The GamesIndustry.biz Microcast

Throughout this month, we'll be taking a deeper dive into the world of video games recruitment and the challenges facing both applicants wanting to enter the industry and companies wanting to secure the best talent. For our second 'jobscast,' we take a look at the role of academia in preparing aspiring developers for a role in the industry, and how those who seek a career in games can secure the role they want. Our panel this week includes University of Southern California's Tracy Fullerton, Carnegie Mellon University's Thomas Corbett, Staffordshire University's Nia Wearn, and Falmouth University's Nick Dixon. This series is part of our Get A Job In Games Month. Title music composed by Thomas Marchant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The GamesIndustry.biz team gather to discuss the biggest news of the week: A new Nintendo Switch. Not the the Switch Pro, New Nintendo Switch or Super Switch that had been rumoured and reported on for so long, but the OLED Model with a larger screen, wider kickstand and LAN port. We discuss the root of the disappointment around its reveal, the implications of this handheld-centric update, who the new console appeals to and the consumer mentality around hardware upgrades. As always you can get more news, insight and analysis at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the next four weeks, we'll be taking a deeper dive into the world of video games recruitment and the challenges facing both applicants wanting to enter the industry and companies wanting to secure the best talent. For our first 'jobscast,' we're joined by Square Enix Montreal recruiter Agathe Fallet, NDreams' chief people officer Tamsin O'Luanaigh and Marvelous Europe's head of production and operations Sarah Burns. This episode looks at the biggest challenges developers and publishers encounter when recruiting, how they can stand out from the competition in appealing to potential new hires, and how the recruitment process differs across different markets and disciplines. This series is part of our Get A Job In Games Month. Title music composed by Thomas Marchant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Five Games Of is a special series of The GamesIndustry.biz Podcast that explores the evolution of the video games business through the career of prominent developers, executives and more. This time, we explore five games from the career of Warren Spector, industry veteran and one of the key figures crediting with defining the immersive sim. We explore the breadth of Spector's career, starting with his time on classic Ultima RPGs and the groundbreaking Ultima Underworld. We also exploring the origins of the acclaimed Deus Ex and the biggest commercial hit of Spector's career: Epic Mickey. Title music by Juilan Villareal. As always, you can get more news, insight and analysis at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Brendan and James are joined by Michael Varner, director of executive compensation research at CtW Investment Group, to discuss recent developments in the world of AAA publishing. Earlier this month, Activision delayed its say-on-pay vote at the request of shareholders amid an ongoing campaign by CtW and other parties to persuade shareholders to vote against compensation proposals for its biggest execs, including CEO Bobby Kotick. That vote was later passed with 54% approval -- an all-time company low -- meaning Kotick and co will continue to receive what CtW describes as "outsized equity pay" Meanwhile, Electronic Arts recently unveiled several changes to its executive compensation program -- although CEO Andrew Wilson still stands to receive $39.2 million, an increase of 83% year-on-year. Our guest helps us dive into all this and more as we try to better understand these companies' justification for executives' more than generous compensation. Title music by Thomas Marchant. Episode mastered by Thomas Quillfeldt.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The GamesIndustry.biz team gather around this mics to reflect on this year's E3 (and all the other adjacent events). Rather than go through the announcements individually - we collated all the biggest reveals and release dates on the site - we insted each choose a trend, topic or announcement we found interesting from an industry perspective. We also select the titles we are personally most looking forward to out of the hundreds tht were unveiled and showcased last week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our final GI at E3 Newscast, James and Danielle are joined by indie developer Shahid Ahmad to reflect on the full week of game announcements and reveals. During the course of the conversation, we weigh up the strategies of both Xbox and Nintendo, discuss the shortcomings of a digital-only E3, and debate the merits of Microsoft's 'everything on Game Pass' model vs PlayStation's focus on $70 blockbusters. You can find the newscasts on our YouTube channel and you can follow all our E3 2021 coverage at GamesIndustry.biz. Title music composed by Thomas Marchant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Throughout the next week, we're hosting (almost) daily video newscasts on the big news from E3, Summer Games Fest et al - with handy podcast versions for those who prefer audio discussions. Today, Chris, James and Brendan are joined by Velan Studios co-founder Guha Bala to talk about the Nintendo Direct and the end of this year's E3. We discuss the surprises of new Metroid and old Advance Wars, the ongoing wait for Breath of the Wild's sequel, the lack of Zelda anniversary celebrations, the intricacies of cross-play and the use of celebrities at events like E3. You can find the newscasts on our YouTube channel and you can follow all our E3 2021 coverage at GamesIndustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Throughout the next week, we're hosting (almost) daily video newscasts on the big news from E3, Summer Games Fest et al - with handy podcast versions for those who prefer audio discussions. Today, James and Marie are joined by Cassia Curran of Wings Interactive to talk about some of the biggest news from the Xbox & Bethesda showcase and Square Enix Presents. We also spend a good amount of the episode talking about the presence of indies at E3, the difference between riskier, more creative games and safer AAA bets, and the balance (or lack thereof) between violent and non-violent games. You can find the newscasts on our YouTube channel and you can follow all our E3 2021 coverage at GamesIndustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Throughout the next week, we're hosting (almost) daily video newscasts on the big news from E3, Summer Games Fest et al - with handy podcast versions for those who prefer audio discussions. Today, Chris and James are joined by the first of our special industry guests: Grant Kirkhope, composer of Banjo-Kazooie, Goldeneye 64, Perfect Dark, Yooka-Laylee... and the newly-announced Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope. Grant joins us to share a little more on his role on the upcoming strategy game, as well as his thoughts on the Ubisoft line-up and a LOT of insight into what it's like both working on these projects and working at a typical E3. You can find the newscasts on our YouTube channel and you can follow all our E3 2021 coverage at GamesIndustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices