Gamer Podcasts

I wish I could have stuck with TMA, but with Troy leaving the host position, Bruce stopping by less often, and Tom(I almost always agree with him) never stopping by, I couldn't stand listening to it anymore. I like Rob Zacny as my opposite(I almost never agree with him), but I couldn't get used to having him as the host.

Latrine wrote:

Some episodes of TMA are hard to listen to for people not interested in the deep end of strategy like those focusing on war games, but you can easily cherry pick the episodes related to games you're interested in or the ones about more general topics. Personally I still listen to all of them but usually end up tuning out when they talk about something like WW2 at length.

That's how I went through it. Although sometimes hearing about an off the wall strategy game I've never played is pretty cool. They got me to buy Crusader Kings II (but not to be able to work through it), and Kohan2 (which I've been chomping through, game's fun).

Delerat wrote:

I wish I could have stuck with TMA, but with Troy leaving the host position, Bruce stopping by less often, and Tom(I almost always agree with him) never stopping by, I couldn't stand listening to it anymore. I like Rob Zacny as my opposite(I almost never agree with him), but I couldn't get used to having him as the host.

Well I'm happy to take your place, as Rob is a kindred spirit to my tastes and I really only caught onto the podcast once he started hosting. That being said, I do pick and choose the episodes I listen to, and avoid the ones talking about stuff like deep-end military strategy that I'll never play.

Just listened to ep 185 of TMA and loved it. Is this indicative of the show at present? Very compelling and learning a lot as someone who has recently realised they love boardgames as much or more more than videogames.

Good reccomendation, surprised it took me so long to try as id heard about it on GWJ a number of times.

troubleshot wrote:

Just listened to ep 185 of TMA and loved it. Is this indicative of the show at present? Very compelling and learning a lot as someone who has recently realised they love boardgames as much or more more than videogames.

Good reccomendation, surprised it took me so long to try as id heard about it on GWJ a number of times.

Given the topics on TMA I think combing through the back catalog for games and topics is something you should do

Delerat wrote:

I wish I could have stuck with TMA, but with Troy leaving the host position, Bruce stopping by less often, and Tom(I almost always agree with him) never stopping by, I couldn't stand listening to it anymore. I like Rob Zacny as my opposite(I almost never agree with him), but I couldn't get used to having him as the host.

Wait...you mean there is a person out there who agrees with the tastes of Tom Chick? I think a blood vessel just burst in my brain.

kuddles wrote:
Delerat wrote:

I wish I could have stuck with TMA, but with Troy leaving the host position, Bruce stopping by less often, and Tom(I almost always agree with him) never stopping by, I couldn't stand listening to it anymore. I like Rob Zacny as my opposite(I almost never agree with him), but I couldn't get used to having him as the host.

Wait...you mean there is a person out there who agrees with the tastes of Tom Chick? I think a blood vessel just burst in my brain.

Well he did like Jetpack Joyride. He can't be that wrong.

kuddles wrote:
Delerat wrote:

I wish I could have stuck with TMA, but with Troy leaving the host position, Bruce stopping by less often, and Tom(I almost always agree with him) never stopping by, I couldn't stand listening to it anymore. I like Rob Zacny as my opposite(I almost never agree with him), but I couldn't get used to having him as the host.

Wait...you mean there is a person out there who agrees with the tastes of Tom Chick? I think a blood vessel just burst in my brain.

I know he can be controversial and maybe a little overdramatic, like Garnett but a little more sophisticated about it, but he usually has a good point. It's been a while since I've heard any of his opinions, but they usually end up being about the little things from what I remember and from a design standpoint they're blemishes he's good at catching.

Delerat wrote:

It's been a while since I've heard any of his opinions, but they usually end up being about the little things from what I remember and from a design standpoint they're blemishes he's good at catching.

A recent example was that he dinged 10 million (iOS) for its twitchy row sliding mechanic. Completely agree with him and he then made a blog post saying the game felt much better after the developer patched it.

He also trashed on Journey, so his opinions are bad and wrong.

Disappointment listening Weekend Confirmed today:

Garnett: And back in the third chair, everyone's favourite special guest...

Me: Sweet, it must be Billy Berghammer!!

Garnett: ...the one and only Andrea Rene!

Me: Crap.

Yeah, I just check the file info

If we see Berghammer back again, I'm guessing it probably won't be until they're ready to start actively pimping Republique sadly.

I stopped listening to Weekend Confirmed around episode 35. It is apparently the attractive, abusive spouse of podcasts. He's not changing, fellas!

The thing is, back when 1up Yours was amazing, Garnett wasn't the cool part, and he's the only part left.

I was hoping maybe this would be the weekend to listen- hoping they might have an interesting conversation about FTL (a game I get theoretically but did not enjoy playing).

demonbox wrote:

I was hoping maybe this would be the weekend to listen- hoping they might have an interesting conversation about FTL (a game I get theoretically but did not enjoy playing).

No Cannata last week or this week - good time to take a pass.

I think FTL is probably good, but its hooks as of yet have not quite gotten into me. I think it's just slightly too lean mechanically for me to fully enjoy (or at least, it starts off too lean, and the deeper aspects are not readily apparent).

The Idle Thumbs recently talked about FTL (see: 72, 70, 69). It was good.

Blind_Evil wrote:

I stopped listening to Weekend Confirmed around episode 35. It is apparently the attractive, abusive spouse of podcasts. He's not changing, fellas!

The thing is, back when 1up Yours was amazing, Garnett wasn't the cool part, and he's the only part left.

Still, when you hear John, Luke, and Shane on other podcasts, it's quite a different feeling from the 1UP Yours days, especially the first two. It makes you realise how much Garnett had to do with making 1UP Yours what it was. Even in the Weekend Confirmed days, there have been some great shows with personalities like the Jeffs, Brian Leahy, and Billy Berghammer.

Delerat wrote:

I know he can be controversial and maybe a little overdramatic, like Garnett but a little more sophisticated about it, but he usually has a good point. It's been a while since I've heard any of his opinions, but they usually end up being about the little things from what I remember and from a design standpoint they're blemishes he's good at catching.

My problem is his hyperbolic representation. He'll rightfully point out an issue with a game nobody else is talking about, and then make it out to be such an egregious flaw that it ruins the entire game according to him, and then conversely will ignore significant flaws on games he likes completely. I used to think he was deliberately trolling, but now I realize he just has awful taste. That might make his writing refreshing when all other gaming sites seem to all share the same opinion and lack a contrary view altogether, but quite frankly it makes his discussions or debates with others on podcasts difficult to sit through because of how distorted his reality is.

To add on to TMA a bit, when Rob took over, at first I was a bit offput. But, I kept listening because I loved the topics and guests, and I gotta say, I love him now. TMA is easily in my top two or three podcasts. I don't always understand or follow the more arcane wargaming discussions, but I don't feel like I need to either. The passion makes it a good listen.

Blind_Evil wrote:

I stopped listening to Weekend Confirmed around episode 35. It is apparently the attractive, abusive spouse of podcasts. He's not changing, fellas!

The thing is, back when 1up Yours was amazing, Garnett wasn't the cool part, and he's the only part left.

He was still the glue that held it all together.

I personally feel like Garnett too often goes by unappreciated.

I blame Cannata and his current roster of usual Guest more than anything (I appreciate that people like Cannata exist in the industry, but not a huge fan of him personally).

Pikey26 wrote:

I blame Cannata and his current roster of usual Guest more than anything (I appreciate that people like Cannata exist in the industry, but not a huge fan of him personally).

I just love how happy he is all the time. I positively love positivity!

I liked Cannata for some time but somehow I'm turned off by him these days. His loving stuff seems like just a facade considering how often he's tearing into games. "Oh it's good but..." then picks apart every flaw, real and imagined.

Slumberland wrote:

I only recently got into Idle Thumbs and it really is good... a panel of smart, goofy devs is actually a really nice counterpart to the smart, goofy enthusiasts of GWJCC.

Troubleshot, I also recommend taking a trip through the archives of Brainy Gamer's podcast. Good guests (mostly) and discussion led by theater professor and gaming overthinker Michael Abbott. He's still doing the podcast but new episodes are less frequent. There is, however, a new one about Mark of the Ninja that I'm waiting to listen to for when I've played a bit.

I recently started listening to Idle Thumbs, and the wit, measure, and energy is actually inspiring. It reminds me of the feeling I got when I first found GWJCC and before that The Brainy Gamer. I find listening to GWJCC, The Brainy Gamer, And now Idle Thumbs, often results in an upwelling of a nenewed eagerness to embrace games and the wondrous intersection of analysis, creativity, and wonderment in which they sit.

Can be both the perfect salve and a salted wound when I'm listening in my cubicle.

[quote=gore]

demonbox wrote:

The Idle Thumbs recently talked about FTL (see: 72, 70, 69). It was good.

Agreed. Its a game I really dig reading people's accounts on and enjoy hearing about- but it just didn't click for me. But man to people friggin love that game.

Didn't do a lot for me either, demonbox. I'll try again, but FTL isn't much like the roguelikes I've been a fan of in the past.

Is there a good rogue-like to start with? I don't think I've ever played a game that fits the category.

I've played mostly Japanese ones, they're known more commonly as "mystery dungeon" games there. It's a kind of hard genre to nail down, because games do a lot of tinkering with the general premise, or borrow the defining characteristics of roguelikes and apply them to other genres (Spelunky).

If you're looking for something on PC, I think a cheap, well-received example is The Binding of Isaac. The Pokemon Mystery Dugeon games for DS are simpler roguelikes. Chocobo's Dungeon for Wii is one I liked quite a lot. Izuna 2: The Unemployed Ninja Returns is probably my second favorite. Dungeons of Dredmor is another I remember getting some love around here.

Ah, here's a catch-all of sorts that's seen some run over the years.

muraii wrote:

Is there a good rogue-like to start with? I don't think I've ever played a game that fits the category.

I'm on the shallow end of it but I can see myself falling into he deep end with Binding of Isaac. It's got a lot of wonderful things going on. I wish I hadn't waited so long to give it a whirl. Haven't heard it typically refered to as a rouge like but seems to fir the criteria.

Blind_Evil wrote:

If you're looking for something on PC, I think a cheap, well-received example is The Binding of Isaac.

So yeah- clearly you agree.

Dungeons of Dredmor is the Beginner's Roguelike du jour. It's a lot of fun, has graphics, and is pretty easy to get a handle on.

demonbox wrote:
muraii wrote:

Is there a good rogue-like to start with? I don't think I've ever played a game that fits the category.

I'm on the shallow end of it but I can see myself falling into he deep end with Binding of Isaac. It's got a lot of wonderful things going on. I wish I hadn't waited so long to give it a whirl. Haven't heard it typically refered to as a rouge like but seems to fir the criteria.

Blind_Evil wrote:

If you're looking for something on PC, I think a cheap, well-received example is The Binding of Isaac.

So yeah- clearly you agree.

Can't say if I agree, I haven't played it. The art style keeps me away. I just know it gets a lot of love in these parts.