FAQ

How can I contribute?

If you would like to contribute to the show you can do so by sending us an audio file. Record an MP3 or .WAV file and send it to us at onboardgames.net@gmail.com. We'd be thrilled to hear from listeners either to review a game, commentary on a topic,  or feedback about the show.

How can I join you?

If you'd like to be on the show, either as a round table guest or for a special segment, let us know.  Occasionally we have designers or publishers ask to join us on the show. We'd love to have you, but before we green-light you there is one big question that must be addressed.

What would you want to talk about? 

It is rare that a designer talks to just one podcast. If you are looking here then you are probably also talking to other podcasts as well. (And why not? There are a lot of good ones out there.) I'd want to know our content would be valuable (interesting and different) from what our listeners might hear on other shows. What I don't want is 20+ minute infomercial about the game and company, and I really don't want an informercial which will be the same as what you say on other shows. 

Great examples of guests bringing a strong topic to the table include when Andrew Parks came on and talked about the future of Deck Building Games, AJ talking about putting together a Kickstarter campaign, and Dominick from North Star talking with us about hobby game design companies breaking into the mainstream, and getting into big box stores. 

If you came up with a good topic for us to chat about on the show you'd certainly have an opportunity to pitch your game and company. And you wouldn't have to carry the entire conversation, we'd choose our other voices based on what they'd have to contribute to the conversation.

What do I need to record?

To actually join us on a show, either once or as a regular, here is what you'll need.

Microphone

These days microphones are cheap and plentiful. Many PCs come with them, and most notebooks have them built in, however those microphones are probably fairly low quality. They would be fine for a short, one-time, segment. Be warned that microphones built into notebooks frequently pick up fan and typing noise.

Headphones

If you are going to be talking to someone you'll need head phones. If you don't have head phones on, then your side will be recording both your voice and the voice of the people you are talking with. And not in a good way.

Recording Software

If you have garage band you are set, however if you don't have a program that can record your voice, then look into Audacity. It's a great free program that we use to record. If you want to send MP3s instead of .wav then you will need to download the codec as well.  

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

A Way to Communicate

If you are going to be joining us in a round table, or for an interview, then it would really help if we could actually hear each other, and maybe see each other. To that end we usually use SKYPE or, if your internet connection is strong enough, perhaps a Google Hangout.

Delivery Mechanism

Once you've recorded something you need to get it to us or it will never be in the show. Some files, .wav files in particular, can get pretty large. They can quickly become so large they are too big to be attached to emails. We typically upload the files to Google Docs and share them with whomever is doing the editing. If size of file is an issue for you just convert your recording to an MP3 because those are much smaller.