Retro Blog/Podcast

Syferus

I know it's a bit forward of me - at best a sometimes poster here - but the discussion on the gaming jewels thread about the idea of a blog and/or podcast dedicated to retro games got me thinking, so what the hell!

I'd say a podcast would be a good first step given it requires much less man hours to create than reams of text, well, ok, apart from the poor sap that'd have to edit the thing..!

I've been listening to gaming podcasts for years now and I'd like to share my thoughts on what is essential to a good podcast:



1. The first thing that springs to mind is that between three and four people make for the best number of hosts/contributors per podcast, five at a push if it were a case where that many people really had something worthwhile to say about a topic.

2. A good cheat sheet/show notes, the very worst thing on any podcast is having a bunch of people babbling about something in vague generalities (usually wrongly!) without an ounce of preparation.

3. Further to that, a podcast that digresses off-topic (and that would be off gaming in general, rather than simply the topic at hand) regularly and for long instances usually is a podcast that doesn't make for good listening - it has to be tight and to start off with a relatively strict length of 30-60 minutes would be advisable, seeing as we'd be just getting our sea legs and don't want to bore people off the bridge with two and a half hours of rambling tirades.

4. Personality. It should go without saying, but most podcasts simply fill their ranks with whoever they can find or their friends, weather they've got a personality conductive to talking about something at length or not. We'd need to find the best voices, but we'd also need to be flexible - we want people who are knowledgeable about the week's topic on the podcast rather than someone who sounds great but doesn't have much of an understanding of the topic. The podcast should come before any other consideration in this regard.

5. A defined host. You want to have someone that a listener can latch onto and be able to understand is the MC and the person who will move the chains when a segment is ending and deliver the intros and any notices at the end of the podcast. It' shouldn't be very formal, but people should be able to 'get' that one particular person is the host without even thinking about it.

6. No sound effects. The last thing a podcast needs is to sound like a caffeinated early morning radio show, err, right?

7. Permanent intro music. The easiest thing to do would be to find a relatively obscure game music piece or video-game inspired chip tune music. We'd want people to associate the music with the show so that it can become the calling card of the show rather than just having a revolving door of every one's favourite tunes. I'd recommend the intro music clip be no more than 30 seconds in length because it'll get old fast if we expect people to be held hostage to the same track for a couple of minutes every time they load up an episode.

8. The structure. Do we have a retro news section, ála what Retronauts did while it was around? Do we just decide one one topic, be it a game, a series over even a genre and discuss it exclusively for the length of the show? Is there anything new that we can bring to bear that hasn't already been offered up by other podcasts?

9. Don't talk over each other! It seems obvious but in practice people like us with no experience will sound very amateurish unless we stay mindful of that fact. Let people finish their points, cut in by all means and have a discussion, but don't talk at and over each other.

10. The schedule. Not weekly, but by-weekly, seems like an ideal aim for the schedule of release dor the podcast as it lessens our load and makes making the podcast much less of a slog for everone involved. We're not covering breaking news, after all.

11. A name! One that gets across the concept of the podcast without being completely obtuse - start throwing idea out there and see what sticks!



Anyways, I saw it mentioned that a podcast had been discussed before; why didn't anything come of it? I'd guess mics would be the biggest stumbling block but I'd suggest anyone with a mic of any description who would be willing to contribute to the podcast make themselves known and we could try a test episode Skype to see how it sounds once it's recorded.

The only other thing is expertise - does anyone have at least rudimentary knowledge of Audacity or any other audio editing program? The most work that would be needed to be done would becutitng out the pre- and post-show audio and adding in the intro music, save for any instances where a chunk of the conversation might have to be removed for audio reasons or whatever else. And then it's about getting into iTunes and having a blog/site for the podcast to call home - anyone with experience on that end would be very helpful.

So, how about it?

CiDeRmAn

Oh, be careful, we already have a retro blogger in these here parts....

Optimus Prime

Id be willing to setup the blog part anyways, i have hosting and all that. would need a name first and foremost, to get the domain name bought.

Retr0gamer

I started a thread about doing a retro podcast already a while ago. I'm ready and willing to go ahead and organise it but the only thing we need is a good omnidirectional microphone which we can't get our hands on. I've asked the parents to get me one for christmas so hopefully something will come of that. Skype just doesn't really work, the sound quality is crap and there's never any chemistry between talkers when I've heard it done on other podcasts. Pretty much know how to set it up from listening to ATB, retronauts, 1up yours and Warning a huge podcast. Also biweekly would be hard to keep with people having jobs and college, we should try monthly but stick rigidly to getting it out monthly.

I've met most of the regulars here at the various retro meet ups. Lets just say that with people this into videogames they are all personalities! We won't be short of a shane battenhausen, luke smith or jonathan davies that's for sure.

megaten

RetroforceGO! was over skype and apart from cast members occasionally talking over each other the hosts had great chemistry.

Syferus

megaten wrote: »

RetroforceGO! was over skype and apart from cast members occasionally talking over each other the hosts had great chemistry.

Yeah, if done right it can work perfectly fine. I've listened from everything from sports podcasts to games podcasts where Skype doesn't destroy the end product. Out of the Game being a good example, Sports Anomaly being a great example - the host, Todd Zuniga, was rarely even in the same country as the other hosts (who themsleves were regularly not together) and that show dripped of energy and chemistry.

It's certainly not ideal but I do question how precious a forum should be with its own podcast - if you force people to physically congregate then the pool of people who can contribute is shrunk dramtically and it becomes less of a community effort.

Jack burton

I'd agree with the lads above, doing it over skype wouldt ruin it, even when im on xobx live and theres a party of 5 or 6 its still fun.

But i would agree that the sound quality on skype isnt the most amazing but im sure it would do for a trial run

Retr0gamer

Syferus wrote: »

It's certainly not ideal but I do question how precious a forum should be with its own podcast - if you force people to physically congregate then the pool of people who can contribute is shrunk dramtically and it becomes less of a community effort.

Being together means you can add alcohol to the mix and anyone not able to be present can do so over skype.

Anytime I've listened to a podcast with people over skype on it the people over skype seem to be in the background and never get a word in. Skype might not ruin it but it won't be as good as it could be or at worse a disaster.

Syferus

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Being together means you can add alcohol to the mix and anyone not able to be present can do so over skype.

Anytime I've listened to a podcast with people over skype on it the people over skype seem to be in the background and never get a word in. Skype might not ruin it but it won't be as good as it could be or at worse a disaster.

And I've seen as many podcasts become a mess because a host is drunk (or worse, multiple hosts are drunk) and it can do much the same thing, be it talking over people or someone being (more) irrational. It's fun when a journalist gets drunk and gets loose with secrets; non-industry gamers being tipsy while talking about Enix's history, I don't know. Neither option seems ideal.

Retr0gamer

All we need is atavan halen to be drunk and we'll be entertained.

Atavan-Halen

Well I'm glad my alcohol-fuelled antics are entertaining to you :P

I'll defo be interested in doing a podcast/blog/review website.

Optimus Prime

anyone got any ideas for a name? Anyone want to take on board hosting, setting it up etc. Im not the greatest web designer but i can setup a decent wordpress site that everyone will have no problem posting on. if anyone else wants to do it then no worrys.

Jack burton

The Adeventures of the Retro Force, featuring Jack Burton?

or the Retr0gamerz? because Z's are cool and hip :P

Optimus Prime

retr0gamerz is available .com .net etc what does everyone think of that one?

johnny_ultimate

I would be interested in this product and/or service.

ghostchant

I'd definitely be up for contributing to a blog too, possibly the podcast as well

Optimus Prime

Sounds like there is a lot of interest anyways retr0gamerz. com or net ? anyone got any other ideas for a name or is everyone ok with that?

Syferus

keithgeo wrote: »

Sounds like there is a lot of interest anyways retr0gamerz. com or net ? anyone got any other ideas for a name or is everyone ok with that?

In all honesty that name makes me think of a miliant 13 year-old making articles about how 'Sonic is way better than Mario lulz'!

o1s1n

Plus Retr0gamer's ego is big enough as is

Optimus Prime

haha ok we need some ideas then, The first thing to do is buy a domain then setup a site.

landsleaving

I have quickly discovered that every possible name is taken. Mosly there are no actual sites there as well. After a lot of others www.theretrography.com was available. I give it 2 G's. But I give anything with a superfluous 'z' less.

Optimus Prime

retrogamz .com .net
arcadeNretro .com .net

are available

retropod.net is available too

Retr0gamer

Those first two are too faux gangsta, no thanks.

Retropod though is decent.

Ron DMC

Retropod sounds good.

I'd listen to that.

Optimus Prime

Will i buy retropod.net so ?

pdbhp

Retropod is a good'un.

Andrew76

Retropod sounds good.

landsleaving

I like retropod too, though if we did use a faux gangsta name we could really go the whole hog on that schtick

"Bowsah be all up in mah grill in Mario man, so I'ma pop a fireball in his spiny ass"

Optimus Prime

well i went and bought retropod.net take a day or two for it to go through. ill setup a basic blog which we can then tweak based on what everyone wants. ill setup google apps too for the domain, its handy.

Ron DMC

landsleaving wrote: »

I like retropod too, though if we did use a faux gangsta name we could really go the whole hog on that schtick

"Bowsah be all up in mah grill in Mario man, so I'ma pop a fireball in his spiny ass"

Reminds me of this chap:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XsSoMBVF3w

Jack burton

hah i was tkaing the piss with the 2 names i gave, retropod is good though, I want to write a splatterhouse retrospective. So I'd liekto contribute to this

Oh yeah and if anyone watns any backrounds of graphics done for this then let me know, well used to photoshop and illustrator

landsleaving

Ron DMC wrote: »

Reminds me of this chap:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XsSoMBVF3w

Why you hatin?

o1s1n

+1 on Retropod. I'm suprised that wasn't taken already.

/Edit - can I look after the Retroporn section? Think consoles on silk sheets..ooooooooh yeah.

Jack burton

You know that would be a nice feature, pristine consoles and games all in an orgy on silk sheets with some mood lighting

Optimus Prime

Retropod.net is now ours! registered etc. I will try get something setup this week and give you all access to start posting stuff. any ideas on layout, retro look etc

Optimus Prime

Hoping everyone is still interested in this..:) because, i setup the domain, i installed wordpress and have a basic theme on there now that can be edited. ive seen that up and running and when changed around a bit looks well.

I also setup retropod.net on google apps so if anyone wants a @retropod.net email address let me know. anyone got any ideas for design, logo, etc or even any content that can be posted i can setup access to the blog part. its bare at the minute but that will change.

pdbhp

Well I'd love the logo to be a NES controller or something similar to that.
Also I done a little rewiew on Paperboy on Gameboy it's no pulitzer prize winner but it's a start

Jack burton

Well put me down for jackburton@retropod.net if ya can

I'll do up some rough desigsn for logos and backrounds tonight and see what everyone thinks sure

I did some work for this site a while back, banner and backround, the BG looks a lot better when its put on at the right scale though :P

Optimus Prime

Cool, i did the graphics etc over on gamersireland too, the logo mainly i guess! between the lot of us im sure we can come up with something. I setup your email there ill pm you the details.

Jack burton

Cool thanks man

Jack burton

Whats the craic with this then?

Optimus Prime

ill get some of the blog thing done this week i havent had a chance with the snow, no one else has replied in the last while so not sure if they are still interested.

Jack burton

Well thats what im wondering about the interest, a show of hands mabye?

landsleaving

I'll raise my hand, I am already doing stuff for a different site, but I could write some stuff for this as well.

Will there be a policy about what we can cover, or how it's done?

Think I already mentioned, but I'm useless at pretty much everything web design wise, but I can proofread fairly well, and correct spelling and grammar, so I could help out with that if anyone needs it.

Retr0gamer

Well I'd let you use my stuff. My only qualm would be if it was associated with gamersireland if gamersireland was a profit making website.

Atavan-Halen

*Raises hand*

Jack burton

Right sure im playing black ops right now but i'll whipe up some logos and stuff after that

any suggestion on logos and backrounds?

Optimus Prime

Trust me, lol GamersIreland is definitaly a non profit website! Myself and the two lads just do that ourselves, I tried google ads etc in the past but its all boll*x and at the end of the day those affiliate things only help the sites you are advertising. In fact we prob lose money with hosting and stuff!

I havent had a chance to do much this week with being in and out of work sitting in snow traffic, but ill get it sorted. The actual site is there i just have to do up logos and change colours and stuff. I can setup now so people can blog etc. and again if anyone wants an @retropod.net email address let me know.

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Well I'd let you use my stuff. My only qualm would be if it was associated with gamersireland if gamersireland was a profit making website.

Optimus Prime

anyone who is going to be contributing to the blog/podcast can now register on the site here www.retropod.net/wp-admin once registered i will give you access to post stuff. It doesnt look like much at the minute but i will spend a good bit of time on it tommorow doing up a logo and getting some initial content on there just to get things going.

landsleaving

Cheers, registered there. Looking forward to seeing what it looks like tomorrow now

Optimus Prime

Cool, I changed your permissions there so you can contribute stuff.