The AIAS Game Maker's Notebook

Listen to our extended roundtable conversations from the 24th Annual #DICEAwards, moderated by Spawn on Me's Kahlief Adams, with candid conversations and insights from the nominees for Action Game of the Year. The nominees include- -DOOM Eternal -Hades -Half-Life: Alyx -Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales -Nioh 2

Listen to the nominees for the 24th Annual #DICEAwards Outstanding Achievement in Story chat with one another in intimate roundtable sessions, moderated by Spawn on Me's Kahlief Adams. The nominees include- -13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim -Ghost of Tsushima -Hades -Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition -The Last of Us Part II

Ted Price chats with Guha and Karthik Bala, brothers who founded both Velan Studios and Vicarious Visions. Together they discuss their incredible journey in games beginning with the founding of Vicarious Visions while they were both in high school and into their new venture at Velan Studios; their approach to problem solving; how failure leads to positive outcomes; and what they learned at MIT that helped them think in unexpected ways.  Guha and Karthik founded Velan Studios which is known for Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit and the recently released Knockout City. They also founded Vicarious Visions which developed the Skylanders series as well as several titles in the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series, and Crash Bandicoot series.

Listen to the nominees for the 24th Annual #DICEAwards Adventure Game of the Year chat with one another in intimate roundtable sessions, moderated by Spawn on Me's Kahlief Adams. The nominees include- -Assassin's Creed Valhalla -Ghost of Tsushima -Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition -The Last of Us Part II -Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Watch our extended roundtable conversations from the 24th Annual #DICEAwards, moderated by Spawn on Me's Kahlief Adams, with candid conversations and insights from the nominees for Outstanding Achievement in Game Design. The nominees include- -Ghost of Tsushima -Hades -Half-Life: Alyx -The Last of Us Part II -Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Brought to you by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, the 24th Annual #DICEAwards is an annual awards celebration by game makers for game makers, honoring the games that connect us around the globe. These awards honor our fellow creators and the very best in interactive entertainment. Watch our extended roundtable conversations from the 24th Annual #DICEAwards, moderated by Spawn on Me's Kahlief Adams, with candid conversations and insights from the nominees for Role-Playing Game of the Year. The nominees include- Cyberpunk 2077, FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE, Persona 5 Royal, Wasteland 3, Yakuza: Like a Dragon  

Ted Price chats with Matt Firor, Founder and Studio Director at ZeniMax Online Studios and Game Director on The Elder Scrolls Online. Together they discuss how his team built and continues to expand on a giant online world; the balance between systems and hand created content; the importance of engagement metrics in order to maintain the health of the game; and the potential of online worlds in the future.  Prior to his work at ZeniMax Online Studios, Matt was a designer and producer on one of the most influential massively multiplayer online role-playing games in the genre, Dark Age of Camelot.

Austin Wintory chats with Mark Mothersbaugh about his long career in music including his band DEVO; his work in film and television; his transition into video games; his thoughts about game development and interactive systems; and how his family has affected his thoughts on music. Mark Mothersbaugh is a celebrated composer, musician, singer, and songwriter best known for being one of the founders of the rock group DEVO. As an award winning composer, his credits include Moonrise Kingdom, 21 Jump Street, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Enlightened, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic, Pee Wee’s Playhouse, and the hugely successful Rugrats television, stage and film franchise. He has composed music for several hit video game franchises including the Jak and Daxter Series, the Crash Bandicoot series, the Sims series, and the recently released Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. 

Ted Price chats with Harvey Smith of Arkane Studios. Together they discuss developing emergent mechanics, the importance of research to underpin creative decisions during development, and the importance of representation in games both culturally and creatively.  Harvey Smith is the Studio Director of Arkane Studios and Co-Creative Director on the upcoming Redfall. He is also known for his work on the Dishonored series, Deus Ex series, Prey, and Thief: Deadly Shadows.

Guest host Tim Schafer interviews Ted Price, the founder of Insomniac Games, discussing the early days of the company, its guiding principles, and its growth in the gaming industry. They talk about the challenges of developing their first game, the importance of collaboration and embracing new ideas, and how Insomniac Games creates a positive work culture. They also address the challenges of crunch mode and burnout in game development, the limitations of traditional management, and the importance of open industry discussions. Ted Price shares his personal growth in separating emotions from feedback and the significance of team well-being.