In this episode we talk about early access games. Everything from their origins, where we think they’re going, and some of our favourite and least favourite games we’ve backed or bought before release. “Early Access popularity growing, but only 25% have released as a full game” (2014) Jalada’s favourites include: Elite: Dangerous Kerbal Space Program Minecraft Sefran’s favourites include: Prison Architect Shelter Stardew Valley Some less-than-awesome examples of early access include: Mighty No 9...
Aug 15, 2017•38 min
In this episode we are joined by the brilliant Marti Bennett . Marti kindly agreed to tell us all about playing Pokémon competitively and recount some of her own stories and experiences of the professional Pokémon scene. Follow Marti: YouTube – Virtual Accomplishment Twitter – @MartiBennett ( @VirtualAccomp for content updates) Twitch – Virtual Accomplishment Related reading/watching: JWittz speedrun of Pokémon Trading Card Game Serebii Serebii ‘Effort Values’ guide Serebii ‘Individual Values’ g...
Aug 01, 2017•43 min
We recently got the opportunity to go hands-on with an Oculus Rift, complete with Oculus Touch controllers and two sensors. In this episode we discuss our thoughts and impressions, and what we think is in store for the future. Oculus Rift HTC Vive Playstation VR Apple ARKit Google Daydream Games we played: Elite: Dangerous Robo Recall The Climb Superhot Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes Neuralink and the Brain’s Magical Future Mixed Reality with Microsoft HoloLens...
Jul 18, 2017•36 min
In this episode we discuss how video game advertising and trailers have changed, why ‘footage captured in game’ means nothing, and whether any of this matters at all. Read Patch The Process , an article about ‘day one patches’ by indie game dev Rami Ismail. There’s lots of videos you should watch to accompany this episode: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince “Teen Comedy Trailer” Watch Dogs – E3 2012 vs PC Release Clash of Clans adverts Dead Island Elite: Dangerous Launch Trailer vs PS4 launc...
Jul 04, 2017•40 min
In this episode of Octal FM we try to decide: Is the 3D platforming video game genre dead? Games we discuss: Arcade games such as Donkey Kong, Mario Bros Croc Metroid and Castlevania Crash Bandicoot Rogue-likes such as Spelunky and Rogue Legacy Puzzle-platformers like Super Meat Boy and N+ Is Yooka-Laylee the return of 3D platformers? Snake Pass Intro music: JACKS – Runaway Fashion Outro music: Juan Medrano – Mega Man 2 “Dokuta Wairi, Rival to the Light”...
Jun 20, 2017•37 min
In this episode we talk all about the state of difficulty in video games. Are they too easy? Too hard? Does it matter? Rubber banding . “The Noobification of games” , a clip from Pure Pwnage: Teh Movie . Super Guide . Intro music: JACKS – Runaway Fashion Outro music: The OneUps – Funky Mario Circut (Radio Edit)...
Jun 06, 2017•36 min
In this episode we continue our discussion theme of video game music. Instead of picking out examples we think are ‘good use’ of video game music, we just pick out games that have soundtracks that we think are awesome. Mario Galaxy Listen: Gusty Garden Galaxy , Beach Bowl Galaxy BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger Listen: Under Heaven Destruction , Lust SIN , Queen of Rose Link’s Awakening Listen: Village Theme , Overworld , Sword Search FTL: Faster Than Light Listen: Space Cruise (Title) , Mantis (Battl...
May 23, 2017•46 min
In this episode we pick out some of our favourite uses of music in video games. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker combat Video of an example of combat with audio ‘accents’ (minor Wind Waker spoilers) Listen: Middle Boss Battle Final Fantasy VI Composed by Nobuo Uematsu Listen: Terra’s theme Half Life 2 Listen: CP Violation Music levels from Rayman Legends Listen: ‘Gloo Gloo’ Musical Level (video of level) Transistor Developed and published by Supergiant Games Composed by Darren Korb. Vocals by Ash...
May 09, 2017•41 min
We discuss how lives are becoming more internet connected, the history and hype around ‘smart homes’, and generally demystify the Internet of Things. Further reading: X10 Protocol Sustainable Smart Home and Home Automation: Big Data Analytics Approach Connected homes will take longer to materialise than expected Here’s What TfL Learned From Tracking Your Phone On the Tube Intro/outro music: JACKS – Runaway Fashion...
Apr 25, 2017•32 min
In this episode we take a deeper look at eSports and how it compares to more traditional sporting events. Inside Fnatic’s Bunkr, the World’s First eSports Store eSports news on ESPN Loading Bar Intro/outro music: JACKS – Runaway Fashion
Apr 11, 2017•41 min
In their most click-bait episode ever, Jalada and Sefran discuss the state of mobile phone games, where they think the industry is going, and some games that perhaps aren’t so bad after all. 81% of the UK population own a smartphone according to Deloitte . “Mobile games hit $34.8B in 2015, taking 85% of all app revenues” Super Mario Run from Nintendo. Extra Credits channel on YouTube . Monument Valley . Intro music: JACKS – Runaway Fashion Outro music: OC/DC – Rise of the Piggies...
Mar 28, 2017•42 min
In another case of ‘Jalada and Sefran weren’t paying attention to the episode timer’, this bonus-length episode is all about our favourite video game consoles. Nintendo GameBoy Sega GameGear Nintendo 64 PlayStation 4 Joint favourite: Nintendo GameCube In the episode we say that the Wavebird was the first wireless controller. Of course, there were others before it, but it was pretty much the first to use radio-frequency (which was great) instead of infrared (which was terrible). Intro music: JACK...
Mar 14, 2017•54 min
Tom (‘modest’ on Summoner’s Rift) joins Jalada and Sefran to talk about MOBAs; what they are, where they came from, and why they’re so much fun. We touch on League of Legends , Heroes of the Storm , Defense of the Ancients , DOTA 2 , and Smite . Feel free to be pedantic and email us to let us know that Aeon of Strife was arguably the first MOBA, not DOTA. Faker , arguably the best League of Legends player. League of Legends Patch 7.1 notes , an example of just how much can change month to month ...
Feb 28, 2017•36 min
Jalada and Sefran explain why community management is so important in the development and maintaining of video games, from the perspective of video gamers. 7 Days to Die developer blog Examples of less-than-ideal pre-launch management: Spore , Fable , No Man’s Sky . “Deus Ex: Mankind Divided silly preorder scheme scrapped” Diablo 3’s significant Loot overhaul patch , dubbed ‘Loot 2.0’. “Final Fantasy 14 killed by Square Enix’s stubbornness, reborn by a new approach” Elite Dangerous Galnet News i...
Feb 14, 2017•40 min
Antonia joins us for this episode where we discuss what makes life-sim games appealing, and why Stardew Valley is such a great example of one. Steam best sellers of 2016 . Other examples of life-sims: Animal Crossing , The Sims , Farming Simulator , and of course Euro-Truck Simulator . For further information on the reward loop in video game design, read up on ‘compulsion loops’. Intro & outro music: JACKS – Runaway Fashion...
Jan 31, 2017•35 min
Episode seven is a bonus length episode all about board gaming. From traditional co-operative games like Pandemic, to fast-paced social games like One Night Ultimate Werewolf, Jalada and Sefran break into this huge topic with a summary overview of some of the main types of board games, with a selection of ones to try yourself. Links to purchase any of these titles are affiliate links, proceeds go towards Octal FM and our general happiness. Standard board games : Pandemic , Catan , Carcassonne , ...
Jan 17, 2017•53 min
Jalada and Sefran talk further about what you need to think about when running your own LAN, as well as discussing some of the history of LAN parties and events and the state of the community today. We cover a lot in the show, but there’s a lot more to it. Here’s some related reading from what we covered, and some bits we didn’t: Internet cafés . Copyparties and Demoparties . Revision is one of the largest Demoparties that’s still going in southwest Germany. Some demoparties have also morphed in...
Jan 03, 2017•36 min
Jalada and Sefran explain, with examples, some of the aspects of games that work well at LAN parties. We touch on a whole bunch of games in this show, but in particular we highlight: Borderlands and Borderlands 2 . Heroes of the Storm . Towerfall . Team Fortress 2 . Other related reading: What was GameSpy Arcade ? Insomnia Gaming Festival . Intro & outro music: JACKS – Runaway Fashion...
Dec 20, 2016•38 min
Jalada and Sefran chat about six of their favourite genre-defining real-time strategy games. Related reading from the show: Real-time strategy on Wikipedia Metagaming Age of Empires 2 How to play it: Try Age of Empires 2 HD , the 2013 remake. Homeworld How to play it: Homeworld Remastered is a beautiful remake and comes complete with the sequel and a refined multiplayer experience. Rise of Nations How to play it: Pick up Rise of Nations: Extended Edition , the 2014 remake. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn...
Dec 06, 2016•38 min
In this ‘The Best Ever’ episode, Jalada and Sefran try to agree on which game in The Elder Scrolls series is the best; Oblivion or Skyrim ? Related reading from the show: IMDB page for Oblivion IMDB page for Skyrim Procedural terrain sculpting in Oblivion Enemies in Oblivion Enemies in Skyrim Morrowind speed-run using game breaking spells Oblivion AI fail (one video of many out there) Horse armor reception back in 2006 Intro & outro music: JACKS – Runaway Fashion...
Nov 22, 2016•35 min
Jalada and Sefran discuss voice-activated home assistants. We have a chat about what they are, how they work, and where we think the technology is going in the future. The two main devices we talk about are Amazon Echo * and Google Home . We also reference Apple Siri and Google Assistant . For more information about why understanding speech is hard for computers, read about “AI-complete” problems . We almost forgot to mention Microsoft Cortana . Amazon Echo can be used to control Nest and Tado t...
Nov 08, 2016•37 min
In this episode of Octal FM, Jalada tells Sefran what he thinks of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD for the Wii U. Spoiler warning : Contains minor spoilers about Twilight Princess and a general discussion of the Zelda timeline. Related reading from the show: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker , and The Wind Waker HD . Zelda teaser trailer from Spaceworld 2000 (linked video is actually a longer cut than the one we used to watch). The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia (affiliate link). C...
Oct 25, 2016•35 min
Welcome to Octal FM! After introducing your hosts, we dissect the PS4/PC game No Man’s Sky . Related reading from the show: Freelancer Star Citizen Elite: Dangerous Journey Spore Procedural generation No Man’s Sky stats on SteamSpy Diablo 3 Diablo 3’s loot 2.0 patch ( sample of media coverage for context) Please let us know what you thought by Tweeting @octalfm , or using the email address in the show. Intro & outro music: JACKS – Runaway Fashion...
Oct 11, 2016•31 min
