ByteAction

In this episode I'm speaking to Joe Currivan - an accomplished Producer within the gaming industry. We talk about the importance of building great teams, the future of the mobile games industry and his life and game development journey. The episode is full useful advices on hiring practices, team leadership, and cultivating a positive work environment. We also talk about nurturing innovation in teams, fostering risk-taking abilities, and staying consistent in your work. Lastly, we touch upon web3 technologies, and the effect of monetization protocols on player habits. 0.00 - 8:00 Barcelona, Austin & Family 8:00 - 16:00 How did you get started in the games industry? 16:00 - 22:00 Becoming a Producer 22:00 - 24:00 Why Production? 24:00 - 26:00 ADHD 26:00 - 30:00 Bioware days 30:00 - 35:00 What’s happening with the industry nowadays? 35:00 - 39:00 Do you have any regrets? 39:00 - 45:00 What games are you playing currently? 45:00 - 49:00 The future of Games 49:00 - 52:00 The project you enjoyed working on the most 52:00 - 56:00 What makes a good Producer? 56:00 - 1:00:00 What frustrates you most? 1:02:00 - 1:08:00 The art of interviewing and hiring 1:08:00 - 1:11:00 Leading teams 1:11:00 - 1:21:00 Difference between mobile and other platforms 1:21:00 - 1:27:00 Web3 & Blockchain

In this episode I am speaking to Antti Makkonen. We discuss the future of the mobile games, f2p market, how to build great teams and Antti's game development journey. We also talk about his time working at companies like Rovio & SocialPoint, he shares his takes on the F2P industry and the challenges of building successful teams and products. The episode concludes with a peek into in-car gaming's potential and how it can enhance gaming experiences. Hope you will enjoy this one :)    0.00 - 13:00 Skiing, Finland, Schools & Barcelona 13:00 - 18:00 Career start, software engineering, and self awareness 18:00 - 21:00 Why the games industry in particular? 21:00 - 24:00 What are you playing right now? 24:00 - 26:00 Rovio days 26:00 - 32:00 Premium vs F2P model 32:00 - 38:00 The future of mobile gaming 38:00 - 39:00 Monument Valley 39:00 - 42:00 App store vs Google play store 42:00 - 44:00 Moving to Barcelona 44:00 - 52:00 SocialPoint 52:00 - 55:00 Smaller teams & projects is the way forward? 55:00 - 1:00:00 Launch strategies 1:00:00 - 1:02:00 The product you enjoyed working on the most 1:02:00 - 1:08:00 What’s your leadership style? 1:08:00 - 1:14:00 Building successful teams 1:14:00 - 1:20:00 In-car games, what’s that?  

In this episode I'm speaking to Jamie Smith - Principal Game Designer at People Can Fly studio. We talk about the art and science behind the world of video game design and discuss the delicate balance game designers strike between historical accuracy and immersive gameplay as they transform regular game design into an extraordinary experience. We also talk about the BAFTA academy, the selection process for the games, and the responsibility of being a jury member. Lastly Jamie offers practical advice for young game enthusiasts embarking on their journey in the games industry. Hope you'll enjoy it! 0.00 - 5:00 How you got into Games? 5:00 - 8:00 How you entered the industry?  8:00 - 12:00 What do you look for in people when they apply for roles in your team?  12:00 - 15:00 Importance of historical context when designing a game 15:00 - 19:00 Combat Design 19:00 - 21:00 What games do you play?  21:00 - 25:00 What separates a good game designer from an average one? 25:00 - 27:00 Pick rate 27:00 - 30:00 Improving your knowledge library 30:00 - 34:00 BAFTA Games Awards 34:00 - 36:00 Experience of being a lecturer 36:00 - 41:00 Advice for younger generation 41:00 - 47:00 The current state of the games industry 47:00 - 51:00 Experience that shaped you

In this week's episode of ByteAction Podcast I'm speaking to Vadym Syvolap - Game Director at Plarium. We talk about game design, f2p games, Ukraine, state of the games industry and Vadym's journey in game development.  Learn about Vadim's unique journey into the gaming world, the major trends affecting the industry, how the war in Ukraine affected his life and work, and his future aspirations. We also talk a lot about leadership, the fast-paced world of mobile gaming, the importance of user experience, and the potential losses incurred by poor design. 0.00 - 12:00 Growing up in Ukraine & how you got into Games 12:00 - 17:00 Becoming a professional Game Designer 17:00 - 25:00 Plarium 25:00 - 30:00 How do you know if the game is going to succeed? 30:00 - 34:00 The game changer moment 34:00 - 38:00 Establishing game design department 38:00 - 49:00 Covid & War in Ukraine 49:00 - 55:00 Moving to Barcelona 55:00 - 1:10:00 What are you playing currently? 1:10:00 - 1:14:00 Console vs Mobile 1:14:00 - 1:24:00 Leadership

In this episode of Byte Action Podcast I am joined by María Fernanda Díez Huerta to talk about her journey in video games, her path, career in various production roles, as well as her take on Women in games and everything that's happening in the games industry today. We discuss the indispensable role of women in the gaming industry and the importance of fostering an effective work culture. We touch issues such as visibility, diversity, and the impact of ‘culture fit'. María also shares her inspiring journey - from her early days in the industry to becoming a Head of Production. She sheds light on the gender bias in hiring, and the misconceptions that adversely contribute to the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles. Tune in for a great discussion. 0.00 - 12:00 Intro, Travels, Family & Barcelona 12:00 - 18:00 Becoming a Game Producer 18:00 - 24:00 Tutotoons 24:00 - 33:00 Experience that made you a Producer (Omnidrone) 33:00 - 42:00 How do you create and foster an environment where people can thrive?  42:00 - 44:00 Therapy 44:00 - 46:00 Managing remote teams 46:00 - 50:00 What does culture mean to you?  50:00 - 1:00:00 XR Games, VR & Leeds 1:00:00 - 1:07:00 Women in games 1:07:00 - 1:16:00 What’s going on with the games industry?

In this episode we delve into the exciting world of game production, board games, and game industry market. I'm joined by Daniel Rosga - experienced Game Producer and Board Game Designer who turned his passion for playing board games into actually making one.  Listen to his journey of running a successful Kickstarter campaign as he recounts the challenges encountered and the steps one should take in order to successfully raise money on the platform. We also discuss the role of a Game Producer, financial aspects of game development, the value of junior talent, and the evolving tastes of game audiences. This episode is packed with practical insights, whether you're an aspiring game developer, a board game enthusiast, or just curious about the game creation process.   0:00 - 8:00 Nujum 8:00 - 18:00 Kickstarter 18:00 - 27:00 Story behind Nujum 27:00 - 31:00 Tabletop RPG as a board game 31:00 - 39:00 Becoming a Game Producer 39:00 - 42:00 I Am Fish 42:00 - 47:00 Market saturation 47:00 - 48:00 Hire for attitude not the experience 48:00 - 53:00 Production budgets 53:00 - 1:02:00 What makes a good Producer? 1:02:00 - 1:07:00 How do you resolve conflicts? 1:07:00 - 1:14:00 Crunch in game development 1:14:00 - 1:19:00 Paths to Game Production   Subscribe to Nujum: https://purpleplantgames.com/#nujum Play I Am Fish: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1472560/I_Am_Fish/  

In this episode, I explore the captivating world of video game sound design and music composition with Romain Gauthier. Tune in as Romain shares his journey from childhood passion to becoming the mastermind behind the soundtracks of globally renowned games. Focusing on the creation of emotional experiences within gaming, he talks about the real-life trials and triumphs of scoring for AAA titles, coping with market shifts, and maintaining resilience in a highly competitive environment. This episode is not just about music—it's about the art of blending passion, creativity, and commercial acumen to craft memorable gaming experiences. We also delve into the impacts diverse cultural experiences have on artistic growth, and the importance of doing what you love. An insightful episode for any aspiring musician or game audio designer seeking to understand the delicate balance between unique creativity and reverence for original works within a global franchise.   0:00-2:00 intro 2:00 - 5:00 Where it all began 5:00 - 6:00 Instruments you play 6:00 - 8:00 How you compose music 8:00 - 12:00 Who & what inspires you 12:00 - 19:00 Content we consume 19:00 - 24:00 Becoming a professional 24:00 - 30:00 Gameloft days 30:00 - 35:00 Running your own studio 35:00 - 39:00 Stolen IP 39:00 - 41:00 Freelancing 41:00 - 45:00 Danghost 45:00 - 49:00 Disney 49:00 - 57:00 Travels & Learnings 57:00 - 1:00:00 advice to young people   Play Danghost: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1812170/Danghost/ Check out Romain's work: http://romaingauthier.net/

In this episode I'm joined by Hugo Bastien - experienced Audio Designer and Audio Director. Hugo is currently leading audio team on Crysis 4 project at Crytek. Previously he led audio teams on Talking Tom and Rainbow Six: Siege IPs.    0.00 - 1.00 - Intro 1.00 - 3.00 - Why Barcelona?  3.00 - 7:00 - Outfit7 and Talking Tom 7:00 - 12:00 - Ubisoft & Child of Light 12:00 - 13:00 - Audio Designer role 13:00 - 16:00 - Game engines & middleware 16:00 - 18:00 - D-Box days 18:00 - 22:00 - Early Ubisoft days 22:00 - 28:00 - Giving back & advice to others 28:00 - 30:00 - What are you playing now?  30:00 - 34:00 - Psychoacoustics 34:00 - 38:00 - More about Child of Light 38:00 - 41:00 - Libraries vs original assets 41:00 - 44:00 - Composers & Voice Actors 44:00 - 51:00 - Leadership  51:00 - 53:00 - AI