ENWorld Radio? Bring it on...

[Steel_Wind]

I say, "Go for it, Steel_Wind!" When will you be starting? What is involved? Are you looking for on-air personalities? Are you lining up company interviews? What is your next step?

Next step? I haven't a clue!

I guess I'll sound out some ppl I know and figure out the tech requirements first and see what's doable and what is not.

But I do think that something like Mortality - guest wise - with a new spin on non-interview portions of thee show would be interesting.

And frankly - the rest of Mortality.net never seemed to get enough traffic to support the show. Whereas ENWorld? Well - not enough traffic is not the problem with this place

 

[HiLiphNY]

Throw in another yea for more RPG radio of any sort. I miss Mortality, and think that there should be more shopws out there. Make it happen! Get it done!

 

[Desdichado]

The reasons ARE important.

I don't see how that's true. I mean, they're important to the people who would put out the broadcasts, but not to those who would listen. I'm sure someone else could easily swoop in and fill that niche in their absence.

 

[SpiralBound]

An ENworld radio? What pernicious effects it would have on the server's bandwidth?

By the way: Masranreth and SpiralBound, it has been a long time! How both of you are doing? Is it still hot (the climate of course) in Australia? Are the Matrix clothes selling well?

[RL breaking in and causing OT... sorry everyone!]
Hi Turanil! I'm doing great! You should check out our site more often! We're doing a Firefly Browncoat replica - gonna be released any day now! We're all really excited at the office! Other than that, I'm gaming more than before and am desperately trying to complete writing this new PC race idea I have so that I can post it here on ENWorld and get peoples' responses! You should email me on my gmail account, I'd love to do another project with you like the "101 city locations" we did!
[ok, jumping back to the topic at hand! much apologies!]

I was thinking about the ENWorld radio idea and I was wondering if it would work through one of those free radio sites like "live365.com". Perhaps there is that sort of thing available that could be used. Then all that would need to happen on the ENWorld server would be the announcements for each broadcast. What do people think?

 

[Steel_Wind]

I've been looking into the requirements for shoutcast - and it's not that bad. I got my sound guy at DLA scoping out mixers and texh specs - but it looks very doable.

I may have enough bandwidth on DLA's server to do it initially. It really depends on listeners on at the same time.

I do think that the focus of such a show needs to broaden a bit - while at the same time - the sound quality bit rate needs to be increased.

Anyone have any things they would like to listen to/talk about on such a show?

I thought Skype for call-ins would be a handy supplement. Broaden to software and SF/Fantsy book news as well. Dunno.

 

[colonelthread]

This is something that I was considering several months ago, but then I woke up and said, "Huh? You don't know the first thing about running a live broadcast, let alone creating a podcast!". Besides, I don't think I would have a very good radio voice. I would love to help, however, with the idea generation both initially and ongoing.

Broaden to software and SF/Fantsy book news as well. Dunno.

Well, I would keep it focused on just software and books that relate to roleplaying games, such as DM/Players utilities and novels that based in an RPG setting and/or those that would make an awesome adventure or campaign idea. That may have been what you meant, however.

So here's a short list of ideas off the top of my balding head.

- RPG reviews (duh)
- New products this week
- Industry interviews
- Sage advice (listener Q&A via email)
- Gamemaster tips & tricks
- Plot hooks, adventure seeds
- Internet site of the week
- ENWorld thread of the week (previously mentioned)
- Open lines (call-in via Skype or telephone)

Granted you wouldn't want to try to do ALL of these for each show. Start small, and you can always expand it later, especially after getting listener feedback.

I'll keep my thinking cap on tomorrow and see what else oozes out.

Cheers!
ct

 

[Herremann the Wise]

For what it's worth, I would most certainly listen to an Enworld broadcast. Even if it was just once a month or once every two months. Talking to and listening to some of the great personalities on this site would be fantastic. Enworld is such a fantastic community - it would be great to augment it with audio too.

As to logistically knowing where to start and how it would be possible - I have no idea. I just hope that someone has the get up and go to get it happening.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

 

[Zenodotus of Ephesus]

It really depends on listeners on at the same time.

I think doing it live is nice and it allows for some "studio audience" but that most people will be downloader-listeners. Myself, I like to crank up Mortality while I clean the apartment or take it on a jog/walk with me.

BTW, I've done theatre, comedy/improv, and deejayed in college (ran the station, too). If you need someone with a broadband connection to do some news or interviews, email me. I'm currently a newshound here among other things elsewhere.

 

[rushlight]

This sounds like a great idea! I currently work in TV and talk radio - I sure wish I could get something like this broadcast over the air!

But for the moment, let me play devil's advocate. Consider your audence when you decide what topics to cover. If this is an EN-World thing, the majority of your audience will be En-Worlders. So if you intend to cover reviews, threads, and other items already posted on the site, you'll be duplicating information. Giving the audience something they already had (especially if it's week-old news) isn't a good way to hold an audience.

However, if you moved away from those things readily available, you might hit a gold mine. Stay focused on things that take advantage of an audio format, as opposed to reading text for the listener.

Interviews would be the best focus I could think of. Interviews with developers and notable personalities in the biz is something that's difficult to do well in a text medium, but would flow very well in an audio medium. Plot hooks and tips (and general how-to's) would also play well, as long as the information wasn't duplicated elsewhere. Reading me the current news from EN-World isn't interesting. However, commenting on the news - especially delving further into WHY it's news - would provide a new dimension to the news.

Another idea already suggested is listener feedback. "Call-ins" would be preferable, as actual discussion could take place. But that becomes difficult if you intend to podcast the whole affair. It seems providing a downloadable mp3 is much MUCH simpler than audio streaming, I imagine this will be the path taken - at least for now. In lieu of call-ins, discussion on current hot topics would be awesome. I'd take a "Hannity and Colmes" format. Two people, each taking a different side of the topic.

Another great addition would be a serial radio saga. Think old time radio! A short 3-5 minute skit, with a continuing storyline would be huge! Imagine the old serials - Captain Hero just rescued the Princess, when his nemisis Archwizard Blackcloak springs his trap! Men with crossbows surround Captain Hero! The voice over begins: "Will Captain Hero escape? Has Archwizard Blackcloak finally achived his dastardly plan? What will happen to Gobo and his fish? Stay tuned next time for another thrilling edition of FANTASY STORY!" Of course, my situation was generic - but you get the drift. Pick up a sound effects colletion at your nearby record store and you'll be set!

I'll post more ideas as they come to me!

 

[Steel_Wind]

So if you intend to cover reviews, threads, and other items already posted on the site, you'll be duplicating information. Giving the audience something they already had (especially if it's week-old news) isn't a good way to hold an audience.

I would agree with this view in the main, but I would point out that there is so much information posted on ENWorld that it is extremely easy to miss announcments, news and thread discussions. This is a very busy place.

I would very much agree, however, that the news discussed ought ot have a new spin to be of value to the borad base of listeners.