Story x Story #256: Behind the Screens With Leah Dungay (Video Games)

This week, Nigel sits down with Learning & Community Curator Leah Dungay to explore Behind the Screens, the National Videogame Museum’s new exhibition opening in summer 2026, which aims to transform how UK videogame heritage is collected and understood. It’s a response to the challenges of preserving video games and takes a people-centred approach, with community-led partnerships that reflect the complexity of games: documenting developers and their creative processes, and recording the social histories of gameplay and the fandoms within it.We talk about Leah’s role within the project, why preservation matters (especially as games, platforms, and marketplace access change), and what “community” really means within gaming culture. We also share what to expect from the “Do I Look Like A Gamer?” diversity campaign, which is set to be featured in the exhibition! Leah also reflects on her own journey with games - from N64 favourites to the joys of Pokémon Snap.NOTE: This is the last episode recorded before our mid-season break. Over the next month, we’ll be sharing audio from our “Do I Look Like A Gamer?” campaign launch livestream, and will be recording new episodes of the Story x Story podcast in August!Connect with Leah online:Behind the Screens website: https://thenvm.org/behind-the-screensInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenvmukTwitter: https://twitter.com/nvmukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.comConnect with mayamadamayamada is a manga brand and mission-driven creative agency all about equipping young and aspiring creatives to thrive on the creative journey — whether they’re discovering what’s possible, developing new skills, or sharing expertise with the next generation.Website: https://mayamada.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayamadatvTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayamadatvBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mayamada.comYouTube: https://youtube.com/mayamadatvTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mayamadaJoin our Studio77 community on Discord to connect with other creatives and be part of the journey: https://discord.gg/b5fmnuT