Building Better Games

Benjamin Carcich
  • 5.0 (11)
  • VIDEO GAMES
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Leadership in game dev is hard. I can't make it easy, but I can make it a heck of a lot better. My name is Benjamin Carcich, and this podcast helps leaders in game dev who feel stuck, ignored, and out of options find their path to success. I've spent the last several decades studying and leading in environments ranging from the U.S. Army through to game development. I want to share what I've learned. Better leadership is a huge opportunity in the games industry. Let's make it better together. Better leaders build better games.

  1. E117: The Real Reason Estimates Fail In Game Dev

    3H AGO

    E117: The Real Reason Estimates Fail In Game Dev

    If you're a leader in game dev who feels stuck, able to spot problems but struggling to make a real difference, there is a path forward that levels up your leadership and accelerates your team, game, and career. Sign up here to learn more: https://forms.gle/nqRTUvgFrtdYuCbr6 Stop treating your game dev estimates like a prophecy; you aren't a prophet. If your estimates keep failing, it's not because your team is bad at math; it's because you're using estimation as a fortune-telling machine instead of a decision-making tool. In this episode, Ben breaks down why "perfect" plans are a trap in the high-uncertainty world of game dev. He introduces a four-level framework—from "Priorities First" to "Relative Sizing"—to help you gain predictability, set external expectations, and find shared understanding across disciplines without killing your team's soul in meetings. What you'll learn in this episode: Why estimation isn't really about being accurate — and why predictability and velocity are only part of the picture. Why estimating work without clear priorities can actually slow teams down and lead to worse decisions How simple throughput tracking can outperform detailed estimates for forecasting — with less friction from the team When fast "blink" estimates are more useful than detailed sizing, and how they help Design, QA, and Engineering spot risk early Why the Fibonacci sequence exists in estimation — and how to avoid wasting time debating tiny differences that don't matter How to recognize when estimation isn't worth the cost, and when time-boxing is the smarter move If you're a producer or lead tired of watching your team polish a "beautiful plan" while the actual game feels like it's missing the mark, this episode is for you. Connect with us: 🔗Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/ 🔗BBG's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-better-games/ 🔗Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingbettergames/# 🔗Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg  🔗YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZpMT-dUwQR-R4Mb4uub6Sw If you want me to help producers or studios build better games through effective systems and leadership, you can reach me at: info@valarinconsulting.com #GameDev #GameProduction #ProjectManagement #BuildingBetterGames #AgileDevelopment

    31 min
  2. E116: The Real Reason Your Game Isn't Fun (It's Not Effort)

    FEB 10

    E116: The Real Reason Your Game Isn't Fun (It's Not Effort)

    If you're a leader in game dev who feels stuck, able to spot problems but struggling to make a real difference, there is a path forward that levels up your leadership and accelerates your team, game, and career. Sign up here to learn more: https://forms.gle/nqRTUvgFrtdYuCbr6 If your team keeps promising that the game will be "fun later," you aren't suffering from a lack of effort—you're suffering from a lack of prioritization. Shipping a mountain of features means nothing if you haven't validated the experience with real players. In this episode, we break down why hiding behind a massive backlog or a 100-page GDD is a "red flag" that allows teams to avoid reality for months, or even years. We explore the transition from "plan-based task work" to true "knowledge work," where the goal isn't just to finish a list, but to discover what actually makes your game great. In this episode, you'll learn: Why waiting for a "magical moment" is the fastest way to ship nothing How the L-V-N Framework (Learning, Value, Neither) helps you cut dead tasks fast Which game loops matter right now—and how to prioritize proof over polish How to balance learning in pre-production with delivering value later on Why a clear game vision is the best defense against team failure If you're a leader in game dev struggling with prioritization and watching your team build features that don't "click," this episode is for you. Connect with us: 🔗Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/ 🔗BBG's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-better-games/ 🔗Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingbettergames/#  🔗Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg 🔗YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZpMT-dUwQR-R4Mb4uub6Sw If you want me to help producers or studios build better games through effective systems and leadership, you can reach me at: info@valarinconsulting.com #GameDev #GameDesign #BuildingBetterGames #IndieDev #ProjectManagement

    30 min
  3. E115: The Culture Mistake Killing Game Development Teams - 4 Leadership Lessons

    FEB 3

    E115: The Culture Mistake Killing Game Development Teams - 4 Leadership Lessons

    If you're a leader in game dev who feels stuck, able to spot problems but struggling to make a real difference, there is a path forward that levels up your leadership and accelerates your team, game, and career. Sign up here to learn more: https://forms.gle/nqRTUvgFrtdYuCbr6 The game industry is undergoing a massive shift. Between the rise of "black hole games" that consume all player attention and the skyrocketing costs of AAA development, the old playbooks for leadership are breaking. In this episode, Ben is joined by Andrew Brownell, a veteran Game Director at Netflix Games. Andrew brings over 20 years of experience from industry titans like Blizzard (Warcraft III) and Riot Games (League of Legends). Together, they unpack why the "unicorn" development model is failing and why the next generation of leaders must master a new set of "soft" skills to build resilient, high-performing teams in a bleak market. What you'll learn in this episode: What Aggressive Gratitude really is and how to use it to build trust How to lead confidently when the direction isn't clear Why conflict can create clarity when handled one-on-one Why character often matters more than skill when hiring If you're a game dev leader trying to level up performance without burning people out, this episode is for you. Learn More About Our Guest: 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahbrownell/ 🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ahbrownell/ 🔗 Twitter: https://x.com/ahbrownell 🔗 ContactOut: https://contactout.com/Andrew-Brownell-3180561 🔗 Netflix LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/netflix/ 🔗 Netflix Games YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NetflixGames Connect with us: 🔗Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/ 🔗BBG's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-better-games/ 🔗Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingbettergames/# 🔗Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg  🔗YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZpMT-dUwQR-R4Mb4uub6Sw If you want me to help producers or studios build better games through effective systems and leadership, you can reach me at: info@valarinconsulting.com #GameDev #Leadership #GameProduction #GameIndustry2026 #BuildingBetterGames

    55 min
  4. E114: What Employees Actually Hear When You Say "Raising Expectations"

    JAN 27

    E114: What Employees Actually Hear When You Say "Raising Expectations"

    If you're a leader in game dev who feels stuck, able to spot problems but struggling to make a real difference, there is a path forward that levels up your leadership and accelerates your team, game, and career. Sign up here to learn more: https://forms.gle/nqRTUvgFrtdYuCbr6 When leaders say they're "raising expectations," teams often hear one thing: work more. That gap between intent and impact is why so many game dev organizations feel terrible to work at—and why "raise the bar" messages often land as threat, not motivation. In this solo episode, Ben unpacks the tragedy of perspective between senior leaders who believe they're inspiring change and developers who feel cynical, burned out, or unheard. He explains why experienced seniors are the first to push back on buzzwords, how leadership unintentionally passes pressure downward, and what it actually takes to challenge a team without breaking trust. In this episode, you'll learn: How to earn the right to challenge your organization What teams really hear when leaders use vague language like "excellence" Why people matter more than tools, systems, or AI when trust is on the line How to sanity-check your messaging If you're a game dev leader trying to level up performance without burning people out, this episode is for you. Connect with us:  🔗Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/  🔗BBG's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-better-games/  🔗Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingbettergames/#  🔗Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg  🔗YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZpMT-dUwQR-R4Mb4uub6Sw If you want me to help producers or studios build better games through effective systems and leadership, you can reach me at: info@valarinconsulting.com #GameDevLeadership #StudioCulture #BuildingBetterGames #GameIndustry #WorkplaceTrust

    24 min
  5. E113: Why More Meetings Won't Fix Your Game Team

    JAN 22

    E113: Why More Meetings Won't Fix Your Game Team

    If you're a leader in game dev who feels stuck, able to spot problems but struggling to make a real difference, there is a path forward that levels up your leadership and accelerates your team, game, and career. Sign up here to learn more: https://forms.gle/nqRTUvgFrtdYuCbr6 Stop adding meetings to fix your game. In this episode, Ben Carcich sits down with Glenn Paul Gray, Production Director at PeopleFun, to dismantle the "more syncs = more alignment" myth. They explore how piling on well-attended meetings often creates overhead rather than clarity and why your work system must adapt to the specific stage of development your team is actually in. Glenn Paul brings a unique "hardware-to-software" perspective to game production. Starting his career in the Silicon Valley semiconductor industry, he transitioned into gaming in 2017, holding pivotal roles at Wargaming, Wooga, and AppLovin before joining PeopleFun. His background in complex systems engineering informs his pragmatic approach to "de-risking" games through aggressive prototyping and early-funnel testing. What You'll Learn in this Episode: How to treat meetings as a "cost to align" What it means to shift from a discipline-centric matrix to a high-agency, general manager-led team structure Why testing for D1 retention can be inefficient for weeding out bad ideas How to build a "startup within a studio" environment Why your work system (from spreadsheets to Jira) must "mode shift" as your project moves from R&D to production Learn more about Glenn & his company: 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennpaulgray/ 🔗 PeopleFun Website: https://www.peoplefun.com/ 🔗 PeopleFun Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peoplefungames/?hl=en Connect with us: 🔗Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/ 🔗BBG's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-better-games/ 🔗Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingbettergames/# 🔗Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg 🔗YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZpMT-dUwQR-R4Mb4uub6Sw If you want me to help producers or studios build better games through effective systems and leadership, you can reach me at: info@valarinconsulting.com #GameDev #MobileGaming #GameProduction #BuildingBetterGames #GameLeadership

    46 min
  6. E112: The Game Producer Trap: Busy, Helpful, Useless

    JAN 14

    E112: The Game Producer Trap: Busy, Helpful, Useless

    If you're a leader in game dev who feels stuck, able to spot problems but struggling to make a real difference, there is a path forward that levels up your leadership and accelerates your team, game, and career. Sign up here to learn more: https://forms.gle/nqRTUvgFrtdYuCbr6 If you disappeared for a week, would your team lose their momentum—or just their note-taker? Most game producers are stuck in a "checklist trap"—spending their days managing tickets, booking meetings, and taking notes without ever understanding the actual goal. In this episode, Ben breaks down why production is fundamentally a leadership role based on influence, not just project management software. If you feel like your team is "drifting" despite hitting every milestone, you might be failing at the one thing that actually matters: moving the organization towards a valuable goal. What You'll Learn: The importance of shifting from a "task-doer" to a big-picture leader who influences the entire studio Why specific tools like Jira and sticky notes aren't the "point" of your job Why shipping a "good enough" game to pass a milestone is a dangerous trap that can break your team How prioritizing towards the goal outperforms doing what worked last time Connect with us: 🔗Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/ 🔗BBG's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-better-games/ 🔗Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingbettergames/# 🔗Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg 🔗YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZpMT-dUwQR-R4Mb4uub6Sw If you want me to help producers or studios build better games through effective systems and leadership, you can reach me at: info@valarinconsulting.com #GameDev #GameProduction #GameLeadership #BuildingBetter Games #ProjectManagement

    17 min
  7. E111: Why Western Game Dev Is Breaking — What Leaders Do Next

    JAN 6

    E111: Why Western Game Dev Is Breaking — What Leaders Do Next

    If you're a leader in game dev who feels stuck, there is a path forward that levels up your leadership and accelerates your team, game, and career. Sign up here to learn more: https://forms.gle/nqRTUvgFrtdYuCbr6 30,000 Layoffs. Solid prototypes can't get funding. Western Game Dev Is Breaking. In this episode, Rich Vogel explains why Western game development isn't in a downturn, it's in a reset. Fresh off fundraising conversations in 2025-2026, Rich breaks down why funding for large-budget games has nearly disappeared, why publishers and VCs are pulling back from North American teams, and how leadership decisions, not creativity, are sinking studios. Rich is a 30-year industry veteran who's founded and led four major studios, including BioWare Austin and Sony Online Entertainment Austin, which have generated over $3B in revenue. As producer on Ultima Online, Star Wars Galaxies, and Star Wars: The Old Republic, he's seen every cycle, and knows exactly why this one is different. We cover: Why investors see Western studios as high-risk How salary inflation and entitlement narratives are reshaping where games get made Why unproven big bets are no longer survivable How small, shippable wins are the new path to scale This episode is a wake-up call for studio heads, producers, and game leaders still playing by outdated rules. Learn more about our guest: 🔗LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-vogel-093425/ 🔗T-Minus Zero Entertainment LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/t-minus-zero-entertainment/ 🔗Website: https://www.t-minuszero-relaunch.com/ If you want me to help producers or studios build better games through effective systems and leadership, you can reach me at: info@valarinconsulting.com Connect with us: 🔗Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/ 🔗BBG's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-better-games/ 🔗Newsletter Signup: The Building Better Games Newsletter 🔗YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZpMT-dUwQR-R4Mb4uub6Sw 🔗Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg #GameDev #GameIndustry #Leadership #VideoGameDevelopment #BuildingBetterGames

    1h 9m
  8. E110: The Truth About Game Studio Politics (And How to Win Without Becoming a Monster)

    12/16/2025

    E110: The Truth About Game Studio Politics (And How to Win Without Becoming a Monster)

    If you're a leader in game dev who feels stuck, there is a path forward that levels up your leadership and accelerates your team, game, and career. Sign up here to learn more: https://forms.gle/nqRTUvgFrtdYuCbr6 You're doing the work, fighting for your team, but your ideas stall in meetings and people with less context somehow have more influence than you. It can feel like the only way to win is to become the political operator you hate. In this episode, Ben breaks down the simple, three-part system for influence—the Influence Trifecta—so you can drive change for your team and career without selling your soul. Organizational influence is not just about who's right or what's logical; it's about understanding the social fabric of your organization. What You'll Learn in This Episode: What influence without authority looks like Why trust is so important to your long-term success Why being "right but not helpful" stalls careers What to watch for so you don't become the "political animal" You're always playing politics. If you choose not to play, you cap your influence and allow others to set the direction. Learn how to deliberately build influence for the benefit of your game, your team, and your own advancement in an ethical way. Connect with us: 🔗Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/ 🔗BBG's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-better-games/ 🔗Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingbettergames/# 🔗Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg 🔗YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZpMT-dUwQR-R4Mb4uub6Sw #GameDevLeadership #GameStudioPolitics #InfluenceTrifecta #GameDevCareers #BuildingBetterGames

    45 min
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5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Leadership in game dev is hard. I can't make it easy, but I can make it a heck of a lot better. My name is Benjamin Carcich, and this podcast helps leaders in game dev who feel stuck, ignored, and out of options find their path to success. I've spent the last several decades studying and leading in environments ranging from the U.S. Army through to game development. I want to share what I've learned. Better leadership is a huge opportunity in the games industry. Let's make it better together. Better leaders build better games.

Information

  • Creator
    Benjamin Carcich
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    137
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    Building Better Games ©2024
  • Show Website
    Building Better Games

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