Ep.274 – 64-Bits of Trouble: The Rise and Fall of the Atari Jaguar
In 1993, Atari launched the Jaguar, a console that promised 64-bit power and a bold return to gaming glory—but the reality was far more complicated. In this episode, we explore how Atari partnered with Flare Technology, canceled its 16-bit Panther system, and aimed to leapfrog the competition with a futuristic design that was ambitious, confusing, and notoriously difficult to develop for. We trace the Jaguar’s tangled architecture, marketing push to “Do the Math,” and the hardware quirks that doomed it from the start. Our conversation also dives into the console’s standout games, failed add-ons like the Jaguar CD and VR, and its strange second life as an open platform for homebrewers. Join us as we plug in and power up the story of the Atari Jaguar on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.Read transcript
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Ep.273 – Silent Assassin: Exploring the Origins and Legacy of Hitman: Codename 47
In 2000, \Hitman: Codename 47\ introduced players to Agent 47 and a new breed of stealth gaming built on improvisation, experimentation, and precision. In this episode, we trace how a small team of Danish demoscene veterans formed IO Interactive, built the Glacier Engine from scratch, and turned a 'simple shooter' concept into one of the most influential stealth franchises in history. We follow the evolution from Codename 47’s experimental beginnings to Silent Assassin’s refinement and Contracts’ atmospheric retelling, exploring how each installment shaped IO’s design philosophy. Our conversation also touches on IO’s roots, ragdoll physics innovation, and the World of Assassination era that followed. Join us as we slip into the shadows and revisit Hitman’s origin story on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.Read transcript
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Ep.272 – Mattel’s Vision: The Rise and Fall of Mattel and its Intellivision
In 1979, Mattel entered the console wars with the \Intellivision\, a machine that promised to outthink Atari with its 'intelligent television' design. This week, we explore how a toy company known for Barbie and Hot Wheels transformed into a technological powerhouse, creating one of the first true competitors to Atari’s 2600. We discuss the innovations that made the Intellivision stand out, its 16-bit processor, unique keypad controllers, and focus on realism, and the missteps that led to its fall amid the 1983 crash. Our conversation dives into its visionary add-ons, the Blue Sky Rangers, and the legacy that still shapes console design today. Join us as we plug in and power on the story of Mattel’s Intellivision on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.Read transcript
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Ep.271 – Chainsaws and Cover: How Epic Games Redefined the Modern Shooter with Gears of War
In 2006, Epic Games released Gears of War, a brutal and cinematic reinvention of the third-person shooter. In this episode, we trace Cliff Bleszinski’s journey from teenage shareware designer to creative director at Epic, and how his vision helped transform a scrapped Unreal prototype into one of gaming’s most iconic franchises. We explore the birth of the Lancer, the evolution of cover-based combat, and how Epic’s technical mastery of Unreal Engine 3 changed console gaming forever. Our conversation covers Gears’ critical and commercial success, its influence on modern shooters, and how it became a defining moment for the Xbox 360. Join us as we reload, rev up, and fight through the Locust Horde on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.Read transcript
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Ep.270 – The Magazine That Started It All: Electronic Games' Legacy
In 1981, a trio of writers—Arnie Katz, Bill Kunkel, and Joyce Worley—released Electronic Games, the first magazine dedicated entirely to video games. In this episode, we trace how their early ‘Arcade Alley’ column evolved into a full publication that gave the gaming world its first real voice. Our conversation explores the magazine’s creation, from pitch meetings and prototype covers to its bold editorial vision that treated games as art rather than toys. We discuss the rise and fall of the magazine through the video game crash, its 1990s revival, and how its writers shaped the language, ethics, and spirit of game journalism that persist today. Join us as we flip through the pages of history and celebrate the magazine that started it all on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.Read transcript
Would you like to learn new things about your favorite video games, and the people who create them?
A Trip Down Memory Card Lane is a weekly video game history podcast that uses the current week in gaming history as a guide to tell you interesting stories about the history of video games, gaming consoles, game designers, the gaming studios they've founded, and more.
Join hosts David Kassin and Robert Kassin as they take an often-chronological look at the people, companies, technologies, and developmental processes that have helped bring your favorite video games to life on each week's trip down Memory Card Lane.
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