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-monthly, episodic production at ~60 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.
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SEGMENTS
ModCast included segments that distinguishes itself from its sibling show PolyCast (PC), while blending even sharing others, in its first through third seasons. The segments that were shared equally were Mailbag which addressed listener feedback, though show-specific feedback was covered accordingly, and Vault where segments archived from earlier episodes found relevance again and are released. The segments that were specific to MC were (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 examined a particular CivIV MOD and Cartography Room looked at maps and/or simple scenarios; and Upcoming Mods discussed a particular MOD still in development.
Then there were two blended segments between MC and PC; in other words, they shared some attributes but not all. News which covers recent topical Civilization-related items; on MC, the scope was modding only. The Time Machine looked back at key moments in Civ history. Effective MC's fourth season, however, it no longer has defined segment categories as younger siblings RevCast (RC), SCivCast (SC) and TurnCast (TC) do.
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REGULAR CO-HOSTS
Peter (09+ Eps.)
Jacob (04+ Eps.)
Thal (04+ Eps.)
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PRODUCTION
As of its fourth season, each episode is recorded live and follows a routine production regiment as outlined below. MC regular co-host "Thalassicus" serves as the podcast's editor; for every 60 minutes of produced audio, it spends an average of 3-5 hours in editing.
Each episode follows a routine production regiment as outlined below.
From its first through third seasons, each episode was pre-recorded and followed a routine production regiment as outlined below.
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TIMELINE
- July 27th, 2011
Fourth season begins at last with Peter as lead co-host, and two new fellow regulars (Jacob and "Thalassicus").
- January 27th, 2010
Peter is announced as the show's new fourth regular co-host as of Episode 39.
- December 13th, 2009
First episode with developer guest co-host.
- November 18th, 2009
Peter begins filling in for an absent John.
- May 1st, 2009
Now a production of Civilized Communication, not Apolyton Civilization Site. (Related press release.)
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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 served as the most junior program on the PolyCast network; it is also senior to TurnCast (launched June 2011). Past regular co-hosts are Oscar "Elhoim" Velzi (11 episodes); John "bt_oz" Archer (15 episodes); Tony "GarretSidzaka" Kiehl (41 episodes); Wouter "Locutus" Snijders (33 episodes); and Kenneth "Impaler[WrG]" Ferland (38 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. MC's third season was also unable to meet its episode order of 12, instead producing only 4. It was nonetheless renewed for a fourth season for 6 episodes, beginning in July 2011 every month to the end of the calendar year to average out to bi-monthly production; unfortunately, only 4 episodes were yielded during this time. Its fifth season is to begin production after the releaes of the Civilization V source code expected sometime during the 2012 calendar year.
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- April 24th, 2009
Wouter returns as the show's new fourth regular co-host.
- November 23rd, 2008
Tim begins filling in for an absent Wouter.
- November 11th, 2008
John is announced as the show's new fourth regular co-host as of Episode 22.
- August 6th, 2008
Oscar had to leave the show; public search for new regular co-host begins.
- June 25th, 2008
Show is acknowledged by CivIV designer Soren Johnson.
- January 19th, 2008
Series existence and first episode goes public; production of Apolyton Civilization Site.
- August-December, 2007
Brainstorming, planning and executing particulars for this and revised sibling show.
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