Podcast

Mike & Rami Are Still Here

Leisure, Technology, Video Games

Mike Rose and Rami Ismail are, somehow, still working in the video game industry after 15 years of huge highs, and crushing lows. Let's chat about that.

Episodes
24
Releases
Every two weeks
Typical length
49 min
On air since
2025
Latest episode
1 day ago

Episodes

24 episodes, newest first

  1. Rami Made a Video Game! Australia Did It

    Season 1, Episode 24

    Show notes

    Can you believe it? Mr. Rami Ismail has made a video game. It's called Australia Did It, and it launches later this month. In preparation, Mike played the game a bunch, and now has loads of questions for Rami.

    45 min
  2. Is Making Games Even Worth It?

    Season 1, Episode 23

    Show notes

    Why bother? Between the layoffs, the poor sales, the threat of AI, it feels like making video games in 2026 has become a bit of a pointless endeavour.

    Mike Rose (No More Robots founder) and Rami Ismail (Vlambeer founder) decide to answer this question once and for all. Should you bother making video games?

    38 min
  3. The 20 Games That Shaped Our Careers

    Season 1, Episode 22

    Show notes

    Mike Rose and Rami Ismail have been around in video games for nearly 40 years combined, and have worked on a bunch of different games -- but what games inspired, directed and influenced their career trajectories?

    Together they discuss 20 games that got them to where they are. Picks include Minecraft, Age of Empires, Papers Please, Golden Sun, Cave Story, and Spelunky.

    57 min
  4. What Are the Best Games Out Right Now?

    Season 1, Episode 21

    Show notes

    Mike and Rami have been playing loads of video games, and they decide to actually talk about video games for a change.

    They talk Blood of the Dawnwalker, Assassin's Creed, The Incident at Galley House, Big Walk, Blood Dungeon, and more

    50 min
  5. Simon Carless Does Actually Own a Car

    Season 1, Episode 20

    Show notes

    Bit of a misleading name.

    Simon Carless of GameDiscoverCo is on the poddy with us today, talking about analytics and video game history and dealing with Mike's usual bs. Rami still can't believe this is a real podcast. Mike Rose and Rami Ismail host.

    53 min
  6. The Quest For The Publishing Deal!

    Season 1, Episode 19

    Show notes

    It's the first ever Mike & Rami LIVE, recorded at Develop Conference in Brighton!

    Huge thanks to Develop Conference for letting us do this ridiculous thing on their stage. Mike & Rami play a 40 minute DnD session, and it goes exactly how you'd expect. We've got dice rolls, we've got guests, we've got game pitches, we've got the lot.

    41 min
  7. Mike and Rami Go Outside

    Season 1, Episode 18

    Show notes

    Time to touch sand.

    Mike Rose & Rami Ismail are at Develop Conference in Brighton this week, where they talk about the conference and their memories of it over the years; How they will definitely not be going in the sea; And discuss why the seagulls in Brighton are essentially "sky tanks".

    39 min
  8. How Much Do Video Games Sell in 2026?

    Season 1, Episode 17

    Show notes

    Mike Rose of No More Robots has launched a bunch of video games this year. In this episode of Mike & Rami Are Still Here, Mike goes into details about these game launches with Rami Ismail, including what worked, and what didn't.

    Is everyone in video games bad? Are we doomed? Let's find out.

    51 min
  9. Victoria Tran and Waluigi Sitting In a Tree

    Season 1, Episode 16

    Show notes

    K.I.S.S.I.N.G.

    Victoria Tran (Innersloth, Wholesome Games) joins Mike & Rami this week, and tries to understand what the point of this podcast is. In between, she shills her book "Mastering Community Management", answers rapid fire questions, and doesn't have a bucket list.

    39 min
  10. Was Starting A Podcast A Mistake?

    Season 1, Episode 15

    Show notes

    Six months ago, two old men from the video game industry started a podcast.

    Now Mike Rose and Rami Ismail talk through how it's all gone, giving numbers and statistics, and how close we are to our goals. Has it gone well? What could we do better? What's next for the podcast?

    44 min
  11. Game of the Year (So Far)

    Season 1, Episode 14

    Show notes

    Mike and Rami judge what the Game of the Year (so far) is

    Pragamata? Mewgenics? Titanium Court? Mixtape? Marathon? Slay the Spire II? Pokopia? Something else? Let's find out!

    48 min
  12. Attack of the Gong

    Season 1, Episode 13

    Show notes

    The Saga Continues.

    Mike and Rami have collected 15 questions from our listeners, and now proceed to answer them as quickly as possible. They talk Golden Sun, text adventures, Twitter, distracting Elon's parents, life after love, the ideal sandwich, therapy, and going to heaven in 2027.

    56 min
  13. Who Wants to Be a Thousandaire? Part 2

    Season 1, Episode 12

    Show notes

    15 questions. Three lifelines. $1,000. Part 2.

    Rami Ismail is back in the Thousandaire hotseat. Let's see if he can answer all of Mike Rose's 15 questions correctly, and become the first ever Thousandaire.

    50 min
  14. Who Wants to Be a Thousandaire?

    Season 1, Episode 11

    Show notes

    15 questions. Three lifelines. $1,000.

    It's Rami Ismail in the Thousandaire hotseat this week, working his way through host Mike Rose's questions. Can he answer all 15 questions correctly, and become the first ever Thousandaire?

    42 min
  15. Lucas Pope Wants Buttering Up

    Season 1, Episode 10

    Show notes

    Not bad for a first guest.

    55 min
  16. The Problem with Bonk Scenes

    Season 1, Episode 9

    Show notes

    Very weird way to do filler episodes, excuse the pun.

    47 min
  17. Are You Gonna Eat that Dessert?

    Season 1, Episode 8

    Show notes

    Talk about a turn of events!

    50 min
  18. The Worst Cold Open

    Season 1, Episode 7

    Show notes

    I thought British people were supposed to be funny.

    49 min
  19. Return of the Gong

    Season 1, Episode 6

    Show notes

    The gong has returned.

    40 min
  20. Wanna See a Party Trick?

    Season 1, Episode 5

    Show notes

    Party tricks. Saudi Princes. Steam pricing.

    Somehow, Mike & Rami talk about all three of these topics on the same episode.

    58 min