Steve Ritchie is one of the most important pinball machine designers in the world.  In this show you’ll hear about his background, his career and the remarkable stories behind some of the best pinball tables in history.

In our yearly HatchetJob awards AKA Insert Category, we invent awards for the videogames we played in 2014 - yes 2014 - from the serious to the stupid, from sex robots to sociopathy.  Can you guess which titles won the ‘Ubiest Ubiboo’ and 'Decrease in real-life stalking' awards?   This show was recorded in February 2016. Music Velveteen Skies by Carosone  

In our yearly HatchetJob awards AKA Insert Category, we invent awards for the videogames we played in 2013 - yes 2013 - from the serious to the stupid.  Can you guess which title won 'It's a condition!' ?   This show was recorded in February 2015. Music is 80/90 Pieces by destinazione_altrove    

In this show we discuss playing The Last of Us with a parent (who watches it as if it were a film) and whether the game, and its story, are deserving of the praise heaped upon them.  There are spoilers for the game and the film 28 Weeks Later. Brother in the Land The Floating World    

Roboticist and educator Dr. Julie Carpenter tells us about her research with bomb disposal experts, how society might have to change as robots become more advanced and even what happens when a robot powers down in front of a small child.  Recorded late August 2014.   Julie's website Festo seagull drone: http://youtu.be/9YGLZXEwRVc Festo kangaroo: http://youtu.be/_4luJ0ZSqy8 Music is Open by Com Truise    

In our yearly HatchetJob awards AKA Insert Category show, we invent awards for the games we played in 2012 - yes 2012 - from the serious to the stupid.  Can you guess which title won Wub Wub? Music is Don't Go (RumbleStep Mix) by CDK Gootecks speaks to disabled gamer Broly

Dr.Tom Stafford is a lecturer in psychology and cognitive science at the University of Sheffield.  He explains why the way you practice affects how good you get at something - and he's got 850,000 people to back him up. Axon game:  http://axon.wellcomeapps.com/ Github: https://github.com/tomstafford/axongame Tom's blog: http://www.tomstafford.staff.shef.ac.uk/?p=221 Tom on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tomstafford

We discuss Splinter Cell: Blacklist, Edward Snowden's revelations about the NSA and how games should portray governments in the future. Some spoilers about locations and plot devices.

We're taking submissions for the 3rd annual Insert Category awards from HatchetJob.com.   Invent an award for a game released in 2012. Music from Incompetech.com

We discuss Bioshock Infinite & touch on topics such as racism in the early 20th century, meaningful choices in games & how we're being asked to pay for unfinished stories.  M: Paradise is Lost A: Mauerhuhn

We discuss Sleeping Dogs, Ni no Kuni and Rumble in the Dungeon.  The first part of the show is about AI, cloud computing and human resources.  Skip to about 9m15s for the start of Sleeping Dogs. Rumble in the Dungeon rules PDF Music is Crazy Drunk (feat. FORENSIC/4nsic) Spaztits Mix by Phi-ode

Far Cry 3 has been praised from the highest mountain to the darkest jungle glade.  But is the game more prey than predator? Music: Amanita Muscaria by Jeris

We speak to Johnnie Excel, competitive eater and StarCraft 2 player, about competitive eating's culture, tactics, future and more. Johnnie's YouTube channel CNN article on Kobayashi arrest S: Put Your Hands Up (Dubstep Version) A: Chandubaba

We talk about Dust: An Elysian Tail, find out what it's like to go game shopping in Yongsan (South Korea's Akihabara) and find out if Crysis is more pavement than playground. Music is Nadeya (Club Mix) by Destinazione Altrove, used a sample from Nadeya from Mentorrecords featuring Afroganic.

For our alternative 2011 'GOTY' show, we asked listeners to make up awards and choose games to win them.  That way, games win awards that reflect how you felt about them, not how the industry decides to categorise them.  The show has one bit of swearing, but it's a heck of a doozy. Background music: http://incompetech.com/ Outro: Candy in the Sun by Koortwah.

In this super-short film review, you'll hear about Brazilian films Elite Squad and Elite Squad: The Enemy Within. Music is Ice and Chilli by _ghost .

We discuss co-op game mechanics, segue into paid unlocks and invent (possibly) the worst game in the world. Music is 'Cuss The Sky' by Camburn.

Is Predator 2 a cultural artifact?  Are the Saints really needed in Saints Row 3? Is X-Com still good? Does nostalgia drive game purchases? What's it like gaming on a projector? Kara Leung interview  Box Shot AKA Smuggler's Cramp E.S. Posthumus [Post-show, a transgender listener sent the following links] Gender & presentation in Saints Row 2 How videogames helped me go from boy to girl

Universal Head produces summaries of boardgame rules.  We speak to him about how he got into gaming, how he does his summaries and what he thinks of videogames and tombstones. Universal Head's blog & summaries HatchetJob Earth Reborn video Music is 'Hero' by Jemes

Matt Magnone really likes claw machines (or crane games as they're called in the UK); you know the ones, all cuddly toys and robotic arms. We spoke to him about his claw machine experiences, insight and tips and tricks.  Tips of the claw machine.    Music is 'Give it up' by Carosone.  Show's RSS.

We speak to Staats, part of the HJ crew, about his move to South Korea; his first impressions, thoughts and insights.  Korean Sunshine Policy. Music: We Are Free ft. Snowflake, by Zep Hurme.

We discuss Deus Ex Human Revolution in the context of emergent gameplay & resource management.  We also touch on whether Disgaea 4 could be a casual game. The 'spoilerific' video. Deadly Creatures game Music: Sick by DoKashiteru.

You create the categories, you pick the winners.  In our second-annual game awards - aka Insert Category aka UGGA - we read out your submissions for notable games of 2010.  Can you guess which won 'Best use of a sandwich?' Music: Recommender by Dokashiteru / Parks on Fire (California Burning mix) by DJ Rkod / Pulse (George Ellinas Mix) by George Ellinas / Vacuuux 1 by DJ Adori  / Scott Waves to April's Salty Grace (Dance Mix) by J Lang / Emergence Drum N Bass Remix (Rough Mix) by I Am...

We’re taking entries for our 2010 ‘personal best’ gaming awards: you create a category, you choose a winner.  Let's have awards which give us time to reflect on a game, not just ones which happen in December and praise AAA titles released in November. Let's have awards with personalised categories that we create, not just 'best action game' stuff that's only good for PR. Music: Kevin MacLeod