Geek Life Awards 2011: Podcast of the Year Winner
Podcasting has really come into its own over the last couple of years, most in thanks to big names in media and entertainment jumping on board, elevating the medium to heights beyond its humbled beginnings and becoming a publicly recognized alternative to radio. Now, wandering down aisles in supermarkets, marching towards work, going for a run, if you asked someone what they’re listening to, chances are it’s a podcast just as much as it could be the latest chart topping single.
The ones to bring the public in have production values, advertising, you name it, but they have the independent shows to thank for their number one spots on iTunes. The podcasts lovingly made and crafted by ordinary folk, that what they lack in funding and backing more than make up for in their warmth, charm and character – not to mention their almost cult following.
And so it gives me great pleasure to award our illustrious silver springy not-actually-real glasses to an indie podcast nominee and voted king by you, The Best Little Horde House In Azeroth as Geek Life’s Podcast of the Year 2011.
Hosted by podcasting veterans Rob Roberts of Orange Lounge Radio fame and Christopher, formally and to be forever known as Xtofer, Horde House is an indie podcast about World of Warcraft – you’ve heard of that game, right? – but, as they say, never too seriously.
And they do mean that. Want to know what an Azerothian Bird Feeder is? You’ll soon find out.
For a game that is just shy of a decade old, the duo know their stuff and have a varied tenure – one playing since Vanilla, the other since The Burning Crusade; social raider and once hardcore now enjoying a more relaxed time; hacked and quit and resubbed. They’re as good a cross section of the state of the current player-base as any, but what really sets them apart – at least in the podcasting sense – is their humour. From lewd to downright hilarious, if you feel a bit dark ‘cus some 7k DPS in Raid Finder won a tier token that totally should have gone to you, or – perfect timing – if you feel you’ve developed jowls over the holiday period, then the ensuing hilarity will work those tukey-hangover muscles back into shape and make you forget your loot-woes.
It’s hard to believe that Horde House has only been going for over a year, and during their time, the show has really grown and hit its stride with delivering a well put together and much anticipated humorous jaunt each week. Special guests join Rob and Christopher for each show from friends to fans to guildies and other podcasters such as Sil from Girls Gone WoW, providing a third view and voice on the latest news and show topics covering all aspects of the game from raiding to alts and PVP. The epic culmination of the show was the first annual Online Roleplay Game Yakfest where a mammoth panel of guests weighed in on the breaking stories from BlizzCon 2011.
If you’re a new or prospective listener, you’ll go for the experience but stay for the superb banter and camaraderie – then you’ll be joining the existing fans who obsessively check their podcast feed each week in anticipation of a new show but that may just be me though I doubt it somehow. Even if you’re not a WoW player – sure, it helps – or if you’re not currently subbed, the quality commentary and humour will certainly see you through and make for a superb listen.
Congratulations, Horde House, a well deserved win and thanks for a great year of podcasting – here’s to many more shows and laughs to come. Singing us out is Christopher with his rendition of…
Check out the Horde House website, follow them on Twitter, like them on Facebook, and if you’re on the US realms, join their guild, Best Lil Horde House on Drenden.
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