The Samurai Gunslinger

THE D6 GENERATION

Site: www.thed6generation.com

Hosts: Raef “Hollywood”Granger, Russ Wakelin, Craig Gallant

Topic: General gaming podcast covering Wargames, Boardgames and Gaming Culture.

The D6 Generation has very quickly become one of the best examples of gaming and hobby podcasts by establishing a very unique style while providing a great variety of content.

The first thing anyone will notice when listening to the D6 Generation is it’s unique sense of humor. Each episode begins with the ‘rapid fire’ segment that is a frenetic and sarcastic lampoon of The McLaughlin Group in which Craig assumes the role of the host and fires a frenetic series of questions at his co hosts amidst a string of absurd, yet often hilarious nicknames. The questions always foreshadow the topics of the show and thus serve to warm up the audience while lightening the mood at the same time.

This sense of humor is definitely a matter of taste with some not enjoying it much while others talk of laughing painfully at some of the unexpected jibes. Personally I find it hit and miss on the humor but have come to expect the segment and look forward to it’s familiar presence at the start of each episode.

The show then continues with a number of standard segments including one or two major feature articles that provide detailed reviews of games from all wide variety of styles and genres. Another regular segment, Achievements in Gaming, details the gaming lives of the hosts and awards them with achievement points ( including the actual XBOX Live achievement ding) for each positive accomplishment. This feature would be dull were it not for the great sense of humor and camaraderie shared by the hosts. This sense of an extended family pervades the show and allows it to often transcend what could otherwise be dry material.

Another interesting segment of the show is the “Hollywood” minute. This is Raef’s opportunity to wax poetic about whatever topic happens to appeal to him at the moment. This brief look at the world through the randomly aimed prism of a gamers eyes is always entertaining. The brevity of the segment keeps it from taking away from the focus of the show, while the quick break from purely hobby related faire helps to keep the show moving.

Perhaps the best feature of the D6 Generation are the featured reviews themselves. As dedicated gamers Russ and the rest of the crew really go in depth on every game they discuss. I have personally purchased a number of games solely on the recommendations of the D6 Generation without hesitation because after listening to the review I feel as if I had already played the game.

The detail with which the games are reviewed is truly extensive and this could be a weak point of the show if you are not interested in that particular game or genre. Everything is looked at including, the quality of the printing, the clarity of the rules, the depth of strategy and feel of each game and most importantly how much fun the crew had playing it and why.

The only downside to the show is that with such detail the shows can run long and are often broken up into two parts. If you are not interested in the topics of that individual show you might not be willing to sit through that level of content, but you can be certain that if the content of one episode is not entirely to your likening that something in the next will be.

In summary The D6 Generation is an excellent show and highly recommended for those with wide tastes in gaming. If you have a narrow focus to your hobby then the show might not be for you all the time, and a quick review of the episode notes will let you know if  each individual show covers a topic you have interest in. Perhaps the best way to enjoy this show is to let the hosts voracious appetite for new and different games help you to expand your own horizons. If you look at it in that way, then you will look forward to each episode as much as I do.

RELATED POSTS:

Samurai Gunslinger Podcast Review: 40k Radio

Samurai Gunslinger Podcast Review: The Drop Podcast

Samurai Gunslinger Podcast Review: Podhammer

This Week In Wargaming Announced