Cocktail Mode: Retro Games, Cocktails and Banter

Interview with Steve Cottam CEO of Antstream Arcade - Cocktail Mode: Retro Games, Cocktails and Banter - S03E07

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave leave the shakers at home to  travel back through the decades to unlock the ultimate retro gaming library with the CEO and founder of Antstream Arcade, Steve Cottam!
This free-wheeling chat covers cloud gaming, latency, AI, Spectrum vs Amstrad vs MSX, IP frustrations, and exploring how Antstream is bringing thousands of classic titles - from the 2600 to the PlayStation - directly to modern screens.
Why Streaming? Why not Steam? What’s next for Antstream? Is AI going to take over the world? Is the MSX better than the ZX Spectrum? Listen in for a fascinating discussion on game preservation, cloud technology, the future of retro gaming and a whole lot of random stuff besides.
 
Friends of the show (Not sponsored or affiliated):
DiffordsGuide.co.uk
ConsoleMAD.co.uk
Anstream.com
https://retrocomputermuseum.co.uk/
 
#AntstreamArcade #RetroGaming #CloudGaming #GamePreservation #SteveCottam #CocktailMode #VideoGameCocktails #NostalgiaPodcast #GamingHistory #ArcadeClassics #TechIndustry #ZXSpectrum
 

Micro Machines - Cocktail Mode: Retro Games, Cocktails and Banter - S03E06

 
This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are shrinking down to tabletop size to revisit the absolute mayhem of 1991 with the Codemasters classic: Micro Machines!
We’re taking a pint sized roadtrip through the series that turned breakfast tables, bathtubs, and pool tables into high-stakes racetracks. We break down the frantic joy of the "screen-elimination" mechanic, and how this charming franchise proved that big fun really does come in small packages. As usual, we’ve shaken up a pair of cocktails to go alongside the miniature chaos of this gaming masterpiece.
We journey through the ultimate sofa-multiplayer experience, complete with Andy actually saying something nice about the N64!
Andy’s Cocktail: https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/32632/
Dave’s Cocktail: https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/18790/
 
Friends of the show (Not affiliated):
DiffordsGuide.co.uk
ConsoleMAD.co.uk
Anstream.com
https://retrocomputermuseum.co.uk/
 
#MicroMachines #RetroGaming #Codemasters #NES #SegaGenesis #90sGaming #CocktailMode #VideoGameCocktails #NostalgiaPodcast #GamingHistory #TabletopRacing #MultiplayerGaming
 

Pilotwings - Cocktail Mode: Retro Games, Cocktails and Banter - S03E05

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are taking to the skies to earn their flight licenses in the 1990 SNES classic: Pilotwings!
We’re diving into the game that served as the ultimate showcase for Nintendo’s Mode 7 technology, transforming flat 2D maps into a pseudo-3D playground that blew minds at the SNES launch. We discuss the Zen-like calm of the hang glider, the high-altitude tension of the skydiving targets, and why the rocket belt (jetpack) remains one of the most satisfying mechanics in 16-bit history. We also pay tribute to the iconic instructors like Big Al and Shirley and the smooth, jazz-fusion soundtrack that makes every crash-landing feel a little more sophisticated.
Obviously there’ll also be two "high-altitude" cocktails to help you clear the landing strip!
Andy’s Cocktail
Dave’s Cocktail
 
Friends of the show (not affiliated):
www.diffordsguide.com
www.consoleMAD.co.uk
https://retrocomputermuseum.co.uk/
#Pilotwings #SNES #Nintendo #Mode7 #RetroGaming #GamingHistory #90sGaming #CocktailMode #VideoGameCocktails #NostalgiaPodcast #FlightSim #SoyoOka #16Bit
 

Daytona USA - Cocktail Mode: Retro Games, Cocktails and Banter - S03E04

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are heading to the "World Center of Racing" to talk about the legendary Daytona USA in celebration of its real-world inspiration, the Daytona 500!
We’re revving up the engines on Sega’s arcade titan, discussing everything from the accuracy of the track layout to how and why the high-pitched "DAYTONAAAAA!" vocals of Takenobu Mitsuyoshi still live rent-free in our heads. 
Tune in for a love letter to Daytona’s 60fps arcade perfection, some classic Sega Saturn port-chat, and two high-performance cocktails selected to keep you on the lead lap!
Andy’s Cocktail
Dave’s Cocktail
 
Friends of the show (not affiliated):
www.diffordsguide.com
www.ConsoleMAD.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/thenarrowsbaralaska
 
#DaytonaUSA #Sega #ArcadeRacing #Daytona500 #NASCAR #RetroGaming #SegaModel2 #CocktailMode #VideoGameCocktails #RacingHistory #BlueBlueSkies #GamingPodcast
 

Space Harrier - Cocktail Mode: Retro Games, Cocktails and Banter - S03E03

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are blasting off into the Sega-blue skies of 1985 to revisit a true arcade behemoth: Space Harrier!
We’re taking a deep dive into Yu Suzuki’s psychedelic masterpiece, discussing the thrill of the hydraulic motion cabinet, remembering the iconic music and sound design, and chatting about why this game remains one of THE all time great arcade experiences.
Tune in for nostalgia, development stories, general banter, and the perfect drinks to accompany your trip to the Fantasy Zone!
Andy’s Cocktail
Dave’s Cocktail 
#SpaceHarrier #RetroGaming #Sega #ArcadeClassic #YuSuzuki #SuperScaler #80sGaming #CocktailMode #VideoGameCocktails #NostalgiaPodcast #GamingHistory #FantasyZone #SegaAM2

Ian Oliver Interview - Cocktail Mode: Retro Games, Cocktails and Banter - S03E02

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

Metropolis Street Racer - Cocktail Mode: Retro Games, Cocktails and Banter - S03E01

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

Christmas Special - Cocktail Mode - Retro Games, Cocktails and Banter - S02E26

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/
 

50th Episode Special - Cocktail Mode: Retro Games, Cocktails and Banter - S02E25

So it's come to this: A Cocktail Mode list episode!
Andy and Dave are ready to unleash their most ambitious, potentially most divisive, and almost certainly most overlong episode yet: Our Top 50 Retro Games!*
Did your favourite make it? Did we choose the same 25 games each? Did ANY Nintendo games make the cut? What is the meaning of that asterisk?
Listen in and find out!
Of course we have to shoe-horn in the usual Cocktail or two, but considering how much we struggle with finding drinks for a single game, how on earth are we going to manage for FIFTY!?
Andy's Cocktail
Dave's Cocktail
 
Friends of the show: (Not affiliated)
https://www.consolemad.co.uk/
https://www.amigalive.com/
https://www.diffordsguide.com/
 

Bushido Blade - Cocktail Mode: Retro Games, Cocktails and Banter - S02E24

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, we're bowing to one of the most unique and respected fighting games ever made: Bushido Blade on the original PS1!
Andy and Dave explore why this One-Hit Kill Samurai simulator remains a definitive Cult Classic. We break down the revolutionary mechanics that set this Squaresoft title apart from every other fighting game - no health bars, no time limits, just pure, sudden-death duel tension. We're talking body-part damage, the honour system, and why it's considered by many to be the best PS1 fighting game.
And finally, we tackle the all-important question: How do you pick a cocktail to match the honour, precision, and sudden violence of a samurai duellist? 
Andy’s Cocktail
Dave’s Cocktail
 
Friends of the show (not affiliated):
Torinak
Amiga Live
https://www.consolemad.co.uk/