Goddamn Gamecube

Greg and Beppe from Goddamn Gamecube crack the lid and give us the scoop of how it is running a video game podcast.

Ahoy there gamers!

We are back with another interview. This week we talk to Greg and Beppe from the Goddam Gamecube podcast. These crazy kids cover it all. From franchise retrospectives, trailer analysis, working at GameStop, the podcast doesn’t leave many topics unexplored.

You can find their podcast in all the places you’d expect, but also make sure to check out their YouTube channel. You can also find them on Twitter, Instagram, Twitch, and Facebook.

Without further ado, lets dive in and see what this podcast is alllllll about. :)

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Hi there Goddamn Gamecubers, I always wanted to start a podcast, but never got past brainstorming name ideas. Tell us a little bit about how you two came to start this podcast and what it's all about.

Beppe: So, the name came from back in our college days of 2010 to 2014, although the podcast itself didn’t begin the planning phase until late 2019. Back in college, many of our friends and acquaintances would ask Greg if he wanted to come play Super Smash Brothers Melee in their dorm or apartment. He eventually got so sick of it, he just started jokingly saying: “Can we all get over the GODDAMN GAMECUBE PLEASE? Can we play something else??”. We have nothing against the Gamecube - in fact some of our favorite games are on that hardware. It’s really a joke about that time in our lives. Flash forward to 2019: We were talking about doing something like this for awhile; at least a few years- And we decided to just go for it. Greg is a producer and has the mics, the hardware, and the software- and we spend so much time discussing games on an in-depth analysis level that we figured we might as well start recording these conversations. We have nothing against the Gamecube personally, and it comically highlights our differences in opinion on games. 

We are aware of the over-abundance of podcasts. We put many hours of research and effort into not only how informative it is, but also into the style of humor, and how to make it different from what everyone else is doing. We also put extreme care into audio quality: Not only hardware gear, but also the mixing and mastering process. Our episodes are also meticulously edited - we want our dialog to be natural, but also we want to release a professional audio product. As we have expanded, Nick has joined the team on a production level to lead our art and branding efforts.

What is your process like from start to finish for each episode?

Greg and Beppe: Firstly, It’s important to clarify the concept of the episode or the series. Sometimes we consider the relevance of the timing, sometimes it’s passion projects- games we’ve been itching to talk about. Occasionally, we have industry topics, or game-show episodes like Final Fantasy March Madness. When it comes to our Games Industry interviews with industry professionals- we reach out to individuals who created games that mean something to us personally, or they made a contribution to the industry that is meaningful to us. Greg performs at PAX East every year - so we’ve made some industry contacts that way- while with some industry guests we just reach out and hope they say yes. 

In terms of recording and production: There is a significant amount of pre-production research that goes into each episode and the structure of the episode. After 50 episodes, the process has become more and more refined. When it comes to retrospectives or deep-dives, Beppe tends to take the lead in our preparation. When it comes to interview pieces, or special-format episodes, Greg leads the charge on that. We try to keep recordings concise, and under 80 minutes. Our panels are carefully considered - they consist of our friends that are experts on certain topics or who we feel can add to the discussion in a fruitful way. After the episode is recorded, the episode is edited for content by either Beppe or Greg, and then Greg does the “Production Pass” where he mixes and masters the audio to sound good on all playback systems. After the audio is complete, our team member Nick, who leads the art direction, creates the thumbnails, images, and branding for each episode. Greg and Nick collaborate on getting the episode out to our distributors so it releases on time on all platforms every week. Nick also creates the teaser videos and content you’ll see during the week. We try to stay ahead of schedule because of how much is involved in the process - sometimes we’ll have 8 to 10 weeks of content scheduled for delivery in advance. Day of release is pretty simple: it launches on all platforms simultaneously, and that’s when it hits your ears! 

A great aspect of podcasts are the guests that get brought on, how do you determine who is appropriate for what topic? Do you ever designate episodes strictly for what guest is coming on?

Greg and Beppe: So, the concept or passion for the topic always comes first. However, the panel of guests is important, and we don’t record the episode until we are confident in our panel selection. When it comes to retrospectives, we ask our guests to be prepared and notes are encouraged. With any virtual panels, there is an expectation for microphone quality and being able to conduct yourself appropriately. When it comes to games industry interviews, concept and collaboration go more hand-in-hand. All questions are prepared in advance, and we personally research each guest and their past interviews to make sure we don’t ask too many commonly asked questions. 

What makes you decide to talk about something on the show vs. post a video on your guys’ YouTube channel?

Greg: So, our YouTube is dedicated to Tuesday bonus content. We have a segment called Fresh Take Tuesday - it’s a positive series where we discuss games or topics we are excited about that we don’t think would fill a 45 - 80 minute slot. Also, it is used for more immediate or time-sensitive content that we want to release, such as our Elden Ring analysis. Our standard Friday content is posted on all platforms - both streaming and YouTube. 

What structure do you follow for “seasons” on the podcast? Do different seasons cover different aspects of gaming?

Greg: Because of COVID-19, Season 1 ended at 25 episodes. It wasn’t intended to end that way, but because of the circumstances, it ended at 25. However, that seemed like a good number of episodes per season, so we decided to continue that format: 25 episodes per season, with one episode every Friday. Different seasons do not necessarily cover different topics, but we have refined the process over time, and I hope our fans think that we keep improving. We take a one to two week break in-between seasons to gather new ideas and record new content. Going week to week all year can easily make you fall behind.

How do you think a podcast compares to...oh idk perhaps a newsletter when it comes to talking about gaming related areas?

Beppe: Tone can be easier to discern with audio. Your personality or humor can come across. When you record audio podcasts, your content can be more of a conversation, and it becomes more of a discussion. Perhaps people are more likely to read past the headline. You also get used to the hosts’ voices, and it can feel like they’re in the room talking to you. However, that doesn’t stop people from voicing their disagreements with us (Greg especially- haha) in the comments or in reviews. 

What are some of the next steps (that you’re willing to share) for the Goddamn Gamecube podcast?

Greg: Season 3 begins in just a few weeks! Expect expanded video content on our youtube channel. We launched our channel about three months ago and we are looking to do more in that space. We also have begun doing more content in collaboration with our fans and audience. We have some community-focused content that just came out that our fans helped make (The Gamestop Employee interview with me). Beppe has also begun doing some streaming on Twitch.

We may be getting back to some in-person panels now that COVID is safer in our area. Really, we think that refining and consistently getting better is always in our next-step plans. 

Here is your time to PLUG! Tell the people what else you are working on and what they should be checking out. 

Greg and Beppe: We are actively expanding our YOUTUBE CHANNEL and content! Please subscribe to Goddamn Gamecube if you enjoy our show. It’s the only place to watch or listen to our exclusive Tuesday content. Also, if you enjoy the show, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or your podcast platform of choice. 

Thank you Devin and Bronze League Newsletter for having us!

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