Last week, we thought we’d update our records on what type of games everyone out there likes to play. Perhaps unsurprisingly, RPGs came out on top with 71% of those voting saying they play those. However, I was surprised that computer video games were next at 46%, beating out consoles at 35%. I anticipated more love for board games and card games- guess it’s just me!
My legs have finally recovered from all the standing and walking I did at Origins (and from a subsequent work conference.) I thought the coverage went pretty well and seemed to be well received, though of course as one person (even though I had an assistant photographer this year) there’s only so much I can cover at a big show like Origins.
One of the remaining questions, however, is about my experiments into podcasting. In truth, my setup wasn’t the most professional- I bought a handheld voice recorder and used that to record what I wanted, pulled the file off, convered it to MP3, and posted it. No clean-up, no music: just the raw recording.
The Mike Mearls interview in particular (which was my favorite one of the bunch, since it was actually an interview and not just a demo) was linked to from several places, but I can’t tell just how popular the idea was in general. When I posted my first test podcast on Day 1 of Origins, I asked what people thought about podcasts, and got some divergent responses (thanks for answering, though!) Expanding from there, I thought I’d ask the general question about podcasts in general (not just my own experiments):
[poll id=”85″]
I don’t listen to them very often myself: the OgreCave audio report is the only one I listen to with any frequency, and The DiceTower is the only other one that warrants a listen if the guests/topics interest me. Oh, and I’ve been really enjoying the Penny Arcade/PvP D&D pocast, but that’s only a limited thing.
My current conclusion about using them is to basically do what I did for Origins: just record some things that make sense to record, and otherwise, stick primarily to the blog format we all know and love. Of course, I’m still interested in your opinions on the subject.
Jonathan Drain's D&D Blog says
I only listen to podcasts occasionally, although it’s largely a matter of there being few good podcasts out there that I can remember to listen to. Regular podcasts take a lot of work, organization and talent.
Jonathan Drain’s D&D Blog’s last post: 4E: Is it D&D?
The Game says
I have a slightly different problem… I’ve enjoyed listening to a number of podcasts, even ones that don’t have that level of professional polish, but I don’t have as much time to listen to them. It used to be easier when I had a longer commute.
Pez says
I’m a regular FearTheBoot.com listener. Will definitely be checking out the 2 you listed though.
Sucilaria says
I put “occassionally”, however when I’m at my job doing data entry, podcasts are a lifesaver. Leo Laporte’s Tech Guy is always fab, as well as anything over at twit.tv (basically the zombie of tech tv, in a good way!) Also enjoy Tony Kornheiser, who incidentally finds some way not to talk about sports 90% of the time, my guy Ric Edelman for financial advice, and sometimes Joyce Meyer or some other Christian-themed materials. They also have some great resources for foreign-language stuff, such as “slow german”.
Unfortunately, if I don’t have that huge block of “nothing” time, I don’t get around to listening to any of these, even with only 3 channels of cable in the house. I think it’s difficult for us to sit down and listen to audio these days – usually it has to be tied in with another activity, whether cleaning, driving, internet surfing – and to do any of these for, say, 2 hours straight, is kind of rare. Of course, this could tie neatly into a rant about music in general, but lucky for yuns, I have to get to class 🙂
Tchüss, as they say in Deutschland!
Tommi says
I conditionally ignore them nowadays. I’ve listened to around three issues of Theory from the Closet. Slow, and for a foreigner like me, sometimes hard to understand.
Tommi’s last post: WoAdWriMo
The Game says
This might be the most even poll we’ve ever conducted! That doesn’t help me make a decision 🙂
Brett Myers says
In gaming podcasting, I usually prefer the interview style shows. My buddy Clyde at http://theoryfromthecloset.com/ has been doing interviews at gaming cons the last year or two. There is some really interesting material there and his podcasts are well done, but not over-produced. His bailiwick is indie rpg gaming and theory. Check it out – he’ll be happy to answer any podcasting questions you have, as well.
Oh, and his most recent show (which I haven’t listened to yet) is an interview with Peter Adkison at Origins).
Abe says
I agree, that you’d never catch me just listening to a podcast. It’s always to fill up the deadspace of another activity, though with my recent lack of mmo playtime or any respectable commute, I don’t listen to podcasts much.
Ed Healy says
I’m biased, of course, but the reason I got into podcasting was precisely because I enjoyed the medium so much.
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