Van Hemlock's Podcast

Van Hemlock Episode 58

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 16:28:00 GMT

This week we're back with some more news (which contains bad language, so be warned) followed by an introduction to our new feature which is stolen straight from Van Hemlock's blog. So not really stolen then.

The twitter question was "Impressed with Beneath a Steel Sky at gog.com. What old and busted gaming classics would you want to see revived and playable?" and resulted in a less than productive weekend playing on a spectrum emulator. Follow @vanhemlock on twitter to be part of the next one.

Van Hemlock Episode 57

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:31:00 GMT

It's another week of news and what we're playing, and this time we manage to cover everything from World of Warcraft (for an MMO podcast you would think we'd mention them a bit more than we do) to canceled Saturday evening TV shows. There's also a surprise return for a less well known game in the what we're playing section, but will it be there again next time? Am I trying to invent a sense of tension in the show notes? I hope not, because it's not working.

The twitter question was "Fed up with the usual Tank, Healer, DPS and Crowd Control. What new class or role shall we make a requirement for group work?" Game designers take note.

Van Hemlock Episode 56

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:28:00 GMT

This week, in our least well prepared show ever, we return with another unhealthy dose of increasingly MMO-less news and ramblings about stuff.

The twitter question was "This week saw us literally paralysed by LotRO's Dread System, which was quite irritating! What MMO mechanic annoys you the most?" which gave us a distinct lack of comedy answers, but so many sensible ones we decided to go with it for the topic as well.

Van Hemlock Episode 55

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:56:00 GMT

It's our E3 special, in which we have in depth analysis of all the major releases and show how they are going to effect the games industry over the next five years. OK, they were mostly sequel announcements so we just run through the keynotes and take cheap shots at the games before another session of what we've been playing.

The twitter question this week was "Another E3 come and gone. See anything you liked? Didn't see something you hoped to? Let me know cos I missed the whole thing!". Then it degenerated into rude comments about uses for Project Natal.

There is also a recommendation for http://www.trueachievements.com in the show as well as their UI is quite nice. That's as close to a glowing endorsement as we get.

You can read out blogs at http://www.vanhemlock.com and http://www.chimpsinspace.com, follow us on Twitter as @vanhemlock and @jonshute or leave us a comment over at virginworlds.com.

Van Hemlock Episode 54

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 09:58:00 GMT

This week we have the long awaited return of a topic show. After weeks of special guests ruining things (only joking guys) we get a chance to have a moan about DRM.

We also have the usual news items and the twitter question, which was "Lot of MMO delays of late. Which new MMOs are you waiting for and how patient are you?"

Van Hemlock Episode 53

Thu, 28 May 2009 15:12:00 GMT

This week we have a special guest, Matt (http://www.teppotastic.com/) from Limited Edition (http://www.virginworlds.com/podcast.php?show=27) which is the best comic podcast in the virginworlds collective. He helps us get the news wrong like usual and help push the next topic show back yet another week.

The twitter question was "What would you bring to the post of Hello Kitty Online Community Manger? Or what CM job would you like instead?"

You can follow us on twitter as @vanhemlock and @jonshute, read our blogs at http://www.vanhemlock.com and http://www.chimpsinspace.com and if you're feeling particularly daring you can catch us on xbox live as "Van Hemlock" and Senyek. Feel free to throw popcorn Saturday afternoons UK time as we stumble through the world of co-op games, or if you want to join in with Jons console group on Tuesday nights just send him a message. Finally you can leave us a comment on virginworlds.com. I'd start with "should the contact information be longer than the show description?" if I was you.

Van Hemlock Episode 52

Thu, 21 May 2009 10:02:00 GMT

This week we're back in the studio with more news and another rambling chat about what we've been playing. Van Hemlock would like to let the world know that this does not include Free Realms in any way.

The twitter question was "L44 in CoH and the end is in sight! Which MMOs, if any, have you level capped in and what happened next?"

You can leave us a comment at Virginworlds.com, vanhemlock.com or chimpsinspace.com follow us on twitter as @jonshute and @vanhemlock and since we've dropped down a page in the listings for iTunes I'll now beg for some more iTunes reviews for the show.

Van Hemlock Episode 51

Fri, 15 May 2009 13:41:00 GMT

This week we've been left the studio again for another show recorded on location. Our guests are Mike and James from Killed in a Smiling Accident (http://kiasa.org/) and we discuss bad Darkfall reviews, abusing the ability to make missions in City of Heroes and what happens when you go to Space and NCSoft fire you while you're gone.

You can follow us on Twitter as @vanhemlock for the Friday question and @jonshute for general rambling and you can leave us a comment at virginworlds.com.

Van Hemlock Episode 50

Fri, 8 May 2009 11:04:00 GMT

We've hit the magic 50 shows, and the crushing weight of knowing that it's too late to stop now and we're stuck with making these for life hasn't stopped us from another week of poking holes into the news and having a chat about how we go about making the podcast.

You can comment on the show over at virginworlds.com or vanhemlock.com. follow us on twitter as @vanhemlock or @jonshute and please leave us a comment on iTunes because we're still not the number one podcast there.

Van Hemlock Episode 49

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:52:00 GMT

This week we're back with some more new and another bind-bogglingly large list of games as we discuss what we've been playing over the last fortnight. There was even a brand new game that hadn't been released at the time of recording in a flagrant breaking of the three month rule.

You can leave us a comment over at Virginworlds.com, follow us on Twitter for the Friday question as @vanhemlock and @jonshute or leave us a letter with a law firm to be delivered on this date if you find yourself trapped back in the wild west.

Van Hemlock Episode 48

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:14:00 GMT

This week we return with some news, a discussion on regional servers and finally the twitter question on seasonal events.

Follow @vanhemlock on twitter if you wish to take part in the next question, or @jonshute if you do don't. You can also leave us a comment at virginworlds.com if you have something to tell us, or leave us a review on iTunes if you want to let the world know what we're like.

Van Hemlock Episode 47

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:07:00 GMT

This week we return with another batch of news and another recap of what we've been playing, which this week actually has new games!

You can follow us on twitter (@vanhemlock and @jonshute) if you wish to take part in the friday question, leave us a comment over at virginworlds if you want to join in that way, or you can leave a review on iTunes as part of our ever hopeful run at the first page of recommendations.

Van Hemlock Episode 46

Mon, 6 Apr 2009 10:26:00 GMT

We're back with some news, a topic and some of the worse incidental music you'll ever hear. Or the best, depending on your point of view.

This week our topic is the Daedalus Project (http://www.nickyee.com/daedalus/), which for many years has been an amazing study on MMO players but is now sadly in hibernation.

If you want you can leave us a comment at Virginworlds, follow us on twitter as @jonshute and @vanhemlock to send us random comments, ideas and take part in the Friday question or leave us a comment over at iTunes.

Van Hemlock Episode 45

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 23:06:00 GMT

This week we're back with more news and what we've been playing. Certified 100% April fools joke free.

Van Hemlock Episode 44

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:32:00 GMT

We're back and this week we're being buried under the weight of daft news stories as well as having a nice long discussion about Eve. What is it, and what would a fantasy game have to be in order to be The Fantasy Eve?

Follow us on Twitter for the friday question at @vanhemlock and @jonshute, leave us a review over on iTunes to help our relentless obsession with being on the front page of recommendations or leave us a comment at virginworlds.com. Or just sit back and enjoy the show.

Van Hemlock Episode 43

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:07:00 GMT

We begin our second year with the usual news, followed by another roundup of what we've been playing. Well what Van Hemlock has been playing mainly as Jon forgot to play much beyond LOTRO.

Please leave us a comment on iTunes so we can edge further towards the front page of recommendations, follow us on twitter as @jonshute and @vanhemlock for the friday question and leave us a comment at virginworlds.com, which may well be where you're listening to this.

Van Hemlock Episode 42

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:06:00 GMT

This week it's our first anniversary! We celebrate with more of the same news, a twitter question and then some of the highlights from our last year that you may have missed. Jon even gets annoyed at Darkfall, what's not to like?

Follow us on Twitter as @vanhemlock and @jonshute to take part in the next Friday question, comment on the show at virginworlds.com and review the show over at iTunes so that we can beat the next VW show on the recommended list. Sorry, I mean to say make a higher place on the featured list so that more listeners can discover us.

Van Hemlock Episode 41

Wed, 4 Mar 2009 10:39:00 GMT

This week we have the usual misreporting of the news as well a special what we're playing to celebrate the sad passing of Tabula Rasa, which has gone to the big bug zapper in the sky.

Van Hemlock Episode 40

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:17:00 GMT

This week we're back with our 40th episode. This time we have some news and then a discussion about Darkfall, which launches this week.

If you wish you can leave us a comment at www.virginworlds.com, follow us over at twitter as @vanhemlock and @jonshute or you can just sit back and enjoy the show.

Van Hemlock Episode 39

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:04:00 GMT

This week we're back with a look at the last weeks news and a recap of what we've been playing for the last few weeks. Amazingly Jon has been playing MMOs more than console games, which must be one of the signs of the upcoming zombie apocalypse.

As usual you can leave reviews on iTunes, follow us on twitter as @jonshute and @vanhemlock or read our blogs over at www.vanhemlock.com and www.chimpsinspace.com. Or you can just enjoy the show.

Van Hemlock Episode 38

Mon, 9 Feb 2009 02:03:00 GMT

This week we have some news, followed by some commentary on some of the more interesting blog posts out there at the moment.

If you care about BoB being destroyed, how successful Warhammer is or if boobies are a good thing then this is the episode for you. Or not.

Posts we talk about:

http://tobolds.blogspot.com/2009/02/mega-griefing.html
http://www.brokentoys.org/2009/02/04/rituals-of-the-betrayed/
http://tobolds.blogspot.com/2009/02/game-company-layoffs.html
http://syncaine.wordpress.com/2009/02/06/storms-tourist-and-failure-the-mmo-market/
http://tagn.wordpress.com/2009/02/05/players-as-excuse/
http://www.mmognation.com/2009/01/29/what-is-it-with-the-naked-chicks/

Van Hemlock Episode 37

Mon, 2 Feb 2009 09:51:00 GMT

This week we're back to our usual cheery selves with some news and our latest adventures in MMOs. New this week is Pox Nora, which we know isn't an MMO but we had a play anyway.

Please leave comments on virginworlds.com, harass us on twitter as @vanhemlock and @jonshute or leave us a review over at iTunes so others can find us.

Van Hemlock Episode 36

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 02:21:00 GMT

This week we're back with some more news and a discussion about persistence and endings in MMOs.

We promise to be more cheerful next week.

Van Hemlock Episode 35

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 14:07:00 GMT

We're back with more news and what we've been playing, this week with added cartoon based fun.

If you liked the show the please leave us a comment on Virginworlds.com, or a review over at iTunes.

Van Hemlock Episode 34

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 02:58:00 GMT

It's the first show of the new year and we're back with news and ramblings about what we're playing.

Please consider leaving a review on iTunes, it's a great way of getting us noticed by more people, and without more people we can't take over the world.

Van Hemlock Episode 33

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 02:09:00 GMT

This week we've got our first annual year end music show, where we let you listen to music from games that you do know and maybe some that you don't.

This time the music comes from these games:

Warhammer Online
Guild Wars
Neocron 2
Morrowind
Planescape Torment
Mass Effect
Darwinia
Halo 3
Overlord
Mirror's Edge
Portal
Tron 2.0
Bioshock
Homeworld 1
Gears of War 1 & 2
Summoner
Evil Genius
Crackdown
Fallout 3
Tone Rebellion
Lord of the Rings Online
Civilization 4

Van Hemlock Episode 32

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 23:38:00 GMT

This week we're back with a news and what we're playing show. This week we've been playing a shockingly small number of games, mostly because we're getting into Lord of the Rings Online in a big way.

We also, as this is a Christmas show we have the usual awards thing for the year, a quiz (just for fun) and we end the show with a piece of music I'm really sorry for.

Van Hemlock Episode 31

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:58:00 GMT

This week we've tweaked the format slightly to avoid the problem of important news happening when we don't have a news show, so here's a show with some news and a nice long talk about the big news of the week: Micropayments, RMT, making games free to play and also publishers double dipping on the charges. We discuss the games we've played that have real cash-for-stuff, which ones work and which don't and then manage to cram a discussion about Playstation Home into the conversation.

Van Hemlock Episode 30

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 02:46:00 GMT

We're back, and we've hit the big 3-0. Join us as we get all opinionated over the news, and then demonstrate that we don't get out enough because we've been playing far too many games again.

Van Hemlock Episode 29

Mon, 1 Dec 2008 23:02:00 GMT

This week we're exploring the darker side with a show about Evil. Are the "bad" races you can play in MMOs really evil? Do your actions matter? And where does PvP fit in with all this?

This may not be our lightest show ever, but please give your opinions over at Virginworlds.com. Are we right? Are we wrong? Does a concept like Evil even apply to games?

Van Hemlock Episode 28

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:22:00 GMT

This week we have provide our thoughts on the spate of MMO closures, how big the various games platforms are sales wise, some nonsense about second life and some other things you'll just have to listen to in order to hear.

There's also some rambling about what we've been playing, what we're probably not going to play any more and killing giant worms with chainsaws.

Van Hemlock Episode 27

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 02:48:00 GMT

This week we've got a special guest, Michael Zenke, of http://www.massively.com/ fame. The topic is Bioware's new Star Wars MMO and how we think it will do.

Van Hemlock Episode 26

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:56:00 GMT

It's another news and what we're playing show. This week we've mostly been playing fallout, so come die with us in the wastelands of DC.

If you want to follow how far we've managed to get then add Van Hemlock or Senyek to your friends lists on XBox Live. First person to 1000 wins!

Van Hemlock Episode 25

Tue, 4 Nov 2008 01:12:00 GMT

This week we've been meeting up with the guys from Limited Edition and looking at all of the new games coming up at the Eurogamer Expo.

I think it's safe to say we're all now massive fans of Jumpgate Evolution and Little Big Planet.

Apologies for the audio quality, it was somewhat noisy.

Van Hemlock Episode 24

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:50:00 GMT

We're back with another news and what we're playing show. Lots of A Tail in the Desert still, some Eve, Guild Wars and City of Villains. Jon is also struggling with the glut of new console games and has started with Saints Row 2 and Fable 2 so expect the worlds least in depth reviews of them as well.

Van Hemlock Episode 23

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:40:00 GMT

We're back with another show, this time we're discussing MMO Burnout.

Van Hemlock Episode 22

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:02:00 GMT

We're back with another show in which we provide ill-informed commentary on the news before going on to rant yet again about how A Tale in the Desert is great before Jon ruins it for everybody by deciding he's not enjoying Warhammer Online.

If you're free on the 28th of October please come join us at The Eurogamer Expo (http://expo.eurogamer.net/) in London, there may not be any MMOs on offer but there will be the best and the brightest of the other games being released this year on show and we'll be randomly commenting on everything that we see.

Van Hemlock Episode 21

Wed, 8 Oct 2008 00:57:00 GMT

This week we talk about spoilers, and how they've impacted on our game playing. This may be because we're playing A Tale in the Desert without looking at spoiler sites, but it effects the other games we're playing too.

Van Hemlock Episode 20

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:27:00 GMT

Our 20th episode brings more news and what we're playing. This week we've both started new games give our first impressions on Warhammer and A Tale in the Desert. We're nothing if not 100% cutting edge.

Please consider leaving a comment on iTunes to help others find our show, Virginworlds to give us your views on what we talked about or follow us on twitter (vanhemlock and jonshute) if you want to know way more about what we're doing than is normally considered healthy.

Van Hemlock Episode 19

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 23:52:00 GMT

It's another discussion show, and this time we're tackling PvP. Which may, or may not, be an EVE pun. This one's all opinion, so come along to http://www.virginworlds.com and tell us if you think we're right or wrong.

Van Hemlock Episode 18

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:47:00 GMT

We return with more heckling of news and another look at what we've been playing, which takes a decidedly retro turn as Van Hemlock continues to catch up with the last generation of consoles.

Please leave us a review on iTunes, come over and comment on our show over at Virginworlds.com or leave cryptic comments in the classified adverts at the back of your local newspaper.

Van Hemlock Episode 17

Mon, 8 Sep 2008 22:56:00 GMT

This week we've been linking up with friends in games and so decided to chat about the barriers that games throw at us to make this hard. Region locking, servers, levels and classes get moaned about, but are there any games we think do this well? Please consider reviewing this show on iTunes (good or bad!), comment on it on virginworlds.com or follow us on Twitter as vanhemlock and jonshute.

Van Hemlock Episode 16

Tue, 2 Sep 2008 00:08:00 GMT

This week we offer uninformed commentary on the news, Jon stands by his strange idea that Conan stands a chance of growing in the future for the very last time (I promise) and we both reveal that our gaming lives seem to be ruled by twitter.

We also have the winner for our competition for an Eve USB pen drive, for which we are very grateful to Valerie "Pann" Massey from CCP and Urban Mongral from the Warp Drive Active Podcast for making us feel that real people may actually know about us. The screenshot with the winning number can be seen here: http://tinyurl.com/6amo2u and congratulations to our winner.

Feel free to follow us on twitter (http://www.twitter.com) as vanhemlock or jonshute, join the vanhemlock group on GAX (http://gaxonline.com/group/vanhemlock) or comment on our show at http://www.virginworlds.com

Van Hemlock Episode 15

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:14:00 GMT

In which we forge on with becoming weekly! Lots of frank answers about running a corporation in Eve, a guild in Guild Wars and a city in Star Wars Galaxies.

Van Hemlock Episode 14

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:50:00 GMT

We return with Episode 14, in which we poke at the news and have an EVE competition for a real prize which means risking our lives in Jita in order to come up with a question.Answers to the competition should go to vanhemlock@chimpswithkeyboards.com before the start of September.

Van Hemlock Episode 13. Live!

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:48:00 GMT

What happens when a madman decides to arrange a live recording of enough material to make a podcast at an event that has nothing to do with MMOs and no confirmed guests? Find out with this show!

This is a live recording in the field (or formal gardens in some cases) so audio quality varies. Backing music is supplied by the salsa band that was playing in the background.

Thanks to Changling Bob, Zoso, Melmoth and Steve for the content, and the universe for the amazing weather we had. Glorious sunshine. The noise in the background is static and not wind and rain!

Van Hemlock Episode 12

Thu, 7 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We return with more misreporting news, playing too many computer games and another glance into the strange world view that are our opinions.

Van Hemlock Episode 11

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 05:34:00 GMT

Despite all the odds we have a new show, although it's recorded on wax cylinder and the studio needs rebuilding.

Lots of news, and what those of us with working computers have been playing.

We shall be here on the 9th of August. Pipe up if you're going too. Yes, it has nothing to do with games and we don't expect anybody to turn up. It's just where we're going to be next, OK?

Van Hemlock Episode 10

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 10:55:00 GMT

Episode 10, in which our heroes show they can't learn from past mistakes so are still playing far too many games and that the Internet is wrong and Jon is right.

End music is a treat for Crackdown fans because I'm feeling positive about All Points Bulletin. Bonus points if you recognise where the other piece comes from, but it is MMO related.

Van Hemlock Episode 9

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 21:46:00 GMT

In which our heroes have played far too many games since last time, chip in on the download caps discussion and then one of us finally snaps and goes all Emo. Listen to find out which one!

VanHemlock Episode 8

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:45:00 GMT

In which our heroes prepare for war, have played a shockingly high number of games since the last show and then go off on a big ramble about games using existing IPs.

Eve Online Concurrency Numbers
Clear Skies, for the one person who managed to miss it.

VanHemlock Episode 7

Sun, 25 May 2008 16:36:00 GMT

Episode 7, in which our heroes infiltrate the Virginworlds Collective, discuss Console MMOs, Age of Conan and give dubious recommendations for events that have already happened.

Visit our Gax Online page, leave a review on iTunes, follow us on Twitter (Vanhemlock and jonshute) but please, no more sitting outside my house with a camera looking for gossip. You know who you are.

Episode 6

Mon, 12 May 2008 01:33:00 GMT

In which our heros ramble lots, talk about Planetside, Eve and music.

Episode 5

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:16:00 GMT

In which our heroes reenact the famous scenes from Conan, try extreme fishing and try very hard to not turn each subject onto Eve. And Fail.

Episode 4

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 09:47:00 GMT

Episode 4, in which we add to our impressive list of things that we've got wrong.

Sir Bruce's numbers - http://www.mmogchart.com/
Eve Online's numbers - http://eve.coldfront.net/
Top 100 games of last year - http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9639&Itemid=2

Extra bonus competition with no prize. Identify all the music, including the number that last piece is for.

Episode 3

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:02:00 GMT

Episode number 3, more rambling and discussion that gets very close to being on topic in places. Topics covered this time: Eve - who let the players be in control? Is that wise? Warhammer online. Delayed? Blizzard taking legal action against Glider What happens if you delete every character in your game. Shadowbane? e-Sports. A brave presenter actully watches a TV show and survives to tell the tale! Can RPGs still teach MMOs a lesson? Finally, some more excellent music to end on. At least this one is from a game, right?

Episode 2!

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 23:11:00 GMT

We talk rubbish about Second Life, The Escapist, Eve, WoW and LOTR. We may not always be accurate, but at least we're consistently wrong!

Episode 1

Mon, 3 Mar 2008 23:43:00 GMT