Constantly Calibrating Podcast (Gaming & Geek Culture)

Calibrating GameStop EXPO 2015

This week, the guys cover Josh’s glorious trip to GameStop EXPO 2015!   What did he see? What did he play? How did he smell? We may or may have not gotten to all of these questions in hearing about his crazy exploits playing the hottest new games!   Elsewhere in the cast, we talk about pending Star Wars goodness/shenanigans, the life and times of Marty O’Donnell, and gush just a tad more about Metal Gear Solid V.   All this and more on this week's Constantly Calibrating!

Calibrating Metal PAX Infinity 3.0

This week, Justin gets excited prematurely in the new entry into the Metal Gear Solid franchise, The Phantom Pain. He then proceeded to get his excitement all over the rest of the guys until he had at least two of them interested. Brad however was more about that Infinity 3.0 life, and is holding it in till next week to explode on the rest of the group. The guys also debut two new streaming shows, and Josh "gets to go to Gamestop Expo" and "just got done trying Battlefront and oh my isn't i...

Calibrating Totally Planned Topics

This week we totally had a topic planned. Like for realsies. With the lull in summer news and the fact that we all work full time jobs, this week didn't have a topic, which allowed us to delve into many topics instead.

Calibrating Community vs Fandom

This week, ConCal covered Community vs. Fandom. They looked into the void and the void happened to be very amicable. It carried conversation pretty well, and its partner is very nice. The guys might go over for tea sometime.   They asked such daring questions as: What makes a good community? What does a community look like when it goes bad? Can a community exist without a fandom, and vice versa? We ask these questions and more on this week’s Constantly Calibrating!

Calibrating gamescom & RTX 2015

This week, the gang covers gamesom 2015 in brief, in an effort to bring you the full brunt of their time at Rooster Teeth Expo 2015 -- the second year for ConCal. Brad gets filled in with everything from the media room, we shout out to PWNEE and Twin Stick Radio, and it's possible someone got into a dance fight with peeps from Rocket Jump. Maybe? All these stories and more on this week’s Constantly Calibrating!

Calibrating the Mid-summer Lull

This week, the guys pried the script from Brad's hands and threw it out the window! Cabin fever has taken over the control room! There is no set topic this week, and the crew went crazy in the process. We briefly covered the acoustics of Josh and Justin's old flat together, vamped on our sponsors (Green Man Gaming and No Scope Glasses), and heard the wondrous tale of the infamous "FBI Cruise" of Silverman family vacation lore. All this craziness and more on this week's Constantly Calibrati...

Calibrating Undead IPs

Much like Deadpool and Harley Quinn cosplays, there are some franchises and properties that just won't die. The gang tries their best to tackle some of these slippery IPs.   What gives a franchise longevity, even past its originally intended lifespan? Is it that they are just popular enough and endearing enough that there will never be a time without them -- can’t wait till Mighty Morphin Super Ultra Space Ninja Dino-Rangers)? Or are we just so nostalgia-heavy in popular culture that we gl...

Calibrating San Diego Comic-Con 2015

This week, the team bid farewell to one of the most influential persons in gaming culture, Mr. Satoru Iwata. After a brief overview of his accomplishments, and an ill-timed banana joke, they proceed onto San Diego Comic-Con news.   It’s an exciting year this year for nerds. A new Star Wars and a subsequent generation growing up with the series has Josh giddy and emotional, as contrasted with the apparent lack of emotion from Will Smith in the trailer for Suicide Squad. Thankfully the other...

#153 - Calibrating PC Porting

This week, the guys take a look at the Arkham Knight PC kerfuffle, while focusing on a broad look at PC-porting in recent memory. They talk at length about some of the worst ones, and what makes or breaks a port. Is it the publishing house? Is it the developer? Is it the public? Find out on this weeks Constantly Calibrating

Calibrating Relationships in Gaming

This week was a doozy as we made do without Josh this week (though he will be back next week), and tried to talk about relationships and sexuality in gaming.   Did we cover it in the full scope and breadth that deserves? Probably not. But did we find out a lot about ourselves and really in this instance, Troy? Oh yeah. So buckle in and prepare to have an open mind, heart, and soul for this week’s Constantly Calibrating!

Calibrating Platform Evolution

This week, Josh was still spending time with this thing he calls 'actual family’, so the rest of the guys decided to launch into a preemptive talk on platformers before their interview with Yacht Club Gaming in 2 weeks! The focus was on the evolution of the platforming genre over the years, and the progression of its traits, as well as stylistic choices over the years. Brad and Justin argued over whether Battletoads counted as a platformer, and Brian brought up StarTropics yet again (he’s s...

Calibrating E3 2015

This week, The crew grabs their Pip-Boys and yarn-based companions and embark upon the biggest gaming event of the year, E3 2015! They discuss whether Nintendo really has to care about these kind of conferences (they don't) and whether Square Enix is still relevant (they aren’t). Brian and Justin get indignant about Xbox backwards compatibility and what should and shouldn't have been offered on day one, and goddamit, everyone keeps taking Josh’s topics! Let us know what you thought of E3 a...

Calibrating E3 2015 Predictions

This week, Brad skips out on the show as the rest of the guys make their predictions for E3 2015! Josh, Justin, and Brian dig deep as they predict their hopes and dreams that may or may not come true (“All” we are asking for is a new Mass Effect title, and maybe some Mirror’s Edge). Will Kojima be trotted out on stage? Will Nintendo unveil its next console? Will we have somebody representing ConCal at E3? Tune in to find out which one of those might be a possibility on this week’s cast,...

Calibrating Con Culture

This week, ConCal goes to Comicon! The guys talk about their experiences at conventions over the years, good and bad, and try and come to a consensus of what a concretely calibrated convention would look like. Josh and Brian also talk about their time at Phoenix Comicon, and Justin may or may not still be playing Witcher 3. We should probably go check on him... Join us for this week's Constantly Calibrating!

Calibrating the Mobile Dilemma

This week the guys are back at it again, playing and talking about those silly handheld games.  No. Not the Vita (shut up Justin). No. Not the DS (shut up Brad and Josh). Brian. Just put the PSP away.   The crew talks about their selection of mobile games and what drives them to play or not play. They also get into a great discussion on the demonization of mobile gaming by the gaming community. So strap in for more fun than a stack of candy, angry aviaries, or Russian building blocks! ...

Calibrating Gaming Soundscapes

This week, Brad leads Justin and Brian along in a rousing discussion of our favorite and not-so-favorite video game music. They try and figure out what exactly makes a soundtrack memorable/nostalgic, what they dislike in gaming soundtracks, and Justin tries to figure out how exactly to say Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's name correctly. Find this out and more on this weeks episode of Constantly Calibrating! If we missed an important soundtrack, or you think we are completely crazy with our rea...

Calibrating the Star Wars Sickness

This week, the guys support Brad's sickness induced topic of wondering why Star Wars is so dang popular, and when we all got into it. Josh gripes about the actual date of Star Wars Day (May 25th for all of you following along at home),  and Brian & Justin become a new powerhouse for film ideas, or at least opening credits (call us Disney!). For more shenanigans, listen to this weeks Constantly Calibrating! What's your predictions for the Boba Fett standalone film? Do you think Chris Pratt i...

Calibrating E-Sports

This week, the guys say their iece about the new Joker, Josh bemoans the announcement of the new Dragon BAll Z series, and they talk about the rise and impact of E-Sports! With special guest, E-Sports commentator, Christopher Allen! Join us for another week of Constantly Calibrating!

Calibrating Ray Narvaez Jr

This week our triumphant quartet return to unleash many a podcast upon your dainty ears.  On this episode Josh & Justin sat down to chat with Ray Narvaez Jr., formerly of Rooster Teeth and Achievement Hunter. They chatted with Ray about his decision to leave Rooster Teeth and what the future holds for him. Prior to that, in the first 30 minutes of the show, our team talked Star Wars Celebration, including The Force Awakens, Rogue One, Rebels, Battlefront, and much more. There's also a litt...

Calibrating the ConCal School of Parenting

This week the gang is back together, and they are out for revenge! Not really, but they are out to find out what parenting styles work for them in the eventuality that they all have spawn at one point or another. Along the way they generate more ideas for the reboot of Guitar Hero, ruminate on Grand Theft Auto V on the PC, and OH GOD WHAT ARE THEY DOING WITH GORO’S ARMS?!? Find out on this week’s podcast!

Calibrating Detested Media

This week, the gang goes over the media they just don't care for and if they could care less for, they would. They also took a look at some of the best April Fools pranks from the past week, as well as 4k for the web. Plus, Josh let's loose with a deep, dark secret that's been haunting him the last month. Enjoy!

Calibrating Media Catch-Up

This week, Justin and Brian are joined by ⅔ of the Lazy Revolver podcast, Sage and Zane Greenawalt. They cover the topic of missing out on great content for the stupidest reasons, recent streaming shenanigans with Twitch and the NFL( respectively different stories), as well as a multitude of tangents on the Mars One mission.

Calibrating Crowdfunding Craziness

This week, the gang goes over their thoughts on the merits and pitfalls of crowdfunding, Josh put up his numbers of dollars donated to gaming hopefuls, and everyone gets excited for the new ventures from Kevin Smith.   Join us on this week’s podcast.

Calibrating Justin's PAX East Journey of Discovery

This week the gang peppers Justin with questions regarding PAX East, get into a debate on the merits/demerits of an all male sequel of Ghostbusters so close to the release of the all female led picture, and rock out to the good news from Harmonix on their new Rock Band title! Have a listen to your weekly dose of things, words, and stuff!

Calibrating Perceptions of Length

This week the gang gauges game girth and length, and tries to wrap their hands around it and explain people's attraction to games of all sizes. They also say goodbye to the great person of Leonard Nimoy, and memorialize him. Hope you enjoy this week's episode!

Calibrating Gaming Redux, Remakes, & Remasters

Calibrating Molyneux's Dying Light

This week, the gang gets infected and talks Dying Light; A bright, zombie infested start to a new year of games. Discussion also turns to the repeated offenses of Peter Molyneux, and if he has over-promised one time too many. Join us for another week of Constantly Calibrating!

Calibrating Marvel/Sony Spider-Man Thoughts

This week, the gang covers the news coming out of Sony and Marvel concerning the Spider-Man Franchise.   Who is Spider-Man? Are you for Peter or Miles? Should comics/films be “forced” to bend to changes in culture?   J.K. Simmons induced diatribe aside, we go into our thoughts on the mutually beneficial merger of the two companies interests, and we even get into a discussion on how established comics characters should be handled?   Plus, bonus hatred-fueled rant about 50 Shades of Grey...

Calibrating Daybreak Game Co.

This week we delve into the acquisition and renaming of DayBreak Game Company, formerly known as Sony Online Entertainment. We talk titles and game styles, and remember Star Wars Galaxies fondly. We also memorialize Monty Oum in our own way, and pay homage to our friend and inspiration

Calibrating Old Vs. New Media

This week, we get meta and talk about the differences between Legacy and Internet/Digital Media (Old and New Media). Is there a place for both, or will one win out? And where does Constantly Calibrating see itself in the middle of all this?   Find out on this week's podcast!

Calibrating The Four Pillars of Successful Games

This week we talk a bit of TV show news, New 3DS release dates, and more possible buyouts from Disney in the news. For our main topic of discussion we ask the quesion: What makes a game sucessful? Our answer we come to surprises even us at the end a bit.

Calibrating 2015 Game Anticipation

This week our heroes embark upon their 2015 most anticipated games list along with a regular dabbling of news, as much news as can be expected in Januaray anyways! Strap in and join us as we venture forth into the our own personal hype for this year in games!

Calibrating Lackluster Baby Guardians

This week we go sans Josh! Cause he's having a baby (no not him physically althought we'd cover that if he was!) We talk about a few collectors editions one with a spoiler, Sony's Playstation Now and Network issues, Star Wars episode VII fighting, a little CES 2015. Then we move to our main topic of complaining (maybe like old guys?) about the Halo 5 Guardians Beta! Come hang out with us and hear our thoughts as we work through it all! Be sure to share any thoughts you have on the cast wt...

Calibrating The Definitive End-of-2014 Podcast Extravaganza

This is it, the end of 2014. Listen as we cover our Entertainment of the Year Award Spectacular, before heading into a look at what 2014 did for us, as well as what we hope for out of the first half of 2015. Then join us at the end as we bid adieu to podcast host Josh, who is taking a leave of absence for the next few weeks due to child spawning shenanigans. After listening, or even before, let us know some of your best memories of 2014 -- whether related to us or not -- then what you hope...

The 2014 ConCal Entertainment Awards Nominations

It's that time of the year again, a time when every podcast in the land puts together their end of the year "Best of _____" lists. We here at Constantly Calibrating are no different, having invented the concept of the award show 1,100 years ago. (Look it up in any textbook printed in Josh's basement*.) This year we're changing things up from prior years, opting to do "Game of the Year", "Film of the Year", and "TV Show of the Year" awards; with this week focusing on discussing the nominees....

Calibrating The Game Awards & PlayStation Experience

Wait, Spike's The Gaming Awards was enjoyable? Good information came out of the PlayStation Experience? DC Comics is making questionable entertainment choices? Hold on, that last one is actually expected. That being said, this week we discuss the fallout from The Gaming Awards, including Legend of Zelda, Dragon Age Inquisition, King's Quest and more. In addition, we take a look at the PlayStation Experience, while figuring out Josh's excitement over Grim Fandango & Day of the Tentacle. Tha...

Calibrating The Force's Alarm Clock

Merry Thanksgiving to you all! Hope your weekend was stuffed with food and family, or whatever else you crazy kids are doing. Over at the Constantly Calibrating offices (Josh's brain) we were stuffed with Star Wars Episode VII's teaser trailer. We were so stuffed that the podcast is virtually filled to the gills with Star Wars Episode VII discussions.  Join Josh, Brad, & Brian for an in-depth look at the teaser trailer, plus discussions on DC's Suicide Squad casting notice, and Steam's fora...

Calibrating That We're Not Dead or Cancelled...Also Fall Gaming Releases

Yay! We're not dead...this time for real! For this week's pre-Thanksgiving podcast we dropped the news and went full gaming, with a look at the last 3 week's major gaming releases. Well, more specifically the ones that members of the team have picked up. Listen as we give reviews and talk about World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor, Assassin's Creed Unity, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Dragon Age Inquisition, and Grand Theft Auto V: The College Years. Also, to those listening, make s...

Calibrating Living in Fiction

What defines a fictional universe? How do we fall in love with them and what makes us dream of moving into them? These are the questions we loosely address as we look at the universes Josh, Justin, and Brian would most like to live in, if given the option. Yes, Josh points out Mass Effect; don't be shocked.

Calibrating Lindsay Jones, Barbara Dunkelman, & Arryn Zech

This week on Constantly Calibrating Justin and I had the immense pleasure of chatting with Lindsay Jones (Ruby Rose), Barbara Dunkelman (Yang Xiao Long), and Arryn Zech (Blake Belladonna) of RWBY & general Rooster Teeth fame. Join us for an interview where we talk RWBY, X-Ray & Vav, RTX 2015, and their superheroic (or villanous) alter-egos.   In addition, in news we announce a new contest running through this weekend, talk Marvel blowing their load, Mario Kart, and much more!

Calibrating Robotic Phoenix Downjobs of the Future

Dammit Brad, the name is Lobot! Anyways, Josh wasn't able to make this week's episode due to a sudden arm injury (don't ask questions) so our intrepid team decided to discuss how we're currently living in the future. Seriously, have you seen the amazing tech that's been popping up as of late: hoverboards, solar highways, robotic prostitutes...well maybe not that last one yet. Our team takes a look at all of this, plus makes predictions on the future.

Calibrating Massively Online Lack of Innovation

On today's casting of the pods, we discuss the present state of MMOs; looking at World of Warcraft, Elder Scrolls Online, EVE Online, and more. We also delve into the future of the genre, wondering what innovations need to be made, including thoughts on the upcoming Everquest Next. (There may also be some MMO nostalgia for Everquest & Star Wars Galaxies thrown into the mix.) Before that, we hype up this weekend's Issue Zero, tiptoe around the recent Star Wars leaks, and ponder why Warner Br...

Calibrating Kerry Shawcross & Miles Luna

This week we had the distinct pleasure of featuring Kerry Shawcross & Miles Luna of Rooster Teeth on the show. In addition, today also coincides with the one-year anniversary of the last time I interviewed them both together; I swear this is 100% a coincidence. During the interview we discuss Red vs Blue season 12, the on-going volume 2 of RWBY, listen to an angry Jaune Arc voiceover, and discuss balls. Essentially a standard interview experience with Kerry & Miles. Prior to the interview ...

Calibrating Technological Dependency

As society develops, we become more and more reliant on the assorted tech surrounding us at any given time. This idea crystallized for Constantly Calibrating host Josh this past weekend, when a major Internet & TV outage caused him to reevaluate his entire life; no joke. As such, this week Team ConCal addresses the growing concern of our reliance on various technologies on a day to day basis.   In news we talk Tetris and money guns, because why not be a bit potentially hypocritical, right?

Calibrating Online Impact with Aris Juson

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE! Sorry, excitement got the better of me today. Seriously, listen to this episode immediately to hear an outstanding conversation between Josh, Brad, Justin, and guest Aris Juson. We talk about Aris' work in social media and acting, as well as discuss what it takes to grow a fanbase online. There's discussions of life, loves, and plenty of things Destiny. Of course we start things off with some news, featuring talks of Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China, a follow-up t...

Calibrating Teenage Filmsplosion

This week we head into part 2 of our 3(?)-part look at the important films that helped shape us into the people we are today. Joining us in place of Brian this week is Ryan Firster who shares with us many things that readily flow forth from him. In addition we address the Microsoft buyout of Minecraft developer Mojang and the latest Star Wars rumors.

Calibrating (Mostly) Every Simpsons Ever

Over the last 25+ years, The Simpsons has formed a cultural identity nearly incapable of being rivaled. Regardless of which era you love the most (seasons 2 through 12 in my case), The Simpsons is wrapped tightly into our collective psyche. That's why on this episode of Constantly Calibrating we decided to delve into our favorite video games, episode, and even characters from the long-running series. Before that you'll of course find some news on our recent Microsoft Store excursion, Micros...

Calibrating the Missing Host Conundrum

Josh has gone missing, but filling in for him this week is Brad who rises to power like a fiery phoenix of hostitude.  On the show the trio discusses the new Nintendo 3DS and what we know of it so far, Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell, new Games with Gold for September, and resurrect the long forgotten "Current Affairs" segment from yesteryear of Constantly Calibrating. That plus some thoughts on the recent iCloud issues, pathetically called "The Fappening" on the Internet, on this week's podca...

Calibrating Guilty Pleasures

This week's topic is "Guilty Pleasures in Entertainment". Josh, Brad, Justin, & Brian discuss what makes a guilty pleasure, and why people shouldn't feel guilty about them. Things then shift into discussing our own guilty pleasures and why we're so infatuated with them. We also delve into the Amazon/Twitch.TV deal and what it means for streamers, Dragon Age Inquisitionmultiplayer, a Pokemon fighting game, and Mario Kart DLC! Plus, is Full House getting a sequel show?

Calibrating Geekies 2014

Constantly Calibrating this week delves into the world of geek culture and what that means to us. This of course is focused mostly on this year's Geekie Awards, which Josh attended and felt was a complete let-down. Find out why in this episode. Prior to that we take a look at why Josh is cancelling his The Sims 4 pre-order, get informed on Warlords of Draenor, ponder Star Wars on blu-ray, and prepare our anuses for The Simpsons marathon.