A pithy and positive review: Steve, Bri, Georgia, and Mikah never fail to brighten my week. This podcast is original, inclusive, and hilarious. Oh, and there are video games in there, too! But discussed in a way that includes gamers of all types and varying life experiences. Unless you are a koala. I might be afraid of koalas now. Fandas Forever!

Newsflash!! Civil war has broken out in the mother country Relay.Fm Network! Many hosts and guests are taking sides now on which podcast shall be triumphant in what some have termed the most epic battle since Ryu vs Ken on Street Fighter. Taking their love of pandas and all things Final Fantasy, to the battlegrounds Isometricland has declared the Rocket podcast should not only be destroyed but not allowed to exist! Steve will charge with the Hearthstone of Power while Bri exposes karate boob action with multiple female characters to disrupt the Rocket Podcast supply lines. There is a rumor that Bri may be a double agent and work also for The Rocket Podcast, but this can not be confirmed. Yet.... Which side is stronger? Which side will you take? Are you Team Rocket or Team Isometric? Two podcasts enter one podcast leaves. It's Thunder Dome!!!

First off, Maddy, we miss you! You rock! Fortunately, Isometric remains undaunted and continues to BRING THE NONSENSE (and also something about videogames? idk 🐼) Mikah has mad improv skills and he knows how to channel that energy to mesh with the team. Yes. Yessity yes. Great addition. The new Q&A segment is super and I'm totally on board with anything that gives us more Frank the Tank (PhD). Finally, I love that we're getting more Ge*rgia-D*w answers. One of the things that makes Isometric great is that it's not all topical news (and chaos); there are also interesting discussions of long-term improvements that can be made inside and outside the games sphere. Georgia's expertise really helps tie that back in to the listeners at home and what we can do to improve our world. I respect the Ge*rgia D*w out of you all and it's great that you have all these varying viewpoints and opinions I sometimes don't agree with. You have and continue to achieve Gaming With Perspective. Transform and roll out!

(￣(工)￣) <- panda

Listened to this podcast for months but alas, I can't take it anymore. Love the perspective that Georgia brings and Maddy always makes me laugh. Steve is probably my favorite though because he's a normal gamer like me. I just can't take the political b.s. from Bri that brings a halt to all the fun banter at a moments notice. It's fine to have an opinion, just don't force it on people trying to brighten their day. Unsubscribed.

Show ends up being annoying in an attempt to be 'wacky'. Has some interesting insights on gaming and gaming culture when they finally get past amateur attempts at humor. Cut those parts out and you have a decent podcast.

Lucky for this podcast that most of its fans aren't in to games as the hosts are stupefyingly misinformed about games and the industry therein. Constant mispronounciations of titles, little knowledge of game creators and even less insight in to the games industry as a whole.

The Isometric team recently set up a poll asking people what they liked about the show. Unfortunately, the 2nd most popular result was something like "Goofy Fun". That means we'll be seeing even more in-jokes, chummy backpatting and frippery, which I find tough to sit through. If you like that sort of thing, you're in great hands with this crew. The show has been on the bubble for me for a while. I really do like Myers, Dow, and Wu, and I take a lot of stock in their opinions and professional insight, but I've grown impatient with the dwindling ratio of insight to 'goofy fun'. I learned a lot in the meantime, so thanks for a pretty good year.

Isometric is one of the best gaming podcasts in the biz. Every one of the hosts is super-knowledgeable, and the unique perspectives that Brianna Wu, Georgia Dow, Maddie Myers, and Steve Lubbitz bring will have you thinking about games in a whole new way. Put this show and Fresh Out of Tokens in your podcast rotation RIGHT NOW.

First of all, hi Steve how are you doing? Anydoodles, this is the best gaming podcast. Not only because of Mechagodzilla (sorry Georgia) but the pure randomness. They cover everything from manipulating your spouse to bad website design *cough* Frank *cough*. If your looking for gaming with perspective look no further than ISOMETRIK!

I last reviewed this podcast on Nov 10, 2014. I like this podcast enough to rate and review it on iTunes, even though I don't use iTunes. That's how much I like it.

I don’t usually listen to what I call “3-guys-in-a-room” style podcasts, but this is the one exception. I think the show works so well because, even when I’m not invested in the game/topic they’re discussing, they have strong personalities that make the show entertaining. I’m not really the kind of gamer this show is designed for, but I still enjoy having them keep me up-to-date on what’s going on.

I feel like this show needs to rename itself. Isometric doesn't accurately describe this show about games but not really about games. Half the hosts (Maddy and Brianna Wu) seem to enjoy bashing anyone with a different view than themselves. In the latest episode they just blasted anyone who might be an Adam Sandler fan, which clearly do not exist, just like female gamers, right ladies? The other two hosts seem to get a kick out of it or are too afraid to speak up and correctly point out the hypocritical views the other two have. Typically the first half of the show isn't even about games it feels like. I get it, they're all friends and this is their show. Unfortunately I feel like they're limiting their show's potential listeners by being condescending know it alls for half an episode. Then the other half seems to be about feminism and how terrible men and gamers are. I listened for 50 some odd episodes but they have lost me as a viewer. My time is valuable and I refuse to hope that this set of hosts will take their chemistry and use it to make a great show. Instead it just feels like it's a massive waste time time and if you're not of the same opinion as them you're an Adam Sandler fan. Georgia and Steve should ditch the other two and create their own show. Let the other two complain on some other show that isn't about games.

The hosts are all really personable and really funny. it's refreshing to hear a gaming podcast talk about feminist topics and all the hosts are well informed on the issues. I look forward every week for this podcast!

Can we talk about the hosts of this podcast? They are funny, qualified, knowledgeable, and have great on-air chemistry. Listening to this podcast is like sitting in on a conversation with your laid-back nerdfriends while they chat about videogames. They mix a throughtful perspective with a genuine spirit of fun. Six stars.

Does indeed live up to its name! Fun of course.

I'll be honest, I don't really like video games. Despite the fact, I absolutely LOVE this podcast. Great minds with great thoughts week after week. Has me smiling and laughing throughout the whole show. If you haven't checked out the show yet, give it a listen! You'll be hooked.

A scary indictment of gamer culture. Wish they could highlight positive elements of gamer culture too. But knowing Ms. Wu's history with gamergate I can understand the negativity. But the team does a great job on the podcast. A must for understanding the hardware and culture of modern gaming.

Just this morning I was thinking to myself how much I wish that once in a while I could listen to a game/tech podcast that included diverse voices. Something that didn't spend three hours per week on AAA titles only. Something inclusive, where the jokes weren't only relevant to the podcasters. Something where they didn't constantly talk over each other. I tried Isometric at random, and imagine my surprise when they hit every item on my wish list, and then gave me more than I had even hoped for. I'm in from now on.

Isometric is a perfect collision of expertise and chemistry. They’re friends with tons of knowledge and opinions about games and they make me optimistic and excited for video gaming again. I’ve purchased a dozen different games based on their recommendation alone.

This podcast is a mature discussion on video games. The hosts are funny and even when they agree on something they usually have different reasons why, which makes for great listening. It’s also great to hear from women (and 1 guy) in an industry that is overshadowed by men. These fantastic four hosts will make you think differently. I’m happily surprised to say this is the podcast I look the most forward to every week. Give it a try. UPDATE: When these guys talk about games it’s worthy of 5 stars. However, more and more they just joke around and it gets tiring to listen to them. Especially when you listen for gaming content and what you get is the hosts making fun of each other. This used to be a podcast about gaming from a new perspective but it has turned into a podcast about people who obviously get along with one another that rarely talk about gaming.

I treat my podcasts like TV shows. With 60+ podcast series that I subscribe to, I don’t have the time for listening to them all. Instead I pick what sounds good for the moment and listen and let old episodes fall off as newer ones release. With one exception, and that being Isometric. I never miss an episode, and will put off listening to any other podcast once a new Isometric releases. The long running jokes, deep topics and unfiltered opinions are a breath of fresh air. Keep up the good work!

I'm the primary caregiver for my 1-year-old and I work two jobs, so free time is limited and precious. Still, I make time to listen to Isometric every week because it's always worth my time. Brianna Wu, Maddy Myers, Georgia Dow, and Steve Lubitz bring passion, intelligence, and professional experience to talk not only about video games, but also the relationship between games and culture as well as how games can get better. However, what makes Isometric truly special is the genuine collegiality one feels from the hosts. While they often disagree with each other and argue their opinions passionately, their friendship and respect are always apparent (particularly in the gleeful digs they cast at each other). After a few episodes, I felt like I was in the presence of close friends--enjoying their company, laughing at inside jokes, learning from shared experiences, and always receiving some insight to ponder over the next few days. The hour-plus spent here is always a joy.

I don’t even like gaming, but I like these people :-)

You just never know what you're going to get... (although games do usually crop up at some point during the show).

I start listening to your podcast on recommendation from my friend and it's great. I kinda had a falling out with gaming as a trans person and feminist as I became more aware of the problematic elements of games. It is so great to have a podcast where I don't have to worry about people siding with the ablist/misogynist/transphobic parts of gaming and where I can look to for recommendations of games that are LGBTQIA+ and feminist friendly. I'm looking forward to playing Life is Strange on your recommendations!

I'm also a white male gamer working in technology. I just want to come here and show my support for the show and specifically for Brianna, who is basically the Rosa Parks of gaming. I'm also the new father of a beautiful baby girl, who if I'm in any way successful as a father, will be a gamer girl and nerd of the highest order. You all are an inspiration and are blazing a path to a world in which I won't have to fear passing on those traits to her. Thank you. Your vigilance will not go unappreciated. This show is awesome. It's a perfect mix of personalities giving not just a new perspective on games and the gaming world, but a fresh look into the trials and injustice in the game development and games journalism industries. If you have ears and you like games, or are just plain sick of the misogynistic garbage in other gaming media, this is the podcast for you. F# GamerGate. Come find me on Twitter @seanhansell.

I've been searching for a gaming podcast to listen to religiously for years now, but everything has always been lacking in some way. The cast has great chemistry and even though I disagree with pretty much everyone at some points it is refreshing because its more like discussing games with my friends, sure some people will disagree and maybe even opinions will shift over time, but thats what makes discussion worth it!

Sometimes the hosts say things like, "well, this has gone on for a while, maybe we should wrap this up". And I'm like, "NOOOO DON'T YOU KNOW THERE'S STILL, LIKE, THREE HOURS LEFT IN MY WORK DAY?"

There's many well done gaming podcasts but Isometric is genuinely one of the most interesting gaming-centric podcasts you'll find online. All four hosts bring really informative and interesting points of view. It's extremely rare to find any gaming podcasts with three females and one male, let alone one this good. They bring their thoughts out on certain topics without getting bombastic, a trait many gaming podcasts tend to have. The discussions themselves are very easy going (beyond the occasional rant or argument *cough*desertgolfing*cough*) and they will never stop themselves from having fun, wether it's a rendition of the PokeRap or swooning over the hot guys of Final Fantasy. They also find time to bring in great guests like Danielle Riendeau and Gita Jackson for their GOTY 2-parter. The only other podcast I can think of that's as unique by comparison here is 8-4 Play. It's that good. tl:dr This show is fantastic and deserves more love from the gaming community. Brianna, Maddy, Georgia and Steve are fantastic hosts that craft a great podcast. Cannot recommend enough.

I don't even play games regularly anymore but I love tuning in to this free for all of fun each week. The commentary is thoughtful and playful. The friendship feels real and inclusive. Just hop on for the ride already.

Isometric is definitely my favorite podcast, and I look forward to listening to it at work each Monday morning. The hosts have great chemistry together, especially when disagreeing on a topic. And I’m not gonna lie — it’s great to see a podcast about games where women aren’t the minority. I’d definitely recommend this to people who don’t consider themselves gamers but want to learn more about different kinds of games.

I'm not sure why I started listening to this podcast outside of the fact I've met Georgia and became curious when she mentioned it on another podcast she co-hosts. But I can't say I regret it. It's as I titled, awesomely fun to listen to and it's about more than just the act of gaming itself which is also what makes it highly interesting and informative. If you play games you're a gamer so give it a listen.

Or, Why I listen to a podcast on a topic I’m not interested in. I listen to a lot of podcasts, and I do mean a lot of podcasts. It’s not unusual to see me with headphones in at the coffee shop, or wandering around the house doing house stuff and getting through 50-60 hours of podcasts. To give you an idea, the podcast app Overcast has a metric on how much time you’ve saved using its “Smart Speed” setting that takes out some of the silent pauses in a podcast. That number is over 60 hours so far, and Overcast hasn’t been out that long. I also listen to most podcasts at 2x speed (or higher), so I get through a lot in a week. The usual suspect are in my list, and no one who know me would be surprised to find ATP, The Talk Show, Mac Break Weekly, iPad Today, DTNS, Mac Power Users, MacCast, NozillaCast and many others in my list. But one does stand out a little, and that is Isometric, which is a show about the video game industry. I am not a gamer. The consoles I’ve owned in the last decade are a Wii and a PS3 that I bought last year, after the PS4 came out. The only game I’ve played much at all in the last 15 years or so is World of Warcraft, though I’ve recently decided to stop playing that. I occasionally play something for a little while on the PS3, or I play short casual games on the iPad. The last FPS I played was Unreal Tournament. The only exception to this in recent memory is that I did play all of Beyond Two Souls, but that was more like an interactive film than a game. But enough about my credentials (or rather, lack of credentials); suffice to say I am not a gamer, I don’t own current generation consoles, I don’t play a lot of games, and so a podcast about gaming and the gaming industry in particular seems an odd choice. I can’t say exactly what cause me to subscribe to the podcast, but it was something on twitter around episode 6. I went back and listened to all the shows and was hooked, but not on the game talk. First of all, the show is basically Brianna Wu, Maddy Myers, and Georgia Dow talking on all sorts of subjects having something to do with games and gaming while Steve Lubitz tries to keep the show on track. Some sort of track. It goes off the rails. A lot. Sometimes Steve goes off on an extended rant on Nintendo or Pokemon (aren’t they the same thing?). It would be more accurate to say that sometimes it returns to the rails for brief periods. Which is fine, because what makes the podcast so appealing to listen to is that these are four very different people, each of which I can identify with in some way, who are having an intelligent conversation. And that, on its own, is interesting and engaging. They could be talking about cheese and it would still be compelling. Please don’t talk about cheese. The other thing that I find interesting is that I don’t find myself identifying with any one of the hosts more than the others like, say, on ATP. I don’t identify at all with Steve, for example, because he’s not only devoted to Pokemon, he’s not a movie buff, he’s only seen like 4 movies ever. I kid. Slightly. Maddy is much more of a gamer than I ever was, and Georgia is a much nicer and more-level headed person that I could ever be, and Brianna—well, she’s like a force of nature; it’s just best to step back and watch from a safe distance. But the interaction of these four is something special. So if you’ve been avoiding it because you aren’t a gamer, don’t. Give it a listen and I think you’ll find it something quite remarkable. If you’re looking for a place to start to see if you are going to like it as much as I do, I recommend starting with episodes 16-19, in order. Dowabunga, dude!

I don't use iTunes for Podcasts - I strictly use Downcast, so the fact that I had to open iTunes to make this review means I feel strongly enough about the show to inconvenience myself, and for me that takes some motivation! ;) TL:DR - Great podcast on games with an eye towards equality in games and the tech industry! All three hosts are knowledgeable and bring a different perspective to the table. The hosts don't always agree but there is discussion not arguing and I can agree with almost every point each side of a discussion makes. Thoughtful, insightful, and downright fun. The chemistry between the hosts is wonderful and you can tell they genuinely care for each other, the audience, and the industry as a whole. Expect to laugh and, at times, feel sorrow as you join the hosts on their journey.

This show is ridiculous in all the right ways. Make sure you listen to the backlog so you can pick up on all the insane in-jokes!

This has quickly become my favorite podcast due to the huge variety of gamer hosts, not least of which it's one of the few podcasts with a fair amount of women's perspectives and touches on other minority gamers' perspectives, too, including the autism scale. The bond shared by the co-hosts is easy to hear with how quickly they diverge from the topic of games themselves to playfully teasing their co-hosts. That's not to say they don't cover a lot of news, and any guests they invite always seem to fit in with the main four perfectly. Very funny (aside from the more downer episodes, but even they eventually cheer up and that's only really two episodes overall up until now (latest as of the time of this review is episode 34)), very insightful, 10/10!

How can I possibly add to all the praise that’s already been heaped on this show? Just listen to four incredibly articulate and engaging people who love video games. You won’t regret subscribing to this show.

This should be your one stop for all things gaming. Every Monday I rush to the computer to update my podcasts simply to get my ears filled with the sounds of the hosts picking on Steve (another host, poor Steve). If you love games give them a listen. You'll love their hijinks and their thoughtful analysis on everything from game development, game journalism, and Nintendos strange love of inovation and 1992 user interfaces! Enjoy!

My title says it all. As with all podcasts, it's about the hosts, and these folks have it. 5by5 does it again.

This podcast does something great: it finds the deeper topics of interest and discussion regarding the current trends in gaming. Rather than just delve into super fine detail about a game I may or may not be playing, it uses certain games to explore some of the broader and deeper topics worth thinking about. And it does all this from a unique and necessary perspective, one often overlooked in the medium at large. The hosts also have fantastic chemistry between themselves. It’s both enjoyable and enlightening to listen to them banter, discuss, and disagree. I’m a recent listener, but I’ll be around for a long time.

I haven't listened to a gaming podcast in a long while, I find that a good deal of them seem like extended comercials. Isometric, however, can spend half its running time on a throw away denny's game or desert golf and still stay relevent, funny and extremely engaging. This is a testament to how well all four personalities work together to show completely different views of the same game/topic. I can't pick a favorite host though since each aligns with a different aspect of myself, you guys are fantasic and I hope to listen to many more episodes to come.

I can’t decide if I like this or ATP more, but this show and ATP are by far my top two podcasts.

Amazing gaming podcast with some really awesome people! Even if your not a big gamer its an amazing listen and can’t wait for a new episode each week!

You could find a different podcast to listen to. You could also kick a puppy. i don’t know why you would want to do these things. But you could.

In all seriousness I find this podcast to be immensely delightful. The care and love placed into each episode to see as much of the gaming world from as many perspectives and lenses as possible is refreshing and so greatly appreciated. I'm a 27yr old female, gay, Hispanic individual... Not a lot of main characters or story lines may have my face in gaming but this podcast radiates my voice, validates my concerns as well as champions the things I hold most dear and for that I am a forever supporter. Also fun side note B.Wu sounds like the mom from bobs burgers and it's basically the best thing ever ;) keep up the profound work! -Sio

The diverse personalities on this show make for a fun and fast paced show. Also being from different elements of gaming and other positions in life they often look at things a bit different than the rest. Give a listen if you are in the market for a new podcast to listen!

I heard about Isometric when John Siracusa mentioned it in an episode of ATP. I started with episode 16, and I look forward to new episodes every week. I'm slowly making my way through the archive of earlier episodes, and it's amazing that the chemistry among the hosts has been there since the very beginning. Like other reviews have mentioned, it's like listening in on a conversation about video games and gaming culture between really good friends. Harnessed properly, Georgia's laugh could bring world peace and solve climate change. And, while nobody mentions Maddy's laugh, I find it just as infectious as Georgia's. Big thanks to both Bri and Steve for fighting the good fight: Bri, you're such a good role model for my daughters, I know that what you deal with today will make things better for my girls. And Steve, I am definitely more aware now when I hear people speak with intolerance about kids on the spectrum. Much Respect!

Come for the female perspective. Stay for Georgia’s infectious laughter.

My favorite podcast even though I only play video games a couple hours a week. My favorite part used to be Georgia's laugh, but after binge-listening to every episode, it's now the camaraderie. The chemistry between Brianna, Georgia, Maddy, and Steve (in alphabetical order) is infectious. I'm seriously considering moving to Boston so I can hang out with them in person. (Not really.) (Yes really.) (Not really.) It honestly feels like I'm hanging out with friends while I'm listening.