So, you like playing games but sometimes life requires to leave your home (notice I did not say “your mom’s basement” because, come on, that insult is so over-used). Luckily, even when you’re out and about you can still be gaming in your head by listening to gaming podcasts.
I have some strict requirements for the gaming podcasts I listen to– no console talk. I don’t have anything against consoles, I just don’t have one (except the Wii, which is sorta different). So, I like PC-only chatter, and of course I look for podcasts that talk about TF2 a lot. Here are the things I listen to, and how much I like listening to the things I listen to.
Games for Windows. There’s a new GFW podcast every week, and the guys do a great job of talking about both specific games and games in general, they’re knowledgeable about gaming history, not to mention sci-fi, comics, and pop-culture. Plus, they’re funny in a way that makes me laugh (instead of just making them laugh, unlike some other podcasts I could mention, and will, further down the page). Totally recommend! And thanks to Titter, my Steam pal, who recommend it to me. A
PC Gamer UK. Always enjoyable. Sadly, just one a month — what’s up with that – and they’re usually pretty brief. Great topics and information as well as general chit-chat. Seem like a really cool bunch of guys. Plus, accents! I would like it more if there were more of it. B+
PC Gamer US. Weekly, so points for that. A little overly jokey and chatty, some decent discussion about new games but not a whole lot else. Sometimes they carry on with a lot of industry nonsense I don’t care about. Plus, their editor gets motion sick from FPS games. Wuss. B-
Control Point. I mentioned this one a while ago but have really begun to sour on it. They’re pretty good when they’re on-topic about a map or something, but otherwise it’s an hour of talking about everything but TF2 and laughing uproariously at what are presumably jokes they are making. The last map they reviewed was SnoFort, which came out in the mid 1920’s. They consistently seem to have incorrect information (last week, they announced that Sniper achievements were coming next). Still, I give them a shot every week, and most of the early episodes were pretty good. But I’m losing interest. C-
Fortcast. They’re new, and they only have one episode, so I won’t grade them. Still, it sounds like a bunch of people talking over World War II field phones. Clean up the audio and stop talking about what you’re going to be talking about, and actually talk about it! Good luck!
I’m open to any podcast suggestions you might have, provided they’re PC-based and won’t rattle on constantly about Xbox stuff.
27 responses so far ↓
1 /AquaBlue // Jun 12, 2008 at 8:39 am
Podcasts?Never listen to them myself.
2 Pentadact // Jun 12, 2008 at 9:17 am
Nice comment.
The whole ‘AHAHAHAHAHAHA’ factor - Americans laughing cacophonously at a joke that doesn’t seem terribly funny - is my most common cause of unsubscription. Some of them are funny guys, too, but the actually funny lines are met with silence, while really weak simple jokes cause explosions in my ears.
I’ll give GFW another go. Right now I’m only listening to This American Life and Mark Kermode’s Film Reviews - nothing gamey on my Sansa at all.
3 Punjabi Fury // Jun 12, 2008 at 9:21 am
I’m involved in Control Point much more for the community than the podcast, I agree with what you say about them. All that AoC talk is pissing me off slightly.
I know you said no console talk, but I would really, really recommend the Gamers With Jobs podcast. They have really good weekly discussions on a variety of interesting topics. Also they manage to get some decent interviews. Google ‘em.
4 Punjabi Fury // Jun 12, 2008 at 9:23 am
I second the comment about Americans laughing, also. American laughter is like nails on a blackboard to me, which is why it’s only bearable if I’m drowning it out with my own laughter.
5 Christopher // Jun 12, 2008 at 9:25 am
The laughter at nothing, I think, comes from people growing up listening to morning radio shows, where every joke is the funniest thing ever. It’s annoying.
And podcasts, in general, follow the radio show format, including music cues. I don’t know why podcasts need music cues. They’re not going out live, you don’t need to kill time like you do on the radio, so why the 35 seconds of music between segments? Just stop recording if you need a break.
6 Punjabi Fury // Jun 12, 2008 at 9:31 am
Ah, in that case you may not love GWJ. They have annoying music separating the segments.
7 Ayrton // Jun 12, 2008 at 9:32 am
I liked control point until it became the official Age of Conan podcast.
8 Christopher // Jun 12, 2008 at 10:10 am
I don’t mind the AoC talk, because I’m interested in the game. I don’t really need to hear so much about the guy’s wine business, though.
9 Mr brit // Jun 12, 2008 at 10:28 am
Woot! Go PC gamer UK! I subscribe to the magazine but didn’t realise there was a podcast…
Kudos to any of the team reading this, especially Tom Francis cos I enjoyed your Devil’s Advocate this month.
I don’t listen to any podcasts myself but I might give some of them a try.
10 WeakLemonDrink // Jun 12, 2008 at 10:31 am
I’ve been wanting to listen to a few more gaming Casts other PCGUK so thanks for the handy list! I’m giving GFW and Control Point for now.
I know what it’s like when a good podcast degrades into self regarding shit, though. LOSTCasts have gone completely down the shitter recently.
11 Pentadact // Jun 12, 2008 at 12:31 pm
I think this comments thread conclusively proves that we deserve to be at the top of this list. You can always turn it into a weekly 15-minute podcast with judicious use of pause.
12 Piklemeup // Jun 12, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I’m listening to Games for Windows podcast right now, and I think they’re ok, but nothing special. One problem I have is their language, I have nothing against their swearing, but I have a younger sister, so I can never play it out loud with my speakers, I have to use headphones all the time.
I like the Control Point podcast, they go off topic, but I’m a long time listener, and I’m used to it and I appreciate what they do. Besides, I can relate to a lot of the stuff they say.
13 Sentry Gun // Jun 12, 2008 at 12:39 pm
I liked Control Point for the first couple episodes enough to listen to it, but they quickly got on my nerves. I would listen to them for TF2 stuff and maybe some comedy too. However, they’re not funny, and I find myself sitting there correcting tons of incorrect information they rattle off. It seems I hate all gaming podcasts. Ah well, I’ve got mah two favorite comedy podcasts, Nobody Likes Onions and Brianisinyou, that’s good enough.
14 Christopher // Jun 12, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Hah! My commute is 45 minutes each way. You want top billing, Francis, you gotta at least get me to work once a week.
15 Joe // Jun 12, 2008 at 2:55 pm
We should do one, then. I can laugh at nothing for hours on end.
16 Sam // Jun 12, 2008 at 3:23 pm
I used to listen to the criterion games podcast (the makers of burnout) because they used answer questions and such. It was pretty good although they tend to waffle a lot.
17 Ten-High Charlie // Jun 12, 2008 at 10:26 pm
http://www.weeklygeekshow.com
Weekly Geek is a very good podcast, but it covers more of general geek culture rather than just video games. Still a very good ‘cast to listen too, one of the best I think.
18 LaZodiac // Jun 12, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Since I don’t watch PodCasts at all (fear due to Invasion of the Pod People, and hate due to the I-Pod), I feel alittle like a tool comenting, but It must be sad by atlest some one.
Yay for having a Wii!
19 Handsome Rob // Jun 12, 2008 at 11:01 pm
The guys at Penny-Arcade to a podcast from time to time. They’re release appears to be completely random, but just like the comic it’s centered around gaming. Sometimes it is console stuff, but the focus of the podcast is actually them writing their strip for the day the recorded it on. It’s not always about gaming or PC gaming, but its generally funny in the Penny Arcade way, and it’s interesting to me as a fan of the strip to see how their minds work to come up with their stuff. If you’re a PA fan give it a shot.
20 kyle // Jun 12, 2008 at 11:35 pm
I generally listen to the 1UP or Joystiq podcasts for my gaming podcasts (I’ve gotta keep it slim cuz I’ve got plenty of other non-gaming podcasts I listen to). Thanks for the heads up though, I haven’t heard of any of these before.
21 thezeus18 // Jun 13, 2008 at 10:25 am
Try the game-central podcast (formerly the PC Gamer Fan Podcast) at http://www.game-central.org .
They’re completely about PC Games, and they’re little people, which means that listening to them makes you feel good about yourself.
22 LactoseTheIntolerant // Jun 13, 2008 at 10:54 am
I shall also add my props for the PCGUK podcast. One a month is a shame, but quality over quantity!
Hm, I’ve not listened to the latest one yet.. I must go and correct that.
23 Mr brit // Jun 14, 2008 at 12:26 pm
How about a 1fort podcast…? Or is that as likely as a comic? *cough*notinamillionyears*cough*
24 Pentadact // Jun 16, 2008 at 11:58 pm
To Control Point’s credit, their latest ep is about that map you featured a while back, Steel. And if their links for the episode are any indication, they mention my unlockable ideas. Fame at last!
Hilariously, the US PC Gamer podcast once had a whole section discussing a blog post by ’some guy’ who’d done the Half-Life 2 gnome achievement - I think they managed to miss the part where I say I was reviewing it for PC Gamer.
25 Christopher // Jun 17, 2008 at 7:44 am
Yeah, I heard you got mentioned. And they did a decent job of outlining Steel.
However, they also apparently are just now finding out that hitting a building with your wrench makes it build faster. Unless that was some sort of inside joke, this is new information to them. Which seems incredible that they somehow missed this basic element of gameplay until just recently.
26 Punjabi Fury // Jun 19, 2008 at 12:45 am
Re: Control Point, I direct you to this thread:
http://deadworkers.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=3578
A touch of fanboyism?
27 Samadhir // Jun 25, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Wow, they actually feel like they have to write a rebuttal to the review!!!
Leave a Comment