Episode 154: SEGA special
Added 2018-05-29 21:10:33 +0000 UTCKept you waiting, hu—no, wait, wrong publisher.
I swear, if anyone ever whines again about Retronauts being more like Nintendonauts amirite, I will end them. This has been, without question, the most complex and time-consuming episode of the show I've ever assembled in 12 years of podcasting, and it's 100% devoted to SEGA. Hopefully, hopefully, that effort has paid off.
There are two parts to this episode.
First, we have an interview with Rieko Kodama and Toru Yoshida about preserving classic SEGA games, and about Phantasy Star's history in particular. This isn't the most comprehensive or in-depth interview of all time, but that's by design. I'm told this is the first time either Kodama or Yoshida have sat in on a podcast (certainly the first time they've been live on an English-language show), so there were a lot of limitations on the format. Still, I think it's interesting to hear about the origins of some classic RPGs from the creators themselves, even if most of this info is already floating around on Wikipedia or whatever.
The second portion takes the form of a long overdue Retronauts Radio segment. I tried a different approach this time than I have in the past, and I think it turned out well. This segment, in keeping with the SEGA theme, focuses on three recent DataDiscs releases (After Burner II, Space Harrier, and Streets of Rage 3). Retronauts Radio seems to be somewhat polarizing — music-focused episodes almost always get fewer downloads than other topics, but I also receive (bar none) the most positive feedback on these episodes. With luck, this will work out as a best-of-both-worlds situation, with the music commentary backing up a rare developer interview…
Anyway, I humbly submit this staggeringly complex production to you for your approval. And I will look forward to letting Bob take lead next week, because after this episode, I kinda need a week-long nap. Enjoy! — Jeremy
Comments
Wonderful episode! Retronauts at its finest. I think pairing up the radio segment also worked really well. Getting the developers was a real treat, thank you for gifting us a good listen. 😊
2018-06-01 05:03:32 +0000 UTCI dug this episode a lot (though you did seem to mix up names a bit in the Space Harrier segment - I heard it called Fantasy Zone and After Burner 2!)
Kevin Bunch
2018-05-31 23:18:13 +0000 UTCAwesome episode. I was really surprised at how they seemed surprised about the demand to play old games today. I take it there isn't a retro fad with the kids in Japan like how there is in the West now.
Tunos
2018-05-31 17:17:44 +0000 UTCI really enjoyed this one. Already looking forward to the RPG retrospective you mentioned during the interview.
2018-05-31 11:00:32 +0000 UTCI hope to produce episodes on both Brave Wave and Ship to Shore releases by the end of the summer. And Mondo's Katamari… — JP
Retronauts
2018-05-31 10:50:36 +0000 UTCThis was absolutely delightful. I can't wait to hear the rest of the interviews and shows you recorded while in Japan.
Phazonmasher
2018-05-30 23:56:37 +0000 UTCDang. Hopefully you can get to Brave Wave's Panzer Dragoon Saga 20th anniversary arrangement next time.
Brian Easton
2018-05-30 23:50:22 +0000 UTCThanks!
Retronauts
2018-05-30 23:09:59 +0000 UTCThe Yuzo Koshiro segment really brought me back to playing SOR3 for the first time, and despite not being able to make much sense of the absurdity of tracks like "Bulldozer", the fact that he was doing everything that he could to break the mold brought me in. That little sound chip produced some pretty awful sounds in many instances, but Genesis developers got it right, they really got it right. It's not a data disc yet, but Thunder Force IV is my nomination for the next in the series. To this day, I haven't heard chug chug metal guitars as piercing as these. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igeVHkZULQY" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igeVHkZULQY</a> Awesome episode. I'll keep my 'Sega Does' yap shut from now on.
Travers Travers
2018-05-30 22:04:39 +0000 UTCI love these soundtrack analyses! Bare Knuckle III's soundtrack was absolutely ahead of its time and I must be one of the few that finds something meritable in some of them. Favorites include Fuse, Cycle II, Bulldozer, and Inga Rasen. I look forward to more of these. The PS interviews were superbly interesting too, I think I want to start looking into them to play now.
Aaron
2018-05-30 21:02:41 +0000 UTCAlso, I never played the Streets of Rage games back in the day and I had no idea that the third game's soundtrack was so different from the other games and pretty much everything in videogames to that point in time. I dig it.
mordak
2018-05-30 15:38:01 +0000 UTCLoved the interview. I know humbleness is an expectation in Japanese society, but Rieko Kodama truly seems to undervalue her impact on the industry. I found it telling that when speaking about her role in Phantasy Star 4 she mentioned what art assets she worked on before throwing in "oh yeah and I co-directed it." She seemed genuinely flummoxed about the question of her legacy. I'd liek to reiterate how much I enjoy the way you cut these multilingual interviews together--hearing the original audio under the translation helps keep the context of the original delivery, laughs and all.
mordak
2018-05-30 15:37:14 +0000 UTCThe fans spoke and the creators have listened! I'm very very much looking forward to listening to this -- thanks for proving me wrong about your bias, or at least speaking to why 'Ninten-does it better' from a Sega lens. #Heroes
Travers Travers
2018-05-30 14:38:03 +0000 UTCDriving into work this morning listening to the interview with Rieko Kodama and Toru Yoshida. This is just so frigging delightful. Dang it, I love Retronauts. Great job Jeremy.
2018-05-30 11:49:12 +0000 UTCThis was what I've always been waiting for. Great, great stuff. Props for SOR 3 as well.
Normallyretro
2018-05-30 05:39:22 +0000 UTCGreat episode. Interview was done very well. Also, I love the Retronauts radio stuff.
Elliot Long
2018-05-30 05:20:38 +0000 UTCNope, but every damn time I make one of these music episodes the software randomly deletes a track. Fixing now…
Retronauts
2018-05-30 02:22:43 +0000 UTCNothingness between 45:50 and 46:15. Is there suppose to be track playing there?
Aaron
2018-05-30 01:33:57 +0000 UTCThere’s a Retronauts Radio bit in addition to the Phantasy Star interviews? Featuring Streets of Rage? Hooray! Can’t wait to listen. Enjoy your 7 day nap!
Kormakur Gardarsson
2018-05-29 22:31:30 +0000 UTC
