The AIAS Game Maker's Notebook

Trent Kusters chats with Johan Pilestedt, the Game Director on Arrowhead Game Studios' smash-hit, HELLDIVERS™ 2. Together they discuss his path in games that led to the founding of Arrowhead alongside his classmates in Sweden; the development and release of their first title, Magicka; the original ideas around that laid the foundation for the Helldivers universe; their ideas around game design; and the ups and downs of the 7 year development journey of HELLDIVERS™ 2. Episode Host: Trent Kusters Producers: Claudio Tapia and Josh Chu, The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing and leaving us a rating and review. Follow us: linktr.ee/AIAS Please consider supporting game dev students with: AIAS Foundation

Alexa Ray Corriea chats with actor Troy Baker. Together they discuss his award winning performance as Indiana Jones in MachineGames's Indiana Jones and the Great Circle; his biggest challenges in playing an iconic character; lessons he learned from his past projects that informed his preparation and performance; and the difference between a performance being simple versus boring. This episode is supported by Xsolla Episode Host: Alexa Ray Corriea Producers: Claudio Tapia and Josh Chu, The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing and leaving us a rating and review. Follow us: linktr.ee/AIAS Please consider supporting game dev students with: AIAS Foundation

Trent Kusters chats with game designer Tom Francis of Suspicious Developments, developers of hit indie tactical strategy games like Gunpoint, Heat Signature, and Tactical Breach Wizards. Together they discuss how Tom went from games journalism to game development; his ideas around challenge and difficulty; weaving gameplay with narrative; and his thoughts and advice on playtesting. Episode Host: Trent Kusters Producers: Claudio Tapia and Josh Chu, The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing and leaving us a rating and review. Follow us: linktr.ee/AIAS Please consider supporting game dev students with: AIAS Foundation

Nhi Do, an actor from the indie game 1000xRESIST, dives into her journey from theater to gaming. She reflects on her early days in musical theater and the pivotal role her teachers played in her evolution. Nhi shares the thrill of rediscovering gaming during the pandemic and her unique experiences auditioning for indie roles, revealing the emotional complexities of voice acting. With a focus on character development, she also highlights the collaborative nature of creating narratives in games while sharing her aspirations in motion capture and horror genres.

Adam Orth chats with MachineGames' Jens Andersson and Axel Torvenius about their critically acclaimed title, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Together they discuss why they decided to make an Indiana Jones game in first person; the importance of introducing players to the Indiana Jones world by recreating the iconic opening scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark; and Troy Baker's award winning and Harrison Ford approved performance as Indiana Jones. This episode is supported by Xsolla Episode Host: Adam Orth Producers: Claudio Tapia and Josh Chu, The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing and leaving us a rating and review. Follow us: linktr.ee/AIAS Please consider supporting game dev students with: AIAS Foundation

Alexa Ray Correia chats with actor Suzie Yeung. Together they discuss how she got her start acting in games; her performance as Yuffie Kisaragi in the recent reboot of FINAL FANTASY VII; her extensive work in the anime industry; the process and differences in recording for animation versus games; how she prepared for her performance as Yuffie; and her advice for young voice actors beginning their careers. This episode is supported by Xsolla Episode Host: Alexa Ray Corriea Producers: Claudio Tapia and Josh Chu, The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing and leaving us a rating and review. Follow us: linktr.ee/AIAS Please consider supporting game dev students with: AIAS Foundation

Ted Price, founder of Insomniac Games and a 2025 AIAS Hall of Fame inductee, reflects on his three-decade journey in the gaming industry. He shares insights on the evolution of Insomniac, particularly the impactful partnership with Marvel on Spider-Man. Ted discusses the importance of leadership, team collaboration, and the industry's current transitions, including the rise of PC gaming. As he prepares for retirement, he expresses excitement for future endeavors in STEM education while cherishing the memories and lessons from his storied career.

Xsolla is a leading global video game commerce company with a robust and powerful set of tools and services designed specifically for the industry. Since its founding in 2005, Xsolla has helped thousands of game developers and publishers of all sizes fund, market, launch, and monetize their games globally and across multiple platforms. To learn more, please visit: xsolla.com This episode is supported by Xsolla Episode Host: Adam Orth Producers: Claudio Tapia and Josh Chu, The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing and leaving us a rating and review. Follow us: linktr.ee/AIAS Please consider supporting game dev students with: AIAS Foundation  

Nicolas Doucet, the talented director behind the Astro Bot series, shares his fascinating journey in game development. He reveals how his early QA days shaped his career path at Japan Studio. The discussion dives into the innovative design strategies that brought 'Astro Bot Rescue Mission' to life, emphasizing community feedback's role in its success. Doucet also talks about the collaboration with third-party partners to integrate iconic PlayStation characters, showcasing creativity in enhancing player experiences while maintaining simplicity.

Dmitry Svetlow, the Studio Director of Odd Meter and a former architect, discusses the evocative narrative of his game INDIKA. He shares the unique blend of dark and playful imagery that defines the game's aesthetic. Dmitry dives into the challenges of narrative development, including the interplay of self-worth and faith within character dynamics. He also explores innovative game mechanics, like incorporating prayer to reflect internal struggles, and discusses the evolving nature of game design in a small indie studio setting.