Video Game News Radio (shortened to VGN Radio) is also known as MediSpective and is a podcast that covers a range of topics on electronic media in general, specifically video games, but also movies and music. The show is hosted by Kevin Baird, Brian Baird, Larry Mac, and rotating guests. VGN is incorporated in Cleveland, Ohio and has been online for 10 years with the podcast running since mid 2004. They have done NPR interviews and have appeared on television as point-counter point on national news shows. There are also additional bonus shows that are released semi-regularly included Aabel's VGN Daily, Video Game News Radio Extended, and individual review audio articles. All of which are contained in the Video Game News Radio RSS Feed.

Normally the latest show is posted on Wednesday of the same week.

The show is also a part of the All Games Radio network, and airs Tuesdays at 9:30pm EST at: www.allgames.com

According to recent numbers provided by Podtrac, there are currently 1,500 or more individual listeners to VGN Radio.

Contributors to the podcast are known as Power Users. Power Users are able to enter weekly contests to win prizes, are not subject to advertising on the VideoGameNews.com website, and can participate in other general events that take place through-out the year.

The Hosts

• Kevin Baird

Kevin has had many blue-collar jobs, including working as a barback at Christie's Cabaret, Grocery Store Bagger, Dishwasher, and spent 6 years cooking food for various restaurants. A self-taught computer programmer, Kevin founded Video Game News in 1995 and has hosted VGNRadio since July 2004. He owns a console collection (160+ systems in total, including the Gizmondo) and is comfortable talking about all platform and all genres. Kevin generally plays the role of facilitator, as Don and Brian sometimes don't have extensive knowledge of specific games or issues related to the games industry. Not having any kids (unlike Brian and Larry), he generally has more time and money to spend on video games. Kevin also has several preexisting relationships with video game publishers and developers and will often get free games/merchandise that is usually given away as part of a contest.

• Brian Baird

Brian is Kevin's older brother. Formerly in the Navy, he's an interstate truck driver for a hardware store. Father of three daughters, he has tattoos, piercings, and bad haircuts. Brian provides commentary and movie/music/game reviews for a devoted crowd. Brian is an avid lover of zombies and horror movies in general. He and Kevin grew up in a catholic home, and possibly because of that, Brian began to like the ominous things he wasn't supposed to like as a child. If there's an insult or comment to be made on VGN, he's the first to say it. Brian is an avid player of World of Warcraft.

• Larry Mac

Larry Mac has been friends with the VGN hosts for years. He has a strong connection to the Cleveland music scene and has provided the podcast with much of its background music. A sports fan who talks quietly, gets disconnected, and is frequently absent, Larry's contribution to the show is similar to Don's. November 26, 2006 marked his first appearance as a regular host of VGN. He was supposed to make VGN a 4-man show, but with Don's departure the 4 hosts have only recorded one show all together.

• Don Anderson

Don is a general laborer and has worked as a brick layer and steel worker. Don spends more time repairing his house than he does on entertainment. He is former guitarist for heavy metal bands, comedian, bartender, and pizza deliveryman. He has stories about everything and everyone. Now married with two daughters, Don lives in a very rural area of Ohio. Don is easily the quietest of the three (some callers ironically address the show trio as "Don and Crew"), sometimes not saying anything for long periods of time. In earlier episodes his phone connection would constantly cut out causing him to miss segments of the show, or need to delay the show to be reconnected. On January 7, 2007, Kevin announced that Don would no longer be a regular host, though he's still welcome to return as a guest.

• Guest Hosts

Jedi Hillis), Karate Dog, Donn Suesse, and Akuma have guest hosted the show multiple times and are often fill-ins for Brian and Larry.

Segments

• Schizo Letter Bag- Each week one of the hosts comes up with a question to ask the audience, and Kevin (and now Brian) reads their responses at the end of the next show. It was briefly discontinued in May 2006, but was brought back in October in place of Brian's Five Minute's of Fame. Answers to the questions are submitted to the MediSpective contest entry page. The people who write in are entered into a prize giveaway contest for that week.
• Top 25 titles of the Week- Occasionally Top 10 and Top 20, Kevin lists off the top selling games, hardware and expansion packs of the week from amazon.com. Regular mentions are various iterations of Madden, various games from The Sims series, console bundles, and, surprisingly, Nancy Drew games.
• State Watch- Kevin reports when states propose law pertaining to video games. An example would be Michigan's proposal to make selling mature games to minors unconstitutional. A related topic is the laws passed in Australia that make more and more restrictions to gaming.
• Game Reviews- Don, Brian, and Kevin review current or next-gen titles. There's no consistency with the games chosen. Once in a while they'll both wind up doing a separate review for a game (example: Evil Dead Regeneration). When it comes to Don's review, the segment is referred to as "The Game Don Didn't Play This Week" because he often neglects to pick up a game to review, or will have selected a game but was unable to find time to play it. When he does review games, he rarely recommends them unless its price has dropped significantly.
• Don & Brian's Five Minute Movie Review- Like the game-reviews portion, Don often doesn't watch a movie. A lot of the time, he either doesn't finish the game or sleeps through part of it. Brian's movie choice is mostly horror or sci-fi, specifically with zombie movies making a consistent appearance. Hosts that sub for Don/Brian generally review movies in his place.
• In Brief- Basically it's Kevin cutting to the heart of regular news, where he'll start the dialog between hosts. When the news is business-related, it's renamed "Business Brief".
• Press Junket- Beginning in September 2006, Kevin began the Press Junket segment in an effort to get more game-related news into the show. Basically, he reads video game-related press releases, while all of the hosts react. This segment replaced "In Brief."
• Games Coming Soon- As the title suggests, Kevin lists off the upcoming titles of the week for all the platforms. At the end of 2005, it was discontinued simply because the upcoming games weren't highly anticipated or particularly great (Example: Prison Tycoon, Nancy Drew: Secret of the Old Clock, 187 Ride or Die).
• The Pirates Cove- Covers any news about piracy or illegal technology such as MAME emulators or PSP Emulators.
• Schizo Callers- Same thing as above, where they call in to talk about generic topics and ask the hosts various questions.
• This Week in the World of Warcraft- Brian's segment about the WoW, he rarely does it anymore.
• Don's Corner- Don's newest segment where he gets a chance to talk about whatever is on his mind. Usually any topic-starter with Don has to do with his life as a homeowner or married man.
• Five Minutes of Fame- Brian's newest segment, which is basically the same as Don's.
• Larry Mac's Musical Interlude - Larry Mac discusses the Cleveland music scene and the specific band providing music for the episode. Some of the featured bands include: At No End, Opus Dai, The Ghost of Antigone and Disturbed.

Running Gags

• Opening/Ending- In reference to Brian's zombie obsession as well as the fact that recorded podcasts are not technically "Live from...", every show begins with Kevin saying, "Undead from Cleveland, this is Video Game News Radio" and then gives the rundown of what will be on the show. When it ends, he states the locations where the live feeds can be heard and then says that "you have been listening to three guys who are not paid off by the gaming industry, but we'd like to be." And right before the feed cuts off, Don ends each episode with "Peace!".
• Kevin ranting-
• VGN Drinking Game- this is what Kevin Baird posted on the website FAQ as the official rules.

You must drink if...

1. Someone complains about the "Undead From Cleveland" opening slogan.

2. Someone complains about the background music.

3. Someone complains about the use of foul language

4. You must finish-off whatever you are drinking if someone writes in and complains about the hosts stereotyping their entire culture, race, region, etc.

5. Whenever Brian mentions Zombies you should drink.

6. If Brian belches, or goes to the bathroom during the show, you should drink.

7. If anyone mentions the band, "Disturbed" you must drink.

8. If anyone mentions mini-games you must drink.

9. Whenever Kevin mentions that the show is going long, you should drink.

10. Anytime Kevin asks, "Who is typing?" you should drink.

11. You should finish off whatever you are drinking whenever anyone mentions, "Breeder's Cup."

12. Anyone mentioning anything about Jedi Hillis being Christian, you should drink.

13. Everytime Kevin is interrupted while trying to explain how to enter the contest, you should drink.

14. You should finish off your entire beverage whenever Kevin yells at Brian for not paying attention.

15. You should drink whenever Larry mentions anything about his computer being slow.

16. If anyone gets disconnected by accident during the show, you should drink.

17. Anytime Don Anderson says he has to leave the show early, finish what you're drinking.

18. Lastly, whenever Kevin says "Gaming is over" you should polish off whatever you're drinking.

Medispective

Around June 2006, Kevin decided to change the name and tweak the format of the show. Kevin stated that the Video Game News Radio show's name would be changed officially to Medispective. This was done to distinguish it from the other radio shows on the RSS feed, such as Aabel's VGN Daily and Video Game News Radio Extended. All of these shows belong to Video Game News, Inc. and are part of the Video Game News Radio RSS feed. In addition, on the VideoGameNews.com forums, Kevin Baird explained the new name:

"I feel, ultimately, that the name of our show betrays us. Because we're not 100% gaming, and those that might be interested in what we talk about skip the show in the listings because, well, they don't care that much about video games (And have no idea we cover other topics), and those that do like video games skip us, because we don't cover ONLY gaming. So I've decided to change the name of the show. VGNR will now be known as Medispective. And yes, I've already registered Medispective.com Medi is short for Media, and Spective is short for Perspective. So basically, our perspective on various media. Nothing about the show will change really. Officially, the show is still VGNR, because it is Video Game News's radio show. (Since that is the owning company.) But a slow transition will be made to start calling it Medispective. But, if you want to keep calling it VGNR, you are more than welcome to. Medispective is just more indicative of what we're talking about, so that's why the name change."

VGN store

In January 2008, the VGN store was added to the VideoGameNews.com website. It includes new and used games, books, toys, computer parts, and various other items. Power users who enter the contest can pick any item from the store $20 or less for their prize. Kevin has stated that in some contests you will not be able to pick a prize, and those contests will operate in the same way that contests from the past have.

References

External links

• VGN Radio homepage: www.videogamenews.com
• Archive episodes available at: www.gaming-news.info/modules/mydownloads/topten.php?rate=1
• Cleveland entertainment site: http://www.domaincleveland.com
• VGN Store: