 ABOUT / PROFILE / ARCHIVE < Sample Clips #1/#2/#3/#4/#5/#6 (04m59s | 2.4MB | Discuss #1/#2/#3/#4/#5/#6; Stream #1/#2/#3/#4/#5/#6; Dial-Up #1/#2/#3/#4/#5/#6) >
Targetted towards beginner to intermediate players, PolyCast (PC) 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). PC productions can be accessed with or without the use of RSS. < Generic Promo (01m30s | 724KB | Stream | Dial-Up >
FORMAT
PolyCast is a bi-weekly, episodic production at ~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. PC has standing permission from CivIV developer Firaxis Games to use this media in this capacity.
|
SEGMENTS
PolyCast includes segments that distinguishes itself from its sibling show ModCast (MC) 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 PC are (alphabetically): Interview speaking with key, non-modding individuals in the Civ community; Miscellaneous for that which does not fall into any of the other categories; Research Lab exploring concepts that are not in Civ yet but may be in the future; Senate debating game strategies, and Theatre where co-hosts share recent Civ gameplay experiences.
Then there are three blended segments between PC and MC; in other words, there share some attributes but not all. News which covers a week's worth of topical Civilization-related items; on PC, the scope is on all but modding. Forum Talk investigates hot strategy issues raised in Civ community forums; it is the strategic element of what was known as the Modcast on PolyCast Classic (PCC). The Time Machine looks back at key moments in Civ history.
PRODUCTION
Each episode follows a routine production regiment as outlined below.
PC regular co-host Daniel "DanQ" Quick is this podcast's editor. For every 45 minutes of produced audio, it spends an average of 6-10 hours in editing.
GUESTS
Having one or more guest co-hosts per episode is standard practice on PolyCast, a valued carryover from the latter's first season, as it is on sibling shows ModCast and RevCast. Several guests have also made appearances on special productions under the PC banner.
|
|
EPISODES (SEASON 4)
Episode 99: "obsolete" and Sal "Thorburne" Serio
Episode 98: Michael "emeseles" Lucas-Smith, Peter "Emperor Peter" and Wouter "Locutus" Snijders
Episode 97: Nick "[KRT]Penny" Barber, Jaycee "TheDS" Adams and David "White Elk" Undisclosed
Episode 96: Kieren "ParadigmShifter" Gracie and David "White Elk" Undisclosed
Episode 95: Jon "CanuckSoldier" Ryder and Troy Goodfellow
Episode 94: Joel "colonelmustard" and Morgan "King Morgan"
Episode 93: Daniel "dacole" Cole and William "Wodan" Wible
Episode 92: Gloria "condor223" Carson and Jim "TheDS" Adams
Episode 91: Michael "emeseles" Lucas-Smith and Douglas "Rusty Edge" Smith
Episode 90: Scott "AlphaShard", Mark "Metaliturtle" Andersen, David "Hans Lemurson" Skold, Izzy "Izmir Stinger" and "Jet"
Episode 89: Joel "colonelmustard" and Peter "Emperor Peter"
Episode 88: Carl "God-Emperor" Perkins and Timothy "Steiner-Davion" Seifert
Episode 87: Ian "frunobulax" Stonehouse and Gil "kossin"
Episode 86: Ian "frunobulax" Stonehouse and Gil "kossin"
Episode 85: Imran "Imran Siddiqui" Siddiqui
EPISODES (SEASON 3)
Episode 83: Camikaze, Samo "Heraclitus" Burja, Stewart "MMC" Rice, Adam "Peachrocks" Ferguson" and Lisa "qnl" Bang
Episode 82: Pol "Lars_Domus" Kjorsdalen and Ricardo "r_rolo1" Rolo
Episode 81: Neal "Neal" and "PieceofMind"
Episode 80: Lord Parkin" and Charlie "pi-r8" Pye
Episode 79: James Robertson, "Badtz Maru" and "Silu"
Episode 78: Michael "emeseles" Lucas-Smith, Daniel "dacole" Cole and "RRRaskolnikov"
Episode 77: Tony "GarretSidzaka" Kiehl and "oyzar"
Episode 76: Tim "ruff_hi" Pratt and Troy Goodfellow
Episode 75: Kenneth "Impaler[WrG]" Ferland, Mark "Metaliturtle" Andersen and Lisa "qnl" Bang
Episode 74: Scott "AlphaShard", Bruce "Beta" Hynes and Bruce "Grandpa Troll" Cronkite
Episode 73: Alexander "Alexander" Strub and Solver
Episode 72: Gloria "condor223" Carson and Chris "Pinchak"
Episode 71: Adam "Peachrocks" Ferguson, Jim "TheDS" Adams and Philip "TheMeInTeam" Bellew
Episode 70: "Zeiter"
Episode 69: Jon "CanuckSoldier" Ryder and Stewart "MMC" Rice
Episode 68: Ken "Carch" Baudicher and Ted "Supr49er" Webster
Episode 67: Wouter "Locutus" Snijders, Neal "Neal", and Sal "Thorburne" Serio
Episode 66: Kelly "KMadeleine"
Episode 65: Rich "Provost Harrison" Harrison, David Troy "Wittlich" Burns, and Tom "dojoboy" Herring
Episode 64: "crescentfresh" and Pol "Lars_Domus" Kjorsdalen
Episode 63: Brian "bestbrian" Estrada and Huy Phuong "kniteowl" Quach
Episode 62: Joe "snoopy369" Matise, James Robertson and Ricardo "r_rolo1" Rolo
Episode 61: Michael "emeseles" Lucas-Smith and Douglas "Rusty Edge" Smith
Episode 60: Tim "ruff_hi" Pratt
SPECIALS (MORE RECENT)
Focus Civilization V: Tony "GarretSidzaka" Kiehl, Peter "Maniac" Steenbeke, Pete Murray and Jon Shafer
|
EPISODES (SEASON 2)
Episode 58: Marcus "Diamondeye" Hensing and Josh "General_W" Tucker
Episode 57: David Troy "Wittlich" Binns
Episode 56: Matt "Nugog" G. and Methos
Episode 55: Alexander "Alexander I" Strub and Stephen "conmcb25" K.
Episode 54: Wes "PimpyMicPimp" Reid
Episode 53: Ron "Sisiutil"
Episode 52: Ken "Impaler[WrG]" Ferland and Joe "joebreeves" Reeves
Episode 51: John "bt_oz" Archer
Episode 50: Sid Meier
Episode 49: Ian "AAHZ" Hodges and Derek "Kael"/"Murg" Paxton
Episode 48: Costas "Keygen" and Lance "Lancer" Gross with Ken "Carch" Baudicher
Episode 47: Solver and Anthony "Dauphin" Christmas
Episode 46: Chris "Pinchak" and Jon "CanuckSoldier" Ryder
Episode 45: Michael "emeseles" Lucas-Smith and James Robertson
Episode 43: Bruce "Grandpa Troll" Cronkite
Episode 42: Bruce "Beta" Hynes
Episode 41: Robert "CyberShy" Plomp and Samo "Heraclitus" Burja
Episode 40: Methos and Gloria "condor223" Carson
Episode 39: Annalee "Cartimandua" Barney and Alexander "Alexander I" Strub
Episode 38: Michael "emeseles" Lucas-Smith
Episode 37: Michael "emeseles" Lucas-Smith
Episode 36: rah
Episode 35: Wouter "Locutus" Snijders
SPECIALS (LESS RECENT)
Focus Courts of Candle'Bre: Lisa "qnl" Bang, Wouter "Locutus" Snijders and Chris "Velocyrix" Hartpence
Christmas Special 2009: Wouter "Locutus" Snijders, Joe "joebreeves" Reeves and Matt "elthrasher" Morgan
Christmas Special 2008: Tony "GarretSidzaka" Kiehl, Kenneth "Impaler[WrG]" Ferland, John "bt_oz" Archer and Tim "ruff_hi" Pratt
Focus Civilization IV: Colonization: Mike Bates, Ed Piper and Jesse Smith with Ed Piper with Kelley Gilmore; Wouter "Locutus" Snijders and Kenneth "Impaler[WrG]" Ferland
Focus Civilization: Revolution #2: Jason "Jason2K" Bergman
Focus Alpha Centauri: DarkCloud, Darrell "Darsnan" Nandal and Hydro and Peter "Maniac" Steenbeke
Focus Civilization IV: War of Two Cities: Rick Reymer, Paul Neurath, Scott Kimball and Jason Rice; Tony "GarretSidzaka" Kiehl
OTCast: A Bit Chippy: rah, Ming and notyoueither
Focus Civilization: Revolution: Elizabeth "2K Elizabeth" Tobey; Wouter "Locutus" Snijders
Yak Civilization: Revolution: Galen "Cybexx" Ryder, Craig "Fadingbeano", Joe "joebreeves" Reeves, Steven "jsilvrs" Silvers and "UnOrthOdOx"
|
HISTORY
PolyCast (PC) is the strategy-centric production that launched in October 2006 as simply PolyCast; since January 2008, it has been the cornerstone of the PolyCast network. Two spin-offs have been spawned from this show, both of which continue to this day: the modding-centric ModCast (launched January 2008) and the console-centric RevCast (launched February 2009). Given format and situation differences, PolyCast's first season is affectionately referred to as PolyCast Classic (PCC). Past regular co-hosts are Wouter "Locutus" Snijders (28 episodes; PCC), Kelly "KMadeleine" (3 episodes; PC), Annalee "Cartimandua" Barney (25 episodes) and Imran "Imran Siddiqui" Siddiqui (56 episodes).
PC's extended first season ran from October 2006-December 2007, comprised of 34 episodes, 3 pilots and 1 special. Its second season ran from January-December 2008, consisting of 25 episodes and 10 specials, while the third one year later is made up of 25 episodes and a special. PC's fourth season has the same episode and special number order as its last; it began in January 2010 to run to end of the calendar year.
|
|
- July 31st, 2010
To celebrate the recording of the 100th episode, it's done live, a first for the show.
|
- January 24th, 2010
Imran leaves the show with Lisa becoming the permanent fourth regular co-host effective Episode 85.
|
|
|
- October 20th, 2009
To mark the third year since the show's launch, its third and final pilot is released.
|
- August 31st, 2009
Philip becomes the permanent fourth regular co-host effective Episode 76.
|
|
|
- August 16th, 2009
Annalee leaves the show; search for new fourth regular co-host already underway.
|
- May 1st, 2009
Now a production of Civilized Communication, not Apolyton Civilization Site. (Related press release.)
|
|
|
- February 11th, 2009
Second spin-off series' existence and first episode goes public; Annalee is lead co-host.
|
- December 13th, 2008
First composite episode of archived segments released.
|
|
|
- October 23rd-November 6th, 2008
Show is nominated in 2008 Podcast Awards: "Best Produced" and "Gaming" categories.
|
- August 23rd, 2008
Annalee becomes the permanent fourth regular co-host as of Episode 51.
|
|
|
- August 15th, 2008
CivIV: Colonization special features exclusive info and theme music from the game.
|
- August 9th, 2008
Landmark 50th episode released... with Sid Meier.
|
|
- April 18th, 2008
Annalee begins filling in for an absent Kelly.
|
- March 4th, 2008
First production with publisher guest.
|
|
|
- January 19th, 2008
First spin-off series' existence and first episode goes public; Wouter is lead co-host.
|
- January 5th, 2008
Shiny second season begins with Kelly replacing Wouter.
|
|
|
- December 24th, 2007
First Christmas Special features all-female panel.
|
- December 14th, 2007
First season ends with thirty-fourth episode.
|
|
|
- September 7th-October 5th, 2007
First 4 then 5 new episodes in as many weeks.
|
- August 10th, 2007
First episode with developer guest co-host.
|
|
|
- June 30th-July 14th, 2007
First back-to-back-to-back episodes released.
|
- April 6th, 2007
First episode with 2+ guest co-hosts.
|
|
|
- February 23rd, 2007
First episode with celebrity guest co-host.
|
- December 15th, 2006
First episode with guest co-host.
|
|
|
- October 20th, 2006
First series announced and first episode released; production of Apolyton Civilization Site.
|
- August 29th-September 29th, 2006
Pre-pilot and three pilots recorded.
|
|
|
- August 22nd, 2006
Daniel and Wouter finalize (first) series outline.
|
- August 15-16th, 2006
Daniel cancels "ACSR Weekly"; with Wouter, they formulate replacement.
|
|
|
