Gamer Podcasts

I started listening to the most recent Idle Thumbs this morning. I'm liking it. It's amazing how much everyone is discussing Dishonored and X-Com. It is part of what finally enabled me on Dishonored, and now I'm wondering if I should redbox X-Com. Normally I'd write it off as strategy games aren't my thing, but it may actually be my style if it can be compared with Final Fantasy Tactics and Fire Emblem.

A bit late on this, but....

gore wrote:
ianunderhill wrote:

It's branding. The big question is, "Does Polygon have the audience it thinks it does?" I don't see what precious, cloying earnestness has to do with games journalism. On the other hand, if you're building a new site that fits into an over-saturated space and you're staffing it with people who used to work on other sites, it's important to justify your existence by pitching yourself as something different. Frankly, I'm sick to death of hearing about how amazing this phantom site is going to be when we finally see it, but on the other hand, the reviews and other content currently being published through The Verge are definitely high-quality.

I agree.

What are they really telling us with that documentary? All of their branding is about this serious mission to be better than those crummy existing sites (with vague promises of "doing games journalism right"), with little actual detail about what that even means. When you're coming to the table with LOTS OF DOLLARS and corporate sponsorships out of the gate (Internet Explorer, lolz), you're probably not going to engender a lot of sympathy for how incredibly hard it is to make your "important" video game web site.

This reminds a bit of the Venus Patrol re-launch. I backed their relaunch project (mostly for the games), but the end product took way way too long for all the bluster about "something cool is coming".

That said, I agree the writing that's come through Verge has been quality even though I rarely check Verge's home page due to my dislike of their layout.

ccesarano wrote:

Normally I'd write it off as strategy games aren't my thing, but it may actually be my style if it can be compared with Final Fantasy Tactics and Fire Emblem.

Have you read through any of the AAR threads (reboot or old)? That might give you a helpful taste, or you could just try the demo of the reboot. Also, enjoy Thumbs!

shoptroll wrote:

That said, I agree the writing that's come through Verge has been quality even though I rarely check Verge's home page due to my dislike of their layout.

Same here. Some people have spoken positively about it, but I cannot fathom it. The Internet is not a magazine. People do not view a website in the same way they view a piece of paper in their hands.

The Verge is absolutely horrible looking and it makes me want to vomit every time.

ccesarano wrote:

The Verge is absolutely horrible looking and it makes me want to vomit every time.

What's worse is that Ars Technica thought it was a good idea and tried to do something similar. Fortunately, they kept the classic list presentation which was smart.

EDIT: Actually on second look, that might be due to trying to get more inline with sister publication Wired.

ccesarano wrote:

The Verge is absolutely horrible looking and it makes me want to vomit every time.

+1. I only view their content through feed readers and Pocket.

PaladinTom wrote:
ccesarano wrote:

The Verge is absolutely horrible looking and it makes me want to vomit every time.

+1. I only view their content through feed readers and Pocket.

What about SBNation.com? That one went through a pretty big redesign lately.

Certis wrote:
PaladinTom wrote:
ccesarano wrote:

The Verge is absolutely horrible looking and it makes me want to vomit every time.

+1. I only view their content through feed readers and Pocket.

What about SBNation.com? That one went through a pretty big redesign lately.

I don't have as much time to look at it right now, but after glancing through it looks like they couldn't decide what they wanted their front page to look like so they just stacked all the concepts on top of each other.

Maybe this really is better for most users, but it is so jarring to see such a large page. I can only assume what's towards the bottom is the least important, but nothing towards the top really stands out as being important either.

EDIT: What I'm saying is it may simply take some adjustment based on what I'm used to seeing in websites.

ccesarano wrote:
Certis wrote:
PaladinTom wrote:
ccesarano wrote:

The Verge is absolutely horrible looking and it makes me want to vomit every time.

+1. I only view their content through feed readers and Pocket.

What about SBNation.com? That one went through a pretty big redesign lately.

I don't have as much time to look at it right now, but after glancing through it looks like they couldn't decide what they wanted their front page to look like so they just stacked all the concepts on top of each other.

Maybe this really is better for most users, but it is so jarring to see such a large page. I can only assume what's towards the bottom is the least important, but nothing towards the top really stands out as being important either.

EDIT: What I'm saying is it may simply take some adjustment based on what I'm used to seeing in websites.

While we're on the subject, I can't believe Gawker sites have stuck to their horrible design/performance for so long.

Back on topic: I would be very interested if the Polygon guys did a podcast on more general newsy news like Weekend Confirmed or the Bombcast with their unique editorial insight.

PaladinTom wrote:
ccesarano wrote:
Certis wrote:
PaladinTom wrote:
ccesarano wrote:

The Verge is absolutely horrible looking and it makes me want to vomit every time.

+1. I only view their content through feed readers and Pocket.

What about SBNation.com? That one went through a pretty big redesign lately.

I don't have as much time to look at it right now, but after glancing through it looks like they couldn't decide what they wanted their front page to look like so they just stacked all the concepts on top of each other.

Maybe this really is better for most users, but it is so jarring to see such a large page. I can only assume what's towards the bottom is the least important, but nothing towards the top really stands out as being important either.

EDIT: What I'm saying is it may simply take some adjustment based on what I'm used to seeing in websites.

While we're on the subject, I can't believe Gawker sites have stuck to their horrible design/performance for so long.

Back on topic: I would be very interested if the Polygon guys did a podcast on more general newsy news like Weekend Confirmed or the Bombcast with their unique editorial insight.

I agree with the polygon podcast. I think they have some good people with different types of insight that would make for an interesting podcast.

IntangibleFate wrote:

I agree with the polygon podcast. I think they have some good people with different types of insight that would make for an interesting podcast.

I'd listen to such a thing in a heartbeat, because I find quite a few of their staff insightful, but putting one more general gaming news podcast into the fray opens them up to further criticism and cheap shots after they've...well, you know...artsy-fartsied.

Maybe if there is no Arthur ;).

Mr GT Chris wrote:

Maybe if there is no Arthur ;).

Arthur can't leave Rebel FM. The show would just be non-stop cheer then.

A Polygon podcast that isn't The Besties would be fantastic. I listened to the last Joystiq GOTY podcast and it made me miss that trio and format.

I dunno. Justin McElroy by himself is funny and a good guy. When he talks about serious topics about games I tend to disagree with him.

Tarn Adams of Dwarf Fortress fame is on this week's Roguelike Radio!!

http://www.roguelikeradio.com/

Squee9 wrote:

A Polygon podcast that isn't The Besties would be fantastic. I listened to the last Joystiq GOTY podcast and it made me miss that trio and format.

I have been kind of dormant on this thread, but I would be all over a Polygon podcast that's more in depth! I'd kind of like to see what a podcast would be like with Arthur Gies and Justin McElroy sharing opinions. As of now I don't get much opinions about games in my podcasts from Justin since I don't listen to The Besties, but I kinda miss the Joystiq podcast from way back when with Justin.

I guess for now Rebel FM will have to suffice as my inlet into in depth Polygon podcasts.

On another note, does anyone have any good in depth gaming podcasts or just general culture/media casts besides Giant Bomb, GWJ or Idle Thumbs that they have been enjoying on a regular basis? I need another podcast to round out my line up. Been getting to the point where I don't have any episodes left for my week (granted I drive most of the time for work, so burn through a lot of podcasts quickly). My podcast rotation (for the most part) in a given week has been:
(listing by highest priority in terms of listening as soon as a new show is updated)
1. GWJ CC
2. Giant Bombcast
3. Rebel FM
4. Idle Thumbs
5. Rooster Teeth Podcast (this is about the time where I am just bouncing between non-gaming casts)
6. Satellite Dish w/ Justin and Sydnee (this and MBMBaM alternate, usually listen to Sat Dish on my own, since my co worker has gotten into MBMBaM. Save those for the rare times we are on the road together. MBMBaM is always more fun when laughing with someone else!)
7. Freakonomics and/or Cast of Thrones (both of these or low on the priority list, just listen when I don't have anything else or am interested in something from Freak)

Would love to see where every one else is at on this if they have the time!

Also went ahead and DL'd a couple episodes of Jumping The Shark since a couple people were talking that up, thanks for the recommend!

I feel like a hypocrite as I recently added Podtoid, Destructoid's Podcast, and that's about as unlike my tastes as you can get. There is no structure and a lot of it is basically Jim Sterling's typically obnoxious and often vulgar tangents with some comments from the other guys. But something about the dynamic between Jim Sterling and Jonathon Holmes, who has to be the nicest sounding guy in the world, makes it really funny to me.

Then they spend about 20% talking about vidija games.

So I think, ultimately, I have no idea what it is I really want out of a Podcast except a certain dynamic.

ccesarano wrote:

I feel like a hypocrite as I recently added Podtoid, Destructoid's Podcast, and that's about as unlike my tastes as you can get. There is no structure and a lot of it is basically Jim Sterling's typically obnoxious and often vulgar tangents with some comments from the other guys. But something about the dynamic between Jim Sterling and Jonathon Holmes, who has to be the nicest sounding guy in the world, makes it really funny to me.

Then they spend about 20% talking about vidija games.

So I think, ultimately, I have no idea what it is I really want out of a Podcast except a certain dynamic.

Podtoid was my first podcast about gaming but the people who were in the first cast has since moved on. Jim seems like a decent person. It is just that he plays a character to me and says gross things to get a laugh. Max I know from the Comedy Button and he can be witty at times but he leaves a lot in the middle of things.

When I'm sick of all my current gaming podcast and just need a palette cleanser, I usually listen to Destructoid. Their podcast is terrible, with Jim Sterling even admitting as such when he sent out a tweet once genuinely apologizing for their seeming inability to do anything better.

But I use it simply to have a few cheap laughs, before shuddering and returning back to my regular lineup.

EDIT: added tweet link

ianunderhill wrote:

I'd listen to such a thing in a heartbeat, because I find quite a few of their staff insightful, but putting one more general gaming news podcast into the fray opens them up to further criticism and cheap shots after they've...well, you know...artsy-fartsied. ;)

I miss Asleep at the Keyboard Haven't listened to any podcasts with the other Polygons, but AAK was a good list for its short-lived run.

Le0hart85 wrote:

On another note, does anyone have any good in depth gaming podcasts or just general culture/media casts besides Giant Bomb, GWJ or Idle Thumbs that they have been enjoying on a regular basis?

I really enjoy Player One Podcast. It's hosted by a couple old-school EGM/Nintendo Power writers along with two other guys and they all have great chemistry. They talk current game culture, but often drift back to the 8/16-bit days and have great stories about working press back then.

So listening to today's GWJCC, and I'm pretty sure they're like the third or fourth Podcast I listen to where everyone has said "So...anyone else planning on getting anything the rest of the year?" "Eh, I think Assassin's Creed III maybe..." "I dunno, I'm good with Dishonored and X-Com." "Yeah..."

This may be a rather boring pre-Christmas Podcast season.

ccesarano wrote:

So listening to today's GWJCC, and I'm pretty sure they're like the third or fourth Podcast I listen to where everyone has said "So...anyone else planning on getting anything the rest of the year?" "Eh, I think Assassin's Creed III maybe..." "I dunno, I'm good with Dishonored and X-Com." "Yeah..."

This may be a rather boring pre-Christmas Podcast season.

I'm okay with thAt, hopefully it means everybody will be playing different stuff. I get kind of tired of every podcast talking about the same games every week, especially things I won't have been playing

ccesarano wrote:

This may be a rather boring pre-Christmas Podcast season.

Depends on the Wii U I think, although I think most of the CC crew have written it off for the time being.

shoptroll wrote:
ccesarano wrote:

This may be a rather boring pre-Christmas Podcast season.

Depends on the Wii U I think, although I think most of the CC crew have written it off for the time being.

Jeff Cannata actually had nice things to say about the Wii U on last week's WC - which surprised me, since he was so down on it before. I'm sure enthusiasm will ramp up as we lurch towards launch, especially if there's not much else around to grab peoples' attention.

ccesarano wrote:

This may be a rather boring pre-Christmas Podcast season.

Until Paper Mario is released!

I listened to last week's Weekend Confirmed and was like "Wow, that was a good episode". So I decided to start listening to today's and within a couple of minutes Garnett and Andrea ruined it for me and I switched over to Idle Thumbs.

I don't know why I can enjoy Podtoid, but I... I just get what people are saying about Garnett now. I understand. It is a better podcast without him.

Which may be cruel to say since he is technically the host, but...gah.

Dyni wrote:
ccesarano wrote:

This may be a rather boring pre-Christmas Podcast season.

Until Paper Mario is released!

XCOM, Dishonored, Crusader Kings II, FTL, ME3, Mark of the Ninja, Journey, Fez, Legend of Grimrock, Final Fantasy XIII-2, The Darkness 2, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, Dear Esther, Asura's Wrath, All Vita Games, Syndicate, Dungeon Defenders, Trine 2, The Walking Dead, Xbox Minecraft, Diablo 3, Torchlight 2, Dragon's Dogma, Spec Ops: The Line, Orcs Must Die 2, Darksiders 2, Borderlands 2, a few MMOs, and a smattering of good PC ports have all ALREADY BEEN RELEASED THIS YEAR!

End of the year and game of the year podcasts will have plenty to talk about.

Kind of off topic, but I'm pretty much in the same boat.

After Borderlands 2, XCOM, and Forza Horizon, my holiday shopping spree is done.

There are BIG games due out soon such as Halo 4, CoD: BO2, AC3, etc. but I could personally give a rip about any of them. I'll likely nab Far Cry 3 for XMAS, but outside of that the season is over as far as I'm concerned.

EDIT:

That came off a bit more harsh than I intended.

Simple point is that my jets are cooled regarding the big holiday season.

Aaron D. wrote:

Kind of off topic, but I'm pretty much in the same boat.

After Borderlands 2, XCOM, and Forza Horizon, my holiday shopping spree is done.

There are BIG games due out soon such as Halo 4, CoD: BO2, AC3, etc. but I could personally give a rip about any of them. I'll likely nab Far Cry 3 for XMAS, but outside of that the season is over as far as I'm concerned.

EDIT:

That came off a bit more harsh than I intended.

Simple point is that my jets are cooled regarding the big holiday season.

I will be getting Halo 4 and Far Cry 3 day one but other than that I am done as well.