PolyCast Episode 19: "And On and On" (Part 2)

**DanQ** · July 6, 2007, 20:49

The second of a two-part Beyond the Sword extravaganza on the official podcast of Apolyton Civilization Site (ACS) is here. It's also the second in an unprecedented three consecutive weeks of new PolyCast episodes!

Part Two is the show's ninteenth installment, "And On and On"; though understandably predominated by 'News' again, a brief 'Senate' and a 'Mailbag' segment are present as well. Returning guest co-host Keygen joins regular co-hosts Daniel "DanQ" Quick, Wouter "Locutus" Snijders and Makahlua. Total runtime is 56m:40s (25.9MB).

PolyCast is a bi-weekly, one-hour production in an effort to give the Civ community now an interactive voice. ACS is the first and to date only known Civ fansite to produce its own podcast.

**DanQ** · July 6, 2007, 20:51

NEWS (02m40s)
More from not one or two but three articles, developer chat (CFC) and developer podcast on Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword: corporations, colonies (13m11s), technologies (16m12s), random events (18m59s) and a 'catch-all' miscellaneous category (33m59s).

SENATE (44m18s)
To upgrade or not to upgrade your units in CivIV, that is the question.

MAILBAG (47m18s)
A return to 'kniteowl''s Episode 17 comments, and the continuation of a wrong number saga that began earlier this year.

**Sirotnikov** · July 9, 2007, 18:17

we can't hear it because the site is nor working

**DanQ** · July 9, 2007, 18:41

Originally posted by Sirotnikov
we can't hear it because the site is nor working

See http://apolyton.net/about on that issue.

**Sirotnikov** · July 9, 2007, 19:57

i'm just as upset all the same

**DanQ** · July 10, 2007, 19:23

Originally posted by Sirotnikov
i'm just as upset all the same

Well, you should be able to download it now.

Your PolyCast fix is back!

**Nugog** · July 10, 2007, 20:49

Good show!

Sound quality was great - nice and even the whole way through.

Not too sure about the mailbag bit though - suppose it filled some time up..........

Please God let the next Polycast have something apart from BtS in it........

Never know - playing a game/XP that actually has some surprises in it might be nice......

**Nugog** · July 10, 2007, 20:50

Originally posted by Sirotnikov
we can't hear it because the site is nor working

iTunes has it.................

**DanQ** · July 10, 2007, 21:18

Originally posted by Nugog
Good show!

Sound quality was great - nice and even the whole way through.

Not too sure about the mailbag bit though - suppose it filled some time up..........

~snicker~

Did you hear the 'first' part as referenced, either before seeing that reference or after?

Please God let the next Polycast have something apart from BtS in it........

I believe the almighty will answer your prayers.

Never know - playing a game/XP that actually has some surprises in it might be nice......

Blasphemy!

Interesting you say that, actually, for I made a comment similar to that in this episode... or the one before it... or the one after. Can't remember.

**DanQ** · July 10, 2007, 21:20

Originally posted by Nugog
iTunes has it.................

Having never used or looked that closely into iTunes, I'm not sure, but do feeds on it download the content to a/the service's server then or just reference to the source(s) provided by feed managers?

**Nugog** · July 10, 2007, 21:39

Originally posted by DanQ
~snicker~

Did you hear the 'first' part as referenced, either before seeing that reference or after?

No.

I believe the almighty will answer your prayers.

**Nugog** · July 10, 2007, 21:40

Originally posted by DanQ

Having never used or looked that closely into iTunes, I'm not sure, but do feeds on it download the content to a/the service's server then or just reference to the source(s) provided by feed managers?

Ummmmm

Ummmmm

When I go to iTunes it downloads the newest episode of Polycast onto my PC.

I hope that helps!

**DanQ** · July 10, 2007, 21:48

Originally posted by Nugog

Ummmmm

Ummmmm

When I go to iTunes it downloads the newest episode of Polycast onto my PC.

I hope that helps!

After doing some quick research, it seems that iTunes does not download podcast MP3s to their server but rather makes references to them available to its subscribers. This is as I thought, and the more practical way to go IMO. Given this though, if we're experiencing technical difficulties, so are iTunes users looking to obtain podcasts from us at the same time.

As an alternate in such situations though, some of the services linked to from the show's site that carry our feed actually make copies of our works available from their own server. We ask that people (to continue) to obtain the show from us directly to help us better gauge listenership numbers, but an experience such as the one that our server just went through makes this alternative being available most favourable.

**Nugog** · July 10, 2007, 22:05

Originally posted by DanQ
We ask that people (to continue) to obtain the show from us directly to help us better gauge listenership numbers

What sort of numbers do you get?

**DanQ** · July 10, 2007, 22:12

Originally posted by Nugog
What sort of numbers do you get?

It varies from episode-to-episode, but as near and best as we can tell, on average 150-200 listeners (from its official site).

This range has been reasonably steady for some months, which is good, but naturally we're looking for a steady increase.

**Nugog** · July 10, 2007, 22:16

Nice!

I will continue to get it from here then...........

**DanQ** · July 11, 2007, 19:32

Originally posted by Nugog
Nice!

Indeed.

We aren't expecting thousands of regular listeners -- though we'd surely welcome it

-- but a bit higher in the hundreds would be even nicer.

I will continue to get it from here then...........

**Nugog** · July 11, 2007, 20:28

Originally posted by DanQ
a bit higher in the hundreds would be even nicer.

How (apart from on Aployton) do you advertise Polycast?

**Locutus** · July 11, 2007, 23:23

Originally posted by DanQ
Having never used or looked that closely into iTunes, I'm not sure, but do feeds on it download the content to a/the service's server then or just reference to the source(s) provided by feed managers?

As I point out every single time we discuss numbers, yes, iTunes downloads the files to their own servers. Your research is wrong, I've tested this extensively.

As an alternate in such situations though, some of the services linked to from the show's site that carry our feed actually make copies of our works available from their own server. We ask that people (to continue) to obtain the show from us directly to help us better gauge listenership numbers, but an experience such as the one that our server just went through makes this alternative being available most favourable.

It would be nice of people to download directly from our server but people should do whatever's convenient for them. I listen to well over a dozen different podcasts, it would be a huge pain to download each of those directly from a webpage. I don't do that myself and I wouldn't ask anyone to do so. It's not like we get money for the number of downloads, so it's really only an ego thing for us to have high numbers.

I'd much rater like people to comment or vote on the show here or call or write in than to download the shows from a specific location. User participation is really what sets podcasts apart from traditional media.

It varies from episode-to-episode, but as near and best as we can tell, on average 150-200 listeners (from its official site).

Note that this number does not include the downloads from services like iTunes (the most popular way to listen to podcasts) that store the files locally and only reflects the first ~month after their release. But even the first couple of shows released back in October and November are still getting small numbers of downloads every single month. So the total number of listeners is probably quite a bit higher than that, although it's anyone's guess really how high exactly (I'd say we have about 300 regular listeners per show on average but again, that's as good a guess as any).

**DanQ** · July 12, 2007, 00:49

Originally posted by Locutus
As I point out every single time we discuss numbers, yes, iTunes downloads the files to their own servers. Your research is wrong, I've tested this extensively.

Well there you go, I forgot. I mean we are talking about an Apple product...

Seriously though, thanks iTunes!

Good to know ( and maybe I'll remember this time.

)

It's not like we get money for the number of downloads, so it's really only an ego thing for us to have high numbers.

We all know that, but shhhhhhhhhhh!

I'd much rater like people to comment or vote on the show here or call or write in than to download the shows from a specific location. User participation is really what sets podcasts apart from traditional media.

QFT

(and so I QFT a post for the first time... ooooo

)

... the total number of listeners is probably quite a bit higher than that, although it's anyone's guess really how high exactly (I'd say we have about 300 regular listeners per show on average but again, that's as good a guess as any).

Yes, but you have to remember that I'm a very conservative person...

**DanQ** · July 21, 2007, 01:00

Originally posted by Nugog
How (apart from on Aployton) do you advertise Polycast?

Forgot to answer this one!

Off-site, PolyCast is advertised primarily a) through emails to assorted gaming news sites about the release of new episodes (or upcoming episodes where deemed appropriate) and b) on podcast directory, stream and subscription services (see show website for those).

Also, as of Episode 18, a similar comment thread is maintained on CFC.