PolyCast, the Official A.C.S. Podcast

DanQ · October 20, 2006, 21:40

The Civilization community now has an interactive voice. Apolyton Civilization Site (ACS) is the first Civ fansite to launch its own podcast. PolyCast is a bi-weekly roughly one-hour production featuring co-hosts Daniel "DanQ" Quick, Wouter "Locutus" Snijders, Makahlua and Imran Siddiqui.

Standard segments in each episode are an introduction, "In the News", "Interview" and an ending; other regular segments are featured on a rotating basis. The series' first episode, "Let's Get It Started", is now available for download in MP3 format at 64kbps quality. The first of the rotating segments included in this premiere outing are the "Modcast" and "Mailbag".

"I came here for the Alpha Centauri forums and ended up in becoming a Civ [Play-By-Email (PBEM)] regular and Diplomacy game irregular. [Now I'm] in a Civ podcast -- how'd that happen?" comments Makahlua, PolyCast's sole female co-host. "I'm hoping we can make the news more lively for you listeners out there; and hope our other segments don't bore you to death what with a bunch of CivNerds blathering on and on. And on. If you think we sound like amateurs now, you should hear the pre-pilots!"

"If you think I'm strange on the forums, wait until ya hear me!" pipes in Siddiqui.

Adding to the show's interactive capability are means to call-in via Skype, telephone and email the co-hosts your questions or comments about Civ the game, community, or the show and Apolyton itself. Particularly verbal but also written communications may be used and discussed on future episodes. The first episode can also be rated and comments on.

PolyCast is ACS' official podcast.

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Dan; Apolyton CS

Imran Siddiqui · October 21, 2006, 03:00

The response seems to be so overwhelming Dan... I can hardly deal with all these queries

Makahlua · October 21, 2006, 04:46

That's what he gets for releasing it on a Friday night

DanQ · October 21, 2006, 10:31

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
The response seems to be so overwhelming Dan... I can hardly deal with all these queries

Give it time.

Originally posted by Makahlua
That's what he gets for releasing it on a Friday night

That's when I have the time.

I wouldn't be surprised if soon this series is another reason why some (hopefully many!) Civers look forward to every other "TGIF" period.

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Dan; Apolyton CS

Imran Siddiqui · October 21, 2006, 14:20

How many times has it been downloaded?

Sirotnikov · October 21, 2006, 14:26

It's amusing

But you all need to keep the microphone in a steady place, or buy "clip-on" mikes, because some people keep breathing into the mike, or getting really far from it.

I must say that Makahula has the best voice

And Locutus is at times difficult to understand.

Sorry dude

You must also sometime remind us who is talking, since several minutes into the show I lost track between Imran and DanQ... So I just assumed that Imran is the funnier guy

DanQ · October 21, 2006, 14:27

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
How many times has it been downloaded?

Are we counting team members in the total?

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Dan; Apolyton CS

Sirotnikov · October 21, 2006, 14:28

Did you guys actually met up, or was it recorded in some sort of web-meeting internet environment?

P.S. the music bits must be improved. I'm sure Poly has enough talented musicians who can quickly compose and record some intro for the show.

Imran Siddiqui · October 21, 2006, 14:28

Uh.... no comment, Dan

.

So I just assumed that Imran is the funnier guy

That's the best thing to do

.

Imran Siddiqui · October 21, 2006, 14:29

Originally posted by Sirotnikov
Did you guys actually met up, or was it recorded in some sort of web-meeting internet environment?

It was over Skype... online. We are too spread out otherwise

.

DanQ · October 21, 2006, 14:31

Originally posted by Sirotnikov
It's amusing

But you all need to keep the microphone in a steady place, or buy "clip-on" mikes, because some people keep breathing into the mike, or getting really far from it.

Yes, and/or short of that

, we're looking into software that can do a better, more even job of leveling out speech volumes

I must say that Makahula has the best voice

And Locutus is at times difficult to understand.

Sorry dude

There was a problem with the original encode of this episode with Locutus' audio, but I was able to compensate for it today and uploaded a 'corrected' version about an hour ago as of this posting. I suspect then that you have/had the original version -- try downloading the episode again to get the 'corrected' version.

Apologies all around for that technical difficulty!

You must also sometime remind us who is talking, since several minutes into the show I lost track between Imran and DanQ... So I just assumed that Imran is the funnier guy

and you're so banned for that!

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Dan; Apolyton CS

Imran Siddiqui · October 21, 2006, 14:31

Originally posted by Sirotnikov
You must also sometime remind us who is talking

We refered to who was Dan every once in a while. He was the one who talked the most

.

DanQ · October 21, 2006, 14:36

Originally posted by Sirotnikov
P.S. the music bits must be improved. I'm sure Poly has enough talented musicians who can quickly compose and record some intro for the show.

The music are excerpts from the Civilization IV and Warlords expansion pack soundtrack, although in the case of the ~20 second theme song at the beginning (and included again at the very end) there is a bit of... reproducing in there.

I've/we've(?) grown quite fond of the intro and the end theme, so I don't see replacing them, but a) someone is quite welcome to try to impress me/us enough to do so

and b) we certainly encourage the submission of other compositions to consider if someone is willing and able to produce some original work for the show.

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Dan; Apolyton CS

P.S. Hope you'll consider rating this episode too!

Locutus · October 21, 2006, 15:19

I think having original music for the show would be a really great thing to have, but none of us have any talents in that area AFAIK so people will have to volunteer to help with that... we wouldn't say no to any volunteering at this point

We did have some technical issues with my side of the recording this time around (I almost wasn't on the show at all). Dan's fixed some of them earlier today but it's still not quite what it would normally be. Also, it's been a few years since I've actually spoken English on a regular basis so my accent's a bit thicker than it used to be, I'm sure that'll improve as we do more of these. But this is only the first ep, we still have a lot to learn; things should only get better from here

Sirotnikov · October 21, 2006, 16:39

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

We refered to who was Dan every once in a while. He was the one who talked the most

.

Yes I noticed that too

I also noticed Dan has the tendency of casually reminding everyone about "that time that Mark and me went to Firaxis studios"

Sirotnikov · October 21, 2006, 16:40

Originally posted by DanQ

and you're so banned for that!

Sirotnikov · October 21, 2006, 16:42

lso, it's been a few years since I've actually spoken English on a regular basis so my accent's a bit thicker than it used to be

Here's to that.

I think I should really start publishing my skype account around here, cause ever since I finished studying english in high-school, my speaking skills and language abilities are deteriorating fast...

Imran Siddiqui · October 21, 2006, 17:38

Originally posted by Sirotnikov
I also noticed Dan has the tendency of casually reminding everyone about "that time that Mark and me went to Firaxis studios"

He just wants people to know that he knows Markos

.

Dale · October 21, 2006, 18:07

I can't believe how much like a dumb Aussie yokel I sound like...... how embarrasing!

DanQ · October 21, 2006, 18:23

Originally posted by Sirotnikov
I also noticed Dan has the tendency of casually reminding everyone about "that time that Mark and me went to Firaxis studios"

Of all my quirks on the show, that's the first one that someone (publicly) picked up on... hmmm...

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
He just wants people to know that he knows Markos

.

Well, I already know me so...

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Dan; Apolyton CS

DanQ · October 21, 2006, 18:24

Originally posted by Dale
I can't believe how much like a dumb Aussie yokel I sound like...... how embarrasing!

How often we are the most critical of ourselves.

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Dan; Apolyton CS

Imran Siddiqui · October 22, 2006, 00:29

Nah, Dale.. you have that cool Aussie accent going. In fact, I was wondering if you would like to rerecord my lines for the show so people can distinguish Dan and I

.

Nubclear · October 22, 2006, 00:54

Downloading. I will reveal my scathing attacks upon your character, family, and patriotism after I listen

Nubclear · October 22, 2006, 02:07

It was good.

Makahlua · October 22, 2006, 07:39

Originally posted by Sirotnikov
I must say that Makahula has the best voice

Aww thanks

Like Dale above, I think I sound ridiculous (in my case, sub "total dork" for "Aussie yokel"

) Just goes to show that it's all about perception, because I think evryone else sounded great

Donegeal · October 22, 2006, 10:43

Yea! Now I get to put quotes into an Apolyton Staff member! Thanks Imran!

(and Congrats to BTW)

DanQ · October 22, 2006, 10:47

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Nah, Dale.. you have that cool Aussie accent going. In fact, I was wondering if you would like to rerecord my lines for the show so people can distinguish Dan and I

.

Originally posted by Comrade Tassadar

It was good.

On behalf of all of us on PolyCast, thanks!

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Dan; Apolyton CS

Ari Rahikkala · October 22, 2006, 10:55

Hm... Anycast, multicast, broadcast, unicast, PolyCast? Yeah, I guess it fits in

.

Sirotnikov · October 22, 2006, 17:42

Erm, so why does the news item keep claiming that it has 0 comments, even though this thread has around 20 replies?

DanQ · October 22, 2006, 17:53

Originally posted by Ari Rahikkala
Hm... Anycast, multicast, broadcast, unicast, PolyCast? Yeah, I guess it fits in

.

Originally posted by Sirotnikov
Erm, so why does the news item keep claiming that it has 0 comments, even though this thread has around 20 replies?

That number is only updated when the news database is rebuilt which primarily occurs only when new items are submitted it.

However, since you brought it up I forced the news database to re-build itself and viola.

Don't forget to take the opportunity to to rate this episode too!

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Dan; Apolyton CS