Episode Four: Artists, Fans & Engineers

I’m with George here… I absolutely love these pod casts, and Id love to eb able to donate a little dough for the great entertainement you have provided us Robert

I want that third episode poster!

I just found your podcast in the iTunes store, and I have to say it is incredible. I have been listening to all the episodes and they are just all amazing, from the content to the production values. The B-sides are especially fun. Well done — keep up the great work.

This is really great guys. Some advice:

I’d really like to see an approach that aims more to draw in non-gamers. You have the footnotes throughout, and the message at the beginning that you don’t have you be a gamer to listen. But maybe you should put it out in front on the main page, and just go more in that direction.

Just a thought…

Another amazing cast my friend…. Gives me a new look on cosplay, nice having female perspectives on technology and the things people do with it. Any chance of “I come to Shanghai” ever doing a tour?

Robert, your podcasts are work of art. I love them.
You are the Andy Warhol of podacting !

I really love the show but I do have a bit of constructive criticism:

I sort of feel that the show is almost over produced. There are too many music sequences that are drawn out as well as an overbearing amount of sound clips. I understand why you do them, but I just think it’s a little much sometimes.

great job – really interesting – music- loved it- where can i get the the tracks featured in this episode?

@Shane: The music in the show is made just for the show, so the only way you can hear it–for now–is to listen to the show.

I usually love these podcasts both presentation wise and in regards to their content. Unfortunately this particular episode was irritating often times in terms of its presentation, and not nearly as interesting as past episodes. I think the latter might be a bit more colored for me by the effects put into place making people’s voices stutter and so forth. I typically love your podcasts Robert, and will still keep listening but was not a fan of the new elements you put into this one.

@Tommy: I don’t really know what you mean about the stuttering voices (the rap maybe?), but this show is only going to get more out there. I’m just doing my thing.

Time well wasted, as always. It’s great to be able to learn something, or at least listen to something cool. Keep your thing going.

Man for some reason I put this off until this weekend during a drive from Seattle to Portland. Brilliant! I think you’re getting better as you go, and I think this podcast makes you one of the most significant game journalists. The subject matter of this one in particular is very interesting and could easily spill into further episodes, though I won’t try to direct you.

I only wish I had listened earlier. I met Jeri (Circuit Girl) at PAX and it would have been cool to have heard this then seen her there, Nintendo purse and all. The show is superb, and I’m glad you aren’t willing to sway on your production style. It gives an amazing and evolving voice to your work.

Also, much love for I Come to Shanghai. Its a great CD to pop in the player and throw on my headphones and just fall in.

This has to be your best work to date,your editing skills make me want to put 20 more hours into our podcast so that we may get 1% of the quality of your show,as electricain i also found myself ripping things apart as kid to see how they worked the interview with Jeri Ellsworth felt like and window to my childhood,i think it would be pretty hard for comments that others may have made to change you style but just incase
here is a little reminder DONT CHANGE A THING

Steve .
Editer/Host sanctuary4gamers podcast

Hey there, first time listener here coming form the RebelFM Podcast. Just finished episode 4, and all I can say is: wow. This has got to be the best podcast I’ve listened to ever. Production values, music, theme, everything is top notch. Every story in the podcast has such color, emotion, it’s was like listening to a really good book . Any way, keep up the good work!!!!

Excellent podcast as were the previous 3. Thanks very much and keep it up.

this is an awesome show! I am hooked for life, keep it up!

It would be very cool if you let us know what you used to create the music for this episode!!! Post pictures, descriptions, or whatever! Thanks for your amazing work.

Segment Tags would be cool!

I like the podcast, but I can’t deal with the art guy in the second segment of this episode.

I heard you pimping this on Rebel FM and I gotta say I’m blown away by what you’ve done here. A classy podcast that shows that games can be more than a hobby. Love it.

Good episode… but ugh, I truly hate fan fiction… I almost feel nauseous.

I got my posters yesterday, they look good. I need to get them frames and then they’ll be the first things hung on my recently painted walls.

I’ll save spots on my wall for episodes #2 & #3 too. Looking forward to the next episode.

I love your podcasts and this one was no exception. The last part with Jeri was my favourite (sorry, I’m Canadian, we throw the letter ‘u’ in where it’s not necessarily needed). I had never heard of her before and my after hearing that I have to say I think I’m in love, I still have all my old Commodore equipment (in fact I can see my tape drive right now as I’m typing this).

Keep up the great work Robert, I can’t wait for the next one, and give Jeri my utmost admiration for all she has accomplished.

Данная статья очень информативна, большая благодарность Вам.

I love that the only thing you can read in Lanser’s post is Bam. Well Robert, your work at Gourmet has paid off because Emeril is now a fan.

These podcasts are amazing! Keep up the great work!!

Stumbled on your podcast when looking for interesting content. I was blown away on the quality and content of the podcast. I hope someone that can employ your obvious talents hears and appreciates your skill. Great effort and will keep listening.

I’m so happy to finally find a great podcast about gaming culture. Thanks Robert.

Robert, these podcasts are very artistic, well designed. Your mixing keeps getting better, as now we can more clearly hear the voices and still get the rush of ICTShanghai’s music; not to mention the content you choose provides accessible depth to the gaming community. Please keep it up.

Robert, I received my Episode 4 poster last week and must say i’m extremely pleased

The poster looks great and the quality of the printing is excellent – it looks brilliant framed on my wall, cheers!

Yea, Best podcast ever.

I was just wondering if you were going to make a B side for this episode; and when will it be out?

By far the best production value I’ve seen on a podcast, congratz.

@Phillip: No b-side for this ep. I’m just working on trying to get ep 5 out ASAP.

Hi, just found this podcast and listened to Episode 4. Wow, started out like an ordinary podcast, but then some music kicked in, voices started syncing in and out, an artist started talking about really interesting concepts, then an engineer lady told us some fantastic stories, everything! Much much more than I expected and it’s all kind of like a ‘state-of-mind’ instead of just a podcast!

i warmed very much to the woman towards the the end of the podcast. great interview.

I have listened to all four (and-a-half) podcasts and I consider each of them to be an absolute treasure. My only criticism – well not so much criticism as a complaint – is that I have to wait too long between episodes!
As a casual hardcore gamer in my fifties, I must say that you have something very special here, Mr. Ashley (and by “something special” I mean talent). The “casual hardcore” I use to describe myself means that, being of a more advanced age than the average gamer, my reflexes aren’t what they used to be (by a long shot), and not having as much free time to devote to my favorite pastime as I used to have, I am not embarrassed to admit that I will certainly avail myself of the “easy” mode in hardcore games. And you will almost never see me in a multiplayer setting, as I do not find having my ass handed to me with astonishing frequency a particularly enjoyable diversion.
Oops, I digress. I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your work and I look forward to the fruits of your future efforts.

Does anyone know that Mario tune that was playing somewhere in the middle of this episode? It’s been stuck in my head for a while now.

Anyway, great episode as always.

Actually it wasn’t in the middle, it was somewhere around the 15:51 mark. Thanks!

How is episode 5 coming along, Robuuuurt??

@Phil: That was from a YouTube video I found randomly. Can’t seem to locate it now.

@Jonathan: Episode 5 is very close.

great as always

+ Loved the addition of the footnotes for those that are unaware of certain things.

- Didn’t like the addition of the radio tuning. Found it disorienting.

Great episode.

I love the concept, but sometimes these episodes wander off the mark. Listening to the ‘badass chick’ talk about her dad or racing cars really has nothing to do with games, yet filled like 15 minutes of this podcast. Ditto for anime subjects.

Also, would like an ambient album of “Well Wasted” tracks without lyrics. Like the music.

@Cory Runyan: That’s why A Life Well Wasted is “about videogames and the people who love them.” I don’t really care much about the games part of the equation, honestly.

I appreciate the reply, Robert. However, it is supposed to be a podcast about games, so I expect the topics to be at least tangentially related. If, for example, you talk to a game developer for 30 minutes, but the discussion is about his vacation, his dog, or how much he likes popcorn, or whatever, the show has no focus. That’s the trap. In that case, you might as well be talking to any man on the street.

Cory Runyan: It says “VIDEOGAMES AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM” in 14 point type on every page of this site. It’s a show about people. Want a show that’s just about games? Make one.

2nd Best Podcast on Earth, 1st is This American Life.

Thank you for a great interview with Jeri Ellsworth, I enjoyed the whole show. In parts, it was hard to hear what Jeri was saying over the rather high music level. Keep going.