Erik Wolpaw, writer Portal 1 & 2.

Erik Wolpaw, writer Portal 1 & 2.

My guest today is Erik Wolpaw, the American writer for some of the funniest video games yet made. In the nineties he and a friend founded the website Old Man Murray, a satirical online publication that poked fun at video gaming’s sacred cows, and established a tone still prevalent across the internet today. The site was read by Gabe Newell, creator of Half-Life, who later hired both writers.


At Valve my guest collaborated on a new game in which a vindictive artificial intelligence chastises players as they solve a series of puzzle rooms using a gun that fires warp points. Portal became a smash hit; Stephen Merchant, co-creator of The Office, voiced a character in the sequel. Today my guest continues to work as a semi-retired contractor for Valve. “In defense of games, I want to point out that the writing in plays, including everything by August Strindberg and The Lion King, is 100% pure crap,” he once joked. “So, we’re doing better than they are, even though they have the benefit of mostly not being about space marines.”


Play the console:



Thank you for listening to My Perfect Console. Please consider becoming a Patreon supporter; your small monthly subscription will help to make the podcast sustainable for the long term, and you'll receive bonus content, and access to the My Perfect Console community: https://www.patreon.com/myperfectconsole

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.

Avsnitt(186)

Corinne Busche & John Epler, game directors, Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

Corinne Busche & John Epler, game directors, Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

Corrine and John are the director and creative director of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Corinne Busche majored in digital animation at the University of Utah. In 2006 she joined the studio now known as ...

18 Nov 20241h 18min

Sarah Elmaleh, voice actor (Fortnite, Halo Infinite, Gears of War 5).

Sarah Elmaleh, voice actor (Fortnite, Halo Infinite, Gears of War 5).

My guest today is the American voice-actor and activist Sarah Elmaleh. As a student at Wesleyan University she performed in a variety of theatrical productions and radio plays, spending a portion of h...

11 Nov 20241h 21min

Matt Firor, founder of ZeniMax Online Studios (The Elder Scrolls Online).

Matt Firor, founder of ZeniMax Online Studios (The Elder Scrolls Online).

My guest today is the founder and director of ZeniMax Online Studio, Matt Firor. After studying history at George Washington University, he co-founded the developer Interesting Systems Inc., where he ...

4 Nov 20241h 10min

Pitof Comar, film director (Catwoman, Alien: Resurrection).

Pitof Comar, film director (Catwoman, Alien: Resurrection).

My guest today is a French film director and pioneer in the world of digital imaging. Born in Paris, he studied architecture and medicine at university before joining the film industry. He co-founded ...

28 Okt 20241h 11min

Hannah Nicklin, playwright, narrative designer (Mutazione, Saltsea Chronicles).

Hannah Nicklin, playwright, narrative designer (Mutazione, Saltsea Chronicles).

My guest today is Hannah Nicklin, a British writer and narrative designer for video games. After studying Drama at Loughborough University, and Playwriting at the University of Birmingham, she returne...

21 Okt 20241h 16min

Danny Wallace, writer & broadcaster (Yes Man, Assassin's Creed series).

Danny Wallace, writer & broadcaster (Yes Man, Assassin's Creed series).

My guest today is the award-winning humourist, writer, and presenter Danny Wallace. Born in Dundee, Scotland, he published his first professional video game review at the age of thirteen while conduct...

14 Okt 20241h 6min

Nainita Desai, composer (Immortality, Call of Duty, Tales of Kenzera: Zau).

Nainita Desai, composer (Immortality, Call of Duty, Tales of Kenzera: Zau).

My guest today is Nainita Desai, the British composer for film, television and video games. Born and raised in London by her Indian parents, she earned a degree in mathematics, then studied sound desi...

7 Okt 20241h 14min

Eugene Jarvis, gamemaker (Defender, Robotron: 2084, Smash TV).

Eugene Jarvis, gamemaker (Defender, Robotron: 2084, Smash TV).

My guest today is the American video game designer and programmer Eugene Jarvis. Born in California, he studied computer science at Berkeley, where, in the basement of the physics laboratory, he playe...

30 Sep 20241h 16min

Populärt inom Fritid

somna-med-henrik
uggla-ugglas-podcast
man-i-grupp
svenska-fpl-podden
roda-vita-rosen
rss-livsreglerna
travpodden
rss-max-tant-med-max-villman
hemnetknarkarna-podcast
avsuttet-med-elsa-johanna
elbilsveckan
rss-horrujeje
sexet
bilar-med-sladd
spokhistorier
nordigt
rss-algjagare-emellan
rss-vara-klassiker
tp-podden
rss-pxl-pod