My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin

Matthew Seiji Burns is an American writer, director, composer, and game designer whose career has moved between some of the biggest studios in the industry and much smaller, more personal experiments in interactive storytelling. He worked as a producer at Treyarch, Bungie, and 343 Industries on franchises including Call of Duty and Halo, before spending time at the University of Washington’s Center for Game Science, exploring how games might be used for research and scientific discovery.He later joined Zachtronics, contributing writing and music to games including Opus Magnum and EXAPUNKS, while also creating his own interactive fiction. In 2019, he created Eliza, a visual novel about an AI-assisted counselling service that explored automation and the boundaries between human empathy and technology years before those questions became unavoidable. His latest work has takenthose concerns into a different medium: Process, his debut novel, is a darkly comic and psychologically intense story set inside Seattle’s startup culture.LINKSMatthew Seiji Burns – website & socialsMatthew Seiji Burns – official websiteMatthew Seiji Burns – Bluesky (@matthewseiji.com)Matthew Seiji Burns – itch.io (game experiments and back catalogue)Process – the novelProcess – hardcover edition (Tune & Fairweather)Process – softcover edition (Tune & Fairweather)Process – audiobook (read by the author, Audible)Process – free digital sampler (Tune & Fairweather)Eliza – the visual novel (2019)Eliza – SteamEliza – itch.ioJoseph Weizenbaum – creator of the original ELIZA chatbot, WikipediaELIZA (chatbot, 1966) – WikipediaThe Writer Will Do Something (2015)The Writer Will Do Something – co-written with Tom Bissell, itch.ioTom Bissell – author of Extra Lives, previous My Perfect Console guestMatthew’s Perfect ConsoleOf Monks and Max (HyperCard stack, 1988) – by Brian ThomasHyperCard – WikipediaLoom – LucasArts (1990), WikipediaICO (PS2, 2001) – Fumito Ueda / Team Ico, WikipediaRez (Dreamcast, 2001) – Tetsuya Mizuguchi / United Game Artists, WikipediaRez Infinite – Steam (modern version)Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon – SteamArmored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon – WikipediaOther games and references mentionedOpus Magnum – Zachtronics (Steam)Exapunks – Zachtronics (Steam)Dark Castle – remaster (Steam)Cosmic Osmo – Cyan (HyperCard, 1989), WikipediaMyst – Cyan (1993), WikipediaCall of Duty: United Offensive (expansion, 2004) – WikipediaCall of Duty 3 – WikipediaHalo 3 – WikipediaHalo 3: ODST – WikipediaHalo: Reach – WikipediaStar Trek: Armada II – WikipediaMedieval: Total War – WikipediaUniversity of Washington Center for Game ScienceMark Wynne – graphic designer of Process (Edge magazine)Tune & Fairweather – publisherJason Killingsworth – founder of Tune & FairweatherSupport the showMy Perfect Console – episode archive and dataMy Perfect Console on Patreon – early access, video episodes and monthly bonus episodesEmail the show: myperfectconsole@gmail.com

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.NOTESGreg Zeschuk – BioWare & breweryGreg Zeschuk – WikipediaBlind Enthusiasm Brewing Company – official siteBlind Enthusiasm – The Monolith taproom, EdmontonGreg Zeschuk on BioWare’s closure – WiredBioWareBioWare – WikipediaRay Muzyka – BioWare co-founder, WikipediaAugustine Yip – BioWare co-founder, WikipediaGreg’s Perfect ConsoleAdventure (Atari 2600, 1980) – WikipediaWizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (Apple II, 1981) – WikipediaDungeon Master (Atari ST, 1987) – WikipediaDiablo (1996) – WikipediaElden Ring (2022) – official siteElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC – WikipediaBioWare games discussedBaldur’s Gate (1998) – WikipediaBaldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn (2000) – WikipediaStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003) – WikipediaStar Wars: The Old Republic (MMO) – official siteJade Empire (2005) – WikipediaMass Effect trilogy – WikipediaDragon Age: Origins – WikipediaDragon Age: The Veilguard – WikipediaMDK2 (2000) – WikipediaShattered Steel (1996) – WikipediaAnthem (2019) – WikipediaOther games mentionedBaldur’s Gate 3 – Larian StudiosElden Ring – WikipediaTears of the Kingdom – NintendoPool of Radiance (1988) – WikipediaLords of the Fallen (2023) – SteamContext and references mentionedEA Spouse – the 2004 open letter that sparked the games industry crunch debateElevation 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, WikipediaAlastair Reynolds – science fiction author, WikipediaSupport the showMy Perfect Console – episode archiveSupport My Perfect Console on Patreon

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.LINKSDaryl Baxter – website & newsletterDaryl Baxter – official websiteSpringboard – 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 – WaterstonesThe Making of Tomb Raider: 1997–2000 – Pen & Sword BooksThe Making of Tomb Raider: 1997–2000 – Amazon UKDaryl’s earlier booksThe Making of Tomb Raider (2021) – Pen & Sword Books50 Years of Boss Fights – Pen & Sword BooksDaryl’s Perfect ConsoleSonic the Hedgehog 3 (Mega Drive, 1994) – WikipediaSonic 3 & Knuckles – WikipediaPlayStation Demo One disc (1995) – WikipediaTomb Raider II (1997) – WikipediaMetal Gear Solid (1998) – WikipediaMetal Gear Solid – SteamHalf-Life 2 (2004) – WikipediaHalf-Life 2 – SteamAlso mentionedTR30 Tomb Raider Day – Derby Quad, 24 October 2026Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis – Crystal Dynamics & Flying Wild Hog (out 12 February 2027)Tomb Raider: Catalyst – WikipediaAlix 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, WikipediaShelley Blond – Lara Croft’s voice in Tomb Raider IKeeley Hawes – Lara Croft in Tomb Raider: UnderworldHalf-Life 2 source code leak – WikipediaGames Master magazine – WikipediaGamesRadar – Rosalie NewcombeDeath by Video Game – Simon Parkin (buy via Bookshop.org UK)Support the showMy Perfect Console – episode archive and dataSupport My Perfect Console on Patreon

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.NOTESWill de Renzy-Martin – website & socialsWill de Renzy-Martin – official website (WillVoice.it)Will de Renzy-Martin – Bluesky (@willvoiceit.bsky.social)Will de Renzy-Martin – Instagram (@willvoiceit)The Blood of DawnwalkerThe Blood of Dawnwalker – official siteThe Blood of Dawnwalker – SteamRebel Wolves – the studio behind the gameWill’s Perfect ConsoleBreath of Fire II (SNES/GBA, 1994) – WikipediaThe Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (N64, 2000) – WikipediaThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006) – WikipediaThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered – SteamDevil May Cry 4 (2008) – WikipediaDevil May Cry 5 – SteamBatman: Arkham Asylum (2009) – WikipediaOther games and references mentionedAgatha 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 – Steam007: First Light – official siteLeonie 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 DawnwalkerGuildhall School of Music and Drama – where Will trainedImperial College London – where Will studied ComputingDarksiders – WikipediaMeat Machine – the AI voice acting experiment Will referencesNinja Theory – British studio (DMC reboot, Hellblade)Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice – SteamA Game of Birds and Wolves – Simon Parkin’s book (optioned for film)My Perfect Console websitemyperfectconsole.com – the new searchable episode archive and data siteSupport the showSupport My Perfect Console on Patreon

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.NOTESÚna-Minh Kavanagh – website & socialsÚna-Minh Kavanagh – Bluesky (@unaminh.bsky.social)Organic Matters – Úna-Minh's new Irish indie studioOrganic Matters – itch.ioCTRL: Essays on Video Games (the book featuring Úna-Minh's essay)CTRL: Essays on Video Games – Lilliput Press (Waterstones)Lilliput Press – publisherAmong Us – Irish language localisationAmong Us – official site (Innersloth)Among Us on SteamVVVVVV – Irish language localisationVVVVVV – Terry Cavanagh, official siteVVVVVV – SteamÚna-Minh's Perfect ConsoleFinal Fantasy IX (2000) – WikipediaFinal Fantasy IX – SteamNobuo Uematsu – composer, WikipediaHotel Dusk: Room 215 (Nintendo DS, 2007) – WikipediaPersona 4 Golden (PS Vita, 2012) – WikipediaPersona 4 Golden – SteamThis War of Mine (2014) – official siteThis War of Mine – SteamSaltsea Chronicles (2023) – Die Gute FabrikSaltsea Chronicles – SteamAlso mentionedDie Gute Fabrik – studio behind Saltsea ChroniclesHannah Nicklin – studio lead and creative director, Die Gute FabrikCitizen Sleeper – Gareth Damian Martin / Jump Over The AgeCitizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector – SteamLimit Break – mentorship programme for marginalised game developersIMIRT – Irish Game Makers association (Irish Games Awards)Global Game Jamitch.io – indie games platformDublin City University – where Úna-Minh studied Irish and journalismSupport the showMy Perfect Console – episode archiveSupport My Perfect Console on Patreon

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 / MolleindustriaMolleindustria – official site (all Paolo's games)Paolo Pedercini – WikipediaPaolo Pedercini – Bluesky (@molleindustria.org)Future? No Thanks! (out now)Future? No Thanks! – SteamFuture? No Thanks! – official siteOther Molleindustria games mentionedMcDonald's Video Game – play free in browserOiligarchy – play free in browserEvery Day the Same Dream – play free in browserPhone Story – WikipediaDemocratic Socialism Simulator – itch.ioFaith Fighter – play free in browserSweatshop (as mentioned by Simon)Sweatshop – play in browserThe New Yorker piece (as mentioned by Simon)The Division 2 and the Severing of Politics from Video Games – The New YorkerPaolo's Perfect ConsoleCannon Fodder (Sensible Software, 1993) – WikipediaSensible Software – WikipediaShadow of the Colossus (2005) – WikipediaGrand Theft Auto V – Rockstar GamesGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas – WikipediaPush Me Pull You – House House (Steam)House House – developer of Untitled Goose Game and Big WalkRadiator Forever – Robert Yang (itch.io)Robert Yang – game designerOther games and references mentionedTheme Park – Bullfrog Productions (1994), WikipediaPostal 2 – WikipediaGTA San Andreas Hot Coffee mod – WikipediaThe Yes Men – activist/prankster duoFoxconn suicides – Wikipediaitch.io – indie games platformAftermath – independent games journalismTom Bissell – My Perfect Console episodeUntitled Goose Game – House HouseNext week's guestÚna Míng Kavanagh – IMIRT emerging talent award 2026Úna Míng Kavanagh – TikTok (@unamingkavanagh)Support the showMy Perfect Console – episode archiveSupport My Perfect Console on Patreon

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.LINKSAnna Donlon – Valorant & Riot GamesValorant – official site (free to play)VCT Game Changers – Riot's programme supporting women and marginalised genders in competitive playRiot Games – official siteAnna's Perfect ConsoleSilent Hill 2 (PS2, 2001) – WikipediaSilent Hill 2 Remake (2024) – SteamGrand Theft Auto III (PS2, 2001) – WikipediaShadow of the Colossus (PS2, 2005) – WikipediaShadow of the Colossus Remake (2018) – PlayStationBioShock (2007) – WikipediaGhost of Tsushima – official siteGhost of Tsushima – PlayStationGhost of Tsushima: Iki Island – WikipediaAlso mentionedKaboom! (Atari 2600) – WikipediaICO (PS2, 2001) – WikipediaRed Dead Redemption 2 – Rockstar GamesArc Raiders – SteamCall of Duty: Black Ops – WikipediaCall of Duty: Black Ops II – WikipediaTreyarch – WikipediaJumpStart – educational games series, WikipediaUniversity of California, Santa CruzNext week's guestPaolo Pedercini / Molleindustria – official siteFuture? No Thanks! – Steam (out now)Support the showMy Perfect Console – episode archiveSupport My Perfect Console on Patreon

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..

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.LINKSChris CantrillWebsiteInstagramThe Delightful SausageSaturday Night Live UKSNL UK on SkySimon's Observer FeaturesHow Saturday Night Live Landed in the UKJack Shep on That Princess Di ImpressionChris's Perfect ConsoleDuke Nukem: Time to KillFinal Fantasy VIIBloodborneAnimal WellThe Case of the Golden IdolOther games discussedCastlevania: Symphony of the NightDark SoulsSekiro: Shadows Die TwiceResident Evil 2 RemakeThe Witcher 3Elden RingStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order