Welcome, one and all, to the first installment of our new podcast. This biweekly spin-off will discuss the latest material from all of our favorite gaming blogs, books, magazines…maybe even fan fiction (or not). Many of us here read about games almost as often as we play them, and the Reader will allow us to address interesting topics in a more intimate setting. This show will definitely evolve over the next few weeks, but listener feedback is crucial. We’ll be paying close attention to iTunes reviews and comments, so please let us know what you think!
This week, Justin and Nick delve into a recent article from Leigh Alexander that addresses GDC’s social gaming buzz. Farmville is definitely a phenomenon, but can it possibly take down console gaming? They also delve into the “lost” issue of EGM, supposedly just prior to the digital magazine’s launch. The presentation is pretty slick, but the guys still have a few reservations.
Relevant Links:
Leigh Alexander’s “The News of Console Gaming’s Death Has Been Greatly Exaggerated”
Nick is a former Pack member and resident ghost. He spent over a year in Japan in order to master the language and understand a little bit more about his favorite hobby, and can constantly be found playing pretty much anything under the sun. 
Found a nice article you guys may like to touch on in an upcoming podcast.
http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2010/04/video_games_can_never_be_art.html
nice podcast guys. it took me a second to realize that outro was the rumblepack theme.
I feel like you need a slightly modified intro, maybe even just right when the guy is about to say “the rumble pack” replace the “pack” with justin saying “reader” very plainly.
As for the show itself, i may not be a good indicator since i have not read a game magazine in probably 10 years, but i would advise against reading off big block quotes. Even when i’m interested in the subject i generally tune out recitations like that. Instead try to find very specific assertations and put them in your own words, or even immediately follow up reading the author off with your own rephrasing. That’s an old trick i learned in speech and debate and it tends to help hammer a point home.
Good luck on your sidequest guys!
Thanks for the comments, guys!
Chaz, we’ll be talking about the Ebert piece on this week’s episode of the Pack – it’s a good fit for the reader, but seems to have made its way into a bit of mainstream news, so why not.
Jard, thanks for the constructive criticism, I’ll do my best to remember that the next time we record!