Yes, you read that right. I am part of a Super PAC. However, it is only a podcast. My Co-host, Producer and I chose the name to play on the much feared and maligned SUPER PAC that the Supreme Court opened the doors to with its infamous Citizens United ruling. Lucky for you, the acronym is the only relation we have to such nefarious ne’er-do-wells.
But the Super Podcast Action Committee is still awesome. We talk about a lot of political, legal and interesting things for roughly an hour (sometimes more if we just can’t contain ourselves). We have had 8 episodes and one pilot so far. The Podcast has mostly been promoted on Game Politics, but I thought I better start promoting it here (after all I am a Co-host). It also gives me something to update on a regular basis too (something I have not been very good at lately).
The group is made up of Me, E. Zachary Knight. I write for this site, over at Techdirt and Game Politics. My Co-host is Andrew Eisen. He writes for IGN, GamePolitics and has a very funny Youtube channel. The Producer is James Fudge, Chief Editor of Game Politics.
Here is a run down of each available episode.
Episode 0
In the inaugural episode of the Super PAC, hosts Andrew Eisen and E. Zachary Knight introduce themselves to the world, along with producer James Fudge. The Super PAC discusses EZK’s recent trip to Washington D.C. with the Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA), two game-related lawsuits, and the media’s fascination with the assertion from Oslo, Norway killer Anders Breivik that he “trained” using Call of Duty. Episode 0
Episode 1
Episode #1 of the Super Podcast Action Committee takes on the thorny issue of used games. Why do some developers and publishers hate them so much and why do they think it would be “awesome” if the next generation of home consoles from Sony and Microsoft blocked used games altogether? We try to figure it all out… Hosts Andrew and Zachary also discuss “Operation Tangled Web,” a series of indictments led by the United States Attorney General’s office against individuals who sell mod chips for video game systems. Andrew also talks about some controversy surrounding his latest YouTube video, and Zachary reveals his thrifty side. Episode 1 Show length 56 minutes, recorded on May 5, 2012.
Episode 2
This week we have a special guest: Ben Sawyer, Project Director for Games for Health. Ben talks to us in great detail about the eighth annual event taking place in Boston, Massachusetts June 12 – 14.
Hosts Andrew Eisen and E. Zachary Knight explain the fine print attached to Microsoft’s new $99 Xbox 360 and why it might be a good idea to avoid this “deal.” They also discuss the challenges that the top console makers (Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft) are facing as declining sales and the difficulties of launching a new generation of hardware weigh heavily on profits in the short term. Episode 2 Show length: 60 minutes. Recorded May 12, 2012.
Episode 3
In Episode 3 of the Super Podcast Action Committee, Andrew and James talk about the horrors of connecting to Battle.net during the Diablo III launch this week and why “always connected” gameplay is for the birds. We also talk about the current financial troubles facing Curt Schilling’s 38 Studios and the state of Rhode Island, as well as how wonderful Torchlight II is. Download it here: Episode 3 (47 minutes, recorded May 19, 2012).
Episode 4
In Episode 4 of the Super Podcast Action Committee, hosts Andrew Eisen and E. Zachary Knight talk about censorship in the European version of Frogster’s MMO TERA (check out Andrew’s latest YouTube video for some context on the discussion), and the controversy over game cloning – this time involving an iOS game from Ustwo called Papa Quash that copied the mechanics from the popular PlayStation Move title from Die Gute Fabrik – J.S. Joust. Download it: Super Podcast Action Committee – Episode 4 (65 Minutes, 67.5 MB)
Episode 5
In Episode 5 of the Super Podcast Action Committee, James Fudge talks to GaymerCon organizer Matt Conn about the first-of-its-kind LGBT-focused gaming event (find it at 12:36 mark – you can also find a transcripthere). Meanwhile hosts Andrew Eisen and E. Zachary Knight talk way too long about E3, Nintendo, the Wii U and the Game Genie (the segment begins at 25:48 mark). Finally Andrew and Zachary dissect the controversy over the Hitman Absolution and Among The Sleep trailers (this segment begins at the 1 hour, 5 minute mark). Download it here: SuperPAC Episode 5(1 hour, 38 minutes, 67.5 MB)
Episode 6
In Episode 6 of the Super Podcast Action Committee, James, Andrew, and Zachary talk about the Electronic Entertainment Expo which took place last week in Los Angeles. We discuss the hits and misses of the show and realize that both Zachary and Andrew have no earthly idea who Aisha Tyler is. What?!? Yeah, it’s true. This is probably the longest show we’ve have had ( I cut it down from three hours to its final length – 1 hour, 42 minutes). Download it here: SuperPAC Episode 6.
Episode 7
In Episode 7 of the Super Podcast Action Committee, Andrew and Zachary celebrate Father’s Day by talking about Warren Spector and gratuitous violence in video games, Lara Croft, Tropes vs. Girls, Humble Bundle V, and a whole lot more. Download it here: SuperPAC Episode 7.
Episode 8
It’s Episode 8 of the Super Podcast Action Committee, so Andrew and Zachary celebrate by coming as close to 60 minutes as is humanly possible this week! The topics for this week’s show included the Tetris cloning case ruling, Australia’s fabulous new R18+ rating category for games, various topics related to Microsoft, and much more. Download Episode 8 it here: SuperPAC Episode 8.
So there you have it. We also have some other places in which you can follow the Podcast at Facebook, Twitter, and iTunes.
