Friend Code Feedback

Friend Code operates on a ton of speculation and what ifs, so in the long run, I’m not sure if a lot of this discussion is useful. I think maybe it’s best if episodes released only when there was news or something inspiring.

M I K E Y M O

The form still seems accessible to me, you might want to submit your feedback through the link.

Kristen Rogers

I missed the post and deadline by a just few hours so hopefully my opinions/suggestions below will be taken into account at least a little bit…(revised) I was able to submit in the form (thanks Kristen) so I deleted my comment posted here. L&R JB

JessieBlu

The link really should be near the top of the post. When you see a title saying "feedback", then leave a link after a wall of text, people are going to miss it.

Andrew Chalmers

*Please* have more gameplay footage related to the point of gameplay being discussed. I would be very ok with it being once a month with more substantive discussion if this were the case.

- Bringing back an opening segment - Having a second person become a regular fixture so as to only have 1 rotating chair - The obvious choice here is Bloodworth 🧀 - Requiring gameplay footage for any discussions on a game that go on for a certain amount of time

the questions thing is a bit weird given that you changed it to how it is now so it flowed better n felt like it was all part of the discussion. maybe you changed your mind but it flowing with the conversation probably fits more.

Soul

I really appreciate having guests like Paulsen and Simmons. Footage of games being discussed more than a moment is highly appreciated, but I would stick with PIP.

iconmaster

Friend Code has been great lately! Keep up the great work Damiani!

tbeeks15

These are all very good ideas that you have listed, Damiani. Especially the part about opening Patreon question up for any Nintendo topic is something I welcome. It would be a great addition, to have Friendcode feel more like a grab bag of topics. When I start watching the EZA podcast, I never really know what I will get. Sure there often is the big headline of the week that can be expected to come up, but generally anything can happen. This is superior to one main topic in my view, as you are encouraged to check out the episode even if you are uninterested in the main topic. If the main topic would be just one of many topics in an episode, it would still get's the headline or thumbnail, but it would not be "the episode". When it comes to your potential co-host (or permanent guest), I think you should try to get Kyle. Not out of popularity, but because I think he would be the best fit. He could bring fun and humor to Friendcode, and he has opinions on Nintendo that people are very interested in. To a certain degree, it might even scratch the viewers' itch for more "The Final Bosman" but with the upside that he would not have to prepare for the podcast or have to script anything. He would just have to arrive and sit there for 1-2 hours. (so maybe that could help to convince him) While I like all the Allies a lot, I see Kyle as the best fit. Blood would make it a bit too serious and quiet, Ian to philosophically. Brad is more a PS4 guy in my view, and Huber probably would be a rotating guest quite often anyways. Don would be very interesting. I can't imagine how Ben would be as the permanent guest, but it could work well perhaps. I also think that perhaps a game or segment to loosen things up could benefit the viewing experience, making it less "working your way down a sheet of topics". Maybe between the regular topics and the Patreon questions? When it comes to game footage, I would prefer it if when a new topic starts, you show the footage of that game in full screen for a few seconds (5-10) and then move it down to PIP. If the discussion goes on for longer, maybe every now and then make it full screen again for a couple of seconds. But this is really all that I can add. The ideas you listed seem really good. I'm glad you keep improving the podcast, keep up the good work!

Snowcone Guy

Thanks, I read this and sent mine through the link instead. :)

Yui

I really like friend code and honestly don't think much should change.

Grazooka

Totally agree. I prefer pip myself

Sven Van Lathem

I remember them mentioning a Spoiler Mode dedicated to Three Houses with an ally in charge of each house, but I don't recall a Friend Code episode dedicated to it. Could be wrong though.

MBUN

"You can submit your feedback here: https://forms.gle/mY4jyHEMWgv5oyQM9 " Just a reminder as I see lots posting feedback as comments.

MBUN

Generally speaking I like the show as it is. I don't think much needs to change. I think Damiani has gotten better at hosting the podcast over time, so I hope you continue refining the craft (e.g, comments above about improving your succinctness and setting up guests to comment more I agree with). Maybe some more footage (picture and picture) and more Bosman would be nice. But not really any strong complaints here. This is the show that made me up my pledge, and I'm happy with the quality and how it has improved over time.

Andrew Chalmers

I honestly prefer PIP footage than at fullscreen, because you can still watch the footage in question and the panel gestures and face reactions at the same time. And I'd only put footage when you really think that is relevant to the current topic, because it's extra work that maybe you can dedicate to another thing. Btw, thank you so much for your effort, a Nintendo show in EZA is truly a pleasant treasure. ❤️

Nick~Sylvalum

I like the ideas of using friend code as a deep-dive platform. There's nothing inherently wrong with friend code itself, other than the fact that there's just not enough Nintendo news to create a compelling 1 hour long bi-weekly podcast. To compare Friend code to NVC at IGN. NVC suffers the *same* problem. Their solution is to still run with a topic and talk it to death. There are better solutions to fill time when the nintendo news is light.

Kiraz

Thanks for your openness Damiani. I’ll be sure to give some thoughts after I’ve had time to compose them. Reading through the comments here I wonder if most didn’t see Damiani asking for the feedback to be submitted through the google doc link and not just posted in the comments.

NowHoldOnaMinute

Those planned changes already hit on the things I thought needed improved the most.

I really like the way questions are handled now. Helps Friend Code differentiate itself from the Podcast and Frame Trap.

Olf Himself

Damiani, Is there a specific reason why Friend Code is a three person show? If not, would you consider having a fourth person if there's enough interest from the Allies on that episode's topic? L&R Dan

Daniel Schwartz

Hmm sometimes an opening segment helps to start the episode...sooo how about this idea: each panelist brings one upcoming release for the switch that he/she is excited about and gives a 2-4 sentence preview. The other panelists can say wether they are now also interested or not. By upcoming i mean something that will release in 1-2 weeks. L&R Alex

Alex_AI

I really enjoy friend code and think you do a really good job. The only thing I’m kinda confused about is the topic choices and segments. I thought you mentioned an episode dedicated to Fire Emblem 3 Houses before which is great but the game has barely been mentioned since it came out which feels strange. Keep up the great work L&R

strawhatninja

"Throw wide the gates." Preface - long-time Patreon, little time engager. This is something I am passionate about however, and you Damiani are a member I am extremely fond of. While I know you said the podcast will remain "Nintendo focused", I think this is the perfect opportunity for you to widen the appeal of the show, with the recently discovered "hook" as its basis - guest panellists. I consider you the most passionate, the most knowledgeable Ally on the team, and to restrict that to only a single niche in the space is a damn right shame. At the start of Easy Allies, would you have seen yourself successfully hosting a podcast? Yet here we are, with exactly that. In a way though, the "Nintendo focus" seems like a crutch for you, a subject you are exceptionally knowledgeable about and feel comfortable speaking about. I want to challenge you to grow in this next phase, to expand your horizons - and I think the perfect way to do so is to expand the horizons of Friend Code (name TBA). Some of your finest work, in my opinion, is where you have hosted other members of the wider community. While the interview with Yoshi-P was INCREDIBLE, I think my favourite content of yours would have to be when yourself and Brad hosted the KHInsider team. To listen to such passionate discussion with voices outside of your own, it was a fantastic experience and one I think is sorely lacking from Easy Allies content in particular. If we considered Friend Code, Frametrap and the Official Podcast as the three big pillars of your produced content, there is a distinct lack of outside voice amongst that all. You have a charisma I think outside influencers are drawn to, and I would love to see you engage more with this side of yourself. I understand a regular rotating chair is hard to fill though, which is why I wouldn’t mind seeing Friend Code become a monthly show, something you can drum up interest for over the course of the month. Announce the guests early in the month, spend a couple of weeks getting questions from the community, constructing your episode, and then close out with the big finale and we start all again. Podcast is weekly, Frametrap fortnightly, and I think Friend Code could be the big monthly show I know it has the potential to be. Again Damiani, I love your passion, your knowledge, and what you bring to the team, I’d just love to see you extend that behind a topic I personally have little passion for. Imagine a show where you bear host to panellists like an Evo finalist during Evo, or a big corporate during conference times, even a solitary developer looking to drum up interest for their indie title coming soon. It benefits yourself having a show you can actively promote to a wider audience topic dependant, I’m positive you’ll have no end to guests wanting to come up even to selfishly plug a product of theirs, and finally the EZA community getting to see you interact with the wider community. You’re a gem Damiani – I just want to see more of it. Love and respect, Chris PS – I know this is probably the exact opposite of what you wanted to read as feedback, but I’m really passionate about what you can bring to the team. I think “Nintendo” is too closed of a subject for long term growth, and this idea may plug a hole with your beautiful mug.

Chaeotic

Thanks Damiani, Friend Code became my favorite podcast

Sven Van Lathem

As an extension to this: Damiani you'd do well in general to rehearse your thoughts to try and narrow down sentences while you're talking which often end up turning into paragraphs. Improv classes or something else too might help you be more flexible - you're hosting a podcast and your job is to provide the guests their launching pad, while your input is the bits and pieces you add on to that, so getting good at learning when and how to interject smoothly and succinctly is something that would vastly help the show imo.

Mr M

Whatever happens, thanks Damiani for being willing to actually ask for and take feedback to improve the show!

Kyle Armstrong

All constructive criticism here (L&R) but try to remember that the host is the host......it’s your job to set subjects up for the guests to knock them down. I feel like you do a vast majority of the talking on every subject you discuss, often leaving the guests to sit and listen to you.

Adam Mullany

I like the show, what would be nice in terms of positive change from my perspective. Less cross over with the Easy Allies podcast, this can happen when big Nintendo news hits especially if you're on both shows for thay week Damiani. A way to address this perhaps is for Friend Code to be less focussed on all of the Nintendo news and more of a deeper dive into the bigger stories with unique perspectives (guests help with this). Probably difficult outside of say E3 but getting Bill Trinen or someone from Treehouse could be amazing. Overall I enjoy the show and tune in when it hits.

Matthew Borg

Don't get me wrong Damiani is my favorite allie i just like the dynamic

I feel like that when Damiani does his own stuff it gives the show its own identity.

Ibrahim Sozer

Make it weekly, it doesn't have to be a meaty episode every week.

Ibrahim Sozer

I feel bossman on the show creates more organization.I know hes busy but hopefully he's the regular fixture.

The show seems fine to me, personally. I actually like the picture in picture gameplay footage, because we can still see the panelists reactions and expressions while they talk, and if we really want to see gameplay we can easily go look it up on YouTube. To me the gameplay is just there to remind us which game is being discussed and rarely necessary to show specific points you are discussing. I'd say only go full screen if there is something that's hard to understand that you are talking about and we really need to see it to get it.

Ian Alexander

I'm just "open" to the possibility if people really want different days, and wanted to say I'm aware that might be something people want. - Damiani

Easy Allies

What's the point of changing release days, I feel like you film like 4 days early.

Ibrahim Sozer