This really bummed me out with Tom Magrino gone and this show gone. I did get closure, but there will be a small hole where TheHotSpot stays in my heart. Good memories and very glad my questions and stuff were read on some episodes. :(
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26Apr 12
So we're putting the HotSpot out to pasture, which is a bummer for me because I really loved doing that show for about three years, and was excited to see where it would go with Magrino at the helm. Anyway, we said it was going on hiatus a month or so back, but we were getting a slow drip of comments on the old shows, e-mails, and PMs from people asking when it would return. It was great to see that people missed the show and wanted it to come back, but also frustrating because I had nothing to tell them. Eventually, we made the decision to end the HotSpot and put our time and effort into a handful of other projects (both audio and video) that we hope will fill the gap for anyone still missing the show.Once that decision was made, we figured it would be good to put together one last HotSpot to give any loyal listeners (and to be honest, us) some closure.
The first HotSpot aired July 20, 2005. It ran for 330 episodes as an audio program and 29 episodes as a video program. It liked mom jokes, rambling conversations, and the marketing campaign for Ubisoft's Haze. It is survived by a Wikia page. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made by purchasing a copy of ZHP: Unlosing Ranger vs. Darkdeath Evilman for PSP (and downloadable for PS Vita).
41 comments
@polybren
I can't listen to the old podcast episodes, when I try to download them it tells me file not found. where can I get them?
I bought a Vita over the weekend and I'm playing through ZHP right now and it's fantastic. I actually came to your blog looking for the writeup you did of the game.
The HotSpot lasted a long time.
I'm bummed that this is going away.
I've been here so long, the site now is so different than it was when I first started here.
Gamespot is starting to remind me of the local mall. I can walk around there and say things like..."that used to be a KB Toystore" and "That used to be a Tower Records."
Here I can say..."There used to be a show called From the Bleachers that was hosted by Brian Eckberg" and "There was a podcast here that was hosted by Rich Gallup, Jeff Gerstmann, Vinnie Caravella, and Brendan Sinclair."
D: It'll sad to see The HotSpot go. I adored the shows, especially during Brendan's time hosting. I kinda dropped the ball and took a bit of a hiatus as a listener, but I've been following the show for many years, and there will be a void in GameSpot's broadcasts until another "speak your mind" comparable rolls around, though it will take a great while to gain the history and userbase The HotSpot had.
Just have Jeff record alternate intros and outros for the Bombcast, rebrand it as The HotSpot, and toss it up on the site. Presto! New HotSpot episodes. No one will even notice it's gone.
goodbye old friend, i'll miss you. Thanks to all the great hosts and guests that made it such a great show. I really loved one of the last ones with Greg Kasavin that was a great show.
Well that explains why you mentioned it when we were chatting at PAX East. It's particularly sad, because I can listen to podcasts by often do not have time to watch videos. Videos demand attention, while I can multitask (Read: drive to work) while listening to the Podcast. I particularly enjoyed responding to a couple of the homework assignments. Then again, I haven't listened to the podcast in a couple months, but that's more due to the competing attention of other things than a lack of desire to listen. You should give yourself and the other show hosts a custom emblem as a consolation prize.
@cable126 - For me it was the blogging scene. I'd already been a regular visitor since 2001 (registered 2003), but it wasn't until 2007 that I became active due to a deluge of great amateur writers. Gerstmann's departure resulted in something of a brain drain, but the creation of FUSE and subsequent bifurcation of the site, the removal of the Soapbox, and transition of many active users into Moderators (which redirects the attention of those users) has really put a damper on the blogging aspect of the site.
So I feel for you; when a long-time aspect of the site shutters, it's tough. When SYNC was discontinued, I was disappointed. When the Soapbox was removed from the front page, I was saddened. But the site is still a great place to meet like-minded gamers, and keeps getting better with things like the integration of Giantbomb and Twitch TV.
I shall always metaphorically wear the A Winner Is Me! emblem with pride .. so sad about Magrino getting laid off and now the death of the HotSpot .. I really hope the new podcast you and McShea are planning comes to fruition soon :( Hotspot out !
Although I haven't listened to the HotSpot in a while, I used to be an avid listener a couple of years ago and because of that it saddens me to see it depart. Hopefully the work put in elsewhere will pay off.
1 Like RIP HotSpot and proper respect to old-school GS-er Bob Colayco, who got the whole thing off the ground.
RIP: The HotSpot Thanks for having me on. I appreciated Rich airing my calls, Vinny first inviting me, and you for hosting an insightful discussion with a legislative leader. So many memories, so many more yet to be made. Keep doing the great work!
Oh man. I'm gonna buy a 40, download this bad boy and pour it out as I watch. Sad to see it go guys. @Polybren Be honest, the one true theme song is your brother's old band's track. Still have no idea what the lyrics were though.
Too bad you already named an episode "The End of the Hotspot as we know it" then. RealTalk: I'll really miss this show, and I don't really follow any other Gamespot content.
Sad to see it fade away. It provided me with fantastic memories for more than six years. You in particular did a great job hosting and adding features. Needless to say it will be missed, but I'm looking forward to what new stuff you guys have in store for us.
The hotspot was by far my favourite thing on this site, so I'm very sad to see it go. Thanks for entertaining me so much over the years, and thanks for being my favourite host Brendan. This other podcast planned sounds intriguing though, I need more Mc Shea in my life.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Why are you shutting down this podcast?! :( We'll still have the Bombcast but sure I'm gonna miss The HotSpot a lot.
I am deeply saddened by this news. The HotSpot is a GameSpot institution: Ending it doesn't seem right. I will admit with shame though, that I haven't listened to it in quite a while, so maybe this is understandable. :( In order to continue the HotSpot name, maybe you could give it to Giant Bomb? Afterall, it was always "GameSpot Presents... The HotSpot" and I think there's something nice in the sound of "Giant Bomb Presents... The HotSpot".
Been listening for over 5 years now, and this makes me... really sad. I could go on a long rant, and maybe I will in an e-mail to you Brendan, but, really, thanks for all the years. I will be listening to reruns of the hotspot for probably the rest of my life, and seeing this gone now... Just, thanks Brendan, Tom, Tom, Kevin, Chris, Sean, everyone. You made my days a work full of laughs, and even if I did send you some rambling e-mails Brendan know that you made me have faith in game Journalism, changed my ways of thinking of countless topics (not just games), and you are all a great inspiration for me. I know you'll all still be around in different shows, but seeing the Hotspot go is like seeing a part of Gamespot's soul disappear. I know you'll all replace it with new and exciting things, but this was something I knew and could tell all involved loved and invested into and it was more than just a podcast, and more than just a job. Thank you Hotspot, and Hotspot crew. You'll forever go down, for me, as the best gaming podcast ever, and the best crew of gaming journalists in the profession today. Thanks
1 Like Hi. I am speaking as the (um, self-selected) ambassador of Giant Bomb. We would just like you to know that we also mourn the passing of The Hotspot. In solidarity with the GameSpot community, please let me say 1-877-506-8324. And also, we ask for a moment of silence as we replay a great moment from the show's past. http://hallmonitor.ca/wp-content/uploads/01-The-Stone-Call.mp3
Sad to hear this news. Too bad I didn't sign up on GameSpot earlier to watch 's growth, but at least I can watch the earlier ones. Well, here's to whatever GameSpot decides to bring in next.
So sad it is to see such an awesome show come to an end. I personally loved this show and really also wish Bren would take it back and keep it going! :D
@Gelugon_baat You misunderstand, I'm not saying the Gamespot crew isn't interesting, they just keep changing the formula too often to figure out what combinations of editors produce the most lively discussions-- some weeks the hotspot is gold, others... meh.
I think this is a real shame and not a good move for Gamespot in general. I am now a daily visitor to the game spot site for news reviews and all the jazz, but it all started out with a friend putting me on to the hotspot (about 2-3 years ago now). Without the hotspot I would never have gone onto support the site and I fear with its closing that you also loose potential "customers"
@Gelugon_baat: not true at all, look at the Giantbombcast viewership-- People will listen if you have interesting personalities on the cast.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! :( Take it back under your wing Bren! You were an incredible host and made the show an absolute joy to listen to.
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