Global Chat: A dozen MMO podcasts you should check out
Quite a few MMO bloggers that I know wear more than one hat. Some are book reviewers, some do livestreams, some have regular YouTube shows, one deluded guy has a Pinterest board, and several host podcasts. In fact, I've seen several bloggers develop friendships by deciding to do a show together.
In this week's edition of Global Chat, I thought we'd take a break from sharing interesting MMO blog posts to pointing you toward a dozen excellent MMO podcasts that I heartily endorse. Most of them fall in the category of "general MMO" discussion, although a few hew to a specific title. It's often a hoot when you get two or more opinionated and informative podcasters together, so if you're looking to fill up your MP3 player (in addition to the Pulitzer Prize-nominated Massively Speaking show, of course), I've got just the 12 things for you!
1. Beyond Bossfights Podcast
This might be a relatively newer show, with only eight episodes under its belt, but already Braxwolf has established a platform where thoughtful minds come together and hash out topics such as outgrowing gaming, staying healthy while gaming, and barriers to MMOs.
2. AggroChat
Belghast and his motley crew have been getting together once a week since April 2014 to talk about everything from World of Warcraft to geek pride to haunted toasters. It's pretty funny all around, perfect for the listener who appreciates a good sense of humor.
3. Alt:ernative Chat
This is one of my favorite blogs, and so it stands that the podcast is pretty stellar too. I dare you to not keep listening after you hear its theme song! The podcast is on the right-hand side of the page, FYI.
4. MMO Reporter
Maybe this is a bit of a cheat to include on this list, as the MMO Reporter network covers a whole host of podcasts, but as they're done by fans and bloggers, I wanted to make sure it (and its 11 podcasts) got a mention!
5. Battle Bards
The world's first, best, and only MMO music podcast, hosted by yours truly and two other excellent bloggers. We discuss and listen to MMO soundtracks twice a month, sometimes with the composers!
6. LOTRO Players
LOTRO Players is another umbrella under which 10 podcasts and video casts rest; they all cover (naturally) Lord of the Rings Online. If you have to listen to just one, I'd recommend LOTRO Players News to keep abreast of what's going on in the game.
7. Cat Context Podcast
This group of good friends gets together twice a month to record "smart talk about video games," covering topics from player-generated content to retro games.
8. Couch Podatoes
This is probably my favorite name for a podcast, ever, and I'm incredibly jealous that I didn't come up with it first. It's a newer show that really gets into heavy topics such as sexism and diversity in gaming.
9. Beyond the Veil
This podcast about The Secret World has been going on for so long that it's already passed its 100th episode! There's a lot of insightful discussion of the game here, sometimes with members of the MMO's dev team.
10. The MMOsketeers
Straight from the hosts' description: "The Three MMOsketeers is a show about the latest developments in the MMO gaming genre and the personal experiences of the hosts as they traverse the wide variety of massively multiplayer online games out there."
11. Passion for Pixels
There's a wide variety of topics already on this fresh-faced 'cast, including worries about Blizzard and love for adventure games. This is a great show if you like looking back at the history of gaming with an occasional landing on where we are now.
12. No Prisoners, No Mercy
One of the longest-running MMO podcasts is recorded by a pair of gaming nuns (no, really!) who are never, ever short on opinions or wrist-slapping rulers when the occasion calls for it.
Do you have a favorite MMO podcast that isn't part of this list? Post it in the comments and share the love!
Awesome MMO blog opinions abound all over the internet -- and Justin "Syp" Olivetti reads them all (or skims really, really fast)! Global Chat seeks to round up the most interesting and zany posts from the MMORPG blogosphere. Who knows? You might discover a new favorite blog this week!
