Mystic Worlds: In another Life – Gamers' Fiction Podcast

Introducing Gamers' Fiction Podcast...

From reading my blog two things should be apparent. I love playing MMOs and I enjoy writing. I still dream of writing that wildly successful novel. Actually, I’d settle for a published novel at this point. That is if I could finish one of them. DOH! I spend more time writing in other forms and have recently considered that novel length might not be my venue. My writing is most prolific these days related to gaming. Rather than curtail the impulse I’m just rolling with it. As much as I appreciate a good story and immersive game, in another life I think I’d be a writer in the gaming industry. But I’ve come much too far in my career to turn back now. I’m a corporate sell-out and I’ll have to continue being one for the foreseeable future.

Playing MMOs, fantasy in particular, crossed over from being a hobby into a passion several years ago. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it although the media would have you believe differently. I’m still a functioning and productive member of society. I don’t spend anymore time gaming than the average American spends watching television. In fact, gaming replaced television, which I rarely watch now other than the news.

In my constant search for additional quality entertainment related to gaming, I of course listen to a round-up of podcasts, read blogs and frequent gaming news sites. Blogs and news sites are all well and good but they can’t be consumed while playing your favorite game. I listen to several podcasts. I’m still listening to a few favorites about games that I don’t even play anymore. There are thousands of gaming podcasts out there but I can only listen to gaming news so many times in a given week. And for all the game specific ones and MMO generalist ones, there are few that have made it on my permanent list. In two or three evenings of playing – four when I’m lucky, I’ve consumed all of my gaming podcast content.

When I don’t have any good podcasts to listen to I’ve imagined how great it would be to have other game related content available in audio format. Warhammer Online back story for those of us that didn’t play the tabletop or RTS. World of Warcraft would be another one of interest. Quality fiction authored by fans that are about an MMO universe or in concept inspired by an existing game. I’d thought about the idea often enough and decided that instead of wishing it was out there, I’d take an active role in putting it out there. From short background excerpts to fan-fiction to derivative fiction to whatever gaming enthusiasts who are also writers have conceived. What I decided the community needed was fiction for gamers, done in audio format so that it can be enjoyed while gaming or at any other time when reading isn’t convenient. Gamer’s Fiction Podcast is the culmination of this idea.

I’ve tapped into some of my favorite bloggers to act as co-conspirators- Tipa from West Karana, Sister Julie from No Prisoners No Mercy, Capn. John from Capn. John’s Blog and StarGrace from MMO Quests. They’ve all agreed to act as victims of my wild scheme to flood the podcast airwaves with fiction that is uniquely inspired by games or written for/based on a particular game, and written by gamers. We will also be attempting the lofty goal of developing episodic shows.

We’re all knew at this. It’s going to take some time to hit a more perfect note. Please bear with us as we grow and learn. Our goals are to be entertaining, produce quality content and enjoy ourselves in the process. In all likelihood we will be joining the Virgin Worlds Podcast Collective. However, until we’ve completed all the technical aspects of arranging that location, the shows will be hosted here. Please hop over and enjoy the first episode of Gamer’s Fiction Podcast.