Checkpoint Radio: A Video Game Podcast | Podcast on RSS.com

Checkpoint Radio: A Video Game Podcast

Checkpoint Radio: A Video Game Podcast

by Checkpoint Radio

Video Games Technology

What A Year For Gaming! - Episode 21

In our final episode for 2023, we take a look back at the year in gaming and discuss all the good, bad and everything in between. From the massively hyped GTA VI reveal, to Redfall, from Baldur's Gate 3 to The Day Before, it's been a year full of incredible highs and some real lows too. We've seen arguably the best year for high quality releases in some time, but we've also had constant news of redundancies, studio closures and swathes of layoffs across the industry. Google Stadia was put in the bin, Microsoft finally closed the Activision deal, the Steamdeck got an upgrade and so much more. But 2023 was also a big year for Checkpoint Radio! As we discuss the year through the lens of gamers, we also take the time to reflect on our own highs and lows as we look back at the first year of doing this show. We're incredibly proud of what we've done this year and we are grateful to everyone who has listened and supported the show on here and on YouTube. We will be taking a short break over Christmas and New Year, with episode 22 arriving on January 12th 2024! We hope to see you there. For now, thank you so much for your continued support, and be sure to check out these links for more Checkpoint Radio content! If you prefer, you can send us an email here: hello@checkpointradio.co.uk Checkpoint Radio is hosted by Ben, Connor and James.

The Great Big Game of the Year Discussion - Episode 20

Alan Wake 2. Baldur's Gate 3. Spider-Man 2. Starfield. The Legend of Zelda, Tears of the Kingdom. Resident Evil 4. Dead Space. Hogwarts Legacy. Dredge. Forza Motorsport. Hi-Fi Rush. Dave the Diver. The list goes on... When we look back on 2023, it's safe to say this will be remembered as one of the iconic years in gaming. It feels like there has been a major release every month since the turn of the year, and after an extremely dry 2022, gamers will have their hands full with the amount on offer. In today's episode, we take a look at some of the standout games from this year, as we shine a light on the year's biggest event - The Game Awards! Join us as we discuss the nominees, predictions, and celebrate the outstanding achievements in the gaming industry. From jaw-dropping moments to ground-breaking innovations, this episode is a celebration of the passion and creativity that has made 2023 an incredible year for gaming. Enjoy!🤘 Click here to see our socials, YouTube and join our Discord! Or if you want to get in touch with us, send a message to hello@checkpointradio.co.uk Checkpoint Radio is hosted by Ben, Connor and James.

Cloud Gaming in 2023, Plus Modern Warfare 3, Steam Deck OLED, Bungie Turmoil & More! - Episode 19

We've got a bumper episode today as we take a look at some recent news before heading into our main topic for this week! The release of Modern Warfare 3 has got Call of Duty fans in a spin, and we question what's next for this once iconic franchise. Valve give the Steam Deck a massive new upgrade as they surprisingly announce a refined version of the popular handheld device - an insult to early adopters, or a good move? And we take a look at Bungie's struggles as the Destiny developer lays off over a hundred members of staff, adding to the ever growing list of budget and personnel cuts across the entire gaming industry. Later in the episode, we get into cloud gaming! We've been testing the various offerings from the likes of PlayStation, Xbox and Nvidia, as we dive into the world of video game streaming and ask ourselves if cloud really is the future of gaming. Click here to see our socials, YouTube and join our Discord! Or if you want to get in touch with us, send a message to hello@checkpointradio.co.uk Checkpoint Radio is hosted by Ben, Connor and James.

Hall of Fame Part 3 Plus Alan Wake 2, The Finals and More! - Episode 18

The Hall of Fame is back! For part 3 of this ongoing series, we're officially adding CD Projekt Red's incredible open world action RPG The Witcher 3 to our greatest games of all time list. The Witcher 3 is a special game for many people, and in this episode we get all gooey eyed and mushy over one of our all time favourites. From the writing to its characters, the open world design and truly impactful player choices, The Witcher 3 is a game you can tell was made out of the pure love of creating video games, and this epic adventure has given us hundreds of collective hours of enjoyment, tears and laughter. It is a game truly worthy of being discussed as one of the greatest achievements of all time in gaming. Also in this episode, we talk a little about Alan Wake 2 and it's incredible reception, as well as discussing our time on Embark Studio's latest open beta for the hotly anticipated squad based objective shooter The Finals. Enjoy! Click here to see our socials, YouTube and join our Discord! Or if you want to get in touch with us, send a message to hello@checkpointradio.co.uk Checkpoint Radio is hosted by Ben, Connor, Charlie and James.

The Halloween Special - Episode 17

Welcome to Checkpoint Radio's Halloween Special! Join us as we chat about our love-hate relationship with the weirdest holiday of the year! We'll be exchanging our own spooky ghost stories, reminiscing about Halloween growing up in 90s/00s Britain, and of course, talking about horror games! While we may not be avid players of horror games due to certain technical limitations (cough, definitely not complete scaredy-cats), we truly value the unique contribution that horror games make to the gaming world. The profound psychological impact that a well-crafted horror game can exert on players can be quite intense, often necessitating a courageous heart to immerse oneself in them, with headphones on, in a dimly lit room, all alone. So, we aim to delve into the factors that make horror games so spine-chilling. Furthermore, we delve into our personal preferences regarding the most iconic monsters, creatures, and antagonists from the renowned titles in the horror game genre. 👻🎃⚰️🐈‍⬛💀 Hope you enjoy 🤘and if you would like to see more, then check out the links below! Click here to see our socials, YouTube and join our Discord! Or if you want to get in touch with us, send a message to hello@checkpointradio.co.uk Checkpoint Radio is hosted by Ben, Connor, Charlie and James.

What's The Problem With Shooters These Days? - Episode 16

From Goldeneye on the N64, to Call of Duty, from Battlefield to Halo, the First Person Shooter has had a long history of consistently delivering some of the greatest games of all time. But lately, it feels as though something from this genre is lacking... Thanks to the likes of Battle Royales like Warzone and Apex, shooters are arguably at their peak in terms of popularity, with these games alone consistently achieving active player counts in the hundreds of thousands. That number quickly rises if you also throw in Counter Strike and Valorant, two hugely popular, ultra competitive shooters in their own right. But with gamers growing disgruntled with the over reliance on battle passes, a lack of originality across the whole genre, not to mention the problem of cheaters, griefers, and a seemingly higher-than-usual toxic environment, is the quality of shooters slowly declining? In this episode we're talking about the state of shooters in 2023, the lack of satisfying and competitive gameplay, and how paywalled content and micro transactions are ruining everyone's fun. Join us as we talk about some of our favourite FPS games, why we think shooters generally just stink nowadays, and what we'd like to see improve going forward! Click here to see our socials, YouTube and join our Discord! Or if you want to get in touch with us, send a message to hello@checkpointradio.co.uk Checkpoint Radio is hosted by Ben, Connor, Charlie and James.

What Makes A Good Video Game Adaptation? - Episode 15

In this episode 15, we delve into the ins and outs of what we think the real struggles are of turning some of the worlds most loved and adored games into a film or TV series. We've all heard someone say "it's not as good as the book", when talking about a film or TV series adaptation of a book, and you can probably swap out the word "book" for "game" and have a valid argument most of the time when discussing video game adaptations too. It's no easy feat to turn such an interactive and immersive experience into another medium, but why? What are the inherent difficulties of converting this form of entertainment? Do different genres, play styles, graphics, narratives dictate how it can be adapted? Will they ever be able to capture what its like to play the game? Is that crucial? Listen to the episode to hear our thoughts on video game adaptations, and click the links to get involved in the discussions with us! Click here to see our socials, YouTube and join our Discord! Or if you want to get in touch with us, send a message to hello@checkpointradio.co.uk Checkpoint Radio is hosted by Ben, Connor, Charlie and James.

Starfield Impressions - Episode 14

Bethesda's first new IP in 25 years, it's fair to say that Starfield is one of 2023's most anticipated games. The Elder Scrolls and Fallout developer has been working on this ambitious new Sci Fi RPG for over seven years and during that time, the game has seen delays, been at the centre of a Microsoft takeover, and has continuously found itself the subject of furious internet debates. But now that it is finally here, what do we think of Starfield? In today's episode, we give our initial impressions and reactions to this massive new game and discuss what we've seen so far from the good to the bad and everything in between. Click here to see our socials, YouTube and join our Discord! Or if you want to get in touch with us, send a message to hello@checkpointradio.co.uk Checkpoint Radio is hosted by Ben, Connor, Charlie and James.

Do Publishers Actually Know What Gamers Want? - Episode 13

In the midst of the success of Baldur's Gate 3, some developers have pushed back on the achievements Larian Studios have set out with their latest game, claiming that not all games should be measured against such high standards. Asking fans to lower their standards is a pretty wild take by any account, but do these developers have a point? With interference from publishers, investors and stakeholders during development on games such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Battlefield 2042, there aren't many triple A game developers out there who are given the time and support to reach the heights of a game like Baldur's Gate 3. It begs the question - do the publishers actually know what gamers want? In this episode, we discuss the push back against Larian, whether it's justified or not, as well as diving into a wider issue with triple A game development, and whether or not the likes of EA, Ubisoft and others can learn a thing or two from Baldur's Gate 3. Click here to see our socials, YouTube and join our Discord! Or if you want to get in touch with us, send a message to hello@checkpointradio.co.uk Checkpoint Radio is hosted by Ben, Connor, Charlie and James.

Gaming As Adults: An Honest Conversation - Episode 12

In today's episode, we get a bit more personal with something we're sure every gamer over a certain age contends with, and that's gaming and growing older! We discuss how we try and deal with the fact that getting older means new responsibilities, from bills and mortgages to careers and family, and whether or not gaming can still fit into our hectic, busy, grown-up lives. Is gaming still worth investing the time and money into when it feels like there are so many more important things to worry about? Have our perceptions of gaming changed as we've gotten older? Have we grown too cynical to enjoy gaming as we once did, or is there still a place for gaming in our lives as grown ups? Tune in as we discuss all of this and more! Click here to see our socials, YouTube and join our Discord! Or if you want to get in touch with us, send a message to hello@checkpointradio.co.uk Checkpoint Radio is hosted by Ben, Connor, Charlie and James.

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