The AIAS Game Maker's Notebook

In this discussion, game developers Alex Dracott and Seth Rosen from Ironwood Studios delve into their acclaimed survival game, Pacific Drive. They share their journeys from AAA games to founding their own studio, highlighting the challenges faced along the way. The duo reveals how their childhood gaming experiences shaped their passion and reflects on crafting immersive gameplay that balances driving and survival mechanics. They also touch upon the importance of emotional engagement and creating meaningful NPC interactions, offering a glimpse into their creative process.

Trent Kusters chats with Hunter Bridges and Dave Padilla from Evening Star. Together they discuss their studio's debut title, Penny's Big Breakaway. Additionally they discuss their journeys into development and how the openness of developers helped get them started; how working with SEGA helped them prepare for future projects; the importance of documentation and avoiding knowledge silos; how developing their own engines influenced the type of studio they built; and how playtesting with a younger audience helped their development of Penny's Big Breakaway. Watch this episode on our YouTube channel. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving us a rating and review.

Senior Narrative Director at Insomniac Games, Jon Paquette, discusses crafting game narratives and collaborating with designers. They delve into creating dual protagonist stories like Marvel's Spider-Man 2, balancing humor and drama, exploring genuine male friendships, and the challenges of writing for beloved characters like Spiderman.

Austin Wintory chats with Composer Lennie Moore. Together they discuss his work on the original Outcast and its sequel Outcast: A New Beginning which came recently, 25 years later; the ins and outs of the business of composing music for video games including tips for young composers entering the industry; and the profound effect Lennie had on Austin's own career being one of his formative teachers at USC.  Watch this episode on our YouTube channel. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving us a rating and review.

Multidisciplinary artist Niklas Åkerblad discusses his career, love of games, impact of Hotline Miami, and the complexity of games as art. They delve into the philosophical and poetic storytelling inside his newest title, Ultros, highlighting the evolution of the video game industry and his artistic journey in game development.

Actor Neil Newbon discusses his journey in video games, challenges in acting, and starting to teach. Topics include creativity in gaming, social media impact, and finding fulfillment in the industry. He also talks about motion capture evolution, developing characters, balancing multiple roles, and embracing self-confidence.

Katsuhiro Harada, longtime producer of the Tekken series, discusses the evolution of the game to target a global audience, the importance of live events for the fighting game community, and his thoughts on the future of the genre and game development in an insightful and engaging conversation with Shuhei Yoshida.

Actor Nadji Jeter discusses his decade-long journey as Miles Morales, the emotional depth of the character in Marvel's Spider-Man 2, the impact of diverse representation in media, and influential video game performances that shaped his career. He reflects on being part of the Marvel universe, meeting influential figures, embracing nervousness, and gratitude for future opportunities.

Gabe Amatangelo discusses the impact of Cyberpunk 2077 release, emphasizing game design and storytelling elements. They address challenges in game development, cultural authenticity, and ethical dilemmas in the game. The podcast explores gameplay mechanics, AI themes, and the transition to Unreal Engine 5.

Roman Campos-Oriola, Eric Baptizat, and Philippe Ducharme from Motive Studio discuss remaking Dead Space, deciding what to keep and improve, and balancing tools, enemies, and environments for tension-filled gameplay. They explore enhancements in graphics, gameplay mechanics, storytelling, weapon design, ammo drops, zero gravity, and checkpoint systems in the remake process.