Done with the podcast

Kilarney

I started listening to GeekNights a couple of years ago. Today I finally removed it from ITunes. For a few months, at least, I've been a sporadic listener at best. It haven't listened to an episode in the last two months or so. I just chalked it up to summer and being busy. After all, I've fallen behind on most of my podcasts.

So yesterday I finally had some extra time, and I listened to the ConnectiCon episode. I am usually in Connecticut during the weekend of ConnectiCon, and have considered going. Knowing little about the convention, I wanted an honest review. (Especially from a gamer's perspective.) Instead, I got 45 minutes of Scrym talking about themselves. The convention was merely a backdrop. What little review conveyed was so generic that it was useless. I've also noticed that you guys are reluctant to give genuine criticism of an event that you play a role in. I don't know if it's because you fear not being invited back, or you just don't notice things in your role.

I figured you guys would enjoy running panels. I'm sure that they were popular. A few minutes about that would have been fine. But really, there was nothing to take away from the episode other than that.

And accordingly... I moved GeekNights to the recycle bin. If the episode that I was the most interested in didn't deliver, what episode would?

I still enjoy the forum, and I think the podcast has a lot to offer. But it had run its course for me. I didn't post this in order to make a scene. Rather, I just wanted to provide some constructive criticism. You guys should remember you roots, and bring the podcast back to that. If you're going to do a review of ConnectiCon, do a review of the convention for a person who really wants to hear about the convention. We'll get to know you guys enough during the podcast. Don't forget the non-Scrym angle. If the podcast was not intended to be a review of ConnectiCon... well then it should have been!

Regards!

Sail

I agree 100%. After a few years of listening it's run it's course for me also. I love the forums but can't remember the last time I listened to the show. It's a great resource for when I want to learn about something in particular or hear a review of a specific show from someone I trust, but really it doesn't interest me anymore as something I want to listen to four days a week.

Apreche

The reason we didn't talk about the convention is because we didn't do anything else at the convention. All we can do in a convention review is share our experience. If we don't go to a convention as attendees, we can't review it as attendees. At PAX we are only running one panel. For the rest of the weekend we will be attending events, just like everyone else. Thus, we will be able to give a review from that perspective.

Really, though. You like the board gaming, you should go to Connecticon. Just ignore the rest of the convention and stay in the gaming room(s).

Kilarney

Really, though. You like the board gaming, you should go to Connecticon. Just ignore the rest of the convention and stay in the gaming room(s).

Thanks! That's really what I wanted to know.

Schnevets

Gaming at Connecticon
Connecticon '07
Connecticon '06

I don't really see what else Scrym could have added to the episodes, so instead they discussed this year's events, which included a lot of panels and a profound moment.
Geeknights hasn't come close to jumping the shark, and I'm sure most forumgoers agree with me on that.

Kilarney

Thanks for those old episodes. It just proves my point. What was in the past was more pertinent to me.

Like I said. I'm not trying to start a debate. It's just that the show has a life-cycle as it pertains to me. Different strokes for different folks.

RothOHNOES

I still listen to the podcast, but only in small doses. Unlike Dave and Joel, I can't listen to GeekNights for a long time. Mostly because I don't enjoy listening to hours of Rym and Scott expressing to each other how awesome they are. I'm not one to say to that people shouldn't be proud of themselves, in fact I'd say that's a big problem in society, that people can't appreciate themselves. I love myself, but I don't exactly need to express it all the time. That's my biggest gripe about the podcast. You guys can be proud of yourself, but you don't have to constantly act like you're better than everyone.

kiwi_bird

I find Dave and Joel can get away with talking "shit" for hours because they are absolutely hilarious any sympathetic. You guys - not as much. I always found your podcasts just as entertaining because you actually informed me about things and discussed interesting topics. But once you don't do so the show looses most of its value to me.

Eryn

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I like hearing Scrym talk about themselves as much as they do. Can't exactly say why; I just like to hear it. Maybe I just enjoy hearing from people who have that much self-confidence, in contrast with most other people I know or listen to.

Loganator456

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I like hearing Scrym talk about themselves as much as they do. Can't exactly say why; I just like to hear it. Maybe I just enjoy hearing from people who have that much self-confidence, in contrast with most other people I know or listen to.

I have to agree with Eryn.

Geo

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I like hearing Scrym talk about themselves as much as they do. Can't exactly say why; I just like to hear it. Maybe I just enjoy hearing from people who have that much self-confidence, in contrast with most other people I know or listen to.

I have to agree with Eryn.

Ditto.

Kilarney

I used to really enjoy when they talked about themselves. They were real guys living a real life. They were good at picking out interesting stories that people could relate to. But something changed. They went from Scrym the real people to Scrym the podcast personalities. It's subtle, but there was a shift. It seems like everything is now discussed in the context of their podcast existence.

If I'm looking for celebrity, I'll listen to Smodcast or something like that. I'm not saying that Scrym are celebrities, but it's just that their medium is beginning to define their personalities. I liked it when they didn't think about that existence. It made the podcast seem much more real.

I'll give you an example. In year's past, you talked about ConnectiCon from the perspective of an attendee. This year, it was from the perspective of guys who were running panels and sitting in the artist alley. That's markedly less relevant to my life.

But what the hell. You can't please everyone - and if you're pleasing others besides me, you must be doing something right!

kumarhk

I found that I've started to listen to GeekNights more regularly now that it's not four times a week. Too much of Scrym is not a good thing, but I like the way the show is going right now.

Eryn

The only thing I don't really like hearing is when they call their friends, the other members of the Front Row Crew, their "staff" when they go to conventions or other such events. That goes a wee bit too far above the high and mighty mark for me.

Themistakenone

I listen to every episode, and I've probably listened to all of them. It's fun being a punk kid with lots of free time and few to no responsibilities. I'll most likely continue to listen to the show. However, I have noticed lately the quality of shows has been decreasing, just thought I'd comment.

Gunfire

I hadn't been listening for too long, but it kind of died for me after the RFID episode.

Luke Burrage

The RFID episode was hilarious. Personally I like listening to people who think they are awesome, mainly because no matter how hard they try, Rym and Scott will never be as awesome as I am. As for convention coverage, those are the only Wednesday shows I listen to because I also help organise conventions so like hearing about their experiences.

Viga

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I like hearing Scrym talk about themselves as much as they do. Can't exactly say why; I just like to hear it. Maybe I just enjoy hearing from people who have that much self-confidence, in contrast with most other people I know or listen to.

I have to agree with Eryn.

Ditto.

Eryn beat me too it. I like that about them. Would you really want to hear them talk about how they suck? I love their confidence which is rare to hear from people I know. It's kinda refreshing.

The only thing I don't really like hearing is when they call their friends, the other members of the Front Row Crew, their "staff" when they go to conventions or other such events. That goes aweebit too far above the high and mighty mark for me.

If their friends never corrected them about that then meh. It's something I wouldn't personally do but if they don't mind it's whatever.

kiwi_bird

Would you really want to hear them talk about how they suck?

How about not talking about themselves that much in general? ^^

Kilarney

Would you really want to hear them talk about how they suck?

I don't really care what they talk about - as long as its relevant and/or interesting.

I had a chance to think about this some more over the last day or so. Here's what I feel. (Whether or not its true, I have no idea. It's just what "seems" to be the case as a listener and a fan.)
It seems to me that Scrym want to move on to bigger and better things other than the podcast. They seem to really enjoy live appearances (such as at conventions) and also want to get into video (Scott's Box, for example). The enthusiasm for the podcast has appeared to wane as their enthusiasm for these other things has waxed. Topics seem to be thrown together, as compared to the old days when a lot of thought and effort went into the presentation.

Here is what I suspect the dilemma is. They want to move onto bigger and better things, but it's really the podcast that, for the time being, gives them their legitimacy. So, while they want to move on, they have to stay in bed with this creature that they've created. They can't make a clean divorce.

I'm not saying that it isn't a lot of work. I'm not saying that they aren't darned good at it. Trust me, I REALLY respect what they do, and all of the work it takes. However, it's become noticeable to me that the enthusiasm just isn't what it used to be. Combine that with a change in philosophy, and it became enough for me.

It's possible that I'm entirely wrong. But what matters, when it comes to what I choose to listen to, is how I perceive what I'm hearing. So that's why I made a personal decision to stop. I'm not saying that my decision is the right decision for others.

Let me give just one example. Kevin Smith does a podcast called Smodcast. He's a big celebrity. He's also a really busy guy. But he seems to really enjoy doing the podcast. It really appears to be something that he has a blast doing, and this comes across in the podcast. So, for me, it's not "celebrity" that's the issue. It's enthusiasm. If it's there, it comes across and is infectious. Combine that with relevant and/or interesting content, and you've got a winner.

Sadly, for me, GeekNights has become less relevant combined with less enthusiasm for the product. But like I said, different strokes for different folks.

Omnutia

I kinda agree with Kilarney, I just listened to the X-Com episode and if you guys could work your way back to more in the way of informational content and keeping the things like conventions to the news section, even if you let the news run long. I prefer to listen to Geeknights to learn things.

Apreche

The reason that topics sound thrown together is because they are. Most of the topics we know a lot about, we have already done shows on. To do a show about a topic on which we are not very knowledgeable requires a lot of research. As we do not want to do repeat shows, over time we are going to talk about things we know and care about less. Even doing reviews of entertainment media is very taxing. It takes a lot of time to consume the media, and that's no different than research time.

As any long-running show of any kind, GeekNights will have many phases in its history. There are ups and downs as well as lefts and rights. Each phase shift will appeal to a different audience. People will be pushed away, and people will be roped in. That's how things go. Being half of the show, I can tell you that I notice my personal feelings changing along with the show. Which change begets which is a chicken and egg situation.

Having said that, I can tell you that I definitely feel as if we are about to enter yet another phase shift. Whether it will be to your liking or not, who can say? What I can say is that we will continue to hold the throttle all the way down, even if the road is bumpy and windy. We could be in worse places than we are now, but we can also certainly be somewhere better. We won't get anywhere if we stop moving. You are all free to get on or off at any time.

JohnU

As any long-running show of any kind, GeekNights will have many phases in its history.

Even if this is a little off topic for this discussion I want to say "I think we have seen the last of the four-nights-a-week schedule". Not that would be a bad thing for Rym or Scott, and it probably will end up being better for the listeners as well.

That said, I still listen to every show.

Kilarney

What I can say is that we will continue to hold the throttle all the way down, even if the road is bumpy and windy.

And believe me... I'm definitely interested in seeing where this goes. More Scott's box!!!

JohnU

And believe me... I'm definitely interested in seeing where this goes. More Scott's box!!!

What Geeknights 2.0 means to me = A long (1.5 - 2 hr???) single show a week format.

I kinda like the idea myself. What would GN2.0 mean to you?

Dkong

The reason that topics sound thrown together is because they are. Most of the topics we know a lot about, we have already done shows on. To do a show about a topic on which we are not very knowledgeable requires a lot of research. As we do not want to do repeat shows, over time we are going to talk about things we know and care about less. Even doing reviews of entertainment media is very taxing. It takes a lot of time to consume the media, and that's no different than research time.

IMO, this seems like you saying "We are too damn lazy to put time and effort into making a show".

Now that you're only doing 2 a week, you should have more time to research and consume media.
Better yet, fuck the current weekly format. Just do Monday and Thursday shows every week. That way you have ample time in between episodes to do whatever the hell you want to do. And by just doing 2 per week on the same days, you could just do shows on whatever topic you think you can do best in. By confining yourselves to specific topics, shitty episodes and cop outs happen too often. If you just did episodes on whatever you felt like doing at the time, I'm sure the episodes would be better.

EDIT: JohnU's idea is good, too. But then if you happen to have 2 good ideas in one week, you'd be kinda fucked. Plus I don't think you guys would be able to stretch an episode that long without getting egotistical as fuck.

Apreche

I think we're well beyond GeekNights 2.0 at this point. More like v15.253.2

Cremlian

so it's 15.253.2 - 2.0 = 13.253.2 times better?

Kilarney

Here is their dilemma. The show is what gives them their street cred. Until they get street cred doing something else, they need the show to maintain their street cred - even if their heart has moved onto bigger and better things. Maybe it's just me being overly cynical, but that's the way I see it.

Mosquitoboy

Here is their dilemma. The show is what gives them their street cred. Until they get street cred doing something else, they need the show to maintain their street cred - even if their heart has moved onto bigger and better things. Maybe it's just me being overly cynical, but that's the way I see it.

I believe they want to move on to other things, I just think they want to change their lives is all. I know I hate doing the same routine day in and day out, but even if you want change doesn't mean that they want to give up what they are doing. I mean they seem to like doing the show, but they want more control over the show, and it seems like the show is controlling them more and more as years go on.
You could tell when they were talking about filling up the Gmail calendar a year ago. "We have 1000 Tuesday shows, but no Mondays in our calendar" They, just as anyone would, enjoy doing shows that they feel like doing. But when those days where they are obligated to do a show and they have no desire to pop up... they may be annoyed being forced to do a show, because it's what we as listeners expect of them.
I mean this is just a hobby after all, but this hobby has dug them slightly into a grave of having to constantly come out with shows until they can amuse their fans another way. 1 yr ago I thought it would be different front row crew people coming out with other stuff as Rym and Scott slowed down on the geeknights production, but sadly I have seen none of this.
Well besides at conventions... Thanks guys for a great burning wheel game.

Jen

I'm also done with Geeknights podcast. Originally, I would lay alone in bed listening to Rym and Scott's dreamy voices as I touched myself, but alas, they no longer rock my socks off. I have moved on to better masturbating material such as Anime Pulse and Ninja Consultants.