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Discussions about video games and game design featuring Attila "Gabriel" Branyiczky of Toronto Indie Studio Bluish-Green Productions and Mathew Falvai

Mathew Falvai and Attila Branyiczky


    • May 20, 2018 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 29m AVG DURATION
    • 64 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Gameology

    Make it or Break it 6 - BAXY Guns, Gravity Giver, Drop Pod Wars, Bomb Bot

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2018 45:00


    Rating old Game Design Docs; should I Make it, or Break it? Mathew and Attila discuss “BAXY Guns”, “Gravity Giver”, “Drop Pod Wars”, and “Bomb Bot”

    Gameology 54 - Game Review Solutions

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2018 35:12


    What makes an ideal review? What can players do to make an informed purchase about a game they are interested in? Mathew and Attila discuss possibilities for improving Game Reviews.

    Make it or Break it 5 - End of Friendships

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2018 42:19


    Rating old Game Design Docs; should I Make it, or Break it? Mathew and Attila discuss “End of Friendships”, “Enemies Inc.” and “Eyes on Eggs”.

    Gameology 53 - The Good, the Bad: Zelda II

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2018 42:09


    Souls-like on the NES? Mathew and Attila discuss Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, the black sheep of the Zelda franchise which seems to have more in common with Dark Souls than it does other Legend of Zelda games.

    Make it or Break it 4 - Don't Open the Box

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2018 43:29


    Rating old Game Design Docs; should I Make it, or Break it? Mathew and Attila discuss "Color Cascade", "Don't Open the Box", and "Droption"

    Gameology 52 - Game Reviews

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2018 27:45


    As much as we love to see Review Scores, do permanent Game Reviews make sense in the ever-updating world of games? Mathew and Attila discuss the flawed "out of 10" Rating scale and try to brainstorm solutions.

    B1TS 0F W1SD0M 3 - Orbit: Tower Defense Redefined

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2018 16:21


    A solo-cast discussing what changes were made to Orbit: Satellite Defense and the reasons behind the changes. Experience the journey from a game-jam winning concept, to Mobile, to its Steam Early Access release PC release.Orbit: Satellite Defense is available now on SteamClick here for more information about Orbit: Satellite Defense

    Make it or Break it 3 - Cave Explorer, Center Tetris & Collapse

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2018 33:30


    Rating old Game Design Docs; should I Make it, or Break it? Mathew and Attila discuss "Cave Explorer", "Center Tetris" & "Collapse"

    Gameology 51 - Psychology of Aesthetics

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2018 35:03


    What makes something visually appealing? Repulsive? What is the Uncanny Valley, and how can we avoid it, or intentionally use it to craft Horror Games? Mathew and Attila discuss the Psychology of Aesthetics

    B1TS 0F W1SD0M 2: Trimming Zarnok Fortress Features

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2018 11:58


    A solo-cast where I discuss the reasons behind trimming certain features from Zarnok Fortress. Experience, Leveling, Unlocking Abilities, find out what was removed from Zarnok Fortress and why!Available now on Steam

    Make it or Break it 2 - Bisector, Boolean Bash, Bribery Race

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2017 28:07


    Look forward to details about a Make it or Break it Game Jam in the New Year!Rating old Game Design Docs; should I Make it, or Break it? Mathew and Attila discuss ideas for Bisector: The mathematical target slicing cousin of Fruit Ninja, Boolean Bash: A Logic Operator tile puzzle, and Bribery Race: Throw around money to alter the racetrack in your favor!Side-note: I totally meant to say "Caltrops" but instead I said "Cantrips". I've been playing too much D&D lately.

    Gameology 50 - Experience and Leveling

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2017 26:38


    Mathew and Attila discuss the different ways in which experience is earned and new levels and abilities are awarded across different games.

    Make it or Break 1 it - Arrow Key Trap Maze and RGB

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2017 23:24


    Rating old Game Design Docs; should I Make it, or Break it? Mathew and Attila discuss the frustratingly complicated "Arrow Key Trap Maze", the brain-bending "RGB", and "Origami Simulator"

    Gameology 49 - Super Mario Odyssey

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2017 53:17


    Mathew and Attila have a Spoiler-Free discussion on all the amazing new mechanics of Super Mario Odyssey for the Nintendo Switch.

    B1TS 0F W1SD0M 1 - Reused Levels and Procedural Generation

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2017 10:53


    A solo-cast where Attila condenses the episodes "Environmental Reuse" and "Procedural Generation" into byte-sized B1TS 0F W1SD0M

    Gameology 48 RTS SOS with Chris Feres

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2017 65:14


    Attila and fellow RTS fan Chris Feres discuss the later years of the RTS genre including the ill-fated Command & Conquer Franchise.

    Gameology 47 Early RTS Days with Chris Feres

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2017 37:22


    Attila waxes nostalgia with fellow RTS fan Chris Feres. A look at the early RTS scene including the heavy hitters of the 90’s; Starcraft and Command & Conquer

    Gameology 46 Modding with Chris Feres

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2017 37:25


    An interview with the co-creator of the popular Red Alert 3: Paradox mod! Join Attila and Chris Feres as they discuss the ups and downs of game modding.

    Gameology 45 - Super Mario World

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2017 30:54


    From the much loved Yoshi to the oft-under-appreciated Yellow Spinning Blocks, Mathew and Attila examine all the features that made Mario World truly deserving of the “Super” prefix.

    Gameology 44 - Cutscenes

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2017 40:23


    Cut-scenes come in all shapes and sizes, from brief dialog exchanges, to grand cinematic. Mathew and Attila discuss the best practices of cut-scenes in gaming.

    Gameology 43 - The Good, The Bad: Super Mario Bros. 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2017 32:41


    The game that cemented Mario as the platforming icon he is today; Mario Bros. 3 stands as a shining example of how to take a great game and improve every single aspect of it.

    Gameology 42 - Traversal

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2017 27:36


    Inspired by the delightful traversal mechanics of Super Mario Odyssey, Attila and Mathew discuss who much traversal mechanics matter in other games.

    Gameology 41 - The Good, The Bad: Super Mario Bros 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2017 21:02


    Despite being the so-called "black sheep" of the Mario Bros. series, Mathew and Attila look at the aspects of Super Mario Bros. 2 that made it into games to come, as well as the elements that were understandably cut.

    Gameology 40 - Companion AI

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2017 25:33


    So often, AI meant to assist the player ends up doing the complete opposite. Mathew and Attila discuss everything from rage-inducing Escort Quests to delightfully helpful invulnerable assistants in their discussion on friendly AI.

    Gameology 39 - The Good, The Bad: Super Mario Bros.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2017 26:44


    Mathew and Attila discuss the platfomer that set the bar for all others to come and made Mario a world-wide sensation. What crucial design choices led to Super Mario Bros. becoming such a sensation? What set it apart from other platformers at the time?

    Gameology 38 - Legislation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2017 30:14


    Should government legislation crack down on harmful game design practices? The ESRB might cover content rating, but what about the psychological traps present in so many of today's free-to-play games? Mathew and Attila discuss whether or not these nefarious practices should be subject to outside laws.

    Gameology 37 - The Good, The Bad: Mario 64

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2017 31:21


    Mario 64 brought the famous plumber into the 3rd dimension, what was gained and what was lost in the transition? Mathew and Attila discuss the 3D platformer that set the golden standard for years to come.

    Gameology 36 - Console Generations

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2017 24:24


    Are Consoles going the way of PCs? Incremental hardware updates threaten to overthrow the identity of the home gaming console. Mathew and Attila discuss the implications for the industry and for consumers.

    Gameology 35 - The Good, The Bad: Super Mario 3D World

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2017 37:46


    Did you experience this Wii U gem? Mathew and Attila talk about everything from the aesthetics to the sound design of this stellar 3D Mario title.

    Gameology 34 - The Good, The Bad - Mario Galaxy

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2017 24:20


    Show Notes Super Mario Galaxy remains one of the best and most iconic Mario games released to date. Attila and Mathew discuss everything there was to love about this classic, as well as a few details which are not to their liking.

    Gameology 33 - Rock Paper Scissors

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2017 21:52


    How does this playground game provide the basis for the best tactical game-play experiences? Mathew and Attila look into the widespread implementation of Type Advantage across games of all genres.

    Gameology 32 - Game Feel

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2017 40:01


    What makes a game feel good? What makes a control scheme feel good? What makes destroying an enemy satisfying? The answer to all of these questions is Game Feel! Mathew and Attila discuss the nebulous concept of Game Feel.

    Gameology 31 - Breath of the Wild - Zelda Evolved

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2017 32:24


    The elements that make The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild the masterpiece that it is are sprinkled throughout the Zelda series. Mathew and Attila speculate on the design decisions of Breath of the Wild and look at where some of its most interesting features draw their inspiration.

    Gameology 30 - Where do I go, what do I do?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2017 29:09


    With all the hate surrounding games having too much "hand-holding" what's the right way to share information with your players? How can you strike a balance with sharing enough information so players know enough about how to play your game without them getting bored? Mathew and Attila discuss the surprisingly complex problem of sign-posting.

    Gameology 29 - Behind the Scenes on Speedrunning

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2017 41:29


    Show Notes How are crazy Sequence Breaks and Memory re-writes even possible in the first place? Attila gives insight on the programming practices that gave rise to certain Speed-running tactics.

    Gameology 28 - Crunch Time

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2017 31:56


    Show Notes Non-stop overtime and slavish conditions seem to accompany the weeks leading up to the release date of most AAA games. Mathew and Attila discuss the slippery legalities of "Crunch Time".

    Gameology 27 - Palette Swaps

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2017 19:30


    Are game artists being lazy when they create red and blue versions of the same enemy? The devil is in the details; Mathew and Attila discuss everything from Shiny Pokemon, Overwatch Skins, and Paper Mario enemies to illustrate the best and worst use cases for palette swaps.

    Gameology 26 - Checkpoints

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2017 25:29


    Show Notes Checkpoints; the more the merrier? Do they even influence the difficulty of a game, or do they just save you from repeating content? Where is the best place to insert a checkpoint? Also, more discussion on save-scumming, save-states, and other ways players create their own "progress markers".

    Gameology 25 - Side Quests

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2016 22:32


    From the exceptional Loyalty Missions in Mass Effect to the mundane Fetch Quests in MMOs of years past, Side Quests provide some of the most and least memorable experiences in gaming. Mathew and Attila discuss what makes some quests more interesting than others, what the best quest rewards are, and more.

    Gameology 24 - Progression Systems

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2016 20:06


    Make the numbers go up. You have to. You can make the numbers go up faster if you play every hour, on the hour, all through tomorrow, for the rest of your life. Progression Systems keep players engaged, but wouldn't it be better if your motivation was to play the game for the sake of enjoying the actual experience?

    Gameology 23 - Trading / Collectable Card Games

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2016 43:56


    Show Notes: As much fun as Card Games might be, they are made from the ground up to extract as much value from the consumer as possible. Mathew and Attila discuss games that are distributed as digital Collectible Card Games and physical Trading Card Games.

    Gameology 22 - Building Accessible Board Games

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2016 35:06


    10 pages of rules before you can even start playing? Why does a board game rule book take 10 pages to explain what a friend can summarize in less than 5 minutes? A discussion on the best way to create engaging board games which are easy to get into but offer just as much emergent complexity to keep you engaged.

    Gameology 21 - Luck vs Skill

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2016 21:34


    Luck can feel great when it works in your favor and aggravating when it works against you, winning a game of skill can be rewarding, but loosing one leaves you no one to blame but yourself.

    Gameology 20 - Hearthstone's Microtransactions

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2016 23:36


    Show Notes Hearthstone airs on the side of paying for content, but isn't it still pay to win? If you would rather pay for content instead of consumables, where do digital card packs fall? Added to that, Hearthstone's "set rotation" means that some of your purchases will become obsolete. Do we let Hearthstone get away with more because we find it fun to play?

    Gameology 19 - Microtransactions

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2016 40:28


    Would you rather pay for Consumables or Content? Is it okay to have "pay to win" in a single-player game? How can developers use micro-transactions in ways that don't harm consumers? Mathew and Attila discuss micro-transactions in games. Attila talks about his negative experiences with the Plants vs Zombies franchise, including the "most stressful Zen Garden ever".

    Gameology 18 - Meaningful Choice

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2016 21:40


    Mathew and Attila discuss what truly makes a choice Meaningful in a game. Games discussed in the show: Deus Ex: Human Revolution Super Mario Bros. Mass Effect Life is Strange Persona (series) Final Fantasy VII Halo 5: Guardians Overwatch Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind Dark Souls (series)

    Gameology 17 - Narrative

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2016 27:51


    Mathew and Attila discuss narrative in games, and the dichotomy between games which put story first with lacking gameplay and action games which don't bother to tell a good story. Games discussed in the show: Donkey Kong The Legend of Zelda Metroid Bioshock (series) Metal Gear Solid V The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Half Life Uncharted (series) The Last of Us Telltale Games (Walking Dead) Mass Effect (series) Braid (video game) Dark Souls Firewatch Mega Man (series) Bastion (video game)

    Gameology 16 - Case Study: Shovel Knight

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2016 26:45


    Mathew and Attila discuss Shovel Knight, it's penalty for death, and whether instant-deaths make sense in a game where you have a health-bar. Games discussed in the show: Shovel Knight

    Gameology 15.5 - Pokemon GO

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2016 15:50


    Mathew and Attila jump on the Pokemon GO bandwagon and discuss the potential future of Nintendo games on smartphones. Pokemon GO

    Gameology 15 - Death

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2016 24:06


    Mathew and Attila discuss Death and Energy Systems in games. Games discussed in the show: Street Fighter II Super Mario Land Super Mario 3D Land Super Mario Bros. 3 Robo's World: The Zarnok Fortress XCOM: Enemy Unknown When We Were Young Braid Stardew Valley Animal Crossing Final Fantasy 7 Paper Boy Dark Souls

    Gameology 14 - Session Length

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2016 31:48


    Mathew and Attila discuss the ideal length of a gaming session. Games discussed in the show: The World Ends with You The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Robo's World: The Zarnok Fortress New Super Mario Bros. Deus Ex: Human Revolution Cliff The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess The Last of Us

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