Masaya Matsuura, musician, gamemaker (PaRappa the Rapper).

Masaya Matsuura, musician, gamemaker (PaRappa the Rapper).

My guest today is Masaya Matsuura, a Japanese musician and game designer widely considered to be the inventor of rhythm action video games. Born in Osaka City, music ran in the family; his father often performed with his guitar in clubs around Shinagawa Station in Tokyo. My guest was an unruly student until he discovered a love of keyboards and synthesisers, and found his people. in 1983 he formed Psy*s (pronounced ‘Saiz’), a progressive pop band fronted by the signer Mami Yasunori, which soon signed to Sony Music.


Ten studio albums followed, and in 1994 my guest secured a budget to create a Simon Says-style rhythm game featuring an anthropomorphic, rapping dog. PaRappa the Rapper become an international smash his and led to a series of follow-ups: the guitar-based UmJammaLammy, the experimental wireframe project Vib-Ribbon, and Mojibribbon, a music game that played with calligraphic art.


In recent years my guest has retreated from the video game business, focusing again on his music, and live events where he plays rare vinyl records, including tracks from the video games he has made, to an audience.


Links:


Cobalt Green, 1984, Masaya Matsuura E.P. -- Listen on Soundcloud.

Pingu Rap/ ピングー ラップ vinyl re-release by Tower Records.


Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole


Take the Acast listener survey to help shape the show: My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin Survey 2025

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jaksot(186)

Charlie Rosen, bandleader, The 8-bit Big Band.

Charlie Rosen, bandleader, The 8-bit Big Band.

Charlie Rosen is a Grammy award-winning musician, composer, and arranger whose work sits at the intersection of jazz, pop, and video game nostalgia. As the founder and leader of The 8-bit Big Band, a ...

23 Syys 20251h 27min

Andy Robertson, journalist, entrepreneur (BBC, Ludocene).

Andy Robertson, journalist, entrepreneur (BBC, Ludocene).

Andy Robertson is a veteran journalist, editor, and entrepreneur who has spent his career exploring how video games can bring people together. After graduating from Brunel University with a degree in ...

16 Syys 20251h 22min

Lizzie Killian, musician (Teens in Trouble).

Lizzie Killian, musician (Teens in Trouble).

Lizzie Killian is the lead vocalist and guitarist of Teens in Trouble, an indie rock band known for its anthemic melodies, sharp lyrics, and emotionally charged hooks. Before taking to the stage, she ...

9 Syys 20251h 21min

Jonathan Jacques-Belletête, creative director, Hell is Us.

Jonathan Jacques-Belletête, creative director, Hell is Us.

Jonathan Jacques-Belletête is a French-Canadian creative director and artist whose work has helped shape some of the most stylish and thought-provoking contemporary video games. After graduating from ...

2 Syys 20251h 20min

Tonda Ros, gamemaker, Blue Prince.

Tonda Ros, gamemaker, Blue Prince.

My guest today is an American visual artist whose work is redefining how we think about mystery, architecture, and imagination in interactive storytelling. In 2013 he founded Dogubomb, a Los Angeles-b...

26 Elo 20251h 31min

Brian Gibson, artist, musician (Lightning Bolt, Guitar Hero, Thumper).

Brian Gibson, artist, musician (Lightning Bolt, Guitar Hero, Thumper).

Brian Gibson is a musician, artist, and game designer best known for blurring the lines between sound, movement, and chaos. As the bassist for the legendary noise-rock duo Lightning Bolt, he’s release...

19 Elo 20251h 17min

Correspondence Special #7: Zelda snubs, lost gaming communities, and fake monkey languages.

Correspondence Special #7: Zelda snubs, lost gaming communities, and fake monkey languages.

In this special correspondence edition, Simon reads out your letters and answers your questions. Why has The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time never made it onto a Perfect Console? Where have in-person...

14 Elo 202536min

Ralph Panebianco, critic, YouTube creator (Skill Up).

Ralph Panebianco, critic, YouTube creator (Skill Up).

Ralph Panebianco is an Australian video game reviewer and YouTube creator known for his sharp insights, no-nonsense delivery, and deep love of the medium. His reviews have been watched more than three...

12 Elo 20251h 23min

Suosittua kategoriassa Vapaa-aika

nikotellen
antin-matka
sita
the-harlin-show
ihan-oikeesti
unicast
everypodi
eturivi
tahtitehdas
mutsiputki
mysteeripodcast
rss-naapurissa
rss-viihde-media
himocast
kaikkea-hyvaa
oral-sex
terkuin-jenna
teen-spirit
kasper-ja-mikko
samassa-liemessa-2