In an effort to keep listeners abreast of the current state of A Life Well Wasted (and to keep this site from appearing dead to new listeners), I’ve decided to post regular progress reports on the status of upcoming episodes.
So where are we at?
Let me tell you a story about a fine little Dell server I purchased for $400 in 2003. She wasn’t fancy. No top-of-the-line processor, no graphics card or see-through case with internal LED lights. What she was: Dead quiet and always dependable. She recorded every audio project I made in the past seven years, including A Life Well Wasted and the I Come to Shanghai debut. She died a hero’s death about a month ago, and I’ve been waiting for her new (super-awesome) replacement ever since.
While that set me back on production, I’ve been busily gathering interviews (for use in Episode 6 and other, future episodes). All the interview material for Episode 6 is ready to go, and I’ll be switching into production mode as soon as the new audio computer gets here.
In the meantime, I’m learning some new music software and shipping out Episode 2 posters to the people who snagged one week-before-last (sold out! No reprint soon).
I plan on posting these progress reports on a regular basis. They won’t be full of great information, since I like to keep the subject matter of each show under wraps until they’re released, but I will drop some hints. And if you’re just wondering what I’m up to or whether to expect an episode soon (don’t ask for release dates–I’m done with deadlines), drop by and check out the newly rechristened “Updates” section. –Robert

Comments
Good to know. Hope the new server and software help make the process easier for you.
Posted by The Big Rig February 23, 2010 at 12:45 PM
What sort of super exclusive computer obtaining process are you going through that takes longer than a month? The last time my computer died my budget of replacing it was “zero dollars I’m totally fucked” and still managed to find something in about a week and a half.
Posted by Gabe February 23, 2010 at 12:59 PM
@Gabe: I’m having a system built by people who specialize in audio puters. Various parts were delayed by the snowstorms, and I had to upgrade my audio interface late in the process. It’s been a bit of a shitstorm.
Posted by Robert Ashley February 23, 2010 at 1:13 PM
Thanks for the update. I prefer quality over quantity. Take your time, Robert.
Posted by Gareth February 23, 2010 at 1:19 PM
Nooo good! Those are some sick axe’s in the pic tho, heh!
Posted by lemon-fresh February 23, 2010 at 1:24 PM
Thanks for the update; I’ve been jonesing for some new ALWW. By the way, I would definitely rock the Thy Cometh to Shanghai candle…
Posted by scootereater February 23, 2010 at 1:59 PM
I love ALWW, but I also enjoyed your opinions in a more casual podcast space such as the dead or dying Out of the Game. Any chance to here you on something like that soon and/or regularly?
Posted by Chris Ternus February 23, 2010 at 2:46 PM
An ‘audio-puter’? Sounds effing excellent. Enjoy that one.
Posted by Matty February 23, 2010 at 3:44 PM
A GIBSON SG!!! And I’m probably wrong, but is that a Rickenbacker two guitars over?
Posted by futtigue February 23, 2010 at 4:15 PM
Great podcast look forward to it and is Out Of The Game dead?
Posted by Chris February 23, 2010 at 4:40 PM
Reaper is dope. Tried it out and bought a license after a few days. Love Ableton, love Protools–but Reaper is a wonderful product.
Posted by fox February 23, 2010 at 5:30 PM
This news is especially discouraging to those who missed out on the Episode 5: Help! 1st and 2nd print posters. Thankfully, our collective frustration will quickly disappear when the ‘deeply apologetic’ dark green and teal 3rd printing is announced sometime next week. Pro Zone!
Posted by Kev N. February 23, 2010 at 5:35 PM
SG at the front for sure, then maybe a jazzmaster and then the forth is prolly a strat (with beauty sunburst)…. Needless to say that’s a nice rack!
Although it appears you are missing a LP.
Posted by lemon-fresh February 23, 2010 at 10:00 PM
@lemon-fresh He doesnt need an LP, his buddy has that wicked ES-330. Those are amazing.
Posted by futtigue February 24, 2010 at 12:02 PM
OK guitar geeks, I’ll bite: You’re looking at an SG, a Rick 330, an awesome Silvertone (made by Harmony, ’66), and a 70′s Fender P-Bass.
What amazes me is that you guys see the guitars, but you’re not wondering about that BLUE Episode 2 poster.
My personal copy.
It glows in the dark.
Posted by Robert Ashley February 24, 2010 at 12:08 PM
I hadn’t heard of Reaper yet, but looks awesome for audio production. I’m definitely going to give it a shot after my seething resentment with all the bugs Soundtrack Pro has boiled over again. Maybe my podcast creation won’t be as painful to export.
Posted by Joseph February 24, 2010 at 12:28 PM
Glows in the dark? I want one. You could almost name your price.
Posted by Wes February 24, 2010 at 6:04 PM
A glow-in-the-dark Episode5 poster would be even epiczorserest … er. ProZone!
Posted by Kev N. February 25, 2010 at 5:07 AM
Sorry to hear about your server dieing. Thanks for doing this update, it’s good to know the podcast isn’t dead. Can’t wait for more episodes!
Posted by polaroid February 26, 2010 at 2:24 AM
Looking forward to the new episode.
Posted by chevkoch February 26, 2010 at 5:00 AM
Idea:
Set up a competition where listeners are to edit material provided by you in the best way possible. If there’s one that’s good enough he could help you with the show, help edit, record interviews.
Could help the show become a monthly thing.
By the way isn’t Zooted Granny available for some help.
Posted by Gert February 27, 2010 at 1:33 AM
What Gert said.
Posted by Pierce Hacquard March 2, 2010 at 10:54 AM
@Gert: I would definitely like to get this thing moving faster, but outsourcing the editing would be impossible. Moving clips around and experimenting with editing is how I make the show. I couldn’t tell someone else what to edit, since in order to get to that point, I’d have to do a lot of editing.
Posted by Robert Ashley March 2, 2010 at 8:41 PM
I’m just glad there is another episode coming. *Drools at blue poster*
Posted by CallMeSarge March 2, 2010 at 11:21 PM
You need a cohort! Like instead of you researching and interveiwing 3 or 4 different people an episode, you could make it in acts like This American Life, and have one person research and inview one story, and send you the audio, I wouldn’t want anyone but you editing it though. It would loose some thing.
Posted by Nathan March 3, 2010 at 11:51 PM
@Nathan: I tell people all the time that I’m open to interview audio from anyone. Just has to be good. I only use about half of the interviews I record, and I’m guessing I’d use a smaller percentage of interviews sent in by random listeners.
Posted by Robert Ashley March 4, 2010 at 9:10 AM
glow in the dark poster is sweet! I’m still sad that I missed out on most of the poster runs (didn’t realize they were for sale), I’m gonna be on the ball when episode 6 hits.
I also totally botched the guitar model naming, sigh…
Posted by lemon-fresh March 4, 2010 at 12:20 PM
Take as long as you need the wait is always worth it.
Congratulations on such an awsome and different podcast.
Always looking forward to the next,thanks for the update!
Posted by darren walsh March 5, 2010 at 2:50 AM
Hows reaper working out for you? I’ve been stuck in garageband without the $$ to afford ableton or pro logic… is reaper good quality?
Posted by Jeff L March 5, 2010 at 6:44 AM
You never answered if Daddy is crying
Posted by David March 8, 2010 at 5:19 PM
@Robert: Although I really like the idea of finding a story and asking people questions and sending it off to a master editor like you to manipulate and construct something great out of it, as long as the idea was great, which isn’t likely I don’t think I’d be good at interveiwing, I don’t have any recording equipment, portable or otherwise.
Story idea: You should do an episode about Bitmob. I haven’t spent nearly any time on the website, I really like what they are doing with what I’ve seen though. And would really like to hear about the great community writers that would otherwise be great writers without a good outlet.
Posted by Nathan March 8, 2010 at 11:14 PM
Keep up the good work, and hope the new set up works for you. I have to disagree with some other posters, I think you shouldn’t fuck with the formula and stick to what works.
Posted by OsakaJack March 11, 2010 at 9:37 PM
Great work. Whatever happened to the ‘Storytelling’ show you talked about the final GFW podcast–the funny question game with Ken Levine and the interview with Eskill on progressive narratives?
Posted by volpon March 12, 2010 at 9:00 PM
Robert. Love the show.
After reading your column in GamePro today, it made me think of another potential episode idea: People who hate games — the antithesis of the show’s premise.
If you could find someone who was damaged by games in some way (think the ex-fiancees of WoW raiders), or is in some way fundamentally opposed to the concept of playing games on a screen, (ideally not insane or overzealous, we’ve heard enough from them…), it could make for an interesting interview about why they’re so opposed to them.
I’ll keep my eye out for candidates. Im sure my family tree has a few, now that I think of it.
Posted by Frank March 19, 2010 at 9:22 AM
Can’t wait to hear more. ‘A Life Well Wasted’ is without a doubt the most touching game podcast I have ever listened to, and the one which has affected me most as both a gamer and a human being.
I’m a concept artist from Scotland and I can’t tell you how tired I get of hearing the same old talk on the same new games on the various podcasts I listen to while I work. Your show is a breath of fresh air, consistently opening my eyes to new content, and regularly triggering my emotions in unexpected ways; your mini monologue about walking past the same gentleman at the bus stop every day, for example, was so beautifully constructed that it was echoing in my head for days afterwards.
Keep up the superb work Robert.
Paul
Posted by Paul Scott Canavan March 25, 2010 at 4:33 PM
I s’pose you’ve been busy, but I just to don’t think I can wait any longer for the next epi to be released. I’ve been half expecting that you abandoned the show.
Posted by Matty March 27, 2010 at 7:08 PM
@Matty From what I’ve heard, Ashley has big ideas for the next episode.
Posted by The Big Rig March 29, 2010 at 3:29 AM
@Matty: Hey man. I’m not abandoning the show. I’m just struggling to get everything done at the moment. I’ll be sticking with the show for a good long while, don’t worry.
Posted by Robert Ashley March 29, 2010 at 11:48 AM
Keep up the good work
your show is worth waiting for… pure gold
Was cool to hear you on rebelFM last time as well, hope you find time to visit them again in future
Posted by IcarozSwede April 2, 2010 at 12:27 PM
I hope things are still progressing, its been a while since your last update
Posted by Ryan April 9, 2010 at 1:18 PM
Speak Up and Be Judged!