racketboy.com

In case you missed it:http://www.racketboy.com/retro/2009/10/retrogaming-with-racketboy-podcast-episode-1.html

Post your thoughts about the topic of Indie RetroGaming websites, discuss any of the sites discussed in the show, or heap praise and/or scorn on me in my first go at the show.

I meant to download last night, but got tied up with chores, etc. Will definitely grab this soon. I'm glad that this is happening though. And I'm thrilled that HG101 is highlighted. I love that site.

I remember being asked to join in on this while I was on my hiatus...

checking it out already (listening to it as I type this), let you know what I think.


[edit]

So I listened to it.

First I'll say what I like:

the tunes! I like how you have different retro video game songs coming into the show, and between each section, and finally leaving the show. Definately cool... also stating what they are at the host page is prime.

Thematically you stuck directly to your objective. I've heard tons of pod casts that try to run for a while (you're being a rather long episode) and just getting very scattered. You generated a specific theme for the episode and followed through with a varied cast across said theme (i.e. this episode was about retro game sites and consisted of interviews with people from it).



Now the criticism:

Dave, your mic is crap. I'm sorry, I just have to say it. It is just the pilot so you'll probably be stepping up the game with your mic in the future or something. OR at least I hope so.

This given episode I found kind of boring. But that's personal preference... nothing really against the theme or production of the show, I bet people out there would enjoy it. I just didn't find it a thrilling topic. I do see promising future when dealing with other topics I may actually be more interested in hearing about.

A touch back on the keeping to the objective of your theme. I liked how you stuck with it and didn't create a random jarble of an episode filled with tons of nonsense. But in the same respect the episode consisted of just 3 interviews of site owners, the intro and the conclussion. I'm thinking spruce it up a little with some other content as well... in the same respect this episode as a theme probably is difficult to do such a thing with, what could you really do with such a theme for an episode? Some ideas I could quickly come up with just now (not to say they are substantial, just saying) would have been have an interview with a person who runs a site, then with users of a site and their reasons for being part of such a community, an interview with moderators of such a site and why the volunteer their time to it... etc.

I think I get why you went with this up front. It was probably relatively easy to get the 3 participants in on it for such a pilot and the sort. But from a production point of view, you just wasted 3 potential future participants (not saying they can't join in again, but you don't want it to come off tired). Instead of creating a theme for an episode around 3 interviews, how about creating a theme in which each one has a unique expertise in and bringing them in on the action for that episode.

"Our episode today is about the underground Sega fanboyism. For your pleasure we've got a comedic debate about the Genesis vs the SNES, an overview of some of the most popular well known games and even some cult classics, and an interview with Nick aka Racketboy and his creation of the Racketboy website, his move from SegaXtreme, and the prominance of so many users on his forums who are secret Sega fans."

Just a hypothetical I'm saying... not sure how it'd really actually come out (the specific theme), but outlining the diversity and use of a key guest.

I mean consider it, in this episode you have 3 owners of different retro gaming sites. Which works as a "promotion of their site". But me as a listener, visiting all 3 sites is a lot of work. Consider like "the Daily Show"... they have authors on to promote their books. But they wouldn't have 2 or 3 authors on in a given episode. That's overload for their viewers. Instead the first 3rd may relate similarly (through politics or something) with the guest, the middle half consists of some slap stick that may or may not relate to the given topic, then finally colmunate in the 1 majour guest promoting his book (or site in our case).

Nice. Hardcoregaming101 is a great site

I will say that the volume of Racketboy and the Hardgaming101Dude were off. I could barely hear Racket and Hardgaming101Dude was so loud.

DCAllAmerican wrote:Nice. Hardcoregaming101 is a great site

I will say that the volume of Racketboy and the Hardgaming101Dude were off. I could barely hear Racket and Hardgaming101Dude was so loud.

Yeah, I did what I could to level them out but any more manipulation and they would have sounded much worse. I do know how to prevent this problem next time, though. Live and learn!

lordofduct wrote:lots of helpful comments...

I am pretty much aware of most of these problems - especially the one with the mic. Once racket opens up that new forum I'll ask for some suggested equipment (and explain my budget), so hold your thoughts on that until then. The mic I was using was shit, I agree.

The goal is to be more NPR and less morning zoo. So while this approach might be a little boring at times until I get it fine tuned, I hate podcasts with people who try to be funny but aren't, and podcasts that ramble on about one boring topic for an hour or more. The goal here is professional one on one interviews, in the hopes that we can attract some high caliber guests.

I certainly see what you mean by the overload on a topic in the first show - the initial plan was for each interview to be 15 minutes but all three guys really liked to talk. I think in the end that was a good thing for content but bad for the show's overall "energy." I used the music to try and pick it up where I could.

I'll say more about your ideas for show arrangement in the other forum after I share the themes I have planned for the next few broadcasts. I certainly appreciate your input, though - exactly the kind of thing I am looking for!

Same advice again, fix the sound issues. Was hard for me to hear anything on the second and third interview, but I know the psp's low volume is to blame a little. Most podcasts will be listened to on the go so extra volume could be welcomed. Can't say more, I'm not into podcast that much so this has to be the third or fourth I've ever listened to and the most interesting for me so far.

If the plans for the podcast is to be a monthly thing you could have a feature on the together retro game of that month and can also have a feature for the top retro news of the month.

executioner wrote:Same advice again, fix the sound issues. Was hard for me to hear anything on the second and third interview, but I know the psp's low volume is to blame a little. Most podcasts will be listened to on the go so extra volume could be welcomed. Can't say more, I'm not into podcast that much so this has to be the third or fourth I've ever listened to and the most interesting for me so far.

If the plans for the podcast is to be a monthly thing you could have a feature on the together retro game of that month and can also have a feature for the top retro news of the month.

I have plans to coordinate at least some of these with TR. The next one probably will be, and I am working on that now...

I am not sure a news feature would be worthwhile as it will quickly date the podcast - the hope is that the shows and their topics will remain just as current/interesting a month or a year (or more) after they are first released. Discussion about upcoming games and news would hinder that- besides you can find that in other places.

I'll do what I can to raise volume levels all around next time - I just am sensitive to audio clipping, which many podcasts have and which annoys the shit out of me.

What do you want the forum to be called and what do you the text under it to say?

I can build a soso one right now, Racket will have to pretty it up.

A few tips:

Outline the show more, especially in the beginning. As the old saying goes, "Tell me what you are going to say, say it, then tell me what you told me". Or something close to that. There was no structure to the podcast. You can see what you're going to talk about on the website, just say it on the podcast.

Even a better sound system won't stop "Popping P's". The speakers need to be aware of how loud they pronounce words that start with the letter P.

With a little work, this could be a really fun podcast. Keep it up!