Critics past and present join us for the ultimate retrospective as we celebrate 10 years of GameCritics.com. It’s a fiesta so enormous we split it into THREE separate podcasts!
In part 1, we assemble the four original GameCritics for the first time ever, as Ben Hopper, Dale Weir, Chi Kong Lui, and Brad Gallaway discuss the birth of the site and how it changed their lives forever. We also catch up with husband and wife critics Erin Bell and David Stone, and Tera Kirk drops by to offer her congratulations.
Download: Right click here and select “Save Target As…”
Subscribe: iTunes | Zune | RSS
In part 2, Scott Jones of Crispy Gamer and Reviews on the Run reminiscences about his time writing for GameCritics.com. Later in the segment, we are joined by GC staffers, Brandon Erickson and Jason Karney.
Download: Right click here and select “Save Target As…”
Subscribe: iTunes | Zune | RSS
In part 3, Dan Weissenberger discusses the fallout from his controversial (and legendary) Halo 3 review. Plus, we get to know the newest GameCritic, Richard Naik, and our old friend Gene Park drops by to reminisce about the old days. In the final segment, Chi, Brad, Mike and Tim reunite and share a few final stories from the last ten years and give thanks to past colleagues and friends who helped make GameCritics.com the site it is today.
Download: Right click here and select “Save Target As…”
Subscribe: iTunes | Zune | RSS
Topic and Game References:
- Booth Babe Dialogues by Erin Bell
- Interview with Alex Rigopulos by David Stone
- New Super Mario Bros. Review by David Stone
- Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Review by David Stone
- Shadow Man 2econd Coming Review by Jon Cadoche
- The Legend of Dragoon Review by Ben Hopper
- The Legend of Dragoon: A Game Critic’s Nightmare by Ben Hopper
- Manhunt Review by Scott Jones
- Manhunt Second Opinion by Mike Bracken
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Review by Scott Jones
- F-Zero GX Review by Scott Jones
- Sonic and the Secret Rings Review by Brandon Erickson
- Sonic Heroes Review by Jason Karney
- Left 4 Dead Review by Dan Weissenberger
- Left 4 Dead Second Opinion by Richard Naik
- Aquaria Review by Richard Naik
- Halo 3 Review by Dan Weissenberger
- IGN botches Alone in the Dark review by Dan Weissenberger
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Review by Dale Weir
- Pokémon Snap Review by Chi Kong Lui
- Are Videogames Art? by Chi Kong Lui
- Why game criticism doesn’t exist by Chi Kong Lui
Please send feedback and mailbag questions to podcast (at) gamecritics (dot) com.
Through the years every aspect of Tim's life has been touched by gaming. He mastered typing thanks to Space Quest, honed his poker skills on The Sierra Network, and learned to hate after a particularly traumatic game of Tecmo Super Bowl.
Today, Tim lives in Chicago with his three kids and strives to find that perfect balance between family, career, and Warcraft. He enjoys broadcasting, martial arts, rock and roll, growing and shaving his beard, singing show tunes to the homeless, and losing at Mario Kart to his lovely, talented, and amazing girlfriend.
In late 2008, Tim became the producer and host of the GameCritics.com Podcast, and he's thrilled to be bringing GameCritics' unique editorial voice to a brand new medium.
- GameCritics.com Radio 2018 GOTY Celebration - January 12, 2019
- GameCritics.com Radio 2017 Holiday Awards Spectacular - January 13, 2018
- GameCritics.com Radio Episode 5: The Switch and Zelda - April 7, 2017
Hey Odo, Thanks very much for the praise, it’s greatly appreciated. = ) About ludology, I don’t think we really are against it as a concept, I think what you’re picking up on is our reaction to ludology taken too far, or being discussed in a way that seems almost inapplicable to games… or perhaps the ‘common man’s’ understanding of them. One thing that we have always striven to do here at GC is to discuss topics in such a way that anyone coming to the site would be able to understand what we are getting at without having to… Read more »
Hey Ladies and Gents, First off, let me say that I’ve been following your site for several years and I am definitely a fan. I appreciate the unique approach that you take toward games, especially how you do not follow the standard, bland approach to reviewing games. I like the fact that different reviewers have their own games that they like to play and genres they like to focus on, from Tera’s casual/disabled gamers approach to Brad’s love of great independent games to Mike’s obsession with all things horror. I find it refreshing that you accept the fact that reviews… Read more »
Do I get anything from naming the tune used in other podcasts episodes (the silver surfer one aside)? Anyway, regardless, that tune used in intermission (the saxophone-y stuff) is from SNES Adventure Island. Am I right?
Man, I just love people who rain on parades, those who yell “humbug” when others are celebrating.
But I’m gonna rain on Vince’s parade (though for other reasons). That isn’t even the music from Final Fantasy 7, but Final Fantasy 8! I’m just as clueless as he is about the other tracks used for the show though.
That aside, congrats GameCritics for making it through the 10th year.
Awesome! Address sent.
[quote=Vince]I’m totally frustrated that I do not speciffically know any of the music used in the podcast. I thought the first piece in the first segment was from Final Fantasy 7 but I can’t find any proof of it. I really just want to try the Halo Board game…[/quote] Since we have yet to award a prize, you get the Halo board game for correctly identifying one song. Send me your mailing address via chi (at) gamecritics (dot) com. If anyone else recognizes any of the other songs, name it and pick your prize. Tim, you want to throw out… Read more »
There is nothing I love more than listening to gaming podcasts while working. I appreciate the length of this one 🙂 I’m totally frustrated that I do not speciffically know any of the music used in the podcast. I thought the first piece in the first segment was from Final Fantasy 7 but I can’t find any proof of it. I really just want to try the Halo Board game… I’m pleased to know more about the staff and previous reviewers. Its always great to look back on the ‘good ole days’. BTW, I loved the original Shadowman on the… Read more »
Congratulations guys.
I have been visiting the site and listening to your podcast for only about a year now. Keep up the good work!
You’re certainly welcome to tell us how, specifically, you feel we’ve failed in our mission, but your comment offers no such constructive discourse. I can’t help but chuckle at the accusations of “grandeur” and “posturing”, when all we have ever striven to do is develop a diverse and accessible community of writers while treating games as creative art rather than mere products. That alone is a rarity in the industry. I also wonder who these others are for whom you presume to speak? Face it: your bitter, self-serving post offers nothing but bottom-trolling vitriol masquerading as informed commentary. If we’ve… Read more »
To clarify: almost all of the people celebrating the site’s tenth anniversary are the staff themselves? Talk about patting yourselves on the back. Try not to dislocate those shoulders guys and gals. And the lack of member (or vistor) commentary on the site’s writing speaks volumes. You’ve been writing for ten years now, and failed to leave an indelible impression. Well, other than continued disapointment amongst a shrinking community. Most people celebrating ten years can point to something other than being caught in a feedback loop with dimishishing returns. At any rate, the site’s inability to fill a void is… Read more »
[quote=monkey]Gamecritics has become a running joke – you’ve contributed very little to raising the level of discourse over the years and only manage to embarris yourselves with your continued existence.[/quote] So long as people keep reading, we’ll keep writing.
… a David the Grammar Nerd Vol. 3 coming thanks to Monkey. Seeing as GameCritics has been an important part of a lot of well-known gaming journalists like Scott Jones and Kyle Orland (who, unfortunately, couldn’t make the podcast), and continues to be important to them, I’d say that the site has made a sufficiently significant impact on the gaming world – let alone the content it continues to produce today. Give monkey an unpeeled banana, and let’s celebrate the achievement for what it really is: a huge success in the world of both internet existence and fostering a forum… Read more »
monkey, I could poke several jokes at your misspelling of embarrass, but I doubt I could add anything that would make it more amusing than it already is. Bravo.
Just my luck that I recognize the music on the 1st show, but have no idea where it came from. It’ll be a head-slapping moment when/if I find out.
As the guy who picked out all the music, let me say this: I would be straight-up STUNNED if anyone got all ten tunes. I’ll be impressed with five out of ten. The point is, even if you only recognize three or four of them, don’t shy away from entering. That could very well win it for you.
THE SITE IT IS TODAY?
lol
You guys have been circling the drain for years now. It’s almost as if you hung on for ten years just so you can celebrate a tenth anniversary.
Gamecritics has become a running joke – you’ve contributed very little to raising the level of discourse over the years and only manage to embarris yourselves with your continued existence.
Wake up, time to die.
I was actually wondering why we made scores invisible. Seems a little pointless to still have them if we’re going to do that, although I didn’t know Metacritic would assign a score if we didn’t provide one.
The first person to correctly identify and post in the comments section here all the game music that appears through out the three parts of the podcast, will be awarded the following prizes: limited edition vintage GameCritics.com XL T-Shirt with our old tagline (only 25 were made), Halo Interactive Strategy Board Game, and the Hitman Trilogy (a staff favorite) for the PS2. I’ll even throw in a historical copy of the Imagine magazine where my “Are Videogames Art?” article was printed. We may be able to dig up some other goodies to giveaway as well. Former and current staffers aren’t… Read more »
Wow, nobody really did end up taking a shot at guessing the show’s tunes. The opening theme is, as previously mentioned, Liberi Fatali from Final Fantasy VIII. Also, the song that plays just before Gene Park’s segment is from Super Smash Bros. (the bonus stage perhaps?). I know the song that plays after Gene’s part is from The Legend of Zelda, but from what game in the series I am not entirely sure.
That’s all I’ve got, thought I’d take a shot at it.