Oddest C64 Game Bionic Granny | Octavius

[@Loscha]

Australian here. Can confirm during my childhood in the 80s and early 90s, we had Lollypop Ladies & Men outside out schools in the town I grew up in (Wangaratta). They had hi-vis jackets, and a crossing sign on a stick, like proper Gandalf.

[@octaviusking]

"Proper Gandalf" just made me choke on my coffee laughing, thank you for that - Louis

[@drokus]

to answer your question "america, are you ok?" the answer: no... very not ok...

[@brenatevi]

Can confirm. No, we aren't doing well.

[@dinitroacetylen]

I mean, first they elect a fascist to lead them, then a geezer who barely can stand. There's not much to expect from the country at this point.

[@ZeusTheIrritable]

The crossing guards at my kids' school hold round red octagonal signs that say "SLOW" rather than "STOP" because, no joke, a parent got pissed off because they thought the crossing guards were "Giving Commands" to motorists without legal authority. Literally, some idiot was offended by a Stop sign in a school zone, so they took the school to court to get their signs changed to a suggestion. America is the greatest country on earth.

[@Gatorade69]

​@@ZeusTheIrritable I can't think of anything witty or funny to reply with... That's just sad. I love how everyone just gets so offended at anything & everything and on both sides which is another rabbit hole how we have basically descended into tribalism. Someone will probably get angry at that SLOW sign because she thinks it's making fun of their mentally handicapped (Can't say the R-word anymore) child.

[@enisra_bowman]

@@ZeusTheIrritable how do they react to normal signs? like a traffic circle? do they turn left? D: and we are one step closer to the World of Idiocracy thanks that such people did breed

[@rifterzc]

Never would have expected that code masters started here!

[@jamcalx]

I just noticed Count Duckula on your shelf. As an American Millennial, my nostalgic neurons are surging! Also, only blue-collar construction workers get to use the STAFF OF TRAFFIC SUBJUGATION!

[@ProBreakers]

I didn’t know much about Count Duckula as an American but it would sometimes show up randomly on TV and I always loved the opening song.

[@abunchofjunk4598]

The "protective force field" is the restraining order keeping her 100ft from any school

[@BrazenScull]

Can we please get an Octavius dictionary in hardback? Pisscoins, bobbins, absolutely bodied…. the Octavius lexicon is simply a delight.

[@AcornElectron]

Two out of three are normal British sayings. Can you guess which one isn’t in regular English vocabulary? 😂

[@iamboody]

Wow, you really expecting Octavius to finish another book?

[@alik1942]

You’d be absolutely gutted if you bought one. But in all seriousness I’d buy one…or three just to support her 😁

[@inventiveusername5191]

I feel like at least three pages would be needed for "desk".

[@crism8868]

That'd be absolutely distilled

[@BritishVideoGameNerd]

Bionic Granny should be a horror movie, I'd pay to see that if it was real

[@jamesburchill7522]

Good luck. People with old, dead micro PC IP's are extremely protective of them.

[@sonixthatsme]

Yes.

[@RettMikhal]

Look up Robowoman or RLM's review of Robowoman.

[@NumptyMcNumptyface]

Was not expecting wholesome motivational ending. Excellent stuff.

[@iamboody]

What is motivational is when someone completes a book they've spent years grifting on.

[@Sedric-and-Charlie]

If only Bionic Granny had battled Supergran

[@NumptyMcNumptyface]

Alternatively they could join forces and battle the Hells Grannies.

[@zh84]

@@NumptyMcNumptyface I was going to make the point about Supergran, but this makes it even better!

[@IsiahTomas]

Scott Lang better be a charter member down the road.

[@DevinGates]

​@@IsiahTomas sorry, Grans only. No aunties, or Aunt-Men

[@branchonequal]

14:25 You too, Octy! The story behind this game took a turn I never would've expected. It's quite wholesome, just as the ending. And I've learned something! Great video as always. 🙂

[@zh84]

The ghastly face that appears when Granny dies is, I think, the inspiration for the ghastly face on the cover art.

[@octaviusking]

Both are terrifying XD

[@slacknhash]

In my little world, the Bionic Granny is the Granny referred to in Granny's Garden. All that business with baby dragons and giants and the witch did a number on her mental health.

[@iwanttocomplain]

Just now realised what an awesome weapon a lollypop stick is. Just sharpen the edges. It's kind of like the Librarian from Warhammer 40K. Scarier than it sounds.

[@Nyootimus]

That speech near the end, I needed that, it's not quite entirely video game related, but I'm trying to start a project as well. I expect to make a few "Bionic Grannies" in my journey, if I manage to stick with it

[@coyoteartist]

You can tell these boys were a cut above when their carp game actually fully functions.

[@Shamazya]

Honestly can imagine a really fun over-the-top short film based on this bizarre game. A school with an oppressive atmosphere lets out. We see a barrier around the school flash. A bus comes to pick up the children only to be sliced in half and exploded by a laser. A sign inside the school indicates the number of causalities this granny has wrought. A cross guard exits and ushers the children to quickly run to their homes. An intense anime-esque battle between the bionic granny and the lollipop ladies ensues as the crowd of children run for their lives in droves, the bionic granny taking out all that she can while avoiding the attacks of the lollipop lady.

[@marjon1703]

Apart from the laser and flashy barrier, that's how it was at my school. Its been demolished now.

[@velveteenv76]

We need Bionik Granny : Stay Off My Lawn Edition.

[@Domarius64]

Good lord, I never realised this would be a video about the beginnings of the Code Masters! And I totally agree with your assessment about game dev then and now - high barrier of entry with the coding, low barrier of entry with the publishers, and now its the inverse. It makes sense really. Also I was just thinking about how you called her a Lollypop Lady like we do in Australia, right before you mentioned that very fact.

[@geordieal]

As someone who had an interview with the brothers darling as a graphic artist and didn’t get the job, I wish I’d known of the existence of Bionic Granny at the time so I could have said ‘but look at this bobbins’. Now many years later I always carry a big stick and wave it at young un’s regularly…still waiting for the laser umbrella though

[@daanwilmer]

i wonder how many crossing guards have used the staff to go "YOU! SHALL NOT! PASS!" (also petition to rename them "traffic Gandalf")

[@sjadarkest]

I'll sign that petition

[@UKGareth316]

I have done it once or twice for a laugh.

[@WhatHoSnorkers]

Well that was great fun! And kudos on the reference too! Proper job! It's amazing how YOUNG a lot of the coders were back then.... bliss was it in that dawn to be alive, but to be young was very heaven. By hard work you could produce professional quality code in 6 months at the start of the eighties... then it was 2 years to be good enough... then you needed teams, at which point Don Priestly hung up his hat, bless him.

[@LexiaVelez]

You have no idea how happy i was when I saw a new video from you on my feed, i was happy. I really wish i could watch your Squij video or that new tv one, i liked those learning things about other areas

[@antshield]

It is so refreshing to hear someone mention the giant invisible face that follows us around.

[@strain42]

If I had a nickel for every time Octavius did an amazingly funny video on an old video game with Granny in the title, I'd have two nickels, which...well, you know the rest. Also gonna go rewatch your Granny's Garden video because that really was one of my favorites.

[@R_C420]

We have lollipop signs in the US. But also flags were common at some point. When human operated signage or direction is used the operator is called a FLAGGER.

[@dinitroacetylen]

The motivational ending coming from the place I least expected to find it at, actually invigorates. It will probably keep me stoked until I finish my morning tea.

[@Brian_Rogers]

So hear me out... We remake this game bit it's more tower defense where Bionic Granny places towers that fire Werther's Originals and other stuff that grannies have in their purses. I dunno, I was just thinking that the layout of the game screen looks like it would suit itself to tower defense. Honestly I think the one thing that really hamstrings this game is the lack of vertical movement. Also, not that this makes things any better but the equipment that American crossing guards varies from place to place depending on how much money the district has to spend on it.

[@SatoshiMatrix1]

I'm Canadian, and we have many UK terms for things here. Hearing the word "brolly" mean umbrella is a new one to me but.....it's just such a charming UK term that I want to use it in every day life now.

[@computeraidedworld1148]

Your commetary is really good. And this game is surprisingly primitive for the C64, it kinda even looks like FNAF's mini games.

[@halifax87]

Your conclusion was wonderful. Just the kind of bump i needed.

[@MillicentOak]

I'm guessing the reason she can't get any closer to the school than that is her ASBO

[@RetroSegaDev]

Thanks I needed that last pep talk :) Chords will lead to greatness! :D

[@magitek09]

Ok, that last part was actually really sweet, thanks, I needed to hear that

[@absinthedude]

Way back in 1993 I found a lollypop lady's lollypop on a street in Birmingham while coming home from a drunken night out. I still have it. Probably given me more entertainment than this game would. Still, it's functional....which the games I was trying to write at the time mostly weren't.

[@davehardenburg2924]

Thank you sara . Always nice to see you post.

[@MaestroDrake]

Glad to see you still Alive and overcoming all those obstacles in 2024, Octavius.

[@_The_Jim]

Great Video Octavius. Its really interesting to see how weird games could be back in the early days. This easily could have been a bunch of shaceships and aliens , with the same gameplay and noone would remember it at all.

[@villehursti]

The granny is Waldo in disguise.

[@jamiemc2456]

Just had your content start to show up in my feed, great work and keep it up!

[@mmldrm]

I’m still trying to figure out why a brolly needs to be powered at all.

[@EtoileLion]

"I want you to give yourself permission to make a few bionic grannies on the journey to your dream." -Octavius King, totally not out of context.

[@iamboody]

How many bionic granny books has been made.

[@donvito1973]

Protective force field... It's called a restraining order :-)

[@Lukethefox]

I can imagine a Star Wars version of this game based around Order 66. You play as Anakin Skywalker waving his lightsaber around trying to stop Younglings from escaping The Jedi Temple. I guess The Lollypop Lady would be a Temple Guard or something.

[@Sapphic-Laser-Kittens]

dang, i was not expecting this video to legit motivate me. thanks king! ^_^

[@samholdsworth420]

0:02 Why is dani filth petting a rat in the intro? Lmfao 🤣

[@Freezezzy]

That cover art looks like something from a game made by Dingo Pictures.

[@A.Puddleduck]

As an American, I actually kinda wish we called crossing guards “lollipop men/women” that would be great. I’d love to have some cat wizards with stripy canes

[@irkalla100]

I love that cover art! That giant creepy granny face! 😂

[@teamlama3165]

We should start a kickstarter campaign to have the game remade with modern graphics.

[@WolfBytesGaming]

Always a pleasure watching. informative and for what its worth. having your voice in my headset helps ease the insomnia/anxiety nights. :)

[@MisterJell]

Came for the sass, stayed for the --wait-- sincere hope and encouragement and optimism that made me feel... good? What the heck?

[@morganwolstenholme121]

I remember playing this game when it came out. Im sure there was a second game on the cassette called sub hunt, not mentioned on the cover, I might be misremembering. This was one of the quicker loading games we had, so if we only had 10 mins to play this would be a goto game. Also, I actually found playing this game lots of fun, but i was only 4 to 5 at the time.

[@vinceely2906]

£1.99 for a new Mastertronic release every other week. You could never go wrong…even when they did!

[@hatednyc]

Our crossing guards don’t have stop signs.

[@DeanH92]

Looking forward to the book. Is it out this year?

[@iamboody]

Ha ha ha ha ha. You serious?

[@DeanH92]

@@iamboody Of course. I for one, believe Octavius to be a fully prolific person who will deliver a product people have paid for.

[@tahustvedt]

I wonder if whales listen to human noises to help them fall asleep.

[@MrMortull]

Actually, it's the opposite. Human noises are what keeps them awake...

[@WEEPFORBALDUR]

I remember saving my pocket money/ paper round money to go to my local news agent to buy mastertronic games and a copy of Zzap 64 every month.

[@mario-mario822]

Granny hitting child Hr puff and Stuff with a walking stick is wild 😂The crazy steam/ app store games wish they were this unhinged.

[@FusionFocus863]

A name like bionic granny sounds like it should have been a 1980s post apocalyptic action movie. Either a lone bionic granny wonders the waste land brings fresh baked justice to wherever she goes. Or some evil corporation/government has created a bionic granny and sent her out to make sure people stop being sassy.

[@androidtvbox266]

Funny as fook, best episode yet loved it. Plus some good life advice and all for free, can't be bad. 😉

[@relateuk2003]

Needed the message at the end. Thank you

[@_The_Jim]

I'd love to see a review of the old 8bit conveyor belt murder-thon "shockway rider". I think that would be a good subject for one of your videos. not a bad game. actually good. but , to use a technical term. its completely mental. good luck on your gig this weekend.

[@RoundSparrow]

Thank you for sharing your UK insights great. I am near death from psychological failure at age 54, and I really appreciate your honesty from across the pond!

[@RoboKyPR]

I see a Count Duckula back there, were is your Banana Man toy, and Danger Mouse at ? 😂🤘

[@iamboody]

Horace?

[@welchrebooted4739]

I actually appreciate the message at the end

[@DokkaChapman]

Bionic Granny would later head home to tend to her garden, only to be attacked by a troupe of baby dragons.

[@welshwisdom]

I can remember getting this from Boots back in the day 😅

[@michaelpout9701]

Id never heard of this game before and nice video as always octavius king 👍

[@UKGareth316]

Sadly we are called officially called School Crossing Patrol Officers. However everyone still refers to us by Lollipop Men/Women.

[@UpLateGeek]

The Police aren't coming because Sting has been down that road before and is consequently on a list.

[@Real-G-1_Media]

Imagine if she had a mobility scooter.

[@anactualmotherbear]

Maybe the game should have been called "Brollies Vs Lollies."

[@artebirklaus]

Old people are criminally underrepresented in games, aren't they? Makes me wonder what the first big hit "old person protagonist" game will be. Maybe it has happened in some game I don't know of. I am curious if anybody has any examples.

[@kevb1816]

Ahh the Mastertronic £1.99 range, often awful but sometimes the odd gem…

[@TheJeremyHolloway]

Was Ninja/Ninja Mission in that range? Because that was a good game, IMHO.

[@MyNameIsBucket]

could've sworn this was a movie

[@lewismacleod7099]

This is the essential plot of Hatred, but British, because we don't have guns.

[@zintosion]

Getting rid of kids doesn't mean she's the bad guy. Have you seen kids?!?!?!

[@Blas4ublasphemy]

It's often easier for one to give advice then it is for one to run one's own life...

[@CelticShae]

"Maybe there's some sort of protective force field around the school stopping her from getting any closer." A restraining order by any other name would be as effective 😉 (with all apologies to Billy Wigglypoker)

[@lifeisraph]

Yaaay! :) More content from Octavius! :) I missed you so much, Sarah! :)

[@silmarian]

I think it’s Louis now, based on the end card.

[@lifeisraph]

Why is that?@@silmarian

[@Okurka.]

@@lifeisraph Octavius changed gender.

[@daanwilmer]

@@lifeisraph If you read the end card, it's signed Louis. Also, there is a video from last April where they explain more.

[@silmarian]

@@Okurka. They came out, anyway. If they’re anything like me, they always were what they are, they’re just telling people now. It might seem semantic from the outside, but from the inside it’s more like telling the truth after a lifetime of hiding.

[@kryan]

I'm now in the mood to make a Bionic Granny.

[@kumquatqueen5975]

I kinda want to see a Bionic Granny's Garden mashup.

[@ZombieGamer80]

Great episode 😎👍 I hated this game since i was 8.😂

[@Breakdafunklooseforever]

So is Bionic Grandma related to the knifey house wife from NES paperboy?

[@detritus10001]

Granny's on one of those lists that get posted on your front door warning you of people not to speak to in the neighborhood, complete with addresses to avoid during Halloween. O.o Creepy old child-beating bat.

[@ddjsoyenby]

as an american we're never ok.

[@jimforehand7571]

Is it just me or does that face that appears over granny kinda look like Majora's Mask

[@zigisamblak]

We all need a bionic granny in our life.

[@Lost-Lilim]

I've been on Steam recently. I can assure you that there are multiple publishers who would probably be interested in an ero rpg with a self-insert trying to manage a harem. Provided you used anime art (or Daz3d).

[@JohnGotts]

Sorry, KZbin commenters, it was easy to be published in the 80's. I was published in Run! Magazine in 1987 at age 12, and got a nice $40 royalty check. I wrote lots of stuff as a pre-teen/teenager and that was my best effort. Been programming for pay ever since 1987, and a bit earlier for fun.

[@ChaosShadowZero89]

This game actually look like itd be fun actually. Another great video!

[@I_am_Mister_Y]

Who is Onic Gran E? And why is there a Game by him?

[@TheJeremyHolloway]

It looks like if it were modded, it could be fun. Like change the controller scheme to using Paddles, and then ramp up the speed to something approaching Activision’s Kaboom. Or at least have some kids sprint out like in a burst of speed. Better music would also greatly improve it.

[@dycebastion]

Do they still make coco pops?

[@BRUXXUS]

I needed to hear that bit at the end right now. Thank you.

[@bancoran]

2:10 that's not a forehead, that's a FIVEHEAD

[@sir_ashley_richards_o.b.e]

Love watching your videos ❤️

[@l.breckon6012]

I wasn’t expecting a video about an old C64 game would turn into a short motivational video. Unexpected. But, needed after an annoying day at work. Thanks Octavius. 👍🏼

[@iamboody]

You seriously did not expect an octavius video not to entirely be about themselves?

[@mnky75]

Granny looks like a crap Davros wearing a brown wig. Honestly, that's a good design.

[@wisteela]

I've so got to check this game out via emulation. "magical car wizards" - I love that.