Around a year ago Joewaka told me about a few podcasts he had begun listening to on his Zune. At first I didn't think much about this; it sounded boring, what was a podcast anyway? In my head it was a radio show where people talked about stuff, but since I didn't know these people I wasn't convinced I should listen to what they have to say. Well for the most part I was right. A podcasts is a digital radio show that you download from Itunes/Zune/Internet and listen in your mp3 device of choice (for the most part). As it turns out I found that podcasts were extremely entertaining, highly enjoyable, and really funny. When I started working at Computer Nerdz in Dec 07, I also started driving a lot, a whole lot. As much as I love music and listening to music in my car, something about a podcast became much more enjoyable to me. At first it was hard to imagine not listening to my favorite band in my car, or a new album I stole. Quickly though I changed my mind, I started listening to Shackcast. Ironically Shackcast fell apart just a few months after I started listening to it about a year ago from today. It wasn't the best podcast (as I soon realized), but it had some crazy guys bitching and talking about video games and that was enough for me. Driving around with one of these "radio shows" became addicting, the longer I had to drive the better. The longer I could listen the more fun I had, and the quicker time went by. Working at Nerdz was great, because I spend so much time in my car. I kinda miss that...
I also started listening to the Penny Arcade Podcast (not updated very often), which is short and sweet, pretty funny, just not very frequent. Joe recommended Uncle Gamer, a podcast from a website I don't even remember. I listened to them for about 3 months, I thought I liked them, but the more and more this stupid bitch talked, the more I realized I didn't like their podcast. It was biased and boring. The bitch is fucking Major Nelson, the head community guy for XBLA. Anyways, I was glad to ditch that because I had come across RetroforceGo (Destructoid's number one retro podcast), which has been a serious gift from the heavens to me. If I ever had one podcast to recommend, it would be this one. I've been listening to RFGO for almost a year now, but have gone back through almost all of their back catalog of shows just to make sure I hear all of them. It's that good. Destructoid also has another podcast that I like (just not as much), called Podtoid. Podtoid is a more general podcast that focuses on current events, new games, topical gaming news stuff, and it's pretty funny. Lately I find myself angry at the show though, sometimes those guys can be elitist assholes who get to serious with their conversations and don't make me laugh very often. BUTWhATEVER. Overall Dtoid puts out some awesome podcasts, and it's all because of their awesome editors that make all of their shows enjoyable to listen to. Lastly, 1up. The 1up podcasts are probably my favorite of all, the editors work for EGM/1up.com (not just bloggers), and I usually enjoy their opinions / arguments they have on games. I don't know why I like their podcasts so much, part of it is their professionalism. When they record they do it up right, soundproof rooms, mic/headphone setups like DJ's at radio stations, segmented shows with different reoccurring topics, etc. The full list I listen to is 1up FM, 1up yours, retronauts, and Lanparty (or GFW Radio). Well at least that is what I did listen to.
2 weeks ago a website called UGO bought out 1up.com from Ziff-Davis, and decided they didn't need a magazine, just a website. As a result 30ish people were fired (or let go) from their jobs at 1up/EGM. Of course these actions would lead to the murder of all my favorite podcast from the 1up network. This is a sad day, all my favorite podcasts end simultaneously thus ending my true happiness in life.
By some act of Spaghetti Jesus (or what have you), Rebel FM was created. A new podcast, independently operated by ex-members of the 1up network. They started it the same week they found out they lost their jobs. The dedication of these people to their community and fanbase is amazing, no incredible. That being said, their community came through 10 fold. The week that Rebel FM launched, so did a donation PayPal account that was created to help support the new podcast (a good podcast isn't cheap apparently), with no advertisers, equipment, etc. A week later Rebel Fm posted a tally of the donations received in little over a week, they had brought in some 11k worth of donations from their community, and fellow editors / supporters from other gaming sites. I know the owner of Destructoid, Neiro, had donated as well. Hearing about the donations totally lifted my heart, just knowing that they still had support from their community during the hard times they were facing. Now they have enough money to buy equipment, etc to keep the resurrected show going. Which is just so fucking awesome.
So here are some links to the aforementioned podcasts. I suggest that if you have time at work, or in the car, to give them a listen.
Destructoid : Podtoid & RetroforceGo!
1up slew of podcasts.
and
Rebel FM from Eat-Sleep-Game.com
Sorry this was so long, I'm bored at work. Hey look at that, it's almost 4:30! Time to leave!
