This week we are grumpy! We’re also talking about GDC, but mainly we’re grumpy. If you think we’re being grumpy about you then don’t worry, we mean that other guy.
After nearly 100 episodes (not including the news show) I think we deserve an hour of grump.
Now we’re all vented normal service will return next week.
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12 comments
Lessah says:
March 18, 2010 at 8:12 am (UTC 0 )
Don’t blame poor Drizzt for being Drizzt! Blame everyone who loves him! How many characters are as recognizable across MMO’s? Bilbo Baggins? I Think not! (He’s a hobbit anyway and we all know that too many things are beyond their reach! hehehehe ) I have never played a game without seeing the Underdark’s most favored son SOMEWHERE. I love how you blame Salvatore for ruining everything everywhere as well. Sci-Fi Envy?
Perhaps you should try a nice walk or… a pottery class to help release all that pent up frustration? I admit….You somehow manage to sound good even while grumpy. All the same, I loved last weeks show oh so much more than this one. Take a break and come back when you are happy and enthusiastic again!
mchris says:
March 18, 2010 at 2:00 pm (UTC 0 )
Hey guys. Good show as usual.
I’ve heard similar grumps before. I think Brent did something similar before he disappeared, and Brendon (from Another Here). I fear it’s the deathknell before podfade stills the body. I hope not.
With regards to the direction, purpose, raison d’être etc. of your show: Hmmm. I’ll tell you why I listen.
I used to think it was because I wanted to hear a BBC approach to games news. The only TV I have ever seen regarding video games was an (even at that age) embarrassing-to-watch Gamesmaster with Patrick Moore. I thought your show appealed to me because it treated me like an adult. Now in my 30s I can do without podcasts coming at me like "yoof TV" with shouty bits and "humourous links".
But as you say, the news is all over the place. Treated with various levels of lightheartedness. The news was done well by Brent (until he just got enthralled by meeting Sony bigwigs and couldn’t say anything bad), but I still would listen to your podcasts.
It was terribly interesting. Hearing things about Eve in the first 10 shows kept me listening. (I remember some comment at VW asking you to reduce the Eve coverage – was that a conscious decision?)
When you effectively stopped your MMO news coverage and editorial (and it has stopped – there is no denying that) I didn’t think I would continue to listen. Not being a console gamer at the time.
But I kept on listening and now I think I know why. Simply put:
It’s nice to hear you two talk about things I’m interested in. You change up your game often enough but the core of it is that two pretty decent chaps are talking about games without condescending the listener.
Don’t get me wrong, I disagree with so much of what you say, even get frustrated with Jon sometimes! But I always look forward to my podcast and train ride to work.
In summary, whatever you choose to do, please keep doing something. If I’m every lucky enough to meet you, I’ll owe you a fair few beers.
Saylah says:
March 19, 2010 at 1:31 am (UTC 0 )
Oh no please not another favorite scratching the edge of fading. There is so little that I love these days in the MMO space. The 3 podcasts I listen to at least give me pleasure and hope that one day I’ll care again. I LOVE THIS SHOW. I LOVE THIS SHOW. I respect the time and effort it takes to do it. And certainly can’t complain having blog faded myself but… I LOVE THIS SHOW. I LOVE THIS SHOW. Please don’t fade completely.
Van Hemlock says:
March 19, 2010 at 10:12 am (UTC 0 )
Just to ally fears, this isn’t precisely blog/podfade I’m going through. I love podcasting itself; it gets me out of the house, I genuinely have nothing better to do, and in some weird way, I find it something I can point at and claim some kind of creative self-justification – "Here is something I helped make!"
Mulling over my grump, I think it’s perhaps a kind of frustration with the somewhat samey nature of the subject matter rather than a full-on lack of enthusiasm. That being the case, it’s up to us to mix things up and find new ways to entertain and interest. We’ve got a few ideas we’re working over, and as ever, Jon Has A Plan. I’ve seen him when he thinks noone is looking and he does indeed have a Swishey Red Light on his forehead.
Business as usual next week!
Dewar says:
March 19, 2010 at 5:53 pm (UTC 0 )
I’ve been feeling the same kind of fade I think. The last MMO I was excited for was STO, which met my expectations of not coming anywhere near my hopes. Console gaming wise, I have both Dragon Age and Mass Effect 2 sitting un-opened and when I get home I just can’t seem to muster enough intrest to plug either of them in. The only thing that’s kept me going recently has been my on and off work on an XNA game, inspired in part by your Podcast.
Maybe you should try contributing something game-wise? Building a level in something (Little Big Planet comes to mind immediately) or even working on a full game might be a good thing to help spur some Podcast conversation. Incidentally, what ever happened to the indie game features you guys were doing? I liked those a lot.
Trinnet says:
March 19, 2010 at 6:22 pm (UTC 0 )
You guys actually are my source of MMO news. As you say the hype’s almost overwhelming so you provide a useful filter, often your quick "I dunno, it has robots I guess? Next!" style summaries are more useful than the seven pages of advertising bumph.
Dr Toerag says:
March 19, 2010 at 7:59 pm (UTC 0 )
mchris says what I would, only far better. Much more eloquently and wisely.
I too just love to hear you two natter on about…stuff. To be honest, if you started to talk about politics, fishing or, I dunno, train timetables, I’d still listen and bemoan the fact that you don’t do a daily ‘cast. I have to listen to other people, music and the radio on some mornings. It was a horrid shock when the news show stopped, that’s one more commute without 2 friends chatting to me as I wait for the train!
Elristo says:
March 21, 2010 at 3:36 am (UTC 0 )
Count me as the second one of your listeners, after Trinnet, who use you as my source for MMO news. In my case it is because other than Eve(only skill training at the moment) I don’t play any MMO’s. I play consoles mostly, often with my kids, sometimes with my friends on xbox live. MMO’s seem too much like work since to play them "proper" people end up counting on you and I just cannot committ to anything else after work (part of a small family owned business- myself, my dad, two brothers and a few non – relatives) and family.
I listen to your podcast while I walk to work, and love the accents, the style and the ability to be transported to another venue for awhile – I find it very Zen believe it or not.
KungFooSausage says:
March 21, 2010 at 1:19 pm (UTC 0 )
If you guys stop then I’ll blow my head off.
Ive listened to every one of your podcasts – there isn’t anyone out there doing what you guys do with as much humour, interest, regularity, interest, content and quality as you two.
I have no interest in consoles; my kids have…umm…3 of the buggers plus handheld thingies. All I play is PC games, but I listen to your whole podcast every week because it INTERESTS me & I think its just the best thing around.
Plus if you stop then I have to go back to listening to that Chris Moyles or the red headed nob on the way to work, and thats why Id have to blow my head off.
Oh heres a good reason – think of the children.
XirYug says:
March 21, 2010 at 3:43 pm (UTC 0 )
Tim – I know what you mean about excitement with regards to forthcoming games….especially MMOs
I used read all the forums…all the news …get really excited about beta invites …etc
Now I don’t even bother reading the news now (but listen to you and Jon)…I think I have been "burnt" too often..lots o hype and an average game release.
I also dislike the massive "gold rush" that happens the first few days an MMO is released.
I am sure we’ll both get our Mojos back soon…but while we both wait – please , please, please keep the podcast going as its my personal number 1 podcast and there is very few podcasts as entertaining anywhere.
Token says:
March 21, 2010 at 9:10 pm (UTC 0 )
Great show this week. I really enjoy honestly so I loved the discussion on video game journalism just basically being marketing. Too many of your shows are kinda wasted by Jon bringing up some news, Tim not knowing anything about it and flailing about looking for something to say. Draw from your own experiences a bit more, feel free to tell anecdotes, its always more interesting than knee-jerk reactions to news.
Akely says:
March 27, 2010 at 2:12 pm (UTC 0 )
I kind of liked the grumpyness. My gut feeling says it is not a sign of pod-fading. But I do agree with mchris on the similarities with Brents podfading. Brendens fading was totally different, in my opinion. He more like exploded than faded. A shame, since I really liked his show.
I’ll listen again to the part where you ask/call out for more participation of is listeners. I’m confident I can think of something.
One thing I can suggest right now is to do a comments/reader letters section. You did that on at least one show and I thought it was fun. It is a great way of re-connecting to the previous show or topic and it gets the listeners a little involved too. Shut Up We’re Talking does a similar thing and it is almost always interesting.
Later!