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(181)

Richard Sparks, librettist, writer (L.A. Opera, Not the Nine O'Clock News).

Richard Sparks, librettist, writer (L.A. Opera, Not the Nine O'Clock News).

My guest today is the British scriptwriter and librettist for opera, Richard Sparks. In 1978 he wrote a sketch for Rowan Aktinson, the actor who later played Mr Bean, which Atkinson performed in the S...

15 Juli 20241h 11min

Kelsey Beachum, narrative designer (Outer Wilds).

Kelsey Beachum, narrative designer (Outer Wilds).

My guest today is the American game writer and narrative designer Kelsey Beachum. After graduating from Michigan State University, she worked in publishing, first as editor of the Cryogenic Society of...

8 Juli 20241h 21min

Mike Drucker, comedy writer, the Tonight Show.

Mike Drucker, comedy writer, the Tonight Show.

My guest today is Mike Drucker, an American comedy writer and producer. After graduating with a master’s degree in literature from New York University, he worked as a localisation editor for Nintendo,...

1 Juli 20241h 13min

Michael Sherman, director of e-sports, Riot Games.

Michael Sherman, director of e-sports, Riot Games.

My guest today is Michael Sherman, director of esports for Riot Games. While attending the University of Texas at Dallas for Computer Science, he worked as an Automotive Safety Software Engineer for T...

24 Juni 20241h 14min

Correspondence Special #3: What was the best year for video games?

Correspondence Special #3: What was the best year for video games?

In this special correspondence edition, host Simon Parkin reads out listeners' correspondence, answers questions, and offers at least one clue about a forthcoming special guest.Hear Simon discuss whic...

20 Juni 202434min

Eric Barone, creator of Stardew Valley.

Eric Barone, creator of Stardew Valley.

My guest today is the American game designer and musician Eric Barone. Born in Los Angeles, he spent his childhood in the suburbs of Seattle. In 2011 he graduated from the University of Washington Tac...

17 Juni 20241h 15min

Nina Freeman, gamemaker (Cibele, Tacoma, Last Call).

Nina Freeman, gamemaker (Cibele, Tacoma, Last Call).

Nina Freeman is an American independent video game writer and designer. While a student at Pace University in New York, she was drawn to the work of Frank O’Hara and other poets of the New York School...

10 Juni 20241h 12min

Abubakar Salim, actor (Napoleon, House of the Dragon).

Abubakar Salim, actor (Napoleon, House of the Dragon).

My guest today is the British actor Abubakar Salim. Born in Hertfordshire to a family of first-generation Kenyan immigrants, he joined the National Youth Theatre at the age of sixteen, then won a scho...

3 Juni 20241h 13min

Populärt inom Fritid

somna-med-henrik
uggla-ugglas-podcast
man-i-grupp
roda-vita-rosen
elbilsveckan
svenska-fpl-podden
rss-livsreglerna
billgren-wood
rss-max-tant-med-max-villman
jordkommissionen
travpodden
bilar-med-sladd
rss-vara-klassiker
avsuttet-med-elsa-johanna
rss-horrujeje
sexet
tp-podden
spokhistorier
rss-odla
rss-okrystat