In this episode, Jeff Linville â co-founder of Ritual Studios â returns to Game Dev Advice to talk about the journey behind his band-inspired RPG Fretless: The Wrath of Riffson. From starting a studio with college friends to launching worldwide with French publisher Playdigious, Jeff shares the hard-won lessons of taking the leap into full-time indie development. We go into what it really takes to form a studio, ship a first game, and survive the chaos between passion and business reality. Topic...
Nov 03, 2025â˘49 min
In this episode, we dive deep into Timâs creative journey behind Disneyâs hit mobile game Whereâs My Water? and what it really takes to break into and succeed in the game industry. From starting out in QA testing to leading creative teams at Disney, and later becoming a successful solo indie developer, Timâs conversation is packed with insights, stories, and advice for anyone passionate about making games. We cover topics every developer, designer, and indie creator will relate to: The making of...
Aug 29, 2025â˘1 hr 22 minâ˘Ep. 75
In this episode of Game Dev Advice, writer and comedian Mike Drucker shares his journey across the worlds of television, video games, and comedy. Starting as an assistant and researcher at Saturday Night Live, Mike moved into game localization at Nintendoâwhere he even played basketball with Reggie Fils-AimĂŠâbefore joining The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as a writer and then Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. He dives into the creative challenges of translating humor across mediums, from cra...
Jun 27, 2025â˘1 hr 2 minâ˘Ep. 74
In this interview, veteran game designer Stuart Maine shares his 28-year journey in the gaming industry, detailing his humble beginnings in a cyber cafĂŠ to becoming a senior designer at Two Desperados, a mobile games company in Serbia. Stuart recounts his early days at Bullfrog and his time at renowned companies like Acclaim and Blitz, working on notable projects such Warhammer Combat Cards, Epic Mickey 2, and Angry Birds Transformers. He offers insights on remote work, the importance of team dy...
May 04, 2025â˘50 minâ˘Ep. 73
In this episode, Adam Coster, CEO of Butterscotch Shenanigans, shares his unique journey of joining and growing the indie studio with his brothers Sam and Seth. Adam discusses their beginnings in 2012, the steep challenges they faced, and how a personal family crisis redefined their mission to bring joy through games. He then shares insights into their different projects, including the highly anticipated sequel Crashlands 2 , set for release in April. Balancing roles at the studio, the evolving ...
Mar 03, 2025â˘1 hr 20 minâ˘Ep. 72
In this episode, industry veteran Adam Boyes discusses the complexities of the video games industry, from the challenges of sustaining AAA games to navigating market dynamics and the impact of large-scale layoffs. He shares insights from his journey founding Vivrato and highlights the importance of innovation and thoughtful leadership. The conversation also covers practical advice for aspiring game developers and industry professionals, emphasizing the need for strategic thinking and resilience....
Feb 04, 2025â˘1 hr 1 minâ˘Ep. 71
In this episode, I caught up with Alan Noon, founder and CEO of Drill Creative, Inc., to discuss his journey from decades in the game industry to launching his own studio. Alan shared how his work on UEFN at Epic Games, including shipping Deserted Domination and the big GDC reveal, plus his desire to return to hands-on game creation. After a layoff, he quickly turned the setback into an opportunity, forming Drill Creative to build games within Fortniteâs ecosystem using UEFNâs powerful tools for...
Dec 18, 2024â˘52 minâ˘Ep. 70
Summary: Jeri Ellsworth shares her journey from childhood fascination with technology to becoming the CEO of Tilt Five. She describes her early interest in science and computers, fueled by her father's gift of a Commodore 64. Jeri recounts her experiences in racing, learning fabrication skills, and self-promotion to fund her racing career. Transitioning to computers, she opened several computer stores, experiencing both success and challenges. After a business failure, she moved to Silicon Valle...
Nov 21, 2024â˘2 hr 4 minâ˘Ep. 69
In this episode, I speak with Brad Hendricks, CEO and Founder of Blind Squirrel Entertainment. Brad talks about his path from working with new game technologies to starting his own company after his previous job at Gamebryo ended. He shares how he and his team landed their first project with 2K Games, kickstarting their game development journey before even having a company name :) Brad then reflects on the ups and downs of being a CEO, stressing the need for flexibility and constant learning. We...
Oct 05, 2024â˘1 hr 5 minâ˘Ep. 68
In this episode, I speak with Alex Gombos, a seasoned talent acquisition manager who shares her insights and career journey in the gaming industry. Most recently, she supported the game development studios at PlayStation. Alex highlights the importance of networking, building an online presence, and being proactive in pursuing career goals, whether you're aiming for your first job or looking to level up in your career. She also emphasizes the significance of having a clear, accessible portfolio ...
Sep 04, 2024â˘1 hr 2 minâ˘Ep. 67
In this episode, I speak with Ben Kvalo, the Founder and CEO of Midwest Games. Discover how Midwest Games focuses on supporting underserved developers in overlooked regions, aiming for a more sustainable industry, and learn about the upcoming MDEV conference. Ben shares his journey into the game industry, starting with his transition from radio to an operations coordinator role at 2K. Hear his thoughts on the importance of persistence, patience, and leveraging transferable skills when breaking i...
Jul 10, 2024â˘1 hr 1 minâ˘Ep. 66
In this episode, I spoke with Billy Basso, the sole developer behind the hit indie game ANIMAL WELL . Discover how he began working on the game as an after-work hobby 7 years ago, and his vision for creating a lush, 2D Metroidvania experience where players explore underground caves, solve puzzles, and encounter creatures with minimal guidance. Billy shares his game development journey, highlighting the initial challenges in both developing and marketing the game. Learn how he initially relied on...
Jun 10, 2024â˘1 hr 33 minâ˘Ep. 65
In this episode, I spoke with Roxanne Splitt, Associate Design Director at Insomniac Games. Hear their experiences and insights from working on various game projects, including collaborations with NASA and acclaimed games like Marvelâs Spider-Man 2. Roxanne reflects on the educational and emotionally significant aspects of working on the NASA project, learning from experts and tackling challenges related to space and human physiology. Hear discussion about the significance of an amazing Metacrit...
May 02, 2024â˘1 hr 18 minâ˘Ep. 64
In this episode, I spoke with Keith Plesha, Sr. Recruiter with Krafton Americas who offers valuable insights from his recruiting career. He emphasizes the significance of networking, continuous learning, and staying on top of industry trends for career success. Topics such as interpersonal skills, mentorship, and the impact of remote work on hiring are also discussed. The conversation transitions into challenges faced by current (and aspiring) game developers, including layoffs and the effects o...
Mar 25, 2024â˘1 hr 40 minâ˘Ep. 63
In this episode, I spoke with Sam Glassenberg, Founder and CEO of Level Ex, as we dive into subjects encompassing the gaming industry, technology, and healthcare. Sam recounts his unexpected journey into gaming, beginning as an animator at LucasArts and eventually helping lead Microsoftâs DirectX Graphics team. We then transition to discussing the critical importance of having a portfolio for job seekers, the interesting challenges of working in Tech Art, the foundational value of solid engineer...
Feb 02, 2024â˘58 minâ˘Ep. 62
I welcome Alex Seropian, founder and CEO of Look North World on this episode kicking off the 5th (wow, 5th) year of the podcast. Hear as Alex shares insights about his current role, including hosting The Fourth Curtain podcast and his new studio, Look North World. Learn about the growing significance of user-generated content (UGC) in the gaming industry and the potential for UGC to become a major part of the industry in the coming years. Alex also reflects on his journey in the game industry, f...
Jan 08, 2024â˘49 minâ˘Ep. 61
I welcome Jennifer Javornik, the Chief Partnerships Officer at Filament Games on this 60th episode. Learn about her current role, the companyâs connection with UW Madison, and how she transitioned from a traditional IT role into the game industry. Hear about being in improv comedy, learning to be less formal, and how the industry embraces being yourself. We then share advice about starting out, having content to show, testing, and being able to hit the ground running. Hear about the intricacies ...
Oct 16, 2023â˘50 minâ˘Ep. 60
I welcome Ryan Douglas, the Co-Founder at DeepWell DTx, NeuFluent / Founder, Nextern to this episode. Learn how DeepWell DTx is working to meld medical professionals, scientists, and game developers to create mental health digital therapeutics through play and neuroscience. Hear about the power of gaming to improve mental health, citing games like Tetris and Animal Crossing that have shown mental health benefits. Ryan then shares the value of creating experiences that make players feel better wi...
Sep 06, 2023â˘1 hr 20 minâ˘Ep. 59
I welcome Jeff Linville, the Co-Founder and Sound Designer at Ritual Studios to this episode. We discuss topics like sound design, pitching your game to publishers, and the future of AR and VR. Jeff shares about the importance of your personal network, learning how to script and work in-engine, and maintaining a healthy mindset with the ups and downs of the industry. We then go into the importance of sound design, highlighting the transformative power of sound that enhances player experiences. H...
Jul 24, 2023â˘54 minâ˘Ep. 58
I put this information together for a presentation at DePaul University in Chicago recently. The audience found it helpful, plus listener Chris Hardin thought itâd make a great episode. So I made some tweaks and recorded it solo as a short episode :) While itâs intended for folks looking to get their first job there are different ideas and strategies that should be helpful if youâre already working in the industry. I cover strategies around resumes, applying for jobs, doing due diligence, interv...
Jun 12, 2023â˘26 minâ˘Ep. 57
I welcome Steve Anichini, the CTO and Co-founder of Disbelief to this episode. We start off discussing programming at a young age, taking a job after college, and then deciding to pursue a game development career with his first job at Jellyvision. Hear about working at Midway Games and Irrational Games and then starting Disbelief after layoffs. Learn advice about developing patience with yourself, others, project timelines, and not freaking out over deadlines. Steve then shares ideas for getting...
Apr 30, 2023â˘59 minâ˘Ep. 56
I welcome Roger Sharpe, President and CEO of Sharpe Communications, and the star of the new movie - PINBALL: The Man Who Saved the Game . Hear about his marketing agency and how the idea to turn his story into a movie started back in 2020. We then discuss how pinball used to be illegal in New York City, discovering pinball in college, working at GQ, being challenged to write a book, and testifying at City Hall it was a game of skill, not a game of chance. Learn about life choices, working in adv...
Mar 17, 2023â˘59 minâ˘Ep. 55
I welcome Ray McCaffrey, Executive Producer at Steel Wool Studios. Hear how he got started in the game industry through a friend by joining a band with some NetherRealm artists who later encouraged him to apply for a short-term Assistant Producer contract job. Learn about his transition from IT, working with industry legends, and wishing heâd known to be more quiet and listen better. We then discuss advancing your career in Production, the importance of documenting feedback and results, and prov...
Feb 10, 2023â˘1 hr 10 minâ˘Ep. 54
I welcome Noah Falstein, a legendary Game Designer on this episode. Hear about his current work as a Designer and Consultant, along with how he began straight out of college at Milton Bradley before going to Williams and to create arcade games. Learn about being an early employee at Lucasfilm Games, and working on the amazing Indiana Jones titles along with others. We then discuss what heâs learned reflecting back to the beginning of his career, moving to California, and advice to expand your ho...
Nov 27, 2022â˘54 minâ˘Ep. 53
I welcome Angel Muniz, a 3D Generalist and Technical Artist who shares about her transition into the game industry, talking with Bungie, getting her first job, and going back to school. Hear career advice about how the art field is changing, creating automation, learning integration, and getting your first position. Learn about knowing your value, having mentors, passion & curiosity, and advancing your career. We then discuss hackathons, growing your skills, her VR portfolio, and her love of...
Oct 14, 2022â˘1 hr 27 minâ˘Ep. 52
I welcome Jurie Horneman, senior gameplay programmer at Possibly Space, who shares about growing up in the Netherlands and his passion for wanting to make games that led to his first job. Learn about making Amberstar, answering calls from players, and making Ambermoon , which still has a dedicated fan base. Hear about moving to Blue Byte, Albion being overly ambitious, learning C, and having your shipping platform changed because of bankruptcy. We then discuss source code, the importance of comp...
Aug 20, 2022â˘1 hr 23 minâ˘Ep. 51
I welcome Carl Leducq, Games Producer at Altered State Machine and the popular Zero to Play podcast who shares about his new role and recently shipped game for Rocketwerkz. Learn how he transitioned from film into the game industry and working in QA changed his perspective. Hear how he transitioned from QA to Production, his passion around the game development community and the NZGDA. We then discuss advice for getting into the industry, doing game jams, and advancing your career. Hear about the...
Jun 24, 2022â˘40 minâ˘Ep. 50
I welcome Jae Lin, the Hotline Director of the âGames and Online Harassment Hotlineâ who shares about their current role running the hotline, along with the new Culture Shift project. Learn about when theyâre available, who itâs helping, and how you can text âsupportâ to 23368 within the U.S. for help. Hear about the new Culture Shift program launched with Take this that goes into game studios and works with top leadership to create custom programs for companies. We then discuss gender-based har...
Apr 30, 2022â˘44 minâ˘Ep. 49
I welcome Jon Radoff, CEO of Beamable who shares his inspiration behind starting the company. Hear how D&D and computer programming got him hooked on games, and the companies heâs created along the way. Learn how he began his entrepreneurial journey as a kid, along with advice for others who love games and have a passion to create. We then discuss his thoughts around entrepreneurship, who to listen to, and who not to listen to. Hear why itâs important to have a portfolio, along with strategi...
Mar 23, 2022â˘57 minâ˘Ep. 48
I welcome Renee Gittins who shares about her role as the Executive Director of the IGDA, along with her new position at Phoenix Labs. Learn about how Renee transitioned from biotech into game development, the various roles sheâs had, along with making lifelong friends at Riot Games. Hear the importance of having confidence, starting your projects sooner, building a portfolio, and making connections. We then discuss the importance of self-promotion and mentorship as keys to advancing your career,...
Feb 23, 2022â˘36 minâ˘Ep. 47
