The Curious Gamer

Ecco the Dolphin was one of the first video games with something to say about the real world. It is often remembered for its beautiful art and music, but today I deep dive into why the game's genius design elevates the work into a masterpiece. Almost 30 years later the game industry can still learn lessons from Ecco the Dolphin.   Also in this episode I discuss how Ecco was the inspiration behind my upcoming cinematic fantasy audio series called The Moon Fish. Learn more about this project at themoon.fish. thecuriousgamer.org [SOCIAL MEDIA]  Twitter: twitter.com/devinpolaski Instagram: instagram.com/devinpolaski Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/devinpolaski Other places to listen to my show: linktr.ee/thecuriousgamer

My list of the most essential games for your Nintendo Switch. I hope this is especially helpful for those of you who recently got a Switch for the holidays or are new to games and are looking for a great place to start. A list of all the games covered in this episode is below, as well as a ton of other games I didn't mention in the episode but still think you should check out. Please hit the subscribe button! It really helps out the show, and ensures you don't miss when a new one comes out. Contact me or learn more about the show at: thecuriousgamer.org [GAMES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE] -Animal Crossing: New Horizons -Puyo Puyo Tetris (also playable on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, and PlayStation Vita) -Mario Kart 8 Deluxe -Super Smash Brothers Ultimate -Rocket League (also playable on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Mac, Windows, and Linux) -Yoshi's Wooly World -Kirby's Star Allies -Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee -Stardew Valley (also playable on Playstation 4, iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, Mac, Playstation Vita, and Linux) -Sonic Mania (also playable on Playstation 4, Xbox One, and Windows) -Super Mario Odyssey -Luigi's Mansion 3 -Ring Fit Adventure -Tetris 99 -SNES and NES Classics like Super Mario Bros 3, The Legend of Zelda: a Link to the Past, Castlevania, Super Metroid, Kirby's Adventure, Donkey Kong Country, Earthbound, Yoshi's Island, and dozens more -The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild [GAMES NOT MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE] Note - many of these games are also available for several other platforms other than the Switch: -The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening -Shovel Knight -Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics -Dark Souls Remastered -Overwatch -Diablo 3: Eternal Collection -Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze -Pikmin 3 -The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition -Fire Emblem: Three Houses -Super Mario 3D All-Stars -Pokémon Sword and Shield -Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition -Octopath Traveler -Dragon Ball Fighterz -The World Ends With You: Final Remix -Civilization VI -Minecraft -Final Fantasy VII, VIII, IX, X/X-2, and XII -Mario Tennis Aces -Return of the Obra Dinn -Overcooked 2 -Snipperclips -1, 2, Switch -ARMS -Killer Queen Black -Resident Evil 4 [SOCIAL MEDIA] Twitter: twitter.com/devinpolaski Instagram: instagram.com/devinpolaski Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/devinpolaski Other places to listen to my show: linktr.ee/thecuriousgamer

"What to Play" are short episodes about games that are inexpensive and easy to start playing, no matter your skill level. Today's all about Mini Motorways, a minimal, stylish game about building roads and growing a little city. It's a game that makes you feel thoughtful, and helps you look the world in a new way after playing. thecuriousgamer.org [SOCIAL MEDIA]  Twitter: twitter.com/devinpolaski Instagram: instagram.com/devinpolaski Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/devinpolaski Other places to listen to my show: linktr.ee/thecuriousgamer

Parents and video games don't often mix. But in this episode I speak with a father who has used video games to enrich his life, and how he's passed this down to his son. Their story can act as a guide for other parents on how to use video games to develop deep social connections and build critical thinking and team building skills. [SOCIAL MEDIA] Twitter: twitter.com/devinpolaski Instagram: instagram.com/devinpolaski Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/devinpolaski Other places to listen to my show: linktr.ee/thecuriousgamer

I have a chat with "Sharky," a star player in the CTWC: the Classic Tetris World Championship. Thanks to him I discovered one of the most entertaining and wholesome communities in all of video games, and I invite all of you to join me in traveling down this infectiously joyous rabbit hole. [SOCIAL MEDIA] Twitter: twitter.com/devinpolaski Instagram: instagram.com/devinpolaski Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/devinpolaski Other places to listen to my show: linktr.ee/thecuriousgamer [MUSIC NOTES] 0:58 and 5:35 - Music 2 (Gameboy Tetris) 6:06 - 50 Players Remaining! (Tetris 99) 6:30 - You and I (The Tetris Effect) 7:00 - Tetris Mobile Trailer 7:30 and 26:00 - High Score Theme (NES Tetris) 9:45 - 2018 Finals Match of the Classic Tetris World Championship 14:55 - Music 1 (NES Tetris) 19:20 - Unused Theme (NES Tetris) 26:47 - Victory Fanfare (Gameboy Tetris)

I talk about the first game I designed: an empathy-building tool for United Way called The Cost of Living. I speak with some of the key players at United Way that brought this experience to life, as well as discuss how game design is a powerful tool to convey complex ideas and build dialogue and understanding. Show written, produced, and composed by Devin Polaski devinpolaski.com thecuriousgamer.org Twitter: twitter.com/devinpolaski Instagram: instagram.com/devinpolaski Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/devinpolaski

To manage our anxiety during this global crisis many of us turn to our favorite kinds of comfort food. One of mine is a game called Final Fantasy VII - one of the most played and loved games of all time that revolutionized video game storytelling, and captured the hearts and minds of players around the world with its beautiful music, cutting-edge graphics, and memorable characters. Join me as we travel back to 1997 and celebrate the legacy of this legendary game.  Original composed by Devin Polaski (devinpolaski.com) thecuriousgamer.org [SOCIAL MEDIA] Twitter: twitter.com/devinpolaski Instagram: instagram.com/devinpolaski Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/devinpolaski Other places to listen to my show: linktr.ee/thecuriousgamer

Since his childhood, Ted Sterchi has been building Orange Island: an 8bit adventure game that was 450% funded on Kickstarter. We discuss the game's colorful world and cast, his impressive roster of musicians contributing songs to the game, and what it's like building the game as an independent developer. Original music composed by Devin Polaski (devinpolaski.com) thecuriousgamer.org [SOCIAL MEDIA] Twitter: twitter.com/devinpolaski Instagram: instagram.com/devinpolaski Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/devinpolaski Other places to listen to my show: linktr.ee/thecuriousgamer MUSIC NOTES: 0:00 - The Curious Gamer Theme, by Devin Polaski 0:30 - Holy Teeth, by Devin Polaski 2:08 - Gold Shop, by Devin Polaski 2:58 - Blue Skies* 3:52 - My Hypothesis, by Devin Polaski 5:40 - Gentle Breeze* 6:15 - New Hire Care, by Devin Polaski 8:22 - Nice Travels, by Devin Polaski 9:38 - Pan Pan, by Devin Polaski 11:44 - Vaccine, by Devin Polaski 14:22 - The Decision, by Devin Polaski 16:11 - Centrally Managed, by Devin Polaski 17:42 - A Sleepy Village* 18:33 - Title Screen: Super Mario 64, by Koji Kondo 19:42 - Home* 22:21 - Title Screen: Super Mario Kart, by Soyo Oka 23:00 - Koopa Beach, by Soyo Oka 24:22 - Sim City (SNES): Bad Job, Mayor! by Soyo Oka 25:00 - Soyo Oka Orange Island Song 1 25:58 - Soyo Oka Orange Island Song 2 26:10 - Soyo Oka Orange Island Song 3 26:35 - Secret of Mana (2018 OST): Fear of the Heavens, by Hiroki Kikuta 28:22 - New Love* 30:00 - Slime Brilliance* 30:26 - Wilmot's Warehouse: It's Him, Wilmot, by Eli Rainsberry 31:11 - Orange Dreams Reprise* 31:50 - Orange Dreams (Fat Bard Cover)* 34:15 - Persona, by Devin Polaski 37:39 - The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening Remastered: House, by Ryo Nagamatsu 38:22 - The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening: House, by Minako Hamano & Kozue Ishikawa 39:53 - Remembrance* 41:47 - Mismash, by Devin Polaski *Orange Island soundtrack composed / produced / arranged by: Ted Sterchi, Mark Sparling, Soyo Oka, Hiroki Kikuta, Anton Corazza, Heosphoros, Fat Bard, and Aron Kyne.

I explore a game that helps you relax, and chat with the Indonesian-based video game studio Toge Productions about their latest game: "Coffee Talk." Original music composed by Devin Polaski (devinpolaski.com) thecuriousgamer.org [SOCIAL MEDIA] Twitter: twitter.com/devinpolaski Instagram: instagram.com/devinpolaski Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/devinpolaski Other places to listen to my show: linktr.ee/thecuriousgamer

Playing games can yield many positive gifts, like learning new technology, fostering creativity, and building strong relationships. In this episode I discuss how all this happened to me throughout my life and changed it for the better. Original music composed by Devin Polaski (devinpolaski.com) thecuriousgamer.org [SOCIAL MEDIA] Twitter: twitter.com/devinpolaski Instagram: instagram.com/devinpolaski Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/devinpolaski Other places to listen to my show: linktr.ee/thecuriousgamer MUSIC CREDITS: 0:00 - "The Curious Gamer Theme" by Devin Polaski 0:27 - "Vaccine" by Devin Polaski 1:19 - "Implant" by Devin Polaski 2:21 - "Pan Pan" by Devin Polaski 3:36 - "Persona" by Devin Polaski 5:44 - "Tavern 2" by Devin Polaski 6:11 - "That's the Way I Like It...for Metal Harbor" by Jun Senoue 6:40 - "Sky Chase Zone" by Masato Nakamura 6:52 - "Throw It All Away" by Everett Bradley 7:05 - "What U Need" by Hideki Naganuma 8:00 - "Tap That Deal" by Devin Polaski 8:43 - "Reload" by Rob Zombie 9:12 - "More Than a Comeback" by Devin Polaski 9:49 - "James Bond Theme" by Monty Norman 10:44 - "Holy Teeth" by Devin Polaski 12:23 - "Nice Travels" by Devin Polaski 13:25 - "Casino Night Zone" by Masato Nakamura 14:03 - "New Hire Care" by Devin Polaski 15:46 - "Stay or Leave" by Devin Polaski 18:21 - "Glimmer" by Devin Polaski 19:30 - "10 Years" by Devin Polaski 20:34 - "Green Hill" by John Batiste

One of the first things people learn about me is that I love Sonic the Hedgehog. Why would a grown man be so fond of a silly video game? Listen how a blue hedgehog helped shaped me and an entire generation. Original music composed by Devin Polaski (devinpolaski.com) thecuriousgamer.org [SOCIAL MEDIA] Twitter: twitter.com/devinpolaski Instagram: instagram.com/devinpolaski Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/devinpolaski Other places to listen to my show: linktr.ee/thecuriousgamer MUSIC CREDITS: 0:00 - "The Curious Gamer Theme" by Devin Polaski 0:16 - "Welcome" by Devin Polaski 1:42 - "New Hire Care" by Devin Polaski 3:12 - "Pan Pan" by Devin Polaski 4:19 - "Star Light Zone" by Masato Nakamura 5:26 - "Endless Mine" by *see below 6:13 - "Shenlon from Beyond" by Devin Polaski 7:15 - "Marble Garden" by Masato Nakamura 7:57 - "Green Hill Zone" by Masato Nakamura 9:00 - "Puppet Panic Zone" by Jun Senoue, Tatsuyuki Maeda 9:42 - "Green Hill Zone Act 2" by Tee Lopes 11:11 - "Game Over" by Masato Nakamura 11:23 - "Ending Theme" by Masato Nakamura 11:40 - "Green Hill Zone Modern Remix" by Jun Senoue 12:39 - "Total Recall" by Devin Polaski 13:46 - "Sunflower Zone" by Devin Polaski (a cover of "Sunflower" by Post Malone, Swae Lee) 15:27 - "Super Mario Bros Ground Theme" by Koji Kondo 16:12 - "Planet Wisp Zone Modern Era Act 2" by Kenichi Took 18:20 - "Fastest Thing Alive" by Michael Tavera from Noisy Neighbors 19:15 - "Emerald Hill 2P" by Masato Nakamura 19:31 - "Knuckles' Theme" by *see below 20:00 - "Robotnik" by Masato Nakamura 20:30 - "Emerald Hill Zone" by Masato Nakamura 20:37 - "Chemical Plant Zone" by Masato Nakamura 20:50 - "Aquatic Ruin Zone" by Masato Nakamura 21:00 - "Oil Ocean Zone" by Masato Nakamura 21:08 - "Metropolis Zone" by Masato Nakamura 21:31 - "Ice Cap Zone" by *see below 22:07 - "Rusty Ruin Zone Act 2" by Jun Senoue, Tatsuyuki Maeda 23:40 - "Cloggy Dance" by Kaltek Music Engine, Hidenobu "Kalta" Otsuki, Ryo "L.D." Fukuda, Takeo "3-Jya" Suzuki, Yoshitaka "Sat" Hirota, Kazumi Mitome 24:10 - "Open Your Heart" by Crush 40 (Jun Senoue) 25:23 - "Welcome to Station Square" by Jun Senoue 27:12 - "His World" by Ali Tabatabaee, Matty Lewis from Zebrahead 28:13 - "Rooftop Run Zone Act 2 Modern Era" by Tomoya Ohtani 28:45 - "Stardust Speedway Past" by Naofumi Hataya, Masafumi Ogata 30:12 - "Checkpoint" by Hyper Potions & Nitro Fun 30:56 - "Studiopolis Act 1" by Tee Lopes 34:02 - "Staff Roll" by *see below 34:56 - "Escape From the City" by Ted Poley, Tony Harnell 35:33 - "Chrome Gadget" by *see below *Music from Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles are credited to a long list of composers: Michael Jackson (unofficially confirmed) Brad Buxer Cirocco Jones Bobby Brooks Darryl Ross Geoff Grace Doug Grigsby Tokuhiko Uwabo Sachio Ogawa Yoshiaki Kashima Masaru Setsumaru Tatsuyuki Maeda Jun Senoue Howard Drossin Tomonori Sawada Masayuki Nagao