Game Dev Unchained

This Roundtable News brings you discussions from game industry vets about last months biggest news. We talk about the biggest headliners like Google Stadia, Apple Arcade, State of VR, and Unity vs Unreal.

Our first year as press to GDC 2019 was a huge success. Aside from doing onsite interviews we had our first official GDU mixer sponsored by Quixel meeting past guests and mingling with listeners. It was great and we are already looking forward on how to improve it next year. This is the first of three series of the interview we did at GDC that are also available in video form on our youtube account starting Thursdays. Support us on Patreon (www.patreon.com/gamedevunchained)

Dave Mervik joins us from Tarsier Studios to discuss early development for Little Nightmares. We also talk about the studio's transition turning from a co-development game studio to a independent one.

In this episode, we lay out our plans for GDC 2019. Many announces are made including our Official GDU Mixer at GDC sponsored by Quixel. As well as our journey to doing this full-time and how we are pumping our Patreon efforts. In addition, forming a umbrella company to house all of our ventuers such as GDU, GSO, etc into BLU Champs. More merch and many many more.

Unionizing game workers caught a major spark in discussion across the industry far and wide and has reached a fever pitch in recent months. Game Workers Unite is at the forefront of the movement and it is no doubt that this upcoming 2019 Game Developers Conference will be about Unionization in a huge way. To help lay out what developers can expect and also come to GDC prepared for, Emma from Game Workers Unite joins us this week to share their plans.

Glassdoor Confessions is a segment where game devs analyze a company's strengths and weaknesses based on glassdoor reviews, anonymous tips, and articles. Activision Blizzard recently laid off 800 developers after a record-breaking year because they weren't able to reach their 'full potential.' Larry and Brandon sits down this week to give a game developer's perspective on what needs to change and what developers need to do now to prepare themselves for what affects all of us.

This Roundtable News brings you discussions from game industry vets about last months biggest news. We talk about the biggest headliners starting out with what's going on with Activision laying off 800 people, 2K Silicon Valley, Apex, Fortnite Dance Lawsuits, and Starbreeze Bankruptcy This episode is brought to you by Quixel Megascans.

GDC 2019 is in a month and it's a time for many indie developers to network and pitch their games to investors. Rebekah Saltsman owns 51% of Finji, which makes and publishes indie games. She has a decade of experience listening to pitches and making pitches and is gracious enough to share her insight. Rebekah helps us answers all the common questions an indie developer may have and all the do's and don'ts when meeting with prospective investors.

Press Start Legal is a law firm based in the United States for Interactive Entertainment Industry. Zac Rich is the cofounder and sat down this week to educate the legal side of indie development, contractual agreements, forming a new company, and many many more about what it takes to make a company legitimate.

Tapas Media is an indie digital comic book company who has just expanded their business to co-develop and publish some of their biggest titles into mobile games.  Tapas has around 2.1 Million active users on its platform, and I think this is a very interesting and unique brand that bridges comics and manga, to indie gaming.  Their newest game is called ‘Dungeon Construction Co.’ and it is an adventure puzzle game based on a best-selling indie comic book.