57 episodes
Building Better Games Valarin Inc
-
- Leisure
-
-
5.0 • 7 Ratings
-
Building Better Games is about helping leaders create better video games through holistic leadership. If you’re a leader in games and game dev, you are who we make this podcast for.
Making games is hard, no two ways about it. Only 5% of video games that enter production turn a profit. We aim to increase that number. Through our own successes and failures we (and our guests) have learned lessons that will help you create better teams and better games. Leadership matters, so let’s get better at it together. Your team and your players will thank you.
-
E37 How to Stop Cheaters in Video Games with Paul Chamberlain
What defines cheating in games? Is it exploiting existing bugs, using automation or macro tools? What about installing third-party mods that unlock special features in the game?
Building Better Games is joined by game developer and anti-cheat expert, Paul Chamberlain, on this episode to discuss cheating and creating an anti-cheat strategy. Cheating is inevitable, but there ARE ways to mitigate its effects and keep competitive integrity in games.
Paul outlines the importance of understanding your game, measuring vulnerable systems to find patterns, and the role of operations teams in combating scammers and investigating cheaters. He also goes over multiple examples from real games, including League of Legends and Fortnite.
Tune in to hear Paul’s advice for dealing with cheating in game development!
Topics discussed in this episode:
Why people cheat
How to reduce cheating
What defines cheating
Why you need to understand your product
Real examples of cheating solutions
How players view the volume of cheating
Paul’s advice to address cheating
Watch Dan Olsen's video, "Why It's Rude To Suck At Warcraft,” from his YouTube Channel, Folding Ideas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKP1I7IocYU
Paul Chamberlain's Twitter: https://twitter.com/arkem
New Avalon Studios Twitter: https://twitter.com/NewAvalonGames
Omega Strikers from Odyssey Interactive just released, and you can check it out here: https://www.odysseyinteractive.gg/omegastrikers
Sign up for the Building Better Games Newsletter for monthly tips to help you lead game teams! https://buildingbettergames.gg/newsletter/
Check out our website: https://buildingbettergames.gg/
If you’ve enjoyed this episode and wonder if we could help your studio or company out, email us at info@valarinconsulting.com to set up a free 90-minute call!
For more episodes, head to the Building Better Games Podlink https://www.pod.link/1559448378
Connect with us:
https://www.tiktok.com/@building_better_games
https://www.instagram.com/building_better_games/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/valarin-inc/
This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique http://www.podcastboutique.com
Content Producer: Ben Chadfield -
E36 Work Systems: How to Build Process that Leads to Better Results
Things like meetings, reports and team structure are in place to help the game dev process go smoother, and create cohesion among team members. But are these work systems actually having a positive effect? If not, you probably have an alignment issue.
In this episode, we dive into this topic and offer tips to build a system that inspires autonomy, creativity, and effective decision making. You’ll hear about the benefits of defining goals and sharing this vision with your team, understanding how work systems and humans interact in game development, and more.
These changes will help you avoid doing extra work that’s not needed, utilize information in a way that will push you forward toward your goals, and rethink your approach to managing a team.
Listen to this episode to learn WHY and HOW you can invest in alignment every step of the way!
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Our ideal world of game development
- The purpose of process
- Defining alignment and why it’s important
- What makes up a work system in game dev
- The role of humans in the system
- Adapting to the uncertainty and change in game dev
- How to keep teams consistently aligned
- Dealing with dissension
- Facilitating effective decision making
- Riot’s superpower
- The impact of trust in work systems
Sign up for the Building Better Games Newsletter for monthly tips to help you lead game teams! https://buildingbettergames.gg/newsletter/
Check out our website: https://buildingbettergames.gg/
If you’ve enjoyed this episode and wonder if we could help your studio or company out, email us at info@valarinconsulting.com to set up a free 90-minute call!
For more episodes, head to the Building Better Games Podlink https://www.pod.link/1559448378
Connect with us:
https://www.tiktok.com/@building_better_games
https://www.instagram.com/building_better_games/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/valarin-inc/
This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique http://www.podcastboutique.com
Content Producer: Ben Chadfield
-
E35 How to Create a Reliable Game Roadmap: Managing Uncertainty, Risk, and Team Readiness
The truth is, most people underestimate how long a task will take. This is especially true in game dev, where new developments and problems are inevitable even with the guidance of a roadmap.
During this episode, the hosts of Building Better Games dive into the misuse of roadmaps and 5 key areas leaders should focus on more. We discuss prioritization, rate of discovery, managing expectations of key stakeholders, blindspots like team readiness and more.
Our tips will help producers better strategize their planning, create reliable roadmaps, communicate with their teams and keep them engaged in the process.
To learn how to adapt to change and incorporate uncertainty into your roadmap, tune in now!
Topics discussed in this episode:
- The obscurity of roadmaps
- The value of having a roadmap and how it’s misused
- Updating your plan and clueing in the team
- Evaluating team readiness and risks
- Common planning mistakes
- Adapting to the discovery of new work
- Why prioritization is such an important tool
- How to manage expectations of stakeholders
- The role of producers in team engagement
Sign up for the Building Better Games Newsletter for monthly tips to help you lead game teams! https://buildingbettergames.gg/newsletter/
Check out our website: https://buildingbettergames.gg/
If you’ve enjoyed this episode and wonder if we could help your studio or company out, email us at info@valarinconsulting.com to set up a free 90-minute call!
For more episodes, head to the Building Better Games Podlink https://www.pod.link/1559448378
Connect with us:
https://www.tiktok.com/@building_better_games
https://www.instagram.com/building_better_games/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/valarin-inc/
This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique http://www.podcastboutique.com
Content Producer: Ben Chadfield -
E34 Why You Need to Be Aware That Games Are Big Business (and What Can Go Wrong) with Susan Cummings and Ryan Scott
“It's cheap to have opinions. It's hard to have informed opinions. It's really, really hard to be an expert who's researched something.”
This episode of Building Better Games concludes our two-part series on Web3, wrapping up our conversation with game dev leaders Susan Cummings and Ryan Scott. Along with hosts Ben and Aaron, they highlight the importance of exploring the value of Web3 for games, including how leaders can stay on top of tech trends while not losing focus of player value.
We also continue our discussion into why the dialogue surrounding Web3 is so contentious, as well as how the industry should be approaching this new technology.
Tune in for advice on navigating this world as a game dev leader — and possibly get excited about Web3, too!
Topics discussed in this episode:
Why Web3 conversations are so contentious in game dev Why players and game developers are angry How the chaos in Web3 is affecting innovation Susan’s monetization model Advice to leaders navigating the world of Web3 The importance of curiosity and authenticity Discernment when it comes to getting funding How we should approach Web3 as an industry
Connect with Susan Cummings on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanicummings/
Learn more about Petaverse on their website: https://petaverse.com/
Connect with Ryan Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-scott-akamorello/
Sign up for the Building Better Games Newsletter for monthly tips to help you lead game teams! https://buildingbettergames.gg/newsletter/
If you’ve enjoyed this episode and wonder if we could help your studio or company out, email us at info@valarinconsulting.com to set up a free 90-minute call!
For more episodes, head to the Building Better Games Podlink https://www.pod.link/1559448378
Connect with us:
https://www.tiktok.com/@building_better_games
https://www.instagram.com/building_better_games/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/valarin-inc/
This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique http://www.podcastboutique.com
Content Producer: Ben Chadfield -
E33 How to be a Master of Web3 Gaming Debates: Susan Cummings & Ryan Scott Share Key Insights
Web3 is the next generation of the internet, and it’s already having an effect on the gaming industry. There’s a lot of opinions floating around, but one thing the hosts of Building Better Games and today’s guest can agree on is that player value needs to be leading the conversation.
Joining Ben and Aaron on the show today to discuss Web3 is Susan Cummings, CEO of Petaverse, and Ryan Scott, a veteran senior design leader. Susan’s experience working in VR and Web3 gives her firsthand knowledge of how Web3 is affecting game development.
Susan and Ryan both help us address the issues plaguing game development related to Web3, including common misconceptions, opposing business models, and the future of games. We also explore the idea that digital ownership is the path to player value.
If you’re wondering why you should care about Web3 as a game dev leader, listen in to part one of our productive conversation with Susan and Ryan!
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Player value is missing in the Web3 conversation
- Monetization in games
- Lessons to learn from the past
- How digital ownership relates to player value
- A hybrid approach to metadata
- Ryan’s utopian view and the future Metaverse
- Transferring content between games
- Value proposition for companies and players
- The argument against it
Connect with Susan Cummings on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanicummings/
Learn more about Petaverse on their website: https://petaverse.com/
Connect with Ryan Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-scott-akamorello/
Sign up for the Building Better Games Newsletter for monthly tips to help you lead game teams! https://buildingbettergames.gg/newsletter/
If you’ve enjoyed this episode and wonder if we could help your studio or company out, email us at info@valarinconsulting.com to set up a free 90-minute call!
For more episodes, head to the Building Better Games Podlink https://www.pod.link/1559448378
Connect with us:
https://www.tiktok.com/@building_better_games
https://www.instagram.com/building_better_games/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/valarin-inc/
This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique http://www.podcastboutique.com
Content Producer: Ben Chadfield -
E32 How to Convince The Leaders Above You to Support Your Change
What does it mean to really drive change? How do you effectively bring up problems with leadership? How do you say no when others want too much from you? What do you do when no one cares about the issues you bring up?
Get answers to these questions and MORE in today’s episode! In addition, you’ll hear our advice on being an active leader, rather than a passive leader that lets problems go unsolved. Plus, expect to learn how you should handle problems at every level, no matter your title.
Sometimes, values are so misaligned between employee and employer that there’s no chance of having a mutually beneficial work environment. That’s why we’re also sharing strategies you can use to feel heard when it seems like no one is listening, and how to know when it’s time to quit.
Tune in to hear conversation examples on getting support from your leaders, and how to be a supportive leader!
Topics discussed in this episode:
Being a leader at every level of your career How we respond when we notice a problem How we should respond The responsibility of leaders to drive change Setting priorities and getting support How to have conversations with senior leaders Can you make change at a bad company? When you should skip your boss and go to their boss How to know when it’s time to quit
If you’ve enjoyed this episode and wonder if we could help your studio or company out, email us at info@valarinconsulting.com to set up a free 90-minute call!
For more episodes, head to the Building Better Games Podlink https://www.pod.link/1559448378
Connect with us:
https://www.tiktok.com/@building_better_games
https://www.instagram.com/building_better_games/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/valarin-inc/
This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique http://www.podcastboutique.com
Content Producer: Ben Chadfield
Customer Reviews
Great podcast for game devs
If you work in the games industry, or just have an interest in how games are made, this is a podcast for you. The hosts are experienced and knowledgeable and discuss a wide range of interesting topics. Episodes are the perfect length without filler. Good guests, too. Highly recommended, especially if you work in production or similar leadership role.
The Pod That Fills An Appalling Gap In The Game Infustry
There are so few mentors in this industry and so few organizations that place a premium on leadership & mgmt training and coaching and mentorship. Fast food joints have better mgmt training than game dev.
Every leader or budding leader in game dev should put this pod at the top of their follow list. Ben & Aaron are a gift and can help parse the murky & nuanced gray areas in an industry where there is no standardized or homogenous way of making game products. Devs are generally forced to make their own way through the maze of self improvement in the face of the ever present pressure to ship or hit the next milestone. We need more teachers and a cultural focus on education.
This pod helps fill the gap.
inspiring content
Aaron and Ben provide tons of insights and guidance.