Dev to Dev S02 E08 - Aram Granger

The next episode of Dev to Dev - the podcast about everyday videogame developers and why they do what they do every day - is with former colleague and all round top fella, Aram Granger.Aram’s journey into games is about as far from “planned” as you can get. He spent years in film and TV VFX before even considering games as a career. And yet, when he made the jump, it all clicked. Not because he’d trained for it, but because he’d built the right instincts along the way.One of my favourite moments was how he described VFX as “putting the sauce on the substance.” That idea really landed for me, especially because designers like me spend so much time thinking about systems and mechanics but the way those systems feel is crucial and the visual layer is so important to it.There’s also something really refreshing about how he talks about learning. Even after decades in the industry, he still approaches things with curiosity and humility. He’s not trying to be the smartest person in the room but rather he’s trying to make things the best he can, learn from others, and keep improving.And then there’s the feedback loop that’s true for Aram both in games and in life. The idea that we’re all chasing that little “attaboy” moment, whether we’re players or developers. It’s simple, but it explains so much about why games work.Highlights:Transitioning from Hollywood VFX into gamesWhy visual effects are critical to game feelThe importance of feedback and player rewardLearning through experimentation, not formal paths“Strong ideas, held loosely” as a development mindset Find the Podcast at:SpotifyPatreon⁠RSS⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠Blog⁠Email: [email protected] Aram At: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aramgranger/