[JPAG Week] OPP: Modern Game Player explains why the JoyPod changed

[JPAG Week] OPP: Modern Game Player explains why the JoyPod changed

Modern Game Player Podcast

Did you know that there are OTHER podcasts on iTunes besides those that your masterful crew at SideQuesting creates? Yeah, it came as a shock to us as well. That’s why we launched OPP in hopes to share some of these shows with you, especially the good ones.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t ask the question about why the Joystiq Podcast ended its run. Thankfully, JPAGger Mike Suszek did just that on his latest episode of Modern Game Player, speaking to Chris Grant on the subject.

What’s it about?

MGPlayer is a content-specific podcast. That is, it focuses on one topic associated with games each week. The topic is given some lite “inside baseball” treatment, as things get more in-depth than just casual conversation. Suszek takes calls, tweets, and comments from readers & listeners and directly infuses them into the show, and includes guests to speak on the subject.

The latest episode, just the second of the show’s existence, focuses on video game podcasts. Why do we listen to podcasts? Why do we create them? Suszek’s guest this week is Joystiq’s Editor-in-Chief Chris Grant, who is on the show to chat about how and why the Joystiq Podcast came to end. Grant talks about the the negativity that came with the show’s change, and how the team’s focus wasn’t just to make a “good” show but the best of its kind, and how that altered what was delivered. Suszek & Grant even touch on the issues of the change in leadership at AOL and how the unknowns of big changeover affected the show.

What’s it sound like?

The show is produced very well, mixing talk and music without any weird transitions. Mike breaks up the interview with Chris by injecting voice mails, Tweets, and comments relevant to what the two are chatting about at that moment. Mike’s audio comes in clear, but Chris was coming in a bit “tinny” due to the inefficiencies of Skype.

In Conclusion…

Modern Game Player is a great addition to a podcast field that is drowning in the “dudebros chat about the news” genre. The focus on one subject is common, but the angle taken is enjoyable and fresh. Give it a listen if you’re looking for something a little more intellectual when compared to dick jokes on [insert top gaming podcasts here].

For more info, find Modern Game Player on the website or through the iTunes feed.