Ch 00 · Power on

Twenty-five years helping shape how the world builds, plays, and remembers video games.

Technology executive at Sun Microsystems, Verizon, and AWS. Guest curator and creator of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's "The Art of Video Games" exhibition. Recipient of the 2013 Ambassador Award at the Game Developers Choice Awards.

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CH 01 · Chris Melissinos

Turn the dial: 10 channels. Channels 2 to 10 play videos featuring Chris.

Ch 01 · On the dial, 2001 to today

5 companies, newest first.

2020 – today
Principal Evangelist
Connects Amazon's most innovative technical work with customers worldwide; before that, AWS's principal evangelist to the games industry.
2013 – 2020
Executive Director, Interactive Entertainment
Led media and entertainment strategy, an interactive entertainment platform at Verizon Media, and the 5G Disruption team.
2012 – 2013
Co-founder
Co-inventor on US Patent 9,197,911 for interactive experiences built from content metadata.
2011 – 2012
Vice President, Corporate Marketing and Communications
Ran global brand, press and analyst relations, events and digital properties.
2001 – 2010
Chief Gaming Officer; Chief Evangelist
Led Sun's games strategy, drove Project Darkstar and founded JavaGaming.org.

SUN

VRSN

VERIZON

GOPOP

AWS

Ch 02 · The Smithsonian

Putting video games in an art museum

In 2009 the Smithsonian American Art Museum asked Chris to create and guest-curate an exhibition on 40 years of video games as an artistic medium.

He built the story, gathered the assets and assembled an advisory group of developers, designers, industry pioneers and journalists. Together they picked a ballot of 240 games across five eras, and the public voted on which would hang in the museum.

The Art of Video Games opened on March 16, 2012 and ran through September 30. Visitors could play five of them: Pac-Man, Super Mario Brothers, The Secret of Monkey Island, Myst and Flower. The show then toured 10 more museums across the country through 2016, and more than 2.4 million people saw it in all.

Chris wrote the companion book, The Art of Video Games: From Pac-Man to Mass Effect, and the work earned him the 2013 Ambassador Award at the Game Developers Choice Awards.

3.7M+public votes chose the games
175countries those votes came from
80games in the exhibition
690,000visitors during the Washington run (curator records)
2.4M+visitors across the 11-museum national tour

Exhibition archive Exhibition trailer Conversation with Hideo Kojima Interview with RJ Mical

Chris Melissinos playing a wall-sized projection of Pac-Man at a game kiosk in the exhibition — Playing the exhibition's wall-sized Pac-Man before opening, March 2012.Photo: Smithsonian American Art Museum, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Chris Melissinos and Tim Schafer posing together next to a studio light — With Tim Schafer at GDC 2011, photographed by exhibition coordinator Georgina Goodlander.Photo: Georgina Goodlander, CC BY-SA 2.0

Ch 03 · On the air

In the media

Interviews, podcasts and coverage from NPR and CNN to GDC.

Latest podcast · June 9, 2025

Nobody builds anything great by themselves

Your Career, Unscripted, episode 15: from making copies for Sun's sales team to leading games at AWS.

Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube

2026
The Future of Video Games is PlayGDC 2026 talk
2012
Blasts From The Past: The Art Of Video GamesNPR
2012
Leveling up at the SmithsonianCNN
2012
The Art of PlayGame Informer interview
2012
Q&A on curating the exhibitionNetwork World
2007
Interview with Sun's Chris MelissinosLWN.net

Weekly livestream · Creator and co-host

Boss Rush Game Industry News Podcast

A weekly show where game industry veterans Dean Takahashi, Mark DeLoura, Susan Cummings and Chris Melissinos discuss the week's game industry news and take audience questions.

All livestreams on YouTube Latest: Sep 4, 2026

Latest livestreams

Sep 4, 2026FLYING SOLO!1:08:54
Aug 28, 2026GAMESCOM and GTA!1:03:25
Aug 21, 2026DUOS!1:08:24
Aug 7, 2026FREEFORM FRIDAY!1:01:15
Jul 31, 2026LET'S MEET AT THE MALL!1:05:43

Full archive · 87 livestreams since May 31, 2024

2026 · 26 livestreams

Sep 4, 2026FLYING SOLO!1:08:54
Aug 28, 2026GAMESCOM and GTA!1:03:25
Aug 21, 2026DUOS!1:08:24
Aug 7, 2026FREEFORM FRIDAY!1:01:15
Jul 31, 2026LET'S MEET AT THE MALL!1:05:43
Jul 24, 2026Special guest: Stanley Pierre-Louis, President & CEO, The ESA1:05:20
Jul 10, 2026REDEYE MADNESS!1:00:37
Jul 10, 2026WHAT'S GOOD?1:04:34
Jun 26, 2026BACK FOR JUNE1:04:41
Jun 12, 2026HOME SWEET HOME1:03:00
May 29, 2026FREEFLOW LIVESTREAM!1:05:37
May 22, 2026JET SET LIVESTREAM!1:03:15
May 15, 2026ARCADE TIME!1:05:55
May 8, 2026EARLY BIRD!1:01:55
Apr 24, 2026WE'RE BACK!1:02:14
Apr 3, 2026Post-Mario Galaxy Movie1:03:26
Mar 27, 2026Full House1:02:37
Mar 20, 2026Back from GDC!1:02:40
Mar 6, 2026HEADING TO GDC!1:31:08
Feb 20, 2026Countdown to GDC!1:02:42
Feb 13, 2026Post-DICE1:05:56
Feb 6, 2026Pre-DICE1:03:15
Jan 30, 2026With Special Guest, Darren Gladstone1:07:27
Jan 23, 2026SNOWMAGEDDON!!!!1:05:03
Jan 16, 2026LET'S GGGOOOOO!!!1:03:15
Jan 9, 20262026 KICKOFF!1:06:01

2025 · 38 livestreams

Dec 19, 2025Weekly game industry news1:04:04
Dec 12, 2025Weekly game industry news1:04:56
Nov 21, 2025Weekly game industry news1:08:03
Nov 14, 2025Weekly game industry news1:05:15
Oct 31, 2025HAPPY HALLOWEEN!1:10:15
Oct 23, 2025SPECIAL DAY! · Special guest: Darren Gladstone1:13:26
Oct 17, 2025Special guest: Richard Browne1:00:42
Oct 10, 2025Special guest: Alexander Seropian1:05:08
Oct 3, 2025Weekly game industry news1:30:50
Sep 26, 2025Weekly game industry news1:05:35
Sep 19, 2025Weekly game industry news1:01:51
Sep 12, 2025Weekly game industry news1:06:19
Sep 5, 2025SPECIAL EPISODE1:08:48
Aug 29, 2025Weekly game industry news1:14:20
Aug 22, 2025Weekly game industry news1:08:43
Aug 15, 2025Weekly game industry news1:06:34
Aug 8, 2025Weekly game industry news1:03:19
Aug 1, 2025Weekly game industry news1:01:30
Jul 25, 2025Weekly game industry news1:04:12
Jul 18, 2025Weekly game industry news1:04:26
Jul 11, 2025Weekly game industry news1:04:29
Jun 20, 2025Weekly game industry news1:04:25
Jun 13, 2025Weekly game industry news1:07:51
Jun 6, 2025Weekly game industry news1:04:14
May 23, 2025Weekly game industry news1:03:55
May 16, 2025Weekly game industry news57:47
May 9, 2025Weekly game industry news1:04:27
May 2, 2025Weekly game industry news1:01:01
Apr 25, 2025Weekly game industry news59:24
Apr 18, 2025Weekly game industry news1:05:09
Apr 4, 2025Weekly game industry news2:07:37
Mar 28, 2025POST-GDC 2025!1:07:28
Mar 14, 2025PRE-GDC 2025!1:04:46
Mar 7, 2025Weekly game industry news1:06:19
Feb 21, 2025Weekly game industry news1:04:08
Feb 7, 2025Weekly game industry news1:00:56
Jan 31, 2025Weekly game industry news1:01:05
Jan 10, 2025Weekly game industry news1:01:24

2024 · 23 livestreams

Dec 20, 2024Weekly game industry news1:22:07
Dec 13, 2024Weekly game industry news1:01:55
Nov 29, 2024Weekly game industry news1:32:35
Nov 22, 2024Weekly game industry news1:01:57
Nov 15, 2024Weekly game industry news1:04:04
Nov 8, 2024Weekly game industry news1:02:16
Nov 1, 2024Weekly game industry news1:03:26
Oct 25, 2024Weekly game industry news1:02:30
Sep 13, 2024Weekly game industry news1:10:36
Sep 6, 2024FLYING SOLO!58:20
Aug 23, 2024GAMESCOM 2 HOUR LIVESTREAM2:02:10
Aug 16, 2024Weekly game industry news1:05:15
Aug 16, 2024Weekly game industry news21:14
Aug 9, 2024Weekly game industry news1:08:03
Aug 2, 2024Weekly game industry news1:04:25
Jul 26, 2024Weekly game industry news1:05:14
Jul 19, 2024Weekly game industry news1:02:24
Jul 12, 2024Weekly game industry news1:07:10
Jun 28, 2024Weekly game industry news1:02:14
Jun 21, 2024Weekly game industry news1:03:42
Jun 14, 2024Weekly game industry news1:07:33
Jun 7, 2024Weekly game industry news1:02:22
May 31, 2024Weekly game industry news1:05:02

Interview series · Host · AWS for Games

Game Industry Legends

Chris sits down with game industry legends who helped shape the global video game landscape.

Full playlist on YouTube Latest: May 14, 2025

Latest interviews

May 14, 2025Shannon Loftis · Former Microsoft Games Executive1:13:23
Mar 27, 2025Gerard Williams · The HipHopGamer1:07:21
Dec 11, 2024Shawn Layden · Former Chairman, PlayStation Worldwide Studios1:15:08
May 24, 2024Raph Koster (UltimaOnline, StarWarsGalaxies, PlayableWorlds)1:14:57
Jan 23, 2024Alexander Seropian (Bungie, Halo, Look North World)1:10:15

Full archive · 19 interviews since Apr 21, 2023

2025 · 2 interviews

May 14, 2025Shannon Loftis · Former Microsoft Games Executive1:13:23
Mar 27, 2025Gerard Williams · The HipHopGamer1:07:21

2024 · 3 interviews

Dec 11, 2024Shawn Layden · Former Chairman, PlayStation Worldwide Studios1:15:08
May 24, 2024Raph Koster (UltimaOnline, StarWarsGalaxies, PlayableWorlds)1:14:57
Jan 23, 2024Alexander Seropian (Bungie, Halo, Look North World)1:10:15

2023 · 14 interviews

Nov 29, 2023Steve Cartwright (Atari, Activision)1:06:24
Nov 3, 2023John Romero (Doom, Quake id Software)1:10:57
Oct 22, 2023Warren Spector (Deus EX, Thief, Epic Mickey)1:09:28
Sep 28, 2023Sheri Graner Ray (Ultima, Star Wars Galaxies, Women in Games)1:12:23
Sep 15, 2023David Perry (Shiny, Earthworm Jim, Aladdin, The Matrix)1:11:29
Aug 16, 2023Graeme Devine (7th Guest, 11th Hour, Quake III, Magic Leap)1:19:14
Aug 2, 2023Tom Kalinske (Mattel, Barbie, Sega, Sonic, Genesis)1:02:20
Jul 17, 2023Henk Rogers (Nintendo, GameBoy, Tetris)1:24:42
Jul 17, 2023Noah Falstein (Williams Games, LucasArts, Indiana Jones)1:17:17
Jun 5, 2023Cliff Bleszinski (Jazz Jackrabbit, Unreal, Gears of War)1:03:14
Apr 21, 2023Howard Scott Warshaw (Atari, ET, Indiana Jones)1:25:51
Apr 21, 2023Don Daglow (Intellivision, Electronic Arts)1:24:54
Apr 21, 2023Perrin Kaplan (Nintendo)1:23:03
Apr 21, 2023RJ Mical Interview (Amiga, 3DO, Atari Lynx, PlayStation)1:25:30

Weekly show · Host · AWS for Games

AWS REWIND

Every week Chris explores the video game industry's past that shapes its future: retro consoles, games, and interviews with industry leaders.

Full playlist on YouTube Latest: Dec 20, 2024

Latest episodes

Dec 20, 2024Let's play: Christmas Nights!56:34
Dec 13, 2024Let's play: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind1:05:28
Nov 22, 2024Let's play: Full Motion Video Games1:07:31
Nov 15, 2024Let's play: More Tetris! · Tetris Forever1:03:01
Nov 8, 2024Let's play: The first console wars!1:01:43

Full archive · 76 episodes since Apr 15, 2023

2024 · 42 episodes

Dec 20, 2024Let's play: Christmas Nights!56:34
Dec 13, 2024Let's play: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind1:05:28
Nov 22, 2024Let's play: Full Motion Video Games1:07:31
Nov 15, 2024Let's play: More Tetris! · Tetris Forever1:03:01
Nov 8, 2024Let's play: The first console wars!1:01:43
Nov 1, 2024Let's play: Scary but not so scary retro games!1:15:20
Oct 18, 2024Let's play: SNK 40th Anniversary Collection1:06:01
Oct 11, 2024Let's play: Tiger Electronics Game.Com1:07:46
Oct 4, 2024Let's play: Pac-Man Museum Plus52:48
Sep 27, 2024Let's play: The Wide World of Atari1:03:56
Sep 20, 2024Let's play: Nintendo World Championships · NES Edition57:34
Sep 13, 2024Let's play: 25th Anniversary of the Sega Dreamcast!1:13:46
Sep 6, 2024Let's play: Back to the Atari Lynx!1:13:28
Aug 23, 2024Let's play: Old iPad Games!1:29:25
Aug 16, 2024Let's play: Williams Arcade Games From the 1980's1:02:43
Aug 9, 2024Let's play: Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore1:05:27
Aug 2, 2024Let's play: TMNT Games!1:07:43
Jul 26, 2024Let's play: MS-DOS Games!1:08:30
Jul 19, 2024Let's play: Favorite Pinball Games!1:03:32
Jul 12, 2024Let's play: Star Wars: Rebel Assault I+II1:15:17
Jun 28, 2024Let's play: Sega Genesis Classic Collection!1:19:07
Jun 21, 2024Let's play: MORE Atari Mania!1:03:35
Jun 14, 2024Retro inspired Avenger Sharks!1:06:42
Jun 7, 2024Let's play: Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord1:05:15
May 31, 2024Let's play: Exploring the C64 Mini1:21:11
May 24, 2024Let's play: Continuing Atari Mania1:00:28
May 17, 2024Let's play: The A500 Mini1:50:02
Apr 26, 2024Let's play: Modern Jeff Minter Games1:00:29
Apr 19, 2024Let's play: Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story1:05:23
Apr 12, 2024Let's play: The 400 Mini2:01:09
Apr 5, 2024SYSTEM FAILURE!1:15:40
Mar 29, 2024Let's play: Revisiting the SNES Mini!1:06:36
Mar 15, 2024Let's play: Dark Forces Remaster · OG Star Wars GREATNESS!58:26
Mar 8, 2024Let's play: TAITO EGRET II MINI GAMES!1:10:18
Mar 1, 2024Let's play: Mattel Electronics Intellivision1:13:20
Feb 16, 2024Let's play: The Making of Karateka1:05:41
Feb 9, 2024PICO-8 Retro Fantasy Console · Let's Explore!1:08:15
Feb 2, 2024Atari Time! · VCS Lego set and Atari 50th games update!1:11:23
Jan 26, 2024Let's play: Favorite 90's Arcade Games1:05:12
Jan 19, 2024Let's play: Favorite 80's Arcade Games1:11:22
Jan 12, 2024Let's play: Sega 32X1:08:48
Jan 5, 2024Let's play: Best Tetris Versions1:04:19

2023 · 34 episodes

Dec 22, 2023Let's play: Sega Saturn Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams!1:01:11
Dec 15, 2023Let's play: Atari 26001:08:18
Dec 1, 2023Let's play: Sega Game Gear1:11:47
Nov 17, 2023Exploring video game magazines!1:33:05
Nov 10, 2023Building retro games with AI · Interview with Andre LaMothe1:07:50
Nov 3, 2023Let's play: NEO GEO Advanced Entertainment System1:06:13
Oct 27, 2023Let's play: Sega Master System1:19:09
Oct 22, 2023Let's play: Vectrex Home Arcade (AUDIO FIXED!)58:43
Oct 13, 2023Let's play: Atari 5200 SuperSystem1:24:29
Oct 6, 2023Let's play: SEGA-CD1:21:21
Sep 22, 2023Let's play: Commodore VIC-201:16:16
Sep 15, 2023Let's play: ColecoVision1:13:50
Sep 8, 2023Let's play: AtariQuest1:10:06
Sep 1, 2023Let's play: Mini Arcade Machines59:11
Aug 25, 2023Let's play: Philips CD-i1:05:59
Aug 18, 2023Hanging out with author and designer, Tim Lapetino1:12:21
Aug 11, 2023Let's play: TurboGrafx-161:08:25
Aug 4, 2023Let's play: Atari Lynx1:07:51
Jul 28, 2023Let's play: Barbie Games1:00:57
Jul 21, 2023Let's play: Atari Jaguar1:00:06
Jul 17, 2023Let's play: The 3DO Interactive Multiplayer1:19:55
Jul 7, 2023Hanging out · Let's play!46:01
Jun 30, 2023Exploring The Strong National Museum of Play24:02
Jun 23, 2023Talking with game industry champion Amir Satvat!1:07:10
Jun 16, 2023video game designer and professor, Chris Totten!1:12:14
Jun 9, 2023SEGA 32X Game Development at AWS!1:01:43
Jun 2, 2023Steven Hugg from 8bitworkshop1:01:52
May 26, 2023Let's play: Sega Dreamcast1:32:24
May 19, 2023Interviewing Van Burnham from Supercade1:05:19
May 12, 2023Let's play: Sega Saturn1:04:49
May 5, 2023the Video Game History Foundation1:21:35
Apr 28, 2023Exploring Mini-Consoles!1:10:06
Apr 21, 2023Exploring Retro Gaming in Antstream Arcade1:03:44
Apr 15, 2023Exploring the history of Atari with Mike Mika of Digital Eclipse1:06:04

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Ch 04 · Save state

Keeping game history playable

Games disappear when the hardware, code and paperwork behind them are lost. Chris has spent years helping keep that from happening.

2017 – today
Video Game History Foundation
Founding board member of the nonprofit that catalogs, digitizes and preserves the history of video games.
gamehistory.org
2010 – 2015
PastPixels, LLC
Founded to produce The Art of Video Games and its national tour, with a focus on the long-term preservation of video games and related ephemera.
2012
The Art of Video Games
Author of the exhibition's companion book, From Pac-Man to Mass Effect (Welcome Books).

Ch 05 · Live on stage

Speaking

Keynotes, conversations and lectures for audiences from 10 people to 20,000.

2026
The Future of Video Games is PlayGame Developers Conference
2026
Why We Still Believe, with Amir SatvatGame Developers Conference
2026
KeynoteSupercell Games First
TEDx
TEDx talkVideo
NYU
NYU Game Lecture SeriesVideo
2007
KeynoteGames for Change festival

To book a talk, email chris@chrismelissinos.com.

Chris Melissinos and Amir Satvat seated on stage at a panel table at GDC 2026 — With Amir Satvat at GDC 2026.Photo: Official GDC, CC BY 4.0

Ch 06 · Free play

Discover

Things to play, watch, hear and read.

Ch 07 · Game over? Insert coin

Say hello

chris@chrismelissinos.com

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