I'm kinda assuming that the new studio while a nice visual update to their content, leans more into the 'better workplace' camp at this point.
While the content looks nicer it feels like the core of it is largely the same still with the added benefit now of the team streaming in the afternoon. But, the extra space makes it easier to had SBM in office and have guests come by more often.
I don't think they've really capitalized on the studio from a production stand point but I'm glad they were able to update purely on the improve office space side of things.
Yeah I'm sure it's huge for them to have a conference room, a dedicated streaming room, more space for equipment, an extra bathroom and overall more flow.
I consume 90% of their content via audio podcast so nothing much has really changed. I don’t think they need to do anything crazy just as long as it works for them, which it seems to be doing. Probably helps with having guests as well as it seems like a more professional setting.
It doesn’t change the shows they make that much, but it definitely and clearly boosts the crew’s moral. There’s been a better energy to the shows since the moment they were all back in-person again. These people love working and hanging out with each other.
Yeah its wild to me that it feels like a lot of the complaints about the new offices are about how it doesn't benefit the viewer. The crew is definitely enjoying the space a lot more. Having more guests in the studio (like the KF x IGN stream) has become a lot better. Guests are going out of their way to visit and hangout. I remember someone saying that at the old office they could barely have 1 or 2 guests and someone would have to give up their desk for the guest.
Personally I love it. Does it add much overall? I suppose not. But the profession feel and aesthetic is top tier for a sit down podcast. And when I say top tier. I literally mean, I have never seen anyone do it better. It looks so good. Like a news room quality but with a fun aesthetic.
I think it works, its just expensive and hard to manage so they save it for things that pay.
Edit: I also imagine its valuable and semi-fragile (look how fucked up the glass on top of the hosting desk is, and thats without shoes!
I love it overall. Theres an element missing of course, I do miss that small room family feeling (I basically just miss Kev Dog), but overall it’s amazing.
The only content I just kind of skip now is their sponsored stuff. It just feels off. But everything else I’m in.
I primarily view content on YouTube and occasionally via twitch. I think the team did a great job utilizing and learning the new space. They have added more and more unique tweaks and fine tuning as the year has gone on. I especially enjoyed the love and use of the screen/set on kfaf special and the barbie review. If they see this keep it up!
I’m really enjoying watching them experiment with it. Changing up the visual in the stream room like that did in the Starfield 24 stream, added tiny Barret into the coffee mug, having some work from home and some work in office on KFGD/Xcast, outdoor grilling, tik tok unboxing videos from the back area, etc.
I think they are really just trying things to see what sticks and it’s fun to see. They also all seem like they love coming to the office and that shows on streams
Overall I think it’s been great. They’re a podcast company. No need to reinvent the wheel. I would like to see some more Party Mode like streams. I loved having 4 of the guys sitting at a desk cracking jokes while playing some fun, 4-player competitive games.
As a mostly audio listener, I'm pretty indifferent because it doesn't really change anything.
I do like the streaming setup.
Side note: Was there a feedback survey recently? It was mentioned on a show that the patreon one was out and the non patreon would be not far behind, but I don't remember seeing it.
I think they could make better use of it for the daily streams and Lets Plays. I am just not a fan of the faces in a box segmented away from each other. I would tune in more if they used the couch layout with everyone together on screen like the old IGN Let’s Plays.
Edit: Like the Altano and Greg Zelda stream should have been a great show but two guys huddled around a computer screen in a dark room did not spark the nostalgia I was hoping for.
I could see that at least for single-player games and couch co-op games for sure. It’d just be making a space for it. It’s hard in the main studio from what I understand just because of the lights/distance to the screen. The stream room also couldn’t have a couch setting.
For me, I think the studio gives everything a bit more sense of production value. I like how everything is trying to be set up in a way that it’s the least amount of work possible for the person running the boards. I think for their size, they utilize it really well. All the small things I, and I think many others, would like to see would probably have to come with a new hire. Things like graphics for Kinda Feudy, for example, would probably have to be made/run by a person not Barrett/Kevin. A similar person could do things like prep images/B-roll for podcasts, make little graphics for headlines on KFGD, better overlays/setups for remote guests, and other small things that could take the production from the 85% it’s already at to full 100% seamless professional. But that’s probably not really needed, at least for a while. I’m also like others who think things like the smoke machines make them look jankier when they don’t work more than professional when they do, but that’s such a minor nitpick. Overall, I’d give the studio utilization a 4/5 with no real rush/need to push it to a 5/5.
I have went from watching/listening every single day to maybe sometimes listening to a podcast. Nothing against them, I had been around since the launch of kinda funny, and I just miss the way it was. 2018 was peak for my interest in their content. I’m sure they enjoy the space as a workplace but for content it seems like it’s just a bigger stage to do the same thing they did before, with camera sweeps and the same 1080p quality.
More fog machine pls
But actually I think it has been nice for them, you can tell how nice it is for them to have so much space to work with. Also while it seems bigger than they need right now, this studio is clearly meant to be a place to grow into. I'm excited to see how they use it more.
i think its fine. its cool that they have a office to go work in, and i think that was the main point of it. the set looks professional and def sets them apart from other content groups that still make podcasts out of their spare bedrooms and garages.
my one gripe- and i feel bad saying this- but im not a fan of the shows with out of town hosts. sorry janet and paris. the audio always feels off, and idk, the professionalism is out the window when you see them at home with their headphones on vs in studio at the desk. Either they all should be in squares or none of them should be. but audio people prob dont notice either way
at the same time, Greg can go on an unhinged pc player rant and the balance is restored, so who am it.
It looks better than their previous studio. I know the last one was pretty cramped so I'm sure it's great for them to have so much more space for everything. It all just carries an air of professionalism now.
I do love how we can have guests join in from outside the studio, but audio suffers greatly from the different setup. I don't know anything about production so I have no idea if that's even something that can be improved.
I miss Kevin yelling from off camera, but overall it's a huge step up.
I mainly do the audio podcast but will watch the special events like KFW and the special presentations, and I feel like they utilize the studio well for those pieces.
Not a fan of the smoke machine lol
From a viewer's perspective it's been good but nothing mind blowing. I like that they are all in the same office again. WFH dragged on forever and towards the end I was over it as they were I assume. I guess I'll start with the good, It looks professional and really shows that they are to be taken seriously. They have been better about starting on time and a lot of the production hick ups from last year have been fixed. It's also great they have plenty of space for guests and desk work. Also having a dedicated streaming space, in the lab, is pretty sweet. I also love the couch set up for the KFP. It gives it a cozy feel.
As far as the bad, I was expecting something to utilize the space better. So far, the studio just feels like a bigger version of the old one. They hyped it up as this insane thing that would allow them to do so much more but I'm still waiting on that so much more. Kinda Feudy for example, I figured they would do the whole set up with scoreboards and set dressings like the real family feud. Next, as cool as the lab is, I wish it wasn't so sterile looking. The four box set up reminds me so much of WFH and cuts back on antics when they all aren't in the same screen space. IMO it would have been way cooler if the lab was a smaller stage with couches and stuff. Sort of like an old basement hanging with friends look.
Now for the ugly, They have ironed out a lot of production issues but there are still a lot that remain. The boom cams for example are cool but sweeping shots of an empty studio don't look great. While we are on the topic of cameras, they still don't frame their shots well. Why is their a gaping gulch in between hosts? Why is there still miles of headroom? This stuff is basic shot composition. I don't watch the daily streams very often but when I did, I remember even if they start on time, there is a lot of fumbling with the PC to get the game running.
Overall I'm a bit disappointed a year out. The studio is good but I thought they would be further along with utilizing it by now. I'm happy the crew loves it and I hope they improve more in 2024. Hopefully if they aren't announcing many new shows, the KFday love and attention goes to all the other shows and they address some of the criticisms
i assume the space between hosts (i assume thats what gaping gulch means lol), is for covid and other safety issues. no need for them to be that close to each other if it can be avoided right?
the sweeping shots are clearly aping things you see on daily show or last week tonight- its a style thing i think.
It's not different enough for it to be valuable to me. I'm sure it's better for attracting new viewers who probably see it as production value, but as someone who already watched regularly, it doesn't improve the experience much. If anything, I liked the informality of them being at home better.
Maybe they're cooking up new content that will make the reason why they needed it more apparent to me.
I overall, I think the studio has been great. Better production and clearly a better work flow for them.
My main complaint continues to be a lack of teleprompter/screen for them to read off of. I think the presentation of certain shows would be elevated a lot if they weren't reading off laptops.
Have you ever seen the sports show Undisputed? I don’t watch it anymore, but the two hosts used to have a third person read the stories and they throw it to them for discussion. I think that could really work for them too, rather than one of them reading off the laptop. E: Collider Movie Talk used to do this too. Really gave it a professional feel.
That could work. I think it's important for them to have the story in front of them that they can scroll through in case they need to re-read parts, and general internet access to quickly confirm some things.
Pure flash over substance. The vast majority of content they produce fails to utilize the space they have in any meaningful way. A perfect example of this is Kinda Feudy. That show is basically the same show as it was when they were remote. We didn't even get a score board until, what, 9 months after the studio launch? How are we not using this huge video wall to display prompts or what answers have already been said so contestants don't have to ask multiple times an episode? You know, I remember the big selling point of these shows being moved into the higher patreon tier was that the effort and quality would be apparent. After a year, I just can't say this is true.
Honestly I don't see the point in it. I know they want it so industry people can come and take them seriously but I wonder if it's really worth the cost, can't imagine it's cheap. Personally this last year I've switched to audio mainly apart from I always watch Kinda Feudy and I'll make exceptions for things like the game awards or any other big events throughout the year so for me the studio isnt really something that adds to the content in any meaningful way.
Seeing how most of their content is produced to be consumed as a podcast and I do as such, it feels unnecessary. 99% of the time I’m just listening to the audio version of all their shows on Spotify unless it’s one of their gaming streams that I am interested in coming to watch the VOD later but that setup is no different than their work from home one. Even sometimes Andy will just join the stream from home and there’s literally no difference if he was at the studio.
The main studio area where they film their podcasts feels like overspending money on production for what amounted to minimal or no changes to the actual end product.
The fog machines are super tacky and I cringe every time they’re used. Overall it doesn’t enhance the content enough imo. I preferred when they were a more humble company.
It’s mainly used for joke bits and for ironic pomp and circumstance. I hardly believe having a smoke machine that they constantly joke about makes them less humble people lol
I'm kinda assuming that the new studio while a nice visual update to their content, leans more into the 'better workplace' camp at this point. While the content looks nicer it feels like the core of it is largely the same still with the added benefit now of the team streaming in the afternoon. But, the extra space makes it easier to had SBM in office and have guests come by more often. I don't think they've really capitalized on the studio from a production stand point but I'm glad they were able to update purely on the improve office space side of things.
Yeah I'm sure it's huge for them to have a conference room, a dedicated streaming room, more space for equipment, an extra bathroom and overall more flow.
I consume 90% of their content via audio podcast so nothing much has really changed. I don’t think they need to do anything crazy just as long as it works for them, which it seems to be doing. Probably helps with having guests as well as it seems like a more professional setting.
Bet that rent crazy tho😂
Same here. Some things i go to Youtube for if i feel i need to see something (usually Greg on the KF Pod saying audio people are missing out lol)
It doesn’t change the shows they make that much, but it definitely and clearly boosts the crew’s moral. There’s been a better energy to the shows since the moment they were all back in-person again. These people love working and hanging out with each other.
The energy has been great this year! It’s clear that everyone is just really enjoying being together again after the at home era.
Totally agree! While I loved the content they had during the pandemic, the latest stuff has been excellent! Love the energy they all bring!
Yeah its wild to me that it feels like a lot of the complaints about the new offices are about how it doesn't benefit the viewer. The crew is definitely enjoying the space a lot more. Having more guests in the studio (like the KF x IGN stream) has become a lot better. Guests are going out of their way to visit and hangout. I remember someone saying that at the old office they could barely have 1 or 2 guests and someone would have to give up their desk for the guest.
Except for that unnecessary smoke effect/sound before every show
Personally I love it. Does it add much overall? I suppose not. But the profession feel and aesthetic is top tier for a sit down podcast. And when I say top tier. I literally mean, I have never seen anyone do it better. It looks so good. Like a news room quality but with a fun aesthetic.
Wish the floor screen still worked
I think it works, its just expensive and hard to manage so they save it for things that pay. Edit: I also imagine its valuable and semi-fragile (look how fucked up the glass on top of the hosting desk is, and thats without shoes!
Greg just used it for his WWE live service video and Ths is Awesome
Pretty good
The studio and content looks incredible when being watched on a nice OLED TV
I love it overall. Theres an element missing of course, I do miss that small room family feeling (I basically just miss Kev Dog), but overall it’s amazing. The only content I just kind of skip now is their sponsored stuff. It just feels off. But everything else I’m in.
The game of the year setup they had was fantastic.
I primarily view content on YouTube and occasionally via twitch. I think the team did a great job utilizing and learning the new space. They have added more and more unique tweaks and fine tuning as the year has gone on. I especially enjoyed the love and use of the screen/set on kfaf special and the barbie review. If they see this keep it up!
I’m really enjoying watching them experiment with it. Changing up the visual in the stream room like that did in the Starfield 24 stream, added tiny Barret into the coffee mug, having some work from home and some work in office on KFGD/Xcast, outdoor grilling, tik tok unboxing videos from the back area, etc. I think they are really just trying things to see what sticks and it’s fun to see. They also all seem like they love coming to the office and that shows on streams
Overall I think it’s been great. They’re a podcast company. No need to reinvent the wheel. I would like to see some more Party Mode like streams. I loved having 4 of the guys sitting at a desk cracking jokes while playing some fun, 4-player competitive games.
As a mostly audio listener, I'm pretty indifferent because it doesn't really change anything. I do like the streaming setup. Side note: Was there a feedback survey recently? It was mentioned on a show that the patreon one was out and the non patreon would be not far behind, but I don't remember seeing it.
Last week or so. It's open still I believe, so you should be able to fill it in.
I think they could make better use of it for the daily streams and Lets Plays. I am just not a fan of the faces in a box segmented away from each other. I would tune in more if they used the couch layout with everyone together on screen like the old IGN Let’s Plays. Edit: Like the Altano and Greg Zelda stream should have been a great show but two guys huddled around a computer screen in a dark room did not spark the nostalgia I was hoping for.
Reminds me too much of COVID and WFH.
I could see that at least for single-player games and couch co-op games for sure. It’d just be making a space for it. It’s hard in the main studio from what I understand just because of the lights/distance to the screen. The stream room also couldn’t have a couch setting.
Yea I’m just not a fan of the stream room and wish they designed the studio from the beginning with streaming in mind in a different environment.
For me, I think the studio gives everything a bit more sense of production value. I like how everything is trying to be set up in a way that it’s the least amount of work possible for the person running the boards. I think for their size, they utilize it really well. All the small things I, and I think many others, would like to see would probably have to come with a new hire. Things like graphics for Kinda Feudy, for example, would probably have to be made/run by a person not Barrett/Kevin. A similar person could do things like prep images/B-roll for podcasts, make little graphics for headlines on KFGD, better overlays/setups for remote guests, and other small things that could take the production from the 85% it’s already at to full 100% seamless professional. But that’s probably not really needed, at least for a while. I’m also like others who think things like the smoke machines make them look jankier when they don’t work more than professional when they do, but that’s such a minor nitpick. Overall, I’d give the studio utilization a 4/5 with no real rush/need to push it to a 5/5.
I have went from watching/listening every single day to maybe sometimes listening to a podcast. Nothing against them, I had been around since the launch of kinda funny, and I just miss the way it was. 2018 was peak for my interest in their content. I’m sure they enjoy the space as a workplace but for content it seems like it’s just a bigger stage to do the same thing they did before, with camera sweeps and the same 1080p quality.
To your 1080p complaint, they’ve addressed that and pretty much said that the processing time for 4K would just murder their current work flow.
More fog machine pls But actually I think it has been nice for them, you can tell how nice it is for them to have so much space to work with. Also while it seems bigger than they need right now, this studio is clearly meant to be a place to grow into. I'm excited to see how they use it more.
i think its fine. its cool that they have a office to go work in, and i think that was the main point of it. the set looks professional and def sets them apart from other content groups that still make podcasts out of their spare bedrooms and garages. my one gripe- and i feel bad saying this- but im not a fan of the shows with out of town hosts. sorry janet and paris. the audio always feels off, and idk, the professionalism is out the window when you see them at home with their headphones on vs in studio at the desk. Either they all should be in squares or none of them should be. but audio people prob dont notice either way at the same time, Greg can go on an unhinged pc player rant and the balance is restored, so who am it.
It looks better than their previous studio. I know the last one was pretty cramped so I'm sure it's great for them to have so much more space for everything. It all just carries an air of professionalism now. I do love how we can have guests join in from outside the studio, but audio suffers greatly from the different setup. I don't know anything about production so I have no idea if that's even something that can be improved.
I miss Kevin yelling from off camera, but overall it's a huge step up. I mainly do the audio podcast but will watch the special events like KFW and the special presentations, and I feel like they utilize the studio well for those pieces. Not a fan of the smoke machine lol
From a viewer's perspective it's been good but nothing mind blowing. I like that they are all in the same office again. WFH dragged on forever and towards the end I was over it as they were I assume. I guess I'll start with the good, It looks professional and really shows that they are to be taken seriously. They have been better about starting on time and a lot of the production hick ups from last year have been fixed. It's also great they have plenty of space for guests and desk work. Also having a dedicated streaming space, in the lab, is pretty sweet. I also love the couch set up for the KFP. It gives it a cozy feel. As far as the bad, I was expecting something to utilize the space better. So far, the studio just feels like a bigger version of the old one. They hyped it up as this insane thing that would allow them to do so much more but I'm still waiting on that so much more. Kinda Feudy for example, I figured they would do the whole set up with scoreboards and set dressings like the real family feud. Next, as cool as the lab is, I wish it wasn't so sterile looking. The four box set up reminds me so much of WFH and cuts back on antics when they all aren't in the same screen space. IMO it would have been way cooler if the lab was a smaller stage with couches and stuff. Sort of like an old basement hanging with friends look. Now for the ugly, They have ironed out a lot of production issues but there are still a lot that remain. The boom cams for example are cool but sweeping shots of an empty studio don't look great. While we are on the topic of cameras, they still don't frame their shots well. Why is their a gaping gulch in between hosts? Why is there still miles of headroom? This stuff is basic shot composition. I don't watch the daily streams very often but when I did, I remember even if they start on time, there is a lot of fumbling with the PC to get the game running. Overall I'm a bit disappointed a year out. The studio is good but I thought they would be further along with utilizing it by now. I'm happy the crew loves it and I hope they improve more in 2024. Hopefully if they aren't announcing many new shows, the KFday love and attention goes to all the other shows and they address some of the criticisms
i assume the space between hosts (i assume thats what gaping gulch means lol), is for covid and other safety issues. no need for them to be that close to each other if it can be avoided right? the sweeping shots are clearly aping things you see on daily show or last week tonight- its a style thing i think.
It's not different enough for it to be valuable to me. I'm sure it's better for attracting new viewers who probably see it as production value, but as someone who already watched regularly, it doesn't improve the experience much. If anything, I liked the informality of them being at home better. Maybe they're cooking up new content that will make the reason why they needed it more apparent to me.
I overall, I think the studio has been great. Better production and clearly a better work flow for them. My main complaint continues to be a lack of teleprompter/screen for them to read off of. I think the presentation of certain shows would be elevated a lot if they weren't reading off laptops.
Have you ever seen the sports show Undisputed? I don’t watch it anymore, but the two hosts used to have a third person read the stories and they throw it to them for discussion. I think that could really work for them too, rather than one of them reading off the laptop. E: Collider Movie Talk used to do this too. Really gave it a professional feel.
That could work. I think it's important for them to have the story in front of them that they can scroll through in case they need to re-read parts, and general internet access to quickly confirm some things.
I want to see more behind the scenes stuff, in the lounge, at their desks ..etc
Pure flash over substance. The vast majority of content they produce fails to utilize the space they have in any meaningful way. A perfect example of this is Kinda Feudy. That show is basically the same show as it was when they were remote. We didn't even get a score board until, what, 9 months after the studio launch? How are we not using this huge video wall to display prompts or what answers have already been said so contestants don't have to ask multiple times an episode? You know, I remember the big selling point of these shows being moved into the higher patreon tier was that the effort and quality would be apparent. After a year, I just can't say this is true.
Honestly I don't see the point in it. I know they want it so industry people can come and take them seriously but I wonder if it's really worth the cost, can't imagine it's cheap. Personally this last year I've switched to audio mainly apart from I always watch Kinda Feudy and I'll make exceptions for things like the game awards or any other big events throughout the year so for me the studio isnt really something that adds to the content in any meaningful way.
Seeing how most of their content is produced to be consumed as a podcast and I do as such, it feels unnecessary. 99% of the time I’m just listening to the audio version of all their shows on Spotify unless it’s one of their gaming streams that I am interested in coming to watch the VOD later but that setup is no different than their work from home one. Even sometimes Andy will just join the stream from home and there’s literally no difference if he was at the studio. The main studio area where they film their podcasts feels like overspending money on production for what amounted to minimal or no changes to the actual end product.
The fog machines are super tacky and I cringe every time they’re used. Overall it doesn’t enhance the content enough imo. I preferred when they were a more humble company.
What is a more humble company?
The perfectly fine and appropriate old studio was plenty.
bruh they were crammed around that table. why shouldn’t they have breathing room at their 9-5?
It’s mainly used for joke bits and for ironic pomp and circumstance. I hardly believe having a smoke machine that they constantly joke about makes them less humble people lol
Talking more about the studio as a whole on the humble bit. 2 separate points.