Earlier this week, I had the great pleasure of interviewing Mike Drucker about his new book, Good Game, No Rematch: A Life Made of Video Games. The book was released on April Fools Day — the same day we recorded this interview. It also happened to be the day before the big Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Direct. As a former Nintendo employee, he was able to tell me ZERO spoilers — which was to be expected.
Mike Drucker is an award-winning writer who has written for Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, Bill Nye Saves the World, and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Over his career he has worked as a writer for Nintendo, he’s one of the creators behind IGN’s Up at Noon, and his comedy writing has appeared in the New Yorker, The Onion, McSweeney’s, and Marvel Comics. He’s also a comedian living in New York.
His new book, Good Game, No Rematch: A Life Made of Video Games, is a memoir spanning Drucker’s life in connection with video games. While reading the book I was reminded of my own gaming-related tales. For instance, we were both introduced to the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) by a big sister. He attended many South Florida sporting events, like myself (Marlins and Dolphins games). We have also both owed Tom Nook a great deal of money in our lifetimes.
We covered a few stories from the book and I mentioned how I really enjoyed the balance within the book. He explored all emotions from heartfelt to sad to silly, but overall the entire book is very funny. I was a big fan of the short interstitials taking place between stories.
My big takeaway from Good Game, No Rematch has been to write about games on a more personal level. I don’t just have to take into account what is happening in the video game I’m currently “reviewing.” I can also include outside, real-life factors. We all have stuff going on in our life, even while playing games, so the same game will affect me differently than someone else.
You can watch the full interview right here:
If you’ll be in New York, South Florida, or Los Angeles in the next few weeks you can be a part of
Book Tour with Mike Drucker!
You can pick up Good Game, No Rematch: A Life Made of Video Games wherever you buy your books.
Lastly, I’d like to say thank you to Mike Drucker for being so generous with his time, and to Hanover Square Press for sending over an early copy of Good Game, No Rematch.
VIDEO GAME BOOK CLUB 