PolyCast (About) | strategies involved Civilization podcast

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Targeting beginner, intermediate and advanced players alike, 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. "CanusAlbinus" leads Makahlua, Philip "TheMeInTeam" Bellew and Jason "MegaBearsFan" Grade as its regular co-hosts. It is the elder sibling to the modding-centric ModCast, console-centric RevCast, social gaming-centric SCivCast and multiplay-centric TurnCast.

SEGMENTS
PolyCast structures its content through segments. News covering two weeks' worth of topical Civilization-related items, Senate debating game strategies and Forum Talk investigating hot issues raised in Civ community forums are the most frequent, followed closely by Open Mic (Mailbag in Seasons 1 through 4) engaging and addressing listener feedback and strong>Miscellaneous for that which does not fall into any other category. In alphabetical order, other segments in use are Community Focus, highlighting a specific segment of the online Civ community (introduced in Season 5); Interview speaking with key individuals in the Civ community; Research Lab exploring concepts that are not in Civ yet but may be in the future and Theatre where co-hosts share recent Civ gameplay experiences.

In Seasons 1 through 4, Open Mic was known as Mailbag and in Season 1 Forum Talk was known as Modcast. Vault, where archived segments from earlier episodes find relevance again and are released, is still used but the label was retired effective Season 5; relatedly, it was during this season that Time Machine -- looking back at key moments in Civ history -- was collapsed into the Miscellaneous segment. This action was reversed during Season 9.

REGULAR CO-HOSTS

Canus (000+ Eps.)
Maki (313+ Eps.)
Phil (231+ Eps.)
Jason (028+ Eps.)

PROMOS

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Stream

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GUESTS
Having one or more guest co-hosts per episode is standard practice on PolyCast as it is on sibling shows ModCast, RevCast and SCivCast. Several guests have also made appearances on special productions under the PC banner. The most frequent guest to date is Scott "AlphaShard" Dirk with sixteen appearances; "CanusAlbinus" and Jon "CanuckSoldier" Ryder are in second with nine and Michael "emeseles" Lucas-Smith in third with eight.

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. Given format and situational differences, PolyCast's first season is affectionately referred to as PolyCast Classic (PCC). Throughout its ongoing run four panelists have served as regular co-hosts; Wouter "Locutus" Snijders (28 episodes; PCC and Imran "Imran Siddiqui" Siddiqui (56 episodes) were the original second and third co-hosts respectively. Other past regular co-hosts, in order of participation, are Kelly "KMadeleine"/"KMadCandy" (3 episodes), Annalee "Cartimandua" Barney (25 episodes), Lisa "qnl" Bang (50 episodes), MadDjinn (131 episodes) and Daniel "DanQ" Quick (319 episodes).

PC's extended first season ran from October 2006-December 2007, comprising of 34 episodes, 3 pilots and 1 special. Afterwards, season numbers began to align fully with calendar years. Its second season (2008) consisted of 25 episodes and 10 specials, while the third season (2009) was made up of 26 episodes and a special. PC's fourth season (2010) consisted of 24 episodes and two specials while 28 episodes and three specials were produced in its fifth season (20111). In the sixth season (2012), 29 episodes and two specials were produced with the seventh season (2013) carrying 25 episodes and a special. The eighth season (2014) ran for 25 episodes and a special in length, as did the following ninth (2015) and tenth (2016) seasons. The eleventh season (2017) ran for 24 episodes and a special, with the twelfth season (2018) running 31 episodes and a special in length.

Four spin-offs have been spawned from this show, two of which remain in production today. The modding-centric ModCast (launched January 2008) and the multiplay-centric TurnCast (launched June 2011, on-hiatus January 2019) are also in ongoing production while console-centric RevCast (launched February 2009, suspended October 2013) and social-centric SCivCast (launched January 2012, suspended June 2013) remain dormant.

MISCELLANEOUS
More podcasting credentials for PolyCast regular and guest co-hosts alike!

Founding 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 and 257. Quick was a guest again on 300, 325, 336, 357, 417 as well as the first Dr. Who Special of the show. Quick was also a guest on Episode 61 of Podcasters' Roundtable on audience engagement. Two recurring, and one first-time, PC guest co-hosts are presently regular co-hosts on TDGP: Jonah Falcon since episode 201, Scott "AlphaShard" Dirk since episode 401 and T.J. Denzer since episode 412. Dirk and PC regular co-host Makahlua were regular co-hosts on Thu'umcast, a Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim podcast that was in production from November 2011-June 2013. Dirk is also a regular co-host on That Pawdcast, a Fallout 4 podcast which began in November 2015. Maki, meanwhile, 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); Rob "flitcraftrz" Zacny is a regular still. Jason "MegaBearsFan" Grade was a recurring co-host on the now defunct GeekFights (20; 36; 47; 79; 142).

TIMELINE
- January 1st, 2019
"CanusAlbinus" assumes ownership of the show, and its siblings.

- March 18th, 2018
Jason "MegaBearsFan" Grade becomes the fourth regular co-host effective Episode 302.

- October 03rd, 2015
Five copies of Civilization: Beyond Earth -- Rising Tide are given away to listeners of the show's live stream of Episode 240.

- June 06th, 2015
First episode with non-Civilization developer guest co-host to discuss non-Civ title.

- November 30th, 2014
Representatives from Civilization: Beyond Earth developer answer ten questions submitted to, and selected by panliets on, the show as read on Episode 215.

- July 12th, 2014
Representative from Civilization: Beyond Earth developer answers ten questions submitted to the show about the game exclusively as read on Episode 205.

- May 24th, 2014
Five copies of Civilization V: Complete are given away to listeners of the show's live stream of Episode 200 with four representatives from its developer as featured guests.

- October 01st-15th, 2013
Show is nominated in the 2013 Podcast Awards under the "Gaming" category.

- July 13th, 2013
Five copies of the CivV expansion pack Brave New World are given away to listeners of the show's live stream of Episode 178 with its Lead Producer and Lead Designer as featured guests.

- October 01st-15th, 2012
Show is nominated in the 2012 Podcast Awards under the "Best Produced" category.

- 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.

- November 21st-December 06th, 2010
Show is nominated in the 2012 Podcast Awards under the "Best Produced" and "Gaming" categories.

- 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.

- October 19-November 03rd, 2009
Show is nominated in the 2009 Podcast Awards under the "Gaming" category.

- 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 the 2008 Podcast Awards under the "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.

- December 15th, 2006
First episode with a guest co-host.

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