Episode 74: BioWare

BioWare is a storied and once undeniable name in western RPGs, but its been misstep after misstep for a good amount of time now.

Episode 73: Arcade Collecting and Launcher Wars

Uncle Bob jumps in again on another DUO episode… no, not that DUO. Bring some quarters and one of those big gel things for your wrists, PC people still use those right?

Episode 72: Shenmue 3 and Blizzard Discussion

Uncle Bob returns to AFPH to discuss the recent miracle that is Shenmue 3 FINALLY coming out. Oh and Blizzard updates.

Episode 71: Unsung Heroes – Master System

AFPH discusses the Master of all consoles and why it is still worth a visit, all these years later.

Episode 70: Tengen

AFPH dive into the Atari shell company Tengen, whose surprising role in video game history precedes it’s nefarious origins.

Episode 69: Revisiting the Dreamcast

It’s been 20 years since the Dreamcast launched and on this episode, the Autofire Power Hour revisits Sega’s little white box with fresh eyes.

Episode 68: Dungeon Crawlers

Join the Power Hour for a look inside the origin of one of the most influential genres in video game history, Dungeon Crawlers!

Episode 67: Samurai Shodown

The Power Hour takes on one of the best and most unique fighting series of all time, Samurai Shodown!

Episode 66: What Are We Playing

The AFPH braintrust decided it was time to peel the curtain back a bit and share about our recent retro recreation.

Episode 65: Obsidian Entertainment With Paul Streifel

AFPH is once again joined by special guest Paul Streifel to discuss his time working at Obsidian Entertainment.

Episode 64: Gyruss with Paul Streifel

Today we get lost in the space weeds with world record Gyruss player, Paul Streifel.

Episode 63: Cheat Codes

On today’s episode we discuss the lost art form of cheat codes.

Episode 62: Ninja Gaiden

On this installment of the Power Hour, we take a look at the Ninja Gaiden series.

Episode 61: Handheld Systems

From the Gameboy all the way up to the 3DS, and some obscure efforts in between, join AFPH on the go!!!

Episode 60: A 3DO Chat

Join us for a breezy morning chat about the 3DO over coffee and cotton candy flavored energy drinks.

Episode 59: Before EA Sports

On Today’s episode, we examine a small chunk of EA’s pre-sports big business shift of the mid 90s.

Episode 58: Claymation Games

We are back with an extra lumpy episode about some of the more recognizable games that features Clay Based Stop Motion Animation- or Claymation for brevity’s sake.

Episode 57: Light Gun 4 Fun

AFPH is going on a teensy weensy little hiatus but before we do, we have a special episode about mastering light gun games.

Episode 56: Collector’s Dilemma Part 2

The discussion whirls around Panzer Dragoon Saga and a half hour birdwalk about the upcoming live action Sonic movie and its likely special brand of unintended entertainment value.

Episode 55: Collector’s Dilemma

On Today’s first installment of a two-parter, Ray finds himself in a dilemma.

Find out if he is crazy or not…

Episode 54: Codemasters

Today, we take a dive into the history and relevance of the UK’s Codemasters.

Episode 53: Blinded By Brands

Whether its pride or misguidance, we have all at times been blinded to the truth by our favorite video game brands.

Episode 52: Switch and Steam

With Ray once again out on assignment, Brian and Bob settle in on this potpourri episode.

Episode 51: Bad Games We Love 2

Everybody has some stuff they love that isn’t too popular.

Episode 50: Bob’s Blizzard Bummer

Its our 50th episode so for such a big milestone, we have done a big show! Bob Bare, stinging over recent events involving his favorite video game company, joins us to discuss.

Episode 49: Star Citizen

Genre-starved fans have been pouring money into Star Citizen with very little to show for it.

Episode 48: RCF Wrap Up

We have come to the end of our Retro City Festival coverage/content. Time for us to put our stuff in a hanky at the end of a stick and hit the road.

Episode 47: RCF Interview Round Up

As we begin to wind down our output from this year’s Retro City Festival, we have put together a “potpourri” of interviews with some really awesome people.

Episode 46: Phil Moore Returns

We catch up with Phil to see what’s new on his plate this year and to talk about nerd culture before it was pop culture.

Episode 45: Walter Day Interview

AFPH is joined by Walter Day, the founder of Twin Galaxies and the all around founder of what is now called E-Sports.

Episode 44: Billy Mitchell Returns

Live from RCF 2019- Billy Mitchell returns to AFPH to talk controversy and his path to vindication. After Billy, we speak to Ryan Burger of Old School Gamer Magazine.

Episode 43: Xmas Haul 2018

How good was your 2018 Christmas Haul?

Bonus Episode 2: whoopsie edition

This week we dig into the archives to re-release a special Christmas episode!

Episode 42: Super Smash Bros.

Why is Super Smash Bros so good?

AFPH LIVE at Retro City Festival!

Join the Autofire Power Hour, LIVE! at the Retro City Festival, January 5-6th, 2019 at the Pomona Fairplex, in Southern California. Buy tickets now! Contact us if your interested in joining the Podcast, we would love to host you!

Episode 41: Virtua Fighter

In 1993 Yu Suzuki released a 3D fighting game that would change the video game industry forever.  

Episode 40: Arcade Racers

Arcade Racers have crashed n’ burned in today’s video game industry but there was a time when they ruled the track.

Episode 39: Night Trap

In 1993 Joe Lieberman was on a crusade to prosecute the video game industry.  Night Trap was at the top of his target list.

Episode 38: Retro Releases + Sonic v Mario

On this episode of Auto Fire Power Hour, Brian and Ray discuss the recent flurry of retro releases and debate the most important of topics.

Episode 37: More than Games

PACHINKO!!!  And health clubs….those too.

Episode 36: Latenight with Brian – Listener Emails

Relax next to the fireplace with Brian for a late night session answering listener questions.

Episode 35: Killer Instinct

Triple combo.  Hyper Combo.  Super Combo! Brutal Combo!  MASTER Combo!  AWESOME Combo!  KIIING COMBO!  KILLER COMBO!  ULTRAAAA COMBOOOOO!!!

Episode 34: Controller MANIA

Cool ones, bad ones, expensive ones, just barely functional ones… The controller is to the video game as milk is to cereal, eternally tied together. 

Episode 33: Light Gun Games

LIGHT GUN GAMES! 

Episode 32: Good Port, Bad Port NES Edition

AFPH covers a mere fraction of the overall mega load of arcade games released on Nintendo’s big gray baby sitter of the 80s.

Episode 31: Nintendo – Highs & Lows

In this very special edition of Autofire Power Hour (+48 Hours) we tackle the entire history of Nintendo’s Highs & Lows.

Episode 30: Darius

Journey with AFPH into the world of Taito’s Darius where we battle the onslaught of space fish in one of the best horizontal shooter series of all time.

Episode 29: Xtreme Sports

Autofire Power Hour is taking it to the X-Treme!!!

Bonus Episode: Sega-Nights

On this extra special bonus edition of the AFPH, we lightly dabble in self-induced public shaming in an attempt to pull back the curtain a bit.  Special appearance enthusiast Thor Becker joins once again as we discuss how we spent our Friday nights in high school establishing the “Sega-Nights” (not to be confused with Sega’s Nights).

Episode 28: Weaponlord

FINALLY! It’s long overdue for AFPH to speak the virtues of a forgotten but excellent fighting game that stayed in the 16 Bit era: Namco’s Weaponlord.  This super hardcore and mechanically advanced fighting game would (maybe? possibly?) influence Soul Calibur.  Have a listen and then play this awesome game, or the Demonlord will be super pissed.

Episode 27: Data East

On this edition of AFPH, we scratch the surface of one of the most prolific ‘single-and-double-A’ developers and publishers in Data East.  For an added bonus, we were joined midway through recording by returning guest, surprise appearance maker, and all around Bad Dude, Thor Becker. We go on and off the rails. It’s a fun one!

Episode 26: Doing Math With Atari Jaguar

Today on AFPH; Predatory cats, so many buttons, and some number fudging that gets us to 64-bits.  The Atari Jaguar was the last home console made by the former video game juggernaut and against all convention, it still has a loyal fanbase.  And Ray gets to (justifiably) mock Brian for being among that fanbase!

Episode 25 Mortal Kombat with Daniel Pesina

Today on AFPH, we have a spirited chat about the Mortal Kombat arcade games.  Then for a very special treat, we are joined by Daniel Pesina.  Mr. Pesina was the martial arts actor who played Johnny Cage, Sub-Zero, Scorpion, and more in the games and has a lot to say about the making of and lasting impact of MOOOOORTAL KOOOOOMBAT!!!!

Episode 24 Videogames on TV with Phil Moore

On this installment of AFPH, we discuss video game themed TV shows. Then for the back half of the show we have a sit down with Nick Arcade’s Phil Moore on what its like to have helped raise an entire generation of grown man babies now with babies of there own.

Episode 23: Interview With Billy Mitchell

Love him or hate him, he is Billy Mitchell and it is 99.99% guaranteed he is better at Pacman than you.  AFPH had the privilege of having a one one one interview with one of the most famous, or infamous video game players of all time.

Episode 22: Retrocity Festival- Rail Shooters & Gal’s Panic

AFPH attended the Retrocity Festival in Pomona, CA with great excellence and a vulgar display of leisure. 

Episode 21: Holiday Catch-Up

The boys are back from holiday madness to discuss some recent game time. And to announce our first appearance as a podcast at the Retro City Festival in Pomona CA, January 20 and 21.  Check out retrocityfestival.com for more info!

Episode 20: Fallen Stars

We discuss 3 high-profile designers who, at a time, had a level of celebrity attained from massively successful video games that helped shape entire genres.  Then it all went south.

Episode 19: Street Fighter Offshoots

What happens when one of the best fighter franchises in gaming history is capitalized beyond it’s original intent?  Turns out that means puzzle games and mediocre 3D fighters (Brian’s edit: “Fuck you, they’re good!”)…go figure.

Episode 18: Nights

This time around the fellas journey into dreams with one of Yuji Naka’s most original and cherished (not shitty) creations.

Episode 17: Razor Soft

Before Mortal Kombat.  Before Night Trap (but after Splatterhouse), Razorsoft was trail blazing the exploitation of kick-butt violence long before decapitations became standard fair in video games.

Episode 16: Road Rash

In this smooth episode we smoothly discuss the Road Rash series in terms of its smoothness.

Episode 15: Kickstarter

Join us and witness the major successes and the glorious failures of crowd funded video games.

Episode 14: Dreamcast

Brian and Ray discuss Sega’s last “ode to joy,” the Dreamcast, and the legacy of some of it’s games.

Episode 13: Clock Tower

In a special “field” episode of AutoFire Power Hour, Brian tracks down special guest Thor Becker, in an undisclosed location, to discuss the Clock Tower Series.

Episode 12: Time Killers & Bloodstorm

Many developers were making fighters in the 90’s, most have been completely forgotten. However one developer sticks out in the crowd of the discarded, Strata.

Episode 11: Sonic 3 & Knuckles

With the completion of our Sonic & Knuckles play through, Brian and Ray sit down and discuss the game itself, the controversy around how it was made and it’s place in gaming history.

Episode 10: Sega 32X Part 2_Top 5 Games

In Part 2 of Autofire Power Hour’s Sega 32X blowout, Brian and Ray give their Top 5 32X Games!

Episode 9: Sega 32X Part 1_The Console

In a very special episode of Autofire Power Hour, Brian and Ray discuss the infamous Sega add-on, the 32X.

Episode 8: Virgin Interactive Entertainment

Virgin Interactive Entertainment is responsible for some of the most memorable 16-bit era video games. They also created the RTS genre and were sprite creation innovators.

Episode 7: Aerobiz

Welcome back to AFPH’s heated discussion with Robbie around the Koei Executive Series classic, Aerobiz!

Episode 6: Puzzle Bobble

AFPH and Quan discuss one of our personal favorite puzzle games and all time classic, the Puzzle Bobble Series!

Episode 5: Eternal Champions

AFPH fight their way through Eternal Champions, including the history of the development team that came to be known as Sega Interactive.

Episode 4: Metal Slug

Join AFPH as we explore the legacy of arguably the all-time best Run n’ Guns ever made, Nazca’s Metal Slug!

Episode 3: Treasure 32bit

Years in the making, AFPH sheds light on the Treasure 32-bit Era and some of the most beloved video games of the era.

Episode 0: Launch Party!

THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN!

Ok not that triumphant, but a return nonetheless!

Episode 2: Treasure 16bit

AFPH reviews the early years of one of their favorite developers, Treasure!

Episode 1: Altered Beast!

Brian and Ray discuss Altered Beast and it’s role in shaping the brawler genre and giving all of us the true Arcade experience in the home for the first time.