[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.30,0:00:04.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This summer, I have been playing a lot of\NOvercooked.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:04.21,0:00:08.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a pair of games about working in a\Nkitchen, and in each level you must fulfil
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.60,0:00:13.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,orders by grabbing ingredients, chopping them\Nup, cooking them, and delivering them to the
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.16,0:00:14.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,restaurant.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.26,0:00:18.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which would be pretty easy, if only the restaurant\Nwasn’t on a swaying pirate ship, or being
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.81,0:00:23.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,split down the middle by an earthquake, or set\Non a hot air balloon… which, halfway through
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.87,0:00:28.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the stage, crashes into a restaurant so you’re\Nnow having to make sushi as well as salad.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.88,0:00:29.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It’s crazy.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.88,0:00:36.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, of course, the biggest challenge is simply\Ngetting two, three, or even four players to
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.43,0:00:38.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,work together.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.03,0:00:42.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Working as an organised team will require\Nintense coordination and communication - unlike
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.64,0:00:45.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,pretty much any co-op game I’ve ever played\Nbefore.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.72,0:00:48.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because, playing games in co-op is always\Ngood fun.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.83,0:00:53.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,From old school run ’n’ gun games like\NContra and Metal Slug, to modern day shooters
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.09,0:00:57.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like Gears of War and Halo, it’s a well\Nestablished truism that any game is improved
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.81,0:00:59.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with the addition of a friend.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.21,0:01:04.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But most of these games so rarely ask you\Nto truly communicate with your partner.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.69,0:01:08.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is often because the game is symmetrical\N- which means that the two players interact
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.65,0:01:11.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with the game in pretty much the exact same\Nway.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.37,0:01:15.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Take a game like Resident Evil 5, where there’s\Nnot a tremendous difference between playable
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.59,0:01:18.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,protagonists Chris and Sheva.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.50,0:01:23.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They both carry guns, can both beat up zombies,\Nand can both carry the same gear.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.29,0:01:27.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so because each character is equally capable,\Nthis can often lead to a situation where you
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.63,0:01:31.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,feel like you’re just off playing your own\Ngames - and only infrequently joining forces
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.50,0:01:37.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to revive one another, or perform simple co-op\Nactions like boosting one person over a ledge.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.54,0:01:42.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is very different to the more recently\Nreleased Resident Evil Revelations 2, where
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.49,0:01:45.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,co-op players control very different characters.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.39,0:01:50.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the first episode, one person picks Claire\NRedfield who is a typical Resi protagonist
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.34,0:01:52.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with access to all kinds of firearms.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.42,0:01:57.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The other player is stuck with Moira Burton,\Nwho is not able to use guns - but does carry
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.09,0:02:00.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a torch which is used to light up enemies\Nand temporarily stun them.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.93,0:02:05.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She can also finish off knocked down enemies\Nwith a crowbar.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.07,0:02:10.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With this set-up, the two players are forced\Nto work much more closely together as neither
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.00,0:02:11.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can really survive on their own.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.95,0:02:16.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Claire needs Moira’s torch, and Moira needs\NClaire’s firepower.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.14,0:02:20.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This massively increases the need for the\Ntwo players to rely on one another, and creates
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.64,0:02:26.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the sort of coordination and communication\Nthat’s lacking in many co-op games.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.34,0:02:31.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If Revelations 2 shows how giving players\Ndifferent abilities leads to close coordination,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.25,0:02:35.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes proves\Nthat giving players different information
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.72,0:02:37.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can also power teamwork.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.82,0:02:42.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In this game, one player looks at the screen\Nand sees a ticking time bomb, covered in wires,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.74,0:02:45.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,buttons, keypads, and other weird gizmos.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.76,0:02:50.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The other player has a printed manual of instructions\Nfor how to defuse the bomb.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.22,0:02:52.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So player one has to describe the bomb.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.75,0:02:56.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Player two has to then read out instructions\Nfor how to defuse it.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.49,0:03:00.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And player one has to listen closely, and\Nfollow those instructions.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.59,0:03:03.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Literally the only way to play together is\Nto communicate.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.73,0:03:07.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And if you don’t…
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.70,0:03:12.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Asymmetric co-op doesn’t just force communication,\Nbut it’s also a great way of allowing players
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.49,0:03:14.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of different skill levels to play together.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.87,0:03:18.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is something Nintendo has been doing\Na lot lately with games like Super Mario Galaxy
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.99,0:03:23.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where one player controls Mario and basically\Njust plays the game like usual - and another
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.62,0:03:28.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can join in with a much easier role as a floating\Ncursor, picking up star bits and stunning
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.60,0:03:30.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,enemies.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.44,0:03:35.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But while asymmetrical design can be great\Nfor co-op, it wouldn’t work for Overcooked
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.65,0:03:39.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because the game needs to automatically scale\Ndepending on whether you’re playing in a
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.41,0:03:44.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,group of four, with a couple friends, with\Na pal, or even on your own.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.82,0:03:48.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Plus, this is a game that attracts people\Nof very different skill levels, so you need
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.57,0:03:53.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be able to divvy up roles on a level by\Nlevel basis - to make sure those who aren’t
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.20,0:03:57.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,super familiar with games don’t have to\Nperform tricky movements like dodging fireballs
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.25,0:03:59.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or navigating slippery platforms.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.67,0:04:05.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So in this game, all chefs have the exact\Nsame abilities, and the exact same information.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.10,0:04:09.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And each player is perfectly capable of preparing\Nand delivering a meal completely on their
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.66,0:04:14.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,own - with the only communication being “I’ll\Nmake the burger, you do the pizza”.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:14.21,0:04:18.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But that’s not how Overcooked ends up being\Nplayed.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.17,0:04:19.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.17,0:04:23.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, in this case, it’s because of the\Nlevel design.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.05,0:04:27.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,From the very first stage of Overcooked 1,\Nwe can see that the design of the kitchen,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.51,0:04:31.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with this long island in the middle, makes\Nit very tedious to get from the onions to
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.97,0:04:35.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the chopping station to the pot to the conveyer\Nbelt.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.57,0:04:40.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But with two players working together - passing\Nonions across the table in the centre - the
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.24,0:04:42.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,process is much, much faster.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.93,0:04:47.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Pretty much every stage is built like this,\Nand later exasperated by things like paths
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.06,0:04:51.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,too narrow for more than one chef, and levels\Nsplit into two by moving vehicles.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.90,0:04:57.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And going faster is important, because the\Nscoring system is all based on time.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.05,0:05:00.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Meals need to be cooked quickly, or customers\Nwill leave and you’ll incur a penalty.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.70,0:05:04.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You’ll get big tips for delivering items\Nmore rapidly.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.04,0:05:08.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And your final score is based on how many\Nmeals you delivered during the level’s tight
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.05,0:05:09.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,time period.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.05,0:05:13.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, the level design and the needs of the\Nscoring system quite quickly splits players
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.79,0:05:19.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into distinct, and asymmetric roles - in this\Nkitchen, for example, one player might focus
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.94,0:05:24.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on chopping vegetables and preparing meat\Npatties, while the other cooks the burgers,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.11,0:05:25.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,prepares them, and delivers them to the restaurant.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.93,0:05:30.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this creates loads of communication at\Nthe start of the stage, where players decide
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.87,0:05:35.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who will do what, and puzzle out - together\N- the most efficient way to cook the required
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.76,0:05:36.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,meals.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:36.76,0:05:40.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After this, however, Overcooked could have\Nsuffered the main drawback of asymmetrical
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.90,0:05:44.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,co-op: that you can fall into a predictable\Npattern.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:44.19,0:05:48.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You have your role, and you stick to it, and\Nin some games you don’t even need to communicate
Dialogue: 0,0:05:48.43,0:05:51.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that much any more because you’re so used\Nto a familiar set-up.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.44,0:05:54.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But that’s not what happens in Overcooked.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:54.12,0:05:57.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because no matter how well choreographed\Nyour kitchen is at the start of the level,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:57.24,0:06:01.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it will have turned into a manic \Ncatastrophe by the end of the stage.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.54,0:06:03.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why does this always happen?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.64,0:06:08.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, it’s because there are loads of clever\Nbits of design that disrupt these comfortable
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.35,0:06:11.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,patterns, and force you to keep switching\Nroles.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.31,0:06:14.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So one is the wait timers on food that’s\Ncooking.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.43,0:06:19.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A burger takes a few seconds to fry, so it’s\Na waste of time to stand around and wait - encouraging
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.23,0:06:23.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,players to wander off, see if they can help\Nelsewhere in the kitchen, and generally become
Dialogue: 0,0:06:23.86,0:06:25.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a huge nuisance.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:25.64,0:06:30.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Wait too long and your burger will start to\Nburn - causing other players to have to disrupt
Dialogue: 0,0:06:30.09,0:06:33.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their task to come sort out your mess.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:33.24,0:06:34.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then there’s washing up.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.80,0:06:38.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which literally everyone hates, but I think\Nit might also be the absolute key to the success
Dialogue: 0,0:06:38.86,0:06:40.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of Overcooked.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:40.96,0:06:46.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because no one is the dedicated plate washer;\Nit doesn’t have the nice, predictable rhythm
Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.44,0:06:52.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the other tasks; it only becomes a thing\Nlater in the level; and no one wants to do it.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.12,0:06:57.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Meaning that every time you run out of clean\Nplates, the flow is disrupted, meals starts
Dialogue: 0,0:06:57.02,0:07:00.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,burning, and those comfortable roles get completely\Nshaken up.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:00.43,0:07:05.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And, of course, there’s the most obvious\Nthing: disruptions in the levels themselves.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.63,0:07:10.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Moving chopping stations, ingredients on conveyer\Nbelts, shifting kitchens, and nuisance rats
Dialogue: 0,0:07:10.69,0:07:15.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,break up patterns and destroy your best laid\Nplans, forcing you to constantly talk through
Dialogue: 0,0:07:15.57,0:07:17.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,new set-ups.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:17.19,0:07:22.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So Overcooked gets to be an asymmetrical game,\Nwithout asymmetry, because it uses things
Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.19,0:07:27.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the level design - like weird kitchen layouts,\Ndirty plates, random fires, and burning burger
Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.57,0:07:31.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,patties - to force players to work together,\Nand then constantly change their roles throughout
Dialogue: 0,0:07:31.99,0:07:35.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the stage, leading to lots of great communication.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:35.18,0:07:38.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the best Overcooked kitchens, you’ll\Nnever stop talking to each other.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:38.77,0:07:44.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And, if you ask me, that means it’s a hugely\Nsuccessful co-op game.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:45.74,0:07:50.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hey, thanks for watching, and cheers to my Patrons\Nfor their support, and a special thank you
Dialogue: 0,0:07:50.80,0:07:55.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to my girlfriend for helping me get the Overcooked\Nfootage in this video.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:55.06,0:07:58.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There’s more to cooperative gaming that\Nwe can talk about in the future, like making
Dialogue: 0,0:07:58.64,0:08:03.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,choices together, encouraging good behaviour,\Nsolving puzzles, or adding a spicy competitive
Dialogue: 0,0:08:03.22,0:08:04.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,element.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:04.22,0:08:08.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So watch this space - GMTK has historically\Nbeen very single-player focused but I’d
Dialogue: 0,0:08:08.89,0:08:11.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,love to do more multiplayer stuff going forward.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:11.64,0:08:14.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can support me and all that I do over\Non Patreon.