The Party Is Full: Inside the Games Industry

Gengis
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  • GAMES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Party Is Full is a games industry podcast hosted by Gengis Ale Penno. Through thoughtful conversations with developers creators and industry leaders the show explores how games are made how careers are built and where the future of games and online worlds is heading.

  1. MAY 2

    TPIF Roundtable | Let's Talk Community Management

    In this TPIF roundtable, three experienced leaders break down how the role has evolved beyond “just communication.” Evan Berman (Bungie, Destiny), Linda Carlson (Everquest, Trion Worlds), and Stephen Reid (BioWare, SWTOR, PlayStation, 2K) bring decades of experience running MMO and live service communities at scale.Together, they explore why community management today looks more like governance than messaging, shaping player behaviour, expectations, and the culture of entire game worlds. The conversation covers the shift from forums to Discord and streaming, the rise of creators as “super users,” and the challenge of balancing player sentiment with real data.They also dive into how communities are evolving, from the loss of in-game Game Masters to the rise of player-driven events, mods, and emergent gameplay. It’s a candid look at the realities, pressures, and decisions behind managing modern game communities—and why the role is more critical than ever.https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanberman/https://www.linkedin.com/in/brasse/https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenreid/

    2h 7m

  2. APR 24

    How Sound Design Shapes Player Experience | Leon Beilmann

    Leon Beilmann, also known as LAxemann, is a senior sound designer and composer working with Bohemia Interactive, where he has spent the past several years shaping the audio experience of large-scale military sandbox games like Arma Reforger and the upcoming Arma 4. His work spans the full spectrum of game audio, from field recording and sound design to system implementation and scripting within the game engine. Leon brings a deeply technical and hands-on approach to building immersive soundscapes, owning entire sections of a game’s audio space and ensuring that every layer of sound contributes meaningfully to player experience. Originally coming from a background in music production, Leon’s path into the industry was driven by modding and community-led projects, eventually leading to professional work on titles like Arma 3’s Spearhead 1944 DLC. Alongside his development work, he shares insights into sound design through his YouTube channel, where he breaks down the craft behind game audio. His career reflects a blend of creativity and engineering, with a strong belief in passion, experimentation, and community as key drivers for breaking into and evolving within the games industry. https://www.linkedin.com/in/leon-beilmann-94903a114/

    1h 25m

  3. APR 17

    Why Discovery Is Gaming’s Biggest Problem | Colan Neese

    Colan Neese is a gaming industry insights and strategy leader who has spent his career helping companies understand how games are discovered, played, and sustained. He currently works across Screen Engine and mindGAME Data, where he leads commercial and strategic efforts to turn complex market and audience data into clear, actionable insight for game studios of all sizes. Previously, Colan held senior roles at Twitch, Nielsen, Alida, and Spiketrap, working closely with publishers, platforms, and creators to make sense of player behavior, engagement, and cultural trends shaping the games business.What sets Colan apart is his ability to bridge data, storytelling, and career perspective. His path into games was not linear, and that experience informs how he thinks about education, networking, and adaptability in a rapidly changing industry. In conversations about gaming, Colan brings a big-picture lens, touching on the rise of indie games, the challenges of discovery, the influence of cinema and streaming culture, and how user-generated content and new platforms are reshaping how games are made and found. He is especially passionate about making industry knowledge accessible to the next generation looking to build meaningful careers in games. https://www.linkedin.com/in/colanneesehttps://substack.com/@patchnotesgaminghttps://www.mindgamedata.comhttps://www.screenengineasi.com

    1h 12m

  4. APR 10

    The Hidden Art of Foley Sound Design | Bastian Gerner

    Bastien Gerner is a Foley artist, sound designer, and educator with more than a decade of experience creating immersive audio for films, television, and AAA video games. After working across the film sound industry and spending several years as a Senior Foley Artist at Ubisoft Düsseldorf, Bastien developed a reputation for crafting highly detailed, custom sound effects that bring worlds and characters to life. His work spans everything from recording and performing Foley to editing, mixing, and building sound libraries used in large-scale productions.Today, Bastien runs his own studio and education platform through Foley Stage, The Foley Teacher, and The Foley Guild, where he produces professional Foley for games and films while mentoring the next generation of sound designers. Through teaching, consulting, and online training, he helps audio professionals master Foley techniques, improve their sound design workflows, and build sustainable careers in the audio industry.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction to Foley Artistry03:06 - The Complexity of Sound Design in Games06:05 - The Learning Curve of a Foley Artist09:03 - The Art of Creating Immersive Sounds11:49 - Balancing Realism and Audience Expectations14:50 - Bastien’s Journey into Foley18:53 - The Process of Foley Recording24:45 - Designing Sounds for Interactive Experiences31:46 - Examples of Foley in Film and Games38:17 - The Importance of Clarity in Sound Design43:47 - Technological Advances in Foley Recording47:18 - The Art of Foley: Sound Creation Techniques50:12 - Innovative Sound Design in Gaming53:30 - Microphone Techniques for Foley01:00:07 - The Impact of AI on Foley and Sound Design01:05:05 - Teaching the Craft: The Foley Guild01:18:13 - Reflections on a Creative Journeyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/thefoleyteacher/https://the-foley-guild.circle.so/guild-thefoleyteacher

    1h 31m

  5. APR 3

    Cinematic Experiences in Virtual Reality | Demo Akuro

    Demo Akuro is a game trailer and cinematic director specializing in high-impact, in-engine storytelling for games. With a background in both creative direction and hands-on production, he has built a reputation for blending gameplay and cinematic techniques into cohesive, emotionally engaging trailers. His work spans capture, editing, sound design, and real-time cinematics, often created within engines like Unreal Engine and Unity. Currently working freelance through Grimwolf Studio and previously serving as Creative Director at LIV, he has led projects end-to-end, shaping everything from initial concept through to final delivery while collaborating closely with developers and audio specialists.His creative approach is defined by a strong focus on immersion and authenticity, particularly through the use of real-time, in-engine cinematics. After deliberately investing time into mastering 3D workflows, he began integrating custom animations and modded scenes directly into gameplay environments, pushing beyond traditional trailer formats. This evolution is reflected in projects like his Tactical Assault VR short film work and experimental pieces inspired by titles such as Helldivers and Blade & Sorcery. Through this, Demo explores the intersection of marketing and craft, treating trailers not just as promotional tools, but as cinematic experiences that capture the tone, systems, and emotional core of a game.Chapters:00:18 - Defining Virtual Reality00:35 - VR as a Game Design Medium01:47 - Cinematic Storytelling in VR03:14 - Post-Production in VR06:06 - Balancing Immersion & Motion Sickness09:09 - Designing VR Experiences20:55 - Action & Choreography in VR28:24 - Multiplayer in VR32:10 - VR Hardware Limitations32:26 - VR Esports & Competition38:00 - VR in Filmmaking45:12 - The Future of VR & Technology51:54 - VR in Education1:01:39 - Advice for Aspiring VR Creatorshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/demoakuro/https://demoakuro.com/

    1h 4m

  6. MAR 27

    The Strategy Behind World-First Raids | Ahmpy

    Ahmpy is a World of Warcraft streamer best known for his leadership in the Hardcore WoW scene, where high stakes gameplay and permadeath redefine what it means to succeed in an MMO. As a guild leader and strategist, he has been at the forefront of world first Hardcore raiding, coordinating large groups of players through meticulous planning, deep game knowledge, and disciplined execution. His approach blends analytical thinking, often leveraging tools like spreadsheets and structured preparation, with a strong emphasis on accountability and team cohesion.Beyond the gameplay itself, Ahmpy represents a broader philosophy around MMO design and community. His content explores how challenge, risk, and shared responsibility create more meaningful player experiences, often contrasting Hardcore with modern WoW systems and the evolving vision of Classic+. Through streaming and community engagement, he offers insight not just into how to play at the highest level, but how to build, lead, and sustain a dedicated gaming community.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction & Guest Ahmpy00:56 - Ahmpy’s Role in WoW Hardcore09:34 - Ahmpy’s Gaming Origins10:24 - From EverQuest to WoW15:10 - Private Servers & WoW Evolution17:22 - How Private Servers Shaped Expectations33:42 - Min-Maxing & Player Behaviour38:24 - Balancing Nostalgia vs Modern Design1:32:18 - Rise of Hardcore WoW1:38:44 - Challenges of Hardcore Play2:08:13 - Guild Leadership & Raid Management2:12:28 - Running Successful Raids2:36:13 - The Future of WoW2:38:18 - Classic+ and What Comes Nexthttps://www.youtube.com/@Ahmpytwitch.tv/ahmpy

    2h 40m

  7. MAR 19

    How to Build a Game Studio That Lasts | James Brooksby

    James Brooksby is a veteran game studio founder and CEO with over 25 years of experience building, scaling, and leading development teams across the UK games industry. He played a pivotal role in the early growth of Kuju Entertainment, helping it scale to around 350 staff, before going on to found and lead multiple studios including doublesix, Born Ready Games, and Edge Case Games. Across premium, digital, and free-to-play models, James has overseen the development and publishing of titles such as Strike Suit Zero, Fractured Space, and Classified: France ’44, navigating everything from angel investment and VC funding to acquisition by Wargaming.Today, as CEO of Absolutely Games, James focuses on building sustainable strategy game franchises grounded in long-term thinking, strong studio culture, and disciplined decision-making. Drawing on decades of leadership experience, he champions values-based studio building, community collaboration, and long-tail game development — with a clear emphasis on creating games, and teams, that are built to last.https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-brooksby-87a496/https://www.absolutelygames.net/

    2h 14m

  8. MAR 13

    Turning Game Ideas Into Companies | Joni Lappalainen

    Joni Lappalainen is the CEO and co-founder of Dreamloop Games, widely known as Finland’s console experts. Over the past decade, he has produced more than 30 shipped game projects and helped over 40 studios successfully bring their titles to PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC. As Creative Director and Writing Lead on Inescapable: No Rules, No Rescue, Joni combines hands-on development experience with deep production leadership, guiding teams from concept to certification with a sharp focus on execution, market readiness, and sustainable studio growth.Beyond Dreamloop, Joni plays a central role in shaping Finland’s game ecosystem. As Chairperson of the Finnish Game Developers Association, Vice President of Tampere Game Hub, and Showrunner of the Finnish Game Incubator, he leads strategy, governance, and mentorship efforts that support the next generation of studios. Through the nationally recognized 10-week incubator program, he has helped dozens of teams secure publishing deals, investment, and long-term viability — reinforcing Finland’s reputation as one of the world’s most collaborative and high-performing game development communities.Chapters:00:00 - The Journey of a Builder in the Gaming Industry06:00 - Game Development as a Business12:00 - The Pandemic and the Changing Landscape18:00 - The Future of Gaming and Cross-Media30:00 - The Evolution of Game Marketing38:00 - Data-Driven Game Development48:00 - The Checklist Model for Shipping Games01:00:00 - The Metrics That Define Success01:12:00 - Why Finland’s Gaming Community Thriveshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/joni-lappalainen-dreamloop/https://www.dreamloop.net/

    1h 23m
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The Party Is Full is a games industry podcast hosted by Gengis Ale Penno. Through thoughtful conversations with developers creators and industry leaders the show explores how games are made how careers are built and where the future of games and online worlds is heading.

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