Podouken

Hell is empty, and all the devils are here. Any good miniseries must include the best game of that genre, so let's discuss Dave Theurer's gorgeous vector Atari game, Tempest.

If Tempest was a steak what cut would it be? Why does this episode leave Rob breathless? Was the Cranberries Doors and Windows the best video game of 1995? Did Tempest birth the most popular arcade-based urban legend?

We answer your most pressing questions like, have we played Arcade Paradise or similar arcade operator simulators, what's our advice on staying cool, and would we rather be paid $1 million or earn $1,000 for every hotdog we eat. Join the Podouken Discord and ask your own questions that could be included in a future episode: discord.gg/k5vf2Jz

You can also like, comment, and subscribe to our YouTube channel where we post content like the new Rankdouken episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@podoukenpodcast2716.

Have fun storming the castle! We circle back with Cinematronics to see what they cooked up to compete with Atari's Asteroids - the beautiful vector classic Star Castle.

Did this game's life begin as a game about the beginning of life? How did Atari's failure to port this Star Castle lead to one of their biggest hits? If arcade games rose up to kill humans based on what the game was about, what would be the most terrifying game to die by? Why did Star Castle show up in so many films?

Questions answered this episode include how we decide what games make the cut for our arcade, do we have any games that we'd never put in there, and what tips do we have for buying pinball games in today's market. Join the Podouken Discord and ask your own questions that could be included in a future episode: discord.gg/k5vf2Jz

You can also like, comment, and subscribe to our YouTube channel where we post content like the new Rankdouken episodes (so far we've ranked burger places and Nintendo consoles. What could be next?): https://www.youtube.com/@podoukenpodcast2716.

Atari treads new ground with their first terrestrial vector arcade offering, Battlezone!

Was this the first game with true military applications? How did constant complaining lead to getting credited in one of the best arcade games made? What genius idea did Pastblaster's wife have to witness the Gumball 3000 rally for free? Was Battlezone the original Virtual Boy (but better in every way)?

This episode's listener questions include what animal behavior makes us question reality; and what fast food/arcade promotion would we like to see and what food would we like to see them sell? Join the Podouken Discord and ask your own questions that could be included in a future episode: discord.gg/k5vf2Jz

You can also like, comment, and subscribe to our YouTube channel where we post content like the new Rankdouken episodes (what started as an April Fool's joke now is its own thing): https://www.youtube.com/@podoukenpodcast2716.

Roger, Roger. What's our vector, Victor?

In 1977 arcades lit up with a new vibrant and high-resolution display that brought a dead video game publisher back to life. This was the vector monitor and it did more than just connect the dots, it dropped jaws and led to some of the most memorable arcade games ever created. We kick off our new miniseries with the first vector coin-op game, Space Wars by Cinematronics!

Was Larry Rosenthal, the creator of Space Wars, the best business man in the arcade industry? What elements from this game were "borrowed" by some of its more popular successors? Who was Rob's arcade Yoda when he was starting out? Exactly how dangerous can malfunctioning cathode ray tubes be?

Listener questions for this episode include do we have a console game we'd like to see get the arcade treatment, what arcade restoration project are we most proud of, and which do we prefer: coffee or tea? Join the Podouken Discord and ask your own questions that could be included in a future episode: discord.gg/k5vf2Jz

You can also like, comment, and subscribe to our YouTube channel where we post content like the new Rankdouken episodes (what started as an April Fool's joke now is its own thing): https://www.youtube.com/@podoukenpodcast2716.

The Three's Company apartment lease is up and it's time to move out and move on in the only way we know how - with an Arcade Obscura on underrated or obscure three-player arcade games!

The first pick is so undefineable that Jarrod had to create a new word for the genre. The next pick gives us gore and bad line deliveries to go with our beat 'em up. The last pick takes a famous character, gives them two new friends, and has you do things with them that have never been tried again.

We also talk about the recent UFO dump, the new Mortal Kombat 2 movie, and answer what things from the arcade hobby scene would we like to transfer to our real jobs. Join the Podouken Discord and ask your own questions that could be included in a future episode: discord.gg/k5vf2Jz

You can also like, comment, and subscribe to our YouTube channel where we post content like the all-new Rankdouken (officially the worst name for anything ever created): https://www.youtube.com/@podoukenpodcast2716.