RtD Nerds

Tonight the Nerdpool team look into the genre of horror, taking it apart and dissecting it like a hideous, monstrous experiment that should be kept from the light of day… Why is horror such a popular genre and just how much longer can zombies be the superstars? Kirsty asks can they ever be scary again? Horror has evolved a lot since its early days of wandering, mindless zombies even to the point of making zombie rom-coms and sparkly vampires. Ken asks are we more scared by irrational monsters, eating to survive or characters with an evil side, with a dark purpose? Looking back at classic films, the team discuss the important aspect of the atmospheric soundtrack that draws you into the story and the power of the imagination in creating something more scary in the viewers’ mind than anything they could see on screen. Mike highlights Dario Agenta’s Suspiria as an excellent example of using a strong visual style coupled with a powerful accompanying soundtrack, for maximum effect. More recent films such as Saw using misdirection and mystery to tell their story and a variety of interestingly technical traps to boot! Do you remember the horror of the classic Simpsons Halloween episodes? The popularity of Resident Evil 7 shows a continued love of horror and jump scares in video games, perpetuated perhaps by let’s play and reaction videos swarming their way around the various YouTube channels. Mike discusses the emotional response and attachment that players attribute in some horror games like Silent Hill to wandering monsters that seem to be helpless. Playing as the monster is an interesting new twist for games, which Ken points out seems to take away from the unknown horror element and romanticises the monsters as you see their perspective. AVP was a classic game to give the player the option to play, not only as human prey but also the alien and predator hunters. Did anyone ever do well as a human?! Rounding off the talk, the team provide their recommendations for games, TV shows and films that any horror fan would enjoy / run screaming from! Remember you can suggest topics and questions for the Nerdpool, just use the hashtag #nerdpool and tweet your idea or question to @RtDNerds * Music Credits - Thanks to the incredible Ollie Lewis for providing our awesome intro music (Check him out on SoundCloud here: https://soundcloud.com/olfredj) and our wonderful background music tonight provided by the highly talented Peder B. Helland and you can find more of this work here: http://pederbhelland.com/

Sarah and Hannah take over Nerdy Birds tonight to discuss their favourite (and not so favourite) foods as well as Portal cake, the secret of nut-free peanut butter and the right pizza choice for a potential husband... On tonight's episode: Do fish fingers really mix with custard... What does Peanut Butter really taste like? Making Portal and Kirby cakes! National Pizza Day - whats the perfect topping combination? Lycra superheroes feeding the masses Pimms vs Fruity Ciders All hail the Purple Rain! The trouble with bell peppers #IHatePineapple What are your favourite pizza toppings? Best cake you've ever made or seen? Let us know on Twitter @RtDNerds and check out our website for more content: RtD Nerds

What's the first computer game you ever played? Remember Crash Bandicoot? How do you feel about spending Five Nights At Freddie's? We're talking consoles, memories, recommendations and more this week, and guess who has no patience for open world games? Who hates Lego games? Who has so many consoles that, frankly, she ran out of breath listing them?! From Alien: Isolation to Chip's Challenge, Mario to Resident Evil, we cover the depth and breadth of our gaming experience. Which game would you recommend to a newbie? Did we miss any? Let us know on Twitter @RtDNerds

Each episode of NerdPool digitally summons together a team of Nerdlings, calling upon their great and powerful knowledge. Questions will be asked, debates detailed and of course opinions expressed and challenged! Tonight's summoning ritual is brought to you by Martin, James, Ben, Ayla and Ronan. Our first toe dip into this new realm reveals... - Ayla needs to find new games on Steam to entertain and terrify - Martin and James zombie hunting strategy on Dying Light - Just why does Ben love simulator games so much? - Who was James' mystery passenger in his dream car stunt..? - Was the Girl on the train really on a train? - Hear the horrors of Ben's simulated truck driving exploits - James' thoughts on the Lost TV series - Netflix shows to watch, including Dirk Gently and WestWorld - Early thoughts on the Nintendo Switch from Ronan Got a question for the NerdPool? Tweet us @RtDNerds with #NerdPool! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Music: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

So...Did you miss me? We did. And then we didn't! It was all explained in the end. Sort of. Yes, we're talking Sherlock again! And awards season, and Emmys and oscars and baftas. - What's the best box office flop? - What's the worst award winner? Hear us discuss The Artist, The Birdman, The Road, Black Swan and The Revenant. And do we care about the dresses? Yes, but only if you can think of a more meaningful question to follow it up with. We support Sarah Millican, Maisie Williams and Cate Blanchett in their responses to dress-chatter, and discuss if we care about men's suit designers. And then more TV! Taboo, the OA, and A Series of Unfortunate Events. Join the NerdyBirds for a chat! Follow @RtDNerds on Twitter and Facebook and tweet #rwtnb to suggest topics for the Nerdy Birds to discuss on next week's show!

TV! This time of year has lots of really very excellent tv, and we've seen it all. From Dr who and Agatha Christie, to Rick and Morty and Sherlock, we give our reactions and recommendations. This week's episode: - Doctor Who and new companion teaser - Shock in Jonathan Creek - Return of Bake Off - Sherlock Holmes reactions - Toby Jones and murder mysteries - Upcoming on Netflix Follow @RtDNerds on Twitter and Facebook and tweet #rwtnb to suggest topics for the Nerdy Birds to discuss on next week's show!

Join the Nerdy Birds for the first show of 2017! Are resolutions still going to plan? Is Alexa one step closer to SkyNet? How close are we to self-driving cars? Tell us your thoughts @RTDnerds

Christmas hasn't yet begun and office talk already starts moving towards the new year and resolutions that people are planning to make. How do you pick one? How do you keep it? How do you become a Unicorn trainer? What could Batman pants bring you in 2017? This and more covered in this week's Rolling with the Nerdy Birds episode! #RWTNB

So this is Christmas....what have you done....? Well, for the NerdyBirds, we've almost finished buying presents and are now trying to remember where we've left the Christmas wrapping paper. We discuss traditions and games, stockings and breakfast, wind up toys and more... Who insists on doing things the 'traditional way' in your house? Do you write to Father Christmas? Do you crack open the Bucks Fizz? Join the NerdyBirds for a chat about the best ways of celebrating...or at least the way we do things in our families!

It's Christmaaaaas! And we're stocking up on presents, wrapping up the best strategies and making naughty or nice with high street shops. Oh if only puns were decent presents; we could stop shopping already! We discuss secret Santas, the etiquette of buying joke presents, and how to get inspired. Fancy a soundtrack to your shopping list? Check out our themed Jukebox choices! Ready to put on some films to get you in the mood? Have a look at our very own countdown of the Twelve Days of Christmas by Mabel Yaffle! In fact, I might get some DVDs in the basket...that might finish off my Christmas shopping!

This week on Rolling with the NerdyBirds: Plague! Sniffles! Fever! [11:41] A skeleton crew this week, we are looking at mad treatments, historical medicine, and old wives tales, in the hope of finding the cure for what ails you. Did you know an apple a day really can keep the doctor away? Did you know that carrots night actually help you see in the dark just a little bit better? Is it possible that these rhymes that sound like nonsense might really save your life? We certainly find some crazy treatments used by the Aztecs, the Greeks and ambitious mediaeval doctors. Bring out your dead...bring out your dead! Let us know your thoughts on Twitter and Facebook @RolltheDice2016

NerdyBirds: it's Black Friday! On this famous day of shopping and sales, the NerdyBirds discuss strategy, stories and stress. Are you a decisive shopper? Or do you spend hours hunting down the best bargains? Find out who is a rage-shopper and who insists on seeking opinions, even that of strangers. Will you be shopping on Black Friday? Let us know your best bargains @RolltheDice2016

The world is divided, unrest and intolerance more common than before, so the NerdyBirds are here to discuss....good manners! We talk about social situations and work issues, confess to some deeply concerning stalkerish tendencies, and just how often we interrupt each other (hint: a lot). We elect ourselves to be in charge of the world (hail the Council of Three) and lay out our political strategy regarding such hard hitting issues as proper use of cutlery, offensive t-shirts, and whether free speech is in fact free. Join us! Vote for us! (Don't.) And contribute your own policy suggestions to our strategy team @RollTheDice2016!

This week, books and the ongoing evolution of stories translated into films. We look at some popular films that left their paper based origins behind, and some which maybe should have stuck closer to the letter... Let us us know your thoughts, reactions and share recommendations of your own on Twitter, @RolltheDice2016

Roll the Dice presents an interview with Jimmy Craig, the artist behind "They Can Talk". We talk about his work, past, present and future plans for other projects. Where do his ideas come from? What tips does he have for up and coming illustrators? Listen and find out! Read and listen to more Roll the Dice content below: On the web: http://www.rollthedice.org.uk On SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-573561547 Follow us on Twitter: rollthedice2016 Find us on Facebook: rollthedice2016/ Find the "They Can Talk" full blog at: http://theycantalk.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Music: http://www.bensound.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This week, music! The best artists often overlooked, those albums that are rightly overlooked, bands popping up in unexpected places, and those songs you just can't get out of your head. Join the NerdyBirds for musical chatter, recommendations and opinions as to whether once you pop, you just can't rock.... Let us us know your thoughts, reactions and share recommendations of your own on Twitter, @RolltheDice2016

As its Halloween, we take a closer look at each of our favourite horror games! We discuss Werewolves of Millers Hollow as well as Gloom and classic jump scare video games in a spooky packed episode! Check out more from Roll the Dice on Facebook and Twitter at RollTheDice2016! For more information and links we talk about in tonight's show: - https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/products/arkham-horror-the-card-game/products/arkham-horror-card-game/ - http://www.keeptalkinggame.com/ - http://store.steampowered.com/app/246900/ - http://www.365games.co.uk/strategy-card-games/werewolves-of-millers-hollow

This week its Halloween! We have film recommendations, costume suggestions and makeup inspiration, all on a budget. - Check out our £1 Halloween makeup challenge here: http://www.rollthedice.org.uk/challenge-1-halloween-makeup/ - Find Mabel yaffle's Halloween films here: http://www.rollthedice.org.uk/halloween-films-watch-october-31st/ - Check out our Halloween cocktails recipes here http://www.rollthedice.org.uk/halloween-cocktails/ - Say hi on Halloween and show us your costumes on Twitter: @Rollthedice2016

Welcome to Turning the Tables! This new podcast explores the finest in tabletop traditions, looking at the games and hobbies that often find themselves upon it. Our first episode explores some of the popular kickstarter projects, some of our favourite board games and Warhammer history.

This week, according to some quizzes, we are sexy lobsters who will die horribly by an animal attack in a Disney movie, while clutching our badly-organised handbags. Or at least some of us are. We turn to the best of Internet quizzes to determine our personality traits, our flaws, hopes and porn names. And learn which of us can get a perfect score on Roll the Dice's hardest Harry Potter quiz ever.... (hint: nobody, ever)!