valorant Studios (Valorant, League of Legends, Call of Duty: Black Ops)

    My guest today is an American game producer and studio leader whose career has been shaped by a deep love of competitive shooters and more than two decades spent building some of the genre’s major titles. She began at Treyarch, where she worked as a senior producer on Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops II, before joining Riot Games in 2015. There, she first helped lead League of Legends’ cosmetic content and in-game events. She later moved into leading a new tactical shooter project, becoming Executive Producer of VALORANT and guiding the game to its launch in 2020. Today, as Head of VALORANT Studios, she oversees the franchise’s wider creative and strategic direction, while also championing initiatives such as VCT Game Changers, Riot’s programme supporting women and marginalised genders in competitive play. LINKS Anna Donlon – Valorant & Riot Games Valorant – official site (free to play) VCT Game Changers – Riot's programme supporting women and marginalised genders in competitive play Riot Games – official site Anna's Perfect Console Silent Hill 2 (PS2, 2001) – Wikipedia Silent Hill 2 Remake (2024) – Steam Grand Theft Auto III (PS2, 2001) – Wikipedia Shadow of the Colossus (PS2, 2005) – Wikipedia Shadow of the Colossus Remake (2018) – PlayStation BioShock (2007) – Wikipedia Ghost of Tsushima – official site Ghost of Tsushima – PlayStation Ghost of Tsushima: Iki Island – Wikipedia Also mentioned Kaboom! (Atari 2600) – Wikipedia ICO (PS2, 2001) – Wikipedia Red Dead Redemption 2 – Rockstar Games Arc Raiders – Steam Call of Duty: Black Ops – Wikipedia Call of Duty: Black Ops II – Wikipedia Treyarch – Wikipedia JumpStart – educational games series, Wikipedia University of California, Santa Cruz Next week's guest Paolo Pedercini / Molleindustria – official site Future? No Thanks! – Steam (out now) Support the show My Perfect Console – episode archive Support My Perfect Console on Patreon Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Anna Donlon, head of Valorant Studios (Valorant, League of Legends, Call of Duty: Black Ops)

  7. Sep 17

    Correspondence Special #9: Which games should have been on the podcast by now (and much more)

    In this special correspondence edition, Simon reads out your letters and answers your questions. Is there a cut-off point for working in games journalism? Which video game does Simon think should surely have been picked by now but hasn't? Who decides how long guests talk about their game choices? How does Simon actually make the show — from bookings to post-production to those musical stingers? What is Simon's new book about, and how did he uncover the untold legal battle thxat changed the shape of the video game industry? And did you know the UK government has a Head of Video Games and Esports who listens to the show? Us neither! All this and much more. And congratulations to letter-writer Chris Law, who wins a signed copy of Blood Echoes: A Bloodborne Anthology. . Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Correspondence Special #9: Which games should have been on the podcast by now (and much more)

  8. Sep 15

    Chris Cantrill, comedian, writer Saturday Night Live UK.

    Chris Cantrill is a British comedian, writer, and actor from West Yorkshire whose work combines rapid-fire jokes with an off-kilter view of everyday life. He first came to prominence as one half of the acclaimed sketch duo The Delightful Sausage, alongside Amy Gledhill, earning Edinburgh Comedy Award nominations for Best Show in both 2019 and 2022. As a solo performer, he added another nomination in 2024, before returning to Edinburgh this summer and finally winning the Comedy Award for Best Show in 2026. Alongside stand-up, he has appeared in programmes including Alma’s Not Normal, Daddy Issues, Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared, and Avoidance, while his writing credits stretch across television and radio. Most recently, he joined the writing team of Saturday Night Live UK, which returns for its second season this week. LINKS Chris Cantrill Website Instagram The Delightful Sausage Saturday Night Live UK SNL UK on Sky Simon's Observer Features How Saturday Night Live Landed in the UK Jack Shep on That Princess Di Impression Chris's Perfect Console Duke Nukem: Time to Kill Final Fantasy VII Bloodborne Animal Well The Case of the Golden Idol Other games discussed Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Dark Souls Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Resident Evil 2 Remake The Witcher 3 Elden Ring Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Chris Cantrill, comedian, writer Saturday Night Live UK.
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In My Perfect Console, Simon Parkin, award-winning author video game critic for The Observer invites well-known guests from the worlds of gaming, film and television, music, comedy and more to pick the five video games they would like to immortalise on a fictional games machine. They discuss those five games in chronological order of release, interspersed with biographical chat about the guest’s life and career –– a lens that often leads to new and unexpected insights. "Thoroughly modern and ahead of its time...a gift." - NEW YORK'S VULTURE "Charming, insightful." -- THE GUARDIAN TIME OUT'S 50 Best Podcasts VULTURE's Best Podcast of the Year Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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