This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are warping back to the golden age of 8-bit vector graphics to sit down with a true legend: Ian Oliver, the coding mastermind behind iconic games from the era including 3D Starstrike and Carrier Command!

We chat about how Ian and the Realtime Games team managed to squeeze lightning-fast, wireframe 3D out of the ZX Spectrum, effectively bringing the Star Wars arcade experience into our living rooms. There’s insight into the high-stakes pressure of 1980s software development, and the legacy of a game catalogue that proved the "speccy" could handle the third dimension with style.

As usual, we’ve also selected a cocktail each to match the theme of the episode.

Tune in for a break-neck journey through the ̶t̷r̷e̷n̷c̷h̷e̷s̷ equatorial duct of the ̶D̷e̷a̷t̷h̷ ̷S̷t̷a̷r̷ a hollowed-out moon!... or at least the closest thing that 1984 (and fear of litigation) could offer!

Andy’s Cocktail

Dave’s Cocktail

Spectaculator

Diffords Guide

#3DStarstrike #ZXSpectrum #RetroGaming #CocktailMode #IanOliver #RealtimeGames #VectorGraphics #80sGaming

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are hitting the high-gloss streets of the year 2000 to revisit the Dreamcast’s definitive urban racer: Metropolis Street Racer (MSR)!

We’re diving deep into the game that famously prioritized "style over speed" and paved the way for the Project Gotham Racing series. We break down the revolutionary (and occasionally brutal) Kudos system, the technical feat of recreating London, Tokyo, and San Francisco with pinpoint accuracy.

And as usual we attempt to pair a sophisticated, city-inspired drink that perfectly captures the vibe of this fantastic game.

Tune in for a nostalgic journey through one of the Dreamcast’s most stylish exports, complete with expert pairing, retro banter, and a few "joker" laps along the way!

Andy’s Cocktail

Dave’s Cocktail

Farewell of Bizarre Studios

#MetropolisStreetRacer #Dreamcast #RetroGaming #CocktailMode #Kudos #BizarreCreations #PGR

Merry Christmas! The season of giving is here, but which games deserve a spot under your Christmas Tree?

This week on Cocktail Mode, Andy and Dave are getting festive for the annual Holiday Special! They’ll be counting down their highly debatable list of the 12 Games of Christmas: the perfect Retro Video Games to play with family and friends, and maybe get them to finally understand your obsession with games from the 20th Century!

And in true Cocktail Mode fashion, they’ll attempt to pair a festive cocktail that perfectly complements a night of Holiday Gaming Marathon chaos.

Grab your eggnog (spiked, of course!), settle in, and tune in for a smashing good time!

Andy's Christmas Cocktail

Dave's Christmas Cocktail

Links and friends of the show (Not affiliated)

Torinak (Online Spectrum Emulator)

https://www.consolemad.co.uk/

https://retrocomputermuseum.co.uk/

https://www.amigalive.com/

Bill Bailey 'Argos' (Youtube)

https://evercade.co.uk/

Bomber Man Trade-up Story (imgur)

https://www.thebowlinggreen.uk/