2025 PRGE Panel Descriptions

We have some returning favorites and lots of new presenters and topics! The descriptions below are subject to updates, so please check back often!

There are more panels coming!

Speaker Biographies are here»

Panel Schedule is here»

The Charles Martinet Experience
Featuring: Charles Martinet
Moderated by: Kelsey Lewin

It’s-a-him, Mario! Join Charles Martinet as he shares his experience bringing Mario and company to life, what he’s learned over his career, and what life is like as the ambassador to the world-famous plumber. The talk will be Kelsey Lewin and feature plenty of time for audience Q & A!

Girls to the Front: A Super Mario Princess Panel
Featuring: Samantha Kelly and Laura Faye Smith
Moderated by: XO SKELETON

Get to know the performers behind the princesses of one of the most beloved video game franchises of all time — Super Mario Bros. ! voice actor royalty Samantha Kelly (Princess Peach) and starlet Laura Faye Smith ( Rosalina) — hosted by XO SKELETON, the producer of RETRO WITH XO. Join in the discussion about the impact of positive & powerful feminine representation in video games, and their influence on pop culture. Followed by an audience Q&A!

Playing Secret Agent: The Voices Behind Metal Gear Solid
Featuring: David Hayter, Debi Mae West, Paul Eiding
Moderated by: Metal Gear Mondays

1998’s Metal Gear Solid for the Sony PlayStation was a watershed moment in video game voice acting history. More than 25 years ago, out of a makeshift studio in the rented home of a 1920s silent film star, magic was made by a cast who had largely never recorded for games. Join the voices of Solid Snake, Meryl Silverburgh, and Colonel Campbell, as well as the hosts of the Metal Gear Mondays podcast, as they discuss Metal Gear Solid’s lasting legacy, the cast’s career trajectories, and what exactly happened in that home in Hollywood a quarter century ago.

The Legends of Sierra Panel
Featuring: Al Lowe, Lori Cole, Corey Cole, Josh Mandel
Moderated by: Metal Jesus (Jason Lindsey)

Step back into the golden era of PC gaming with the creators who defined an entire genre. From the (ahem) whimsical adventures of Leisure Suit Larry to arguably the best RPG-adventure ever published — Quest for Glory, Sierra On-Line was a pioneer in storytelling, artistry, and technical innovation. This rare reunion of Sierra alumni brings together developers, designers, and storytellers to share behind-the-scenes tales of triumphs, late-night breakthroughs, and the legacy of games that continue to inspire generations. A must-see for fans who want to meet the legends behind the magic.

The Man Who Voiced 1,000 Snakes - A Pseudo Game Show with David Hayter
Featuring: David Hayter
Moderated by: Metal Gear Mondays

"Whether he’s been Solid, Naked, Old, or some non-canon spin-off in-betweener, David Hayter has voiced Metal Gear’s sneaky hero Snake for nearly thirty years. But, did you know that David is also a successful screenwriter, a film and TV actor, and that he had, arguably, the best haircut of 1994? Learn about all of this and more, as the hosts of the podcast Metal Gear Mondays grill David about his past, quiz him on the nitty gritty details of his work, and sneak a few other surprises into the mix. "

Bioware vs Bethesda
Featuring: Peter Jessop and Katy Townshend

Join acclaimed voice actors Peter Jessop (Sovereign in Mass Effect, Paladin Danse in Fallout 4) and Katy Townsend (Suvi in Mass Effect: Andromeda, Cait in Fallout 4) for an inside look at what it’s like to bring to life characters in two of the most iconic franchises in gaming. Together, they’ll share behind-the-scenes stories from their work with industry giants BioWare and Bethesda, exploring challenges and rewards of acting in beloved IPs. Whether you’re a longtime fan of these series or curious about the art of game performance, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what it means to help shape gaming history from the inside.

Game Changers: Women in Gaming
Featuring: Katy Townshend, Liz Mamorsky, and Jessica Straus
Moderated by: Two Girls One Ship

From their first game roles to the present day, women actors in video games have navigated unique challenges and breakthroughs in an industry still evolving when it comes to representation. Join Virvada and Jennasis of the Two Girls One Ship Podcast, as they bring together industry performers Katy Townshend (Mass Effect & Fallout 4), Liz Mamorsky (Silent Hill) and Jessica Straus (Street Fighter VI & Persona 4) to share what drew them to games over other mediums, the inspirations that shaped their journeys, and the barriers they’ve faced working in male-dominated spaces. They’ll discuss how roles for women have changed over time, whether characters are finally being written with the same depth as their male counterparts, and what responsibilities both developers and actors share in shaping authentic representation. For fans, developers, and aspiring performers alike, this conversation offers candid insights into the craft, the progress made, and the future of women in video game acting.

Thunder and Steel: A Mortal Kombat Panel
Featuring: Richard Epcar and Will Stephens

With a roster as legendary as its legacy, Mortal Kombat has earned a permanent place in the hearts of gamers for generations. Join voice actors Richard Epcar (Raiden) and Will Stephens (Jax) as they dive into the world of cybernetically-enhanced soldiers, gods, and everything in between.

Sounds of Nintendo!
Featuring: Samantha Kelly, Laura Faye Smith, Kenny James, Mike Vaughn, Grant Kirkhope
Moderated by: Kelsey Lewin

Learn about the world of Nintendo with the talented noise-makers that bring its games to life. Join voices of the mushroom kingdom Samantha Kelly (Princess Peach, Toad), Laura Faye Smith (Princess Rosalina), Kenny James (Bowser), and Mike Vaughn (Iggy Koopa, Ludwig von Koopa), as well as legendary composer Grant Kirkhope for a round table discussion Kelsey Lewin. Join them as they share their experiences in the recording studio and what it’s like to work with Nintendo, followed by an audience Q&A session!

Metal Gear Mondays Live: Snake’s Revenge! 
Featuring: Hosted by Lilliana Dawn Wright, Alessio Summerfield, James Reichmuth, Nick Freda, and Chad Betteridge

"It’s PRGE after dark, and the games-club podcast Metal Gear Mondays is pulling the curtain back on the most derided game in Metal Gear history—Snake’s Revenge for the NES! Live gameplay, in the form of “mom said it’s MY turn to play the yucky Metal Gear!” musical chairs, will also be provided for the enjoyment(?) of the audience. "

Phantasmagoria – A Panel of Flesh
Featuring: Victoria Morsell, Paul Morgan Stetler
Moderated by: Andrea Subissati

There’s nowhere that horror meets gaming more intimately and shockingly than Sierra’s Phantasmagoria suite of games, where interactive point-and-click adventure meets live-action film footage. Join Rue Morgue’s Andrea Subissati along with the games’ stars Tori Morsell (star of original Gothic haunter Phantasmagoria) and Paul Morgan Stetler (of the Cronenbergian body-horror Phantasmagoria: A Puzzle of Flesh) for a look back at some of the most controversial titles to ever cross the genres.

Digging Deep: Porting Lode Runner to the Atari 2600
Featuring: Dion Olsthoorn

Step back into gaming history as we explore Lode Runner - the groundbreaking classic known for its innovative guard AI and addictive puzzle-platforming gameplay. Dion will share insights into the original game's development, its lasting cultural impact, and the unique challenges of bringing this iconic title to the Atari 2600. Whether you’re a retro gaming enthusiast or curious about classic AI design, this talk will unearth the genius of Lode Runner and the process of adapting it to one of gaming’s most beloved consoles.

An Historical Perspective of Why Retro Video Games are Expensive
Featuring: Brett Weiss and John Hancock

Everyone knows that retro video game collecting has gotten very expensive, especially for CIB or sealed copies of key titles. In fact, it's become quite controversial. But few know exactly why the games have become so collectible and pricey. Author Brett Weiss will give a detailed, historical, linear explanation of why video games have gotten expensive over the years, from the early price guides to the rise of YouTube and eBay to games being graded like comic books and sports cards. With special guest John Hancock!

40 Years of NES with Pat Contri
Featuring: Pat “The NES Punk” Contri

Celebrate 40 years of the NES! Join Pat Contri (Pat the NES Punk) as he discusses what made the Nintendo Entertainment System great and why we still love the console and its games today. This will include some NES trivia, NES game challenges, and Pat will discuss the upcoming new edition of the NES guidebook!

Crazy Game Store Stories
Featuring: Cooper and Abbey (Double Jump Video Games), Cody (Pink Gorilla) and Josh (Stupid Geeks)

Four local game store owners share their stories of shoplifters, crazy customers, and other outrageous, funny and interesting things that have happened over the years. Ever wondered about the day-to-day business of running a video game store? These owners talk about thieves,  crazy walk-in trades, holy grails and other interesting tales from behind the sales counter.

Retrogaming And Mental Health: Games That Dive Into the Mind
Featuring: OtterlyNoah

OtterlyNoah will discuss retrogaming and how it correlates to mental health. Gaming is a form of escapism for many people, and in a lot of ways, there are benefits that come to your mental health with the advent of gaming being the world's biggest entertainment form. Certain games explore mental health themes in a surprisingly nuanced way such as American McGee's Alice, Psychonauts, and others, so let's discuss the best mental health video games today.

How I Published My Own Game Without Knowing How to Code
Featuring: John Riggs

John Riggs has 6 games he has published for NES, GBA, Dreamcast, Genesis, Steam, and Switch. He'll tell his story on how he was able to make it happen without knowing how to code. It's all about networking and meeting people who need your help.

Madden NFL - 1996-2000 - Stories From The Trenches
Featuring: Ric Neil and Mark Subotnick

Madden NFL is the most successful NFL football video game franchise in the world. Hear from Ric Neil (producer at EA) and Mark Subotnick (SEGA) why “everything is fine and we are shipping on time.” Lots of anecdotes, inside stories and fun facts about EA and the making of Madden NFL in the 90's!

Beyond Nostalgia: Why Old School RPGs Still Rule
Featuring: Bruce & Laura Gottlieb of Stirring Dragon Games

Why do so many RPG fans still love games from 30+ years ago, games like The Bard’s Tale, Ultima, Chrono Trigger, or the old SSI “Gold Box” games? There’s something about those classics that still feels magical, even today. While building a new authentic 8-bit RPG, we’ve rediscovered how limitations can drive creativity and once again give players access to the most powerful technology of all: their imagination. This talk explores what made old-school RPGs so memorable, why it's more than just nostalgia, and how leaving room for the player’s imagination can inspire fresh innovations in RPG design today.

Power-Ups and Potions: Exploring Gaming's Most Iconic Foods and Beverages
Featuring: Cassandra Reeder and James Asmus

Join gaming cookbook author Cassandra Reeder (The Geeky Chef) and comic writer James Asmus for a deep dive into some of the most iconic foods in video game history. From suspicious stews to pixelated pastries, we’ll explore the potions, snacks, and consumables that stuck with us long after we put down the controller. Along the way, we’ll chat about what makes these foods so memorable, how they function in their games, and how they’ve inspired real-life recipes and recreations.

The History of “The Bard's Tale”
Featuring: Michael Cranford

When The Bard’s Tale was released in 1985, it quickly became the best-selling computer RPG of the 1980s and was followed by two sequels and a construction set. Having been called "one of the most classic franchises in PC gaming" for its great plot and its novel character class of the bard, The Bard’s Tale was later remastered and released on the Xbox One. It also spawned novels, clue books and spiritual successors. Will your stalwart band choose to join this panel?

The Best And Worst 7/10 Games Of All Time
Featuring: Gary Butterfield and Kaye Ross as “Watch Out For Fireballs” (guest starring The Retronauts)

7/10 games can paradoxically be some of the best and worst games of all time. What makes a 7/10 game a diamond with rough edges, and what makes a 7/10 game a boring snooze fest that technically doesn't do anything wrong? Gary and Kaye break it down in this funny talk, complete with plenty of examples and visual aides.

Not The NES: 40 Years of Also-Rans
Featuring: Jeremy Parish

The Nintendo Entertainment System debuted in America 40 years ago this fall! This panel is not about that. No, it's about the OTHER consoles that existed alongside the NES in its early days - the systems that get overlooked while everyone talks breathlessly about how Nintendo single-handedly saved video games. From Atari to Sega to INTV to Atari again, the machines competing with the NES prove that video games would have been a big deal even without Nintendo, and this panel celebrates their circumstances and highlights.

The Best and Worst of Retro Game Horror
Featuring: The Retronauts (Gary Butterfield, Bob Mackey and Jeremy Parish)

As the past decade of Five Nights at Freddy's has taught us, kids love horror. But before all the kiddos out there had the opportunity to look up the most stomach-churning images and videos in creation just by picking up mommy's cell phone, one question arose: How do you market highly inappropriate media to children? Join your pals from the Retronauts podcast as they explore the best and worst of retro horror games to determine just how blood and guts sold in an era before formal ratings systems.

My Years With Clippy
Featuring: Keith Sink

These days AI assistants are all the rage and Clippy would like to know if you need help with that. Learn about the history of the world’s most famous (and infamous!) paperclip with Microsoft Office Technical Editor Keith Sink (aka Clippy’s Personal Trainer). Keith will talk about how the Office Answer Wizard worked, highlight other characters for different geographic regions, and dive into Clippy’s pop culture influence and legacy.

How To Write Retro Games On The Atari 8-Bit Machines
Featuring: Joe Decuir

Ever wondered what it takes to write your own retro games on Atari 8-bit machines from the late 70ies and early 80ies? Who better to talk about this than Joe Decuir - Atari hard and software engineer who worked on the Atari 2600, Atari 8-bit computers and the Commodore Amiga computers? Join this legend and learn from the master!

Atari Stories
Featuring: Joe Decuir

Not only did Atari hard and software engineer Joe Decuir work on the Atari 2600 and Atari 8-bit computers, but he also programmed two of the first 2600 videogames: Combat and Video Olympics. Join Joe to hear about all things Atari, the 2600 development process, design etc.

Panther to Predator
Featuring: Faran Thomason, James “Purple” Hampton and Ted Tahquechi (and Steve Mitchell remotely)

Born in the aftermath of the 16-bit console wars, the Atari Jaguar was Atari’s bold attempt to leapfrog the competition - vaulting from 16-bit systems past the emerging 32-bit era straight into a new 64-bit frontier. But behind that ambitious promise was a whirlwind of uncertain hardware, wild experimentation, and a development environment like no other. We’ll recount our first encounters with the Jaguar’s prototype hardware, the mesmerizing spinning cube startup sequence, the infamous "telephone keypad" controller, and even its predecessor—the ill-fated Panther. This panel dives deep into the chaos and creativity that shaped the Jaguar’s title launch lineup, as we reflect on the tough calls, strange tools, and scrappy ingenuity that defined that era.

Toys to Life - When the Toybox Went Digital
Featuring: Faran Thomason, James “Purple” Hampton and Ted Tahquechi (and Steve Mitchell remotely)

Toys and games weren’t just sharing shelf space in the '90s- they were marketing soulmates. In this compelling panel, the Retro Game Gurus dive into their wild adventures creating video game products for the toy aisle at companies like Mattel, MGA Entertainment, and LeapFrog. From Hot Wheels tracks brought to life in digital form to MGA’s bratz Plug n Play games and LeapFrog’s unique blend of education and play, these industry veterans reveal what it took to transform plastic icons into pixelated powerhouses. Expect behind-the-scenes tales of licensing battles, cross-platform development chaos, and how Toys "R" Us once helped decide the success of your game. Whether you’re a collector, a developer, or just someone who gets a nostalgia rush of seeing your favorite toy on a TV Screen, this panel peels back the curtain on a pivotal era when toys powered game sales - and vice versa.

The Sound of Adventure: Game Music Composers in Conversation
Featuring: George Sanger, Mark Seibert, Ken Allen, Al Lowe, Neal Grandstaff
Moderated by: The Space Quest Historian (Troels Pleimert)

From the haunting melodies of The 7th Guest to the triumphant fanfare of King’s Quest, music has always been the heartbeat of adventure gaming. Join a panel of celebrated composers and musicians alike who scored some of the most iconic soundtracks in interactive entertainment. Expect stories of MIDI wizardry as the composers discuss the craft of writing for games, the balance between atmosphere and interactivity, and how their music shaped players’ memories.

Pixels, Performance & Paradox: FMV Then and Now
Featuring: Victoria Morsell, Paul Morgan Stetler, Sean Parker
Moderated by: Jackie Stargrove

Once hailed as the future of interactive storytelling, full-motion video (FMV) blurred the line between film and play — often in strange, campy, and groundbreaking ways. From the surreal horror of Phantasmagoria to modern indie experiments, FMV has carved out a fascinating niche in art and history. Join actors, developers, and historians as they revisit the highs and lows of FMV’s past and debate its unexpected resurgence in today’s digital landscape.

The Villains of Mario
Featuring: Kenny James, Mike Vaughn, Grant Kirkhope
Moderated by:  Manny McIvor

Have you ever wondered what makes Bowser one of the greatest bad guys in video game history? What makes the Koopalings click? What drives Donkey Kong bananas? Join voice actors: Kenny James (Bowser),  Grant Kirkhope (Donkey Kong), Mike Vaughn (Iggy Koopa, Ludwig von Koopa), in a panel discussion on what it takes to bring colorful, charismatic villains of Super Mario to life.

NES 40th Anniversary Panel
Featuring: Gail Tilden, Lance Barr and Bruce Lowry
Moderated by: Frank Cifaldi (Video Game History Foundation)

We’re celebrating the 40th anniversary of the US-release of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) - and the people that helped make this a huge success are here to talk about it! From the unique marketing challenges in the wake of the 1983 video game crash, to design changes for the console case and test market efforts in New York. Learn how PR, marketing and design efforts helped make the NES the successful console that re-established video games as a thriving pop culture aspect in the US!

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater: Developer Stories
Featuring: Ralph D'Amato, Nolan Nelson, Chris Rausch, Darren Thorne

In 1999 a group of 13 talented video game developers were gathered with a shared goal of making a “small skateboarding game”. Many of the 13 were new employees at Neversoft but all 13 were fully committed to making something new. There was no AI, YouTube, Google or barely much of a World Wide Web at all. The tools that were used were primitive compared to technology today and yet every 9 months a new game was created. Join several of those original developers to hear the stories behind that small skateboarding game that became the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater franchise.

Saranghae: What K-Dramas Can Teach Video Game Romance
Featuring: Two Girls One Ship

Join the two girls of the Two Girls One Ship podcast as they discuss the romance of K-dramas, the various ways they sell emotional intimacy to the audience, and how video games can learn how to do the same. These two girls love love and digital love is an important societal tool that we hope will continue to appear in countless games to come.

The SiNESter side of NES
Featuring: Andrea Subissati

Let Rue Morgue executive editor Andrea Subissati take you back in time to the world of 8-bit horror when, Nintendo’s strict licensing rules meant third-party developers took advantage of movie IPs… with very mixed results. Revisit the game adaptations of Jaws, Predator, Beetlejuice, Terminator 2 and see which entries among them understood (or even read) the assignment!