List Envy

Today Mark is talking the golden age of arcade games, which ran from 1979 til around 1983. Mark and Nick start with their own childhood arcade memories, and Mark gets quizzical about the American quarter as a “unit of fun”. As this was recorded during the Quarantimes, conversation inevitably turned to the decline in in-person entertainment like arcades and cinemas.

  • (00:00) - Introduction
  • (10:38) - Nicholas's pick: Pac-Man
  • (22:17) - Mark's pick: Space Invaders
  • (26:57) - Nicholas's pick: Defender
  • (32:44) - Mark's pick: Pole Position
  • (36:41) - Nicholas's pick: Mario Bros
  • (46:58) - Mark's pick: Paperboy
  • (48:40) - Nicholas's pick: Galaga
  • (53:22) - Mark's pick: Asteroids
  • (56:17) - A primer on vector graphics
  • (59:56) - Nicholas's pick: Robotron 2048
  • (01:03:32) - Dispatches from the past
  • (01:08:38) - Building the final list
  • (01:11:20) - Honourable mentions
  • (01:13:08) - More of Nicholas Bond

Nick blogs at the Retrogame Deconstruction Zone, and you can find him on Twitter @MrVGBrow.

Links

Take my domain knowledge quiz
Find out if your knowledge and experience can get you paid or put you on-stage.

Creators & Guests

Host
Mark Steadman
My mum thinks I’m an internet thought leader. I haven’t had the heart to tell her I just have a microphone and some good intentions.
Guest
Nicholas Bond
Creator of the Retrogame Deconstruction Zone, and NASA astrophysicist.

What is List Envy?

What's the most-used emoji? Who's the best Bond villain? Does anyone care that an olive is technically a fruit?

Discover hidden gems from pop culture to pasta, hip-hop to history, and meet the creatives, enthusiasts, and experts who love them.

Each week, host Mark collaborates with a guest to build a top-5 list on a topic they choose. If you want to know what your next TV binge should be, or where to go on your next trip abroad, List Envy has you covered.