Reality Bytes

Welcome back to Reality Bytes for a super-sized "Nerd Talk" episode with Todd and Ska! What started as a quick chat about Todd's new Galaxy ZFold 8 Ultra quickly spiraled into an epic deep dive into the wild world of home automation. We're talking about everything from smart sprinkler valves and water leak detectors to monitoring every breaker in your electrical box – all controlled locally with Home Assistant. Learn how Todd used Matter, Zigbee, and Z-Wave to automate his entire life, including his laundry, and how you can do it too without bogging down your Wi-Fi or losing privacy.
Then, the conversation shifts into the fascinating (and sometimes terrifying) realm of AI. We break down the controversial "Flock Cameras" popping up across the US, AI making employment decisions (yes, an AI fired someone!), and the ongoing debate around AI in creative work. Todd even shows off his personal, local AI assistant, Jarvis, which handles everything from launching games to managing his calendar, showcasing the incredible power of self-hosted AI solutions.
Finally, we wrap up with some shocking gaming news: the US Army is offering a 4-day paid leave to officers who re-enlist just to play Grand Theft Auto 6 – seriously! Plus, Ska shares some exciting updates from FlatV Studios, including High on Life VR and System Shock VR, and don't miss our giveaway for a pair of XREAL 1s AR glasses. Check our socials for the Gleam link!

The Bytes crew – Eric, Todd, and Skeeva – kicked off this episode with their usual chaotic energy, navigating YouTube's mysterious censorship algorithms and announcing last week’s Robo Quest winners. Then, it was time for the Teimu (or Teemu? or Timu?) Tech Challenge! Todd impressed with a capable $38 4K mini-projector, while Eric brought intensely sour Final Boss candies. Skeeva, however, got hilariously bamboozled by $12 "AI Smart Glasses" that were just terrible Bluetooth speakers in warped plastic frames – a Teimu gamble!
Eric also accidentally unboxed some potentially embargoed Ray Neo GT Max glasses. Todd unveiled his P09 Ultra handheld emulator, packed with 30,000 retro games. Eric and Skeeva *both* revealed identical Bitbox handheld emulators in purple transparent casings! Both were praised for their massive game libraries, proving Teimu can deliver unexpected gems.
Robo Quest winners were announced, then Eric shared exciting news: he'll be heading to Gamescom soon, promising a full report. Mark your calendars: a highly anticipated VR Game Showcase on August 13th is an event you'll want to "call in sick to work" to watch live! The gang also teased the next Teimu Challenge ($25 or less tech) before signing off for more Bytes-style shenanigans next week!

Welcome to Reality Bytes! Eric, Todd, and Skeeva are back. Todd recounts his amazing Japan trip, from polite phrases and local beer to his son's anime-focused adventures. The chat lights up with familiar faces as they dive into gaming, including Eric's excitement for *Halo Combat Evolved* (Todd's not a fan) and their differing opinions on *Deep Rock Galactic Survivor* and *Rogue Core*.
The conversation swings to movies and TV, with Eric catching up on a mountain of Marvel content, hyped by the new Captain America trailer! They debate *Spider Noir* and the new *Stuart Fails to Save the Universe* spin-off. Eric also shares insights from the *Double Fine Adventure* and *Psych Odyssey* documentaries, drawing parallels to FlatVR Studios' development journey, from Kickstarter challenges to game creation's daily grind.
In tech, the hosts tackle the rise of "vibe-coded" VR mods, acknowledging their ingenuity but contrasting them with professional development's polish and challenges. They tease a new "Teemu Tech Challenge" for next week, reviewing budget tech finds. Steam Frame's FCC approval and the Quest Pro's declining support also get a mention. Finally, the team celebrates *Roboquest*'s successful Quest launch, detailing immense optimization efforts and the crucial role of Impact Labs. Stay tuned for a Humble Bundle announcement and enter our giveaway for a *Roboquest* key and t-shirt!

Eric's back from his global travels, joining Skeeva and special guest Jasmine! Todd's off on an epic vacation, so we dive straight into the recent VR Game Showcase. We cover the wild launch of FlatOut 4 VR and the community's Herculean efforts with wheel and pedal support, plus the excitement for Robo Quest hitting Quest on July 23rd. Get the magical scoop on how the Trombone Champ Disney DLC came to be (hint: it involved walking Disney execs through VR!), new content for V-Racer Hoverbike, and teasers for upcoming titles like Raid, Primal Rumble's closed beta, and the action-packed I Am Your Beast. We also chat about Squido's many games, Maestro's Attack on Titan DLC, and the highly anticipated new Payday VR.
Then, it's all about the Augmented World Expo (AWE)! Skeeva and Eric share insights on the XR industry's 50/50 sentiment and Eric's invigorating trip to BitSummit Japan, where VR is still fresh and exciting. We delve into new tech: the controversial Snap Spectacles, impressive Xreal/Google Aura glasses (Eric's laptop replacement!), and the revolutionary Keyring controller that could replace all your remotes. The vision is clear: a phone-less, screen-less "smart life" is closer than you think, with AR glasses transforming how we work and play. Plus, a huge shoutout to Salvador for his generous gift memberships!
Finally, we check out cool gear like Dbrand PS5 skins and the beloved Manba One controller. We discuss our plans for more regular episodes, covering cutting-edge tech and our commitment to VR roots, all while navigating YouTube's ever-changing censorship rules (damn it!).

This week on Reality Bytes, Todd and Ska hold down the fort as Eric is out sick! Ska kicks things off with news of his recent wedding and how his whole family (and even the Greywolves!) are diving deep into multiplayer VR, playing chaotic rounds of Deadly Delivery and Acron: Attack of the Squirrels. They also highlight other fantastic asynchronous VR games like Fruit Golf and the horror-filled Rico's Fragments, perfect for single-headset households.
The guys then shift to exciting Impact Labs projects, including the highly anticipated Quest launch of the PC VR Game of the Year, Roboquest, and ongoing community testing for the Hell Divers-esque Guardians Planetfall. Todd reveals his new addiction to the flat game Dead Zone Rogue, fueled by a surprise review unit: the incredible, drift-proof Manba controller, which Ska also praises for playing Star Wars Outlaws. For tech on the go, they rave about the InAir AR Laptop Go Pack 2, a revolutionary portable workstation, just in time for Todd's trip to AWE (Augmented World Expo) – where Eric and Jasmine will also be speaking. Ska, unfortunately, won't be joining due to a trip to Japan.
Looking ahead, they tease an AWE recap show, potential Valve Steam Frame VR headset news, and a future live show to connect with the community. Don't miss their honest takes on these cool products!

Welcome to another "Nerd Talk" episode of Reality Bytes, where Todd and Skyler dive deep into all things tech and gaming! This week kicks off with nostalgic banter about their musical past and AI's role in learning instruments. They share TV recommendations like the video game satire Mythic Quest and the new Big Bang Theory spin-off, Stewart Fails to Save the Universe, along with a shout-out to the underrated VR gem, Trover Saves the Universe.
The conversation quickly shifts to an in-depth look at Flatout 4 VR, a game from their own studio that Todd can’t stop playing. They rave about its incredible destruction, immersive cockpit view, and the sheer adrenaline rush, calling it a "game of the year" contender. Hear how the developers are uniquely offering a save file editor for instant car unlocks, and get the scoop on upcoming multiplayer events and a potential Reality Bytes giveaway!
Finally, the guys geek out over Home Assistant automation, detailing how AI helps them create incredible setups for lighting, security, and laundry, making their houses truly smart. Todd and Skyler then vent about the outrageous rise of subscription services in cars (heated seats, acceleration!) and digital media, questioning ownership and the return to physical media. If you're into Home Assistant, they're offering to share their automation code!

Welcome back to Reality Bytes for another episode of Nerd Talk! This week, Todd and Skeeva are joined by special guest Tribe Greywolf for an episode packed with tech and gaming. We kick things off with some hilarious behind-the-scenes banter (including Todd's infamous tattoo and the surprising success of Trombone Champ) before Tribe dives into his big move to Arizona and the incredible growth of his YouTube channels, celebrating a 100k subscriber plaque and detailing how AI tools like ClaudeBot, Open Claw, and Claude Code power his daily content creation.
The conversation quickly shifts to the cutting edge of AI, exploring ChatGPT 5.5's new multimodal capabilities, particularly its mind-blowing image generation. We demo creating everything from a Quest 3 blueprint poster and an "Impact Boys" boy band album cover to action scenes from Resident Evil 4 and After the Fall, complete with Samuel L. Jackson and Chewbacca! The hosts also discuss the ethical implications of AI, from the groundbreaking Project Glasswing fixing internet vulnerabilities to the wild tale of a Roomba hack and Scarlett Johansson's lawsuit against OpenAI.
In gaming news, the crew gets hyped about the upcoming Steam/Garry's Mod collab, promising an explosion of user-created games with the Source 2 engine. We also touch on VR fitness, celebrating listener weight loss stories and highlighting games like Flatout VR and Pistol Whip. Finally, we explore new AI tools like Claude Design for front-end development and discuss the future of AI-powered game creation and automation, including a fascinating "Meme Lord" success story. Audio listeners, head to YouTube to see all the incredible AI-generated images!

This week on Reality Bytes, Eric, Todd, and Skeeva kick off with Todd’s new look and AI banter. Gaming highlights include celebrating Wrath Aeon of Ruin VR Brutal Edition's success on PlayStation and Quest, with a call for Steam reviews! Eric's Robo Quest VR addiction continues, and Miles Dyer got a first taste of FlatOut 4 VR, coming to PC VR on May 7th. Wishlist it on Steam!
Skeeva dives into the "bonkers" world of AI, detailing Claude Code’s automation of home light shows and API generation. Special guest Ralph, XREAL General Manager, showcases the XREAL 1S glasses' modular camera, Sound by Bose, and dimmable lenses. We also explore the XREAL Beam Pro, a dedicated XR hub, and tease Project Aura—XREAL's groundbreaking Google/Qualcomm partnership for full spatial computing and VR, slated for this year. Ralph reveals new lower pricing: XREAL 1 Pro at $599 and 1S at $449.
Inspired by Ralph's generosity, the crew announces an XREAL 1S giveaway! Discussion wraps with the exciting future of XR glasses and current games like Helldivers 2 and Firewatch in 3D. Eric and Skeeva detail their upcoming Vegas trip for a GamesCat meetup, including Player One bar and Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart. Don't miss the tech, games, and banter!

In this episode, Eric, Todd and Skeeva welcome ZStorm back to the show after a long hiatus, catching up on his motion-capture and animation work in Unreal Engine for Ghosts of Tabor at Combat Waffles, plus a look back at the early Impact Labs playtesting that helped shape the multiplayer horror hit Deadly Delivery.
The crew also digs into Todd's deep dive into AI-assisted development, breaking down the differences between Claude Chat, Claude Code, and Claude Co-work as he shares how he built his own custom dashboard through vibe coding, along with a discussion of Anthropic's recent Claude Code source-code leak and what it means for the AI coding space.
Plus, the guys premiere the launch trailer for Wrath: Aeon of Ruin VR - Brutal Edition, Team Beef's gore-soaked VR port of the classic boomer shooter, complete with a RotoVR chair giveaway and a look ahead to FlatOut VR's launch at the end of the month.

In this episode, Eric and Skeeva (with Todd taking a well-earned break) provide an exhaustive breakdown of the Spring 2026 VR Games Showcase. The duo is joined by special guest Myles Dyer to celebrate his 20th anniversary on YouTube and get his unique perspective on the latest wave of virtual reality announcements.
 
The core of the discussion focuses on the massive wave of reveals from Flat2VR Studios and Impact Reality. The team explores the technical hurdles and excitement surrounding upcoming ports like FlatOut 4: Total Insanity, Roboquest VR, and the rhythm-fueled Trombone Champ: Unflattened. They also dive into high-profile showcase reveals including The Boys: Trigger Warning, Payday: Aces High, and Wrath: Aeon of Ruin. From discussing the philosophy of "unflattening" games to addressing the challenges of VR development in 2026, this episode is a deep dive into the future of immersive gaming.