The AIAS Game Maker's Notebook

Oliver Lewin and Graham Parkes, developers of Before Your Eyes, discuss the creation of the blinking mechanic, learning through failure, and the narrative challenges they faced. They share their experience releasing their first title and winning a BAFTA. They also explore the writing process, the importance of blinking in the game, branching narratives, and creating accessible non-skill based games.

Austin Wintory chats with Jeff van Dyck, the composer and sound designer behind 2021's indie hit, Unpacking. Together they discuss how Unpacking features over 14,000 individual sound effects; how the interactivity of games lead the Foley and music design process; how the transition from midi to linear recording affected audio workflows; and his journey in the games industry working on titles like Total War and Alien: Isolation.  To watch this episode, visit our Youtube channel.

Austin Wintory chats with Maclaine Diemer, one of the composers behind ArenaNet's long-running MMO, Guild Wars. Together they discuss his insightful presentation at GDC 2022; his career path from sound design to composing music; and the importance understanding nuance when creating music that references foreign cultures while also being open to having tough discussions about appropriation. Watch the full interview on our Youtube channel.

Trent Kusters (Co-Founder and Studio Director of League of Geeks) chats with Wren Brier and Tim Dawson, two of the developers behind the indie hit Unpacking. Together they discuss their journeys into game development; how the idea for Unpacking came about; important milestones during development; how clever marketing helped keep their game in the gaming zeitgeist; and important lessons they learned working on their first game as a couple. This episode is also available on YouTube.

At the 2022 D.I.C.E. Summit, Austin Wintory chats with actor Maggie Robertson. Together they discuss her journey into acting and landing the role of Lady Dimitrescu in Capcom's Resident Evil Village; the ins and outs of voice acting and performance capture; and the incredible fandom that sprung around the vampire countess before the game was even released.

At the 2022 D.I.C.E. Summit, Austin Wintory chats with Philp Eriksson, Lead Sound Designer at Hazelight. Together they discuss his transition from music into game development; the incredible challenge of designing all the audio for the various worlds and themes of It Takes Two; and what steps the team took in order to tackle such a tremendous project. Philip Eriksson is the Lead Sound Designer on It Takes Two. Prior to his work at Hazelight, Philip was a part of the sound team at EA DICE and worked on games such as Battlefield V and Star Wars Battlefront II.

Ted Price chats with Shannon Loftis, the retiring VP of Microsoft's Xbox Game Studios and Studio Head of World's Edge Studio. Together they look back on her long and prestigious career; her thoughts on leadership including advice for new leaders of large development teams; examples of initiatives Microsoft has implemented to foster diversity; and her thoughts on the future of the games industry. Shannon Loftis has contributed to more than 40 games throughout her illustrious career including Motocross Madness, Project Gotham Racing, Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts, Fable, Viva Piñata, Sunset Overdrive, the recently released Age of Empires IV.

Tyler Sigman, Co-Founder of Red Hook Studios, discusses his journey into game design, difficulties of indie studio funding, and reflections on the origins of Red Hook. They also talk about the financial challenges faced by small gaming companies and the importance of persistence and self-advocacy in the industry.

Dinga Bakaba, Studio Head and Co-Creative Director at Arkane Lyon, known for his work on Deathloop and Dishonored, shares his inspiring journey into the game industry. He discusses the importance of player choices and how they reflect real-life consequences. The conversation delves into the balance of humor and tragedy in narrative design, and the critical need for diverse representation in gaming. Dinga emphasizes effective communication in development teams and the significance of preserving discovery in marketing to enhance player excitement.

Ted Price chats with Jean-François Dugas and Mary DeMarle from Eidos-Montréal. Together they discuss the development of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy including the challenges of developing a unique characterization for each Guardian; how they managed to weave together story, dialogue, and gameplay; the evolution of the combat mechanics; and the amazing soundtrack including the development of the fictional band "Star-Lord." Jean-François Dugas is the Senior Creative Director and Mary DeMarle is the Senior Narrative Director for Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, developed by Eidos-Montréal. They are also known for the development of Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.