Category Archives: Shoutcasting

Video Killed the Radio Star?

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I guess I could file this news under gaming, Urban Terror or Just Push Play. As many who have followed The 6th Floor know I currently host Urban Radio and in the past I developed an all 80s show called Just Push Play.

Urban Radio actually debuted on Radio iTG before casters from TsN broke off to form a new station, Inside The Game. For years I hosted Urban Radio from TsN and then iTG. In 2005 I had the opportunity to create new content, non-gaming related, thus Just Push Play was born.

Now on the third anniversary of Just Push Play’s second show, broadcast on February 02, 2005 I am looking for a new challenge to expand the horizons I created with both Urban Radio and Just Push Play.

The newest content to the weekly radio show was the addition of live video providing listeners the opportunity to watch Urban Radio. While I admit, it is rather boring to watch me do the show, change is coming (hopefully).

I am currently working on creating 24/7 for Urban Radio that will streamed, both live and recorded on a daily basis. Urban Radio would be live during the week, as it is now. The show would also be rebroadcast on a daily basis. Other content would include video clips of previous interviews and television appearances, as well as demos and videos from around the Urban Terror Community.

I think this is definitely a niche to explore. I will start with Urban Radio and if it ends up being as successful as I envision, then there would be a great chance that Just Push Play would be cast live on video as well, substituting music videos for the 80’s music I played and adding 80’s commercials to the mix.

Again, both of these ideas as still a few months off as I am working on the production of both. Hell, ideally I would love to give up the audio stream and go solely video, but I feel the demand for audio is still there and dropping it would not be advisable.

So, I will continue working on my plans for the 24.7 UrTV and keep the gamers in the community updated as to the progress. If you have ideas or suggestions, by all means feel free to email oswald [at] the6thfloor [dot] com.

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Interactive Radio

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It has been nearly 8 years I have been producing and presenting Urban Radio to the Urban Terror Community. One of the most difficult things to achieve (outside of success) is listener/viewer interaction. I continue to try and see how I can get those gamers who tune to actively participate.

One feature that has been successful is the Urban Radio Server of the week. In 2008, the two weeks we have hosted the show just Fraggin’ and Clan Head Shots Only have enjoyed their participation. This continues to be one of the best ways to get gamers “in the game.” They play some Urban Terror on the server that is being pimped and listen to the show.

Recently, Spellbinder and I have got TeamSpeak working so gamers can interact with me, live on the air. Now, I don’t know what it is, but gamers have not flocked to this new feature as I figured they would. Sure, there were a few gamers, like Black Republican, Undertaker and Klarity who came on air and interacted. But outside of that, it has been very difficult to get YOU, the gamer to join the conversation? Why?

The video stream seems to be quite the roller coaster. One week the numbers are way up, the next they are way down. Not sure if there is anything I can do on my end in order to prove a better presentation. I have a few things in the works, but right now they are all just “developmental.”

I have always been very grateful of the gamers who take time out of their day to tune in to Urban Radio. In return, I hope I am professional in my presentation and gamers will return for the following show. If gamers don’t support the show, then like we have seen in years past, my interest will wane and the show will become the on again, off again variety that no one wants to see.

What can be done? Interact during the show! That is all that is asked, join the Urban Radio Server of the Week, join the discussion in #urbanterror on ETG or Quakenet and get on TeamSpeak and BE HEARD! There are many who throw their ‘tude around on the forums and disagree with what I say. Now is your chance for the proverbial “face to face.” Stand up and be heard. Urban Radio will only survive with the interaction and support of the community. Thanks.

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Shoutcasting Returns!

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Since last April, there has been no Clanbase coverage or Urban Radio shows due to my commitments to training at work. Thankfully, as you have read, I have fulfilled my obligation to training, became certified and the stress and pressure I was under the past year has subsided. This now allows me some free time to commit to Urban Terror and bringing the action to you.

Urban Radio on Sunday will mark the first show of 2008 and definitely not the last. I am planning more show coverage as the popularity of Urban Terror continues to rise. Of course, I look to the community for their interaction in making the show a success.

Next week, will begin shoutcast coverage for Clanbase Nations Cup XI. Like Urban Radio, I have been absent from Open Cup and Nations Cup action for some time. Coverage will be heard and possibly seen using Stickam Video. I am still working on getting the actual in game coverage set up.

Unlike previous Urban Radio shows, one of the unique features I introduced last year to the show was Stickam Video, giving gamers the ability to watch or listen it to. It really was a great feature and quite popular, more so than the audio side. The video side does have an IRC style channel for the show gamers can idle in, asking questions, poking fun at the host or discussion my comments.

Hopefully BladeKiller will become a regular co-host on Urban Radio, we even have the possibility to have guests online at a moment’s notice. Spellbinder will serve as the proverbial phone screener and assist or deter gamers getting air time. The ability to have guest was something that was not all that successful in years past, but we have all the bugs worked out (right Spellbinder?)

So join us Sunday for Urban Radio, it is sure to be a good time for all. Join us in #urbanterror as well on ETG or Quakenet and remember to read the topic channel for the most updated information on Urban Terror (!radio is very useful).

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Phew…It’s the Weekend

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Not even sure where to begin…I wish this were the official announcement that Urban Terror was being released. LOL, but it’s not. Not yet any way. Urban Radio was canceled for Saturday due to “daddy duties” that would not allow me to juggle a radio show and my son without my wife being home. So instead of providing a half assed show, I decided to hold off complete. Just builds on the anticipation for a release announcement next week.

Believe it or not, I will have a new review for Kush Sports, Major League Baseball 2K7 for the XBox 360 and believe it or not, it will be a positive review. I know those don’t come around this web site very often, but I have been rather impressed with the overall quality of the game play now that I am about 40 games into my season. Still spending some time playing FIFA 2007 as well, just saw they are bringing a UEFA 2006-2007 and Winning Eleven to the 360 as well. Played the demo of WE and thought it was horrid. Jury still out on the UEFA game.

Outside of a few games now and then on the PC, I don’t have time to take a leak! Work has me bogged down, although all three of us, “trainees” passed the 5 hour final exam on Wednesday now have 6 weeks of OJT, applying what we learned. This is actually phase two of the training, which should conclude at the end of April before we move onto the final installment of our training. Been a damn long road already and we are not even learning OUR job yet!

More later, I’m tired…

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Urban Radio Success!

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I just want to pass on a big round of thanks to everyone who showed up in support of Urban Radio today on Inside the Game. We actually had a first today, a live video feed of the broadcast. Talk about coming a long way! On Friday Spellbinder and I tested the connection and setup through a program called Stickam and it worked nearly error free. Although I am still having a bitch of a time getting TS2 working correctly for shoutcasting.

The show went off without a hitch today. I fired up the video stream about 30 minutes early and lo and behold we had viewers waiting for the show to begin, so I did a bit of a pre-show show for them as I was setting up and prepping for the show. The cool thing about Stickam is you do not have to register or download a thing. Can’t beat that, just use the link and connect to my video feed complete with a IRC style chat window.

Someone asked in the Urban Terror Forums about using it for game casting, and yes I can accomplish that rather easily. I am already working on it now in order to bring two video streams together into one. So, for example I could in a QA test server for the new Urban Terror and you could see my face in the lower portion of the screen. Ain’t technology grand?

So, from me to all of you out there in Urban Terror land, thank you much and we will see you on the respawn!

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