

Ghost of Yotei's Mud Blood and Steel, with Sucker Punch
It's a one-two move with Sucker Punch's Chris Zimmerman and Brian Fleming. Now shipping Ghost of Yotei, they tell us about leaving Microsoft for Sony and becoming a gamedev powerhouse. Tales of exact pitches and being great instead of good - this week!
Episode Highlights
[00:00:00] Intro: Chris Zimmerman & Brian Fleming of Sucker Punch Productions
An introduction to Chris and Brian, co-founders of Sucker Punch Productions (Sly Cooper, Infamous, Ghost of Tsushima).
[00:08:23] “Name it Anything But Sucker Punch”
Brian and Chris talk about the founding of Sucker Punch and how the studio got its name.
[00:14:06] Early Days at Microsoft
Brian and Chris reminisce on learning how to run a business, trial and error, and early days at Microsoft.
[00:21:04] Growing Up in the “Right” Place
Brian and Chris trade stories of growing up and working in tech in the early 90s.
[00:27:54] Leaving Microsoft and Starting Sucker Punch
Chris and Brian talk about leaving Microsoft, building a team from scratch, making their first games, and landing a deal with Ubisoft.
[00:37:17] The Silver Lining
After a release riddled with mistakes, the team lands a first party deal for their next game series, Sly Cooper.
[00:47:28] Was Sony the Right Choice?
Chris and Brian discuss the advantage of having a stable, long-term relationship with your publisher and building trust.
[00:51:19] How Ghost of Tsushima Started
From an alpha that never got approval, to developing one of the fastest-selling first-party PlayStation titles and a BAFTA-winning game.
[01:01:50] The Studio Now vs. Then and COVID’s Impact
Releasing 3 months into the COVID-19 pandemic, Chris and Brian review how they adjusted their plans and how the studio has evolved over time.
[1:10:27] Outro: Closing Remarks
Thank you for listening to our podcast all about videogames and the amazing people who bring them to life!
Hosted by Alexander Seropian and Aaron Marroquin
Find us at www.thefourthcurtain.com
Join our Patreon for early, ad-free episodes plus bonus content at https://patreon.com/FourthCurtain
Come join the conversation at https://discord.gg/KWeGE4xHfe
Videos available at https://www.youtube.com/@thefourthcurtain
Follow us on Twitter: @fourthcurtain
Edited and mastered at https://noise-floor.com
Audio Editor: Bryen Hensley
Video Editor: Sarkis Grigorian
Producer: Kimya Taheri
Art: Paul Russel
Community Manager: Doug Zartman
Featuring Liberation by 505