Giant Bomb Bomb-All

Big same on Hotspot. Really brings me back. My only issue with three long podcasts each week now (Bombcast, Beastcast, and Hotspot) is it can lead to a lot of repeat talk, especially when Hotspot doesn't have a topic. A couple weeks ago Gerstmann guested on the Beastcast, and, as is my weekend tradition, I listened to the Beastcast right after the Bombcast, and it was basically Jeff expressing the identical opinions on both, which was a bit tedious!

Dumb question, but what is the premise of Hotspot? Or is it literally just them chit-chatting about whatever?

Garth wrote:

Dumb question, but what is the premise of Hotspot? Or is it literally just them chit-chatting about whatever?

I think it's just freeform podcast time. Basically their podcast intros but that's the whole show. Sometimes they talk video games, one episode was them quizzing each other on video game music, sometimes the topics just meander from one thing to the next. If you like those guys talking about random topics it's good.

Garth wrote:

Dumb question, but what is the premise of Hotspot? Or is it literally just them chit-chatting about whatever?

When Vinny hosts, he usually has a topic or they will find a topic. It’s usually more history based and their experiences in the industry. While it’s called the Hotspot, it’s basically the original Bombcast episodes where Ryan was on vacation.

Got it! Cool. I will have to give it a listen.

Giant Bomb has been sold
"ViacomCBS sells CNET Media Group to digital marketing company Red Ventures"

r013nt0 wrote:

Giant Bomb has been sold
"ViacomCBS sells CNET Media Group to digital marketing company Red Ventures"

Jeff's response

Jeff Gerstmann wrote:

You probably know just about as much as I do at this point, I mean I just woke up to a bunch of meeting invites, some of which I’m going to have to miss because I’m out for most of this week handling family things.

Anyway, we’re part of the sale, in case there was any question around that. I’m tentatively excited, I guess I’d say? There’s potential in the site that’s never been realized and I think some new owners might be able to help with that.

My only real concerns are that we probably aren’t going to remain under the same roof as Garfield and hopefully we’ll have a less-restrictive mobile device policy so I can more easily check emails on my phone.

I was excited about the return of the Hotspot, re-subbed for it, but I’ve been kinda disappointed. Feels like every other episode gets deep into like PC architecture or hard drives and I just could not care less.

Blind_Evil wrote:

I was excited about the return of the Hotspot, re-subbed for it, but I’ve been kinda disappointed. Feels like every other episode gets deep into like PC architecture or hard drives and I just could not care less.

I'm the opposite, I love that stuff. Brad has a podcast with Will Smith that's all about technology, though, so it probably couldn't hurt for them to limit the discussions some.

Was there a bunch of weird gaps in the audio of this week's bombcast for anyone else?

Yeah, they mentioned briefly that there was some audio issues, but on my stereo it sounded like they inserted lower-quality backups.

Brad didn’t record his sound at first so I’m guessing they went with someone else’s recording.

Just working through the news section of this weeks bombcast... I think I'm done with these people. Ben snickering through the chromecast news was just too much asshole for me to keep going. Thinking back, I don't remember the last game they liked that I did. Maybe Shadows of Mordor... that was a long time ago...

Are there any podcasts where the people talking like video games and enjoy talking about them and what's new in the industry?

manta173 wrote:

Are there any podcasts where the people talking like video games and enjoy talking about them and what's new in the industry?

Yes, the Giant Beastcast.

Alternatively DLC with Jeff Cannata and Christian Spicer. Jeff loves loving things.

I will second the Beastcast. I really enjoy it, and there is some enthusiasm for games that is seriously lacking from Bombcast.

I do listen to the beastcast... but it has a similar problem just not as bad. I might give DLC a try.

Saw a stream the other day with Dan, Mary Kish, and Mike Maharty (sp?) talking best games of the year so far and really enjoyed it. Maybe they will get a podcast going...

If you want upbeat, positive, passionate coverage than DLC is probably exactly what you're looking for. They frequently get super interesting guests on, including at various points GB's own Vinny Caravella and Abby Russell, as well as GWJ's very own Cory Banks and Shawn Andrich!

Jeff signs out every episode by saying "Think about what you put out into the world; make it a better place."

r013nt0 wrote:

If you want upbeat, positive, passionate coverage than DLC is probably exactly what you're looking for. They frequently get super interesting guests on, including at various points GB's own Vinny Caravella and Abby Russell, as well as GWJ's very own Cory Banks and Shawn Andrich!

Jeff signs out every episode by saying "Think about what you put out into the world; make it a better place."

Good selling point. Also, choose your tag!!

manta173 wrote:

Just working through the news section of this weeks bombcast... I think I'm done with these people. Ben snickering through the chromecast news was just too much asshole for me to keep going. Thinking back, I don't remember the last game they liked that I did.

They really are not into my style of gaming anymore, but I enjoy listening to Jan and Brad talk about things that are either beyond my technical grasp or I have little interest in. I have no idea what most of the things Jan talks about are, but I like hearing him explain them. He's like Drew in those regards. Brad looks at the inner-workings and the behind-the-scenes of things way more than me, so it's great to hear his take on them, as well. I'm finding it harder and harder to get through episodes, though. The only thing I really tune in for anymore, when I do listen, is the News Segment which is usually good. That Ben moment you mention from last week was absolutely atrocious. Not just the fact that he's playing the playing the part of the "younger, snarkier, less informed Jeff", but that he tries so hard to come off that way. There is no way that laugh was not manufactured when he held it out long enough for Jeff to stop talking. It was completely forced and I'm not interested in hearing characters; I'm interested in hearing real people talk about games.

Things like you mentioned have made me skip Bombcast more and more til I'm at the point where I only listen when I've exhausted all my other podcasts. Jeff has been the epitome of what I dislike in Games Journalism for years, so it was just a matter of time before the bad started outweighing the good on that show.

That said, I listen to Beastcast every week. I actually find it to be much more fun to listen to since Dan left. The conversation doesn't get derailed into some weird "I didn't know marshmellows weren't actually ghost poop until I was 32" type of tangent, so they have time to explore more meaningful topics and give each cast member the time to fully realize thoughts on them. Vinnie has been my favorite of the Giant Bomb crew, if not my favorite podcast personality in general, for years. He has a way of walking a line between completely saccharine in his earnestness and absolutely laugh-out-loud funny that I think is a perfect balance when keeping me entertained. Abby is a great add and they play very well off each other. I hope she stays on the show for a long duration, though I have a feeling she will move onto to other things eventually.

I'm gonna check out that DLC podcast that people are mentioning. I've recently stopped listening to about 3 different podcasts for various reasons, so my commute has space to fill.

SkeletonFrames, your thoughts definitely mirror my own. I find myself mostly zoning out with Bombcast. Especially when they get into the hardware and technical deepdives. It may as well be someone speaking another language. Similarly with Pokemon and most things Jan enjoys (but that is totally just preferences of games).

The Beastcast has been entirely more listenable without Dan. He did bring some enthusiasm and excitement which I enjoyed. But conversations were totally derailed once he would open his mouth.

I've found it rough listening to Giant Bomb recently. I don't care about their random tangents that they go off on for large chunks of time. I just want talk about games.

I've enjoyed The MinnMax Show the most lately. Guys who used to work at Game Informer. Mostly positive. Stays on topic for the most part.

EDIT: I also like that they have excellent time stamps, have a good news round up every week, are very good about spoilers (I had to drop Triple Click because of that), and a nice variety of additional content if you want to go further with them, including spoiler casts and game streams.

skeletonframes wrote:

That said, I listen to Beastcast every week. I actually find it to be much more fun to listen to since Dan left. The conversation doesn't get derailed into some weird "I didn't know marshmellows weren't actually ghost poop until I was 32" type of tangent, so they have time to explore more meaningful topics and give each cast member the time to fully realize thoughts on them.

100% agree, but there were some high points like this.

I’m gonna check out MinnMax as well.

I haven’t heard anything from Dan in a while and that Terminator clip reminded me that he’s like Tom Hanks in BIG. One day lightning is going to strike a Zoltar Machine somewhere and Dan is going to poof out of our existence and back into his own.

Listened to most of an episode of DLC. I’m an instant fan. Listening to one of the hosts talk about Mario 35 was exactly what I come to gaming podcasts for. Can’t wait to see what they think about more games. I’m thinking about going back and listening to older casts with games I like.

To make this Giantbomb related I’ll do my best Jeff Gerstmann impression for you all.

“I’ve never seen a Star War. A War of the Stars, if you will. And if I did it’s because I was soooooo wasted and accidentally saw it”

How’d I do?

I like bombcast but I enjoy beast cast more. Abby Russel is a fantastic addition to the team.

Here's my Dan impression.

(The conversation turns to a question you are really interested in hearing the answer too. You wait in anticipation)

Dan: "Do unicorns not exist?"

Your looked forward to discussion is lost in the ensuing derail.

I’m choosing not to engage here because there are comments in here that are just trying to show off how much of a dick they can be.

manta173 wrote:

Saw a stream the other day with Dan, Mary Kish, and Mike Maharty (sp?) talking best games of the year so far and really enjoyed it. Maybe they will get a podcast going...

Can this be watched now, or was it just a stream somewhere? Doesn’t she work for Twitch? You think it’s saved there somewhere or was it not affiliated?

Still love the Beastcast, and actually miss Dan. Vinny was the right guy for messing with him. He definitely fit in more on the east coast.

As for the west coast, I still watch it because I of Gerstmann.

Dan's Panning the Stream podcast with his wife Bianca is the perfect platform for him. Or maybe it's that Bianca brings out the best in him.