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. Daniel "DanQ" Quick leads Makahlua, Philip "TheMeInTeam" Bellew and MadDjinn as its regular co-hosts. Episodes are edited by Quick and are ~60 minutes apiece. It is the elder sibling to the modding-centric ModCast, console-centric RevCast, social gaming-centric SCivCast and multiplay-centric TurnCast.
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.
FORMAT
PolyCast is a bi-weekly, episodic production. As of its fifth season, each episode is recorded live and can be heard on its channel on the providing broadcast service; the typical episode length is ~60 minutes. From its first through fourth seasons, each episode was pre-recorded; during this time, episodes typically ran ~45 minutes in length. 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 in whole or in part of all five seasons come from Civilization IV, expansion packs Warlords and Beyond the Sword, and Civilization V though snippets from other sources are occasionally incorporated. PC has standing permission from CivIV/CivV developer Firaxis Games to use this media in this capacity.
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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 Open Mic (named Mailbag from the first through fourth seasons on PC) which engages and addresses listener feedback, and Vault where segments archived from earlier episodes find relevance again and are released. The segments that are specific to PC are (alphabetically): Community Focus, highlighting a specific segment of the online Civ community (introduced in the show's fifth season); Interview speaking with key 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.
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REGULAR CO-HOSTS
Dan (170+ Eps.)
Maki (158+ Eps.)
Phil (89+ Eps.)
MadDjinn (20+ Eps.)
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PROMOS
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PRODUCTION
As of its fifth season, each episode is recorded live and follows a routine production regiment as outlined below. PC regular co-host Daniel "DanQ" Quick serves as the podcast's editor; for every 60 minutes of produced audio, it spends an average of 6-8 hours in editing.
From its first through fourth seasons, each episode was pre-recorded and followed a routine production regiment as outlined below.
During this time PC regular co-host Daniel "DanQ" Quick was also this podcast's editor. For every 45 minutes of produced audio, it spent an average of 8-10 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.
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EPISODES (SEASON 7)
Episode 172: Stewart "MMC" Rice
Episode 171: Alex "GaelicWarrior"
Episode 170: Scott "AlphaShard" Dirk and Troy Goodfellow
Episode 169: Izzy "Izmir Stinger" and "Monthar"
Episode 168: Andrew "fuzzyfractal42"
Episode 167: Robert "The Observer"
Episode 166: Christopher "blauerfackel"
Episode 165: Chris "TheChrisD"
Episode 164: "SilentKnight13"
EPISODES (SEASON 6)
Episode 163: Adam "smallfish"
Episode 161: Derek "Kael" Paxton
Episode 160: "Monthar"
Episode 159: "Kaia"
Episode 158: Jon "CanuckSoldier" Ryder and Paul "vexing" Grimes
Episode 157: Scott "AlphaShard" Dirk and Ricardo "r_rolo1" Rolo
Episode 156: Ben "Ozbenno" Collins and "Peng Qi"
Episode 155: John "LzPrst" Ftonnessen and Jay "QuantumTarantino" Bond
Episode 154: Martin "Martin Alvito" Alvito
Episode 153: Travis "TravisATWA"
Episode 152: Mell "NullMaster" Green and Brian "t4zzik" Spencer
Episode 150: Jim "AriochIV" Francis
Episode 149: Ryan "OhmWrecker" Lord
Episode 148: Steve "steveg700" Gale
Episode 147: "MadDjinn" and "Peng Qi"
Episode 146: Danny "snarzberry" Steele
Episode 145: Brandon "bcaiko" Keith Hallmark
Episode 144: John "LzPrst" Ftonnessen
Episode 143: Rob "AwesoMe" Keller and Corben "Hawk"
Episode 142: Joey "jdog5000"
Episode 141: Jonah Falcon
Episode 140: Jason "MegaBearsFan" Grade
Episode 138: Izzy "Izmir Stinger"
EPISODES (SEASON 5)
Episode 136: Ben "Ozbenno" Collins, Jay "QuantumTarantino" Bond and "Thalassicus"
Episode 135: Wouter "Locutus" Snijders and Jacob "xienwolf" Turner
Episode 134: Michael "emeseles" Lucas-Smith and Wouter "Locutus" Snijders
Episode 132: Annalee "Cartimandua" Barney
Episode 130: Kelly "KMadCandy"
Episode 129: Kelly "KMadCandy" and Michael "Sulla" Soracoe
Episode 128: Kelly "KMadCandy" and "the man of doom"
Episode 127: Martin "Martin Alvito" Alvito and Alexander "nthexwn" Johnson
Episode 126: Alexander "Alexander" Strub and Eddy "CivBattle"
Episode 125: Kelly "KMadCandy" and Paul "vexing" Grimes
Episode 124: Annalee "Cartimandua" Barney and "MadDjinn"
Episode 122: Sal "Thorburne" Serio
Episode 120: Ricardo "r_rolo1" Rolo, John "LzPrst" Ftonnessen and Rob "flitcraftrz" Zacny
Episode 119: Keith "CivCube" Block
Episode 118: Jonah Falcon
Episode 117: "Onandoga"
Episode 115: "MadDjinn"
Episode 114: "Bibor"
Episode 113: Gil "kossin" and Brian "Pinstar" Dyke
Episode 112: Jon "CanuckSoldier" Ryder, Peter "Emperor Peter", Gloria "condor223" Carson and Douglas "Rusty Edge" Smith
Episode 111: J.B. "RRRaskolnikov" Ferron
Episode 110: David "Hans Lemurson" Skold
EPISODES (SEASON 4)
Episode 108: Carl "God-Emperor" Perkins and Matt "elthrasher" Morgan
Episode 107: "MadDjinn" and John "Quagmire" Ftonnessen
Episode 106: Scott "AlphaShard" Dirk, Daniel "dacole" Cole, and James Robertson
Episode 105: Bruce "Beta" Hynes and Methos
Episode 104: Alexander "Alexander" Strub, Annalee "Cartimandua" Barney, Kelly "KMadCandy" and Stewart "MMC" Rice
Episode 102: John "bt_oz" Archer and Solver
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"/"Nolan" Carson and Jim "TheDS" Adams
Episode 91: Michael "emeseles" Lucas-Smith and Douglas "Rusty Edge" Smith
Episode 90: Scott "AlphaShard" Dirk, 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"
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EPISODES (SEASON 4)
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 J.B. "RRRaskolnikov" Ferron
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" Dirk, Bruce "Beta" Hynes and Bruce "Grandpa Troll" Cronkite
Episode 73: Alexander "Alexander" Strub and Solver
Episode 72: Gloria "condor223"/"Nolan" 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"/"KMadCandy"
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
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"/"Nolan" 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 (MORE RECENT)
2012 PolyCast Christmas Special: "Girls Playing Civ Too": Annalee "Cartimandua" Barney and Lisa "qnl" Bang
SPECIALS (LESS RECENT)
Focus Civilization: World: "Bibor" and Jacob "xienwolf" Turner
Focus Civilization V: Tony "GarretSidzaka" Kiehl, Peter "Maniac" Steenbeke, Pete Murray and Jon Shafer
Focus Courts of Candle'Bre: 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 Kelley Gilmore; Wouter "Locutus" Snijders and Kenneth "Impaler[WrG]" Ferland
Focus Civilization: Revolution #2: Jason "Jason2K" Bergman
Focus Alpha Centauri: DarkCloud, Darrell "Darsnan" Nandal, 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"
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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. Three spin-offs have been spawned from this show, each of which continues to this day: the modding-centric ModCast (launched January 2008), the console-centric RevCast (launched February 2009) and the multiplay-centric TurnCast (launched June 2011). Given format and situational 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"/"KMadCandy" (3 episodes; PC), Annalee "Cartimandua" Barney (25 episodes), Imran "Imran Siddiqui" Siddiqui (56 episodes) and Lisa "qnl" Bang (50 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 26 episodes and a special. PC's fourth season ran throughout the 2010 calendar year, consisting of 24 episodes and two specials. The show's fifth season (January-December 2011) had the same episode and special order though in actuality yielded 28 episodes and three specials. The production order count carried into the sixth season (January-December 2012) as well, ultimately generating one more episode but one less special. Its seventh season is to run throughout the 2013 calendar year, again with a 26-episode-and-two-specials order.
MISCELLANEOUS
More podcasting credentials for PolyCast regular and guest co-hosts alike!
PC regular co-host Daniel "DanQ" Quick was also a regular co-host on TD Gaming Podcast (TDGP) between April 2012-January 2013, beginning with Episode 258 and ending with 295; he had previously been a guest on episodes 252, 255, 257 and was a guest again on both 300 and the Dr. Who Special. Returning PC guest co-host Jonah Falcon has been a reguar TDGP co-host since episode 201. Fellow PC regular co-host Makahlua, and returning guest co-host Scott "AlphaShard" Dirk, are regulars co-host on Thu'umcast, a Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim podcast that has been in production since November 2011. Maki also made six appearances (04; 06; 08; 11; 13; 23) on the now concluded That Podcast, a Fallout: New Vegas podcast, which ran from October 2010 to September 2011.
Returning guest co-host Troy Goodfellow was once a regular, and now a returning guest, co-host on Three Moves Ahead (website); new guest co-host Rob "flitcraftrz" Zacny is a regular still. New guest co-host Jason "MegaBearsFan" Grade is a recurring co-host on GeekFights (20; 36; 47; 79; 142).
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TIMELINE
- July 21st, 2012
MadDjinn becomes the fourth regular co-host effective Episode 152.
- July 07th, 2012
Lisa leaves the show, with Episode 150 being the last one she records as a regular co-host.
- January 28th, 2012
Fourth spin-off series' existence and first episode goes public; two recurring PC guests regular panelists.
- June 01st, 2011
Third spin-off series' existence and first episode goes public; Dan, Maki and Phil among regular participants.
- January 01st, 2011
It is announced that the show is switching from a pre-recorded to live format effective this, its fifth season.
- 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 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 fourth regular co-host effective Episode 76.
- August 16th, 2009
Annalee leaves the show; search for new fourth regular co-host already underway.
- May 01st, 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 09th, 2008
Landmark 50th episode released... with Sid Meier.
- April 18th, 2008
Annalee begins filling in for an absent Kelly.
- March 04th, 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 05th, 2008
Shiny second season begins with Kelly replacing Wouter.
- December 24th, 2007
First Christmas Special features first all-female panel.
- December 14th, 2007
First season ends with thirty-fourth episode.
- September 07th-October 05th, 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 06th, 2007
First episode with 2+ guest co-hosts.
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