On this episode we welcome guest Clark Stacey, CEO of WildWorks. We start by discussing the impacts of Coronavirus on his studio, how WildWorks came to be, and then rewind to discuss his journey into the game development industry. He gives powerful advice for people trying to get started along with those trying to advance their career, emphasizing the value of identifying and solving problems. Clark talks about some of his favorite games he’s worked on and what he’s curious about right now, including VR and his candid thoughts on Facebook’s gaming world. He shares his thoughts on MR and seeing the future in Asia.

Clark speaks on potential threats in the gaming industry, like regulations and rapacious business models, as well as what he’s most excited about, especially the opportunity to create high-quality games for kids under 13 and the potential for use as educational tools. We reminisce on some of the outrageous industry parties, like Alex St. John’s surreal DirectX launch event. Then, Clark mentions some games he’s playing right now and shares the story of the (pretty hilarious) crisis WildWorks encountered after launching Animal Jam.

Clark Stacey is the co-founder and CEO of WildWorks, and has over 25 years of experience in video game development. His company’s online playground Animal Jam blends social gameplay with STEAM-focused educational content and offline environmental conservation activities. Animal Jam has grown to become the largest MMO game for kids in the world, connecting over 130 million young players worldwide. WildWorks is headquartered in Salt Lake City employs over 100 developers and support staff worldwide.

Discussion Details:

[01:06] Introducing Clark Stacey

[01:53] How COVID-19 has impacted production and prototyping

[05:29] Clark’s current role as CEO and how WildWorks started

[09:42] How Clark got his start in the industry

[12:46] What he wishes he’d known when starting out

[15:31] Advice for someone trying to break into the game development industry

[20:57] Advice for someone trying to advance their career

[24:29] Indie Game Jams

[25:42] Clark’s favorite games he’s worked on

[28:42] What he’s curious about right now and Facebook concerns

[33:45] Challenges for platforms when publishers aren’t supporting it

BONUS: Sandy Stone w/ Sarah Esocoff

Gender Reveal

The Power of a Virtual World

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