Koalatea Time: The K.O. Koala Entertainment Podcast
Come spend some Koalatea Time with the founders of gaming studio K.O. Koala Entertainment as they discuss various topics related to games and the gaming industry!
Giant bananas, unique games that you can't play anywhere else, good drinks, stadium-like atmosphere for competitive matches - YOU CAN FIND IT ALL AT THE ARCADE!
In this episode of Koalatea Time, ChipSkylark and bramoala talk about arcades, including ChipSkylark's thorough rundown of the best arcade offerings in the Denver metro area! ChipSkylark breaks down his favorite games including Jubeat, Mai Mai, competitive 3rd Strike, and more!
Support Koalatea Time: The K.O. Koala Entertainment Podcast by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/koalatea-time
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Amazing athlete, even better person.
This week bramoala and ChipSkylark have the pleasure of welcoming NFL linebacker Josh Martin to Koalatea Time to discuss the rise of esports, how games can help make the world a better place, amazing foods around the world, and how hard it is to tackle extremely fast and strong human beings.
Josh shares some of his favorite gaming memories, including absolutely owning in Halo CE on his favorite map (Prisoner), ditching class to play COD MW 2, and Super Nintendo goodness!
Follow Josh on Instagram to stay up to date with all his latest happenings: (@JoshMartin95) - https://www.instagram.com/joshmartin95/
Tell us what you think in our Discord: https://rebrand.ly/kokoala_discord
Support Koalatea Time: The K.O. Koala Entertainment Podcast by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/koalatea-time
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NFTs are here, but will they stay? Why do people care so much about them? AND WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO DO WITH LUNCHABLES?
Join bramoala and ChipSkylark for the most candid and off the cuff episode of Koalatea Time yet!
Support Koalatea Time: The K.O. Koala Entertainment Podcast by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/koalatea-time
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
Thrust, slide, vault, wall run, double jump, grappling hook, and more! Advanced movement mechanics have left their mark on the FPS mechanic landscape, but is that a good thing? bramoala and ChipSkylark debate this and discuss their favorite movement mechanics in this episode of Koalatea Time! Join us as we discuss Titanfall, Halo 5, Mirrors Edge, DOOM, Ghostrunner, and more!
Support Koalatea Time: The K.O. Koala Entertainment Podcast by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/koalatea-time
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
"ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY GETS JASON JONES'S (BUNGIE LEAD DESIGNER) GOAT IS THAT THERE IS STILL ONE PERSON WHO CAN MAKE A CONTRIBUTION THAT'S OUTSIZED, AND THAT'S MARTY O'DONNELL, THE COMPOSER." - "In search of the Heart of Bungie", Polygon, 2013
Game soundtracks often affect the experience of playing game in a disproportionately powerful way. They often provide emotional coloring that's difficult to replicate without them.
In this week's episode of Koalatea Time bramoala and ChipSkylark discuss their favorite game soundtracks and why they enjoy them so much! Join us as we discuss the soundtracks of Halo, Sayanora Wildhearts, Minecraft, Undertale, Hades, Bastion, The Pathless, and more!
Support Koalatea Time: The K.O. Koala Entertainment Podcast by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/koalatea-time
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
With the recent controversy surrounding asses in the Mass Effect remaster, bramoala and ChipSkylark discuss how much creative license remasters and remakes should have, whether remakes should be made at all, what their favorite remasters of all time are, and more! Join us as we discuss Mass Effect, Halo, Bioshock, Demon Souls, and more!
Support Koalatea Time: The K.O. Koala Entertainment Podcast by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/koalatea-time
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
With the recent news that Stadia Games Entertainment has closed all of their internal studios, bramoala and ChipSkylark muse on how difficult it is to make good video games. Join them as they discuss the challenges and risks of making things fun in this week's episode of Koalatea Time!
Like our new Koalatea Time logo? Support our studio by buying some new Koalatea Time merch at https://rebrand.ly/kokoala_merch !
Support Koalatea Time: The K.O. Koala Entertainment Podcast by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/koalatea-time
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
Photorealism. Simulator mechanics. Hyper-accurate audio replication. Realism in games can provide some of the most immersive experiences in gaming for many, but do they detract from the experience as well? bramoala and ChipSkylark discuss how chasing realism affects games, whether they like realism in games or not, WHY THE HECK DO PEOPLE PLAY FARM SIMULATOR, and more! Join us this week as they discuss Flight Simulator, Farming Simulators, Escape from Tarkov, Cyberpunk, and more!
Support Koalatea Time: The K.O. Koala Entertainment Podcast by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/koalatea-time
You navigate to a game's listing on your platform's store. You see the screenshots, the trailer starts to play, your eyes look for a price, you're in the last mile. In this week's episode of Koalatea Time, bramoala and ChipSkylark discuss the last things that close out a commitment to a gaming experience for a person. They discuss what games have had the strongest last mile for them, and which games have blown a sale in the last mile as well. Join us as we discuss Gris, Ori and the Blind Forest, COD Cold War, Cyberpunk, and more!
"Atom: The smallest complete unit of play, in the sense that the players feel they've "really played" some of the game (e.g., two possessions in football, or one level in Donkey Kong)" George Skaff Elias; Richard Garfield; K. Robert Gutschera; Eric Zimmerman; Peter Whitley. Characteristics of Games In this week's episode of Koalatea Time, ChipSkylark and bramoala discuss how the length of atoms in various games can impact the enjoyment of said games for various kinds of players. Join us in this interesting game design romp as we discuss Halo, Rocket League, Minecraft, Cyberpunk, Chess, RPGs, and more!
While 2020 might have had more than its fair share of downers, it didn't prevent 2020 from being an absolute banger of a year for new games.
bramoala and ChipSkylark talk about their favorite gaming experiences this year in this week's episode! Did we think Fall Guys and Among Us topped the list? DID THEY EVEN MAKE OUR LIST AT ALL? How cool was Sayanora Wild Hearts? Find out all that and more in this week's episode of Koalatea Time!
How can esports help your parents like video games more? How long until esports become as relevant as sports? What's the greatest determinant of whether an esports scene will thrive? Join bramoala and ChipSkylark as they welcome Dalton and Jackson from ESPORTSCENETER to talk all things esports on this week's episode of Koalatea Time!
Is Cyberpunk the master piece we all hoped it would be, a bug ridden mess, or both? ChipSkylark provides a thorough breakdown of the myriad of systems at play in CD Projekt Red's latest blockbuster game!
If you want to find out if Cyberpunk has gameplay that you'd find interesting, this is the podcast for you!
How can a great UI make the world a better place? What kinds of games do the best job of transforming us mentally and spiritually? Why can't I play games with my grandpa????
bramoala and ChipSkylark explore Jesse Schell's insight on how games can bring about a better world in this week's episode of Koalatea Time! Join them as they discuss The Last Of Us, Kind Words, Red Dead Redemption, Halo, and more! This week's topic was inspired by Jesse Schell's book: The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses. If you're at all interested in the world of game design and/or development it's a must-read!
In the 50th psycho episode of Koalatea Time bramoala and ChipSkylark team up to cover some of the most interesting off-the-wall game ideas IN PERSON and live with the community!
What if games could only be played for a limited amount of time? What if the community could only complete games together one level at a time? WHAT IF YOU WERE A BABY AND YOUR MOM ABANDONED YOU IN THE WILD! All this and more in this week's episode of Koalatea Time!
Surely the reason games are sold in retail is because they make so much money RIGHT? I mean, development studios definitely make more than $20 from a $70 game... right????????
Join bramoala & ChipSkylar in this week's episode of Koalatea Time as they explore the surprising truths about game sales including the revenue distribution for games sold in retail and discuss whether physical game copies will continued to be sold in the future.
In addition, join them to discuss their favorite copies of physical games and their fondest physical game release memories. All this and more in this week's episode of Koalatea Time!
Bramoala finally beat DOOM 2016! Join him and Chip Skylark as they break down one of the best shooters of the past decade!
They discuss their favorite weapons, enemies, biggest annoyances, their DOOM Eternal wish lists, and more!
When most people think of platforming games they don't usually think of FPS platforming games. Is there a reason for this? What makes FPS platforming difficult to do well? What does the newly released Ghostrunner game do to insure an enjoyable experience?
Join Skylar and Anthony as they explore these and related topics in this week's episode of Koalatea Time! We discuss Ghostrunner, Mirror's Edge, Destiny, Halo, Crash Bandicoot, and much more!
Their tension can feel cheap, and their scares can be predictable, so why do so many people enjoy horror games? Anthony interviews Skylar to get his thoughts on the horror experiences he's played and the one's he's enjoyed the most, including his recent experience playing Amnesia: Rebirth.
Join us as we discuss Five Nights At Freddy's, Until Dawn, Resident Evil, Inside, Bioschock, and more!
Making games is insanely hard. The fact that Amazon's new shooter Crucible is closing down development after only a few months on the market and that Square Enix's new Marvel Avengers is failing to hold more than 1,000 concurrent players just goes to show that even well funded AAA studios cannot guarantee success in today's gaming market. Join
Skylar and Anthony as they discuss why these games failed to maintain an engaged player base, the challenges large AAA teams face in creating cohesive designs, and more!
It's official! We now know the price and release dates for all of the next gen consoles!
We have: • Xbox Series S (Nov 10th) - $299 or $25/month • PS5 Digital (Nov 12th/19th) - $399 • Xbox Series X (Nov 10th) - $499 or $35/month • PS5 (Nov 12th/19th) - $499
Who's providing the best value for gamers? PS5 games are $70? What's with Sony's about-face regarding backwards compatibility? Does Sony actually have a viable Game Pass competitor? What consoles are we getting this holiday?? Join us as we discuss all this and more in this week's episode of Koalatea Time!
If games offer an ability for players to escape the chaos of normal life and to exercise their autonomy on a more simple world, why are some games so difficult? What role does difficulty play in masterful game experiences? Is Dark Souls a bad game for being so hard? We cover all this and more in this week's episode of Koalatea Time!
Join Anthony & Skylar as they discuss Dark Souls, Cuphead, Halo, Minecraft, and more!
"The quality of an entertainment experience can be measured by the extent to which its unfolding sequence of events is able to hold a guest's interest." - Jesse Schell, Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses
Structuring a gaming experience such that it moves the player through varying levels of emotional and mental intensity in a way that is satisfying to the player, is an art. In this episode we breakdown Jesse's insights surrounding the interest curve in games including what expectations players have coming into the game, the importance of a good hook, a meaningful climax, and more!
Join us as we discuss • God of War • Ori and the Blind Forest • Halo 5 and more!
What's this crazy Mario Party minigame Battle Royale game that's taking everyone by storm? Why do people like it so much? What are the BEST minigames? What are the WORST minigames? Is it really a Battle Royale? HAVE WE WON??
Join Anthony & Skylar as they discuss Fall Guys in this week's episode of Koalatea Time!
Join us every Monday at 8:30 PM ET as we record Koalatea Time live on Twitch with our community! You can find us on Twitch @kokoala_ent (https://twitch.tv/kokoala_ent)
Mobility mechanics are one of the primary elements of a game's foundation. They serve as one of (if not the) greatest tools at a player's disposal to exercise their autonomy on the game world.
What do good implementations of mobility mechanics have in common? Do we find 2D or 3D movement to be more fun? What about that Halo Infinite grapple hook? Why is Rocket League's movement so freaking good? Join us as we discuss these and other related topics in this week's episode of Koalatea Time!
Higher resolution! Better framerates! Faster loading times! MORE TERAFLOPS!?!?!
Big technological advancements are touted at the advent of every new console generation, but in this week's episode of Koalatea Time Anthony and Skylar examine whether these upgrades are the best use of resources for games on new cutting edge hardware.
Join us as we discuss the N64, the teraflop war, what's the best way to use 8.3 milliseconds of processing time, and more!
The first ever reveal of Halo Infinite at the Xbox Games Showcase has come and gone and while many in the Halo community are ecstatic with the new direction the franchise appears to be heading in, many outside of the Halo community were left underwhelmed (to downright disappointed) with the showing.
Analysis of the gameplay footage after the event revealed many graphical shortcomings that have us concerned with how much work might still need to be done to get Halo Infinite to a polished state in time for the Xbox Series X release.
Join Anthony and Skylar as they discuss what they thought of the state of the reveal, whether Halo Infinite should get delayed, whether requiring it to run on older consoles is holding it back, whether 343 should crunch to make the holiday deadline, and more!
Sony and Microsoft have now hosted their first respective major livestream conferences. We now have a much better idea of what the two major console platforms will be offering come this holiday.
While some details, like console price and release date, have yet to be revealed, round 1 is now over. Which platform has done the better job so far of convincing gamers that they are the best console to buy come this holiday? We discuss this and related topics in this week's episode of Koalatea Time!
Join us as we talk Ratchet & Clank, Anapura Interactive's new game, Craig the lovable Halo Infinite Brute, which console we'd prefer to have in our homes, and more!
The rise in technological advancements have allowed video games to begin to deliver narrative experiences of arguably equal caliber to those found in more traditional media formats, including movies and books.
Unlike these other mediums, video games have the unique challenge of communicating narrative intent while accommodating player autonomy. However, many argue that games feel much more immersive for this very reason; players are literally in the story and thus have the ability to experience the story at a much more integrated and personal level.
Join Skylar and Anthony as they discuss these and other related topics! Join us to discuss: • What Remains of Edith Finch • The Last of Us • Half Life: Alyx • Halo 2 and more!
What two games do console gamers often buy the most? Why don't PC players switch back to Console? Why does Nintendo routinely produce the most compelling reason to own a console?
Join Anthony & Skylar as they discuss these and other related topics, as well as fantastic community feedback, on this episode of Koalatea Time!
It's time to tackle the eternal debate: PC vs. Console! In part 1 of this loaded topic Anthony and Skylar discuss who wins on price, game selection, and convenience!
Join us as we discuss Nintendo's amazing software and hardware integration history, Steam sales, Xbox Game Pass, the PS5 and more!
Triangularity, a term coined by the amazing Jesse Schell in his book, "The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses", is defined as a game design technique in which a game intentionally provides a high risk, high reward option against a low risk, low reward option to spice up the gameplay experience.
In this week's episode, Skylar and Anthony discuss some of their favorite examples of Triangularity in games and how it plays a part in the K.O. Koala Discord experience!
Join us as we talk Super Smash Bros, Rocket League, Spy Party, Halo, Sayanora Wildhearts, Fortnite, and more!
Should controller players play in the same lobbies as keyboard and mouse players in FPS games? What are the impacts of aim assist and bullet magnetism, and how do they work? How much do first person cameras play into the immersion of FPS games?
Join Anthony and Skylar as they discuss these and other FPS related topics, as well as breakdown some of the community's responses to FPS content on our Instagram! We talk Halo, CSGO, Valorant, COD Warzone, Overwatch, Destiny, and more!
Why are FPS games beloved by so many? What makes class based shooters so compelling? What are the design elements that make shooters so fun to play?
Join us in this week's episode as we discuss the community's feedback regarding our previous discussion about Art Styles, as well as the design of FPS games and why we love them! We talk Halo, Valorant, DOOM, Call of Duty, Rainbow Six Siege, and more!
Help support our studio with some high Koalatea merch!! https://rebrand.ly/kokoala_merch
Why do so many recent games use stylized cartoon-like art styles? Do realistic graphics increase immersion? How do indie games determine the art styles they're going to use?
Anthony & Skylar discuss these and other topics related to art styles in this week's episode of Koalatea Time! Join us as we discuss Valorant, Fortnite, Sea of Thieves, Mortal Kombat, Halo, Ori, Cuphead, and more!
Anthony and Skylar discuss the community's favorite in-game customization options and thoughts regarding in-game expression in this hilarious episode of Koalatea Time!
Join us as we discuss Call of Duty, For Honor, Mortal Kombat, Halo, Rocket League, Dota 2, Fortnite, and more!
Players love expressing themselves through in-game cosmetics and titles. Some players seek the status that comes with obtaining rare items; others purely enjoy the aesthetic treat! This week we discuss expression in games, why players love to the aesthetic upgrades that they do, and how games can manage modern day monetization opportunities without irritating their fan bases.
Join Skylar and Anthony as they discuss Valorant, Rocket League, Dota 2, Halo 3, and more!
Many claim that Skill Based Match Making (SBMM) ruins unranked game modes, but data shows that it undeniably helps increase player retention and engagement. Is SBMM in unranked game modes a good thing? Who should devs cater to when developing their match making algorithms?
In Episode 20 - SBMM (Pt. 1) we asked the community for their feedback surrounding SBMM in unranked game modes, and in this episode we discuss their responses around how they'd go about insuring that players of all skill levels have fun in unranked game modes, how they'd deal with smurfs, and more!
Anthony & Skylar discuss how some popular games like Halo, Dota 2, Valorant, Fortnite, and Rocket League handle these issues and more!
Valorant, the new shooter from Riot Games, has been taking the gaming community by storm since the release of it’s beta. This week, Skylar provides insightful commentary into his experience playing the beta so far!
Join us as Skylar and Anthony discuss Valorant’s unique design elements, satisfying gunplay, novel marketing techniques, etc.
Wonder if you’re the kind of player who’d like Valorant? Wonder how long a game of Valorant takes? Wonder if it’s ranking system is good? Skylar answers all that and more on this week’s episode of Koalatea Time!
Skill Based Match Making (SBMM) the bane of high level players seeking to romp lower level adversaires everywhere! Many claim that it ruins unranked game modes, but data shows that it undeniably helps increase player retention and engagement. Is SBMM in unranked game modes a good thing? Who should devs cater to when developing their match making algorithms?
Anthony & Skylar discuss these and other topics surrounding SBMM on this week's episode! Join us as we discuss Fortnite, TemTem, Dota 2, Rocket League, and more!
OMG CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT _ DID OUR PODCAST INTRO!!!!!!!!
Reeling from the unbelievable hype, Anthony & Skylar discuss what the K.O. Koala community thinks about rewards by leveraging Jesse Schell's insight into the various reward types a game can offer!
Join us as we talk about losing lives, beating games multiple times, grinding for rare armor, completing weekly challenges, and more! Our conversation touches on Fortnite, Halo, Bless Unleashed, Cuphead, Spyro, Rainbow 6 Siege, and many more games!!
In his book "The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses", Jesse Schell discusses extrnisc rewards and how they can be designed tastefully to enhance the player experience. Insipired by his insight, Anthony & Skylar discuss some of their favorite implementations of rewards in games!
Join us as we discuss Minecraft, Jubeat, Street Fighter 4, Halo 3, and more!
Single player experiences vary widely in their expected length of play time. Inspired by Jesse Schell's insight surrounding play time in his book, "The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses", Skylar and Anthony investigate how the length of single player experiences influences the games they play, the experiences they have playing them, and the commonality in structure between many of their most memorable single player experiences!
Join us as we discuss The Witcher 3, BioShock, Ori, Halo, The Hex, and more!
Burning 800 calories on the dance pads of DDR, cutting a rug in front of a Kinect in Just Dance, jamming out in Guitar Hero, bowling your heart away in Wii Sports, catching a fish with Nintendo Labo. Innovative physical interfaces have allowed us to experience some of the most enjoyable and memorable experiences we've had playing games!
In this episode Skylar & Anthony discuss physical interfaces, unique controllers, and why Nintendo leads the way in innovative interface design. Join us as we discuss Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero, Wii Sports, Ring Fit Adventures and more!
Social stigmas, cost of entry, escapism, intellectual challenge, competition, cooperation - there are a seemingly infinite amount of reasons that people play games! In this episode Anthony & Skylar discuss why they and others play games!
Join them as they discuss Sonic 2, Backyard Sports, Warcraft, Pokémon, Halo, and more!
Not too hard, not too easy. Tense and release, tense and release. The careful focusing of attention. All these elements help achieve arguably the most satisfying of all mental states called 'Flow'. Inspired by Jesse Schell's insight in his book, "The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses", Anthony & Skylar discuss Jesse's insights and how Flow is achieved in some of their favorite games.
Join us as they discuss Rocket League, League of Legends, Dota 2, and more!
When's the best time to release a game? Spring? Winter? Do AAA and Indie studios share the same release window concerns? How has the advent of social media and content creators influenced changes in game marketing?
In this episode Anthony & Skylar discuss their thoughts on game release windows including their experience of how they have and haven't changed over the years.
Join us as we discuss Ori and the Blind Forest, One Hour One Life, Yes Your Grace, and more!
Greater immersion or superfluous constraint? Satisfying execution or an encroachment of autonomy? Quick Time Events are one of the most divisive gameplay elements found in a wide range of games. In this episode Skylar & Anthony discuss their thoughts on Quick Time Events and whether they are a good addition in games.
Join us as we discuss Shenmue, Halo, Spy Party, Call of Duty, and rhythm games!
The PlayStation controller is trash?? The Wii Nunchucks are amazing?? Anthony has broken how many Xbox One controllers?? Skylar held what as a baby??
This week, Anthony & Skylar discuss and rank video game controllers! Join us as we discuss Gameboys, button presses, and weirdly shaped hands!
Are your brain's biases still being manipulated by clever game developers to force you to enjoy the games you love?
A cognitive bias is a systematic error in thinking that affects the decisions and judgments that people make. Did you know there are over 100 of these cognitive biases?
This week Anthony and Skylar continue discussing some of these biases and explore how they can affect game design, business, and marketing. Join us as we discuss Halo, Rocket League, gaming communities, Ben Franklin, and why that guy at work might seem so annoying!
How in the world do games make money if they still cost $60? How can games be free to play if they cost over $50 million dollars to develop and market? How will subscription based services change the gaming industry? Will indie studios survive the new landscape?
Anthony & Skylar discuss these and other related topics in this week's episode of Koalatea Time! Join in as they discuss CD Projekt Red, The Witcher 3, No More Robots, Descenders, and more!
Every so often a new technology emerges that brings new gameplay experiences to existing venues. In his book "The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses" Jesse Schell captures the insight of thinking about where players play games as the lens of "The Venue" and how making a game for a particular venue impacts choices in game design.
In this episode, Anthony & Skylar discuss how Augmented and Virtual Reality are poised to revolutionize not only the gameplay experiences they enable but also the venues in which we play them.
Join in as they discuss The VOID, Beat Saber, Pokémon GO, and more!
Continuous technological advancements constantly change the games we play, but not the places we play them. In his book "The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses" Jesse Schell captures the insight of thinking about where players play games as the lens of "The Venue" and how making a game for this venue impacts choices in game design.
In this week's episode, Anthony & Skylar focus on exploring the venue of "The Hearth" a central place in the home where many people of differing skill levels enjoy a gameplay experience together. Join in as they explore how Super Smash Brothers, Mario Kart, Mario Party, The Mind, Halo, and other games succeed in this venue!
2019 has come to a close and with that the 2010 decade is over! In this episode, Anthony and Skylar discuss their favorite games of the decade and the reasons why those games deserve to be there.
What elements go into the design of a game for it to become one of our favorites? Will there be any overlap on our lists? Will we talk about Halo? Tune in and find out!
