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Video Game Outsiders

By John Jacobsen, Kyle Jones, and Michelle Madison

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Podcast Description

Voted PODCAST OF THE YEAR by the Xbox Live Community Awards. Video games, entertaining banter and the occasional pie... Kyle Jones, Michelle Madison and John Jacobsen take you inside the outsider's perspective. From the hilarious (and terribly misnamed) 10-second spotlight to drunken listener calls, this is video gaming from the average player's perspective. Listen every week for a new episode. And check out the forums daily for one of the Internet's largest communities of gamers.

Customer Reviews

Listen once, and you're hooked! (kind of like prescription medication. Or Cheez-its.)

This podcast is as good as it gets when it comes to contemporary gaming news. The trio of hosts have a chemistry and charisma about them that is tremendously infectious. I listened the first time for an update on what was happening in the gaming world. Nearly a year later I'm still listening every week becuase they never fail to make me laugh on a weekly basis. If you have ever enjoyed playing video games and have even a smidgeon of a sense of humor, you need to download this podcast. Now. Seriously, right now. You'll thank me.

A Podcast worthy of daily drive-time XM

Growing up listening to Chicago radio innovator Steve Dahl, and later Roe Conn, I enjoy the rare personality who is self-effacing and unabashed while not being self-deprecating or phony. John Jakobson is the gamer's podcast version of those great Chicago radio hosts; While not egoless, he chuckles when aspects of his interests are revealed that would make others cringe with shame, such as buying Madonna songs on iTunes or having man-love for the mustachioed midget, Mario Mario and all-things Nintendo. But instead of coming off as a geek or worse, it only solidifies his reputation as a “mans-man” of gaming and an interesting, well-informed host who simply indulges his interests without regard for his image. “Who cares what people think, just do what you enjoy,” would be a fitting motto for John. An owner of all current console systems, including the DS Lite handheld, John’s discussion and reviews of games and the gaming industry are knowledgeable and deep. As an “Outsider” he buys or rents games just like the rest of us and doesn’t let the desire to please industry honchos influence his opinions (this applies equally to all the hosts). With minimal sponsorship on the show, we get unbiased and honest reviews, both negative and positive. Along with John’s multi-platform perspective, the two other hosts, Kyle Jones and Michelle Madison, complete the perfect podcast Kyle Jones keeps the show on track, but does so without crimping the loose style and spontaneous flow. After going back in the archives and listening to the shows from day two (I can’t find episode one), I was amazed at Kyle’s ability to analyze future events in the gaming industry. While all three hosts score well in predicting trends and dispelling fictitious rumors, listening to Jones’ take on Microsoft’s, Nintendo’s and Sony’s decision-making a year or two before official announcements makes one wonder if he doesn’t have their boardrooms bugged. A regular sparring partner for Jakobson, Kyle has his own gaming style. From my listening, it seems Kyle actually plays the widest variety of games. He offers gamers the best straightforward reviews; thorough and detailed, his reviews are the product of many hours of thoughtful gameplay. Rounding out the trio is Michelle Madison. Aside from being the hottest and the youngest host, she defies all female gamer stereotypes with her love for multi-player first-person shooters. Madison provides an important third point of view: the gamer who is at one point stubbornly set in her ways, then surprises herself by becoming an ardent fan of a game or genre she previously dismissed. Michelle’s personality is beguiling and her voice mellifluous. Usually siding with Kyle in energetic debates against Jakobson, Madison brings silliness to the show without the slightest hint of vapidity. Having listened to years of talented radio hosts adopt and dump female cohorts (always for the better), I would love to see this podcast launch Michelle into a fulltime radio gig in a first-tier market. Her natural talent as a conversationalist would be a fantastic addition to any talkshow, regardless of topic. The fact that she is a rare find in the world of gaming makes her that much more distinctive (and an undeniable draw to a prized demographic). Together for more than two years now, they’ve outlasted many radio teams and built a sincere camaraderie (interestingly, as of this review, they’ve never met in person. They do all their shows via Kyle’s handiwork with VoIP). Along with the podcast, they’ve built a community at their website, where forum members meet and plan online gaming (usually on Microsoft’s Xbox Live service), playing team games varying from tennis to Tetris to tactical combat simulation – while avoiding the pitfalls of obnoxious online punks and l337s. Bottom Line: If I had to choose only one podcast I could subscribe to, it would be Video Game Outsiders.

Like hanging out with the buds.

There's a reason the three-hour morning talk radio format works. It's because people like to listen in on lively banter among hosts. This show has this in spades. It's not about the news. It's not about their superior gaming knowledge. It's not even about the fact that Kyle apparently bakes pies. No, this show is about chemistry. The three hosts are just a blast to listen to and the typical hour and a half podcast flies by. As for the subject matter, I trust their reviews and opinions BECAUSE they're not experts. They're just regular Joe's (and I guess a JoJo) who never fail to make me laugh. And let me say, there's something to be said for consistency. This show is always there on Wednesday or Thursday. If they take a week off, they tell everyone ahead of time, but even this is a rarity. Definitely worth the weekly download. My personal favorite on the topic of video games. It doesn't even matter that they predominantly play a system I don't even own. It's still the best listen of the week.

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