Trading Card Spotlight - Andy Godoy

Our next Trading Card Spotlight features Andy Godoy who currently is displayed on card number 4276, from the Superstars of 2023 Collection. Known as the pod-father of retro gaming podcasts in the U.K. Andy has done a podcast for over 15 years now. Some of his topics he discussed are the ZX Spectrum and BBC Micro. He was the creator of the Podcast “Retro Asylum” the U.K.’s number one podcast.

What does it take to run a good podcast?

I’d say good audio is a must but also a great team of hosts that have a good knowledge on the subject but the most important thing I’d say is enthusiasm and love for retro gaming. When I listen to a podcast and the hosts talk about a game with passion it makes me want to play the game.

When did you first start your podcast and what were your expectations?

I started my podcast journey around 2009, I was looking for something to listen to on my commute to work and although I found some great US podcasts there was no UK retro gaming podcasts which talk about the UK scene , so I reached out to a few friends who enjoyed talking about the arcade but also more British home computers like the ZX Spectrum, Crash Magazine, my first podcast was 1HMPS Retro( 1 Hour Monthly Podcast show) and then myself and good friends Dean Swain and Glenn Atkinson decided to revamp and start a new podcasts Retro Asylum which was going to be very British retro gaming style podcast , and we were going to have it in the style of the magazines we used to read like Crash or Your Sinclair , it wasn’t going to be just reviews , we played music, we even did a quiz for ourselves and our listeners and each episode had its own magazine style cover. I knew I enjoyed recording them with my friends but had no idea how many people would listen and leave us feedback and soon we were number 1 in the iTunes Charts.

What other podcast are you interested in and what would you like to see more of?

My favorite type of podcast are retro gaming podcast like retro asylum and RGDS, but I also enjoy listening to podcasts about movies from the 80s and 90s.

Do you remember your first video game / arcade you played and what do you remember about it?

I think the first games I remember seeing and playing were Space Invaders and also Donkey Kong, I was probably about 5 years old and my older brother who was teenager took me to an arcade , it was a magical experience and the first time I experienced the arcades , I still remember that moment , it was a smoked filled dark room with all these amazing lights that were from the arcade screen and marquees and I could hear the music and sound FX coming from these amazing machines.

My brother started playing Space Invader and I remember then taking over I was blown away by this game , my childhood imagination made the game even more amazing than it was already , then I played Donkey Kong and again my imagination saw this King Kong beast on top of the empire state building and I had to save the heroine.

What are your opinions about today’s generation of video games? How do you compare them to older, classic games?

I’m a gamer and love games from the good old days and current games on modern consoles too, admittedly I play more retro games like arcades game but the reason for that, its short bursts with 1 credit which suits me being a family man , don’t get me wrong I love games like The Last of us which is probably in my top 10 games ever , the thing is just finding the time to play these longer more time consuming game. Games like the Last of US and Red Redemption are classics with their beautiful graphics and a great story but they also have gameplay that draws you in leaving you to want to play more.

Did you ever think when you were younger you would be on a video game trading card?

No never, it’s such a big honor to have my own trading card for doing something that I enjoy playing and talking about.

It’s going to be even more amazing getting my card handed to me by Walter Day and Billy Mitchell.

If you could describe Walter Day in one word, what would that word be and why?

“Legend “here in the UK it’s a little phrase we use for someone we look up to and respect and Walter Has done a lot for the gaming community.

What is your favorite portable gaming device and why?

For me it still has to be the Nintendo Gameboy, it wowed me as a kid and still does to this day, the monochrome screen had its limitations but that gave it a special look which I adored, and it still has some of my favorite games ever like Tetris and Link to the past.

What games today do you play and what are your favorite genres of games?

At the moment I love playing puzzle type games due to lack of time, games like Tetris, Klax, Dr Mario , Baku Baku Animals , Puzzle Bobble. My favorite type of game is the scrolling beat em ups like Streets of rage 2, double dragon, TMNT and still love playing these games with friends.

Which console company is your favorite and why? Nintendo, Sony, Sega, or Microsoft?

It used to be Nintendo, but I do love my Sega consoles, such as the Master System, Megadrive and Dreamcast.

Are video games aimed mainly at children, adolescents or adults?

I’d say it depends on the game, I love playing games like Bomb Jack and love trying to get a high score but sometime I also enjoy playing games like GTA 5 and causing mayhem but on the other side I also enjoy watching my daughter play games like Animal Crossing.

Do you believe some video games are too violent and lead to violence in America today?

No, some people will always try and find a way to put blame on things like video games, music or even movies. I think as a parent I’d only let my child play age-appropriate games but also teach right from wrong. But I think unfortunately there are people out there that are going to bad things even without video games.

Do you prefer playing video games alone, against friends or online against the world and why?

It depends on my mood, sometimes I enjoy playing an arcade game by myself and just try and see how far I can get with 1 credit but other times I love playing games with a friend games like SF2 , Bubble Bobble or even Mario Kart. Then other times when I can I’ll try and play a more modern game like God of war, it all depends on my mood and what time I have available.

Which company makes the best games and why?

Well for me I still love Sega, I always go back to playing games like Shinobi or Outrun in the arcades and it’s just the nostalgia that makes me play these familiar games again and again it’s like meeting up with a old friend

Do you learn anything from playing video games?

Well as kid I used to enjoy Text adventures and that helped with my reading and spelling.

Where did you get the name “Podfather” and why was this given to you?

I think the name was given to me by listeners of all the podcasts I’ve been a part of, I think it’s to do with the fact I was one of the first UK retro gaming podcaster.

How does video game music influence games past and present?

Sega are the Masters of Music in games, as a kid I remember walking into the arcade and hearing the music of games from Outrun, Afterburner, Space Harrier and it blew my mind even now I find myself humming those classic gaming tunes.

Possibly my favorite gaming music is from Streets of rage 2 that’s a case where I can’t wait to get to the next level to hear another classic tune and I guess more recently Streets of rage 4 had an incredible soundtrack that just wowed me.

Who is your favorite video game character and what makes that character special?

For me growing up in the UK it has to be “Dizzy” for those not familiar with Dizzy (the egg), it was a game by codemasters it was an adventure game on the ZX Spectrum which spawned loads of sequels and spin offs, there was/is something so magical about him.

What springs to mind when you hear the term ‘Podcast’?

For me when I first set up Retro Asylum, I wanted it to mean a podcast/show with some fun hosts who could talk about our chosen subject with passion, and I wanted our listeners to feel like they were in the room with friends talking about games and it was place they could go to every week and hear something amazing from our youth.

Do you find boss battles to be the best part of a video game?

I do enjoy a good boss battle, there’s something so magical about getting to the end of the level and there’s a big bad boss waiting to fight you, R-Type, and Castlevania Symphony of the night had some great end of level bosses.

What is your favorite single player game and favorite multiplayer game?

I think my favorite single player game is Symphony of the night, i think it’s perfection.

Multiplayer wise I’m going to have to go for SF2, I’ve never stopped playing this since it came out , it’s game I always have to play whenever I have friends come round to my house.

If you can design your own game, what would it be about and who would be the main character?

I’d create a twin stick shooter game similar to Smash TV, it would star Walter Day as the hero, and it would be set in huge arcade, and you have to shoot lots of zombies and aliens invaders who are trying to steal the arcade machines.

Are you still involved with gaming today, and what role do you play?

I still podcast, I currently do. “Get to da choppa”, which is a podcast where I get different guests on each episode, and we talk about retro games and other cool geeky topics.

Where do you see video gaming in the next 10 years?

Consoles with even better graphics and higher frame rate with some amazing stunning games …but I’ll probably still play retro games on them most of the time.