Video Game History Hour

This two-part episode features both a post mortem of PRGE 2026 (Portland Retro Gaming Expo) and a recording of our panel chat with Gail Tilden, formerly of Nintendo of America (NOA), about launching Pokémon in the U.S.
Part One: Guests Steve Lin, founding board member, and Chris Kohler, Editorial Director of Digital Eclipse, noticed a quieter sales year filled with prized collections, a surge in card sellers, very few standard consoles for sale, and a fully booked kitten cuddle tent. 
Part Two: Gail Tilden, formerly at Nintendo Power and NOA, broke down the massive undertaking of localizing the franchise, managing the fallout from Japan's infamous Porygon anime episode, and turning a simple Game Boy title into a multi-billion-dollar cultural phenomenon. Gail and Frank discuss where retro gaming is heading and how a pocket-sized phenomenon conquered America.
You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

See more from Chris Kohler:
Bluesky: @kohler.bsky.social
Website: www.chriskohler.biz
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Chris-Kohler/e/B001IOFJPI%3F

See more from Steve Lin:
Bluesky: @stevelin.bsky.social

Video Game History Foundation:
Email: podcast@gamehistory.org
Website: gamehistory.org
Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

We’re joined by Colin Williamson as we introduce his newly launched photography collection in our digital archive. Colin’s former work in games journalism while living in Japan afforded him a front row seat to the launch of the Sega Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, rise of Pokémania, and more. This treasure trove of photographs documents the Japanese gaming scene from 1999 to 2005 at events like Tokyo Game Show, the JAMMA Show, and Nintendo Space World. We peek behind the industry curtain as Colin shares what it was like interviewing legends like Hideo Kojima, dealing with corporate PR handlers, and forming real friendships with developers. Finally, we cap off the episode with a pseudo digital-archaeology quest tracking down missing footage of a 2005 Electroplankton exhibition.
*This episode has a follow-up bonus episode available to our paid tier Patreon members.
You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

See more from Colin Williamson:
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colinwilliamson.bsky.social

Video Game History Foundation:
Email: podcast@gamehistory.org
Website: gamehistory.org
Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Library Director Phil Salvador is joined by guests Heather Fryling and Daniel Greenberg to discuss Roberta Vaughn’s Retro Adventures, a nonprofit organization that creates traveling, living exhibits focused on the history of adventure games and entertainment. The RVRA, founded to honor the legacy of adventure games collector and enthusiast Roberta Vaughn, travels to conventions like Portland Retro Game Expo and PAX West to share their curated exhibits, original interviews, and special guest appearances. 

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

Mentioned in the Show:
Al Lowe’s wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Lowe
Classic Gamers Guild: https://www.facebook.com/ClassicGamersGuild/

See more from Heather Fryling:
Website: rvretro.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Roberta-Vaughans-Retro-Adventures/61580535638673/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-fryling-4336a0168
Email: heather@rvretro.org

See more from Daniel Greenberg:
Bluesky: @winterion.com
Email: info (at) winterion.com
Help Daniel plant trees: patreon.com/winterion
IONGAMING Live: twitch.tv/winterion
IONGAMING Back Episodes: youtube.com/winteriongamestudios
GMU Game Design: game.gmu.edu

Video Game History Foundation:
Email: podcast@gamehistory.org
Website: gamehistory.org
Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Our library director Phil Salvador sits down for another What’s Your Deal? episode with Blizzard’s senior digital archivist, Leah Williams, to discuss her critical work of preserving their modern video game history. In this episode:
Leah’s unconventional path to digital games preservation

Managing art, UI, and visual FX

Collaborating with engineers and metadata experts

Why discoverability matters for legacy assets

Building vital relationships across game studios

Navigating AI tagging and digital preservation challenges

Mentioned in the show:
YouTube 35th year anniversary 35’ table Blizzard: The Next Chapter

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

See more from Leah Williams:
LinkedIn: /leah-williams 

Video Game History Foundation:
Email: podcast@gamehistory.org
Website: gamehistory.org
Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg

Phil Salvador hosts a special episode of the Video Game History Hour featuring Carolyn Rauch and Doug Lowenstein to discuss the origins and evolution of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3).
As the former senior vice president of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), Carolyn managed E3 for roughly two decades. Doug, the ESA's founder and former president, joins her to recount the organization’s 1994 founding. Together, they explain how the industry responded to the video game violence panic along with its legislative threats and how poor placement at the annual CES tradeshow led to the creation of E3.
We discuss the massive challenges of organizing the inaugural 1995 expo, including the critical task of securing industry giants like Nintendo and Sega; E3's eventual shift toward a consumer-focused format; its massive economic impact on Los Angeles; and the unexpected legal challenges surrounding the iconic E3 logo.

You can listen to the Video Game History Hour every other Wednesday on Patreon (one day early at the $5 tier and above), on Spotify, or on our website.

Video Game History Foundation:
Email: podcast@gamehistory.org
Website: gamehistory.org
Support us on Patreon: /gamehistoryorg