Nate Drake, I Am Not Good

Nate Drake, I Am Not Good

From Pixels and Polygons by Darren Hupke

April 27, 2026 · 34 min · Season 3 · Episode 111

About this episode

Darren Hupke interviews Nate Drake about his book on the history of cheating in video games.

Welcome to Pixels and Paragraphs, part of the Sound Stone Network. This is the bonus show, where you get to hear me, Darren Hupke, interview some of the raddest writers behind the greatest gaming books. Each episode, you’ll get to hear from a new guest as they discuss their book, talk about their process, share some details from behind the keys, and more! Whether you’re a fan of the book already or want to find something new to read, I hope you’ll find something to enjoy about what we discuss today! This week’s guest is… Nate Drake, writer of the upcoming I Am Not Good: The History of Cheating in Video Games. For generations of players, cheat codes were a secret handshake. A gateway to extra lives, godlike powers, and hidden worlds. But behind every cheat lies a story of creativity, rebellion, and the ever-shifting line between play and power. I Am Not Good: The History of Cheating in Video Games takes readers on a journey through the evolution of video game cheats, from the days of secret developer codes and the legendary Konami Code, to the Game Genie, god mode glory, and the wild rise of online cheat communities. Written by Nate Drake Edited by Riley MacLeod Foreword by Mia…

People in this episode

Host: Darren Hupke

Guest: Nate Drake

Topics covered

  • video game cheats
  • interview
  • gaming books
  • creativity in gaming
  • history of gaming

Keywords

  • cheat codes
  • video games
  • gaming history
  • Nate Drake
  • I Am Not Good

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Sound Stone Network, Retro Game Books

Books & works: I Am Not Good: The History of Cheating in Video Games

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