Gamer Podcasts

TheCounselor wrote:

I generally give anyone that talks for two plus hours in a row a lot of slack, because you are bound to say some things that don't make a whole lot of sense. I've said things in court that, thinking back on, have been totally idiotic. I've also heard other lawyers and judges say equally dumb things. It's much easier to listen and pick them out, however, than talk a lot and sound like Cicero all the time.

I'm not sure who you're responding to or if this is just a general statement, but while that last bit is completely true, it's really not my problem as a listener. It is, at its core, a form of entertainment. If the entertainer in question is no longer providing any entertainment for their audience (or parts of it) then the audience (or parts of it...) goes elsewhere. Continuing to listen to someone I don't like listening to "Because hey, talking a lot is tough!" is... well that's just not an option.

That's like seeing five movies by a given director, thinking they're all terrible wastes of time, but then going "Oh well, I hear directing is a tough gig. I'm gonna go see that sixth movie he has coming out anyway!"

That's just silly.

If a podcaster consistently disappoints me episode after episode, there has to be a point where I stop listening. There's no point to listening if it's not fun or interesting to listen to.

Pikey26 wrote:

Jeff Cannata... ehh he was charming and had a certain impact back in the days when he was the occasional guest.... can't say the same in a regulars role.

Is it because he wants you to stick a game in your game-flap?

Delerat wrote:
Pikey26 wrote:

Jeff Cannata... ehh he was charming and had a certain impact back in the days when he was the occasional guest.... can't say the same in a regulars role.

Is it because he wants you to stick a game in your game-flap?

Cannataisms like this are really the only thing I'm going to miss about Weekend Confirmed

The game-flap thing wasn't even funny when he first said it. Urgh.

I never heard Garnett or any of the others on 1up as that isn't a podcast I ever listened to. Just based on listening to Weekend Confirmed with no prior knowledge of any of the hosts, I actually like most things about the show. However, I'm not crazy about the "Garnett plays your unknown band" sections, and I don't particularly care for the stand-up comedian that they have on as a semi-regular guest.

I do like when Billy Berghammer guests, and I really don't know why. I generally don't find myself agreeing with him any more than any of the other hosts, and I don't really find him to be more knowledgeable than other guests. There is just something about his demeanor that I like, and makes him seem like a guy I'd just stand around and talk with about games.

Jasonofindy wrote:

However, I'm not crazy about the "Garnett plays your unknown band" sections

Definitely agree there. I always skip those.

And I've grown to hate the remixes of sound clips of them talking in prior shows even more.

^^^ Agree with both you guys, but the Del Rio Super Mega Worm remix will go down as a timeless classic.

Talking of shows that come out on Friday, anybody listen to the "new" Joystiq Show?

Seems like they're going for "A Life Well Wasted"/NPR type of feel. The first episode was about Duke Nukem Forever. Even had Jon St. John on it.

I guess they were bored with the old Joystiq and Xbox 360 fancast formats.

We'll see. I can see their new format often hitting games or subjects I'm completely uninterested in and me just skipping whole episodes.

While not in the spirit of GWJ, this game-related podcast might be of interest to those reading this thread. It's a new-ish podcast covering the music of video games called Top Score. If the clever name isn't enough to intrigue you, here's a description of the first several episodes from the show's home page:

Host Emily Reese takes an in-depth listen to video game music and talks with the people who make it.

Top Score: Sean Murray / "Call of Duty: Black Ops"
Composer Sean Murray talks about his music for Call of Duty: Black Ops in the fifth episode of Top Score from Classical Minnesota Public Radio. His music successfully captures an environment fueled by war, undercover Cold War CIA operations and the emotional trauma and tension that must accompany such a life.

Top Score: Garry Schyman
Composer Garry Schyman talks to Top Score about his music for BioShock, BioShock 2 and Dante's Inferno.

Top Score: Jason Graves / Dead Space
Episode Three of Top Score features composer Jason Graves, who created a gorgeous but terrifying score for Dead Space and Dead Space 2.

Top Score: Stacking
Episode Two of Top Score is all about Stacking, a delightful game with a classical soundtrack. Join Emily Reese for a conversation with Game Designer Lee Petty, Audio Director Brian Min and Composer Peter McConnell.

Top Score: Inon Zur / Dragon Age II
Award-winning composer Inon Zur write music for video games like Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age II, and the two most recent games in the Fallout series. He talks about his journey and his job on Top Score from Classical Minnesota Public Radio.

Disclaimer: I haven't listened to an episode, yet, but it's queued up for tomorrow's commute. What can I say? I'm a coffee grinder cranking out posts.

gorilla wrote:

Disclaimer: I haven't listened to an episode, yet, but it's queued up for tomorrow's commute. What can I say? I'm a coffee grinder cranking out posts.

I listened to the Bioshock and Deadspace episodes the other day. Nice change of pace podcast for me.

Thin_J wrote:

On the other hand... Tom Chick and Nick Suttner used to both be able to singlehandedly kill a podcast for me.

Opinions are funny things. I’m on the opposite scale with Nick Suttner, he was one of my favorites (next to Shawn Elliott, the extended Idle Thumbs crew, Certis, Elysium, Rabbit, the Game Theory cast, and Anthony Gallegos that is).

Mr GT Chris wrote:

The game-flap thing wasn't even funny when he first said it. Urgh.

For me it didn't start out very funny, but Cannata's persistence and Garnett's overreaction to it are what sell the joke to me. Also knowing that the Gamefly guys actually use the term around the office now.

Jasonofindy wrote:

However, I'm not crazy about the "Garnett plays your unknown band" sections, and I don't particularly care for the stand-up comedian that they have on as a semi-regular guest.

I thought the music section started out well, but he barely changes up the styles. I used to look the bands up frequently to get more music, but now it's just more of the same over and over.

I think Christian Spicer does alright on Weekend Confirmed. Listening to him on Cool Party Guys is hilarious though, his chemistry with his comedian friends is pretty great.

Thin_J wrote:

Garnett Lee: Possibly the rudest, most arbitrarily and needlessly argumentative person in the gaming podcast business. He interrupts people in mid sentence multiple times in just about every single cast, and never for good reason. Someone else on the given cast has to be willing to call him out on his BS regularly for him to be tolerable.

Garnett is a good guy and he must contribute more than it appears to making it a successful podcast but he regularly annoys and/or bewilders me. Having him being called out does help. It's been suggested that he sometimes plays devils advocate, without saying so, for the sake of a better discussion which might explain some of his contorted and odd stances. He also desperately wants to be funny on the podcast but doesn't have it in him so he resorts to immature sexual innuendoes that are cringe worthy. I hope he'll realise it just doesn't work and will leave the funnies to others.

Thin_J wrote:
TheCounselor wrote:

I generally give anyone that talks for two plus hours in a row a lot of slack, because you are bound to say some things that don't make a whole lot of sense. I've said things in court that, thinking back on, have been totally idiotic. I've also heard other lawyers and judges say equally dumb things. It's much easier to listen and pick them out, however, than talk a lot and sound like Cicero all the time.

I'm not sure who you're responding to or if this is just a general statement, but while that last bit is completely true, it's really not my problem as a listener. It is, at its core, a form of entertainment. If the entertainer in question is no longer providing any entertainment for their audience (or parts of it) then the audience (or parts of it...) goes elsewhere. Continuing to listen to someone I don't like listening to "Because hey, talking a lot is tough!" is... well that's just not an option.

That's like seeing five movies by a given director, thinking they're all terrible wastes of time, but then going "Oh well, I hear directing is a tough gig. I'm gonna go see that sixth movie he has coming out anyway!"

That's just silly.

If a podcaster consistently disappoints me episode after episode, there has to be a point where I stop listening. There's no point to listening if it's not fun or interesting to listen to.

Agreed. I get really tired of the "four guys BS-ing for two hours" format. I'd rather listen to a podcast that was edited well and where people have something interesting to say. If I wanted to listen to random chatter from people that thought they were funny, I'd go to the game store and listen to the Magic the Gathering dudes hold forth.

I'd listen to more gaming podcasts if they were like Three Moves Ahead (my current gold standard in game podcasts) that has more actual analysis and discussion and hardly any filler.

Former IGNer Scott Bromley to go full time on Rebel FM?
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/35426/Layoffs_Hit_IGN_Editorial.php

Gamasutra has also learned that GameSpy editor-in-chief Will Tuttle and editorial team member Scott Bromley have also been let go.

Well, I guess he'll need something else to do in the time until he finds more work.

MannishBoy wrote:
Jasonofindy wrote:

However, I'm not crazy about the "Garnett plays your unknown band" sections

Definitely agree there. I always skip those.

And I've grown to hate the remixes of sound clips of them talking in prior shows even more.

Oh God, yes. And I'm always confused by how enthused Garnett sounds about the music. I mean, to each their own, but he often sounds like a PR guy trying to sell me something.

Mr GT Chris wrote:

Former IGNer Scott Bromley to go full time on Rebel FM?
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/35426/Layoffs_Hit_IGN_Editorial.php

Gamasutra has also learned that GameSpy editor-in-chief Will Tuttle and editorial team member Scott Bromley have also been let go.

Maybe I can go back to listening to Gamespy Debriefing again. And, if he does come to Rebel, I'll have to stave off that for a while I guess. I dislike how he mistakes loud for funny.

Hey, hey. I'm Scott Bromley. Hey, pay attention to me. I get irritated when people stop paying attention to me. I'll try derailing this conversation in the most derivative way possible so that you pay attention to me again. Maybe I'll do my terrible Borat impression for the 100th time. Maybe I'll just tell I story that does a poor job of hiding the fact that I actually I think I'm pretty superior compared to most other people.

Hey I used to be a fat kid and girls didn't want to talk to me. So now that I'm skinny, I make up for it by being the most sexist, misogynistic pig on the planet. Let me explain how all women in my life are braindead sluts who are just looking for a free ride, except for the ones that aren't which makes them frigid Female Doggoes. Did I mention that my girlfriend wants sex with me too often? These are the distressing problems of my life.

Oh, did you laugh at something I just said? Was it remotely funny? Great, while in that case, let me repeat it over and over again until it's been smashed into the ground and is more irritating then funny. Because even though I'm really egotistical, my nerdiness makes me insecure so please pay attention to me some more.

Unsubscribed from the Geekbox yesterday. I'd been listening since episode one, but it's just not interesting anymore. Not enough dick and fart jokes maybe

Ah ha, so YOU'RE Scott Bromley! GET HIM GUYS!

kaptainbarbosa wrote:

Hey, hey. I'm Scott Bromley. Hey, pay attention to me. I get irritated when people stop paying attention to me. I'll try derailing this conversation in the most derivative way possible so that you pay attention to me again. Maybe I'll do my terrible Borat impression for the 100th time. Maybe I'll just tell I story that does a poor job of hiding the fact that I actually I think I'm pretty superior compared to most other people.

Hey I used to be a fat kid and girls didn't want to talk to me. So now that I'm skinny, I make up for it by being the most sexist, misogynistic pig on the planet. Let me explain how all women in my life are braindead sluts who are just looking for a free ride, except for the ones that aren't which makes them frigid Female Doggoes. Did I mention that my girlfriend wants sex with me too often? These are the distressing problems of my life.

Oh, did you laugh at something I just said? Was it remotely funny? Great, while in that case, let me repeat it over and over again until it's been smashed into the ground and is more irritating then funny. Because even though I'm really egotistical, my nerdiness makes me insecure so please pay attention to me some more.

Spot on. I actually don't mind him that much, though. Him and Brian Altano have great chemistry for bad comedy.

I'm kind of on the fence about Giant Bombcast. On the one hand, I find myself tuning out a lot when I'm listening to their podcast. On the other hand, every now and then they'll come up with this great bit like their Duke Nukem is still in high school bit:

http://youtu.be/1uQ6Ei3lr2s

But I think I enjoyed the insanely long E3 podcasts more than their regular stuff. I don't know what that says about them or me.

MannishBoy wrote:

Talking of shows that come out on Friday, anybody listen to the "new" Joystiq Show?

Seems like they're going for "A Life Well Wasted"/NPR type of feel. The first episode was about Duke Nukem Forever. Even had Jon St. John on it.

I guess they were bored with the old Joystiq and Xbox 360 fancast formats.

We'll see. I can see their new format often hitting games or subjects I'm completely uninterested in and me just skipping whole episodes.

I made almost the exact same post before realizing I had missed the 13th page. It's an interesting tack, but I don't think they quite hit it in their first episode. That format is a lot harder to pull off than it looks. It also doesn't help that Jon St. John, an experienced radio guy, really made the interviewer sound like an amateur just by virtue of being really, really smooth. I think I would have edited out the facebook bits as well, as it didn't help the interview, and sort of put St. John into Sad Old Man territory.

I'll keep with it for awhile to see if they can pull it off. Though their odds of keeping me are proportional to the number of Justin McElroy appearances.

I really enjoyed the discussion on this week's Weekend Confirmed about whether it's all these HD remakes and re-boots are a good idea. While we can always go back and re-watch a favorite movie or re-read a classic novel the way the creators intended, that's not always possible with games. Hardware changes, and the early 3D games look awfully rough these days, which can get in the way of the experience.

We will see how Halo and the Ico Collection pan out, but I plan on playing both of them.

TheCounselor wrote:

We will see how Halo and the Ico Collection pan out, but I plan on playing both of them.

I'm looking forward to another run through Halo, but it would be nice if one of their fixes is to reduce the Library level significantly.

MannishBoy wrote:

Talking of shows that come out on Friday, anybody listen to the "new" Joystiq Show?

Did not like. No McElroy. And what's the release schedule? Which I know sounds silly, like "I hated this, gimme more" but hey.

Damn it. I was going to post that one of my favorite shows over the past couple years was the Van Hemlock podcast. I went to their website to copy some URLs and found out that they're taking a break from podcasting for a while. Total bummer. Tim and Jon were a lot of fun to listen to, and I hope they resurface somewhere in future podcasts.

For an ALWW feel, check out playable character podcast. I think they do a pretty good job. There are moments when it's obvious that dude's reading something and he slips up and you think "well you're just reading, do another freaking take" but if you can get past that, pretty decent.

New Joystiq Show up, this time on the unsung games of E3.

It was a tough listen. Well produced, heart in the right place, but very dry and difficult to differentiate the commentators (Joystiq podcast benefited greatly from three distinct voices in the most literal sense).

I wonder if it will click for me when there's a topic that clicks for me.