Snipen8r

It's been years probably like a decade since I've been on the forums again so hope you don't mind if I reintroduce myself. Hey I'm Snipen8r but nobody can ever read that so everyone always ends up calling me Sniper.

I'm a huge fan of podcasts. Hell I'm probably a bigger podcast fan than I am a gamer. Here are some of my favorites right now.

This American Life, WTF with Marc Maron, The Mystery Show, Professor Blastoff, Radiolab, The Combat Jack Show, The Truth, Risk, Here Be Monsters, Mortified.

@lackluster:

Sorry I'm coming to this super late hope you're still around to see this. I missed out on the discussion but I happen to be a HUGE podcast fan. Also apologies in advance this is going to be a long ass post :) There’s not really any game related podcasts that I’ve come across that match A Life Well Wasted. From your question though it sounds like you might be open to shows of other topics and the good news is there are quite a few podcasts that have a similar tone to A Life Well Wasted. So I listed a few shows below with my favorite episodes hopefully you find something you like.

Radiolab

The first thing that comes to mind is Radiolab. It’s heavy on science and some philosophy but it’s never dry. The content is fascinating and the show has a lot of heart. There’s plenty of episodes that will make you laugh or cry. Like A Life Well Wasted it has high production values and playful editing. Check these out.

Man has “the most severe case of amnesia ever documented.”

http://www.radiolab.org/story/91578-clive/

This episode floored me. It’s about how people perceive color.

http://www.radiolab.org/story/211213-sky-isnt-blue/

Here Be Monsters

I just started listening to this show it’s one of my new favorites. You should definitely check this one out as it’s very very similar in tone to A Life Well Wasted but with a somewhat creepy vibe.

Some biologists are studying a phenomenon called “crow funerals” and trying to find out if crows mourn their dead.

http://www.hbmpodcast.com/podcast/hbm038-do-crows-mourn-their-dead

Remember that suicide cult Heaven’s Gate? This is an interview with a former member talking about how him and his wife got roped into it.

http://www.hbmpodcast.com/podcast/hbm043-last-chance-to-evacuate-earth

Love and Radio

Interview show again similar tone to A Life Well Wasted

Jay Thunderbolt at home strip club manager.

http://loveandradio.org/2011/04/the-wisdom-of-jay-thunderbolt/

This American Life

You know how in your teens someone introduces you to that one album or movie that feels like it’s changed your life? That’s what this show was for me in my 20’s. This is easily the most popular podcast. It’s been around since 95 and has hundreds and hundreds of episodes. Everyone should be listening to this show it is absolutely amazing.

Dr. Ronald Mallett dedicated his entire life trying to figure out time travel so he could see his dead father again.

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/324/my-brilliant-plan?act=2#play

A group of inmates at a high security prison perform hamlet and provide insights into the play that only criminals could.

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/218/act-v

A Japanese comedian becomes part of a reality tv show where he is stripped naked in an empty apartment with no food or contact with the outside world. Find out how he survives

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/529/human-spectacle?act=1#play

2 parter some amazing reporting where they spend 5 months at a school in a violent neighborhood in Chicago where the previous year 29 kids have been shot. Some really touching stories in these episodes

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/487/harper-high-school-part-one

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/488/harper-high-school-part-two

Death, Sex & Money

The title is the show it’s pretty self explanatory.

Here’s an Interview with Chaz Ebert Roger Ebert’s wife.

http://www.wnyc.org/story/chaz-ebert-life-without-roger/

Wiretap

Jonathan Goldstein contributing editor of This American Life. His show is a mix of real interviews, performances produced by Jonathan and features some of his own writings.

Klosterman’s Questions: Friends and family seriously answer silly questions

http://www.cbc.ca/player/Radio/WireTap/Season+4/ID/1562458122/

Invisibilia

Fascinating story on how our expectations shape the behavior of the blind. This was another one that blew my mind.

http://www.npr.org/programs/invisibilia/378577902/how-to-become-batman

The Truth

Ok this one is absolutely nothing like A Life Well Wasted but I just had to include this because it’s just such a fascinating show people really need to check it out. They describe it as “Movies For Your Ears” These are basically short radio plays but with modern sensibilities. This show does such a great job at making use of the medium. Most of these really only work as audio stories they just wouldn’t have the same impact and couldn’t be told the same way as books or movies. Check out this first episode you’ll see exactly what I mean.

Man goes on a blind date but it doesn’t go so well.

http://thetruthpodcast.com/Story/Entries/2012/4/25_Tape_Delay.html

Inventor discovers all sound is captured in wood and invents a device to extract sound.

http://thetruthpodcast.com/Story/Entries/2014/3/9_The_Extractor.html

A lost girl asks for help finding her mom.

http://thetruthpodcast.com/Story/Entries/2015/4/8_Can_You_Help_Me_Find_My_Mom.html

Not going to say much about this one :)

http://thetruthpodcast.com/Story/Entries/2013/1/24_False_Ending.html

A game of Dungeons and Dragons is thrown into chaos

http://thetruthpodcast.com/Story/Entries/2014/6/18_Chaotic_Neutral.html

Ok I’m done. If you have any questions or want any more suggestions let me know. Enjoy!

"The upcoming remake of Final Fantasy VII will feature "dramatic changes" to the game's combat, although it won't be altered so much that it becomes unrecognizable, according to director Tetsuya Nomura."

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/final-fantasy-7-remakes-dramatic-changes-to-combat/1100-6429330/

Yup can't wait!

@ozzdog12: If you're working on a game that takes 3-5 years the first 6 - 9 months (likely longer) is spent building a foundation and making decisions on what this potential game even is. Over the course of development whatever you came up with in that first year is likely not the game you ship with for better or worse. The process of game development is making a million mistakes, a million bugs, and gameplay that's not fun and course correcting for the entire duration of the project. By definition making a game is making a game that sucks until hopefully it eventually doesn't. Sometimes it does happen towards the end of a project the team realizes it is not fun and the game needs to be reworked or completely relaunched into something else or it can just get canned.

I wanted to touch on this question "Do you think the developers are in denial to just push through and finish for a paycheck or do they ever care?" While the average dev team is made up of different disciplines from different backgrounds I would say the majority of a team is made up of gamers. In particular the part you probably care about the most (the people specifically tasked with making the game fun) are most definitely gamers. People often talk about developers as if there is this giant chasm between devs and gamers when more often than not they are one and the same. To answer your question yes they do care. Now these are most likely not the guys in charge of making the call on whether a bad game should get released, should get canned, or should get more time/resources to turn it around. While it sucks on the consumer's end to purchase a game and find out that it's not that fun the reality is a terrible game can take just as much time, effort, and money to make as a game of the year winner.

There used to be a great documentary that followed the team making the follow up to Crimson Skies where you got to see all the arguing and tough meetings during the production. Eventually they made the tough call to cancel the game but it eventually ended up becoming Darkvoid. I tried hard to find the original movie but couldn't find it :( Here's a video that sums it up though.

http://gamevideos.1up.com/video/id/27657

@jimgeorge: When all the Star Treks first became available on Netflix without intending I ended up watching all the series over the course of 10 months. Being able to watch all of them back to back like that I was really surprised at how much my opinion changed on which series I thought were the best ones. The big takeaway for me was DS9 which was originally towards the bottom of my list. I used to think it was boring as hell. It is now easily without question my favorite show in the series. I recommend you stick with DS9 and watch it straight through most of the other Star Treks are one offs with lots of filler episodes. DS9 stands out from the crowd with an over-arching storyline where all the characters actually change and grow over the course of the series. I was also genuinely surprised with some of the subject matter they address that the other series wouldn't even go near. There's only one major flaw with the show. Ferengi. Nuff said.

@raspharus: This is exactly why the majority of games I play go unfinished. I pick some epic RPG or whatever that I really want to play but know I don't have any time for. I start playing it and then something else comes out I start playing that and take a break from the 1st game for 2 weeks. When I return I can't remember anything that's going on and have to start over. I restarted the first Mass Effect 4 times after putting in about 10 - 20 hours each time!

Yes I was thrilled to see them start up another podcast. As someone who has 2 hour commute to work podcasts are the only thing that make that ride bearable the bombcast being my favorite one. Now I feel like I'm getting twice the bombcast!