Game Changers: Voices of the Games Industry Lars Janssen

Summary



In this extended episode, Lars Janssen interviews Bill Roper, a veteran in the games industry with 30 years of experience. Bill shares his journey in the industry, from working at Blizzard Entertainment to founding his own studio and working at companies like Cryptic and Disney. He discusses his passion for games and the characters he has worked with, highlighting the character of Sarah Kerrigan from Starcraft. Bill also talks about the projects he would have loved to work on and the eureka moments he has experienced in game development. Finally, he addresses the challenges in the games industry, particularly the issue of layoffs and the need for better treatment of employees. The conversation with Bill Roper covers topics such as the timing of hard decisions, the importance of transparency and long-term relationships, personal sacrifices for the company, the significance of transparency in small companies, dreams and ambitions for Lunacy Games, remote work and radical transparency, and building a studio with solid foundations.



Takeaways




Passion for games is a driving force in the industry, and it is important to maintain that passion throughout one's career.
Characters in games can have a profound impact on players and creators alike, and they can provide valuable insights into the minds of their creators.
The games industry is constantly evolving, and there are always new challenges and opportunities to explore.
The industry needs to address the issue of layoffs and improve the treatment of employees, ensuring that they are valued and supported. Timing is crucial when making hard decisions that affect employees.
Transparency and honesty with the team are essential for building long-term relationships.
Personal sacrifices may be necessary to keep a company afloat during challenging times.
Transparency is especially important in small companies, where everyone's contributions and ideas are valuable.
Lunacy Games aims to create cooperative and collaborative games that reward creativity and encourage meaningful player experiences.
Remote work can enhance work-life balance and allow for a more diverse and inclusive team.
Building a studio with solid foundations involves combining established game genres with unique twists and innovations.



Chapters



00:00 Introduction and Background

03:00 Passion for the Games Industry

05:03 Favorite Characters

08:33 Projects Bill Roper Would Have Loved to Work On

09:29 Eureka Moments in Game Development

19:41 Challenges in the Games Industry

43:41 Timing of Hard Decisions

45:07 Transparency and Long-Term Relationships

48:23 Personal Sacrifices for the Company

50:22 Importance of Transparency in Small Companies

52:25 Dreams and Ambitions for Lunacy Games

54:03 Remote Work and Radical Transparency

55:18 Building a Studio with Solid Foundations

Summary



In this episode of the Game Changers podcast, Lars Janssen interviews Henrik Jonsson, a game industry veteran with over 25 years of experience. Henrik shares his journey from programming games, working for a TV show to working at Ion Storm and eventually starting his own company, Radgivery. They discuss the challenges of working with independent studios, memorable characters in video games, and the games Henrik would have loved to work on. Henrik also shares his eureka moments and changing perspectives throughout his career. They touch on the current challenges in the industry, including layoffs and the need for diversity and inclusion. Henrik concludes by sharing his dreams and aspirations for the future.



Takeaways




Henrik Jonsson has over 25 years of experience in the game industry, working on various games and projects.
He has worked with independent studios, both as an investor and as a technical advisor.
Henrik shares his thoughts on memorable characters in video games and the games he would have loved to work on, including God of War and Valheim.
He had eureka moments that changed his perspective, realizing the importance of communication and the joy of helping others make their games.
Henrik acknowledges the challenges in the industry, such as layoffs and the need for diversity and inclusion, and expresses his desire to contribute to positive change.
His dream role is running his own company, Radgivery, and supporting game developers and industry stakeholders.



Chapters



00:00 Introduction and Background

02:21 Working with Independent Studios

04:21 Discussion on Games and Characters

07:06 Games Henrik Would Have Loved to Work On

10:26 Highlight of Henrik's Career

17:40 Eureka Moments and Changing Perspectives

22:46 Challenges in the Industry

27:25 Dreams and Aspirations

Summary



In this episode of the Game Changers Podcast, Lars Janssen interviews Egil Strunke, a veteran of the games industry. Egil shares his journey from working at Electronic Arts and Panvision to joining Embracer Group and starting his own consulting company. He also discusses his new role at Starbreeze Studios and his dreams of creating a story-driven adventure game. The conversation touches on topics such as the impact of AI on the games industry, the challenges of standing out in a crowded market, and the importance of listening to the audience. Overall, Egil's insights provide valuable perspectives on the evolving landscape of the games industry.



Takeaways




The games industry has seen significant growth and change over the years, with new opportunities and challenges emerging.
AI has the potential to revolutionize game development, making it faster and more efficient, but it also requires careful consideration and planning.
Standing out in a crowded market is a challenge, and studios need to listen to their audience and adapt to their feedback to create successful games.
Building a strong community and engaging with players early on in the development process is crucial for success.
Egil's aspirations include running his own studio and creating a story-driven adventure game that captivates players.



Chapters



00:00 Introduction and Background

03:00 Working at Electronic Arts and Panvision

08:06 Joining Embracer Group and Starting a Consulting Company

09:20 Joining Starbreeze Studios

10:11 Favorite Gaming Characters

11:21 Games Egil Would Have Loved to Work On

13:14 Impact of AI on the Games Industry

19:35 Business Challenges in the Games Industry

22:17 The Future of AI in Gaming

27:52 Challenges as a Game Enabler

32:46 Dreams and Aspirations for the Future

34:36 Closing Remarks

Summary

In this episode, Lars Janssen interviews Rika Lim, a lead level designer in the gaming industry. Rika shares her experiences working on various projects, including Payday 3 and Project Baxter. They discuss Rika's love for characters in video games and her choice of Igor from the Persona series as a character she would like to talk to. Rika also talks about her passion for point-and-click adventure games and her interest in working on games like Gabriel Knight. They delve into Rika's transition to a leadership role and the challenges she faced in delegating tasks. They also discuss the importance of structure and culture in a company and the challenges of collaboration in the industry. Rika shares her aspirations for her next project and the importance of challenging oneself and creating a supportive environment in game development.



Takeaways




Rika Lim has worked on various projects in the gaming industry, including Payday 3 and Project Baxter.
She is passionate about characters in video games and would love to talk to Igor from the Persona series.
Rika has a love for point-and-click adventure games, particularly Gabriel Knight.
She faced challenges in transitioning to a leadership role, including delegating tasks and finding a balance between hands-on work and management.
Rika emphasizes the importance of structure and culture in a company and the challenges of collaboration in the industry.
Her dream project would involve working with a team that is open to trying new things and challenging themselves.

Chapters



00:00 Introduction

00:44 Rika's Career and Recent Projects

02:08 Discussion on Singapore and Gamescom Asia

02:29 The Love for Characters in Video Games

03:41 Talking to Igor from the Persona Series

05:31 Games Rika Would Have Loved to Work On

08:45 Working on Gabriel Knight and Point-and-Click Adventure Games

09:49 The Difference in Level Design for Point-and-Click Adventure Games

11:36 Games Rika Would Erase from Her Memory to Play Again

13:42 Crucible Moment: Transitioning to a Leadership Role

17:22 Challenges of Being a Leader and Delegating Tasks

20:52 Importance of Structure and Culture in a Company

21:42 Challenges in the Industry and the Importance of Collaboration

23:06 The Impact of COVID-19 on Communication and Collaboration

26:10 Dream Project and the Importance of Challenging Oneself

29:13 Rika's Next Opportunity and Focus on Level Design

33:06 The Importance of Structure and Environment in Game Development

34:18 Closing Remarks

Summary



In this episode, Lars Janssen interviews Samuel Hollywood-Summers, an audio designer in the games industry. Samuel shares his background and journey into game development, including his eureka moment that led him to pursue a career in audio design. He emphasizes the importance of audio in games and the need for better audio literacy among development teams. Samuel also discusses his dream game to work on and his aspirations to become an audio director. The conversation highlights the challenges in the industry, such as layoffs, and the importance of integrating audio throughout the game development process.

Takeaways




Audio design is a crucial aspect of game development and can enhance the player experience in various ways.
Game developers should prioritize audio from the early stages of development and involve audio designers in the entire pipeline.
The games industry faces challenges such as layoffs, and there is a need for better understanding and support for audio departments.
Samuel Hollywood-Summers aspires to become an audio director and work on larger projects with collaborative teams.



Chapters



00:00 Introduction and Background

01:03 Favorite Video Game Character

03:31 Eureka Moment in Game Development

07:39 Journey into Audio Design

13:45 The Power of Audio in Games

18:22 Dream Game to Work On

23:10 Challenges in the Games Industry

26:11 Importance of Audio in Game Development

26:54 Future Aspirations

29:05 Closing Remarks

Summary



In this episode, Lars Janssen interviews Linn-Marie Edlund, a game industry professional from Sweden. They discuss topics such as diversity and inclusion in the games industry, Linn-Marie's eureka moment in her career, challenges in the industry, games she would have loved to work on, sustainability in the games industry, and the future aspirations of Linn-Marie.

Takeaways




Diversity and inclusion are important topics in the games industry, and efforts should be made to create a friendly and creative environment.
Long-term thinking and sustainability are crucial for the industry's success.
The industry needs to address challenges and make improvements in areas such as representation and working conditions.
Personal growth and understanding one's strengths are important for career development in the industry.
Linn-Marie aspires to be a door opener and work on creative projects in the future.



Chapters



00:00 Introduction

01:14 Diversity and Inclusion in the Games Industry

03:01 Eureka Moment in Career

05:14 Understanding Strengths and Future Goals

08:18 Challenges in the Games Industry

11:13 Games Linn-Marie Would Have Loved to Work On

15:11 Sustainability in the Games Industry

18:11 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Industry

21:48 Future Aspirations

24:00 Closing Remarks