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!

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Mario 101: For Super Players: https://www.thrillingtalesofoldvideogames.com/blog/mario-101-history

Gayest Episode Ever Podcast: https://www.gayestepisodeever.com/

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/drewgmackie.bsky.social

Need more podcasts? Check out Nintendo Dads: https://www.nintendodads.org/

(0:00) - Intro

Feature

(0:52) - The Unknown Origins of Mario w/ Drew Mackie

Games

(28:03) - Star Fox

News

(42:26) - Animal Crossing x Baskin Robbins

Social media:

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife

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Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/

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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!

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BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/alexfkraus.bsky.social

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/retrodreamgames/

Need more podcasts? Check out Nintendo Dads: https://www.nintendodads.org/

(0:00) - Intro

Feature

(0:56) - Hard Off Shinjuku w/ Alex Kraus

Games

(23:31) - Mina the Hollower

News

(34:48) - Nintendo Direct June 2026 analysis

Social media:

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife

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Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/

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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!

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The House of Mario: https://thehouseofmario.captivate.fm/listen

(0:00) - Intro

Games

(0:49) - Switch 2, one year later w/ JT from The House of Mario

Feature

(1:33:53) - Rare Item Studio

News

(1:42:55) - Pictonico!, Dragon Quest XII, new Tokyo collabs

Social media:

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social

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Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/

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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!

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/Kaihatsu

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kaihat.su

Twitter: https://x.com/KaihatsuYT

(0:00) - Intro

Feature

(0:55) - Ainu in Video Games w/ Kaihatsu

Games

(52:34) - Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream final thoughts

(1:02:30) - Monster Hunter Stories 3 final thoughts

News

(1:09:47) - Star Fox, Nintendo FY26 analysis, Tokyo events

Social media:

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social

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Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelife

Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/

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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/KaniProGames

Hong Kong 2097: https://kanipro.itch.io/hong-kong-2097

(0:00) - Intro

Games

(0:55) - Hong Kong 2097 w/ KaniPro Games

Feature

(21:26) - The Super Mario Galaxy Movie in Japan

News

(35:46) - New merch, pop ups, and Splatoon Raiders

Social media:

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife

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Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelife

Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/

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Send questions and suggestions to: tokyogamelife@gmail.com

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/@BEYONDELECTRICSHEEP

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rnaboursiii.bsky.social

And check out this week’s special ad: Kirby Conversations Podcast!

https://www.soundstone.network/kirby-conversations

(0:00) - Intro

Feature

(0:55) - Evangelion Video Games w/ Beyond Electric Sheep

Games

(37:44) - Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream

(47:14) - Pokemon Champions

News

(56:22) - Rhythm Heaven Groove, new Nintendo merch

Social media:

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelife

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelife

Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/

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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!

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Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.jp/Untold-History-Japanese-Game-Developers-ebook/dp/B00Q93N29I

(0:00) - Intro

Feature

(0:52) - The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers w/ John Szczepaniak

Games

(44:35) - Balloon Kid

(50:29) - Öoo

News

(56:53) - The Super Mario Galaxy Movie news, Tokyo updates

Social media:

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelife

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelife

Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/

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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!

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Oceaniz

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/oceaniz.bsky.social

(0:00) - Intro

Games

(0:57) - Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection w/ Oceaniz

(35:17) - More Pokemon Pokopia

Feature

(45:00) - Capcom Store Ikebukuro

News

(54:23) - Pokopia sales, Mario Day

Social media:

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife

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Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelife

Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/

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