EFWSOT with Ben Cammarano
from Everything's Fine We're Shipping On Time Hosted by Short Stax Media
How do you navigate 30 years of massive shifts in video games—from 90s SGI render farms to modern AI workflows?Gaming veteran Ben Cammarano (Xbox, EA Sports, Wizards of the Coast) sits down with Ric and Gary to break down the craft of game design, leadership through "Mental Jiu-Jitsu," and what it actually takes to build a lasting career in games.Key Takeaways & Discussion Highlights:The Early Days of 3D & Sports Gaming: Building NFL Fever at Xbox and transitioning into the EA Madden machine.Creative Leadership & "Mental Jiu-Jitsu": Why guiding momentum works better than pushing ropes uphill.The "Invisible Resume": The networking principles that create real career longevity.AI & Tech Shifts in Production: Balancing technological change with authentic human creativity.Navigating Industry Changes: What the next chapter looks like for seasoned developers and indie teams.Timestamps / Chapters00:00 – Intro & 90s CG Beginnings08:00 – The Birth of Xbox Sports & NFL Fever21:00 – Engineering Standards vs. Making Games Fun32:00 – Inside the EA Madden Machine48:00 – Leadership Lesson: Mental Jiu-Jitsu53:00 – Moving to Wizards of the Coast & Digital Tabletop57:00 – Practical Perspectives on AI in Production01:04:00 – Building Your "Invisible Resume" & Networking01:10:00 – The Future of Indie Studios & Game Industry Careers-----If you enjoy what we're doing, please Like & Subscribe!
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