Lex Fridman Podcast - #484 – Dan Houser: GTA, Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar, Absurd & Future of Gaming

Dan Houser is co-founder of Rockstar Games and is a legendary creative mind behind Grand Theft Auto (GTA) and Red Dead Redemption series of video games.
Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep484-sc
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Transcript:
https://lexfridman.com/dan-houser-transcript

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EPISODE LINKS:
Absurd Adventures: https://absurdventures.com
A Better Paradise: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0FCYSK8VD
American Caper: https://absurdventures.com/americancaper

SPONSORS:
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OUTLINE:
(00:00) – Introduction
(01:29) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections
(11:32) – Greatest films of all time
(23:45) – Making video games
(26:36) – GTA 3
(29:55) – Open world video games
(32:42) – Character creation
(36:09) – Superintelligent AI in A Better Paradise
(45:21) – Can LLMs write video games?
(49:41) – Creating GTA 4 and GTA 5
(1:01:16) – Hard work and Rockstar’s culture of excellence
(1:04:56) – GTA 6
(1:21:46) – Red Dead Redemption 2
(2:01:39) – DLCs for GTA and Red Dead Redemption
(2:07:58) – Leaving Rockstar Games
(2:17:22) – Greatest game of all time
(2:22:10) – Life lessons from father
(2:24:29) – Mortality
(2:41:47) – Advice for young people
(2:47:49) – Future of video games

PODCAST LINKS:
– Podcast Website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast
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– Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/lexclips

WSJ Minute Briefing - Strong Tech Earnings Boost Nasdaq

Amazon shares soar on cloud-computing growth. Plus: Netflix shares rise after its board approves a stock split. Katherine Sullivan hosts.


Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter.


An artificial-intelligence tool assisted in the making of this episode by creating summaries that were based on Wall Street Journal reporting and reviewed and adapted by an editor.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Motley Fool Money - Big Tech Breaks the Bank for AI

Big tech earnings were the talk of the market this week and we covered a blowout from Alphabet, questions about Meta, and why Amazon has its mojo back. To finish the show, we play “Trick or Treat” and discuss the stocks on our radar.


Travis Hoium, Lou Whiteman, and Asit Sharma discuss:

- Alphabet’s big cloud quarter

- Meta’s AI questions

- Amazon and AWS growth

- Netflix’s surprising stock split


Companies discussed: Nike (NKE), On Holding (ONON), Alphabet (GOOG), Meta (META), Netflix (NFLX), Coinbase (COIN), Microsoft (MSFT), Chipotle (CMG).


Host: Travis Hoium

Guests: Lou Whiteman, Asit Sharma

Engineer: Dan Boyd


Disclosure: Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, “TMF”) do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement.


We’re committed to transparency: All personal opinions in advertisements from Fools are their own. The product advertised in this episode was loaned to TMF and was returned after a test period or the product advertised in this episode was purchased by TMF. Advertiser has paid for the sponsorship of this episode.


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State of the World from NPR - The Deadly Long-term Problem Hiding Throughout Gaza

After two years of war, Gaza is littered with unexploded bombs often hiding in the rubble of destroyed buildings. And they can be deadly even decades later. We go to Gaza to hear about one family’s encounter with an unexploded bomb and learn how long it might take make the territory safe.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Stuff They Don't Want You To Know - Happy Halloween: How Selling Your Soul Works

In tonight's special Halloween episode, Ben, Matt, Noel and Super Producer Dylan lean on Ben's earlier experience with the paranormal. Tonight's question: Is it actually possible to sell your soul to infernal powers? Check this out: we learned how it works.

They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The Journal. - The Witch Economy Is Booming

The Etsy witch trend has taken witchcraft into the mainstream. These online witches are making their magical services available to anyone willing to pay for them. Want a job? Or a boyfriend? There’s a spell for that. WSJ’s Chavie Lieber explains why it pays to be a witch. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

-Etsy: Big Commerce or Crafters' Community?

-Lady Gaga, Low-Rise Jeans, and the Next Recession

 

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Headlines From The Times - Palisades Fire Accountability, Fed Rate Cut, Nuclear Test Concerns, Louvre Heist Breakthroughs, Dodgers Struggle, Lakers Sell, Gap’s Comeback, & Disneyland Layoffs

Federal investigators examine whether missed warnings fueled the deadly Palisades wildfire, as lawsuits and a Senate inquiry advance. The Federal Reserve issues another rate cut amid a prolonged government shutdown and growing divisions inside the bank. President Trump suggests the U.S. may resume nuclear testing, prompting global concern. French police arrest more suspects in the Louvre jewel heist. The Dodgers face elimination after another home loss. The Lakers transition to new ownership. Gap launches a new beauty line to reset its brand. And Disneyland lays off about 100 workers as part of a post-pandemic recalibration.

 


 

The Bulwark Podcast - Catherine Rampell: Who Are the Socialists Now?

It’s hard to find a better example of seizing the means of production than our government seizing an equity stake in a company—which Trump keeps doing over and over again. And what do the diehard Republican capitalists have to say about all this socializing of the private sector? Nothing, of course. But they definitely were up in arms over Bill Kristol saying he’d probably vote for Mamdani if he still lived in NYC, and that voting for Cuomo was ridiculous. Plus, the crypto-based bribery of Trump and his family is flourishing, SNAP cuts and Head Start closures will have a big impact on rural areas, businesses have been trying to find ways to lower their tariff burden since Trump won last November, and the potential ties between recent layoffs and the AI arms race.

The Bulwark’s Catherine Rampell joins Tim Miller for the Halloween weekend pod. 
show notes

CoinDesk Podcast Network - “We’re a Tweet Away from a 15% Dump:” CEO on Crypto’s Fragility | Markets Outlook

Unpacking the fragility of the markets with Inversion CEO Santiago Roel Santos.

In today's Markets Outlook, CoinDesk's Jennifer Sanasie and Andy Baehr sit down with Inversion CEO Santiago Roel Santos to discuss why despite significant institutional inflows, the crypto market remains highly volatile. Plus, he argues that the industry must pivot from speculation to utility by integrating invisible blockchain tech into unsexy, traditional businesses to achieve widespread adoption and regulatory comfort.

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Bridge simplifies global money movement. As the leading stablecoin issuance and orchestration platform, Bridge abstracts away blockchain complexity so businesses can seamlessly move between fiat and stablecoins. From payroll providers and remittance companies to neobanks and treasury teams, Bridge powers payments, savings, and stablecoin issuance for thousands – like Shopify, Metamask, Remitly, and more.

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OwlTing (Nasdaq: OWLS) is building invisible rails for global payments. With OwlPay, businesses and users can bridge fiat and stablecoins, send money instantly across borders, and access stablecoin checkout at lower costs. Licensed worldwide, OwlTing delivers secure, compliant, and regulated infrastructure for the digital economy. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠owlting.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie and Andy Baehr.