This episode takes more of a 'resource' form, as we share some tips & tricks for getting started building a PC for gaming. We cut through some of the aspects that we think are unimportant, and share some shortcuts for saving time and money. There's a lot of resources out there on the Internet, but we like: Scan - for buying components (and pre-builds) in the UK Toms Hardware - for reviews bit-tech.net - for reviews, especially peripherals and modifications Hexus - for their partnership with ...
Jul 17, 2018•53 min
Jul 10, 2018•12 min
In this episode of Octal FM we dive in to the state of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. We'll explain what it is, what it isn't, and why it seems to be such a big thing right now. There's lots of reading material out there if you want to learn more. Some intro articles Bluffer's guide to AI terminology Wired: What is Artificial Intelligence? So you think you know what is Artificial Intelligence? Opinion pieces "Artificial Intelligence is whatever computers can't do yet" The Great AI...
Jul 03, 2018•38 min
We discuss announcements from this year's E3 that we're looking forward to.
Jun 26, 2018•12 min
In this episode we're joined again by Elizabeth Chesters, a user experience, accesibility, and inclusive design extraordinaire. We continue our discussion from episode 31 , and talk more about what it means to design a product or service in an 'inclusive' manner, e.g. designing for people with impairments, either permanent or situational. Further reading suggestions from El: Mobility and Accessibility Cultural Accessibility 7 Things Every Designer Needs to Know about Accessibility Follow El: @ec...
Jun 19, 2018•35 min
What games were we playing at our LAN last weekend?
Jun 12, 2018•12 min
In another 'Octal FM are Nintendo fanboys' episode, we take a look back at the often overlooked history of Nintendo and the Internet. It involves satellites beaming games down to a virtual village on your SNES.
Jun 05, 2018•37 min
We've been to the cinema again, but this time we've seen the same film.
May 29, 2018•11 min
In this episode we tell the story of the Elite game series and our story of playing the original together back at school, and some bits about the space-sim genre as a whole. The Guardian excerpt from Backroom Boys about David Braben and Ian Bell. Elite (1984) free PC download (and the Mac version ) Or play it in an emulator in your browser . Elite 1984 gameplay footage (Scott Manley) ArcElite (the version we played) gameplay footage Frontier Elite 2 footage Frontier First Encounters gameplay foo...
May 22, 2018•39 min
We've both been to the cinema. Sefran saw Pacific Rim Uprising, Jalada saw Ready Player One.
May 15, 2018•12 min
Back again with another indie review, we discuss one of Sefran's most anticipated games of 2018 ; Into the Breach. Into the Breach is by Subset Games . Their previous game is FTL: Faster Than Light . In the show we compare it to Advance Wars . The music was composed by Ben Prunty . Intro/Outro music: JACKS - Runaway Fashion....
May 08, 2018•36 min
Jalada's been playing Pyre. Sefran went to the cinema to see Code Geass.
May 01, 2018•10 min
In this episode we take a moment to be introspective and set ourselves some goals for the podcast for the next three months. Listen along, and hold us accountable! Increase our social presence by posting regular content, posting snippets of the show, and setting up an Instagram account. Grow the brand by getting some stickers printed, running Twitch streams, and reaching out to other podcasts to guest on. Get better at podcasting by sharing the editing, and producing a short show (coming soon!) ...
Apr 24, 2018•33 min
In this episode of Octal FM we discuss and review Celeste , a game about climbing a mountain. Celeste is made by Matt Makes Games and is on Twitter at @celeste_game . Their previous game was Towerfall Ascension . The music is by Lena Raine , @kuraine on Twitter. Intro/Outro music: JACKS - Runaway Fashion...
Apr 10, 2018•38 min
We're back to discussing Japan in this episode; this time it's Jalada's turn as he has just come back from a two week trip to Tokyo and Kyoto. Links from the episode: Thermae-Yu : Onsen in Shinjuku. Google Maps. Akihabara UDX parking . Jalada on Instagram We used Japan Wireless for our Wifi hotspot. Intro/Outro music: JACKS - Runaway Fashion...
Mar 27, 2018•38 min
In this episode we try to be as un-snobby as possible, whilst talking about how to get into coffee as a hobby. Live in the UK and want to get coffee delivered to your house? Sign up at Taylor St Roasted using the promo code OCTALFM to get your first bag for £1. Single-serve coffee patents, and the future of the technology Stumptown brew guides Suggested brewing equipment: Aeropress Moka pot (also called a Stove top) Hario hand grinder We suggest you don't get an electric grinder, but if you must...
Mar 13, 2018•39 min
In this episode of Octal FM, we discuss our two favourite games from one of our favourite series of all time; The Legend of Zelda. The best way to play Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask is the 3DS remakes: Buy Ocarina of Time 3DS * Buy Majora's Mask 3DS * Intro music: JACKS - Runaway fashion Outro music: Docjazz4, FunkyEntropy, Theophany and XPRTNovice for OCRemix - Dawn of a New Day...
Feb 27, 2018•41 min
In this episode we discuss the hit anime film Your Name *. Your Name was released in 2016. It earned over $300m at the box office. The film Sefran saw in the cinema after Your Name was Napping Princess .
Feb 13, 2018•33 min
In this episode of Octal FM we're joined by Louise Swift, a software developer & fellow nerd who recently worked on a project using the Unity game engine . Louise works for No Mayo Digital Follow Louise on the interwebs: Twitter Medium louiseswift.com...
Jan 30, 2018•46 min
In this episode we discuss the emerging trend of adding massively multiplayer features to games that otherwise might be single player. Is this something we want to see more? Or is it just a way of extracting more 'value' from gamers? GTA 5 has sold-in over 85 million copies Frontier Games Hosts Massive Space Battles on AWS AWS re:Invent 2015 presentation from Frontier Games on their architecture Digital Trends: "Everyone is going to start playing MMOs again, whether they realize it or not" Intro...
Jan 16, 2018•37 min
Happy New Year everyone! In this episode we are joined again by Antonia, who last joined us to talk about Stardew Valley . This time, the three of us discuss some of the video games we're most looking forward to in 2018. Sefran: Far Cry 5, Into the breach, and Wargroove. Antonia: Monster Hunter World, Ni No Kuni 2, Kingdom Hearts III, and Bayonetta 3. Jalada: Sea of Thieves, Last of Us Part 2, and Age of Empires 4....
Jan 02, 2018•43 min
In this episode we are joined by Elizabeth Chesters, a user experience consultant, human-computer interaction student, and software developer. We ask her about her job, what HCI is, and what's in store in the future for how we interact with our devices. The Man Who Lied to His Laptop, by Clifford Nass City University of London, Centre for Human-Computer Interaction Design Follow El: @echesters on Twitter echesters.co.uk Intro/outro music: JACKS – Runaway Fashion...
Dec 19, 2017•35 min
In this episode we’re joined by our friend Tom, aka @x5315 . Tom co-created Twitterfall with Jalada back in 2009. To follow up from Episode 25 where Jalada talked about building Twitterfall, Tom is here to tell us the story from his point of view, and what he’s up to now. The whiteboard of features in Tom’s university dorm room: Intro/outro music: JACKS – Runaway Fashion...
Dec 05, 2017•44 min
In this episode of Octal FM, the two of us catch up and talk about what games we’ve been playing. Jalada has been playing Horizon: Zero Dawn (affiliate link, proceeds go to Octal FM) . Horizon is powered by Guerilla’s own game engine, Decima . Sefran has been playing Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak ....
Nov 21, 2017•39 min
In this episode Sefran talks about visiting his favourite place in the world; Japan. We chat about what it’s like to visit, the things you should know before going, and what it was like when Sefran visited for the first time.
Nov 07, 2017•42 min
In this episode we return to the topic of platformers. All the things we love, some of the things we hate. Not much in the way of notes for this episode; we really just sit back and have a bit of a chat. Enjoy!
Oct 24, 2017•41 min
In this episode of Octal FM we kick back and reminisce about all the MMOs we’ve played in the past. Earth & Beyond Review from IGN in 2002 Ragnarok Online EVE Online EVE Online is F2P Lord of the Rings Online Aion Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn...
Oct 10, 2017•39 min
In 2009 Jalada spent 2 hours building a website that would ultimately end up shaping his entire career. In this episode of Octal FM we tell you the story of that website. Twitterfall on Wikipedia Twitterfall co-founder Tom Brearley on Twitter Twitterfall makes it onto Telegraph newsroom screens Photo from Marcus Warren @ Telegraph Twitterfall: a Google for the Twitterverse Coverage from the Guardian about The Telegraph’s embedded Twitterfall Coverage in our university newspaper Fox’s Fringe Twit...
Sep 26, 2017•39 min
In this episode Jalada and Sefran sit back and chat about how gamers shape games through coming up with challenges, speedruns, or rewriting the games themselves through modding. Playtonic games announcing tweaks to Yooka Laylee for speedrunners . Super Mario 64 parallel universes . Nuzlocke Challenge . “Brendan “Playerunknown” Greene’s whirlwind year” in which Brendan mentions he wants to give back to the modding community, where he came from....
Sep 12, 2017•38 min
In this ‘The Best Ever’ episode, Jalada and Sefran try to agree on which game in the Super Mario series is the best; Super Mario Sunshine , or Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island ?
Aug 29, 2017•38 min
