Episode Five: Help

Wow, amazing interview with Steve Ritchie! I really miss the glory days of Pinball. Good stuff.

Right. Sorry for the stupid question!

Word.

I had never heard the show before I just found the podcast. I just wanted to let you know that I fucking loved it.

This is the first podcast I have heard in a long time that I would actually pay for.

Please OMFG do another print run! Having it at x-mas time, I had not extra cash… OR, please release a high quality image so we can print it ourselves. I’d rather give you guys money. Please please please.

I just recently found the podcast and at this point I’m all caught up. Really great content, well presented, clear and concise. I’m a big fan of the “B-Side” stuff. More content the better. Keep up the great work.

Obligatory praise: really like your show.

Here’s a cool idea for an episode: Foldit. If you’re not familiar, it’s a free computer “game” with the goal of correctly folding proteins into their proper structure, a holy grail of sorts for molecular biology. It basically applies crowd-sourcing and video-game-esque feedback to a major scientific problem. Here are a few of the many articles about it:

http://www.wired.com/medtech/genetics/magazine/17-05/ff_protein?currentPage=all
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/theres-free-labor-in-video-games/
http://kotaku.com/388753/foldit-makes-protein-folding-a-game

You could also fold in (pun certainly intended) the Folding@home game for PS3, which I’m less familiar with but still seems cool.

I’d love to hear an ALWW-themed take on this stuff.

I just wanted to drop in to say…

This is a great show. It is so refreshing listening to a gaming podcast sans marketing and hype.

Please don’t stop.

You should do a show called “Fail!” about failed video game ventures, any video-game related failure. Consoles, games, products that seemed like a great idea but never got off the ground or tragic stories related to video games. Most developers should have some stories.

What’s this about Hideo in the poster?

I listened to Out of The Game 16 the other day. I’m horrible at overcomplex puzzles (All puzzles are overcomplex) and wish someone would tell me what the heck the poster signifies.

I might start crying soon due to the lack of a new episode.

I have listened to Help 5 times now, i might just be insane.

What about doing an episode on the physical and mental effects of gaming? Sleep loss, blood pressure effects, addiction, rehabilitation using games (apparently being used on former ‘terrorists” in Afghanistan), priorities (couple who let their 3mth old die from malnutrition to feed their virtual child), stress relief….or how relationships are formed, destroyed, affected by gaming…..or why movies are never made into good videogames and vice versa.

I am dying for the next episode. I found you on Help and caught up with the rest including listening to Help again. I feel like an addict with no product. HELP!!

@BT: Working on it!

Anything the common folk like myself can do to help? Donations? Incantations? First born? I have never paid for a podcast but would gladly do so for yours if it meant you put the same blood sweat and tears you have in the first 5.

This podcast should be called ”The solar eclipse-cast”

It’s so beautiful but you have to wait ages for it.

Just wanted to say this is without question the best podcast I’ve ever listed to. As a life long aging gamer this whole series has been brilliant. Listened to all the episodes this week as a late newcomer and just wanted to say thank you for putting something together about gaming that truly means something.

Another random waiting patiently for the next golden nugget – every episode has been special, thank you.

Been listening since the first episode and I finally wanted to say thanks.
I really love what you do. Keep it up. I know it´s probably really hard work, but it always makes my day when a new episode is out.
I hope that helps somewhat, eventough it doesn´t pay your bills.

Robert, A Life Well Wasted is the audio equivalent of Edge Magazine. A wonderfully presented, luxurious, educated, insightful, and intelligent view into the world of video games.

Thanks.

Very cool podcast! Reminds me of “This American Life” which is a good thing. I actually heard about this podcast from another video game podcast I enjoy (“That Video Game Podcast”).

Robert, my aim is 100% in a 500 meter range.

Who do I need to kill to make sure episode 6 comes out sooner?

http://audio.thisamericanlife.org/jomamashouse/ismymamashouse/243.mp3

I’m bummed you’re not posting new vids, amigo.

Yeah and next we’ll be debating oil spills!

This american life + videogames= time well wasted.

I fucking love it