Yeah, the QT3 podcasts have been pretty good.
Flash of Steel has a good strategy-oriented podcast called Three Moves Ahead.
Still enjoying Rebel FM. I like the personalities. Particularly of late when Robert Ashley shows up - he’s a nice dose of dry.
MattN
2962
I listen to it and enjoy it, very little video game discussion on it though. Just some fun laughs (kind of jackass humor only I actually find it funny from mega 64) They usually talk about what movies they’ve seen, or tell some story about the filming of their most recent video.
I really like the Gamers With Jobs Conference Call. Good personalities and good discussions. And Three Moves Ahead is great, as Zengonzo mentioned. Irrational Behavior is pretty cool. It’s a slickly edited behind the scenes sort of podcast of Irrational games. So far they mostly cover stories about Bioshock development. The Qt3 games podcasts are often pretty cool too, really focused personal stories about games. And the super rarely updated A Life Well Wasted is fantastic, but it’s been out nearly a year now and has only 3 or 4 episodes. Still, they’re all great episodes.
I also sometimes listen to the Gamespy Debriefings, Rebel FM, The Geekbox and The Mobcast but generally don’t enjoy them as much as the other ones. Still, they’re pretty fun too if you’re looking for more.
JonRowe
2964
Personally, I find podcasts about strategy games boring. Like very boring.
tromik
2965
I find TMA fascinating to the point where I’m almost jealous because I suck at strategy games and don’t have a lot of these experiences. I have to live vicariously through others by reading AARs and watching Let’s Play videos of strategy games.
While the Dominions 3 PBEM game didn’t work out so well on TMA, I wish they’d share more stories that they could tie into the topic they’re discussing, similar to the way they shared some of their EU3 experiences during the EU episode.
Cubit
2966
A newer one I’m enjoying is Gameshark’s Jumping the Shark podcast.
JM1
2967
So do I. Three Moves Ahead is different, though, because it has people who really understand the deeper concepts and how to express them in layman’s terms, but is also pretty entertaining and “light” at the same time.
Except for the one with the Armada2525 guy. That was pretty bad.
I see what you did there.
Troy
Geekbox is fun, but it’s not very game oriented. It’s always nice to keep track of how douchey Fitch is every week. This week, insisting that it wouldn’t be cold in Boston for PAX. Karen Chu, “Well, it’ll be colder than it is here.” Fitch, “Naw.”
It’s fucking freezing outside.
I try Mobcast now and again, but can’t stick with them. I like their format and I like Hsu, but unless I know the other people, I can’t get into it. Also, I don’t care for the second regular guest. He seems okay, but his voice sounds like he’s getting over a really bad cold.
If you aren’t already, grab the episodes of A Life Well Wasted released so far. Same with Irrational Behavior. Both are worth a listen, though don’t expect to see them released regularly.
Anyway, I figure if you’re listening to Giant “David Cage’s Don’t Shit Your Pants” Bomb and Idle “The mod scene’s pretty much dead now that robotic dogs can saw down your doors and bullet you” Thumbs, you’ve got console and PC games covered by the most consistently entertaining podcasts out there.
LMN8R
2971
I really really enjoyed Weekend Confirmed. They seem to have a nice balance of people who like a variety of platforms, and Garnett’s just an awesome host as usual.
Mobcast has been grating on my nerves a bit. There are only so many topics to discuss, and it seems like they’re starting to repeat themselves, or go so far out in left field that it’s just not interesting.
kentdog
2972
Although slightly mentioned by zengonzo, I thought I should mention that Robert Ashley appears on Rebel FM this week, for those that are into that sort of thing. He sings the Ghostbuster 2 theme song, for those that are into that sort of thing.
RE: Weekend Confirmed, I realize it’s only the first episode, but I have a weird complaint. I feel like Garnett is trying to hard to “host” the show, as opposed to it just sounding like a few dudes sitting around talking about games that just happened to have been recorded. I’m probably just weird, though.
I’m also enjoying 1up’s The Sound Test, put together by Ray Barnholt (doing his NPR voice), which features a selection of video game music (both new and old) every Sunday. It’s less talk and more rock. Check that out (if you are into that sort of thing).
He’s a fantastic complement to the personalities, really. I think the show greatly benefits from that otherwise missing element. Hopefully they can keep dragging him back.
For all his faults, I think one thing Garnett does really well is hosting. He never lets a silence or a subject linger too long. That can be a curse, surely, but going by the example of this episode, cutting short the dreadful Just Cause 2 analysis, it can save the day.
Altogether, though, I did feel like there was something off about the episode. I figure it’s going to take a few to find its footing.
Now that sounds interesting, assuming it isn’t littered with the usual Final Fantasy Minuets or J-Pop that seems to preoccupy 90% of 90% of sites concerned with the subject.
Thanks, kent.
Is there a feed yet? I was waiting for a feed. And not one of those ass crappy iTunes only jobs - a real feed, for real men, who eat steak and set things on fire.
kentdog
2975
I wouldn’t call it littered, but the first two episodes have each featured a Final Fantasy tune. They’ve also featured Command and Conquer 4, Halo, and Ninja Gaiden, so that’s why I’m enjoying more than those “other” offerings.
I don’t know if it has a “real” feed, yet, as I use Itunes. I’m half the man I used to be.
I can skip past one, no problem, as long as I don’t eventually realize that I’m bypassing the entire show.
Thanks again, kent. I’ll check it out.
I like this.
I thought exactly the same thing. I don’t know what it was - maybe he was putting on his “radio voice” too obviously, or reaching for segues - but I felt it. But I like him normally and I hope this will fade over time.
He hasn’t hosted in a while, I’m sure he’ll get back into it quickly, plus he’s got a new set of personalities to work with. I can’t think of any new podcast that didn’t go through its lumps the first few episodes, no mater who was hosting.
Yeah, I kind of thought that he might have been a little less comfortable with these guys than he was with his old crew. Garnett does a few things that kind of annoy me (he often comes across a someone trying too hard to be too cool; it’s very forced and unnatural) but as others have said in the director role he’s pretty effective. He imposes just enough structure on things to keep them moving, but not too much so as to inhibit some discussion and meandering.
I love Jeremy Parish, but something was definitely missing from the 3/19 1up flagship podcast. I just don’t think they have the right mix of personalities left at 1up to do a show in the vein of 1upYours. David Ellis was really the last link to that era of podcasting, even though I know Parish, Barnholdt, Leone, etc. were all there during that time. I thought the interview with David Cage and Stig Asmussen really highlighted what a good and comfortable interviewer Ellis was (despite his tendency to interrupt an answer just when it was getting interesting) and how Matt Leone just isn’t. I’m not sure anyone is left at 1up that can do what Garnett and then David did pretty darn well.
Of course, a lot of that might be my own affection for the 1up crew that was around during the 1upShow days. The 1upShow, more than anything else, helped me get to know and like those that were featured on podcasts. Being able to put a name with a face went a long way. Those that are left at 1up aren’t really the most dynamic and entertaining personalities, especially Matt Leone and Sam Kennedy. The younger crew, including Alice and Tina, just don’t do it for me. I like Scooter and Mike Nelson as well as Parish and Barnholdt, but I don’t know if any of those guys can or even want to carry the flagship podcast.
It’s too bad Phil Kollar couldn’t have stuck around. He would’ve been ideal as the heir apparent to take over 1upYours. He had the right mix of enthusiasm and personality to do it right. If both him and Nick Suttner could’ve taken over 1upYours together, I think having Jeremy and Scooter anchor the 3rd and 4th chairs would’ve made an excellent successor to 1upYours.
