Videogame Podcasts
Like many people today I listen to my fair share of podcasts. My friend first introduced me to one that was essentially just a repackaged version of a Radio 4 comedy slot all the way back around 2007 I think. Not long after Rooster Teeth started up their "Drunk Tank" podcast (later renamed "The Rooster Teeth podcast" once they started to attract advertisers).
The latter podcast was one my staples for many years, but gradually found myself moving away, in part because I found myself no longer keeping up with their increased video output; the podcast did nicely complement the other work.
I bounced around different podcasts for a couple of years afterwards. The only two that have continued to stick are The Vergecast, although I'm no longer listening to every episode, more listening if an episode sounds interesting, and the MKBHD "Waveform" podcast. The combination of the two has kept me in the loop with most of the various tech things going on. However, I've struggled to find a videogame podcast that I want to listen to regularly.
It's not that there is a shortage of videogame podcasts, far from it. But one of the main problems I find is that they are too long! For me, a good length for a weekly show is around an hour. Doesn't need to be exact, but this works well slotting alongside the other podcasts I listen to. Also, as much as I like videogame opinions, YouTube serves me well for that, what I particularly want is an overview of what's going on and maybe something interesting I didn't already know.
This is where two recently launched videogame podcasts have stood out for me and potentially could be on my "Up next" list on Pocketcasts for months to come. These are "Post Games" by Chris Plante (formally of Polygon) and "Wavelengths" by Brendon Bigley. Post Games is predominantly a one person show, but seemingly each episode contains an interview section with an interesting guest linked to that weeks topic. Making it feel like a radio show. Wavelengths is only on its second proper episode and both episodes have been interview based, the first being an interview with aforementioned Chris Plante (and Brendan has since been on Post Games).
Both of these shows are around that sweet spot of around an hour and have been informative to listen to. I've learnt some new things and been reminded of others. These are people who know a lot about videogames and in some ways share the same desire for knowledge about the videogames medium.
These, alongside Waveform also join my weekly listen of BBC Radio 4's Friday Night Comedy Podcast which rotates between different series' such as "The News Quiz", "Dead Ringers", and currently "Too Long; Didn't Read", among others. I even listen to these using the BBC Sounds app so that I can listen to them the week they release. Thankfully the Sounds app is actually quite good now.
Back to the videogame podcasts, both have Patreon pages supporting them, and now that Patreon seems to link with Pocketcasts is something I might consider so that I get ad free versions, as well as directly supporting the creators. I will have to see what this year brings in terms of income.
I should mention there is technically another videogame podcast I listen to. But, it's not a news or magazine style one. This is "My Perfect Console" with Simon Parkin which is an interview series in which guests essentially talk about their favourite or most meaningful videogames. A lot of the guests are linked to videogames in one way or another but the extent to which varies quite significantly, but this does make for better variety. As much as I would like to listen to every episode, I tend to just pick it based on the guest.
Whilst not a videogame podcast I also listen to "Better Offline" by Ed Zitron. I had occasionally read his newsletter, but his podcast (which often pulls directly from the newsletter) adds the extra vitriol to the topics he is talking about. It's not anger for the sake of it, rather it is someone who is disappointed about what is happening to tech and is speaking out about it. That's what I respect about the approach.
Whilst I would love to attempt podcasting again - my previous efforts are out there in the aether (I was interviewed about nostalgia for an Australian radio podcast as well) - but my audio editing skills are mediocre. And whilst recently I've been enjoying "solo" podcasters, I'd ideally like to do it with one or two others. Maybe one day.
The latter podcast was one my staples for many years, but gradually found myself moving away, in part because I found myself no longer keeping up with their increased video output; the podcast did nicely complement the other work.
I bounced around different podcasts for a couple of years afterwards. The only two that have continued to stick are The Vergecast, although I'm no longer listening to every episode, more listening if an episode sounds interesting, and the MKBHD "Waveform" podcast. The combination of the two has kept me in the loop with most of the various tech things going on. However, I've struggled to find a videogame podcast that I want to listen to regularly.
It's not that there is a shortage of videogame podcasts, far from it. But one of the main problems I find is that they are too long! For me, a good length for a weekly show is around an hour. Doesn't need to be exact, but this works well slotting alongside the other podcasts I listen to. Also, as much as I like videogame opinions, YouTube serves me well for that, what I particularly want is an overview of what's going on and maybe something interesting I didn't already know.
This is where two recently launched videogame podcasts have stood out for me and potentially could be on my "Up next" list on Pocketcasts for months to come. These are "Post Games" by Chris Plante (formally of Polygon) and "Wavelengths" by Brendon Bigley. Post Games is predominantly a one person show, but seemingly each episode contains an interview section with an interesting guest linked to that weeks topic. Making it feel like a radio show. Wavelengths is only on its second proper episode and both episodes have been interview based, the first being an interview with aforementioned Chris Plante (and Brendan has since been on Post Games).
Both of these shows are around that sweet spot of around an hour and have been informative to listen to. I've learnt some new things and been reminded of others. These are people who know a lot about videogames and in some ways share the same desire for knowledge about the videogames medium.
These, alongside Waveform also join my weekly listen of BBC Radio 4's Friday Night Comedy Podcast which rotates between different series' such as "The News Quiz", "Dead Ringers", and currently "Too Long; Didn't Read", among others. I even listen to these using the BBC Sounds app so that I can listen to them the week they release. Thankfully the Sounds app is actually quite good now.
Back to the videogame podcasts, both have Patreon pages supporting them, and now that Patreon seems to link with Pocketcasts is something I might consider so that I get ad free versions, as well as directly supporting the creators. I will have to see what this year brings in terms of income.
I should mention there is technically another videogame podcast I listen to. But, it's not a news or magazine style one. This is "My Perfect Console" with Simon Parkin which is an interview series in which guests essentially talk about their favourite or most meaningful videogames. A lot of the guests are linked to videogames in one way or another but the extent to which varies quite significantly, but this does make for better variety. As much as I would like to listen to every episode, I tend to just pick it based on the guest.
Whilst not a videogame podcast I also listen to "Better Offline" by Ed Zitron. I had occasionally read his newsletter, but his podcast (which often pulls directly from the newsletter) adds the extra vitriol to the topics he is talking about. It's not anger for the sake of it, rather it is someone who is disappointed about what is happening to tech and is speaking out about it. That's what I respect about the approach.
Whilst I would love to attempt podcasting again - my previous efforts are out there in the aether (I was interviewed about nostalgia for an Australian radio podcast as well) - but my audio editing skills are mediocre. And whilst recently I've been enjoying "solo" podcasters, I'd ideally like to do it with one or two others. Maybe one day.