ANIMALCAST

This is a no-prep episode.

In honor of Highlander II, the worst sequel ever released, the guys discuss their lists of the other worst sequels they've ever seen.  And then for the first time they read the listeners lists for worst sequels as well.

In Episode 79, the guys answer their viewer mail.  They talk about their Gen Con plans, some technical information about how they record and answer questions about their gaming set up.  But this doesn't really do it justice because, well, it's VIEWER MAIL!

In Episode 73, the guys discuss their top five most embarassing moments that don't involve getting caught masturbating.  Not to give anything away, but this is the seminal episode that secures the guys' position as complete and total dorks.

In Episode 72, the guys talk about the various games they bought and played over the holidays.  They talk about Settlers of Catan, Mike's problems with his Pathfinder campaign, Zombie Cinema and Lost Worlds.  They also have an enlightening discussion of hotel porn.

Kyle's sick, so no show notes.  But it's one of the best banter episodes yet.

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Kyle's spending the Thanksgiving holiday roughing it with his family outside of cell phone range, so this week, Mike's son Gygax fills in with his best Uncle Kyle impression. In this short episode, Mike and son fill the time with more Pathfinder talk, and a brief look at the current crop of geek television shows.

Mike has abandoned the podcast... or at least had to cancel, so Kyle tried recording this episode without him.  He tries to talk about gaming news (you should really check out Cartoon Action Hour: Season Two), but quickly runs out of steam and starts babbling about his family.  For kicks, he opens Mike's private banter list and critiques it for the audience.  Good times.

In Episode 65, the guys do another no-prep episode, something they haven't done in a year.  But this time they are doing it with a twist.  They're also taking shots of alcohol every 15 minutes.  Needless to say, things get out of hand.  This episode originally was recorded at one hour and fifty-four minutes.  It has been significantly edited, mostly removing the "I'm so drunk" commentary that pervades the last half.

In Episode 63, Mike and Kyle welcome guest co-host Dar to the show. Then they get down to business in this jam-packed episode all about retro video games. Showing exactly how old they are, the guys count down their top 10 retro games from the Atari 2600, Commodore 64 and Colecovision days. They also talk briefly about King of Kong, an excellent documentary that both guys love.

Sorry for the lack of show notes.  The debacle of trying to change hosts for the website delayed the release of this.  To sum it up, this is the most awesome episode of banter you have ever heard.  Bask in the banter.

You should be reading show notes, but Kyle's baby screwed everything up, and so now all you get is this pithy commentary.

Kyle is tired and cranky.  Mike compensates.  The guys engage in banter for the entire episode.

In Episode 42, the guys examine their elaborate and juvenile April Fool's Day prank.  They name names and call people out as they laugh and laugh at who fell for it, and the dicks that didn't.  After spending waaay too much time patting themselves on the back, Kyle reads some scintilating accidental porn that he found this week, and the guys are joined by a special guest at the end-- drunk Mrs. Mike!

This episode we talk about the five greatest single posts on the message boards. We also get into banter about nicknames as kids, my kid gaming at school with friends and other stuff.

In Episode 37, the guys have decided to go with the worst show idea ever.  In this episode, they have decided to each list the five Animalballers that they hate the most and give the reasons why.  Are you on the list?  Where does Tahlvin rank?  Do the guys actually have the balls to list people that they know listen to the show?  (Hint- yes, and we don't care if you're offended).

Why would Mike and Kyle do a show that will achieve nothing more than the alienation of their entire audience?  For the reason they go through with every bad idea-- it made them laugh really hard when they first thought of it.  So go ahead and find out where you land on the list, jackass.  And if you think we forgot anyone or disagree with our choices, post up your responses on the boards.

In this episode, the guys talk rampant speculation about the fourth edition of Dungeons and Dragons.  Before that, however, Mike describes a fight and near arrest from his last night driving a cab, and Kyle gives an update on his necrotic dog.  Mike then mysteriously drops off the recording, giving Kyle an opportunity to get some things off his chest.

In Episode 35- Kyle introduces more never-before-heard outtakes.  Mostly about how Mike was a giant dick and used to hurt Kyle when they were kids.

In Episode 34, the guys conclude their discussion of gaming with kids.  Kyle also gives a review of Teeth, and Mike explains the problems with large men going down water slides.

In Episode 33, Mike and Kyle talk about the intricacies they have experienced while gaming with their kids.  That's right, faithful listener!  The Animalcast is regaining its street cred with a bit of gaming talk!  Their kids range in age from 6 to 13 and they talk about the ways to keep them interested and adjust to the complexities of the game.  In other news, the guys talk about the new format and weekly recording schedule as well as the new theme music.  Even though Mike and Kyle can't agree on the value of SDQ, they both concur that Raygun is awesome.  Opening theme courtesy of Raygun.

Well we really screwed the pooch on our last listener mail episode.  Due to a technical glitch which we don't understand (Mike's audio was actually echoing a half second BEFORE he spoke-- how's that happen?)- the viewer mail episode was a total loss and unfixable.

But due to popular demand-- here's the voicemails themselves!

As a testament to our listeners, we had almost ten minutes in just voicemails.  You guys must really, really like us.  You would think that would somehow motivate us to buy some real recording equipment so these things wouldn't happen... but let's not get crazy or anything.

Due to technical difficulties with the already-recorded viewer mail episode, that episode is being delayed to try to fix some of the audio bugs.  Instead of leaving everyone high and dry, we've put out these never-before-aired outtakes.  Enjoy!

In Episode 25, the guys answer more viewer mail.  But first, Mike has a surprise guest jump on the microphone for an impromptu interview.  Simply put, it is the biggest name guest on the show yet.  The guys answer questions related to the ongoing war between ninjas and pirates, their favorite Dungeons and Dragons settings, the new Pathfinder series from Paizo Publishing and technical issues asked by a loyal listener.  Listener Daki poses a new game which the guys stumble through, but then request help from the listening audience.  They have a request related to their Ron Weasley for Muggle President 2008 prank, and in response to another listener questions they speculate on Dungeons and Dragons 4.0.  And finally, Kyle responds to the vicious attacks on him from the Reel Horror Podcast.

This is a very short episode where Kyle introduces a few outtakes, including a discussion of an altercation with the infamous band, Harry and the Potters, and how Meryl Streep's breasts brought a previous episode to a screeching halt.  Kyle addresses his pending feud with the Reel Horror Podcast and also introduced a new promo that the Scorpion King recorded.

In Episode 23, Mike and Kyle conclude their discussion of movies so bad they are good.  The final three movies are Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter, Sophie's Choice, and The Stink of Flesh.  Kyle also gives a Rizzob in the Hizzouse to the inventor of nicotene lozenges and Mike continues to try to answer the unanswerable question- what can brown do for you?

In Episode 22, Mike and Kyle begin their experiment in reviewing movies so bad that they are good.  Using user suggestions from the website, the guys watch the first three movies in this episode, including Snakes on a Plane, Plan 9 From Outer Space, and Deathrace 2000.  Kyle also makes a shocking announcement about a lifestyle choice he has been hiding from everyone, and Mike bitches at Kyle over the shownotes.

VIEWER MAIL!  CALL (206) 202-5279 WITH MORE!

Show Notes Are for Sissies!

In Episode 20, the guys conclude theiir discussion of their most Australian moments, which include Australian press releases, a fake presidency campaign and the ongoing struggle with Wil Wheaton.

In episode 19, Mike and Kyle discuss their most... ahem... Australian moments.  They get into an indepth discussion of the various pranks they've played on each other, the members of Animalball and other websites.

In Episode 18, the guys conclude their interview with Caz Granberg, the author of Covert Generations.  The guys also discuss Caz's work on Aquanauts and other mysterious projects he is not authorized to give details about.  Caz talks about his friend, Jason Blair's, project Normal, Texas.  And Blair's rewriting and reissuing of the controversial rpg Little Fears.  Not surprisingly, Kyle panders for attention.

This clip is an edit of the interview Mike and Kyle did with Caz Granberg in Episode 17.  That episode has been edited here to focus just on his latest RPG, Covert Gen.  Visit his website at www.heftywrenches.com for more information and to purchase the game.

This is the Cazcast!  Mike and Kyle interview Caz Granberg-- better known as Cazmonster on the Animalball forums-- about his experience writing and selling his first major game, Covert Generations.  But first, the guys put Caz on the Animalball Hotseat and task him with five difficult questions.  You'll have to listen to figure out how superaids, poisoned kool-aide and zombie hitler work into it.  And the guys finally answer the question of the most evil gamer in the world.

In Episode 16, Mike and Kyle discuss random gaming topics that they've been meaning to discuss for a while.  This includes a pre-review of RPGPundit's new game, Forward.. to Adventure!  They also discuss the scifi channel original series Who Wants to Be a Superhero and some game ideas they forgot about for a previous episode.

Back to form!  In Animalcast Episode 15 the guys get involved in a serious and important disussion- the greatest movies to portray nerds in a good light, and the worst movies to portray nerds in a bad light.  You think Anthony Michael Hall might be in some of these movies?  You are probably right, but we refuse to give anything away, so you will just have to listen to the episode to find out.

In this outtake from Episode 14, the guys talk about their nerdy listening habits: books on tape.  Mike reveals that he likes to listen to college lectures on tape and Kyle reveals his love for salt-- the History of Salt, that is.

In this outtake, Mike makes sure to clarify any impression the guys may have given in the last week's outtake that Maureen Trentman was a whore.  In an interesting twist, the conversation then leads to Kyle's most recent communications with Wil Wheaton.

Episode 14- The whisper quiet episode.  Okay, Kyle takes full reponsibility for not being able to hear him well.  He was in a house of 10 sleeping people recording the podcast on a crappy phone using new software.  Next time will be better.  But here's the point!  It's the "Things We Like to Listen To" Episode!  Uh... this sounded interesting in theory.  In any event, the guys talk about various things-- cds, music, satellite radio, and their favorite podcasts.  Podcast-wise, the guys talk about Fear the Boot, Reel Horror Podcast, the Ogrecave Audio Report, Night of the Living Podcast and Dr. Rotwang's single podcast.  Listen closely... because you'll have to if you want to understand what Kyle is saying.

As the night wore on recording Episode 13 (the third episode recorded in a row), the guys got a bit loopy and answered a ribald question from Daki questioning the parentage of Kyle's children.

In this outtake from Episode 13, the guys answer questions from the Hauze.

Viewer Mail!  We answer questions from Paul, Caz, Iantha (Paul), Zircher, Gunny, Jeff Hauze, Hellion, Angel and Paul again!

Discover the answer to mysteries you never knew you cared about-- why does Gunny hate Kyle's wife so much? What are the guys currently working on? Why is television so bad (or is it)? Is Jeff Hauze hot for his minions? And what the hell is going on at the RPGSite anyways?

In this outtake, Kyle talks about his most recent game purchase-- Star Wars Saga Edition, and how excited he is about running it with his kids.  Unfortunately, Mike drags up some old history about Kyle's published hatred of all things Star Wars.  Then Mike commits the unforgivable act and reveals Kyle's shameful, secret hypocrisy.

In Episode 12, Mike and Kyle finish their discussion of the best games they never developed.  This includes:

Tabloid a game of weird news journalists;

Ragnorak's Ghosts, a body jumping, combat-intensive game;

An untitled, over the top time travel game with big guns;

Legacy of Justice, a post-apocalyptic supers game;

Working Class Monsters, a... game (you will see the problems with this in the discussion);

Genre Clash, an experiment with the fudge system that uses characters from any genre of roleplaying;

Revelation's Agents, where players working for the church try to stop the end of the world;

Legacy of MAN, the coolest furries game EVAR; and

Cell Block Orc, the best idea the guys have ever come up with.  You'll just have to listen to hear what that one's all about.

In Episode 11, Mike and Kyle discuss the greatest ideas they never developed.  From two dungeons and dragons-based adventures-- Battle for Gemini's Glade and The Dungeon Crawl-- to their own homebrews (Aquanauts, Disaster!, BFF and God's Dice). And Kyle has a message for all the listeners:  I allow you to exist; that makes me better than you.

In this brief outtake from Episdoe 10, Mike prompts Kyle to describe his first IRC Dungeons and Dragons experience... and the costume his family made for him.

In this extended outtake from Episode 10, Mike and Kyle talk extensively about which supers they would like to have a one night stand with and which they would like to marry.  The conversation gets sidetracked onto the sheer awesomeness of Colossus.

In Episode 10, the guys continue their unabashed journey through all things superhero and comic related.  They face off against each other, discuss the Frank Miller and Alan Moore revolution, and genenrally geek out on supers.

In this outtake from Episode 9, Mike feels remorse about being so unprepared for the Order of the Stick game that Daki sent in for Episode 8.  Mike makes amends and addresses the game properly.

In Episode 9 the Animalball crew engages in the first annual Superhero Geekfest.  But first, Kyle gives a loving tribute to his wife to memorialize their 13th anniversary.  Back on topic, the focus on this episode is on all things supers and all the complete geek questions that comic fans contemplate.  Which super would you go gay for?  Pirates vs. Ninjas- the supers version.  What power would you like and what power would you inflict on someone else?  'Nuff said.

In Episode 8, the guys discuss the single greatest roleplaying game of all time.  Paranoia.  Just how can an absurdist, comedic, science fiction roleplaying game be so great?  If you listen, you will find out.  Also, the guys are happy to introduce their new announcer, Michael Dorn from Star Trek the Next Generation.

In this outtake from Episode 8, Mike and Kyle lose it as they recall one of their favorite Paranoia moments of all time-- when Roblogic's character took the beatdown of a lifetime.

In this outtake of Episode 8, the guys talk about theRPGSite's donation drive.  This sidetracks into a discussion of the Paladium Game's debacle from last year, or as Kyle calls it "a total ream job."  The guys discuss when donation drives are legitimate, and when they just leave you feeling like a chump.

In this outtake of Episode 8, Kyle describes his first ever experience with playing an rpg online.  His humiliation is your entertainment for the day.

<a href="http://odeo.com/claim/feed/b4012c7e53debc2e">Animalcast Odeo Channel</a> (odeo/b4012c7e53debc2e)

In Episode 7, the guys devote the entire hour to viewer mail!  Answering questions from Daki, Serious Paul, Angel, Jeff Hauze, Zircher, Flameblade and Silverwolf, the guys talk about a myriad of different things including: creepy homeschooled kids, Order of the stick, Chinese food and more.  Links discussed in the show:  the animalball stat yourself quiz (http://www.animalball.com/quiz2.htm).

In this short outtake from Episode 7, a technical problem with Mike's microphone leads to a racist impression of Don Knotts.  It cannot be explained any better than that.

In this outtake from Episode 7, Mike and Kyle get sidetracked from viewer mail to discuss movies so bad they turned them off.  That discussion, in turn, leads to a discussion about movies with the best (and worst) alternate endings, and then the guys talk about Kyle's love for Clerks II.

In this outtake from Episode 7 (viewer mail), the guys get sidetracked in the middle of an email from Jeff.  Before they even finish reading the email, they begin discussing the Jeff Hauze-LordHellion seniority debate, which branches into a mystery of why Roblogic is such a beloved member of Animalball.  Kyle explains to Mike "The Eva Effect" to solve this conundrum.

In this outtake of Episode 7, Kyle relates how his kids are repeatedly being suckered by kobolds in their D and D campaign.  Halfway through his story, someone unexpected reveals that he heard the whole nefarious plot.

There was just too much to talk about in Episode 6, so in this bonus episode, Mike and Kyle continue their discussion on the best movies and television shows to play as RPGs.  As usual, other unrelated conversation crops up, including two actresses that Kyle professes his love for.

In this Episode, Mike and Kyle step out of character in a somber moment to announce the passing of someone very close to the show, and to take a moment to honor their memory.  When they return to the normal format of the show, Kyle relates some recent criticisms from a listener.  Mike and Kyle go through the new geek fall line up, and finally the guys discuss the top ten movies or tv shows they think would make good rpgs.  In a candid moment of anger, Kyle reveals a brand new group of people that he just might hate worse than LARPers.

This is a five minute outtake that is being cut from the next episode because of time considerations.  I won't give it away, but Mike poses a truly heinous f-marry-kill that we couldn't leave on the cutting room floor.  Not for the weak of heart.

In Episode 5, the guys finally get their timing straight for the belated interview with Crazy Elf.  This episode also features the most shocking installment of viewer mail, and Kyle explains to Mike how he saw accidental porn while watching the Dungeons and Dragon Cartoon with his kids.  The guys talk about the finer points of Order of the Stick, and their favorite comic strips.  Kyle reveals which male animalballer is into girly drinks with umbrellas in them.  And the guys conclude their discussion of Instant Game which started last episode.  They discuss their best runs of Instant Game and actually go through an example of coming up with two different campaigns using the same set of roles.

In Episode 4, Mike and Kyle intend to talk about Instant Game, the role playing game where the genre, world and campaign are determined randomly at the beginning of the game session. However, before they get there, they are a bit distracted by some preliminary matters: (1) an indepth discussion of Heroes and how no one likes Nikki; (2) the Dragon and Dungeon magazine debacle and what Kyle is going to do about his canceled subscription; (3) a new game, Name the Poster; (4) viewer mail from Lordhellion; and (5) an indepth discussion of which female Animalballer is comfortable walking around naked in certain circumstances. The guys also give shout outs to Zirchir for his instant story generator homage to Instant Game and Dr. Rotwang for his experience with Instant Game. And finally, the guys try to hook in Crazy Elf for his belated appearance.

In Episode 3, Mike and Kyle discuss the positive and negative feedback on the first two episodes of Animalcast. The guys hook up with their first ever guest on the program, and much to everyone's relief, Mike has purchased a new microphone which greatly improves his sound quality-- but he still can't stop wiping his butt with it. The first installment of Viewer Mail is introduced with a question from Jeff Hauze, and the guys get sidetracked by a D&D version of f/marry/kill. Finally, the guys talk a bit about the free stuff they have for download, including their newest product, "50 Bar Encounters."