MGIF S6 E13 Alex Donaldson


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This episode is with the marvellous Alex Donaldson.

Alex is a video game critic, the owner of RPG Site and Assistant Editor / editor at large for VG247.

We walked around the mean streets of Solihull and took in some gorgeous, verdant sights in the blazing sunshine - a huge long walk was had. Then we popped on the train to Birmingham to have a brief visit to NQ64 before sitting outside and soaking up a few more rays.

This is the first entirely roaming episode of the season, we talked for hours about all sorts and had a great day. What you will hear is a truncated version of our huge chat travelling all around Solihull and Birmingham with topics aplenty.

We spoke about Alex’s upbringing; his unusually early start in games writing, including his first visit to E3 at the age of 18; the future of expos and the games industry; family life; Alex’s obsession with projects, some of which involve tearing up his house (and installing arcade machines); choosing a direction for your websites and staying true to yourself, before closing out with a little bit of Street Fighter chat!

Alex is great and it was real pleasure scooting around Solihull and Birmingham, seeing the sights and chatting for hours til it was time to head home to London.

Thank you so much for listening, follow me over at @garydooton and @mgifshow. Stay subbed, stay following!

Lots of Love,

Gary x




MGIF S6 E12 Simon Parkin


To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe!

This episode is with the absolutely wonderful Simon Parkin!

Simon is a journalist, non-fiction writer and games critic. He also hosts the podcast My Perfect Console, where guests are invited to choose five games that are important to them to form their ideal fictional console.

As one of gaming’s best writers, it was an absolute pleasure to have someone like Simon appear on the show. We had a fantastic chat in Loading Bar Stoke Newington about writing both for games and away from games, how Simon picks a topic for his non-fiction books, the way games journalism has changed over the years, Simon’s love for writing and how he got into the industry, and many other little tangents and fun topics along the way.

Simon is wonderful and it was a delight to sit with him of an afternoon and get into some juicy topics. He’s great company and the episode is excellent as a result.

Thank you so much for listening, follow me over at @garydooton and @mgifshow. Stay subbed, stay following!

Lots of Love,

Gary x




MGIF S6 E11 Paul Kilduff-Taylor


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This episode is with the guy they very often call Paul Kilduff Taylor!

Paul is a previous guest of the show, and the man behind Mode7 Games. He is also an extremely brilliant music man who is behind several soundtracks in recent indie games, including the OSTs of Fights in Tight Spaces and the upcoming Knights In Tight Spaces, which is something we get into on the pod.

But not before having a walk around the Soho area and talking an extraordinary amount of shite first. But don’t worry, I’ve edited that bit right down into a manageable chunk of horseshit suitable for all the family.

We found a spare bench to park our bums on and get really into some excitable game design chat as well as generally enthusing about stuff we care about in games.

Paul is funny and knows his stuff in equal measure, so any time he’s on the podcast, it’s an excellent one.

Thank you so much for listening, follow me over at @garydooton and @mgifshow. Stay subbed, stay following!

Lots of Love,

Gary x




MGIF S6 E10 Frankie Ward


To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe!

This episode is with the fabulous Frankie Ward!

Frankie is an amazing, highly experienced presenter and streamer. She is an Intel Gaming Ambassador and is currently working on FC 24, VALORANT and Fortnite, but she’s done so much in her very busy career, so it was a pleasure and a privilege to share a couple of hours with her.

We got a good stroll in with another good doggie, this time by the name of Dina, before grabbing a coffee and making our way back to Frankie’s place for a well-earned rest.

We talked about FGC and the esports scene, being a mum and working as a freelancer, baking, Getting on with your job as a presenter and putting on a professional, brave face front of camera when everything is falling apart around you, women in esports scenes, both behind the desk and as competitors, and SO MUCH MORE!

It’s a lovely bumper episode this week, Frankie is brilliant and loads of fun, and I’m very grateful for her time and her openness in this episode. It’s another MGIF banger, but what else do you expect at this point?

Thank you so much for listening, follow me over at @garydooton and @mgifshow. Stay subbed, stay following!

Lots of Love,

Gary x




MGIF S6 E9 Jane Perry


To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe!

This episode is with actress and voice over queen, it’s Jane Perry!

Jane is an actress who you may know as the voice of Rogue in Cyberpunk, Selene in Returnal - a role for which she won a BAFTA - and Agent 47’s handler, Diana, in the Hitman series reboot. I was so excited to get Jane on the pod, I’m a big fan and anyone who knows me knows that Hitman is one of my all time beloved game series.

We walked around town with Jane’s adorable, enormous Great Dane Harley, had a coffee outside in the sunshine before retiring back to her kitchen for a bit more sit down chat with the fancy mics.

Jane is a truly sweet person and so talented, and a real pleasure to be in the company of. I’m excited to bring you this one and I know you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. 


Thank you so much for listening, follow me over at @garydooton and @mgifshow. Stay subbed, stay following!

Lots of Love,

Gary x




MGIF S6 E8 - Inel Tomlinson


To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe!

This episode is with Actor, comedian, voiceover artist and MUCH more, it’s Inel Tomlinson!

Recorded in February of 2024, we talk about firsts - first games, first stand up, first forays into TV, and from these starting points we go on ALL SORTS of tangents and journeys, and it’s an absolute riot.

Inel is hilarious and brimming with energy but we don’t just the comedian here - we get some insight into what it’s like to work in TV and how that landscape has changed, and the importance of timing and having a bit of luck in what you do, even when you’re very good at it. I really appreciated the honesty and how much he shared with me, it’s a great listen.

Thanks you so much for listening, follow me over at @garydooton and @mgifshow. Stay subbed, stay following!

Lots of Love,

Gary x




MGIF S6 E7 - Steffan Powell


To listen in your browser click the play button above, or simply search “MGIF Podcast” in your favourite podcast player and subscribe!

This episode is with presenter and journalist Steffan Powell!

Recorded in January 2024, I met Steffan outside the South Bank centre in London. We went for a stroll alongside the Thames, grabbed a coffee from one of the stands before sitting down in view of a gorgeously sunny London. We covered every detail of Steffan’s long and involved career, how Rumpole of the Bailey inspired his early career choices, his lifelong love of gaming, Welshness in games, alongside myriad other topics.

Steffan is brilliant - very naturally enjoyable company - and my interviewer / reporter / journalist itch that I like to scratch with this podcast really gelled with Steffan’s passion for his work.

This is an extra long one because we got talking so easily and I didn’t think it was worth cutting much out, I hope you enjoy it!

Thanks you so much for listening, follow me over at @garydooton and @mgifshow. Stay subbed, stay following!

Lots of Love,

Gary x




MGIF S6 E6 - Steve McNeil


This episode is with comedian, author, TV man and capital G GAMER, it’s Steve McNeil!

Recorded in October of 2023, I visited the VIBRANT / mostly concrete town of Milton Keynes, where Steve took me on a driving tour of everything the place had to see (basically the Milton Keynes concrete cows).

After doing our level best to not mention computer games at any point, we eventually succumb as we sit down in a beer garden after walking through a graveyard on a cold October afternoon - this episode really does have some devastatingly over 40s energy to it.

We talk about Street Fighter; whether we should cancel Charles Martinez; Steve’s 10 year running live show Wifi Wars; his book “Hey! Listen!” and - most importantly - California Games on the C64.

Steve is great and I had such a laugh in his company. This episode is pure chaos and I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks you so much for listening, follow me over at @garydooton and @mgifshow. Stay subbed, stay following!

Lots of Love,

Gary x