Player One Podcast
1,128 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 months ago - ★★★★★ - 488 ratingsJoin ex-game journalists Chris Johnston, Phil Theobald, and Greg Sewart as they talk about console/portable/PC games, raising kids, and the meaning of life.
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Episodes
03/12/07 - Episode 20: Home Invasion
March 12, 2007 00:29 - 1 hour - 37.8 MBThe 2007 Game Developers Conference was held last week in San Francisco. While Greg, Chris and Phil did not attend, the "magic" of the Internet allowed us to keep tabs on the goings on. The major news? Sony's formal announcement of PlayStation Home -- your Home away from home that you can log onto from home. Is this the light at the end of the tunnel to the streak of bad press that Sony's been getting? And is it what Sony needed to match Microsoft's Xbox Live service? Listen in as we talk abo...
03/05/07 - Episode 19: Home is where the PS3 is
March 04, 2007 23:51 - 1 hour - 35.8 MBOutside of the first segment, this week's episode is all about the latest news surrounding the PS3. Some good, some bad, but we haven't talked about PS3 much lately so we decided to devote the whole episode to it. Last week Sony and Immersion kissed and made up, which could mean the return of rumble to the Sixaxis controller (hurray!)--question is, how soon? Then there's the infamous rumor that Sony introducing a Mii/Achievements hybrid called PlayStation Home this week. Not only is the conce...
02/26/07 - Episode 18: Looking for Love in Several Wrong Places
February 26, 2007 00:00 - 1 hour - 31.9 MBThis week we present to you a very special episode of the Player One Podcast. Greg and Phil sit down with Al Lowe, creator of the Leisure Suit Larry series (not including the recent and craptacular Magna Cum Laude) and other classic Sierra On-Line graphic adventures. Listen as we pick Al's brain about everything from game design in the old days to the fall of Sierra to his opinions on the current state of games for adults. Caution: There might be some bald jokes and at least one major error...
02/19/07 - Episode 17: When a stranger calls
February 19, 2007 03:30 - 55 minutes - 25.2 MBThis week there's no one overarching segment. Instead, we talk about a few little things, starting with the top 10 entries in Next-Gen.biz's list of the Top 100 games people played in 2006 (though the list does not include three very important entries, at least in Phil's mind). We also discuss retailer Gamestop's new program where their Aeris automated call system dials you up to ask if you want to trade in a game you bought two months ago. And we thought Aeris was six feet under. We go off o...
Transcript of Ted Woolsey interview now available
February 16, 2007 06:50If you didn't get a chance to listen to it yet, we interviewed Ted Woolsey (translator for many of Square's 16-bit hits including Final Fantasy VI) in Episode 16. Get it--Episode 16, 16-bit Final Fantasy? Yes? No? We totally planned it that way. Now you can read the full transcript of the interview here. In it Ted reveals such things as the genesis of the US-flavored Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, the original intention to release Final Fantasy V on the SNES in North America, and he speculates...
02/12/07 - Episode 16: Lost in Translation
February 11, 2007 18:58 - 1 hour - 43 MBThere's no more controversial figure in console role-playing game fandom than Ted Woolsey. During the '90s he worked at Squaresoft and was responsible for the English translations of games like Final Fantasy III and Chrono Trigger. His work is either loved or totally reviled by fans on the Internet, with FF III's translation taking the brunt of that criticism. Nintendo and Square Enix re-released the game last week on Game Boy Advance under its original Japanese title, Final Fantasy VI, with ...
Forum's open, come on in
February 10, 2007 01:39The rumors are true -- indeed we are opening a forum this weekend. In fact, it's open right now at www.playeronepodcast.com/forum. Go there, claim your username, and post away. It's got some very interesting community features to it and I'm curious to see how people are going to use it. If you have any trouble there's a forum for problems (of which there were many earlier today).
02/05/07 - Episode 15
February 05, 2007 00:53 - 1 hour - 46 MBVirtua Calamity? Should a game reviewer be allowed to review a product when they were involved in its development, however little? Last week this question came to the forefront as word came that characters with attributes selected by editors from IGN, Ziff-Davis, Wired's GameLife (and others as well) will be included in Sega's upcoming Virtua Fighter 5, and that some of these same editors will be the ones reviewing the product. But it's not an isolated incident -- game journalists are someti...
01/29/07 - Episode 14
January 29, 2007 05:00 - 1 hour - 37.3 MBIt was supposed to be a nice little segment about Zelda... ...But oh how it derailed. Yes, it's true -- in this episode we spend a fair amount of time talking about Nintendo's beloved Legend of Zelda series. From the 8-bit NES games to the current Wii (and GameCube) installment, we talk about it all. The highs, the lows, and all the heartfelt nostalgia we all feel for the series. Of course that's not all we talk about this week. A short (because no one seems to have played anything) what'ch...
Good lord, please stop / Some news
January 24, 2007 16:12We are already looking into putting up a forum (though I am still not convinced it is necessary yet). So whoever's just hitting the MP3 file repeatedly thinking they can make it go faster, you can STOP. Please. It's not going to make it happen any faster. Besides, we can see that it's just one or two people hitting it repeatedly. Thanks for the support though! For the rest of you, you might have seen the news from Nintendo Power's latest issue that Super Paper Mario is back on for the Wii an...
01/22/07 - Episode 13
January 22, 2007 14:03 - 1 hour - 44.2 MBWorld of Dreamcast It's a special podcast this week, and not only because it's very long (and what you have here is still the result of quite a bit of editing). In Episode Lucky 13 we talk about Sega's Dreamcast, the system that became Sega's last hope as a hardware manufacturer, ultimately sending them reeling into the world of third-party publishing for competing hardware platforms. Join us as we talk about the highs, the lows and everything in between. After listening to this segment you ...
01/15/07 - Episode 12
January 15, 2007 07:54 - 58 minutes - 26.6 MBTackling Difficulty This week we take on the question of difficulty in games. Discussion includes talk of how game difficulty has changed in the past 20 years, the hardest games we've ever played, and what it's like to have to review or write a strategy guide on an extremely difficult game under the deadline crunch of a print magazine. Sometimes, it's not pretty. Our What'cha Been Playin' discussion this week centers on Capcom's new Xbox 360 game Lost Planet. We have trudged through frozen...
01/08/07 - Episode 11
January 08, 2007 05:00 - 1 hour - 39.3 MBThe Dead Pool This is an episode you may want to keep around to reference later. Why? Because it's our first-annual 2007 Dead Pool episode, where we go 'round the circle and choose three games each we think (using absolutely no scientific means other than a "feeling") will either be canceled outright or delayed into 2008. Who will be right, who will be wrong? We'll just have to see what 2007 brings us. But rest assured there are a few interesting predictions here. We probably should've put s...
01/01/07 - Episode 10
January 01, 2007 05:00 - 1 hour - 41.4 MBPlayer One's Shiny New Year Happy New Year everyone! While other podcasts have settled in for a long winter's nap, we hopped in the studio yet again for one more episode before all the Auld Lang Synes were sung. In this episode, Phil and Dan become "series regulars," and join Greg and CJ to talk about such things as what we'd like to see happen in 2007 (though we tried to avoid predictions outright, we stray into that territory too). Here's a trend for '07--most of the discussion in this e...
12/25/06 - Episode 09
December 25, 2006 11:29 - 1 hour - 44.3 MBA Festivus for the rest of us! Although our crew are traveling to various parts of the globe for the holidays, that didn't stop us from getting together earlier in the week and recording a special episode for you, dear listener, on this most busy of holidays. Special thanks to Phil Theobald and Dan Dormer, who join CJ and I once again for the final episode of the year. In lieu of our regular "whatcha been playin'" segment, we hop right into our probably-longer-than-it-should-be year in revi...
Digg us, some site news, and the holiday episode
December 21, 2006 07:05You can now Digg the Player One Podcast (that is, if you use Digg and dig our podcast). Just go here. We thank you in advance for your vote. We're also up on the front page of the iTunes Store's Podcast page this week...well, three tabs into the "Video Games" section in the center there. Welcome to any of you who're visiting this page for the first time because you saw us there. Unlike some podcasts, we will be posting a new episode early next week. In fact, we've already recorded it. Previ...
Four Days Before Christmas...Is PS3 Demand Already Dead?
December 21, 2006 06:58At this time last year, if you were looking to buy an Xbox 360 as a holiday gift, you'd be looking at paying at least double the system's $400 price for a Premium Pack. The things were in hot demand. Yet this year, with the PS3 launch...the successor to the #1 game brand for the last 10 years, systems are...well, very easy to find. A quick look at the Craigslist listings in the Houston area and you see systems going for very little if ANY mark-up. One post reads that if no one calls to buy hi...
12/18/06 - Episode 08
December 18, 2006 08:22 - 1 hour - 32.5 MBThe shame in our game This week we return to a topic brought up in the last 'cast: our greatest gaming shames. In the final segment of the podcast we share some things we're not proud of. And joining in the fun is this episode's special guest, freelance writer Dan Dormer, who shares an inexplicable shame -- playing a bad/painful game not only to the end, but over and over again to see its multiple endings, sinking at least 100 hours into it. Why? Also this week, we continue our retrospectiv...
12/11/06 - Episode 07
December 11, 2006 08:28 - 1 hour - 41 MBIt's a Cube, not Box nor Station This week we take a look back at an old friend called GameCube as he gasps his final breath on Tuesday with the release of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Phil Theobald joins us as we talk about third party support, Nintendo's own lack of great games, farming out of the classics to second-party developers, the lack of a "real" Mario game and more. Also in this segment, CJ reveals one of his greatest gaming shames. But we start this week (of course) b...
12/04/06 - Episode 06
December 04, 2006 10:20 - 1 hour - 34.1 MBThis week marks our return to a regular posting schedule. In this episode's first segment, we discuss Zelda (Wii), F.E.A.R (360), the Wii Virtual Console versions of Solomon's Key, Sonic, Bonk and Mario 64, Red Steel (Wii), Call of Duty 3 (Wii), and we get a brief update on Greg's adventures with the PS3. Next up we talk about the Wii. It's only two weeks old and they've sold over a million units between the US and Japan (and releases in other areas of the world later this week). What do Nin...
11/29/06 - Episode 05
November 29, 2006 23:38 - 1 hour - 32.3 MBThis week it's all about Xbox 360: Year One. The ups, downs, and everywhere in between. We talk about microtransactions, Xbox Live Arcade, the January-March game drought, the digital distribution model, achievements, online play, everything Xbox 360. Naturally we also do a What'cha Been Playing segment at the beginning where we discuss Elite Beat Agents, Zelda on Wii, Resistance and Ridge Racer on PS3, and Bonk's Adventure. And sandwiched in at the end of this episode is a section where we r...
The Next Episode
November 27, 2006 15:07You may be wondering, "why isn't there a new episode up this morning?" Well, thanks to the Thanksgiving holiday, travel schedules and regular-job duties, there won't be a new episode up today. Instead, we will post Episode 05 on Wednesday, followed by Episode 06 next Monday (and then it's back to the regular schedule). Thanks for your patience and understanding. And to tease it, on Wednesday's show, one of the things we'll be talking about is the Xbox 360's first year -- good, bad, ugly. Join...
11/20/06 - Episode 04
November 20, 2006 15:07 - 1 hour - 46.8 MBEpisode 04, 11/20/06 This week we talk all about the system launches, PlayStation 3 and Wii. Ex-GameNOW and GameSpy editor Phil Theobald joins Chris & Greg for the discussion, where we discuss the lines, the shortages, getting the systems home, the games, and more. So much more that this is a much longer show that normal. Also interspersed within the show are various interviews CJ did with people who lined up in Houston for the systems, both PS3 and Wii. You probably won't be all that shock...
Launch experiences / podcast feedback wanted!
November 14, 2006 01:38Obviously, next week's show is going to talk heavily about the hardware launches that are happening in North America at the end of this week and this weekend (PS3 and Wii). While we're going to have some of our own launch stories to tell, we'd also like to hear yours. So, how can you get us your story? You can drop a comment here on this blog entry, write us an e-mail or send us an audio file with your tale of woe/triumph at [email protected] or you can leave us Skype voicemail by S...
11/13/06 - Episode 03
November 13, 2006 08:39 - 1 hour - 27.6 MBIt's a crazy-stuffed episode for an insanity-filled hardware launch week. In this episode, we: - Talk about what we've been playing, mainly Gears of War and Wii since CJ got some extended playtime with Zelda and Excite Truck this weekend. - Talk about PlayStation 3 launch games being delayed/canceled in the last week and what that could mean for the system's short-term future. - After a quick musical interlude we discuss Nolan Bushnell's comments that Sony could fail with PS3. Could one of...
11/06/06 - Episode 02
November 06, 2006 09:07 - 1 hour - 28.2 MBIn this episode ex-video game journo Chris and freelancer extraordinaire Greg: - Blatantly thieve the "what'cha been playin'" segment popular in many podcasts and use it to talk about Final Fantasy XII, Sam & Max, Phantasy Star Universe, Elite Beat Agents, DDR and Strawberry Shortcake(!). - Talk about preorders. Gears of War, the various Halo 3 editions, and Gamestop's ability to sell you slips of paper that say you have a game on reserve a year before it's due out. - Talk about microtran...
10/30/06 - Episode 01
October 30, 2006 10:29 - 49 minutes - 22.5 MBThis episode of the Player One Podcast comes in four sections: Phantasy Star Universe, the Rainbow Six Vegas demo and region-locked content, the 6th anniversary of the PlayStation 2's launch, and games that are "scary." Enjoy! Here are the pictures from the PS2 launch in 2000. digg_url = 'http://www.digg.com/podcasts/Player_One_Podcast'; digg_bgcolor = '#FFCC99'; digg_skin = 'compact';
Episode 00
October 23, 2006 06:21 - 43 minutes - 20.4 MBHear! A Canadian speak at a low volume, a guy who lives in Texas breathe heavily into the microphone, and discussion of some of the big topics in video gaming in between. Keep in mind we're really just working out the bugs with this episode...we know there are problems. So be kind when commenting on this one. In this week's episode: Segment 1: We shoot the breeze about Rockstar's latest, Bully (PS2). A fantastic school daze simulator that lets you relive getting picked on but gives you the...