I've sort of been tossing this idea around in my head for awhile, and I figured I'd post and see what other people think.

At some points, I myself have found it difficult to keep up with competitive TF2 if I'm not actively checking competitive news sites daily. I think that having a weekly podcast would help to rectify this. At the end of each week, an episode could be released to recap the events of the previous week. During playoff weeks, this would mean listing all of the games played, as well as the scores of said games, and maybe providing some additional commentary on each one. Commentary could include things like the strategies that different teams used on different maps. During the regular season, listing every single game would not be necessary, but it would be good to highlight any notable matches between high-ranked teams or major upsets that week, and provide commentary on those specific matches.

Besides recapping the events of the previous week, the podcast could also explain the next week, telling which leagues are running which maps, and mention any notable upcoming matches and, if applicable, which sites are going to be shoutcasting them.

Other ideas for content include predictions, power rankings, and any other related news. Basically, anything that would appear on the CommFT front page, but in audio form and compressed into the span of anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour.

Logistical things to think about are how many people we'd aim to have in each podcast (and would need to have for an interesting podcast). Also possibly consider the length, and what time would be best to record and post it. (I'm thinking Saturdays and possibly Fridays and Sundays for recording, and uploads every Sunday.)

Would anyone else be interested in hearing and/or contributing to a CommFT podcast? Think it's a crummy idea? Feedback of any sort would be appreciated.

Call in Show?

I have been discussing this same idea, results show from the past week, upcoming matches.. My general concept was formatted like SportsCenter.

Who will be the hosts? I'm looking forward to this, perhaps this will make commFT even more popular. Will VinnyDaBoss be making an appearance?

I was hoping a writer would step up and fill the role that this podcast is striving to fill (a weekly recap). But I would be totally down with a podcast as well.

What exactly would be the role of a writer? This is a live discussion podcast right?

What exactly would be the role of a writer? This is a live discussion podcast right?
I think jinn was saying, "A weekly recap would be good, either in the form of a podcast or a weekly article. However, I haven't been able to find a writer for this."

I think that perhaps a podcast would be better than an article. A weekly update is something that requires pretty extensive and active knowledge, and asking a single person to keep up with everything from week to week is a bit unreasonable. I think that a podcast is something that naturally lends itself to a more collaborative process, you can have different people from week to week, you can have different people talk about different divisions/leagues, and it also gives you the chance to insert other stuff of interest as well.
This is a live discussion podcast right?
I'm not sure if there would be that much "back and forth" discussion, but it would be cool to have a format where other people can interject with miscellaneous insights.

The thing about a podcast is that it doesn't necessarily have to be limited to a weekly recap. The podcast could also include things like interviews, and possibly something alone the lines of what eXtine suggested. Depending on what kind of audience we reach, we could have an episode dedicated to answering questions. (Maybe open up for questions from SPUF.)

Exactly what Kuiper said in terms of clarifying what I said.

And I agree.

Very fun idea. I have proposed like a "clip" show to Schetter, like sportscenter style, and he talked about how hard it was to set up something like that every single week.

But hey, if you just want to talk for a while about competitive, I'm sure there will be people interested in listening. There are tf2 podcasts out there, but they really don't get into competitive talk at all.

I'd listen.

Sounds like a good idea to me.

My recommendation for numbers would be to have 2-3 regular hosts, with a guest every now and then. It depends on how talkative people are, but in my experience 3 people is about the max you'd want to have. Even with that you'll find yourself coming up with things you want to say about the topic at hand, then having to move on without bringing them up for time reasons.

I'd still check this page everyday though, since I have nothing better to do with my life :D

I like the idea, I wouldn't mind helping out with it at all. Don't know if my voice is a host voice though. :P

Personally I am in favor of a written weekly recap. it takes even less time to read a written article than it does to listen to an hour-long podcast (or however long these podcasts are going to be).

this is of course coming from someone who prrrrobably cannot make such a written commitment and therefore doesn't feel right begging someone else to do it.

but perhaps written statements from several writers from different areas of tf2, compiled into one article? the youtube video guy, the cevo guy, the xpl guy, the esea guy, the twl guy, perhaps a blog/general writer or two depending on the updates and posts made that week.

this might even be harder to coordinate than the podcast, since all you need for a podcast is a mic and an audience. But I think it would be more effective.

i have a new computer and am able to stream at 1000kbps with 27 avg. fps... just sayin'

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/931/speedtestt.png
ati hd 5400
intel i3 2x3.0ghz
5gb ram

plus i already have a justintv and livestream channel (fun fact: justintv has no upper limit on quality levels like the others — don't know why schetter doesn't use it...)

it meets pwnagetv's requirement for a cameraman~

edit my impression of what mutated just said is not unlike commft becoming a podcast site. if that's what he's saying, i disagree with it.

edit edit -- my impression of kuiper's original post is that he wants to do his weekly recap things in audio format.

wanderrful, I don't understand what you're trying to say about my post. i feel a regularly scheduled written post would be more useful than a commft podcast. that's all.

lets actually get this going. even a short 45 minute or so podcast would be great, and it is pretty easy to do this stuff. I would be willing to spend time on the recording and I would be willing to do the audio editing stuff (I know and have audacity and I know (but dont have (yay nested parenthesis)) Adobe Soundbooth).

So, who's interested?

http://www.pbpulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/horshack.jpg
ask your parents


i recommend recording a skype conversation -- thats how all the broadcasters and podcasters do it

(except for the guys at teamliquid but they only use ventrilo because they're old school like that)

wanderrful, I don't understand what you're trying to say about my post. i feel a regularly scheduled written post would be more useful than a commft podcast. that's all.

ps i am an idiot who completely misinterpreted your post. i thought you were for-podcast and anti-article. it was the opposite.

ps i am an idiot who completely misinterpreted your post. i thought you were for-podcast and anti-article. it was the opposite.

ah hayl naw.

all is forgiven.

would skype be easier than mumble? I have skype and all, do you think that is easier?

skype has the best voice quality, is more intuitive, has the least amount of lag, and is peer to peer so you don't need to use a server.


so yes.

okay then, skype it is

I can't imagine how this wouldn't be successful.

i'm happy you think so