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Completely unofficial NeoGAF podcast ratings thread

SickBoy

Member
Since there are so many podcast threads lately, and I think a lot of us have taken a liking to listening to podcasts on our commutes, etc., I thought it would be interesting to have a thread dedicated ot it. I'm very interested to see the results, because I'm always on the lookout for podcasts that will entertain, but I've only found a couple I really care to listen to consistently.

Presuming people actually reply, I'll update the results in a day or two.

Here are the rules:

Based on your posts, I'm going to create a ratings list (i.e: a Top 20 sort of thing). It's going to be based on a system I dreamed up (no, I'm not going to reveal the details).

List your favorites in two categories.

MUST LISTEN: List up to three podcasts you feel are essential. NO MORE THAN THREE.

WORTH LISTENING: List up to five you think are consistently good or just generally meet your standards.

And that's it. If you do have more podcasts you'd like to suggest, feel free to list them as "honorable mentions." Likewise, if there are casts you've tried and really don't care for, list those.

I'll start:

MUST LISTENS:
1Up Yours
Next-Gen.biz podcast.

The end.

Will add results to this post presuming people actually respond.

EDIT: Results through Post 82:


1) 1Up Yours (still by a landslide)
2) Next-gen.biz
3) Player One
4) Angry Gamer
5) GAFCast
6) The Hotspot
7) GFW Radio
8) Retronauts
9) CAGcast
10) EGM Live
11) Gamasutra/GDC Radio
12) Played
13) Major Nelson
14) Gaming Steve
15) Gamers with jobs
16) Sidescrollers
17) Radio Free Nintendo
18) Penny Arcade
19) Taverncast
20) Gamercast: Video Games Show
 
Ones I like the most are (In no particular order):

Gafcast
Played!
Player One
Australian Gamer
1up Show


But are they MUST listens? I can't say I recommend them for others, because they are just my favourites - I simply find them a lot more entertaining. I guess for good consistency and news, teh more industry careful ones, such as 1upYours, Gaming-biz.

Gamespot and IGn, are generally meh. I still download them and listen, though.
 
Must Listen:
1. 1Up Yours
2. angy-gamer.net

Worth listening:
1. gamespot Hot Spot
2. GAF cast
3. Player One
4. Filmspotting (not about games but films)
 
MUST LISTEN:
1up Yours
Player One
GFW Radio

WORTH A SHOT:
GAF Cast
Played
Angry Gamer

JUST.....NO:
EGM Live (Note: when its more about magazine history, it's a great listen. When its rehashed 1up Yours, it sucks on fire.)
 
Must listen:
1upyours
gafcast
angry-gamer (whats in the world is demi's relationship with this podcast, he always gets mentioned as the retarded work experience kid. Also i loved the cliffhanger ending :D )

worth listening:
GFW
retronaughts
egmlive

Yes, im a ziffdavis/dell whore
 
MUST:
Next-Gen
1UP Yours

WORTH:
Retronauts
Kojima Productions Report

tried and really don't care for (but are okay listens if you have free time and nothing else to do):
Gamespot hotspot
Player One
Played
GAF cast
Angry Gamer
EGM Live
 
Must:
1UP Yours - They simply deliver top-notch every week, they don't shy away anything.
GFW Podazine - Jeff and Shaun <3.
NextGen - It's like PC Gamer, but with more Garry and less of the annoying yanks

Worth:
GamaSutra/GDC Radio - Tom Kim's interview are universally excellent, though it can be very dry when the guests are just talking the biz. And the GDC talks usually have terrible audio and are hard to listen to on the go, despite being absolutely fascinating.

What I look for in a Podcast:
&#9830; People who know what they're talking about, enthusiastic shows by fanboys shit me incessantly.

&#9830; Radio Voices. Look it hurts, but some people just don't sound good on Radio. If the GFW Podcast was an hour of Ryan... I just couldn't do it (it's nothing personal if you're reading though buddy) and Gaming Steve...? Jesus.

&#9830; Guests. A good guest can really drive a show, keep it fresh from week to week and it flows into my next point...

&#9830; Original Content. This is the hardest thing to do every week, but try and bring me something that hasn't already been played out on every forum on the internet. If you absoutely must bring up some news bit that's been going around for two weeks, bring a fresh angle to the table.
 
Must:

1up Yours (It's great)
GFW Podcast (It's superb)
EGM Live* (Shane)
Player One (Great)
HotSpot (Jeff)

Worth it:

Retronauts (Not always though)
Sidescrollers (A little bit of everything + they are heartless bastards when it comes to news)
GAFcast (A nice mix)
 
1up yours is the only one I bother with. Those guys keep me entertained throughout the whole show, no matter what crappy games they're talking about.
 
MUST:

1up Yours
Retronauts (Secret best 1up network podcast)
Angry Gamer

WORTHY:

Gamasutra (and GDC Radio)
EGM Live
GAFcast


Player One is growing on me slowly....
 
Best of the Best
Next-Gen
1upyours

A Good Listen
Gamespot's Hotspot
PlayerOne
GafCast
Angry Gamer
CagCast

Listen if there's nothing else
IGN Gamescoop
GFW (getting better though)
GamesIndustry.biz
Podtoid (Destructoid.com)

Avoid like the Plague
Aggravated Gamers
EGM Live
 
Must:

1up Yours
Gamasutra/GDC Radio
Next Generation

Worth it:

CAGcast
Gamespot presents: Designer Threads (Needs updated more regularity)
Played (running long lately)
Retronauts
EGM Live
 
1up Yours and Gamespot have at least one solid LOL moment every week.

Best podcast on the Internet is CNet's Buzz Out Loud, easily.

The worst are anything from IGN that has Gary Whitta on it. He's a smug, loud-mouthed twat pretty much all the time. Not because of his opinions, but just because he's so ****ing abrasive.
 
I've been meaning to listen to the Games for Windows podcast forever, and with all the positive mentions it's getting here, shit, seems like a no-brainer. Off to download...
 
Must Listen:
Player One Podcast
Next Generation Podcast
GDC Radio

Worth Listening:
The HotSpot
GameFaceRadio
Dave and Joel's Fast Karate for the Gentleman
CAGCast
1UP Yours

Worth Watching:
Drensch's Avatar
178.jpg
 
Must listen (the three I always listen to first):
1UP Yours
Next-Gen.biz
CAGcast

Worth listening to:
EGM Live
Angry-Gamer
Retronauts
NeoGAFcast
Played

There are others I listen to, but I'll generally just put those on if I've already made it through the rest. Every now and again a new 'cast pops up and I'll give it a go for an episode or two. Pre-360 launch I'd have said Major Nelson was a top pick, but in the last year it's become the one I listen to last. I just don't find it that interesting anymore. Single-person casts (Gaming Steve) are just...I dunno...odd. Awkward. It's like a one-sided phone conversation. And eventually you start noticing someone's vocal tics (the "ums," "actuallys" or "definitelys"). I say this knowing full well that I am no great public speaker either. But then Player One isn't just me (thank god, 'cuz that would be very boring).
 
My favorites:
1up Yours
Next-gen podcast

Almost favorites:
Hotspot (very solid, entertaining, informative)
Angry Gamer (When it's funny, it's really funny)
GDC Radio (very informative and interesting, but can get boring)
GFW Radio (Great fun at times, even though I don't care much for PC games normally)
Played (I think? I keep mixing them up with Player One)
Maaaybe CAGcast (it has grown on me the past episodes)

Could be better with some work:
EGM Live
Player One
GAFcast

Podcasts I've given up on:
IGN Gamescoop (or whatever it's called)
 
The "ratings" through post 41:

1) 1Up Yours (by a landslide)
2) Next-gen.biz
3) Angry Gamer
4) Player One
5) GFW Radio
6) GAFCast
7) Gamasutra/GDC Radio
8) CAGcast
9) The Hotspot
10) Retronauts
11) EGM Live
12) Played
13) Major Nelson
14) Gaming Steve
15) Gamers with jobs
16) Nine podcasts considered "worth a listen" by one GAFFer.

(not sure what the difference is or if there is one for Gamasutra/GDC, so they're together on the list, since several people put them together)

EDIT: One set of responses ignored because they didn't follow the rules.

Also wanted to add that this'll be helpful to me. There are some casts I would never have tried that I'll probably give a listen to based on this thread... good stuff.
 
Must listen:
1UP Yours
The Hotspot

Worth listening to:
Orange Lounge Radio
Next-Gen (if you can tolerate the poor audio quality and accents)
 
OnkelC said:
the angry-gamer.net podcast is entertainment at its finest.
Man, entertainment must really be slipping.

I enjoyed it for a while, but every week it seems like they slide less into gaming and more into horrible groan-inducing sketch show. They really jumped the shark with the recent two-parter "murder mystery" bullshit.

Also, the girl who won't shut up about Sims DS needs desperately to be thrown from a very great height.
 
Shig said:
Man, entertainment must really be slipping.

I enjoyed it for a while, but every week it seems like they slide less into gaming and more into horrible groan-inducing sketch show. They really jumped the shark with the recent two-parter "murder mystery" bullshit.

Also, the girl who won't shut up about Sims DS needs desperately to be thrown from a very great height.

i haven't listened to it in a while, but i like the goofy stuff better than the gaming discussions on that podcast. I don't think they have particularly interesting things to say in pure discussion form.
 
MUST:
1up Yours
The Hotspot
Radio Free Nintendo

WORTH:
Retronauts
GAFcast

Those are the only ones I listen to. RFN is really good; if you only heard one of the first episodes, give it another try because it has improved greatly since then. And yes, I'm biased as hell.
 
gamejew
awesome video games
everything on screwattack basically.
even angry nerd guy
 
Must Listen:
1up Yours
Hotspot (This would be even better if they stuck with the 4 of Jeff, Rich, Brad Shoemaker, and Ryan Davis, I think that's the best group.)

Worth a Listen:
EGM Live (really fluctuates week to week, some are great, some are zzzzzzz.....
 
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