Gameplay
38 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★ - 246 ratingsStories about video games and the virtual worlds that power culture and community.
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Episodes
Signing off
July 21, 2022 22:37 - 1 minute - 1.16 MBA parting message from Host/Producer James Parkinson. Stay connected with James on Twitter @JamesRParkinson, and his personal mailing list at jamesparkinson.net/newsletter.
Show Update
March 02, 2022 17:00 - 49 seconds - 771 KBA quick show update. Gameplay is still on break but we hope to have new stories for you soon. Stay up to date: Follow Gameplay on Twitter Join the Gameplay Discord Follow James Parkinson on Twitter
Microsoft's $68.7 Billion Buy
February 16, 2022 17:00 - 11 minutes - 10.6 MBMicrosoft announced plans in January to acquire Activision-Blizzard for $68.7 Billion US Dollars. So what does it mean for the games industry? Gameplay is taking a break this week to work on future stories. This episode comes from The Defrag, a daily news podcast from Lawson Media. Become a Gameplay Member Join our Discord Follow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch
Firewatch
February 02, 2022 17:00 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MBIn 2016, indie studio Campo Santo released their debut title, the narrative adventure game Firewatch. Set in a national forest in the Wyoming wilderness, you play as a fire lookout named Henry. The game beautifully portrays the isolation of the wild, and Henry’s only source of human connection is the voice of his supervisor, Delilah, over a walkie-talkie. In this episode, writer Sean Vanaman and composer/writer Chris Remo revisit the development of Firewatch, in which every aspect of the gam...
The Matrix Online
December 22, 2021 17:00 - 47 minutes - 43.6 MBThe Matrix is one of the biggest franchises in the world, with its universe spanning across film, animation, comics and video games. In 2005, more than a year after the original film trilogy concluded, The Matrix Online promised a new experience for players. The MMORPG was designated as the official continuation of the Matrix story, but a troubled launch would see it struggle to meet high expectations. Episode Transcript & References Become a Gameplay Member Join our Discord Follow Gamep...
Blind Gaming
December 08, 2021 17:00 - 26 minutes - 24.4 MBIn the past, video games were largely inaccessible to people with visual impairments. But these days, game makers are adding all kinds of innovative options to make their games more accessible. And some developers are creating entire virtual worlds using nothing but sound. Featuring streamer & game consultant Steve Saylor and disability rights advocate Connor Scott-Gardner. This episode comes from the podcast Twenty Thousand Hertz. Episode Transcript & References Become a Gameplay Member ...
Animal Crossing: New Harmonies
November 24, 2021 17:00 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBAnimal Crossing is one of the most beloved Nintendo franchises. The social simulator game is all about living your best life, and fans love the series for its colourful, cute art style and relaxed vibe. Central to the game’s success are its extensive customisation options and social features. But much of the charm of Animal Crossing comes from its delightful music. In this episode, composer and YouTube educator Scruffy breaks down the music behind the hit series. Episode Transcript & Refer...
Golf Club: Wasteland
November 10, 2021 17:00 - 37 minutes - 34.3 MBHuman life is wiped out. Earth is now a golf course for the ultra-rich. That’s the premise for Golf Club: Wasteland, a 2D puzzle-like golf game from Demagog Studio - but there’s so much more beneath the surface. The game’s layered approach to storytelling and detailed worldbuilding is where it really shines, taking a swing at Silicon Valley culture, capitalism and contemporary society. As you play across the ruins of Earth, you’re immersed in the soothing sounds of Radio Nostalgia from Mars....
Stealth Gaming
October 27, 2021 17:00 - 36 minutes - 33 MBIf you were a high school student in the 90s or early 2000s, you were likely required to have a graphing calculator for math class. It was probably made by Texas Instruments and your parents complained that it cost too much. But these calculators, like the TI-83 model, were capable of far more than equations and graphs. You could actually use them to play games, if you knew how to get ahold of them. Episode Transcript & References Become a Gameplay Member Join our Discord Follow Gameplay...
The Gardens Between
September 29, 2021 18:00 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBIn 2018, Australian studio The Voxel Agents released their fifth title, The Gardens Between, an adventure-puzzle game about memories, friendship and time. Combining a unique time manipulation mechanic with a heartfelt personal story, the game offers a satisfying and relatable experience about growing up, for players of all ages. In this episode, Lead Animator, Josh Bradbury, and Narrative Designer, Brooke Maggs detail how The Gardens Between seamlessly integrates smart game design with a bea...
Speedrun Science
September 15, 2021 18:00 - 41 minutes - 38.3 MBFor over 30 years, people have been in pursuit of the perfect run in Super Mario Bros. That is, completing the game in the fastest time possible, also known as a speedrun. Now in 2021, the current world record holder may have reached the human limit, coming within milliseconds of the fastest time achievable by a computer. By analysing what’s technically possible, speedrunners are able to find the exploits, refine their approach and practice relentlessly, to push the absolute limits. This is ...
Esports
September 01, 2021 18:00 - 31 minutes - 28.6 MBCompetitive gaming tournaments have been around about as long as video games themselves. With the rise of professional esports in the 2000s, it was only a matter of time before esports made its way into universities. Now, colleges across the United States are embracing games and competition, offering their own programs. An esports scholarship might even help you get into a college that you may not have been accepted into otherwise. But esports still faces many challenges, particularly at the...
Honk!
August 18, 2021 18:00 - 36 minutes - 33.7 MBIt’s a lovely morning in the village, and you are a horrible goose. That’s the premise of the indie hit Untitled Goose Game, a comedy/stealth/puzzle hybrid, developed by House House, and released in 2019. You play as a mischievous goose, and your task is to cause as much havoc as possible, annoying the villagers of a quiet English town. In this episode, composer Dan Golding, and sound designer Em Halberstadt break down how the game’s dynamic music and sound effects influence its unique humou...
Becoming Master Chief
August 04, 2021 18:00 - 36 minutes - 33.2 MBFor 20 years, Steve Downes has portrayed Master Chief, appearing in each mainline game of the Halo series to date. In this episode, Steve shares the story of his time voicing John-117, from Combat Evolved to Halo Infinite. Downes details his process to get into character, drawing on the Halo backstory, and tapping into Master Chief’s emotions. Episode Transcript & References Become a Gameplay Member Join our Discord Follow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch Fo...
Final Symphony
July 21, 2021 18:00 - 30 minutes - 27.6 MBMusic plays an important role in many games, and even in the early days, the best composers were able to create incredibly expressive music, despite technical limitations. Dragon Quest composer, Koichi Sugiyama is known as the pioneer of orchestral music for RPGs, and in 1987 he staged the very first video game music concert in the world. But it took another 16 years for these kinds of orchestral performances to be held outside of Japan. In this episode, how Thomas Böcker brought Spielekonze...
Chiptune
July 07, 2021 18:00 - 28 minutes - 26.5 MBHow do you turn a Nintendo Game Boy into a musical instrument? 8-bit music is one of the most defining characteristics of gaming’s golden age of the 1970s and 80s. The sound chips in early arcade machines and home consoles had their limitations, but they gave the music a unique aesthetic that is still associated with games today. A love of retro games has led many developers to adopt 8-bit music (and graphics) as a way to honour the past, and create new experiences in this classic style. But...
Mind Games
June 23, 2021 18:00 - 44 minutes - 40.8 MBFor all the negative coverage and misrepresentation that video games receive, the reality is very different. For most of us, games are a hugely positive influence on our lives, particularly for our mental health and wellbeing. This episode, we dispel the myths around the psychology of games, and we hear from two people who use games as a coping strategy to manage anxiety and depression. Episode Transcript & References Become a Gameplay Member Join our Discord Follow Gameplay on Twitter, ...
Photo Mode
June 09, 2021 18:00 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBDo you ever have moments when you’re playing a game that is so visually stunning, you feel compelled to capture it? You might take a quick screenshot, or use a built-in camera mode, and post an image to social media. With modern consoles having dedicated share buttons, it’s easier than ever to snap our favourite gaming moments. But there’s actually a whole community of virtual photographers who are capturing in-game photos, with purpose and real creativity. Episode Transcript & References ...
Augment Your Reality
May 26, 2021 18:00 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MBIn 2016, Pokémon GO was a global phenomenon. Millions of players around the world lived out their fantasies of being a Pokémon Trainer, venturing into the real world to find and collect their favourite Pokémon. The game was a huge financial success, but it was also a groundbreaking moment for games, as many players engaged with augmented reality for the first time. This episode, we look at the evolution of AR games, where they might be headed, and hear from an indie developer using the techn...
Play & Preserve
May 12, 2021 18:00 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBA whole generation of games are at risk of being lost forever. Physical media like floppy disks and optical discs have a limited lifespan, and their time is running out. The growing trend of digital games too, many of which don’t exist in any physical format, are also under threat of disappearing. While we can’t save everything, there is still hope. A global community of game historians and preservationists are working to save games history, one disk at a time. Episode Transcript & Referenc...
Good Game
April 28, 2021 18:00 - 1 hour - 80.6 MBIn 2006 the ABC, Australia’s public broadcaster, debuted ‘Good Game’, a brand new TV show for gamers, by gamers. The program came about at the perfect time; when people still watched appointment free-to-air television, and before the explosion of YouTube and Twitch. Remaining on air for 10 years, Good Game was a show beloved by gamers around the country, and in this episode we explore its life, death and legacy in Australia’s games community. Episode Transcript & References Become a Gamepl...
The Afro Hair Library
April 14, 2021 18:00 - 51 minutes - 47.5 MBComputer-generated imagery and the algorithms that drive them are the technological breakthroughs that have seen our world recreated in digital form. But when it comes to representing humans, these advancements have predominantly refined the depictions white people. Across games and digital media, the standard models for rendering features like skin and hair have been developed and perfected over decades, and are all geared towards, young, white skin and straight hair. Now, a new 3D database...
Boomshakalaka!
March 31, 2021 17:00 - 35 minutes - 32.9 MBNBA Jam is a memorable arcade game for many reasons, but the first thing that comes to mind for a lot of its fans is the game’s announcer, for iconic lines like “HE’S ON FIRE!”, and “BOOMSHAKALAKA!”. In this episode, we meet Tim Kitzrow, the voice behind the catchphrase, and how NBA Jam shaped his career as a voice actor for video games. Episode Transcript & References Become a Gameplay Member Join our Discord Follow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch Get a cus...
NBA Jam
March 17, 2021 17:00 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBIn 1993, Midway released the game-changing arcade basketball title, NBA Jam. At the height of Michael Jordan mania and the NBA’s rise to global popularity, Jam was a defining sports game of the era. In this episode, lead designer Mark Turmell, along with author Reyan Ali and other Midway names, take you back to the arcade to learn how the $1 billion basketball hit swept the world. Episode Transcript & References Become a Gameplay Member Join our Discord Follow Gameplay on Twitter, Insta...
A quick update
March 03, 2021 17:00 - 51 secondsWe're taking this week off to finish some work on future episodes. We'll be back on March 18. Join our Discord Follow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Culture, Remixed
February 17, 2021 17:00 - 35 minutes - 32.7 MBVideo games are not just for entertainment. They can also be a powerful tool for education, especially when combined with immersive technologies like virtual reality. Experiential learning is at the core of many indigenous cultures, including Torres Strait Islanders, which led Rhett Loban to create a one-of-a-kind VR game that captures his peoples traditions and customs in a whole new way. Episode Transcript & References Become a Gameplay Member Join our Discord Follow Gameplay on Twitte...
Remaking Metroid
February 03, 2021 17:00 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MBMilton Guasti had spent 10 years of his life recreating Metroid II, until Nintendo claimed copyright infringement, merely a day after its release. There was always a chance that the lawyers would come knocking, but what Milton didn’t expect was for his hobby project to become the game that an entire community was counting on. Episode Transcript & References Become a Gameplay Member Join our Discord Follow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch. Articles: Better T...
Full Immersion VR
January 20, 2021 17:00 - 23 minutes - 21.8 MBVirtual Reality has come a long way in a relatively short period of time. And while the tech is still developing, it has great potential to solve real world problems. By combining the Unity game engine and haptic technology, one tech startup is using VR to create fully immersive training simulations. This episode comes from the podcast Moonshot, from Lawson Media. Episode Transcript & References Become a Gameplay Member Join our Discord Follow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Y...
Autcraft
January 06, 2021 17:00 - 35 minutes - 32.7 MBMinecraft is one of the highest selling games of all time, and the blocky, 8-bit sandbox is especially popular with kids, due to the freedom its gameplay offers. But for children with Autism, that freedom is often challenged when playing online, where bullies and trolls are a barrier in their experience. This was a problem that Stuart Duncan set out to solve, creating a dedicated Minecraft server for Autistic kids and their families. Episode Transcript & References Become a Gameplay Membe...
The Sound of Hades
December 23, 2020 17:00 - 37 minutes - 34 MBHades is the fourth title from Supergiant Games, and one the best games of 2020. A rogue-like dungeon crawler, inspired by Greek mythology, you play as Zagreus, the son of Hades, as you attempt to escape the Underworld, fighting your way through waves of enemies. The game posed a unique challenge for Audio Director Darren Korb when he came to compose the music. This episode, we explore the soundscape of Hades and how the music and sound design was carefully crafted to provide a thrilling exp...
Ring Fit Adventure
December 09, 2020 17:00 - 41 minutes - 38.4 MBFor as long as video games have been criticised for their sedentary nature, developers have sought to get players off the couch, encouraging physical movement through fitness style games. From the Power Pad to Wii Fit, Nintendo have been a leader in 'exergaming', but these experiences often feel more like gimmicks than serious workouts. In 2019, the introduction of Ring Fit Adventure looked to change that. Episode Transcript & References Become a Gameplay Member Join our Discord Follow ...
Addiction
November 25, 2020 17:00 - 52 minutes - 48.5 MBFor most of us, games are a fun hobby. But for some people, they can be genuinely problematic. Cam Adair struggled with gaming addiction for ten years, until he hit rock bottom. Now he's working to ensure compassion and support is available for others like him, in a community where addiction is often overlooked or misunderstood. Episode Transcript, References & Resources Become a Gameplay Member Join our Discord Follow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch If thi...
Red Ring of Death
November 11, 2020 17:00 - 42 minutes - 39.2 MBWhen the Xbox 360 was launched in December 2005, Microsoft had accomplished a significant objective that would give it the edge in the console war - beating Sony's PS3 to market by almost a year. But a few months later, a huge problem began to surface - a major hardware defect that threatened to destroy the entire Xbox brand. Episode Transcript & References Become a Gameplay Member Join our Discord Follow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch
Premium vs Freemium
October 28, 2020 17:00 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MBIn the span of around 12 months, the release of the very first iPhone and the launch of the App Store created a whole new appetite for mobile games, empowering a generation of indie developers in the process. But one small decision, to support in-app purchases for iOS games, would change the marketplace forever. Episode Transcript & References Become a Gameplay Member Join our Discord Follow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch
The Real You
October 14, 2020 17:00 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBVideo games allow us to embody different people and inhabit other worlds. But when you can't be your true self in the real world, exploring virtual ones takes on even greater importance. For transgender people, like Jessica Janiuk, games are a safe space for escapism and discovery, and provide empowerment to embrace the real you. Episode Transcript & References Become a Gameplay Member Join our Discord Follow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch
Up, Down, Left, Right
September 30, 2020 18:00 - 32 minutes - 29.7 MBWhich game controller is your favourite? Which gamepad is the worst? You probably already know your answer to both of these questions. It’s a very personal thing, because controllers are central to our overall playing experience. And yet, designers are tasked with creating a controller that needs to appeal to everyone. Impossible. While gamepads have evolved a lot over the years, one particular innovation has remained constant. It started with a simple design solution, that subsequently chan...
Introducing Gameplay: Real stories, virtual worlds
September 14, 2020 09:39 - 2 minutes - 1.95 MBGameplay is a show about video games and the virtual worlds that power culture and community. Episodes published every two weeks. Find out more at our website: gameplay.co. Become a Gameplay Member Join our Discord Follow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch
Introducing Gameplay
September 14, 2020 09:39 - 2 minutesGameplay is a show about video games and the virtual worlds that power culture and community. Episodes published every two weeks. Find out more at our website: gameplay.co. Become a Gameplay Member Join our Discord Follow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch