Not For Broadcast – Review
Not For Broadcast is NotGames’ comedic news broadcasting simulator that had an Early Access release on Steam over two years ago. One episode was up to play then, and the game has sold thousands of copies and scored itself the ‘Very Positive’ review rating almost instantly. Today we’re taking a look at the full game, with three episodes and a whole lot of political humor, while we try to keep our job as a broadcaster in this tumultuous dystopian setting.
Story
Not For Broadcast has you play as Alex, a regular person with a spouse, kids, and a job as a janitor at a news station. All is well, at least until you suddenly get put in charge of managing the live broadcasts for the news. We get a tutorial level to explain the mechanics, but apparently, you’re just that good at the job since it becomes a permanent gig. As a broadcaster, you have a lot of control. This control ranges from what ads get played to what makes it to the news, as broadcasting can have real consequences for the world at large. In-between broadcast gameplay, there are simple graphic novel segments where you get the story through text with choices you make to dictate the flow of the plot. Where the story will lead is completely dependent on you.
Graphics
This game uses a very unique blend of animated environments and full-motion video. The broadcasts you are controlling are FMV, recorded in live-action with actors. You see these broadcasts on screens in your studio, which has pretty realistically animated graphics. But then the graphic novel segments have 2D drawn still images. You’d think all these different styles would get jarring, but the game transitions between them very well and instead it feels natural, and as a whole, it is certainly nice to look at.
Sound
There honestly isn’t much in the way of music in this game. Some instrumental tracks play during the story segments, but those are short and not the main focus of the game. During the broadcasting itself, you’ll be listening to the things you’re putting on live television. By nature of the FMV, the game has a full voice cast and the actors all do a stellar job. The game even allows you to adjust the audio yourself, so you can choose to listen to what is being broadcasted, or what is actually happening behind the scenes when the cameras aren’t on.
Gameplay
Not For Broadcast is a simulation game that places you behind the controls of a news broadcast station. If that sounds like a lot of work, you’re absolutely right. This game will require you to multitask like crazy and keep an eye on everything at once. There are several difficulty levels, and even the option to customize which gameplay mechanics you want to use, in case it all gets too much. Luckily, there are also several keybindings that make working at your station easier.
The main screens you will need to keep an eye on are the broadcasting one, which shows you what you’re putting out on live TV, and the four cameras you have at your disposal. With the press of a button, you can switch cameras. Of course, you can’t just choose at random, you have to keep your ratings in mind. Keep the camera on whoever is talking, or switch it off when something bad happens that shouldn’t be shown on live TV. Speaking of that, you also have a censor button you need to use to bleep out any rude words. Beyond that, you’ll be in charge of running the ads at the right moments and keeping the feedback static-free. A smoother broadcast will draw in more viewers and that decides how much you get paid. Each broadcasting segment is rated with a letter and you can freely replay them.
The rating is not the only reason you need to pay attention. People are influenced by TV, so sitting behind the controls here can give you power. Running ads for certain companies will grow their stocks. Deciding what to display on the screen can show politicians and celebrities in a better light or condemn them to the public. You can even drop in a bit of propaganda. Be careful with what you do though, not only can it make you lose your job, you might actually drastically change the lives of yourself and those around you.
After each day, you can rerun the broadcast as if you are a viewer. This is a lot of fun to see what you actually put on screen. You can also choose to rewatch the camera feeds, so you can pick up on behind-the-scenes interactions you missed the first time when you were concentrating on broadcasting, and you might get some extra story value this way.
Conclusion
Not For Broadcast is a simulation game with a lot going for it. The gameplay is fun, the setting is interesting, and there’s a lot of story to explore. While it’s easy to get overwhelmed, the game tries to accommodate where it can, and be accessible for both people who prefer story-driven content or those looking for a multitasking challenge. Making the news has never been this entertaining.
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[…] Not For Broadcast, the captivating television news propaganda simulator developed by NotGames and published by tinyBuild, is introducing a special episode of the popular chat show, Bits of Your Life, with the launch of its latest DLC, now available on PS4, PS55, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The premise seems straightforward: an experienced host, Peter Clement, leader of Advance and potential future Prime Minister is tonight’s guest. The objective is to bring out guests from Clement’s inner circle, delving into his celebrity past and providing a glimpse into his political future. However, simplicity doesn’t make for good television. In Bits of Your Life, players wield the power to decide the order of guests, manipulate camera angles, choose ads, and censor words too scandalous for early evening TV. With great power comes great chaos, as different guest order combinations result in a myriad of story changes, multiple endings, and a treasure trove of easter eggs and secrets. […]