A Miserable Podcast of Secrets

[Mzo]

Also these are running two deep so current event stuff would be old.

[Chux]

I don't mind talking about current video game goings-on as long as it is incredibly relevant and not some weird tangent that we haven't even really looked too deep into like the SOPA ep. That was probably one of the weakest ones imo.

The thing is between us we have a lot of experience with games and shit, but I know that Chux aside we don't generally rush out and buy every new game that is released. In fact, it's been almost impossible to find a game or even a game series that we have all played. We're going to talk about shit that one or more of us doesn't know about, new or old, guaranteed.

I'm getting better.

[Korian]

So you want a video game news podcast with participants who only comment on what they know well? I dunno. Doesn't seem to capture the spirit of TNL. It'd be too dry, I think.

I like Feature Guests the best, people trying to be funny doesn't work well unless that's your goal, I double checked and this podcast is not number 1 maybe in time?. I'd like to have Frog on the show.

[Korian]

I'll give you a call Mr TNL Nick.

[Nick]

I put episode 12 up on the server about ninety minutes ago, but I'm still working on the show page. This one had some audio problems and started out a bit too laid back, but there is some funny material in there.

[Hero]

I think the themed shows are good, especially how you find ways to tie the themes back into what's happening today.

Maybe do something about East vs. West development? Although to be sobering, tackle it not from the "who does it right" angle but what the strengths and weaknesses are in each, and how both have failed to grow up or where they can improve in ways that the other isn't covering?

Honestly I think the strength in the show is when you're all relating personal experiences (which showed with the more nostalgic stuff) rather than rattling off the news of the day, what's coming out, etc. - all the same bullshit every other games site does every day.

TNL is very community-centric these days, and as a "fansite" that doesn't really owe allegiance to publishers, this also means it's harder to stay abreast of cutting edge releases/playthroughs/demos/news that other sources have on tap (and again, do to death). I'd much rather learn more about how TNL thinks about things, or what members are doing than hear the same thing GiantBomb, 1up, et al. just covered.

[Darmonde]

I like the topics overall, but everyone has their own idea about what is being talked about, and their own examples, so a lot of times its just 1 opinion after another instead of a discussion. This latest one, Nick did try to come up with some kind of final consensus which was good. I'd like it if there was a little more structure to the conversations. Also, just my opinion, not a fan of the music mid-episode, it takes you out of the conversation.

A lot of good points brought up this episode, but everyone was all over the place, it was hard to figure out what each person's point of view was. The rants were a bit out of control. I think a lot of games actually have some kind of hidden difficulty setting that was suggested, like RE4 and 5 I'm pretty sure varied the random drops and enemy AI depending on how you were doing.

Good show overall.

[Nick]

Thanks. I also tried to come up with a set of suggestions to end the SOPA episode, but I have never gotten together a full set of notes before it was time to record. I will work harder to get the pre-show together now that the editing is coming together more quickly.

I've put mid-show music in two episodes now when a particular composition was being discussed (music from Gyromite and the ice stage of Mega Man). It was for about twenty-five second each time. I detest excessive music and sound effects in a talk format, but I was using the sound files the way you might, for example, put up a picture of Yuji Naka if you were discussing him on a video. Does anyone else think it was a negative?

Also, what's everyone think about going to two shorter podcasts per week with two or three participants instead of one a week with five participants?

[No One]

I've put mid-show music in two episodes now when a particular composition was being discussed (music from Gyromite and the ice stage of Mega Man). It was for about twenty-five second each time. I detest excessive music and sound effects in a talk format, but I was using the sound files the way you might, for example, put up a picture of Yuji Naka if you were discussing him on a video. Does anyone else think it was a negative?

Nah, it was fine. Long enough to jog your memory (or give someone an idea as to what you're talking about if they've never heard it), but not so long that it's distracting or annoying.

[dave is ok]

Does anyone else think it was a negative?

I wouldn't mind it if you guys could hear it as it was playing and discuss it or whatever, but the way it is just edited in afterwards kind of breaks up the flow of the conversation

Also, what's everyone think about going to two shorter podcasts per week with two or three participants instead of one a week with five participants?

Depends who the people are really. If it was two or three of the more reserved or quiet people together it might make a shitty podcast. No way to know without giving a shot though