Game Dev Advice: The Game Developer's Podcast

Dec 18 2024 70 ep. 59 mins 958
Game Dev Advice: The Game Developer's Podcast artwork

+30 year game industry veteran John "JP" Podlasek interviews game designers, programmers, producers, artists, arcade owners, writers, CEOs and others about game development. Experienced or aspiring game developers alike will find useful, thought-provoking, and sometimes funny advice from others in the game industry. Find info at gamedevadvice.com and subscribe now!

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Starting a Studio, Thriving Post-Layoff, Working at Epic Games, the Rise of UGC, Hiring Is Broken, Street Fighter: The Movie, Empathy, and Building Games for Fortnite with CEO Alan Noon of Drill Creative, Inc.

Dec 18 2024 52 mins  
In this episode, I caught up with Alan Noon, founder and CEO of Drill Creative, Inc., to discuss his journey from decades in the game industry to launching his own studio. Alan shared how his work on UEFN at Epic Games, including shipping Deserted Domination and the big GDC reveal, plus his desire to return to hands-on game creation. After a layoff, he quickly turned the setback in

Working at Valve, Finding Mentors, Reinventing Yourself, Collecting Pinball, Grit, Nolan Bushnell, Working Under Pressure, Silicon Valley, The Enthusiasm Advantage, and Ham Radio with CEO Jeri Ellsworth of Tilt Five

Nov 21 2024 123 mins  
Summary: Jeri Ellsworth shares her journey from childhood fascination with technology to becoming the CEO of Tilt Five. She describes her early interest in science and computers, fueled by her father's gift of a Commodore 64. Jeri recounts her experiences in racing, learning fabrication skills, and self-promotion to fund her racing career. Transitioning to computers, she opened

Starting a Studio, Don’t Give Up, Self Publishing, Being a CEO, and the Gold Rush ‘90s with Brad Hendricks of Blind Squirrel Entertainment

Oct 05 2024 65 mins  
In this episode, I speak with Brad Hendricks, CEO and Founder of Blind Squirrel Entertainment. Brad talks about his path from working with new game technologies to starting his own company after his previous job at Gamebryo ended. He shares how he and his team landed their first project with 2K Games, kickstarting their game development journey before even having a company name :)

Navigating a Layoff, Importance of Networking, Working at PlayStation, Resumes and Portfolios, Mental Health, The Rise of Indies, Building a Brand, and Accepting Change with Alex Gombos

Sep 04 2024 62 mins  
In this episode, I speak with Alex Gombos, a seasoned talent acquisition manager who shares her insights and career journey in the gaming industry. Most recently, she supported the game development studios at PlayStation. Alex highlights the importance of networking, building an online presence, and being proactive in pursuing career goals, whether you're aiming for your first job

Starting a Game Company, Underserved Developers, New Opportunities, Finding a Publisher, Industry Sustainability, Networking, Navigating Change, MDEV, Being Authentic, and Skee-Ball with Ben Kvalo of Midwest Games

Jul 10 2024 61 mins  
In this episode, I speak with Ben Kvalo, the Founder and CEO of Midwest Games. Discover how Midwest Games focuses on supporting underserved developers in overlooked regions, aiming for a more sustainable industry, and learn about the upcoming MDEV conference. Ben shares his journey into the game industry, starting with his transition from radio to an operations coordinator role at

Creating ANIMAL WELL, Building a Game Engine, Finding Opportunities, Indie Games, Dunkey, Going to DePaul, Having Patience, Publisher BIGMODE, Disdain for Midjourney Assets and Crow Country with Billy Basso of Animal Well

Jun 10 2024 92 mins  
In this episode, I spoke with Billy Basso, the sole developer behind the hit indie game ANIMAL WELL. Discover how he began working on the game as an after-work hobby 7 years ago, and his vision for creating a lush, 2D Metroidvania experience where players explore underground caves, solve puzzles, and encounter creatures with minimal guidance. Billy shares his game development journ

Working on Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Artist Turned Designer, Serious Games to Triple A, NASA, Learning to Lead, Player Reaction Videos, Communication Skills, and the Designer’s Journey with Roxanne Splitt of Insomniac Games

May 02 2024 78 mins  
In this episode, I spoke with Roxanne Splitt, Associate Design Director at Insomniac Games. Hear their experiences and insights from working on various game projects, including collaborations with NASA and acclaimed games like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Roxanne reflects on the educational and emotionally significant aspects of working on the NASA project, learning from experts and ta

Recruiters Talk Hiring, Job Strategies, Plan B, Call of Duty, Networking, ATSs, The Industry Layoff Trend, Resume Tips, and LinkedIn’s Value with Keith Plesha of Krafton

Mar 25 2024 99 mins  
In this episode, I spoke with Keith Plesha, Sr. Recruiter with Krafton Americas who offers valuable insights from his recruiting career. He emphasizes the significance of networking, continuous learning, and staying on top of industry trends for career success. Topics such as interpersonal skills, mentorship, and the impact of remote work on hiring are also discussed. The conversat

Working on Jedi Starfighter, Portfolios, DirectX’s Mission, Embracing AI, the Neuroscience of Play, Empathy, the Industry’s Next Growth Market, and Helping Ukraine with Founder and CEO Sam Glassenberg of Level Ex

Feb 02 2024 58 mins  
In this episode, I spoke with Sam Glassenberg, Founder and CEO of Level Ex, as we dive into subjects encompassing the gaming industry, technology, and healthcare. Sam recounts his unexpected journey into gaming, beginning as an animator at LucasArts and eventually helping lead Microsoft’s DirectX Graphics team. We then transition to discussing the critical importance of having a

Starting Bungie, UEFN, Teamwork, Making Halo, AI Concerns, Portfolios, UGC, Game Industry Optimism, Diversity, Building EQ, and the Fourth Curtain Podcast with founder and CEO Alex Seropian of Look North World

Jan 08 2024 48 mins  
I welcome Alex Seropian, founder and CEO of Look North World on this episode kicking off the 5th (wow, 5th) year of the podcast. Hear as Alex shares insights about his current role, including hosting The Fourth Curtain podcast and his new studio, Look North World. Learn about the growing significance of user-generated content (UGC) in the gaming industry and the potential for UGC t