Horace Goes Podcasting: For Gamers with Pong Memories

Kieron Brear and Jonny McNamara
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GAMERS WITH PONG MEMORIES, WELCOME HOME. 🕹️ We interview the legends, industry veterans, and top creators to explore their careers and the future of gaming for an older generation. Hear candid stories from the teams behind MediEvil, XCOM, Final Fantasy VII, and groundbreaking Accessibility tech. Discover why classic game design is still vital.

  1. 8 - Tina Townley

    11/01/2025

    8 - Tina Townley

    GAMES INDUSTRY CAREERS & FEMALE GAMER STORIES. 🚀 Tina Townley (Production Director, Act 3) gives an unfiltered look at climbing the ladder from QA at Sega to a director at an independent studio. She reveals the shocking reality of working in game testing and how classics like Final Fantasy VII fuel her escapism. QA Exposed: The hard truth about testing one game over and over for years and the rush of finding submission-breaking bugs. The Escapist's Code: Why puzzle-heavy games like Tomb Raider and Monkey Island are essential for problem-solving and clearing a director's mind. Online Reality: Tina's strategy for navigating online gaming toxicity as a woman is by using private parties and avoiding public voice chat. Career Advice: Essential tips for aspiring game developers: Start in QA and network often.

    51 min
  2. 7 - Jason Wilson

    08/30/2025

    7 - Jason Wilson

    Jason Wilson is the co-creator of the MediEvil series, a smash hit on the PlayStation. He started working in the games industry straight out of school in the 80s and has worked at many studios, including as a Creative Director with Sony. In this episode, we talk with BAFTA winner Jason about the games he plays, such as the Elder Scrolls series, his enjoyment of gothic horror, his similarity to Tim Burton, comics and genius comic artists, his book 'Coal Face - The Devil in the Smoke' and lots and lots about Doncaster. Check out Jason's work at https://jwartdesign.myportfolio.com/. Buy Coal Face on Amazon. Some of the games and people we talk about: Elder Scrolls, Knightlore, The Exit 8, Silent Hill 2, Pat Mills, Clint Langley, Chris Weston, Kevin O’Neill, Raymond Briggs, 2000AD, "Papers, Please", Dave the Diver

    1h 35m
  3. 6 - Luke Hale

    08/03/2025

    6 - Luke Hale

    In this episode, we talk with Luke Hale, Head of Production Services at Frontier Developments. Luke is not retired, or even thinking about retirement, because he's in his early thirties. We're expanding our exploration of gaming experience to people of many ages now, at Horace Goes Podcasting. With Luke, we talked about Football Manager, John's grudge against Frontier for nerfing his trade route in Elite:Dangerous, city builders, 'solo' developed games like Manor Lords and the most significant challenge Luke sees to video games (spoiler - it might be you!). Also, hear how Luke is helping out universities develop better game development degrees and how he mentors students. Start a conversation about the episode in the comments on Spotify, on our Facebook page or on our Insta.

    1h 27m
  4. 5 - Reflections and Futures

    06/07/2025

    5 - Reflections and Futures

    John and Kieron reflect on their favourite parts of the past four episodes and the great conversations we had with Nick, Terry, Eric and Dean. Drop your thoughts in the comments. We also talk about how we will change the focus of Horace Goes Podcasting. Listen to the full episode to find out where we're going next.

    30 min
  5. 4 - Dean Mohamedally

    03/09/2025

    4 - Dean Mohamedally

    Dean Mohamedally is Professor of Computing Science at University College, London. His projects include many works for the betterment of the world through computing in many forms. He works with the UK NHS, IBM, Microsoft and Intel, among many other partners as part of his Industry Exchange Network Methodology. One project of interest to gamers is the MotionInput project, where Dean, his team and industry colaborators, including our very own John McNamara, have developed AI software that interprets movement in order to give control of devices to people with limb loss and other additional needs. This has opened up a world of gaming for them. Hear some fantastic stories from this project and how their tech can extend to later life gamers whose reactions and mobility are reducing. They have released an autism-friendly game that has lit up lives too - Superhero Sportsday. As well as these projects, in this episode Dean discusses his love for beat'em up games, his love for Sonic, frustration with complexity in games that prevents players finishing them and how AI could assist us through games. Some games mentioned this episode: Marvel v CapcomStreet FighterStreets of Rage 4ShinobiSonic the HedgehogLunar JetmanAlso, we mention the Jurassic Park and Toy Story films.

    1h 11m
  6. 3 - Eric Lagel

    02/07/2025

    3 - Eric Lagel

    Eric Lagel is a games producer who has worked in France, Canada and the UK, with Runescape, Crysis and Splinter Cell on his CV. He is deep into GTA Online and has sunk many, many hours in World of Warcraft. In addition to those games, we talk about his ideas for a magic shooter that will appeal more to older gamers, amazing story-focused games like Red Dead Redemption 2, and go off-brand to talk about Agile development and AI. John also gets to fanboi talking to someone who developed one of his all time favourite games, Splinter Cell. Follow us on Spotify and find us on social media onFacebookandInstagram. Join us there to discuss the episode.

    1h 4m
  7. 2 - Terry Greer

    01/15/2025

    2 - Terry Greer

    Terry Greer is a games design lecturer at Falmouth University and has 30 years of experience in the games industry. He worked at Microprose, Jagex and Blitz, on projects like XCOM and Runescape. In this episode, Terry tells us about the art of designing games, the high pressure environment of pitching games ideas for a studio and how students are learning to design their own game projects. In the episode, Terry recommends the following: FTL making of GDC talk Designing without a Pitch Fallout London Team Team FOLON's progress videos on their Youtube channel Liz England - The Door Problem Jennifer Scheurle - GDC lecture on hidden mechanics Doctor Bounce student games project Links to Terry's projects: Terry's website - https://www.terrygreer.com/ Terry's novel - Jangada Trilogy Some games we talked about: Fallout London Elder Scrolls 4: Skyrim Ant Attack (Spectrum) The Hobbit (Spectrum) FTL Elder Scrolls Online Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 Left 4 Dead Follow us on Spotify and find us on social media. We are on Facebook and Instagram. Join us there to discuss the episode.

    1h 17m
  8. 1 - Nick Thompson

    12/02/2024

    1 - Nick Thompson

    Nick Thompson is a games industry veteran, with over 35 years in the business. He has worked on top-tier titles, such as the original XCOM series, Geoff Crammond's Grand Prix series, Runescape, Carmageddon and Dirt Rally 2. His experience ranges from coding games in the Assembler language to booking studios and voice actors as a producer. He has seen it all in games. Now retired, he discusses games' roles in his life, balancing Last of Us with babysitting his grandchildren. Nick has worked with industry greats like Geoff Crammond, the Gollop Brothers and Patrick Buckland. Hear real life stories of the industry, as well as Nick's thoughts for the future of games for the later-life segment. Some titles mentioned in the episode: Psytron Last of Us Part 1 and Part 2 Avatar Barbarian Super Smash Bros Stunt Car Racer Pong Seventh Guest Alan Wake 2 Still Waits the Deep Hogwarts Legacy Grand Theft Auto Grid Grid Legends. Follow us on Spotify and find us on social media. We are on Facebook and Instagram. Join us there to discuss the episode.

    48 min
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GAMERS WITH PONG MEMORIES, WELCOME HOME. 🕹️ We interview the legends, industry veterans, and top creators to explore their careers and the future of gaming for an older generation. Hear candid stories from the teams behind MediEvil, XCOM, Final Fantasy VII, and groundbreaking Accessibility tech. Discover why classic game design is still vital.

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