398 episodes

Our podcast breaks the mold of don't ask don't tell about the video game industry. We give everyone the real inside look at what its like to be a professional game developer, Every week we'll interview pro and indie developers, we'll talk jobs, studios, salaries and of course crunch horror stories. Tune in!

Hosted by Brandon Pham

Game Dev Unchained Game Dev Unchained

    • Leisure
    • 4.9 • 60 Ratings

Our podcast breaks the mold of don't ask don't tell about the video game industry. We give everyone the real inside look at what its like to be a professional game developer, Every week we'll interview pro and indie developers, we'll talk jobs, studios, salaries and of course crunch horror stories. Tune in!

Hosted by Brandon Pham

    0344: Harmonizing Innovation: The 'Lullaby of Life' Journey with Francisco Lara Sikorski

    0344: Harmonizing Innovation: The 'Lullaby of Life' Journey with Francisco Lara Sikorski

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    About this episode:
    Read Article: https://wp.me/pcB0ew-1gR


    Francisco discussed the development, funding, and challenges of their game 'Lullaby of Life', including the importance of music and sound in the gaming experience. We also touched on the ongoing layoffs in the game development industry, the concept of early access, and the potential of new technologies such as the Steam Deck. Lastly, we shared advice for aspiring developers and discussed the balancing act between passion and business savvy.




    Save 34% on The Lullaby of Life on Steam (steampowered.com)
    The Lullaby Of Life - 1 Simple Game
    Francisco Lara Sikorski | LinkedIn


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    • 1 hr 1 min
    0343: Character Craft: Didimo's Journey in AI Artistry with Veronica Orvalho

    0343: Character Craft: Didimo's Journey in AI Artistry with Veronica Orvalho

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    About this episode:

    full article:
    Character Craft: Didimo’s Journey in AI Artistry with Veronica Orvalho – Game Dev Unchained

    Join us in this fascinating episode as Veronica shares her journey from 3D artist to tech pioneer with Didimo, the company transforming character art with AI in the gaming industry. Discover how Veronica secured substantial EU funding to push the boundaries of game development and learn about the evolution of character pipelines that are reshaping the industry. Listen to the challenges of scaling creative projects, the importance of team dynamics, and the power of personal relationships in achieving business success. Veronica also dives into future collaborations and strategic partnerships that are set to accelerate Didimo's growth. Tune in to gain unique insights from the intersection of art and innovation in the fast-paced world of game development.



    Veronica Costa Orvalho | LinkedIn
    Didimo - Ultimate 3D Character Creation Technology for Game Developers


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    • 55 min
    0342: Roundtable News | Behind the GDC Booths: Unpacking Industry Challenges

    0342: Roundtable News | Behind the GDC Booths: Unpacking Industry Challenges

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    About this episode:

    Ray and I had a comprehensive discussion about the current state of the industry, expressing concern about the unsustainable practices and lack of unionization. We also reflected on GDC 2024, sharing their experiences and opinions, as well as the impact of Epic layoffs on the show floor. Lastly, we discussed the marketing strategies of various companies, with a particular focus on Unity and its booth, which they found to be unimpressive.


    Connect with us:
    • 🖥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://gamedevunchained.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    ---

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    • 1 hr 25 min
    0341: Making a Game in UEFN with Tav Shande

    0341: Making a Game in UEFN with Tav Shande

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    About this episode:


    In this episode, I discussed Tav Shande's recent work in his game on project UEFN and his long-standing career in game development. They also talked about the gaming industry, criticizing Epic's management and discussing the importance of adaptability and diversifying income streams. The conversation shifted to Fortnite and the potential for financial investment and starting a studio. We also discussed the growing influence of user-generated content, the challenges of managing it, and the business strategies of gaming companies. Towards the end, we debated the future of gaming, the challenges of finding a unique identifier for content, and the direction Activision/Blizzard after its acquisition by Microsoft.



    fortnite.com/@artbytav
    Welcome to TavShande.com – Story-driven Art meets new, emerging tech & design
    Tav shande (@artbytav) / X (twitter.com)


    Content by Tav - UE Marketplace (unrealengine.com)



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    ---

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    • 1 hr 26 min
    0340: JangaFX with Nick Seavert

    0340: JangaFX with Nick Seavert

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    About this episode:


    In this episode, I had a discussison with Nicholas Seavert (CEO of JangaFX) covering a range of topics about the game industry, including visual effects, software tools, corporate vs indie game companies, entrepreneurship, and the impact of smaller companies on the industry. We also touched on the challenges of managing people, the trend towards leaner, more powerful tools, pricing and consumer appreciation, and the importance of team members' dedication and creativity.



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    ---

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    • 1 hr 33 min
    0339:Roundtable News | Rough Start to 2024

    0339:Roundtable News | Rough Start to 2024

    https://magicmind.com/janunchained⁠
    75% off subscription. Get 1 month free with a 3 month subscription with my code GAMEDEVUNCHAINED. ENDS JAN 31st.

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    About this episode:
    In this episode, Brandon and Raymond discuss the recent layoffs in the games industry, speculating on potential causes and implications. They also touch on the challenges faced by individuals in finding jobs in their industry, the increasing use of AI in the gaming industry, the concept of worth in the workplace and capitalism, the impact of AI on their industry, the current state of video game design, the fallout from a hack of Insomniac, the financial performance of games, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the gaming industry, the challenges of managing a team in a remote or hybrid work environment, and the evolving social dynamics within the industry.

    Connect with us:
    • 🖥 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://gamedevunchained.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
    • 🎞️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/GameDevUnch...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
    • ✉️ info@gamedevunchained.com
    • 💰 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/gamedevunchained/su...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    • 1 hr 37 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
60 Ratings

60 Ratings

MistahPretzel ,

Unchained and Off the Chain

Brandon Pham is the Raid Boss of game dev podcasters. He's gonna hit you from about 7 different angles with some powerful beams of truth, and he drops that most coveted of craftables, the Lustrous Pearls of Wisdom. Brandon often keeps things light and relatable, but when he needs to, he can go deep with the one-shot kill for heavier topics. His pure piercing damage is unmatched! Whether it's evergreen topics like indie game marketing and genre breakdowns or the news of the day, Game Dev Unchained has you covered. Highly recommended.

mvelasco07 ,

Highly recommend!

No matter the subject, you’re guaranteed to gain something from every episode - can’t recommend Game Dev Unchained enough. 🙌

Ball earth skeptic ,

Thanks Brandon & Larry!

I’m a prospective indie game developer. I know C# & C++ and I’m working in Unity. I’ve always wanted to make my own games but never found the motivation after working 14+ hour shifts in the transportation industry. Thanks to this podcast, I’ve eliminated all excuses to pursue my ambitions. All the interviews of self taught developers and success stories have inspired me to dedicate myself to what makes me happy, programming and developing an actual game I can share with the world one day! I can’t thank LC & BF enough for this great contribution. The podcast is very entertaining and even more informative. A true wealth of content to the community of unchained development everywhere!

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