Umbasa!

September 19, 2016 11:07 PM

Duckfeed.tv is a frighteningly prolific videogame and pop culture podcast network founded by Gary Butterfield and Kole Ross. Though best known for the Dark Souls/Bloodborne podcast Bonefireside Chat and the 'video game bookclub' Watch Out For Fireballs, the network also includes shows about bad games, D&D monsters and 90s music videos. Duckfeed has so many ideas for podcasts they even have a podcast devoted to podcast ideas. The network also hosts sites like Hex Crank (Kole's survival horror blog) and the inevitable Youtube and Twitch channels.
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants (10 comments total)

I recently played through Dark Souls 1 for the first time while listening to the first season of Bonfireside Chat. It was a great way to play the game, as they go area-by-area, dispensing helpful tips and avoiding too many spoilers.

I also enjoy a few of their other shows. Watch Out For Fireballs is pretty fun if you're familiar with the game they're talking about in any given episode. They dive really deep into the games and usually have some interesting insights to share. Abject Suffering is a really weird show, but when it's good it's pretty fun. That one gets really boyzone sometimes though, and the hosts are also kind of prone to talking about their bodily functions in sickening detail.

Gary and Kole seem like really fundamentally decent guys, and their conversations have this really good-natured energy that makes them uplifting to listen to. Plus they do regular fundraisers for the TransActive Gender Center, so you know their hearts are in the right place.
posted by One Second Before Awakening at 6:41 AM on September 20, 2016 [2 favorites]

Huhuh, you wrote Bonefire.

But this aside, I admire their energy. I've listened to their Dark Souls 2 podcasts after finishing the game for the first time and was amazed at the depth of research.
posted by Captain Fetid at 7:30 AM on September 20, 2016 [2 favorites]

Why did you have to do this? I've picked up Dark Souls a couple times and completely failed to play it with any kind of competence but I'm so enamored by the world I desperately want to play through it.

So I'm going to listen to this and try to play through again. Thanks a lot.
posted by Tevin at 1:53 PM on September 20, 2016 [2 favorites]

Gary and Kole are super-nice, super-great guys. If you're in Portland for the Portland Retro Gaming Expo in late October, be sure to catch their panel and stop by their booth.
posted by rifflesby at 1:53 PM on September 20, 2016 [1 favorite]

@Tevin,

Try it again. It's totally worth it.
posted by das_2099 at 5:04 PM on September 20, 2016 [1 favorite]

Meant to chip in sooner. I'm currently playing Dark Souls 2 (offline) for the first time, so went straight for their podcasts covering that. Provide excellent talk-through accompaniment for the run. Episodes might seem a little long, especially the startup and wind-down portions, but they're not my main focus whilst merrily dying. I like that they bring in guests, so most episodes have a new contributor as well as a new area to talk about.

I never got far in DS1 so their speculations about the lore connections between that game and this are interesting, but a little opaque. Definitely enjoy the way they have when chatting though and will check out more of their stuff once I get the chance. Especially the retro-games.

Nice linkage!
posted by comealongpole at 6:57 AM on September 21, 2016 [1 favorite]

I realize listening to the first couple episodes that I need a DS Sherpa to guide me through it all. In my previous playthroughs I've constantly found myself double-guessing what I can/should do and need someone on hand that I can message and say "hey, can I kill this dragon/weird basement guy/dark knight?" or "what stat should i use if i like x weapon?" Wiki's are helpful but the problem is that I never felt what I needed to search for.

Anyway. Great podcast!
posted by Tevin at 7:38 AM on September 21, 2016 [1 favorite]

I listened to a couple episodes and this gave me the push I needed to finally go back and finish the Dark Souls 2 DLC, so thanks for this post. I met some delightfully weird phantoms, I bashed in an invader's skull with a craftsman's hammer, and I remembered how much I enjoy hanging out in Drangleic. Keh heh heh heh...
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:48 AM on September 26, 2016 [2 favorites]

also I have been devouring Bonfireside Chat episodes and just started an Old Whip playthrough of DkS2. Don't ask me how many times I had to reroll to get an Old Whip off my first crow trade. This FPP has kind of wrecked my life tbh

Edit: I bought their Souls of Darkness book, too.
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:45 PM on October 12, 2016 [1 favorite]

Finally got my 50 Loyce Souls and beat Lud and Zallen tonight. I snarfed up so many mushrooms fighting those two. So, so many.

Welp time for NG++
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:38 PM on October 16, 2016