Podouken Arcade Podcast
@podouken.bsky.social
⬇️↘️➡️➕🎧
A podcast that takes a deep dive into arcade games. Hosted by idiot arcade owners that own too many games. Laser Time network.
https://Podouken.com
http://discord.gg/k5vf
A podcast that takes a deep dive into arcade games. Hosted by idiot arcade owners that own too many games. Laser Time network.
https://Podouken.com
http://discord.gg/k5vf
It is time for another #ListentersChoice series!
Nominate an arcade game that you'd like to hear us cover (that we haven't already done). If we pick your game we'll ask you to be involved in the episode!
Reply to this thread or tag us and add the #ListenersChoice hashtag to submit your choice.
Nominate an arcade game that you'd like to hear us cover (that we haven't already done). If we pick your game we'll ask you to be involved in the episode!
Reply to this thread or tag us and add the #ListenersChoice hashtag to submit your choice.
November 12, 2025 at 2:05 PM
It is time for another #ListentersChoice series!
Nominate an arcade game that you'd like to hear us cover (that we haven't already done). If we pick your game we'll ask you to be involved in the episode!
Reply to this thread or tag us and add the #ListenersChoice hashtag to submit your choice.
Nominate an arcade game that you'd like to hear us cover (that we haven't already done). If we pick your game we'll ask you to be involved in the episode!
Reply to this thread or tag us and add the #ListenersChoice hashtag to submit your choice.
September 19, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Sorry for the misdirection. The timeline has been alive today with Punisher talk since they announced a Marvel Legends two-pack featuring the playable characters from the Capcom beat 'em up.
September 9, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Sorry for the misdirection. The timeline has been alive today with Punisher talk since they announced a Marvel Legends two-pack featuring the playable characters from the Capcom beat 'em up.
Just a reminder...
Arcade venues have come back in a major way in the past decade but they won't last another decade without your support. Find your nearest local arcade and go play!
Repost with your local arcade if you agree.
Arcade venues have come back in a major way in the past decade but they won't last another decade without your support. Find your nearest local arcade and go play!
Repost with your local arcade if you agree.
August 15, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Just a reminder...
Arcade venues have come back in a major way in the past decade but they won't last another decade without your support. Find your nearest local arcade and go play!
Repost with your local arcade if you agree.
Arcade venues have come back in a major way in the past decade but they won't last another decade without your support. Find your nearest local arcade and go play!
Repost with your local arcade if you agree.
The Jack Haeger sketch that led to CarnEvil.
Originally called "Horror Show" it was pitched to be in the style of Haunted Mansion and use digitized puppets. Midway rejected the idea but almost 10 years later the concept was reworked into CarnEvil (see the poster on the bottom right).
Originally called "Horror Show" it was pitched to be in the style of Haunted Mansion and use digitized puppets. Midway rejected the idea but almost 10 years later the concept was reworked into CarnEvil (see the poster on the bottom right).
June 18, 2025 at 2:09 PM
The Jack Haeger sketch that led to CarnEvil.
Originally called "Horror Show" it was pitched to be in the style of Haunted Mansion and use digitized puppets. Midway rejected the idea but almost 10 years later the concept was reworked into CarnEvil (see the poster on the bottom right).
Originally called "Horror Show" it was pitched to be in the style of Haunted Mansion and use digitized puppets. Midway rejected the idea but almost 10 years later the concept was reworked into CarnEvil (see the poster on the bottom right).
The concept is pretty spot on when compared to the official poster. Even the orientation of the knights is basically the same, looking onward to the coming storm of enemies.
May 22, 2025 at 3:25 PM
The concept is pretty spot on when compared to the official poster. Even the orientation of the knights is basically the same, looking onward to the coming storm of enemies.
If you've listened to Podouken you know we have a long history of talking about Pac-Man and his related holes.
Look for a review of the Krispy Kreme featuring @bandainamcousa.bsky.social Pac-Man donuts coming soon to our YouTube channel. #arcade #pacman
Look for a review of the Krispy Kreme featuring @bandainamcousa.bsky.social Pac-Man donuts coming soon to our YouTube channel. #arcade #pacman
May 13, 2025 at 11:29 PM
If you've listened to Podouken you know we have a long history of talking about Pac-Man and his related holes.
Look for a review of the Krispy Kreme featuring @bandainamcousa.bsky.social Pac-Man donuts coming soon to our YouTube channel. #arcade #pacman
Look for a review of the Krispy Kreme featuring @bandainamcousa.bsky.social Pac-Man donuts coming soon to our YouTube channel. #arcade #pacman
Make it a literal arcade racer.
Each stage is delivering a heavier and more awkward arcade game to the arcade as quickly as possible. Cash received for quickness and least amount of damage to the cabinet. The load changes your handling and cornering abilities.
Each stage is delivering a heavier and more awkward arcade game to the arcade as quickly as possible. Cash received for quickness and least amount of damage to the cabinet. The load changes your handling and cornering abilities.
May 13, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Make it a literal arcade racer.
Each stage is delivering a heavier and more awkward arcade game to the arcade as quickly as possible. Cash received for quickness and least amount of damage to the cabinet. The load changes your handling and cornering abilities.
Each stage is delivering a heavier and more awkward arcade game to the arcade as quickly as possible. Cash received for quickness and least amount of damage to the cabinet. The load changes your handling and cornering abilities.
NEW PODOUKEN!
Step into the rotting halls of Curien Mansion, where bullets fly & the undead won’t die. With cinematic flair, branching paths, & enemies that lurch ever closer, this horror-themed gun game became one of the best in the arcade.
Welcome to Sega’s The House of the Dead.
Out now!
Step into the rotting halls of Curien Mansion, where bullets fly & the undead won’t die. With cinematic flair, branching paths, & enemies that lurch ever closer, this horror-themed gun game became one of the best in the arcade.
Welcome to Sega’s The House of the Dead.
Out now!
April 23, 2025 at 5:09 PM
NEW PODOUKEN!
Step into the rotting halls of Curien Mansion, where bullets fly & the undead won’t die. With cinematic flair, branching paths, & enemies that lurch ever closer, this horror-themed gun game became one of the best in the arcade.
Welcome to Sega’s The House of the Dead.
Out now!
Step into the rotting halls of Curien Mansion, where bullets fly & the undead won’t die. With cinematic flair, branching paths, & enemies that lurch ever closer, this horror-themed gun game became one of the best in the arcade.
Welcome to Sega’s The House of the Dead.
Out now!
What's our expectation for the OutRun movie directed by Michael Bay? 💥Lots of 💥
April 22, 2025 at 1:32 PM
What's our expectation for the OutRun movie directed by Michael Bay? 💥Lots of 💥
There are so many things to both love & fear in the centerfold of Capcom's Battle Circuit arcade flyer. The mix of photo-realism & nightmare inducing modifications is certainly something.
On it we see the cosplay versions of game characters like Cyber Blue, Dr. Saturn, Yellow Iris, & more.
On it we see the cosplay versions of game characters like Cyber Blue, Dr. Saturn, Yellow Iris, & more.
March 5, 2025 at 5:17 PM
There are so many things to both love & fear in the centerfold of Capcom's Battle Circuit arcade flyer. The mix of photo-realism & nightmare inducing modifications is certainly something.
On it we see the cosplay versions of game characters like Cyber Blue, Dr. Saturn, Yellow Iris, & more.
On it we see the cosplay versions of game characters like Cyber Blue, Dr. Saturn, Yellow Iris, & more.
Eventually even that was enough for arcade operators.
Konami/Centuri offered a new control panel replacing the buttons with a trackball to reduce the "cheating" aspect and the noise associated with the button mashing.
Happy birthday, Track & Field!
Konami/Centuri offered a new control panel replacing the buttons with a trackball to reduce the "cheating" aspect and the noise associated with the button mashing.
Happy birthday, Track & Field!
February 21, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Eventually even that was enough for arcade operators.
Konami/Centuri offered a new control panel replacing the buttons with a trackball to reduce the "cheating" aspect and the noise associated with the button mashing.
Happy birthday, Track & Field!
Konami/Centuri offered a new control panel replacing the buttons with a trackball to reduce the "cheating" aspect and the noise associated with the button mashing.
Happy birthday, Track & Field!
The "pencil trick" created a fulcrum using a pencil (or popsicle stick) and your finger (or a stack of coins) to balance it on top. You rapidly pressed down on one side and the rebound would hit the other button.
This "cheating" was so prevalent Konami sent out button shrouds to arcades to stop it.
This "cheating" was so prevalent Konami sent out button shrouds to arcades to stop it.
February 21, 2025 at 1:47 PM
The "pencil trick" created a fulcrum using a pencil (or popsicle stick) and your finger (or a stack of coins) to balance it on top. You rapidly pressed down on one side and the rebound would hit the other button.
This "cheating" was so prevalent Konami sent out button shrouds to arcades to stop it.
This "cheating" was so prevalent Konami sent out button shrouds to arcades to stop it.
Happy "The Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything" day to Konami's Track & Field arcade. It was released 42 years ago on this day in Japan.
The player had to alternately press the Run buttons to build speed for high scores. This led to extreme button wear and the infamous "pencil trick."
The player had to alternately press the Run buttons to build speed for high scores. This led to extreme button wear and the infamous "pencil trick."
February 21, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Happy "The Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything" day to Konami's Track & Field arcade. It was released 42 years ago on this day in Japan.
The player had to alternately press the Run buttons to build speed for high scores. This led to extreme button wear and the infamous "pencil trick."
The player had to alternately press the Run buttons to build speed for high scores. This led to extreme button wear and the infamous "pencil trick."
What is an arcade game that was better on the console?
I’ll go first. Contra.
I’ll go first. Contra.
February 21, 2025 at 2:25 AM
What is an arcade game that was better on the console?
I’ll go first. Contra.
I’ll go first. Contra.
The only known picture of it from reality F238772-G.
February 20, 2025 at 10:04 PM
The only known picture of it from reality F238772-G.
February 20, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Willow (the arcade game) had some beautiful pixel art splash screens made by Capcom that portrayed most of the main cast.
Here we have Madmartigan, Elora Danan, and Fin Raziel. 1/2
Here we have Madmartigan, Elora Danan, and Fin Raziel. 1/2
February 20, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Willow (the arcade game) had some beautiful pixel art splash screens made by Capcom that portrayed most of the main cast.
Here we have Madmartigan, Elora Danan, and Fin Raziel. 1/2
Here we have Madmartigan, Elora Danan, and Fin Raziel. 1/2
Capcom also reused the design in the Dungeons & Dragons arcade games.
February 18, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Capcom also reused the design in the Dungeons & Dragons arcade games.
The Nintendo Super System definitely went above & beyond to stand out in the arcade.
Just look at that side art & the mega controllers based on the SNES pad. You could select & play 3 different games or use it as an OEM test rig for SNES game dev.
Have you ever played one?
Just look at that side art & the mega controllers based on the SNES pad. You could select & play 3 different games or use it as an OEM test rig for SNES game dev.
Have you ever played one?
February 17, 2025 at 8:45 PM
The Nintendo Super System definitely went above & beyond to stand out in the arcade.
Just look at that side art & the mega controllers based on the SNES pad. You could select & play 3 different games or use it as an OEM test rig for SNES game dev.
Have you ever played one?
Just look at that side art & the mega controllers based on the SNES pad. You could select & play 3 different games or use it as an OEM test rig for SNES game dev.
Have you ever played one?
Capcom almost lost the Dungeons & Dragons arcade license over a boat.
The Capcom devs had designed a steam-powered paddle boat for Stage 3 but that tech didn't exist in the setting of Basic D&D. TSR wouldn't approve it. Capcom wouldn't change it. Eventually Capcom relented & the game moved forward.
The Capcom devs had designed a steam-powered paddle boat for Stage 3 but that tech didn't exist in the setting of Basic D&D. TSR wouldn't approve it. Capcom wouldn't change it. Eventually Capcom relented & the game moved forward.
February 14, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Capcom almost lost the Dungeons & Dragons arcade license over a boat.
The Capcom devs had designed a steam-powered paddle boat for Stage 3 but that tech didn't exist in the setting of Basic D&D. TSR wouldn't approve it. Capcom wouldn't change it. Eventually Capcom relented & the game moved forward.
The Capcom devs had designed a steam-powered paddle boat for Stage 3 but that tech didn't exist in the setting of Basic D&D. TSR wouldn't approve it. Capcom wouldn't change it. Eventually Capcom relented & the game moved forward.
You forgot the most important port!
February 9, 2025 at 10:38 PM
You forgot the most important port!
It’s the best Indiana Jones arcade game since Atari’s Temple of Doom!
February 9, 2025 at 4:07 PM
It’s the best Indiana Jones arcade game since Atari’s Temple of Doom!
We turned it into a tabletop version using the real questions and levels, and played it for our episode on it. It was a ton of fun!
February 8, 2025 at 3:12 AM
We turned it into a tabletop version using the real questions and levels, and played it for our episode on it. It was a ton of fun!
In under two years Atari served up 8 Pong arcade sequels to keep ahead of the imitators.
Their shadow company (who posed as a faux competitor), Kee Games, even released a couple of their own with Elimination and Spike.
Not bad for the "dumbest, simplest game ever made." 🧵10/10
Their shadow company (who posed as a faux competitor), Kee Games, even released a couple of their own with Elimination and Spike.
Not bad for the "dumbest, simplest game ever made." 🧵10/10
February 5, 2025 at 6:14 PM
In under two years Atari served up 8 Pong arcade sequels to keep ahead of the imitators.
Their shadow company (who posed as a faux competitor), Kee Games, even released a couple of their own with Elimination and Spike.
Not bad for the "dumbest, simplest game ever made." 🧵10/10
Their shadow company (who posed as a faux competitor), Kee Games, even released a couple of their own with Elimination and Spike.
Not bad for the "dumbest, simplest game ever made." 🧵10/10