Midwest Gaming Classic Podcast

This episode features a panel discussion recorded live at the 2018 Midwest Gaming Classic in the Guys, Games, and Beers room, with members representing the Cartridge Club community — one of the most enduring and welcoming online communities in gaming. For more than a decade, Cartridge Club has brought together gamers and collectors of all ages through their monthly Game of the Month discussions, long-running podcast, and active Discord community.In this episode, Cartridge Club members share what they’ve learned about building and sustaining a positive, inclusive space — from encouraging meaningful conversation to creating shared experiences that keep people coming back. Whether you’re a longtime member or discovering Cartridge Club for the first time, this episode highlights why gaming communities are ultimately about the people who show up to play together.Original Panel Date: April 15, 2018Filming Location: Baird Center | 400 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI Listen on the Platforms Below:YOUTUBE PODCASTS: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpdA0-1vpLQjpokGTTg0T5F7R_sgZLKOITWITCH: https://www.twitch.tv/tvmgcSPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/6DKUBoR95qU2CnBZM7T3Dg?si=079961f5a0304ffbAPPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/midwest-gaming-classic-podcast/id1723653911WEBSITE: https://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MGCgaming/TWITCH: https://www.twitch.tv/tvmgcYOUTUBE VIDEO: @midwestgamingclassic INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/midwest_gaming_classic/© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode, we revisit one of gaming’s most infamous moments: the North American video game crash of 1983. Was Atari really to blame, or is the story more complicated?Recorded live at the 2018 Midwest Gaming Classic, this special segment features the Retronauts Podcast team of Jeremy Parish and Bob Mackey, alongside Atari historians Martin Goldberg and Kevin Bunch. Together, they challenge the myths surrounding the crash, examine the market forces that led to the industry’s collapse, and highlight overlooked Atari innovations that were lost in the fallout.Settle in and press start on a deeper, more nuanced look at a pivotal chapter in video game history.Original Panel Date: April 14, 2018Filming Location: Baird Center | 400 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI TICKETS: https://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/attend/WHEN: April 24-26, 2026WHERE: Baird Center, 400 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode, we take a deep dive into what it means when your career — and your life — become forever tied to an iconic video game character.We’re joined by two legends from opposite sides of game culture. Jon St. John, one of gaming’s first true rock-star voice actors, is best known as the unmistakable voice of Duke Nukem, a role he’s defined since the 1990s. Sonic fans will also recognize him as Big the Cat and E-123 Omega.On the musical front, vocalist Johnny Gioeli brings a legacy just as iconic. As the lead singer of Crush 40 and longtime collaborator with Sega composer Jun Senoue, Johnny’s voice powers some of the most beloved Sonic the Hedgehog themes — from Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2 to Sonic Heroes, Shadow the Hedgehog, and more.Together, we explore what it means to be permanently linked to a character: how Jon brings a hard-edged action hero to life in the booth, how Johnny channels Sonic’s energy onstage and in the studio, and the similarities and differences in performing for a character with voice acting versus music. We also look at how fan expectations shape their work and what it feels like when a single performance becomes defining for an entire generation.Join us as we go behind the voices, behind the music, and into the reality of living in the shadow of iconic characters with Jon St. John and Johnny Gioeli.Original Panel Date: April 14, 2018Filming Location: Baird Center | 400 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI TICKETS: https://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/attend/WHEN: April 24-26, 2026WHERE: Baird Center, 400 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode, we sit down with one of the most dynamic creators in the tabletop scene: writer, game designer, and longtime RPG veteran Rob Wieland.Rob leads us on an energetic journey through the realm of role-playing games — covering updates in the newest edition of Dungeons & Dragons, and exploring the many legendary franchises he’s contributed to, from Star Wars to Firefly and beyond. Whether you’ve been rolling dice for years, you’re a devoted Critter, or you’re just curious about the hobby, there’s something here for everyone.Dungeon Masters, you’re in for a treat as well. Rob tackles familiar GM hurdles, shares practical advice for crafting narratives and encounters, and offers insights drawn from decades of shaping memorable adventures.So grab your dice and get comfortable — Rob Wieland is ready to lead you deep into the world of tabletop role-playing!Original Panel Date: April 14, 2018Filming Location: Baird Center | 400 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI TICKETS: https://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/attend/WHEN: April 24-26, 2026WHERE: Baird Center, 400 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Last week we wrapped up our final 2017 panels—now it’s time to jump into 2018. In this week's podcast episode, author and historian Dr. Ken Horowitz (founder of Sega-16.com) explores the rise, legacy, and lasting impact of SEGA.From its 1960s arcade roots to the Genesis/Mega Drive boom and experimental hardware like the Sega CD, 32X, Game Gear, and Dreamcast, SEGA’s history is packed with innovation and bold ideas. Dr. Horowitz also breaks down the research behind his books—From Pinballs to Pixels, Playing at the Next Level, and The SEGA Arcade Revolution—and explains why preserving gaming history matters now more than ever.Join us as we dive into SEGA’s past and discover why documenting these stories is essential to keeping gaming’s legacy alive.Original Panel Date: April 14, 2018Filming Location: Baird Center | 400 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI TICKETS: https://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/attend/WHEN: April 24-26, 2026WHERE: Baird Center, 400 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

In the season five premiere episode, we kick things off with a true milestone in gaming history. In 2016, Terry and Dan Diebold unveiled the legendary Nintendo PlayStation prototype at the Midwest Gaming Classic — the first time it was ever shown publicly in the United States. The following year, they returned with hardware wizard Ben Heck to update us on the prototype’s travels, discoveries, and the surprising new twists in its extraordinary story.In the second half of the episode, we team up with our friends from the Watch Out for Fireballs! podcast as hosts Gary Butterfield and Kole Ross dive into the Super Nintendo classic Pilotwings. For the MGC audience, they break down what makes this launch title such a soothing yet quietly demanding standout in Nintendo’s early 16-bit lineup.Original Panel Date: Sunday, April 9, 2017Filming Location: Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel | 375 S Moorland Rd, Brookfield, WI TICKETS: https://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/attend/WHEN: April 24-26, 2026WHERE: Baird Center, 400 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

In the last podcast episode of the season, the Nostalgia Critic Crew returns to the Midwest Gaming Classic to discuss the good, bad, and ugly of arcade game film and series adaptations! What makes an adaptation good or bad? Which ones are the Crew’s favorites and why? Which ones are their least favorite? And why did the movie ‘Mean Girls’ get a video game adaptation? (Seriously, they might not be able to answer that one. We can’t either.)TICKETS: https://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/attend/WHEN: April 24-26, 2026WHERE: Baird Center, 400 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Join the man known as the “Father of Adventure Games” Scott Adams, as well as David A. Rodriguez, an associate narrative director for one of today’s biggest adventure games, Diablo IV! Historian Martin Goldberg will moderate this journey exploring the differences in how early games were made compared to the games of today.TICKETS: https://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/attend/WHEN: April 24-26, 2026WHERE: Baird Center, 400 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Your voice is more than a sound you make, and no one can share that message better than actors Carolina Ravassa (Sombra in Overwatch) and Christopher Sean (Ultraman/Ken Sato in Netflix’s Ultraman: Rising). Join them as they talk about how they got their roles, as well as how to juggle personal health and well-being.TICKETS: https://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/attend/WHEN: April 24-26, 2026WHERE: Baird Center, 400 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Think you’ve got what it takes to become a voice actor? Enter the mines with the people behind the voices of Zane, Kim, and Pierce the Sheep from the Aphmau channel on YouTube! Select audience members will read scripts, and this awesome voice acting crew will provide fun feedback!TICKETS: https://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/attend/WHEN: April 24-26, 2026WHERE: Baird Center, 400 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

In this special hour-and-a-half episode, John Parrish (Jax in Mortal Kombat 3) and Lia Montelongo (Sindel in Mortal Kombat 3) join us to talk fitness! Picked to be digitized for their athleticism 30 years ago, they’ll share tips and tricks to stay in Kombat-ready shape for life! After the panel, step into the arena with John and Lia for the ultimate 45-minute Mortal Kombat Warrior Workout! As legendary characters from the iconic franchise, John and Lia bring their strength, agility, and warrior spirit to this high-energy fitness experience. John, known for his powerhouse portrayal of Jax, brings his background in strength training and athleticism to the workout. At the same time, Lia, the fierce and agile Sindel, infuses dynamic movement and flexibility, pushing you to your limits. Together, they’ll guide you through a fun, intense, and action-packed session designed to make you feel like a true Kombatant. Are you ready to train like a warrior? Join us for an unforgettable fitness experience that will test your endurance, challenge your strength, and unleash your inner fighter!TICKETS: https://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/attend/WHEN: April 24-26, 2026WHERE: Baird Center, 400 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

When Atari refused to give developers credit for their game designs, a number of programmers, including David Crane, broke away and started the first third party video game company: Activision. Widely considered to have made some of the best 2600 games, join programmers David Crane, Dan Kitchen and Garry Kitchen as they discuss with Atari historian Marty Goldberg what it was like in the early days of this revolutionary company, what they think about the company Activision has grown into today, and their return to Atari 2600 programming with Audacity Games!TICKETS: https://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/attend/WHEN: April 24-26, 2026WHERE: Baird Center, 400 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Join us for an intimate behind-the-scenes look at Stern Pinball’s latest title, Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant's Eye. Featuring lead game designer Brian Eddy, lead software designer Dwight Sullivan, lead artist Vince Proce, and script writer Zack Proce.TICKETS: https://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/attend/WHEN: April 24-26, 2026WHERE: Baird Center, 400 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Are you a fan of Mystery Science Theater-style comedy? If so, you do not want to miss this, as Jonah Ray is on hand to riff the legendarily bad Atari Jaguar infomercial “The Cave” from 1995. Are you ready for 64 bits? We doubt it, but you probably want to watch anyway.TICKETS: https://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/attend/WHEN: April 24-26, 2026WHERE: Baird Center, 400 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Jeremy Parish of Retronauts, along with Brian Clark and Kevin Bunch, are on hand to discuss the “Greatest RPG Ever!” just like they did last year with Final Fantasy VI! This year’s “Greatest RPG Ever!” is Chrono Trigger, the time-hopping, Square masterpiece that is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year! Don’t miss it, as they’ll explain why this time, they’re right, this is the greatest RPG ever made!Original Panel Date: April 5, 2025TICKETS: https://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/attend/WHEN: April 24-26, 2026WHERE: Baird Center, 400 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Legendary arcade designer Eugene Jarvis has been making hit after hit for arcades ever since Defender and Robotron 2084, and his games keep getting better! Last year, he talked about the new Godzilla VR experience, this year he will be joined Stephen Hack and Ray Rosario from Raw Thrills to talk about some of the great things they’re up to. The future of arcade games is bright, and they’ll tell you all about it!Original Panel Date: April 5, 2025TICKETS: https://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/attend/WHEN: April 24-26, 2026WHERE: Baird Center, 400 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

With over 24 million copies sold over six games, the gritty world of Devil May Cry has been capturing the minds of gamers for over 20 years. Join Dan Southworth, Reuben Langdon, Faye Kingslee and Brian Hanford as they reminisce about their experiences creating the emotion (and actual motions) that drives this award winning game series forward.Original Panel Date: April 5, 2025TICKETS: https://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/attend/WHEN: April 24-26, 2026WHERE: Baird Center, 400 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Recently, the gaming world was stunned to hear that a new Portal game was about to be unveiled and that game… is a pinball machine?! That’s right, Multimorphic, the company behind awesome games like the Princess Bride and Weird Al has unveiled their next pinball machine, and it’s PORTAL! Join designer Josh Kugler to explore how this game came together. Original Panel Date: April 5, 2025TICKETS: https://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/attend/WHEN: April 24-26, 2026WHERE: Baird Center, 400 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Join podcast host Jason Gares as he interviews the Co-owner of the Midwest Gaming Classic Dan Loosen, and Entertainment Director Matt Isbill about some of the exciting things that happened at the 2025 convention.TICKETS: https://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/attend/WHEN: April 24-26, 2026WHERE: Baird Center, 400 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Podcast host Jason Gares interviews Co-owner of the Midwest Gaming Classic Dan Loosen and Entertainment Director Matt Isbill about some of the exciting things happening at the 2025 convention.TICKETS: https://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/WHEN: April 4-6, 2025WHERE: Baird Center, 400 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Philo Barnhart was an animator for the games Dragon's Lair and Space Ace, and he teamed up with artist Charles D. Moisant on Family Day for Drawing with Philo. From Dirk the Daring and Ace to Ariel the Mermaid and Much More! Philo is perhaps best known for other projects he helped animate - The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, The Rescuers Down Under, The Secret of NIMH, Happily Ever After, An American Tail, and special effects for Star Trek: The Motion Picture! Philo is joined by Charles, a comic book artist, writer, and the creative director of Silver Phoenix Entertainment where the two worked together on new projects!Original Panel Dates: Sunday, April 9, 2017© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

When Nintendo decided to run an updated version of their Nintendo World Championship in 2015, Tim Hanson and Chris Bidwell won the right to represent the Midwest in the competition! Tim and Chris will share stories about winning their respective regional tournaments, share tips on how to achieve high scores on NWC Remix and relive the drama of the finals at E3 in Los Angeles.Original Panel Dates: Saturday, April 8, 2017© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

In the first panel presentation, join the guys behind the YouTube gaming channels Grimsie42, Retro Games Vinyl and Beer, The Old Ass Retro Gamer, and The Game Grinder as they discuss how they got into YouTubing, their thoughts on gaming, and take questions form the audience! Then in the second presentation, join Tyler Stacheki & Mike Ryan as they discuss how they make the Cen64 emulator fast without compromising on accuracy. Original Panel Dates: Saturday, April 8, 2017 & Sunday, April 9, 2107© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Ed Fries covers the history of the game business from the beginning up until the present and mixes in his own involvement at various points including when he led the team to launch the original Xbox. Find out what Ed was doing in 2017, including improving diversity in the game business, video games as works of art, and the importance of documenting the story of the businessOriginal Panel Date: Saturday, April 8, 2017© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Retronauts regulars Bob Mackey and Jeremy Parish break down the history of Namco’s grisly Splatterhouse series with the help of no less than two Splatterhouse world-record competitors: Caitlin Oliver and Kevin Bunch in this splatter-riffic panel.Original Panel Date: Saturday, April 8, 2017© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

This podcast episode is about Galloping Ghost Productions and how its owner Doc Mack helped develop and release two original arcade games.Not only was Galloping Ghost Arcade, along with Doc Mack at the 2017 Midwest Gaming Classic, but Galloping Ghost Productions was at the show as well with their arcade game Dark Presence... and there will be some exciting things with it, including the chance to learn more about this awesome one of a kind fighting style game during this presentation!Brian Colin has been in the arcade scene for many years and is responsible for some iconic games including Rampage, Arch Rivals, Xenophobe, and Pigskin 621 AD. Now, together with Galloping Ghost Productions, Brian will be discussing The Spectre Files: DEATHSTALKER. Unreleased in 1985, find out what is going on with this game... today!Original Panel Date: Saturday, April 8, 2017© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Let's travel back in time to the year 2017 when Gary Stern of STERN Pinball discusses how the hobby/business was at the time, the release of the then-new Aerosmith pinball machine, and the release of their new LCD screen for future pinball machines.Original Panel Date: Saturday, April 8, 2017© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Have you ever wanted to play a brand new retro NES game, just like you were living in the late 80s or early 90s? The VGBS Gaming Podcast is back at Midwest Gaming Classic and this time they are talking abou the current NES Homebrew Revolution. With over 500 brand new Nintendo games out there that many of you haven’t heard of, and games coming out all the time, they’re going to talk about our favorites and go into details how you can join in onthe fun!Original Panel Date: Saturday, April 8, 2017© Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Daniel Pesina was the person behind many iconic characters in Mortal Kombat - Sub Zero, Scorpion, Reptile, and Johnny Cage! Join him along with fellow Mortal Kombat actors Phillip Ahn M.D. and Alfredo Sanchez as they discuss what it was like behind the scenes making one of the most iconic arcade fighting games of all time. Original Panel Date: Saturday, April 8, 2017 © Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Johnny Gioeli is the voice behind the theme songs from the Sonic The Hedgehog series starting in 1998 with Sonic Adventure for the Dreamcast! Johnny has been involved with writing and performing songs for the majority of the Sonic releases since then. Join him as he discusses his history with the series! Original Panel Date: Saturday, April 8, 2017 © Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Jeffrey Wittenhagen & Kyle Gilbert of the VGBS podcast discuss the year 1990 in their Video Game Culture Chronicles at the 2016 Midwest Gaming Classic convention. Original Panel Date: Sunday, April 10, 2016 © Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

The guys from the Retronauts podcast along with two Sega Master System historians discuss and explain the history of the Sega Master System home gaming console. Original Panel Date: Sunday, April 10, 2016 © Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

The Nintendo PlayStation was found and its first appearance in the United States was at the 2016 Midwest Gaming Classic. Retronauts co-host Jeremy Parish interviews Nintendo PlayStation owners Dan and Terry Diebold to discuss the discovery of the system and their journey up to that point. Original Panel Date: Sunday, April 10, 2016 © Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

John Trudeau, Jeremy Packer & Dwight Sullivan discuss how the three of them designed the Ghostbusters Pinball machine for the STERN Pinball company. Original Panel Date: Saturday, April 9, 2016 © Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Joe Decuir and Marty Goldberg discuss early Atari and Amiga computer engineering in the early 1980s. Filming Date: Sunday, April 10, 2016 © Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Electronics engineer Joe Decuir & Atari historian Marty Goldberg discuss the development behind the legendary Atari VCS / 2600 home video game console. Filming Date: Saturday, April 9, 2016 © Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

For the Midwest Gaming Classic Podcast season 3 premiere, panel director and host Jason Gares gives a brief tour and interviews the co-owners of NerdHaven Arcade Adam Wood and John Karalis. Filming Date: Saturday, July 10, 2021 © Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

One of the most sought-after jobs for people today is “YouTuber.” What does it mean to be a Youtuber? How can you get your start and what are some of the pitfalls and possibilities you should know? Join The Nostalgia Critic, Doug Walker and the Channel Awesome crew as they discuss this very in demand topic for the last episode of the season. Original Panel Date: Sunday, April 7, 2024 © Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Multimorphic is delivering both traditional and progressive pinball games on its revolutionary physical pinball platform, the P3. Gerry Stellenberg, designer and owner of Multimorphic, along with lead programmer Josh Kugler will discuss their new pinball table design the Princess Bride in this informative panel. PODCAST SPONSOR FOR THIS EPISODE Valorise Wireless Gaming Headset: $35.99 (USD) **Get 20% OFF with the coupon provided on the Amazon product page before checkout. PURCHASE HERE: https://tinyurl.com/uyfj2r58 Original Panel Date: Sunday, April 7, 2024 © Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Join Christopher Sean (Star Wars Rebels, Ultraman Rising, Gotham City Knights), Edward Bosco (Hazbin Hotel, Dust: An Elysian Tale, Warioware), and Bill Rogers (Pokemon shows and games), as they discuss how they broke into voice acting, what their favorite roles have been, and anything else you might want to know! Original Panel Date: Sunday, April 7, 2024 © Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Join Steve Henneberry (Tower from American Gladiators) and John Parrish (Jax from Mortal Kombat) as they talk about how building their bodies also helped build their careers and how their muscles translated into star power. Original Panel Date: Sunday, April 7, 2024 © Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Greg Peters and Doug Rice both worked on the incredible Anamaniacs cartoon series and both won Emmy’s for their incredible work… but they worked at different studios, and they never met! Find out how this can be possible with this unique peek behind the curtains where you’ll find out more about what else they have done in the industry, and what their careers have been like! This unique panel is moderated by the one and only artist Charles Moisant. Original Panel Date: Sunday, April 7, 2024 © Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

In years past we’ve had YouTuber panels about becoming one, being one at conventions, and various other topics. This year, we had another one and the speakers include: Doug Walker, Brad Jones, Patman QC, the Immortal John Hancock, and John Riggs. What did the topics cover? There’s only one way to find out… Let’s go to the podcast! Original Panel Date: Saturday, April 6, 2024 © Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Join Charlie Kraslavsky who played Chris Redfield and Greg Smith who played Barry Burton from the original Resident Evil video game (also known as Biohazard in Japan). This panel will discuss how they got involved, when they learned of its success, and how things played out since then. Original Panel Date: Saturday, April 6, 2024 © Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Join the actors from Mortal Kombat, and “Angus” from Kasumi Ninja as they talk about how motion capture worked way back in the day with original 2D and how it has progressed as technology and time have marched on to full 3D and beyond… Original Panel Date: Saturday, April 6, 2024 Filming Location: The Baird Center | 400 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI © Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Join us for ‘Behind the Stern Pinball Game: Venom,’ a panel where industry legends Brian Eddy and Dwight Sullivan unveil the secrets of creating iconic pinball games and sharing their insights and experiences from the development trenches. Original Panel Date: Saturday, April 6, 2024 Filming Location: The Baird Center | 400 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI © Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Four out of five Retronauts agree: It’s time to celebrate a masterpiece! Bob Mackey, Diamond Feit, and Nadia Oxford look back three decades and 10 numbered entries to dig into Super NES classic Final Fantasy VI and explore what made it so mind-blowing in 1994 and such a joy to return to 30 years later. Just don’t call it Final Fantasy III. Original Panel Date: Saturday, April 6, 2024 Filming Location: The Baird Center | 400 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI © Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

Join Steve Henneberry, Tower from American Gladiators, and Phil Moore, host of both Nickelodeon’s “Nick Arcade” and “You’re On", as they sit down to talk about working on game shows, how they got into them, why they enjoyed them, and what makes that gig tough. Original Panel Date: Saturday, April 6, 2024 Filming Location: The Baird Center | 400 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI © Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

One of the most prolific arcade hit designers of every era, Eugene Jarvis currently leads top arcade manufacturer Raw Thrills. Eugene will be talking about the creation of their new VR game GODZILLA: KAIJU WARS VR, the most cinematic arcade game experience ever! Original Panel Date: Saturday, April 6, 2024 Filming Location: The Baird Center | 400 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI © Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.

What is it about transferring a digital game to the screen that often leaves fans wondering what went so wrong? The Nostalgia Critic crew discusses many of the misses in video game adaptions, and what they feel could improve those films moving forward! Original Panel Date: Saturday, April 6, 2024 Filming Location: The Baird Center | 400 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI © Jason C. Gares, Dan Loosen, 249 Studios & the Midwest Gaming Classic. All Rights Reserved.