A parting message from Host/Producer James Parkinson. Stay connected with James on Twitter @JamesRParkinson, and his personal mailing list at jamesparkinson.net/newsletter.

A 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 TwitterJoin the Gameplay DiscordFollow James Parkinson on Twitter

Microsoft 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 MemberJoin our DiscordFollow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch

In 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 game was built on the fly.Episode Transcript & ReferencesBecome a Gameplay MemberJoin our DiscordFollow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch

The 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 & ReferencesBecome a Gameplay MemberJoin our DiscordFollow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TwitchThe Matrix Online WikiThe Matrix Online Emulator

In 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 & ReferencesBecome a Gameplay MemberJoin our DiscordFollow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TwitchLearn more about the Sable application for developing audio games. Download audio games like Paladin of the Sky, Shades of Doom, Swamp, and Topspeed at audiogames.net.

Animal 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 & ReferencesBecome a Gameplay MemberJoin our DiscordFollow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TwitchPurchase Taking Root soundtrack by Scruffy

Human 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. Episode Transcript & ReferencesBecome a Gameplay MemberJoin our DiscordFollow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TwitchBuy Golf Club: WastelandIgor Simic – Constellation Storytelling (Game Happens Festival presentation)

If 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 & ReferencesBecome a Gameplay MemberJoin our DiscordFollow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TwitchThis Does Not Compute on YouTube

In 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 beautifully crafted story.Episode Transcript & ReferencesBecome a Gameplay MemberJoin our DiscordFollow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch

For 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 the science and art of the speedrun.Episode Transcript & ReferencesBecome a Gameplay MemberJoin our DiscordFollow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TwitchSpeedrun Science by Eric Koziel

Competitive 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 collegiate level. Episode Transcript & ReferencesBecome a Gameplay MemberJoin our DiscordFollow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch.

It’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 humour and charm. Episode Transcript & ReferencesBecome a Gameplay MemberJoin our DiscordFollow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TwitchListen to the Untitled Goose Game Original Soundtrack on Spotify or Apple Music.

For 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 & ReferencesBecome a Gameplay MemberJoin our DiscordFollow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TwitchFollow Steve Downes on Twitter.

Music 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 Spielekonzerte - Symphonic Game Music Concerts - to Germany, and the world. Episode Transcript & ReferencesBecome a Gameplay MemberJoin our DiscordFollow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TwitchLearn more about Thomas Böcker's work at gameconcerts.com and merregnon.com.Listen to Final Symphony on Apple Music or Spotify.Listen to Symphonic Fantasies on Apple Music or Spotify.

How 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 8-bit music, also known as chiptune, is much more than nostalgia. It’s become a whole new music genre of its own. This story comes from the podcast Sum of All Parts. Episode ReferencesBecome a Gameplay MemberJoin our DiscordFollow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch

For 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 & ReferencesBecome a Gameplay MemberJoin our DiscordFollow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TwitchIf this episode brought up any issues for you, help is available. Visit checkpointorg.com for global mental health services.

Do 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 & ReferencesBecome a Gameplay MemberJoin our DiscordFollow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TwitchMegan Reims on InstagramGamerGramLeo Sang VRP

In 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 technology to create mature, story-driven experiences through AR mobile games.Episode Transcript & ReferencesBecome a Gameplay MemberJoin our DiscordFollow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TwitchTrue Crime Games: True Crime Mysteries

A 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 & ReferencesBecome a Gameplay MemberJoin our DiscordFollow Gameplay on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch.