Started up a retro game podcast!!!

[Mr Mort]

A couple of friends and I have decided to start up our own podcast about retro gaming with a side dish of current-gen gaming.
It's called Retro Game Squad, and our first episode just got published.
It's a little goofy and rough around the edges, but we had fun with it, and I think fans of classic gaming will have fun with it too. The quality of the podcast will improve with time as we get accustomed to it.

In the first episode, we basically introduce ourselves and our "mission statement", and our retro topic was beat-em-ups.

You can find the feed for the podcast here: http://feeds.feedburner.com/RetroGameSquad

The podcast will also be up on iTunes and Zune marketplace within 48 hours.

We also have a website, although it is currently a work-in-progress: www.retrogamesquad.com

Naturally, we have a Facebook page as well. If inclined, please check it out. As fellow game collectors, I'm interested in your perspectives on the show and what I can do to improve it, and I welcome any feedback we can get.

Thanks for checking it out!

[Duke.Togo]

For me, the download links just take you round and round, but never give me a file. Unless I am missing something.

[Mr Mort]

For me, the download links just take you round and round, but never give me a file. Unless I am missing something.

This is the page for the feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/RetroGameSquad
You can scroll down and click on "play now", or;

click on "view feed xml" which takes you here:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/RetroGameSquad?format=xml

and then you can click on the mp3 file at the bottom and play or save it from there.

[Mr Mort]

The podcast is now on iTunes as well:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/retro-game-squad/id564432279

[Nz17]

I tried listening, I really did, but your intro was way too long! In the episode first every person introduces himself which takes a good long while each, then you introduce the format of the show. It's like the old saying goes: don't tell people when you can just show them (i.e. talk about your subject, don't talk about talking about the subject). Skip the intro stuff except for a bit of iconic theme music a few seconds in length, and then jump right into the first segment of your show. Talk about the old game(s), talk about the new game(s), but don't give us too much irrelevant info up front. We listeners will understand the format as it is presented.

Here's hoping for a more condensed second episode. Don't give up the ghost!

[Mr Mort]

Thanks for the feedback, I already had that in mind. I also felt I let the introductions get a little carried away. I've been thinking about it, and I agree; next time we'll get right down to business much sooner. At the time, I just figured since it was our first show we had to spend a little time explaining who we are and what the show is trying to accomplish. Needless to say, now that we've done that, we don't need to go through it again. We're still new at this, so there's going to be some trial and error, but it's only going to get better from here. Thanks again for the input.

[Duke.Togo]

OK, I just tried the first episode, but honestly stopped after about 40 minutes. For a show titled Retro Game Squad, you should really talk about retro games right up front. The show needs way more structure.

There may have been something better farther in, but you didn't hook me. Give it another try and so will I.

[Mr Mort]

That's fair enough.
We will get straight down to business in the next episode.
Thanks.

[Glitch695]

That's pretty much the main thing we learned: pick your topic and jump right in. Unless it's something special, like covering the Midwest Gaming Classic or something (which I suppose is a theme in and of itself), stick with your theme topic and don't deviate too much.
I don't think a podcast should have the same variety of something akin to a radio morning show like Bob & Brian or whoever your local guys are, but instead be specialized and on topic.
Nice job though, keep it up!

[RJ]

Hey Mort I listen to several gaming podcasts & yours wasn't a bad debut at all, I've heard MUCH worse. I don't think you took too long getting started- no worse than reviewing people's pickups/finds for the 1st hr+ like I've heard elsewhere.

I can only say your beatemups topic may have gone on too long for non-fans of the genre, but I did learn a few things I didn't know before. Hope there's much more in the future!

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Nice! A decent start for sure!

The first few are going to be a learning process.

Personally I'm a fan of having organized talking points and being as succinct as possible as much as you can be, but the thing about broadcasting with no hard limiters like a live audience or commercial breaks is that it's easy (and sometimes fun) to go off the rails and riff a bit. Sometimes it makes for great audio, sometimes it doesn't, but if you keep at it you'll find your groove.

We're long overdue for another DP Podcast ourselves.

[Mr Mort]

Thanks for the feedback guys, it's much appreciated.
We're working on playing the games for the next episode, we should be recording and publishing it in the next couple of weeks. It should be live on Sunday the 21st if all goes according to plan.
I hear what you're all saying, and yes, I knew the first few would be a feeling-out process until we find our style, but I do think we got off course too early and too much in the first episode. Next episode, the retro topic will be up-front, and we can do a little free-talking towards the end.

[Mr Mort]

Ok, episode 2 is live!
Our retro topic for this episode is video pinball games.
I took much of what you guys had to say into account, and you'll find that we get to the retro gaming topic much faster, and we did a better job of not cutting each other off.
Please check it out, and let me know what you think.

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/retro-game-squad/id564432279

RSS Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/RetroGameSquad

[Mr Mort]

We just published our third episode, we take a look at ninja games.

Check it our and let us know what you think!

[WCP]

Haven't heard your podcast yet, but do you sample in music from the games into your show ? If so, i'm curious as to what software you use to do it. I've been thinking about doing a podcast about some retro stuff, and I wanted to sample in the audio from some old commercials on youtube, and also some game music. Not sure how to do it. (I need to do a bunch of reading on some "how to make a podcast" websites )

[Mr Mort]

Haven't heard your podcast yet, but do you sample in music from the games into your show ? If so, i'm curious as to what software you use to do it. I've been thinking about doing a podcast about some retro stuff, and I wanted to sample in the audio from some old commercials on youtube, and also some game music. Not sure how to do it. (I need to do a bunch of reading on some "how to make a podcast" websites )

Yes, I sample video game music directly from consoles for use on the show. I use Audacity, it's free, reliable, and has lots of faq's/how-to guides out there. You can use it to capture sound from a multitude of inputs.
There are tons of great guides out there for learning the ropes on podcasting. If you're interested, PM me, and I can guide you to some.

[Derxst]

Haven't heard your podcast yet, but do you sample in music from the games into your show ? If so, i'm curious as to what software you use to do it. I've been thinking about doing a podcast about some retro stuff, and I wanted to sample in the audio from some old commercials on youtube, and also some game music. Not sure how to do it. (I need to do a bunch of reading on some "how to make a podcast" websites )

Recording any sound coming out of your sound card is actually quite simple. There is an "all software" method, but for me, that is not always reliable. I prefer this method. For this example, I am assuming you are using a desktop PC.

1. You need to get a 3.5mm splitter, male to dual female. Unplug your speakers, and plug the splitter into the same jack.
Click here for the splitter (http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=fantrekcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B00A785DUW)

2. You should now have the two female ends hanging empty.

3. Plug your speakers into one of the empty hanging jacks. This lets you continue to hear what you are recording.

4. You also need a 3.5mm male-to-male cable. Plug one end into the other empty hanging jack. Plug the other end into your microphone jack (or input jack).
Click here for the 3.5mm male-to-male cable. (http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=fantrekcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B000SE6IV8)

5. Download a copy of Audacity. It is free and open source.
Click here to download Audacity. (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/)

To record, open Audacity, click the big record button, and play whatever you wish to record. With Audacity, you can edit the recording as well. WIth the effects, you can do fade ins and fade outs, change volume levels, etc. It isn't that hard once you are used to it.

[Ed Oscuro]

Recording any sound coming out of your sound card is actually quite simple. There is an "all software" method, but for me, that is not always reliable. I prefer this method. For this example, I am assuming you are using a desktop PC.

[instructions for constructing the unholy spaghetti monster follow
Seriously...you don't think there is any possibility, when using free speakers, of a feedback loop? Just a thought. If you're going to go that route, forget speakers and get headphones. (I can't understand trying to run a podcast without speakers, but that's just me I suppose.)

Alternatively you could always just read these instructions:
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/faq_i18n?s=recording&i=streaming

...which do mention the line-out into line-in method...as a fallback. Shouldn't be the first option.

If the regular software method works, that should be what you use. This is going to give you way more flexibility in setting up recording of your voice, which I assume is going to be important if you don't want to lose the ability to listen to the other things going on in your sound stream without your voice on top of it, or provoke feedback loops from hell.

[dementia_]

Yuzo Koshiro did not compose Shinobi 3.

[Mr Mort]

Yuzo Koshiro did not compose Shinobi 3.

You're right, I fucked up. He did the first 2 games.
I will rectify it with a statement on the next podcast.

[dementia_]

You're right, I fucked up. He did the first 2 games.
I will rectify it with a statement on the next podcast.

It's an honest mistake, I'm sure I've made the same assumption in the past.

Anyways, keep it up guys. Each episode you're improving. I look forward to the next one.

[Mr Mort]

It's an honest mistake, I'm sure I've made the same assumption in the past.

Anyways, keep it up guys. Each episode you're improving. I look forward to the next one.

Thanks, it's appreciated.

[Mr Mort]

I figured I'd bump this thread and let everyone know we're still going strong, and always looking to improve the show.

Our latest episode was on shmups, tho it's hard to just pick out 10 to cover.

If you haven't listened to the show before, or haven't listened to it in a while, give it a whirl, I genuinely feel the show has improved from when we first started. As always, I'm always open to criticism, and am eager to improve the show.
Thanks for checking it out!

http://feeds.feedburner.com/RetroGameSquad

http://app.stitcher.com/browse/feed/31917/details

[offthechartsvideogames]

pfl. I'll be downloading so I can listen to it on the road next week. Thanks!

[cholkavich]

Good job guys Im enjoying it.

[Mr Mort]

Good job guys Im enjoying it.

Awesome, I'm glad to hear it.

[RJ]

i enjoyed your recent shmupscast, Ive been listening all along, am subscribed, & yours is one of the better 'casts I listen to.

[Mr Mort]

Just an update:

Last month was our 1-year anniversary, and we had a mega-sized episode to celebrate it, and we just published this month's episode featuring Mech-themed games.

We've been having a lot of fun with this, and slowly but surely, our listener base is growing. The guys over at Weird in Retro in Australia have been supporting us by giving us some useful advice, and I'm regularly making small tweaks to the show based on some feedback we're getting. I was also able to plug our podcast with a Q&A session on Kevin Smith's podcast, and that helped to get the word out too.

If anyone has any feedback, I'd love to hear it, and if you haven't heard it yet and are interested, please check it out.

You can follow the links below to check out the show:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/RetroGameSquad

http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/retro-game-squad-podcast

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/retro-game-squad/id564432279

[fergojisan]

That's good to hear, I'm glad you're doing well, I really enjoy listening to your show. I started a podcast this year, and it has been absolutely amazing watching the download numbers grow larger over time. It just means you guys are doing a great job and people appreciate what you do! Which Kevin Smith podcast were you on? I listen to a few of them but I don't remember hearing it.

[Mr Mort]

That's good to hear, I'm glad you're doing well, I really enjoy listening to your show. I started a podcast this year, and it has been absolutely amazing watching the download numbers grow larger over time. It just means you guys are doing a great job and people appreciate what you do! Which Kevin Smith podcast were you on? I listen to a few of them but I don't remember hearing it.

I was on Jay & Silent Bob get old #131. It was recorded at Baltimore Comic-Con, and it was a fun panel to be a part of.

Thanks for the kind words, BTW.

What's the name of your podcast? I wouldn't mind checking it out.

[fergojisan]

I do the Atari 2600 Game by Game podcast.