Ray interviewed on ‘The Spindash’
February 12th, 2009
I was invited by GXEchidna to be a part of his podcast to talk more in-depth about my opinions of all-things Sonic. So not only do you get to hear a more thorough description of how I would update the franchise or what Sonic Comic #56 has to do with me, but you’ll also hear how Tim and I first met and what advice I have for podcasters in general.
Nice emblem, Only 179 more to get Green Hill zone! I might listen to this later… since I have often wondered what would happen if a bunch of sonic nerds bet together. My bet was on ‘the end of all life as we know it’ and it didn’t happen.
I FEEL ASLEEP!
really, other than the insight Ray had about fixing the Sonic series, Ray having the comics and Dvd boxset of ‘satAM’ (I own it too!)
I was bored to near death of boring topics..
I was right about the world ending…
I downloaded the Comic Ray referred to and It might have the Letter to the editor thing you mentioned, Mind If I Send it to you to put on the site? The scan is of bad quality, but you can read it enough to make out the wording to rewrite it for the website.
I had that same comic too. Just to think, I read something relating to 2P START! and not even knowing it!
*achievement unlocked- Dig up a fossil (find Ray’s name in Sonic issue 56)*
I listen to it a bit later, but don’t expect any notes! XD
Cool! I’ll definitely check this out soon! You know, after I listen to this week’s 2P podcast. Man, I’m behind this week.
Sonic can work correctly in 3D, Sega just hasn’t figured out how.
You might be interested in looking at this site:
http://www.smile.talktalk.net/sj_index/nss/nss_index/
Going by the name of Sonic Science, it compares the pros and cons of the classic and new games. In practice, it ends up just enumerating the failures of the new games.
Well, these guys have proven your point, Ray…
When you would mention the time constraints of 2P Start LIVE! in any of the episodes, I would always think “Nonsense! I can’t get enough of this stuff!”, but it turns out you were right all along.
I mean no offense to these guys, but their podcast just went on and on and on. Even to the point that I started wondering when you’d be leaving, so I could stop listening.
I hope they listen to your advice, and make their podcast shorter. It’ll probably help them capture the interest of potential fans more easily.
Yeah, a little bit through I started doing other things, then when you came on I started paying attention again…and then I got a bit bored again and turned it off when you were done. And now I know why I take notes on podcasts…I have to remember everything I was going to say…
1. Attention to detail? Music that fits in well? I’m surprised you aren’t a bigger fan of Metroid Prime.
2. Really random question, would you buy “Rouge the Bat”? XD I’d rent it.
3. ‘Nother really random question, ever thought of a segment on your own podcast in which you answer viewer/reader questions?
4. I have to say, the podcast was probably uninteresting to me because, I like Sonic, but not that much…
5. Anyway, I already said it, but I’ll say it again “Rouge”. Well this isn’t your podcast, but I don’t care.
6. Oh, yeah I forgot something (this is why I take notes) okay, now I see why you don’t like unedited podcasts…2 hours!? I’m not sure if I’d listen to one of yours if it went on that long, but hey, I’m the one that likes the 40 minute ones better than the 20.
Yeah…guess that’s it.
Well, I’m definitely glad to get some constructive criticism, though I’m a bit disappointed that many of you found it a bit boring. Since this is only Episode 7, and I have no previous experience developing a show like this, I’m still learning quite a lot about what works and what doesn’t. I’d really appreciate knowing what, in particular, you didn’t like about it.
That’s the tough thing about developing a project of your own; you might think it’s pretty good, but you lack the perspective of everyone else who experiences it from the outside. Beyond that, with such a limited audience, it’s hard to get some really worthwhile feedback.
So I just want to thank any of you who took a chance and listened to it, and I’d really like to know your thoughts on what you think went wrong and what went right.
Wow. Now I feel bad. XD
If it makes you feel any better, some of us attempted a spin-off of 2P START!’s podcast with some interesting results. Fun to make, but I don’t think it’s that fun to listen to.
Considering, our “podcast” (heavy emphasis on quotes) kinda failed, I wouldn’t really know what to tell you…I guess edit it…maybe add music…dunno, get some inside jokes maybe because the swimming pool of money is pretty big here. I think it helps because it kind of gives the regular listeners a little shout out if you will. But again, what do I know?
It’s certainly a start, Roadjcat. Admittedly, when I started to design the show itself, I didn’t just have 2P Start in mind, but all the podcasts that I listen to, about 15 ranging from many different perspectives, styles, and lengths. I tried to combine together some of the best attributes that I thought would work, but, there were some drawbacks I certainly didn’t consider.
It almost seems necessary at this point to strip the whole podcast down to the bare bones and then gradually build up from there. In hindsight, I can see that my soundbites can be pretty cheesy, and some of my segments fairly pointless.
But at the same time, and I mean no offense to anyone, I have to wonder how much of the negative feedback was due to audience. I fear that the level on which we talk about Sonic can become extremely niche (i.e. nerdy), but at the same time, I don’t want to dilute the purpose of the show, because then it’s not a project I’m passionate about.
Either way, this just isn’t something I’m going to allow myself to give up on. There’s some invisible formula out there that will make the show just work, but finding it will require me to contemplate everything that doesn’t work.
No, I think that’s an extremely valid point. I bet I could listen to a podcast that focuses on Metroid because I’m the Metroid obsessed one around here, but others would find it boring. Same goes for Sonic. I’m not a huge Sonic person, so a lot of the topics kind of went over my head as it probably did with some of the other listeners, but for the Sonic obsessed ones, it’s probably great.
The podcast dragged on and on and on! I put it on, turned my moniter off and sat… I love Sonic, but I think the comics suck, that might be why I hated the podcast. After about what felt like 20 minutes, Ray finally came and… it was still terrible. I even skipped to get to the part with Ray, I’ll admit it. I turned it off right after Ray left. You should divide the podcast into little sections, like 2PSTART! because it’s more interesting and more professional. I’m sorry, but I’ll probably never come back to your site.
Mainly just the length. The subjects were good, they just kept going on for too long. This applies to everything before the Ray interview, at least. I stopped listening once Ray left, because my interest was completely gone at that point.
Since you asked, though, there were a couple of other things I didn’t like, but those will fix themselves as you keep doing podcasts. For instance, about half the questions you asked Ray started with “I have to ask,”. It’s a little thing, but it bothered me. But it’s also a completely understandable mistake for newcomers on the podcast scene. As you keep doing podcasts, you’ll no doubt develop a more dynamic vocabulary.
I’m also missing a certain spark. A dynamic in personalities that I’m used to from 2P Start LIVE!. That will probably develop too, and you’re already doing better at that than the average podcast.
Yeah, that’s what I really liked about Ray’s advice. You need to adapt your own perspective. Treat your podcast like one you found on a random site, filled with people you don’t know. Without any background, does the content of the podcast still appeal?
I’m no fan of Sonic, beyond Sonic 1 ’til 3 & Knuckles. That might definitely have made my opinion a little less forgiving. You should really keep focusing on the hardcore Sonic fan audience. It should be your “thing” that sets apart your podcast from all the others. It’s what validates your podcast’s existence.
That’s why, again, my only complaint is the length. The content is totally okay for the target audience, but make sure to not spend too much time on the same subject. Everything should stay fresh, no matter how interesting that one subject may be to the target audience.
Interestingly enough, I just started to listen to Spindash last week. I’ve tried a lot of Sonic Podcasts, but these guys are the best I’ve listened to so far. I can’t stand Radio Redux.