Game Dev Unchained

In this episode, we discuss the recent layoffs in the game industry and the economic challenges faced by game studios, focusing on the long development cycles and mismanagement in AAA studios like Cloud Chamber's BioShock project. We examine the role of AI in game development, highlighting its potential to assist with asset creation and coding while noting its current limitations. The conversation also emphasizes the need for effective mentorship in a remote working environment to support junior developers and sustain the industry's future talent.Connect with us:• 🖥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://gamedevunchained.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/GameDevUnch...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ✉️ info@gamedevunchained.com• 💰⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/gamedevunchained/su...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠•📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://instagram.com/gamedevunchained⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Special Links:⁠⁠Raymond Graham (@Wadarass) / X

In this episode we sit down with longtime friend and industry veteran Drew Smith for a candid conversation about the evolving landscape of game development. Drew shares his journey from hustling his way into Take-Two, producing at 2K, and working on iconic titles like Bioshock and Destiny, to navigating the challenges of remote work, starting his own studio, and adapting to a rapidly changing industry.Together, they dive deep into the differences between corporate and development roles, the impact of the pandemic on studio culture, the struggles and opportunities facing both AAA and indie developers, and the importance of mentorship and fresh talent in games. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, this episode is packed with honest insights, industry stories, and advice for aspiring game creators.Tune in for a real talk about the state of the industry, the future of game development, and what it takes to survive—and thrive—in games today.Connect with us:• 🖥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://gamedevunchained.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/GameDevUnch...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ✉️ info@gamedevunchained.com• 💰 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/gamedevunchained/su...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠•📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://instagram.com/gamedevunchained⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠(1) Drew Smith | LinkedInhttps://thedrewsmith.substack.com/

In this roundtable episode, the crew dives into Bungie’s upcoming "Marathon," dissecting its art style, gameplay, and what it signals about the state of AAA game development. We discuss industry layoffs, the decline of Western studios, and the challenges facing big-budget games, while reflecting on the future of game development and the rise of smaller, more agile teams.Connect with us:• 🖥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://gamedevunchained.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/GameDevUnch...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ✉️ info@gamedevunchained.com• 💰⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/gamedevunchained/su...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠•📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://instagram.com/gamedevunchained⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Special Links:⁠Raymond Graham (@Wadarass) / X

About this episode:hristopher Stone is a dynamic Studio General Manager who has played a key role in some of the industry's most notable AAA titles. Currently, he's leading work on Ready or Not, while his impressive portfolio also includes high-profile projects such as Callisto Protocol, Days Gone, Call of Duty, and Dead Space. In this episode, Christopher shares his journey through groundbreaking game development, the challenges of steering large-scale projects, and his opinions for the future of gaming.Connect with us:• 🖥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://gamedevunchained.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/GameDevUnch...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ✉️ info@gamedevunchained.com• 💰 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/gamedevunchained/su...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠•📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://instagram.com/gamedevunchained⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ready or Not on SteamExperience | Christopher Stone | LinkedInVOID Interactive

https://magicmind.com/gduJan⁠ Get 45% off for mental wealth bundled with Magic Mind's new Sleep Elixir for better sleep. About this episode: Leo Gonzalez is the cofounder of GoDemics, a co development studio that partners with Riot Games, Gearbox, and 2K. He's a veteran of the industry with over 15 years of experience. This episode we dive into a special segment talking about UFOs and conspiracies as fun subjects to get our creative juices flowing. Connect with us: • 🖥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://gamedevunchained.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/GameDevUnch...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • ✉️ info@gamedevunchained.com • 💰 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/gamedevunchained/su...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ •📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://instagram.com/gamedevunchained⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Leo Gonzalez | LinkedIn GoDemics

Tony Howard and Abby Howard are the creative duo behind Black Tabby Games, known for their innovative titles like Slay the Princess and Scarlet Hollow. They dive into the evolution of indie game development, emphasizing community engagement and modern marketing strategies. The importance of narrative in gaming shines as they discuss character development and game demos. They also tackle the challenges of localization and balancing ambition with community feedback, offering valuable insights for aspiring developers.

https://magicmind.com/gduJan Get 45% off for mental wealth bundled with Magic Mind's new Sleep Elixir for better sleep. About this episode: Tencent comes into question and is listed as a military company. Ray and I also talked about Ubisoft latest update, and how the industry is recovering. Connect with us: • 🖥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://gamedevunchained.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/GameDevUnch...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • ✉️ info@gamedevunchained.com • 💰 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/gamedevunchained/su...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ •📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://instagram.com/gamedevunchained⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Special Links: Raymond Graham (@Wadarass) / X

About this episode: In this episode, I sit down with Jordan Smith (20 year game design veteran) to talk about what it takes to keep pushing forward as a game developer when the industry feels like it’s falling apart. We share stories about staying passionate, dealing with uncertainty, and finding strength in tough times—things I know we’ve all faced at some point in our careers. (1) Jordan (Altura) Smith | LinkedIn ArtStation - Jordan Smith Connect with us: • 🖥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://gamedevunchained.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/GameDevUnch...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • ✉️ info@gamedevunchained.com • 💰 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/gamedevunchained/su...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ •📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://instagram.com/gamedevunchained⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

About this episode: Coming back after a hiatus, I talk about what conversations and topics I'll be tackling for 2025. Connect with us: • 🖥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://gamedevunchained.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/GameDevUnch...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • ✉️ info@gamedevunchained.com • 💰 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/gamedevunchained/su...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ •📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://instagram.com/gamedevunchained⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

About this episode: Jim Gray is a seasoned video game professional with over two decades of experience, having led engineering and development teams at notable companies such as ILMxLAB, Sledgehammer Games, and Midnight Society. He has a strong background in gameplay programming and engineering management, contributing to titles like Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare and Ralph Breaks VR. Currently, Jim is the Founder and CEO of Jim Gray Productions, building a new video game production company from the ground up. Escape from Hadrian's Wall Demo on Steam (steampowered.com) ⁠Jim Gray Productions Jim Gray Productions (@JimGrayProds) / X Jim Gray Productions: Overview | LinkedIn Connect with us: • 🖥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://gamedevunchained.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/GameDevUnch...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • ✉️ info@gamedevunchained.com • 💰 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/gamedevunchained/su...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ •📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://instagram.com/gamedevunchained⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠