Game Dev Advice: The Game Developer's Podcast

• Stuart Maine on 28 Years in Game Development: Starting a Studio, Building Great Teams, Career Advice & Lessons for Aspiring Devs & His New Books

  In this interview, veteran game designer Stuart Maine shares his 28-year journey in the gaming industry, detailing his humble beginnings in a cyber café 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 dynamics, and the lessons he has learned about people skills and communication. Stuart also discusses his latest venture, a book titled 'Designing Video Games,' which aims to guide newcomers through the complexities of the industry. Alongside this, he has authored two books on the history of first-person shooters, 'I'm Too Young to Die' and 'Hurt Me Plenty,' with a third in the works. He touches on the challenges and rewards of game development, reflecting on the necessity of taking risks, the difficulties of maintaining work-life balance, and the evolving landscape influenced by technological advancements like AI. The conversation wraps up with Stuart sharing anecdotes from his career, advice for aspiring developers, and his excitement for current gaming projects, highlighting his ongoing passion for the industry. Bio: Stuart Maine has been a game designer and writer for 28 years across console, PC, and mobile. He’s worked on licensed titles at studios large and small, and co-founded and later sold the indie studio Well Played Games. Stuart also writes books, including two on the history of first-person shooters (I'm Too Young To Die, 2022, and Hurt Me Plenty, 2025, with Bitmap Books) and Designing Video Games (2025, with White Owl), a guide for breaking into the industry. He also tutors on John Yorke’s Story for Video Games course. Show Links: * Two Desperados: https://twodesperados.com * Well Played Games: https://www.wellplayed.games * John Yorke’s Story for Video Games course (Stu’s a tutor): https://www.johnyorkestory.com/course/story-for-video-games/  * White Owl Books: https://www.whiteowlbooks.co.uk/  * Designing Video Games: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1399038664 or https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Designing-Video-Games-Hardback/p/52503  * Bitmap Books: https://www.bitmapbooks.com * I'm Too Young to Die: https://www.bitmapbooks.com/collections/video-game-history/products/i-m-too-young-to-die-the-ultimate-guide-to-first-person-shooters-1992-2002  * Hurt Me Plenty: https://www.bitmapbooks.com/collections/video-game-history/products/hurt-me-plenty-the-ultimate-guide-to-first-person-shooters-2003-2010  * Warhammer Combat Cards: https://www.combatcards.com * Atomfall: https://store.steampowered.com/app/801800/Atomfall/  * Love & Pies: https://www.loveandpies.com * G-Police: Weapons of Justice: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-Police:_Weapons_of_Justice * Epic Mickey 2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_Mickey_2:_The_Power_of_Two * Blitz Games: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blitz_Games_Studios * Bullfrog Productions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullfrog_Productions Connect With Links: * Stuart Maine on Twitter/X: https://x.com/maine_stuart * Stuart Maine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuart-m-280155205/  Game Dev Advice Links:  * Website: show notes, links, stuff - https://www.gamedevadvice.com  * Patreon: career coaching through the Gain Wisdom membership - https://www.patreon.com/gamedevadvice  * YouTube: main channel link - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvkY8LxjGyOPqlQKuRlObhg    * Game Dev Advice hotline: (224) 484-7733* Email: reach out - [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• Building a Successful Indie Studio with No Industry Experience, Betting on Steam, Game Jams, Finishing Crashlands 2, Recording 500+ Podcasts, Stacking the Dice, and Storefront Featuring—Adam Coster, CEO of Butterscotch Shenanigans

  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 game industry, and the impact of subscription services, Adam offers a candid look at the realities of indie game development. He also provides useful, actionable advice for aspiring game developers and discusses the potential and limitations of incorporating AI into game dev. Join us as we explore the fascinating intersection of science, family, and grassroots game development to share joy. Bio: Adam Coster's love for science carried him through a PhD in Cellular & Molecular Biology. Turns out it wasn't science he was into, but solving hard problems in general. Building a company from scratch in the highly-competitive and rapidly-changing games industry certainly fit that bill, and so Adam joined the team immediately after defending his dissertation. Adam creates all of the web technology that powers Butterscotch Shenanigan’s games and studio, crunches numbers to figure out how the industry works, leads our business development efforts, and makes sure that the team has what it needs to make great games. Show Links: * Crashlands 2 - trailer * Crashlands 2 - Steam * Global Game Jam - website * PopCon Indy - website * GameMaker game engine - website * Battle Chef Brigade Deluxe - Steam * Butterscotch Shenanigans - podcast * Scientists Warn Trump’s NIH Cuts Will Drop ‘Atom Bomb’ On Health Research - HuffPost * The Creator of ‘NBA Jam’ Admits That The Pistons Are A Cheat - SBNation * What Is ‘Balatro’ And Why Is Everyone Addicted To It? - Forbes Connect With Links: * Adam Coster - website * Adam Coster - LinkedIn * Adam Coster - Bluesky * Butterscotch Shenanigans - website * Butterscotch Shenanigans - games * Butterscotch Shenanigans - YouTube Game Dev Advice Links:  * YouTube Podcasts - check out this episode with a guarantee of 100% more video * Patreon - career coaching through the Gain Wisdom membership * Game Dev Advice hotline: (224) 484-7733 * website - show notes, links, stuff * [email protected] - reach out! * Subscribe and go to the website for full show notes with links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• Navigating Game Industry Challenges, Job Hunting After a Layoff, the Rise of Consulting Firms, Celebrity Stories, and Starting a New Company—Adam Boyes, Founder of Vivrato

  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.  Hear behind-the-scenes stories, including memorable moments with celebrities like Sammy Sosa and Lawrence Taylor, and gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to thrive in the ever-evolving world of video games. The conversation also covers practical advice for aspiring game developers and industry professionals, emphasizing the need for strategic thinking, resilience, and curated searching.  Bio: As co-CEO of Iron Galaxy Studios, Adam Boyes steered the company’s strategic direction, partnerships, and commitment to a people-first culture. Prior, as Sony Interactive Entertainment America’s Vice President of Third Party Relations & Developer Technology Group, he cultivated groundbreaking collaborations that propelled PlayStation’s revenue to record levels. With leadership roles at Midway Games, Capcom, and his own consulting venture, Beefy Media, Boyes championed open communication, stable growth, and premium gaming experiences in a rapidly evolving industry. His deep passion for the games industry fuels his new journey with Vivrato, where he is focused on inspiring people and forging innovative solutions that transcend traditional boundaries. Show Links: * Adam interview - VentureBeat website * Chicago’s Deep Tunnel (the flood story) - Slate website * MLB Slugfest: Loaded - wikipedia * DICE Summit - website * MDEV - website Connect With Links: * Vivrato - website * Vivrato - LinkedIn * Adam Boyes - LinkedIn Game Dev Advice Links:  * YouTube Podcasts - check out this episode with a guarantee of 100% more video * Patreon - career coaching through the Gain Wisdom membership * Game Dev Advice hotline: (224) 484-7733 * website - show notes, links, stuff * [email protected] - reach out! * Subscribe and go to the website for full show notes with links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• Starting a Studio, Thriving Post-Layoff, Working at Epic Games, the Rise of UGC, Hiring Is Broken, Street Fighter: The Movie, Empathy, and Building Games for Fortnite with CEO Alan Noon of Drill Creative, Inc.

  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 Fortnite’s ecosystem using UEFN’s powerful tools for small, nimble teams. We explored the rise of user-generated content (UGC), which Alan likened to the early days of the iPhone App Store, when hobbyists had room to experiment and innovate. He highlighted challenges like monetization and platform restrictions, which can limit developers’ ability to build sustainable businesses and lasting IP. Alan also reflected on the importance of empathy, collaboration, and creating opportunities, offering advice for developers to focus on tangible work, stand out, and take initiative in today’s competitive market. Finally, Alan shared insights on industry trends like AR, VR, and AI, as well as his excitement for UGC’s growing potential. With personal stories and sharp observations, Alan delivered a thoughtful look at the evolving game development landscape. Bio: From a career that spans AAA to indie dev and now UGC, Alan Noon is a cross-discipline game industry veteran, having shipped on all manner of platforms including arcade, console, PC, mobile, VR/AR/XR, and class 3 slot machines. Presently he leads Drill Creative, Inc. as CEO and Creative Director, building games for Fortnite with UEFN. Show Links: * Elimination Confirmed is Out! - Fortnite website * UEFN (Unreal Editor for Fortnite) - website * Street Fighter (movie) - Wikipedia * Valley of the Ancient - Epic Games website * Deserted: Domination - Epic Labs website * Incredible Technologies - website Connect With Links: * Drill Creative, Inc. - website * Drill Creative, Inc. - LinkedIn * Drill Creative, Inc - Twitter/X * Alan Noon - Twitter/X Game Dev Advice Links:  * YouTube Podcasts - check out this episode with a guarantee of 100% more video * Patreon - career coaching through the Gain Wisdom membership * Game Dev Advice hotline: (224) 484-7733 * website - show notes, links, stuff * [email protected] - reach out! * Subscribe and go to the website for full show notes with links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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  52:02
• Working at Valve, Finding Mentors, Reinventing Yourself, Collecting Pinball, Grit, Nolan Bushnell, Working Under Pressure, Silicon Valley, The Enthusiasm Advantage, and Ham Radio with CEO Jeri Ellsworth of Tilt Five

  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 Valley, using her electronics skills to secure engineering roles. Jeri highlights her work on various projects, including chip design and collaborations with notable industry figures. Her time at Valve involved leading an R&D lab and facing internal cultural challenges, which eventually led to her departure. She acquired technology from Valve to start Tilt Five, focusing on multiplayer AR experiences. Jeri discusses the challenges and successes of running a venture-backed startup, including a successful Kickstarter campaign. She emphasizes the importance of mentors, continuous learning, and pursuing projects that spark joy and innovation. Bio: Jeri Ellsworth is an inventor, product creator, chip designer, and system-level engineer. Her love for invention began with building race cars before working with hardware design, creating a complete Commodore 64 system on a chip housed within a joystick, called C64 Direct-to-TV. Her combined passion for gaming and invention has fueled the creation of many cutting edge technologies, culminating in the creation of Tilt Five, the world’s first augmented reality gaming system. Her vision for the future of gaming is driving innovation for the entire Tilt Five team. Show Links: * Tilt Five - website * Tilt Five - YouTube * Steve Wozniak - Wikipedia * C64 Direct-to-TV - Wikipedia * Valve Corporation - website * How two Valve engineers walked away with the company's augmented reality glasses - The Verge * Alan Alcorn - Wikipedia * Silicon Valley - HBO website * Stern Pinball - website * Nolan Bushnell - Wikipedia * Ham Radio - Wikipedia * 2019’s Global Game Industry’s 50 Over 50 List - website Connect With Links: * Jeri Ellsworth - Wikipedia * Jeri Ellsworth - YouTube * Jeri Ellsworth - LinkedIn * Jeri Ellsworth - website Game Dev Advice Links:  * YouTube Podcasts - check out this episode with a guarantee of 100% more video * Patreon - career coaching through the Gain Wisdom membership * Game Dev Advice hotline: (224) 484-7733 * website - show notes, links, etc. * [email protected] - reach out! * Subscribe and go to the website for full show notes with links Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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