Podcast hits episode 8
by Ian Omroth Hardingham · 04/30/2009 (4:12 am) · 9 comments
Hey guys,
Another post about my new podcast, Visiting The Village - a games-and-industry show from an established indie outfit.
Since I last posted here, we've kept up with releasing a new 'cast every Wednesday, and we've had very good feedback so far. I'm really looking for some non-british feedback though, and it would be a huge help to me if you guys could listen and tell me what you think could be improved.
The podcast is, amongst other things, an attempt to engage with and grow our community. As everyone knows, community is absolutely huge for an indie - if we can get a lot of fans, hopefully our games can have a bigger impact. We might even get some more people playing Determinance...
Ian
About the author
Designer and lead programmer on Frozen Synapse, Frozen Endzone, and Determinance. Co-owner of Mode 7 Games.
#2
EDIT: I really like the style and topics and will be listening from here on out. The one thing that would make it more enjoyable for me would be less focus on gaming news (like the 'those terms aren't in Star Wars') and more analysis/discussion. I'm not sure if that's actually a problem with the podcast (a slight one either way), or perhaps a problem with my obsessive tracking of industry news.
The show reminded me a bit of the sports show Pardon the Interruption on ESPN and made me wonder if there's a very well-evolved formula to this sort of news discussion. It might be worth examining that - perhaps the key is a very quick synopsis of an item, an impassioned argument by one of you, and then an opposing, less biased view that wraps it up. I suppose the real value, to me, of the show is the presentation of viewpoints that I haven't thought of or don't share. Also, I really enjoy hearing about games from people who know them much better than I, so in-depth discussion of game mechanics or the industry would be very interesting as well.
Anyway, keep it up!
04/30/2009 (10:39 am)
I'm enjoying the 'subtle' wit a lot (and am American). I'll post with real feedback if I've got some thoughts after Episode 8.EDIT: I really like the style and topics and will be listening from here on out. The one thing that would make it more enjoyable for me would be less focus on gaming news (like the 'those terms aren't in Star Wars') and more analysis/discussion. I'm not sure if that's actually a problem with the podcast (a slight one either way), or perhaps a problem with my obsessive tracking of industry news.
The show reminded me a bit of the sports show Pardon the Interruption on ESPN and made me wonder if there's a very well-evolved formula to this sort of news discussion. It might be worth examining that - perhaps the key is a very quick synopsis of an item, an impassioned argument by one of you, and then an opposing, less biased view that wraps it up. I suppose the real value, to me, of the show is the presentation of viewpoints that I haven't thought of or don't share. Also, I really enjoy hearing about games from people who know them much better than I, so in-depth discussion of game mechanics or the industry would be very interesting as well.
Anyway, keep it up!
#3
04/30/2009 (11:26 am)
It's in my subscriptions. Shopping goes faster :) 
#4
Tom, cheers for that - yep we are long-term fans of shows like PTI, and we didn't think there was a gaming equivalent. I also like the analysis stuff - it's my favourite part - but it usually needs to originate from a news story.
Something we're doing at the moment is trying to start from news items that people won't necessarily have heard about, and work on quirkier stuff.
On the topic of structure - I think the "impassioned argument" thing does work really well, but something both Ian and I strongly dislike is too much Devil's Advocate - both Tony and Wilbon are guilty of that! I think that can really undermine things - we want to be passionate about things we actually ARE passionate about. It's always good to find stories that induce that, though.
I do want to do more game mechanics-related stuff as well, so we'll see.
Wow, that was a long reply. Anyway, thanks for the support everyone!
04/30/2009 (1:23 pm)
Thanks for the really nice comments guys!Tom, cheers for that - yep we are long-term fans of shows like PTI, and we didn't think there was a gaming equivalent. I also like the analysis stuff - it's my favourite part - but it usually needs to originate from a news story.
Something we're doing at the moment is trying to start from news items that people won't necessarily have heard about, and work on quirkier stuff.
On the topic of structure - I think the "impassioned argument" thing does work really well, but something both Ian and I strongly dislike is too much Devil's Advocate - both Tony and Wilbon are guilty of that! I think that can really undermine things - we want to be passionate about things we actually ARE passionate about. It's always good to find stories that induce that, though.
I do want to do more game mechanics-related stuff as well, so we'll see.
Wow, that was a long reply. Anyway, thanks for the support everyone!
#5
I especially like the contrast between Paul's extensive use of the Oxford English Dictionary vs Ian's comparatively simple and straight to the point use of language to illustrate current issues in the world of Gaming.
Keep up the good work! :D
04/30/2009 (2:37 pm)
Great show!I especially like the contrast between Paul's extensive use of the Oxford English Dictionary vs Ian's comparatively simple and straight to the point use of language to illustrate current issues in the world of Gaming.
Keep up the good work! :D
#6
04/30/2009 (2:59 pm)
This is easily one of the better podcosts I have seen that not only deals with games but more imporantly games development. Professionally done, it's well worth subscribing to IMHO. 
#7
04/30/2009 (3:13 pm)
Great podcast... I'll have to listen more often.Quote: who lives in a house like this?;)
#8
As I listen to the podcast while I'm working, I do find myself jumping back to iTunes expecting to see "enhanced" features like slideshow images illustrating what's being discussed. I'm not too savvy about podcast production, so in all honesty I don't know how difficult it is to add that kind of content. That's the only possible improvement I could see here, but I'll keep listening either way. Keep up the good work.
05/12/2009 (10:31 am)
Hey fellas, I've been enjoying the podcast greatly. Way more insightful and entertaining than I had expected, probably because I'd been disappointed by podcasts in the past that had attempted to do the same. Nice work. I'm a subscriber now.As I listen to the podcast while I'm working, I do find myself jumping back to iTunes expecting to see "enhanced" features like slideshow images illustrating what's being discussed. I'm not too savvy about podcast production, so in all honesty I don't know how difficult it is to add that kind of content. That's the only possible improvement I could see here, but I'll keep listening either way. Keep up the good work.
#9
05/12/2009 (11:59 am)
Hey Russell, many thanks and I'm very pleased you like it. I'll check out the enhanced stuff - hadn't even realised that was possible. 
Associate Craig Fortune
If you still haven't had a chance to listen to the podcast, I highly suggest you do. It covers plenty of topics, its funny, informative and at the end of the day it isn't 2 morons saying "OMFG THIS GAME PWNS!" - which is a refreshing change.