 ABOUT / PROFILE / ARCHIVE
Targetted towards intermediate to advanced players, ModCast (MC) is designed to first entertain and second inform Civ strategy in an audio format. The aim in so doing is to be energetic and interactive in equal measures. This series is marketed and distributed as a podcast. As defined on Wikipedia, podcasting is a method of distributing multimedia files over the Internet using syndication feeds (e.g. RSS for playback on mobile devices and computers). MC productions can be accessed with or without the use of RSS.
FORMAT
ModCast is a bi-weekly, episodic production at 40-45 minutes in length apiece. They are delivered in both MP3 and Flash formats though MP3 is the primary distribution means. MP3 copies can be downloaded or streamed; for streaming, an active Internet connection is required. For download listening, Winamp is recommended for use on computers. Assorted portable devices work as well in varying download and streaming combinations. Both 64kbps (high-speed) and 16kbps (dial-up) qualities are available. Flash copies, meanwhile, can only be streamed and are available at 64kbps quality only.
An episode is typically made up of three or more segments including an intro and a closing. Music and sound effects used throughout all three series come from Civilization IV, its Warlords or Beyond the Sword expansion packs though snippets from other sources are occasionally incorporated. MC has standing permission from CivIV developer Firaxis Games to use this media in this capacity.
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SEGMENTS
ModCast includes segments that distinguishes itself from its sibling show PolyCast (PC) while blending even sharing others. The segments that are shared equally are Mailbag which addresses listener feedback, though show-specific feedback will be covered accordingly, and Vault where segments archived from earlier episodes find relevance again and are released. The segments that are specific to MC are (alphabetically): Artist Sketchpad on graphics and artwork from the Civ-modding community; Code Corner with CivIV Software Development Kit (SDK), Python and other non-graphic MODs; Modding Spotlight examining a particular CivIV MOD and Cartography Room lookinat at maps and/or simple scenarios; and Upcoming Mods, discussing a particular MOD still in development.
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REGULAR CO-HOSTS
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Tony
(40+ Eps.)
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Ken
(37+ Eps.)
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Wouter
(32+ Eps.)
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Peter
(05+ Eps.)
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Then there are two blended segments between MC and PC; in other words, they share some attributes but not all. News which covers a week's worth of topical Civilization-related items; on MC, the scope is modding only. The Time Machine looks back at key moments in Civ history.
PRODUCTION
Each episode follows a routine production regiment as outlined below.
ModCast regular co-host Tony "GarretSidzaka" Kiehl is this podcast's primary editor; PolyCast regular co-host and editor Daniel "DanQ" Quick is its alternate editor. For every 45 minutes of produced audio, it spends an average of 4-6 hours in editing.
GUESTS
Having one or more guest co-hosts per episode is standard practice on ModCast as it is on PolyCast, a valued carryover from the latter's first season, and RevCast.
HISTORY
ModCast (MC) is the modding-centric production that launched in January 2008 as the first spin-off of the the strategy-centric PolyCast which itself had begun in October 2006. When the console-centric RevCast was launched in February 2009, it no longer ecame the most junior program on the PolyCast network. Past regular co-hosts are Oscar "Elhoim" Velzi (11 episodes) and John "bt_oz" Archer (15 episodes).
Its first season ran from January-December 2008 with 24 episodes; its second season the following calendar year also had a 24-episode order, but was unable to meet due to regular panelist availability issues and produced 14 instead. Taking this into account, the show's third season began in January 2010 with a 12-episode order across the same number of months, thereby reducing its frequency from bi-weekly to monthly.
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- January 27th, 2010
Peter is announced as the show's new fourth regular co-host as of Episode 39.
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- December 13th, 2009
First episode with developer guest co-host.
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- November 18th, 2009
Peter begins filling in for an absent John.
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- May 1st, 2009
Now a production of Civilized Communication, not Apolyton Civilization Site. (Related press release.)
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- April 24th, 2009
Wouter returns as the show's new fourth regular co-host.
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- November 23rd, 2008
Tim begins filling in for an absent Wouter.
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- November 11th, 2008
John is announced as the show's new fourth regular co-host as of Episode 22.
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- August 6th, 2008
Oscar had to leave the show; public search for new regular co-host begins.n>
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- June 25th, 2008
Show is acknowledged by CivIV designer Soren Johnson.
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- January 19th, 2008
Series existence and first episode goes public; production of Apolyton Civilization Site.
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- August-December, 2007
Brainstorming, planning and executing particulars for this and revised sibling show.
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