#58 - Benjamin Carcich: Live service done right

In this episode, of the Learn from Leaders podcast, Patric Palm & Benjamin Carcich delve into the challenges and evolution of the gaming industry, with a focus on the shift towards live service games. The discussion covers how player expectations are driving developers to adopt continuous updates, which has transformed both game development and business strategies.

(00:00) | Intro

(00:44) | Live service, the future of the games industry?

The conversation kicks off with the shift towards live service games. Benjamin explains why this model is becoming the norm, driven by player expectations and technological advancements that allow for continuous updates and bug fixes post-launch.

(15:55) | The business promise of live service

Patric & Benjamin dive into the business appeal of live service games. The potential for long-term player engagement and recurring revenue makes live service a lucrative model for game developers, though it comes with unique challenges.

(18:55) | Successful live games from humble beginnings

This chapter highlights how many of today’s most successful live service games, like League of Legends and Counter-Strike, started small. It shows how developers can grow games gradually, sometimes surpassing expectations to become massive industry staples.

(22:51) | Iterating under the perfect storm of live service Benjamin discusses the complex reality of running a live service game, where constant iteration and innovation are necessary, all while balancing player satisfaction and avoiding disruptions to the live environment.

(31:37) | Outro

Guest: Benjamin Carcich has spent the last few years helping leaders at studios of all sizes, and recently led the creation of a training for game producers called "Succeeding in Game Production: What You Aren't Taught". Before that, he spent almost a decade at Riot Games shipping champions, tools, maps, and various platform and backend systems, and ended up leading discipline efforts around hiring and the role of production while teaching agile fundamentals around the world. His first job after college was as a Combat Arms officer in the U.S. Army.

Host: Patric Palm – Favro ceo and founder. Serial entrepreneur and tech investor. Mostly games, film, SaaS, AI, deep tech, and functional foods. Passionate about hyper-performing teams and business agility.

Learn from Leaders podcast 🎙️ series focus on Tech & Game industry leaders. Challenges from real-world experiences and how some of the best teams have overcome them.

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