Original Air Date: Oct. 8, 2020 - Ken Williams has released a new book, Not All Fairy Tales Have Happy Endings: The rise and fall of Sierra On-Line. In the process of telling Sierra's entire story from his perspective for the first time, he reveals what was surely among the very earliest attempts at unionization within the game industry.This story apparently takes place as Sierra was leaving the scrappy start-up phase (and the wild party/questionable culture phase) and entering a period of explo...
Jul 17, 2025•13 min
Original Air Date: Sep. 11, 2020 - Cyberpunk 2077 designer Max Pears calls in to discuss his recent book, Let's Design: Combat, his podcast, Level Design Lobby, and his meteoric rise in game design, from school to Ubisoft's The Division to CD PROJEKT RED's most hotly anticipated title to date.Let's Design: Combat is fresh off the presses, offering rare access to design wisdom straight from a designer assigned to (probably) gaming's most anticipated project. We discuss what you can expect to find...
Jul 17, 2025•1 hr 4 min
Original Air Date: Aug. 28, 2020 - Todd appeared on Fandom Unlimited's live Facebook stream to talk about Epic and Microsoft vs. Apple and Google, then we dive into an equally troubling lawsuit between a studio and publisher that you might not have heard about.Epic (with Microsoft) vs. Apple (and seperately) GoogleImportant conceptsMicrosoft xCloud - Announced at E3 2018. A service that will let you play Xbox games from a certain library they maintain and you can stream them to a bunch of device...
Jul 17, 2025•38 min
Original Air Date: Aug. 20, 2020 - Well we did it. 100 episodes of GameDev Breakdown.For the big event, we rolled the webcams and just let it happen. Matt Hill joined in for a discussion about recent events, a trip down memory lane, and a quick look at what's to come.This podcast wouldn't be worth doing without our friends listening all over the world. Your emails, tweets, and reviews don't only make it worthwhile, they make it fun. Thank you for being a part of this community--this is why we co...
Jul 17, 2025•1 hr 3 min
Original Air Date: Aug. 14, 2020 - If you're into any technology from the earliest days of PC gaming to modern 3D engine development (with a dash of pilot certification in the middle), Shammi Mohamed is a great person to get to know.In this episode of GameDev Breakdown, Shammi calls in to tell us how he climbed the tech ladder, starting with his early childhood in India tinkering with the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, leading to his current work in interactive entertainment engineering. Along the way, h...
Jul 17, 2025•1 hr 4 min
Original Air Date: Aug. 11, 2020 - KitBash3D has developed a reputation for world-class 3D assets used by some of the biggest studio and artist names in TV, Film, and triple-A games. Today, the company announced efforts to reach the rest of the game development space.In this episode of GameDev Breakdown, co-founders Banks and Maxx call in to discuss today's release of a variety of "game engine ready" asset libraries intended to make development life easier while increasing visual quality in 3D g...
Jul 17, 2025•1 hr 5 min
Original Air Date: Aug. 7, 2020 - We put out the call for topics, questions, and feedback on our https://swellcast.com/gamedevpodcast, and you answered!Topics this time include: • Our viral retelling of adventure at the last Aladdin's Castle arcade • Coaching and tutoring in esports • The legend of Atari VP Howie Rubin • An upcoming chat with Shammi Mohamed of Microsoft first-party games and now Tesla?! • Jonathan Rando heard we were talking smackThanks as always for your calls and clips. Keep t...
Jul 17, 2025•31 min
Original Air Date: Jul. 31, 2020 - In this episode of GameDev Breakdown, Clinton Keith calls in ahead of his GDC 2020 presentation on project management to discuss the crises facing game development, the strategies in his latest book, Agile Game Development: Build, Play, Repeat (2nd Edition), and how to recapture the fun in making games.Clinton has collaborated with many of the industry's most legendary designers and studio founders including Shigeru Miyamoto himself as well as Rockstar Games' H...
Jul 17, 2025•54 min
Original Air Date: Jul. 25, 2020 - Last week's discussion of https://codewriteplay.com/2020/07/17/streaming-and-community-management-talk-with-matt-hill/ with our friend Matt Hill spun off some great discussion around other promotional topics. Although it's https://codewriteplay.com/2018/01/08/gamedev-breakdown-podcast-promoting-game/ we've explored the optimal role of a website in your ongoing creative efforts, some time has passed and a lot has changed.In this episode we'll look at the current...
Jul 17, 2025•29 min
Original Air Date: Jul. 17, 2020 - When we last checked in with Matt Hill, he was growing a thriving community around his Mixer channel and optimistic about the future. Then Microsoft killed Mixer.In this episode, we discuss the state of streaming, including a look back at the good things Mixer tried to do, what went wrong, and the first https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-07-13-phil-spencer-i-dont-have-any-regrets-about-mixer about it starting to emerge from Xbox leadership. We also tak...
Jul 17, 2025•1 hr 15 min
Original Air Date: Jul. 12, 2020 - Here are highlights from this week's news roundup: • Our new Discord server is really taking off! https://discord.gg/auVvvK3, won't you? • You can now download the free https://channelstore.roku.com/details/594217/gamedev-breakdown on Roku! • You can text the show or call to leave a voicemail at (812) 682-0336. We may use it on the show! Please note: This is not part of any marketing program. You won't receive a reply. Your phone number will not be saved elsewh...
Jul 17, 2025•25 min
Original Air Date: Jul. 3, 2020 - For those new to Mat Bradley-Tschirgi's work, here are a few things you should know: he may be the leading authority on the work of notorious video game filmmaker Uwe Boll, he's an accomplished game development educator, and he's a prolific interviewer. During this episode, we follow up to hear about how readers responded to The Films of Uwe Boll Vol. 1: The Video Game Movies, and hear about his latest book, Simply the Best: Interviews with Video Game Designers,...
Jul 17, 2025•56 min
Original Air Date: Jun. 13, 2020 - Todd appears on The Dialog Tree with Roger Reichardt to discuss industry event cancellations and other challenges facing developers amid the Coronavirus pandemic.Roger's Links • https://www.gamerheadspodcast.com/gamerheadspodcastnetwork • https://twitter.com/Gamerheadspc • https://www.gamerheadspodcast.com/If you enjoy GameDev Breakdown • Sign up for our https://codewriteplay.com/newsletter/! • https://codewriteplay.com/the-gamedev-breakdown-podcast/ to the pod...
Jul 17, 2025•23 min
Original Air Date: Apr. 17, 2020 - Salvatore Pane calls in to talk about his work for the upcoming release of RetroMania Wrestling. We discuss his work as a Boss Fight Books author (Mega Man 3), his focus as a university professor, and the trouble with bite-sized physical video games.Sal's Links • https://twitter.com/salpane • https://twitter.com/RetrosoftStudio • https://salvatore-pane.com/ • https://bossfightbooks.com/products/mega-man-3-by-salvatore-paneIf you enjoy GameDev Breakdown • Sign u...
Jul 17, 2025•33 min
Original Air Date: Mar. 6, 2020 - Since I started podcasting somewhere around 2013, I've spoken with a lot of people who passed on appearances simply because they didn't think they could do a good appearance. I haven't been doing this so long that I've forgotten having that feeling as well, so the last time I heard this concern I decided to do this primer on all aspects of PR interviews and appearances. If you are in charge of your own marketing efforts, this one is for you. If you're one of the...
Jul 17, 2025•46 min
Original Air Date: Mar. 3, 2020 - A pro FIFA player loses a qualifier over a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. EA's response is...surprising...we discuss the takeaways for anyone developing a potential eSports game.If you enjoy GameDev Breakdown • Sign up for our https://codewriteplay.com/newsletter/! • https://codewriteplay.com/the-gamedev-breakdown-podcast/ to the podcast on the platform of your choice • Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gamedevpod, http://twitter.com/codewriteplay, http:/...
Jul 17, 2025•14 min
Original Air Date: Feb. 29, 2020 - GDC 2020 is postponed as COVID-19 becomes a real concern in the US. Several organizations have stepped up to support indies impacted by the change. Here's the scoop on what's happening and how you can get involved.Show Links • Official news at https://gdconf.com/ • The https://www.wingsfund.me/gdcrelief • GameDev.World's upcoming https://gamedev.world/relief/If you enjoy GameDev Breakdown • Sign up for our https://codewriteplay.com/newsletter/! • https://codewr...
Jul 17, 2025•11 min
Original Air Date: Feb. 18, 2020 - Some devs have all the fun.Aaron Clifford is the head AR/VR developer for KOVR, a new VR division of video production company, KO Group. He's a FLASH game dev from back in the day--all of us cool kids were--and managed to leverage his experience into cool projects like the Dragon Age: Inquisition web-based party builder that launched along with the proper game.More recently, Aaron tackles cool client projects, pitches awesome game concepts to Oculus, creates of...
Jul 17, 2025•57 min
Original Air Date: Jan. 30, 2020 - Learn the tools of the storytelling trade from one of western culture's greatest story analysts. We'll examine the findings of the late screenwriting expert, Syd Field, and look at how collected writing wisdom from outside games translates to our area of expertise.Relevant Links • https://www.amazon.com/Screenplay-Foundations-Screenwriting-Syd-Field/dp/0385339038 • https://channel101.fandom.com/wiki/Story_Structure_101:_Super_Basic_ShitIf you enjoy GameDev Brea...
Jul 17, 2025•25 min
Original Air Date: Jan. 17, 2020 - Reyan Ali returns after the launch of NBA Jam from Boss Fight Books to weigh in on Cowboy vs. McGregor, Smash Bros. headlines, the Aaron Hernandez documentary, how to cover up an R. Kelly tattoo, and making loved ones eat just a small, supermarket-sized sampling of crow.Reyan's Links • https://bossfightbooks.com/products/nba-jam-by-reyan-ali from Boss Fight Books • https://twitter.com/nbajambookIf you enjoy GameDev Breakdown • Sign up for our https://codewritep...
Jul 17, 2025•1 hr 8 min
Original Air Date: Jan. 10, 2020 - I met David via Twitter while freelancing for Zam.com (now Fanbyte). Beyond writing the definitive unofficial book on Roblox, David has picked up bylines at Forbes Games, IGN, Vice, Polygon, and other outlets. He now juggles tasks as a senior editor at UploadVR and trust me when I say his work in the virtual reality space has been a boon to developers and enthusiasts alike.It's my fault we didn't manage to have David on during 2019, and it's my fault again that...
Jul 17, 2025•31 min
Original Air Date: Dec. 18, 2019 - Todd heads to the post office to record the pre-Christmas mailbag episode. Chaos ensues.Despite this episode's misadventures, Eggnog Games' Leaving the Tree box set arrived and it's incredible, check it out!https://twitter.com/mechatodzilla/status/1207413888628727809?s=20If you enjoy GameDev Breakdown • Sign up for our https://codewriteplay.com/newsletter/! • https://codewriteplay.com/the-gamedev-breakdown-podcast/ to the podcast on the platform of your choice ...
Jul 17, 2025•26 min
Original Air Date: Dec. 9, 2019 - We all hear about the importance of non-disclosure agreements, particularly in the game industry. Should we take them seriously? Is anyone ever truly held accountable for breaking one? We explore the topic on this episode of GameDev Breakdown.If you enjoy GameDev Breakdown • Sign up for our https://codewriteplay.com/newsletter/! • https://codewriteplay.com/the-gamedev-breakdown-podcast/ to the podcast on the platform of your choice • Follow us on Twitter: http:/...
Jul 17, 2025•15 min
Original Air Date: De. 5, 2019 - A developer asks the community: How do you maintain the motivation to finish projects? It's a simple question, but what lies beneath the surface?In this episode we discuss both the simple answer to this question, and what is usually the deeper, more scientific answer. If you've ever heard of concepts like "self-sabotage" or "self-handicapping," this episode offers the actual mechanics of this phenomenon as well as the causes and the steps you can take to break th...
Jul 17, 2025•18 min
Original Air Date: Dec. 2, 2019 - Welcome back! This time on GameDev Breakdown we're discussing the finer points of tutorials in games, and yes, whether or not they even have a rightful place in them. That idea may surprise you, unless you spend any time talking about development on Twitter where it's become oddly commonplace.This idea comes from a well-intentioned place. As games and players have matured, we've seen a lot of games with subtler, more innovative introductions. As seen in one of t...
Jul 17, 2025•24 min
Original Air Date: Nov. 27, 2019 - A viral tweet suggests coding isn't hard, developers are just gatekeeping. Yikes.If you enjoy GameDev Breakdown • Sign up for our https://codewriteplay.com/newsletter/! • https://codewriteplay.com/the-gamedev-breakdown-podcast/ to the podcast on the platform of your choice • Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gamedevpod, http://twitter.com/codewriteplay, http://twitter.com/mechatodzilla • Check show notes and articles at CodeWritePlay.com Join us on https...
Jul 17, 2025•21 min
Original Air Date: Nov. 21, 2019 - This time on GameDev Breakdown, as promised, Todd runs through his prototyping process, start to finish.This episode makes heavy mention of https://codewriteplay.com/2019/06/28/gamedev-gains-bitbucket-trello/. Todd's https://toddmitchell.itch.io/game-design-document is available at Itch.If you enjoy GameDev Breakdown • Sign up for our https://codewriteplay.com/newsletter/! • https://codewriteplay.com/the-gamedev-breakdown-podcast/ to the podcast on the platform...
Jul 17, 2025•24 min
Original Air Date: Nov. 18, 2019 - Are "small content creator" support communities really something we should want?In this episode of GameDev Breakdown I take a look at the latest in a trend of proposals (or actual initiatives) to connect small devs, artists, authors, content creators, etc. to support and promote one another. It sounds nice, but 1.) Is it good for us as creators, and 2.) Is it even likely to work?If you enjoy GameDev Breakdown • Sign up for our https://codewriteplay.com/newslett...
Jul 17, 2025•22 min
Original Air Date: Nov. 11, 2019 - Twitter reacts to a doomsday proclamation about indie development, but there are a few problems with the message.
Jul 17, 2025•20 min
Original Air Date: Oct. 10, 2019 - Fresh off of his contributions to Borderlands 3, Gearbox senior VFX artist Ash Lyons calls in to talk about the post-release mood, parenting in the triple-A development space, and his long road to Borderlands.I first connected with Ash over Twitter around the time I put out my https://codewriteplay.com/2019/04/21/gamedev-breakdown-podcast-joshua-davidson-of-gearbox-software/ and we got along immediately--he's a parent of young kids, he has a passion for connect...
Jul 17, 2025•56 min
