When It Rains

Man, there's a lot of stuff going on here lately. I mean, when it rains it pours, right? Where do I even begin?



We took Rhys to the doctor yesterday to get some shots and stuff. He's 11 pounds, 8 ounces! That's my boy! He was really good with the shots, too. He cried of course, but he didn't cry as long as I expected. He's tough!

On Saturday night and Sunday we watched Obsessed and Fast & Furious via the mighty Red Box. Neither one were very good. I had high hopes for both of them, but they were just meh. Oh well, it only cost me a dollar since I used a free Red Box code.

Furthermore, Alana and I recorded the latest episode of the podcast on Sunday. We also played a bunch of games, which was great fun. I did some promotions on Sunday night by going to some forums I'm a member of and posting about the latest show. I must have posted on 6 different boards, but only one got pissed and called it spam. Prudes!

Anyway, I'm on the job hunt right now. I'm anticipating being laid off in the coming weeks. I can't afford to be without a job, so if anybody knows of anything, send me an e-mail. Need all the help I can get.

Popeyes Chicken

I heard about this story on a couple different podcasts today. Too damn funny.

What I Think Makes A Good Podcast

This morning I started thinking about what I think makes a good podcast. I figured it wouldn't hurt to type it up and get some opinions, so here we go.

Personally, I don't listen to podcasts too much for gaming news. I think it's good that shows use a news story as a jumping off point for a topic, but for the most part, I think podcasts should try to be more informative and thought provoking than just straight news.

I've unsubscribed to a bunch of gaming podcasts over the years because I got tired of the same news on every show. I have a RSS reader. I can get the latest news. Put your spin on it or use it to talk about a broader topic.

If you're going to hone in on a specific game, make sure you say what you like and dislike about it, but give good examples. For instance, don't just say it sucked. Say why. It gets kind of old when people just constantly say the latest game sucks. It's ok to like a game that everyone else likes. It's also ok to like a game that everyone else hates.

My favorite shows are ones that are funny, witty, and generally have less focus. They talk topics, but they don't let the topic run the conversation. If they start off talking about Halo Wars they might take a left turn somewhere funny and end up back at Halo Wars at some point. More like a real conversation.

As far as length goes, I would say 60 to 90 minutes tops. When you start encroaching on the two hour mark and beyond, I begin to start losing interest. Partly because it's not easy to find 2+ consecutive hours to listen to something, and also because I'm trying to fit in some other shows into my day.

I listen at work most of the time, and there are a lot of interruptions. A lot of starting and stopping. A two hour show could stretch into three or four by the time I've had to stop it and start it again. I know it's fun to sit there and bullshit on the mic, but put a limit on it and when that time comes, wrap it up.

So, in short, keep it to an hour, keep it entertaining, and keep it real.

Rent Houses And Adam Carolla Podcasting

I need to post more here, but damn if I haven't had much to say. I hate that, too. I'm not usually at a loss for words in real life (my wife can attest to that), but when it comes to typing it up, most of it gets lost.

Anyway, the hunt is still on for a rent house. We've got some leads. It really feels like I'm trying to track down a really rare action figure or comic book.

Calling people up and being like, "Do you have it in stock? Oh, somebody just bought it. Ok. No, please tell me more about how awesome it is. Thanks."

Or the other scenario, which goes like, "Do you have it in stock? Can you hold it till the end of March? Oh, you can't. Well, I would like to know that I'll have something before the last week in March. Thanks for nothing."

I heard yesterday that The Adam Carolla show is going off the air as of today. It really sucks, but I think it'll be good in the long run. He's planning on starting up a podcast. This really shows that radio is dying. Live 105.3 here in Dallas/Fort Worth switched from talk to sports. Some other station is syndicating Ryan Seacrest. Ugh. The world is slowly moving towards podcasting. It's growing and more people are getting into it every day.

Kind of like Twitter. Basically everything I'm into, people flock to in droves. :-)

Uncanny!

First things first. Looking for a rent house is hard!

Second, Alana and I recorded the pilot episode of what will probably become our new podcast, The Uncanny Gamers.

I think it turned out really well. Really funny, but more focused than we usually are. I think it's a good representation of what we can do and hopefully will do going forward.

If you are reading this and you want to check it out, click here. I would love some honest feedback on it.

Weekend Update

Apparently this is becoming a habit, making these posts on Monday about the busy weekend. I would like to post more during the week, but sometimes I just don't have the time. Hey, I know you want more of the Ace, but patience is a freakin' virtue, you heathens!

Anyway, we watched Eagle Eye and Max Payne this weekend. I give Eagle Eye two thumbs up because it was a damn good flick. I give Max Payne a meh. The story wasn't what you would call interesting and there wasn't enough action for my taste. I did, however, discover the guy that should play Kratos if they ever make a God of War movie. Yes, I take full credit for this discovery. Let it be known that if this ever happens, it's because of me.

I was over at the in-laws yesterday with Rhea. Her sister had some news to lay on the family. We already knew, but they didn't. Anyway, she's pregnant, too! According to Rhea, she's stealing her thunder. I would have to agree that thunder is indeed being stolen.

Between Baylee being pregnant and now Amanda, we're looking at a full scale baby invasion. They're coming to take over, make no mistake. We will be replaced. (Yea, I stole that from Seinfeld.)

And finally, we're holding a little contest over at ACFriends. Go read about it and enter if you like. And while I'm on the subject, I'm also kicking around the idea of a show re-boot. It would include a name change and maybe a new feed. I want to do a "pilot" episode next time Alana and I get together, just to test the waters.

I've had the idea of broadening the scope of the show for a while now, but I've always resisted because of all the history. And because we have a website with the show's name it it. But seriously, we've been doing this for almost three years now. It's been a blast, but I think the name has really held us back from getting more listeners and being a bigger show.

Of course, the biggest problem we face with starting a new show is finding a name.

Podcastination

Another week in the can. I think I did better on my route today. I could have been done earlier if mail count wasn't going on. Oh well.

I actually had time to guest on this week's Post Game Report with my old buddy JVB and his co-host Finster. Peterocc from GTR was also a guest. It turned out really well, thanks in part to JVB's sweet hosting skills. They go with his nunchuck sills very nicely. I had several funny lines, which is what I always shoot for.

I had the idea at work today to put together a promo for ACFriends. On the last show, we did an impromptu parody of the Portal song. Not like everything we do isn't impromptu, but still!

Project Gemini

I've been kicking around the idea of starting up my own solo podcast lately. I'm not sure I have the time or motivation to start a weekly show. Gaming is my hobby and that's how I would like to keep it. Of course, I will continue to do ACFriends, so that should scratch my itch.

Anyway, I'm not sure what else is going on. Just playin' teh haloz.

Too Many Podcasts

I came to a realization today. Actually, I've been thinking about it for a little while, but there usually has to be something to come along to actually push me over the edge on something, then I get fired up. Anyway, I heard through the grapevine that Aeropause.com has started their own podcast. This in an of itself is not terrible, but it got me to thinking. How many podcasts is too many?

Now, if you go look up a niche topic like french fries or shoestring art, you won't find many shows. But, if you search gaming news or Xbox 360 news, you find well over a hundred shows on iTunes alone. That's not to mention everything you find on PodcastAlley or PodcastPickle. And the great majority talk about the same thing. The same topics, the same segments, the same games.

I have a feeling that we might see the bubble burst on the podcast thing soon. Not that they will all go away, but I think the independent shows will start to dry up and go away. Personally, I try to support my friends out there that are putting shows out there, but a lot of times I can't listen to them all. Especially when it's all the same news.

Currently, my favorite shows are GamersWithJobs, Distorted View, Nobody Likes Onions, Podtacular, Xbox360Fanboy, and This Week In Tech. Everything else is just extra at this point.

Journalism and Podcasting

Since I'm being watched, I thought I would post a little reading material.

This is taken directly from the journalism page of wikipedia. Pay special attention to the lines in bold.

Since the development of professional journalism at the beginning of the 20th Century, journalists have been expected to follow a stringent code of journalistic conduct that requires them to, among other things:

• Use original sources of information, including interviews with people directly involved in a story, original documents and other direct sources of information, whenever possible, and cite the sources of this information in reports;
  • For more information on using sources, see Journalism sourcing.
• Fully attribute information gathered from other published sources, should original sources not be available (to not do so is considered plagiarism; some newspapers also note when an article uses information from previous reports);
• Use multiple original sources of information, especially if the subject of the report is controversial;
• Check every fact reported;
• Find and report every side of a story possible;
• Report without bias, illustrating many aspects of a conflict rather than siding with one;
• Approach researching and reporting a story with a balance between objectivity and skepticism.
• Use careful judgment when organizing and reporting information.
• Be careful about granting confidentiality to sources (news organizations usually have specific rules that journalists must follow concerning grants of confidentiality);
• Decline gifts or favors from any subject of a report, and avoid even the appearance of being influenced;
• Abstain from reporting or otherwise participating in the research and writing about a subject in which the journalist has a personal stake or bias that cannot be set aside.

Just because it's in a podcast and labeled as "independent" doesn't mean the rules don't apply.

GamerAndy Live

If you're a podcaster or just a podcast listener, you should download and listen to episode 82 of GamerAndy Live. It's something that affects all of us in some way as members of the Xbox Live community.

Episode 82 of GamerAndy Live

Conspiracy Theory

I've been having it out with the people over at Gamertag Radio today. For more info, go check out the forum where I am right and they are wrong.

I have a theory. One that involves Aaron Greenberg from Microsoft and Godfree from GTR. I see it going down like this.

AG: The Pac-Man championships are tomorrow and we're announcing a new Pac-Man game.
G: That's tight, yo. Big pimpin' FTW!
AG: This announcement isn't huge, but we're excited about it. The man who created the original mazes for Pac-Man is creating new ones. It's a historic event.
G: Yea, I feel you, dogg. GTR represent!
AG: Why don't you just put this out there as a major announcement. Don't give any details.
G: My peeps ain't gonna like dat, dogg.
AG: Well, you know, I can give this story to Joystiq...
G: Damn, dogg! You don't have to go there, dogg.
AG: Just say all you heard was a major announcement. Then, when we tell everyone the new Pac-Man is coming, they'll all be disapointed. lol!
G: Our peeps gonna be mad at us, dogg.
AG: There's no such thing as bad publicity. Remember that. Everyone will blame you at first, but you will set the record straight in your forums.
G: Alright, I'm down with it. It's a tight plan.
AG: Don't forget our deal. I give you exclusive tips and you tell the community how great we are.
G: I haven't forgot.
AG: Good. Now get out there and sell!
G: Yes sir, dogg!

Of course, this isn't verbatim, but just my theory on what happened. Once you get in bed with the Man, you're not getting out.

Now don't get me wrong, I love my 360 and I like Microsoft. But you have to admit that things worked out in their favor. GTR may be feeling a backlash, but that will subside (since I'm tired of fucking with it). Otherwise it's win/win because Microsoft got the word out about Pac-Man through GTR and GTR got a lot of hits to their site.

The whole crux of the argument is that community members shouldn't be on the take. When I say they are profiting from the situation, it could be with free games, exposure, or even a job. IMO, this is wrong. If you want to work for Microsoft, then go fill out an application. Simple as that. Don't think that because you have a site and a RSS feed you have a shot at a job.

People will accuse me of being jealous, but that's not the case. I'm not trying to get a job or get hits or anything like that. I'm just a subscriber to the Xbox Live service. I've met some awesome people because of my involvement in different communities and podcasts, but not once have I tried to profit from any of these relationships.

The long and short is that if you're a subscriber to the XBL service, don't just listen to one podcast. Listen to several and make you're own judgments. If you're just listening to GTR, you aren't getting the whole picture. Educate yourself.

The love of gaming should be what brought us to the community. Don't let anyone change that.

Gamerscore Blog Podcast

I'm interviewed by Chris Paladino on the new Gamerscore Blog podcast. I said "uhm" like 50 times, but whatever. Could have been worse, right? Right?!?

Nobody ever answers me...

There's Doin's a Transpirin'!

I downloaded and played on the new Gears of War maps last night with KBB7769. Good times. Pure pwnage was handed out...by him. The new maps are pretty sweet. Worth $10? I guess. I paid it since I didn't want to wait till September for them to become free.

My e-mail was read on the Xbox360 Fancast this week. I criticized Knuckles Dawson for talking to fast and saying FTW too much. I have to admit I was a little drunk when I sent that. I hope he didn't take it wrong. It's hard to convey sarcasm in an e-mail. He's obviously a winner.

GWJ FTW!!!1!

My sister Phoenix and I were mentioned and played on Episode 29 of the Gamers With Jobs podcast. Our contest entries look to be the 2nd and 3rd runners up. Not too bad. We got the show mentioned and stuff, so that's good.

GameTalk Is Back!

The new episode of GameTalk is out now. It's been a while since we did one of these, and it was fun. Evil Kon Karne wasn't on with us, but hopefully he will be on the next episode. Stay tuned for the GameTalk myspace page and check out controllerfreaks.com.

Podcasts And Stuff

Lots of shit going on. I am a guest on the 100th episode of Podtacular. It's a really great show with a lot of laughs. Also, I started a MGC leaderboard over at Uncle Gamer for listeners of the show. Go sign up!



Also, I got the new Dark Tower comic by Stephen King. It's based on the books and it's awesome.

Uncle Gamer Episode 16

Uncle Gamer Episode 16 has a special guest host. Me!! If you like gaming and you like me (and who doesn't?), check it out!