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Podcast Interest

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Gabe
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I've got a little extra time on my hands, and I'm trying to figure out a good way to use it. For a while, I've been rolling around a podcast idea, and I want to get your thoughts and opinions.

It would be a weekly (or bi-weekly) show. 30-40 minutes in length. And each show would be an interview with a designer that explores a specific topic in board game design.

I wouldn't waste time on any of that "what have you been playing lately" stuff, and I'd want the broad, vague "how did you get into gaming/designing" kind of stuff to be kept to a minimum.

I want to interview guests about one thing and go deep on the subject.

For example:

Interview Tom Vasel on the responsibility of game reviewers

Interview a successful Kickstarter who had to relaunch the campaign after a failed attempt and talk about what made the difference

Interview a designer who got a good game published that received low gamer ratings

Interview a designer who decided to start a company and talk about the pros and cons

Etc.

But is this the type of thing any of you would be interested in?

I know there are a number of designers right here on the forum who would make great guests.

But I don't want to start traveling down this road if it's going to be a waste of time.

Thanks for any feedback.

The Professor
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Interrsted...multiple levels

Gabe,

I listen to a few podcasts (Brawling Brothers; Blue Peg, Pink Peg; and the Dukes of Dice) and thoroughly enjoy the very different formats presented in each of them. A 30-min one would be great.In the not too distant future, I'll be interviewed with my co-designer of TAU CETI, Mike Strickland, on the Brawling Brothers podcast, and would be happy to assist you, as well.

Good luck in this endeavor!

Cheers,
Joe

Gabe
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Thanks, Joe. The TAU CETI

Thanks, Joe.

The TAU CETI team was one of the first to come to mind that would make a good interview.

The Professor
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Thanks!

Gabe

I've been out here for several years, and like a few others, I'd be grateful for the opportunity to share our stories of creating a game, set-backs from play-tests, successes, and myriad other areas for future-published designers.

This is a peculiar site in that you don't always receive feedback. I'm interested in a great many of the ideas I read on the various posts, but time limits me to but a few. Several designers have PM'd me and we've had great conversations and I hoped that I've aided them in the process.

Thanks again for thinking of us!

Cheers,
Joe

questccg
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Maybe you should try something different

IDK, personally a 30-45 minute podcast is too long for me. I usually tune out at around 5:00. I'd maybe watch a 10:00 video - but anything longer usually I fast-forward if this is possible.

Perhaps you could try something different (and this is just a suggestion - you can ignore it if you are not interested).

Maybe instead of the usual podcast, you could START something NEW! How about a DIALOG with gamers.

MY idea goes like this: You have 5:00 minutes to present three (3) "Games of the Month". Next everyone is expected during the month to PLAY one, two or all three of these games. Once they do, they SHARE their experience in the "Comments" section below the podcast link.

This could get people talking more about their "game experiences" which when POSITIVE should help a game out.

We've been clamoring that there is very little in terms of "Marketing" for Board Games aside from "Reviewers" and more reviewers and perhaps BGG. But a Podcast that urges people "to ACTION" is kind of interesting...

If you build up a following - you could eventually add a one (1) "PROMO SPOT" where you can earn money, like maybe $100.00 USD for someone's game to be urged to be played (do you understand what I mean?) You can actually say which game is the promo - but in any case, what you will be doing is HELPING spread word about games and their game designers...

I think in relation to BGDF, a designer forum, this makes more sense - since you are helping the designer community with this type of podcast.

Good luck with your endeavor.

Update: I bet you're not in it for the money... but look at it this way:

If you have an audience of 1,000 listeners, and let's say 50 buy Game #1 to play, that's 50 sales that would probably have never occurred but only thanks to your podcast - people become interested in "following the wave" so to speak. It's like the CD of the Month club. If you get 50 people to buy a $40.00 game - well that's $2000.00 in revenue. $100.00 USD for a promotion spot - is very worthwhile and you are helping designers!

Gabe
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That's a really interesting

That's a really interesting idea. I'm definitely going to think it through. Maybe there's a way to do both.

questccg
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Inspired by Radho...

This specific idea comes from supporting "Richard Ham" (Radho) and his voting for reviews of games. But the problem is all we get is HIS opinion. Sure we all voted for which game we wanted to be reviewed - but in the end all we get is the opinion of ONE (1) person...

On the flip side a call "to action" podcast - which like you say could be a highlight in your podcast ... and what it does is get "feeback" from people who have actually played the game. That kind of honest feedback is great for indie designers and their games.

If you try to stick away from the staples like Catan, Pandemic, etc. That class of games which are more retail or big-box games... and focus on "indie" games - and you build up an audience - what you bring to the table is a lot of VALUE to those "indie" designers. Aside for earning a little for paying of equipment like better microphones or covering the costs of the website, etc. You will have something of which is very meaningful to designers.

We should be focusing on more "indie" types of content/promotion.

Lastly such a "format" might be unique in that some people will tune in just to know "What's this month's games"...

questccg
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Maybe you could consider...

Using YouTube audio only video. The comment section is open to people who watch the video - but in the explanation of your "channel", you could say that commenting is for people who have played one of the games...

You may need to pay $0.00 to just have a YouTube Channel with the podcast directly there and using the comment section and views/subscribers to generate a community around your podcast.

I was just thinking this might be a simple and effective way of having a podcast and a good way of having comments, building a community of listeners and gamers.

In the video you could even do spot promotion of indie games. IDK - I don't like talking about money - but you could have different games featured in the video portion (like ads) - and those can be paid for by "indie" designers trying to get the word out about their games.

Use the "video portion" for promotion and the "audio portion" for what you want to podcast...

Again just some ideas - take what you like - trash what you don't. :)

Tedthebug
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Do like sesame street

Have each episode brought to you by a Letter & then pick 1 or 2 games starting with that letter. Randomise it with shows brought to you by a number/symbol etc to cover games that start with those.

But I like the designer chat shows, I listen to a few podcasts & they are the bits I like. Well, those & the ones where they discuss the mechanics of a game. I'm not real big on reviews as they are always the persons opinion, but the small bits where they discuss the mechanics within the review, what worked & didn't work together, are helpful.

Gabe
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@Tedthebug: Have you seen Tom

@Tedthebug: Have you seen Tom Vasel's alphabet series? He did a pretty good job with it. Check it out here: http://www.dicetower.com/board-game-videos?field_category_tid=644

Thank you for the feedback. Yeah, the show would focus on what makes games work well--design theory, mechanics, listening to customers and all that. Each show would be specific.

Soulfinger
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PM me if you end up doing

PM me if you end up doing this. I know someone who is not only finishing up an amazing game but also founding a distillery.

Gabe
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Noted. Would the game and

Noted. Would the game and distillery happen to be related?

Soulfinger
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Gabe wrote:Noted. Would the

Gabe wrote:
Noted. Would the game and distillery happen to be related?

No, that would be awful. It is way more interesting that they are not.

alandor
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I would have appreciated your

I would have appreciated your original idea. I find 30-40 minutes to be a good length for an interview and for my part I think I would learn a lot from listening to focused interviews with the people you select. The other idea could be good as well of course.

Tedthebug
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No, I hadn't seen those

Thanks for the link, I will try to check them soon. I've only gotten into Boardgame design in the last 9mths so I have a lot of catching up to do.

Squinshee
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I can't get enough of game

I can't get enough of game design podcasts, so I say go for it.

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