I have not always been a duder. It isn't something I like to talk about. I was unaware, stumbling blindly around the vast desert of the internet...
 
Luckily, I found the Whiskey oasis in time to cheer them on in their move to new holdings, and contribute to the cause at the launch of memberships. I look forward to adding to my member t-shirt collection. But, that leaves roughly two years of content unexplored, which I cannot abide. 
 
First, it was the backlog of quick looks and video reviews. I had played most of those games already, some to completion. But it was still a treat to hear professional perspectives, and maybe even see the continuation or birth of certain in-jokes.  Next, it was the twin Deadly Premonition Endurance Runs. They played the game so I didn't have to, and both pairs' commentaries added much to the experience. I cannot imagine the game without the accompanying voices. After a brief recovery, the epic Persona 4 Endurance Run called to me. It is a joy to watch, and seeing the origin of running gags that persisted into the Deadly Premonition run felt like being let in on an inside joke.
 
Seeking that reward has brought me to my next task: listening to every episode of the Bombcast.
 
I am up to April 2008 at the time of this writing; just the beginning. Listening in on the formative times, back when it was the Arrow Pointing Down podcast, is fascinating. It's rather inspirational, two unemployed men continuing to work at what they love. And the drink reviews? Delightful. I didn't even know they had done such a thing, but I miss it already. It was the sound of an even more cavalier time, before GiantBomb had gained much momentum. We have the mailbag videos at least, which now seem to me like a holdover from those days.
 
So far, it's only Ryan and Jeff, with the occasional guest spot by Alex Navarro, whose voice sounded so much deeper in his first words on what would become the BombCast that I didn't recognize him at first. It is surreal listening to them talk about how excited they are to play GTA4, and the rumored 360 Wiimote-style controller.  
 
There are better men to catalogue the details. I am merely going to school on GiantBomb history, and maybe gaining some insight in the process.
 
When I listen long enough, I can imagine I'm a being from the future.