Shortly after I was hired as news editor for 1UP.com but months before I moved to San Francisco for the job, I began talking to Nick Suttner semi-frequently on AIM. I was extremely lucky to quickly get advice and feedback from (in my honest opinion) one of the best writers 1UP had (1300-word A Kingdom for Kefling reviews aside), but I was even luckier that our personalities clicked, and we became honest-to-god, non-work-related friends. As two self-proclaimed podcast junkies who had also worked on indie podcasts before being hired at 1UP, it’s not surprising that the idea of doing our own show came up in some of earliest conversations nearly a year ago.
Since then, we’ve been talking about, planning, and eventually producing a podcast together every week. Some of our early ideas were pretty unbelievably bad — one that I’m glad we never actually tried was a recurring segment where a robot voice would read direct transcripts of some of our weirder AIM Conversations — but I think we ended up creating a unique videogame podcast in 1UP FM that had a format different from anything else out there, and continuing that in tone if not entirely in structure with Rebel FM. Our show has gone through multiple names, numerous format changes, and more guests than I can possibly remember, but it’s always been a product of creative collaboration between Nick and I. I know the podcast was always my favorite part of life at 1UP, and I suspect it’s the same for Nick. I’m always going to be thankful that we had the chance to work together and create something awesome every week.
As most of you reading this have probably heard by now on Episode 7 of Rebel FM, Nick is heading off to the greener pastures of actual employment for a new job with Sony. It would be easy to be upset about this, and I definitely was when I first found out, but when you stop and think about it, it’s pretty damned awesome. Nick is getting a job that sounds more or less perfect for him, a position I’m pretty certain he’s going to love, and he’s getting it at a time when it’s not exactly easy to get hired anywhere. It’s going to feel strange doing a podcast without him (although I’m glad Anthony and Arthur will be involved as well), but I can’t help but be happy for Nick. This is an awesome step for him, and it’s just great to see the stars align for one of my best friends.
(Also, fingers are crossed that he’ll be able to continue doing Rebel FM Game Club with us, which certainly makes it a bit easier to not throw a screaming fit.)
Of course along with this news, and seeing as it’s been almost two months of Rebel FMing, now seems like a good time for a state of the podcast update. A couple of weeks ago, our buddies at Area 5 announced that they were taking down donations from their site due to the possibility of some sort of money-making deal happening soon. As mentioned at the end of Episode 7, we’re following suit and pulling the donation button from the site for the time being. We’re psyched that the Area 5 guys have some money-making ventures in the works, and we’ve got a few possibilities we’re looking into as well, but mostly we just want to try out some new ideas and figure out where we want to take the show (or, rather, multiple shows now) while we’re in the transition period of learning how to put together a kick-ass podcast without Nick’s aid.
We’re extremely appreciative of the support from listeners, and we’re continuing to put the money we’ve received thus far toward equipment upgrades and some smaller stuff to keep us running. In fact, we’re one late-on-shipping microphone away from having what I think will be a full, final setup! We’ve still got a good chunk of change left over that we have some cool ideas on what to do with, and we’ll definitely be including Nick on those discussions as well. But mostly I just want to stress that dropping the ‘Donate’ button does not mean the show is going away or going to get worse or anything like that. We’re still going to be doing what we love and putting out great shows every week, and we’ve even got some exciting new ideas in development, so stay tuned.
I’ll miss you, Nick. Good luck.
(P.S. You can continue following Nick’s writing about various things at his new blog! Enjoy!)
Amen brother. Best of luck, but I’ll miss ya. You are an inspiring writer and always awesome to listen to.
No matter what Phil says when you’re not lookin’.
Congrats Nick. We’ll miss you. Please don’t leave it too long before you make another appearance on the show!
I just wanted to say, despite sounding like a complete fanboy, that Nick was one of four that I made damn sure to follow after all the 1up/egm stuff happened. Thankfully, 2 of the other 3 ended up here at eat-sleep-game as well. I’m sure you guys will continue to bring us great and intelligent discussions about games, though Nick will be missed.
Best of luck to you, Nick.
so long nick. you’re a true inspiration and a great journalist. you will be missed.
And congratulations!
Good news for Nick, bad news for everyone else. I think the subject title should be changed. My first thought was, “Oh no! Nick committed suicide?”
Nick was, for me, one of the best videogame journalists in the industry and it’s a shame we are going to lose him so soon. At least Shane had a over a decade. But, all the better for him. Along with many other 1up writers (including the ones on this site), his rants, reviews, and podcast discussions are what drove me to want to become a video game journalist.
I’m fine with Nick not having time for Rebel FM, but he MUST stay on the backlog. It’d be like taking Garnett Lee off 1UP Yours/Listen UP or Jermey Parish off Retronauts. It would just be wrong. He always has been the ringleader for that segment, and, although you guys could do a capable job without him, it wouldn’t be the same.
Best of luck with your job at Sony and hopefully it won’t be long till we hear from you again (literally).
Congratulations to Nick, but keep up the good works guys. You’re a great team and long may it continue.
Well done Nick, good on you mate.
Dang it, just when I thought all the dram had calmed down we have another shakeup. Congrats Nick I’m glad you got a good job but now I question how much I should “nerd commit” my self to rebel fm, it seems like it’s only a matter of time before Phillip is going to have to move on too. Argh, between this and the Adam Carolla show probably getting canceled because of a station format change, today has not been a good day for my daily podcast schedule.
Nick, thanks for all the work you’ve done at 1UP and Eat-Sleep-Game. 1UP FM wouldn’t have been the same without you, but I’m hopeful that Rebel FM can continue to be entertaining without you. However, I doubt it will be as entertaining as it used to be.
Your buddy under the sea,
Vincent Graves
P.S.: Good luck in your new role at Sony!
Hey, Arrested. I appreciate the concern, and while obviously I would love a full-time job, all I’ll say is that I highly doubt I’d consider or take any position anywhere where I won’t be podcasting in some form. It’s just something I love doing and can’t see myself not continuing to pursue. No pulling a Suttner from me. <3
We’ll all miss you, but there was always the second reason many people followed you guys so closely after the fallout. We really wanted to see you succeed. In whatever form that means to each of you we all know it will happen, and hearing this news makes me as happy as it does sad.
In this time of seemingly constant bad news it’s fantastic to see somebody with an actual success story rather than another tale of lost jobs.
P.S.
Rebel FM still rocks the planet
congrats Nick. It was only a matter of time, and we all hope to hear your guest appearances on Rebel in the coming months.
It sounds like Sony have got themselves an ace in their hand with Nick.
Great work my friend, I’d like to echo everyone else’s good wishes and also the hope that we’ll once again hear your sweet tones back on Rebal FM.
Treachery!
Great! Now this podcast is left with bunch of xbots! Nick wasn’t PS3 fanboy but he was closest thing to unbiased on this podcast.
I might listen to this when Ryan is on it. Otherwise there is no reason to listen to xbox360isawesome podcast.
Congrats Nick. Probably one of the games journalists I held in the highest regard and highest form of respect. Going to miss you on the podcast, and your writing in general. I still think Nick should have opened a barber shop.
well done Nick, i sure will miss ya. hope we will still hear from you time to time. good luck
Good luck Nick I hope you will do some good for Sony.
I think Sony is starting to pick up some pace and it will be a good place to work for in the near future.
Good luck Nick!
Congrats Nick and Good luck. I’m loving RebelFM by the way, fantastic podcast and fantastic discussion.
Will really miss you Nick, but I’m glad you’ve landed a job that I’m sure will be perfect for you. You’ve been one of my favorite podcasters for awhile now. Really hope you can continue Backlog at least!
Congratz Nick! Its so good to hear that you got a job, especially with Sony. We better still hear from ya though, but I guess that’s where Twitter will come in.
P.S. RebelFM. Keep up the good work. Easily the best podcast out their. Best part of me going to work actually.
congrats Nick and good luck! id love it if you were able to check in on the podcast to give us an update on stuff down the line.
Congrats Nick. You will be missed, sir.
Good luck in the future Nick i always loved your non fanboy perspective
Now rebel fm is an xbox 360 podcast
I’m disappointed. I knew my hopes that you guys would stay together were fantasy but I never thought that Nick would move onto something where he couldn’t podcast anymore; I really do hope that he can still participate in at least game club.
RebelFM, I hope this lasts a long time, without your podcast I’m not sure that I would even be as interested in gaming as I am.
:’(
Congrats and good luck nick. You will be missed.
This is bittersweet news. It’s like when you go to school one day and your best friend tells you he’s moving and will be going to another school.
Nick will be missed but I’m excited for him. Good luck nick! I’ll check out your blog.
Awesome send-off Phil. Nick’s new job sounds hella fun. Getting to play games and giving direct input to the developers. Wish I were him right now.
Shiiiiiiiiiiiit.
I would wish you best of luck… But I’m selfish and just want you to continue on the podcast.. Think I heard sony say something about closing up shop soon anyhow.
Best of luck, come back for backlog. It wouldn’t be the same without your silky smooth golden vocal chords of the harp.
Good luck, Nick!
Welcome to my neck of the woods, LA (I assume that’s where they’re moving you). It’s considerably worse than SF. I hope you’re a car-owner, because if you’re not you’ll soon be forced to be one.
Well Time to unsubscribe this shit from itunes.
Take the donation money and run peeps. it was decent while it lasted.
I thought Arthur had to approve all the comments before they got posted. Ooh passive aggression!
G’rats Nick. Are you finally going to cut your hair and try to look less feral now? That shit might fly in SF, but not in the big city.
great show like always i will miss nick and hope he checks back now and then good luck love ya guys!!
thanks much for all the kind words, guys, it means a lot to me. i hope everyone keeps supporting Rebel FM, i know they have some exciting stuff in the works. also i’m staying in SF (commuting down to Foster City), for those wondering.
Holy shit! AWESOME NICK! Really glad to hear the good news.
Best of luck Nick, you’re a talented guy and it was only a matter of time until somebody picked you up.
Best of luck! Keep up the great work!
That is to say, he would certainly add to the discussions on maturity
good luck man. you were always had a good input, and most everything you said about halo was spot on.
[...] you’re a podcast listener and you haven’t listened to Rebel FM, it comes highly recommend by several guys here at the office (including myself). In addition to [...]
MURDER BY DEATH!!!! ah that made my day
Congratulations Nick, good luck to the rest of you podders, keep it up!
Awesome…. I just got let go by the paper I freelanced for.
It is not at all a huge part of my income ($20 per review just to help me buy games). Still, this news upsets me less knowing that great people like Nick can bounce back to greater things after getting let go.
I guess for me this will be time to prove that I will keep writing without the monetary motivation… I actually see this as a chance to work on my writing without having to craft it in a way that non-gamers can read, enjoy and understand.
Either way this comment section is not at all about me or my woes…
But hey, BTW- what happened to all the submissions we sent in. I know for sure there is one more writer out there who has even more time to commit to this site if given the chance. (hint, hint- its ME!)
Between Nick and me.
grats to nick even though honestly i dont like your writing at all. to each his own… writer. haha
closer to the microchip!
Is there anyway to cut out the douchey, self aggrandizing discussions in the middle of each podcast? It all seems like arty, pretentious chatter from otherwise entertaining dudes. Rebel FM in it’s current form might be the equivalent of audioslave, in that they got nearly all the best members from their previous gig and managed to suck ass anyway. Individually though, nice work, and sad seeing Nick go.
TWO Murder by death songs? WHA????
I know from Ray Barnholt’s blog http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8981557&publicUserId=4547783
that Nick and Anthony would have a interesting looking love child but I am sure Phillip and Nick’s love child would have a great personality.
[...] you’re a podcast listener and you haven’t listened to Rebel FM, it comes highly recommend by several guys here at the office (including myself). In addition to [...]
Later Nick its not gonna be the same without you man. You really seemed to share my same insight on most game. I’m going to miss that and your voice as its a more calming voice than the rest of the cast.
Best of luck on your new job.
I’ll miss that robotic voice. Good luck with everything.
Good luck at Sony!!! In this economy it doesn’t matter whether you like it or not. As long as your getting paid!
dude, good luck Nick. I hope to here you on future podcast of Rebel.FM.
Will he leave town? Isn’t there a chance he joins the podcast from time to time?
[...] you’re a podcast listener and you haven’t listened to Rebel FM, it comes highly recommend by several guys here at the office (including myself). In addition to [...]
Aw snap, huge spoiler. I didn’t get to listen to it yet. Good luck Nick, that’s an awesome opportunity. You’ll still be a podcast regular, right? Right? Someone hook him up with a Skype account! Keep reppin’ for Canada…
I realize that this is great news for Nick, and I certainly congratulate him for it, but while the rest of you Rebel FM-ers will still be in contact with him on a regular basis, 1up FM/Rebel FM was the only real conduit between him and myself–and all the rest of us for that matter. And while I suppose it would be inaccurate to say what we had was a friendship, it feels just as bad to have this relationship “end”.
Nick Suttner was my primary link to 1up, was my main link to Rebel FM. While I love you all greatly, as soon as I saw the list of names of those laid off from the UGO buyout, I immediately scanned the S’s for “Suttner.” I was horrified to see it there. And while things seemed to pull themselves together in the aftermath with the formation of Rebel FM and Area 5, more than anything I was just glad that I would be able to hear Nick’s voice every week.
But now that is gone as well–at least as far as Rebel FM goes. You inspired me to become a better writer, Nick, and now I’m not sure what to think about your departure. I’m overjoyed that you’ve found a job for yourself in this husk of an economy, but I’m also bereaved at the loss of your voice. As a result of these two, all I can feel is numb shock.
I’ll be following your Twitter and newly formed blog, of course, but more than anything I hope that you’ll stay in touch with the thousands that care about you in some sort of podcasted form, whether that will be Rebel FM’s Game Club, Area 5’s Co-Op, or otherwise. Please, just don’t fade away into the shadows.
A Devoted Fan,
Nate
Best of luck to Nick. Your weird accent will be missed.
[...] you’re a podcast listener and you haven’t listened to Rebel FM, it comes highly recommend by several guys here at the office (including myself). In addition to [...]
It is a sincere shame that Mr. Suttner will be leaving the show. He has contributed a tempered enthusiasm vital to the 1upFM and subsequent RebelFM formula. While I’m sure the show will adapt to accomodate his absence, it will not be soon forgotten.
Although, quite frankly, I’m not surprised.
I think we’ve all known for a very long time that Mr. Suttner was clearly an unashamed Sony PS3 fanboy. His bias tainted the show from day one. Maybe you should try turning his mic down sometime. You make me sick.
I will be unsubscribing from your podcast immediately. You sold out.
[...] along with another RebelFM/Eat. Sleep. Game. member in the form of Nick Suttner–who may be showing up on CO-OP for the last time :(–join Ryan and I to talk about our deeply satisfying experience in a wholly unique [...]
Hey Nick. Im sad to here that your leaving…your the reason I came to 1UP podcasts at all at first, I really enjoyed your SoTC backlog inputs, and you definitely reeled me into thinking more about games, and I’ve been better for it.
Best of luck in your ventures with Sony, and maybe I’ll see you one day when I’m somewhere in the scene hopefully in a few years!
Hey nick, I’ve been hearing your voice for a bit now. I’ve never been what you may consider to be an active member of 1up or even the early beginning of rebel fm….but I just wanted to wish you luck in your new position at the dark empire. I want to say thank to not only you but the whole crew for makeing my double shifts bareable.
I will be so sorry to see you go Nick. I wish you the best of luck in the future and please don’t be a stranger to eat-sleep-game, we’re all going to want to know how you’re getting on from time to time.
Thank you so much for all that you’ve done.
[...] you’re a podcast listener and you haven’t listened to Rebel FM, it comes highly recommend by several guys here at the office (including myself). In addition to [...]
Bittersweet news- I’m glad you’re employed again and still in the industry, but you’ll be sorely missed on the show. This might have been addressed in one of the above posts, but maybe you can do a guest spot on RebelFM in the near future to let everyone know what you’re up to at Sony (if you can talk about it).
All the best to you.
That is great news for you Nick, congratulations. I will severely miss hearing you on the podcasts as I thought you were funny, knowledgeable and intelligent when it came to discussing anything game related. I was always very interested in what you had to say.
Best of luck to you and I hope you find a way to make it back on the backlog podcasts, or whatever they’re called now.
[...] you’re a podcast listener and you haven’t listened to Rebel FM, it comes highly recommend by several guys here at the office (including myself). In addition to [...]
I suppose they won’t let you do a podcast anymore now then?
It’s a shame for the listeners, but a big 1up (hehe) for you Nick. I wish you the best of luck, and we will be expecting several guest appearances on the podcasts (rebelfm, giant bombcast and of course 4 guys 1up)
Thanks again for making basically EVERY chore (doing dishes, shopping, vacuuming, whatever) awesome.
Jaap,
Holland
[...] you’re a podcast listener and you haven’t listened to Rebel FM, it comes highly recommend by several guys here at the office (including myself). In addition to [...]
Nick is, and always will be, the best beard in gaming. I’m bummed I won’t be hearing this guys’ wisdom anymore, but enthralled that’s he’s found some stability in a highly unstable time. Congratulations and best wishes.
Have fun at Sony. You’ll be missed!
[...] you’re a podcast listener and you haven’t listened to Rebel FM, it comes highly recommend by several guys here at the office (including myself). In addition to [...]
Good luck nick, sounds like a dream job to me. Stop by for the game club if you can, your opinions and personality will be missed.
Good luck man, my hopes and prayers are with you. You are an inspiration to men growing AMAZING beards.
[...] Speaking of something else entirely, check out: My appearance on last week’s ListenUP, Last week’s episode of CO-OP, and, of course, My Rebel FM goodbye (and Phil’s goddamn touching send-off). [...]
Dammit, I love you guys. My infinite thanks for every comment, I’m quite speechless.
get your ass back here soon for a viset to some podcasts the airwaves of podcasts just wont be the same with out u good luck at sony
nick will be missed but im happy for him, but ill support rebel as long as phil and anthony are talkin. dam nick and his nasal congested voice
[...] you’re a podcast listener and you haven’t listened to Rebel FM, it comes highly recommend by several guys here at the office (including myself). In addition to [...]
[...] you’re a podcast listener and you haven’t listened to Rebel FM, it comes highly recommend by several guys here at the office (including myself). In addition to [...]
[...] you’re a podcast listener and you haven’t listened to Rebel FM, it comes highly recommend by several guys here at the office (including myself). In addition to [...]
[...] you’re a podcast listener and you haven’t listened to Rebel FM, it comes highly recommend by several guys here at the office (including myself). In addition to [...]
Thank you… Good friends who sit around talking about nothing can entertain millions. You may not have reached out quite that far just yet but those of us whom you have will never forget it. (just remember keep those hands above my waist dudes)
Houston tx, signing off
[...] you’re a podcast listener and you haven’t listened to Rebel FM, it comes highly recommend by several guys here at the office (including myself). In addition to [...]
[...] you’re a podcast listener and you haven’t listened to Rebel FM, it comes highly recommend by several guys here at the office (including myself). In addition to [...]
[...] you’re a podcast listener and you haven’t listened to Rebel FM, it comes highly recommend by several guys here at the office (including myself). In addition to [...]
[...] you’re a podcast listener and you haven’t listened to Rebel FM, it comes highly recommend by several guys here at the office (including myself). In addition to [...]
[...] you’re a podcast listener and you haven’t listened to Rebel FM, it comes highly recommend by several guys here at the office (including myself). In addition to [...]
[...] you’re a podcast listener and you haven’t listened to Rebel FM, it comes highly recommend by several guys here at the office (including myself). In addition to [...]
[...] you’re a podcast listener and you haven’t listened to Rebel FM, it comes highly recommend by several guys here at the office (including myself). In addition to [...]
[...] you’re a podcast listener and you haven’t listened to Rebel FM, it comes highly recommend by several guys here at the office (including myself). In addition to [...]