Game Changers: Voices of the Games Industry

Summary In this extended episode, Lars Janssen interviews Bill Roper, a veteran in the games industry with 30 years of experience. Bill shares his journey in the industry, from working at Blizzard Entertainment to founding his own studio and working at companies like Cryptic and Disney. He discusses his passion for games and the characters he has worked with, highlighting the character of Sarah Kerrigan from Starcraft. Bill also talks about the projects he would have loved to work on and the eureka moments he has experienced in game development. Finally, he addresses the challenges in the games industry, particularly the issue of layoffs and the need for better treatment of employees. The conversation with Bill Roper covers topics such as the timing of hard decisions, the importance of transparency and long-term relationships, personal sacrifices for the company, the significance of transparency in small companies, dreams and ambitions for Lunacy Games, remote work and radical transparency, and building a studio with solid foundations. Takeaways Passion for games is a driving force in the industry, and it is important to maintain that passion throughout one's career. Characters in games can have a profound impact on players and creators alike, and they can provide valuable insights into the minds of their creators. The games industry is constantly evolving, and there are always new challenges and opportunities to explore. The industry needs to address the issue of layoffs and improve the treatment of employees, ensuring that they are valued and supported. Timing is crucial when making hard decisions that affect employees. Transparency and honesty with the team are essential for building long-term relationships. Personal sacrifices may be necessary to keep a company afloat during challenging times. Transparency is especially important in small companies, where everyone's contributions and ideas are valuable. Lunacy Games aims to create cooperative and collaborative games that reward creativity and encourage meaningful player experiences. Remote work can enhance work-life balance and allow for a more diverse and inclusive team. Building a studio with solid foundations involves combining established game genres with unique twists and innovations. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:00 Passion for the Games Industry 05:03 Favorite Characters 08:33 Projects Bill Roper Would Have Loved to Work On 09:29 Eureka Moments in Game Development 19:41 Challenges in the Games Industry 43:41 Timing of Hard Decisions 45:07 Transparency and Long-Term Relationships 48:23 Personal Sacrifices for the Company 50:22 Importance of Transparency in Small Companies 52:25 Dreams and Ambitions for Lunacy Games 54:03 Remote Work and Radical Transparency 55:18 Building a Studio with Solid Foundations

Summary In this episode of the Game Changers podcast, Lars Janssen interviews Henrik Jonsson, a game industry veteran with over 25 years of experience. Henrik shares his journey from programming games, working for a TV show to working at Ion Storm and eventually starting his own company, Radgivery. They discuss the challenges of working with independent studios, memorable characters in video games, and the games Henrik would have loved to work on. Henrik also shares his eureka moments and changing perspectives throughout his career. They touch on the current challenges in the industry, including layoffs and the need for diversity and inclusion. Henrik concludes by sharing his dreams and aspirations for the future. Takeaways Henrik Jonsson has over 25 years of experience in the game industry, working on various games and projects. He has worked with independent studios, both as an investor and as a technical advisor. Henrik shares his thoughts on memorable characters in video games and the games he would have loved to work on, including God of War and Valheim. He had eureka moments that changed his perspective, realizing the importance of communication and the joy of helping others make their games. Henrik acknowledges the challenges in the industry, such as layoffs and the need for diversity and inclusion, and expresses his desire to contribute to positive change. His dream role is running his own company, Radgivery, and supporting game developers and industry stakeholders. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:21 Working with Independent Studios 04:21 Discussion on Games and Characters 07:06 Games Henrik Would Have Loved to Work On 10:26 Highlight of Henrik's Career 17:40 Eureka Moments and Changing Perspectives 22:46 Challenges in the Industry 27:25 Dreams and Aspirations

Summary In this episode of the Game Changers Podcast, Lars Janssen interviews Egil Strunke, a veteran of the games industry. Egil shares his journey from working at Electronic Arts and Panvision to joining Embracer Group and starting his own consulting company. He also discusses his new role at Starbreeze Studios and his dreams of creating a story-driven adventure game. The conversation touches on topics such as the impact of AI on the games industry, the challenges of standing out in a crowded market, and the importance of listening to the audience. Overall, Egil's insights provide valuable perspectives on the evolving landscape of the games industry. Takeaways The games industry has seen significant growth and change over the years, with new opportunities and challenges emerging. AI has the potential to revolutionize game development, making it faster and more efficient, but it also requires careful consideration and planning. Standing out in a crowded market is a challenge, and studios need to listen to their audience and adapt to their feedback to create successful games. Building a strong community and engaging with players early on in the development process is crucial for success. Egil's aspirations include running his own studio and creating a story-driven adventure game that captivates players. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:00 Working at Electronic Arts and Panvision 08:06 Joining Embracer Group and Starting a Consulting Company 09:20 Joining Starbreeze Studios 10:11 Favorite Gaming Characters 11:21 Games Egil Would Have Loved to Work On 13:14 Impact of AI on the Games Industry 19:35 Business Challenges in the Games Industry 22:17 The Future of AI in Gaming 27:52 Challenges as a Game Enabler 32:46 Dreams and Aspirations for the Future 34:36 Closing Remarks

Summary In this episode, Lars Janssen interviews Rika Lim, a lead level designer in the gaming industry. Rika shares her experiences working on various projects, including Payday 3 and Project Baxter. They discuss Rika's love for characters in video games and her choice of Igor from the Persona series as a character she would like to talk to. Rika also talks about her passion for point-and-click adventure games and her interest in working on games like Gabriel Knight. They delve into Rika's transition to a leadership role and the challenges she faced in delegating tasks. They also discuss the importance of structure and culture in a company and the challenges of collaboration in the industry. Rika shares her aspirations for her next project and the importance of challenging oneself and creating a supportive environment in game development. Takeaways Rika Lim has worked on various projects in the gaming industry, including Payday 3 and Project Baxter. She is passionate about characters in video games and would love to talk to Igor from the Persona series. Rika has a love for point-and-click adventure games, particularly Gabriel Knight. She faced challenges in transitioning to a leadership role, including delegating tasks and finding a balance between hands-on work and management. Rika emphasizes the importance of structure and culture in a company and the challenges of collaboration in the industry. Her dream project would involve working with a team that is open to trying new things and challenging themselves. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:44 Rika's Career and Recent Projects 02:08 Discussion on Singapore and Gamescom Asia 02:29 The Love for Characters in Video Games 03:41 Talking to Igor from the Persona Series 05:31 Games Rika Would Have Loved to Work On 08:45 Working on Gabriel Knight and Point-and-Click Adventure Games 09:49 The Difference in Level Design for Point-and-Click Adventure Games 11:36 Games Rika Would Erase from Her Memory to Play Again 13:42 Crucible Moment: Transitioning to a Leadership Role 17:22 Challenges of Being a Leader and Delegating Tasks 20:52 Importance of Structure and Culture in a Company 21:42 Challenges in the Industry and the Importance of Collaboration 23:06 The Impact of COVID-19 on Communication and Collaboration 26:10 Dream Project and the Importance of Challenging Oneself 29:13 Rika's Next Opportunity and Focus on Level Design 33:06 The Importance of Structure and Environment in Game Development 34:18 Closing Remarks

Summary In this episode, Lars Janssen interviews Samuel Hollywood-Summers, an audio designer in the games industry. Samuel shares his background and journey into game development, including his eureka moment that led him to pursue a career in audio design. He emphasizes the importance of audio in games and the need for better audio literacy among development teams. Samuel also discusses his dream game to work on and his aspirations to become an audio director. The conversation highlights the challenges in the industry, such as layoffs, and the importance of integrating audio throughout the game development process. Takeaways Audio design is a crucial aspect of game development and can enhance the player experience in various ways. Game developers should prioritize audio from the early stages of development and involve audio designers in the entire pipeline. The games industry faces challenges such as layoffs, and there is a need for better understanding and support for audio departments. Samuel Hollywood-Summers aspires to become an audio director and work on larger projects with collaborative teams. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:03 Favorite Video Game Character 03:31 Eureka Moment in Game Development 07:39 Journey into Audio Design 13:45 The Power of Audio in Games 18:22 Dream Game to Work On 23:10 Challenges in the Games Industry 26:11 Importance of Audio in Game Development 26:54 Future Aspirations 29:05 Closing Remarks

Summary In this episode, Lars Janssen interviews Linn-Marie Edlund, a game industry professional from Sweden. They discuss topics such as diversity and inclusion in the games industry, Linn-Marie's eureka moment in her career, challenges in the industry, games she would have loved to work on, sustainability in the games industry, and the future aspirations of Linn-Marie. Takeaways Diversity and inclusion are important topics in the games industry, and efforts should be made to create a friendly and creative environment. Long-term thinking and sustainability are crucial for the industry's success. The industry needs to address challenges and make improvements in areas such as representation and working conditions. Personal growth and understanding one's strengths are important for career development in the industry. Linn-Marie aspires to be a door opener and work on creative projects in the future. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:14 Diversity and Inclusion in the Games Industry 03:01 Eureka Moment in Career 05:14 Understanding Strengths and Future Goals 08:18 Challenges in the Games Industry 11:13 Games Linn-Marie Would Have Loved to Work On 15:11 Sustainability in the Games Industry 18:11 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Industry 21:48 Future Aspirations 24:00 Closing Remarks

Summary In this episode, Lars Janssen interviews Vicente, a low-level systems engineer in the games industry. They discuss Vicente's background, his journey from Chile to Europe, and his choice to learn German. Vicente explains the role of a low-level systems engineer and how they enable others in game development. They also discuss the power of games as a medium for self-expression and the different perspectives on narrative in games. Vicente shares his favorite games and the challenges he sees in the industry. He talks about his dreams and aspirations, including creating his own games. Takeaways Low-level systems engineers play a crucial role in game development by enabling others and working on the technical aspects of the game. Games can provide a playground for players to be themselves or a narrative experience similar to books or movies, catering to different types of players. Favorite games can inspire individuals to pursue a career in game development and contribute to the industry. The games industry faces challenges, and there is a need for solutions in areas such as game development complexity and risk-taking. Vicente has dreams and aspirations to create his own games, leveraging his technical skills and passion for game development. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:50 Explaining Low-Level Systems Engineering 06:14 Conversation with a Video Game Character 08:28 Different Perspectives on Games 11:57 Favorite Games and Contributions 15:08 Key Moments in Gaming Career 16:58 Handmaking Games 17:42 Challenges in the Games Industry 19:20 Dreams and Aspirations in the Industry 21:28 Changes in the Games Industry 22:44 Inspiration and Taking Risks 24:04 Creating on Own or Joining a Team 25:34 Closing Remarks

Summary In this episode, Lars Janssen interviews George Beard, a game designer and lecturer, about his career transition and experiences in the game industry. They discuss George's background in art and game design, his eureka moment in game development, the challenges in the industry, his dreams and aspirations, and the impact of AI in game development. Takeaways The value of continuous learning and training in game development companies. The challenges of finding the right fit in the game industry and the importance of work-life balance. The potential of AI in game development and its impact on different disciplines. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:06 Favorite Video Game Characters 05:07 Eureka Moment in Game Development 07:35 Challenges in the Game Industry 10:23 Challenges in Game Design 12:29 Dreams and Aspirations 15:09 AI in Game Development 23:28 Conclusion

Summary In this episode, Lars Janssen interviews Tobias Severin, Studio Development Director at Fishlabs, about his career in the games industry. They discuss topics such as pivotal moments in Tobias' career, games he would have loved to work on, and challenges in the industry. Tobias also shares his dream project and his vision for the future of game development. Takeaways The games industry is constantly evolving, and professionals need to adapt to new technologies and trends. Rapid prototyping and agile development have become essential in game development. Discoverability is a major challenge in the industry, with a flood of games being released and difficulty reaching customers. Creating a dream team and having fun while making games can lead to successful projects. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:00 One Hour Conversation with a Video Game Character 05:17 Pivotal Moments in Career 10:21 Games to Work On in the Past 15:51 Challenges in the Games Industry 22:30 Dream Project in the Games Industry 25:33 Closing Remarks

Welcome to Game Changers – Voices of the Games Industry, a podcast where we shine the spotlight on the movers and shakers of the gaming world. I'm your host Lars Janssen and I'm here to bring you the untold stories of the people behind the games we love. In each episode, we sit down with a gaming professional who's been navigating the ups and downs of the industry. We will dive into their personal journeys, explore the motivations, and see what's next on the horizon. So whether you are a part of this dynamic industry, a gaming enthusiast or simply love a good story, this is the right place for you. So let's get inspired by the innovation and the resilience of these game changers.