What Is the My Perfect Console Podcast About?

Updated

My Perfect Console is a conversational interview podcast hosted by Simon Parkin in which guests are asked to describe the video game console they consider perfect. Rather than reviewing new hardware or reporting gaming news, each episode is built around one guest's personal answer to that question, and the discussion grows outward from there into gaming memories, tastes, and the reasons behind their choice.

The core premise

The show's organising idea is simple and repeatable: a guest names a console — not necessarily the most powerful, popular, or commercially successful one — and explains why it earns the word "perfect" in their eyes. That framing does most of the work. It turns a hardware question into a personal one, so the conversation naturally covers:

  • Which console the guest picked, and when they first encountered it
  • The games they associate with it, and what those games meant to them
  • The circumstances of playing it — where they were, who they played with, what period of their life it belongs to
  • Why other consoles they owned or admired did not take the same place

Because "perfect" is a personal judgement rather than a technical rating, two guests can give completely different answers without either being wrong. That is the point of the format.

What an episode tends to sound like

This is an interview show, not a scripted or panel format. Simon Parkin leads the conversation, asking follow-up questions and steering the guest from their initial pick into the memories and reasoning behind it. The tone is conversational and reflective rather than critical or news-driven.

Practically, that means you should expect:

  • A single guest per episode, in dialogue with the host
  • Discussion driven by the guest's own history and preferences
  • A focus on personal experience over specifications, sales figures, or release schedules
  • No obligation to keep up with current releases — episodes are not tied to a news cycle

If you are looking for buying advice, benchmark comparisons, or coverage of what launched this month, this is not that kind of show. If you are interested in why particular machines matter to particular people, it is.

Who it is for

The podcast suits listeners who enjoy gaming history and personal storytelling more than product coverage. It is a good fit if you:

  • Like hearing people talk about the games and hardware that shaped them
  • Are interested in the emotional and biographical side of gaming, not just the technical side
  • Enjoy interview formats where the guest's own answer sets the agenda
  • Want something you can dip into episode by episode without following a running story

It is a weaker fit if you want structured reviews, rankings, or timely industry analysis.

How to use the show

Because each episode stands alone around one guest's answer, you do not need to start from the beginning or listen in order. A practical approach:

  1. Find the episode list on the podcast's site or wherever you listen.
  2. Pick a guest whose work or taste you already know — their answer will be easier to follow and more interesting to compare against your own.
  3. Listen for the moment the guest explains why their console is perfect; that reasoning is usually the heart of the episode.
  4. Compare their pick with yours. The format works best when you treat it as a prompt for your own answer, not as a verdict on the hardware.

A note on scope

The available description identifies the show as the My Perfect Console podcast, hosted by Simon Parkin. Details such as episode length, release schedule, guest roster, and where it is available are not specified here, so check the show's own page or your podcast app for the current episode list and listening options.