ReadyAimFire

ReadyAimFire

We bring players closer to the games they love by chatting with the people who make them, from actors and developers to everyone in between.

  1. Ryan Laley on Teaching a Sidemen Member, Success on YouTube, and Making the Survival Horror Game Mimic

    09/03/2025

    Ryan Laley on Teaching a Sidemen Member, Success on YouTube, and Making the Survival Horror Game Mimic

    What’s it really like to make games solo? In this episode of the Ready Aim Fire Podcast, Kezia & Tom chat with Ryan Laley, teacher, YouTube content creator and indie dev behind Mimic, a multiplayer survival horror game built for players and streamers.  Ryan reveals how he went from teaching game design (including a member of the Sidemen) to building a thriving YouTube community and now running his one-man studio. We talk about the highs and lows of solo development, coding, art, marketing, late night testing and the surprising ways he keeps the momentum going.  You’ll hear: How a hobby project became a full time careerWhy teaching (and even architecture) shaped his processLetting fans watch and influence development liveBuilding a community on YouTubeBehind the scenes stories from conventions, Sidemen and Mimic “I think the number one thing is having an idea that you are interested in first and foremost. Because games take a long time to make and you want to make something that you are interested in. If you don’t have interest in it, then it won’t matter” — Ryan Laley If you’re curious about indie games, YouTube dev culture, or the future of survival horror, this episode is packed with insights, laughs and inspiration . 🧭 Timestamps:00:00 - Games: Art, Story, & Interaction 06:21 - Balancing Freedom and Responsibility 12:05 - Student Foley Project Success 18:18 - Teaching's Impact: Learning and Explaining 25:25 - Engaging Players in Indie Games 27:23-  Game Launch with Diverse Maps 33:11 - Creating a Tactile Game for Son 39:45 - Blueprints: Intense Puzzle Gaming 43:27 - Role of a Game Publisher 51:05 - Passion Essential in Game Development 55:03 - Wholesome Feedback at Game Exhibitions 59:28 - Leveraging Audience to Fund Indie Game 👤 Guest Info:Ryan Laley - Is a notable figure in the game development community, known for his expertise in Unreal Engine. He shares comprehensive tutorials and educational content on YouTube & Twitch, helping thousands of aspiring developers. Ryan is also the founder of Ryan Laley Games and the creator of Mimic, a multiplayer survival horror game built for both players and streamers. 🌐YouTube  📸 Instagram 🔗 Resources & Mentions:(chronological order of appearance) KSI Sidemen Unreal EngineMimicRyan Laley GamesAmong UsPatreonResident EvilCall of DutyTwitchSteam Decka href="https://www.sony.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer"

    1h 2m
  2. Inel Tomlinson on The First Descendant, Space Marine 2 & Shaping Game Worlds

    08/20/2025

    Inel Tomlinson on The First Descendant, Space Marine 2 & Shaping Game Worlds

    What really happens when the person behind your favourite gaming hero finally steps into the booth knowing their voice could change a world, or let down a legion of players? In this episode of ReadyAimFire, actor and comedian Inel Tomlinson brings us into the volatile, high stakes craft of bringing video game characters to life. From embodying the fearless Quartus in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 to revealing what it’s really like to join an established franchise as the cool-headed Keelan in The First Descendant, Inel pulls back the curtain with warmth and surprising honesty. In this episode you’ll hear: The untold emotional reality of voice acting how actors navigate secrecy, fan expectations, and the fierce vulnerability of creating a character nobody’s met yet.The unsung art of voice direction in games, where scenes are recorded out of order and directors become your “gods” often saving actors’ voices in the process.Find out what it’s like to balance the unpredictable life of a jobbing actor, from surreal filming days with set dogs and Resident Evil mansions, to grappling with the looming threat of AI in creative industries. “It’s a really tough job… you’re having to use your imagination to put yourself there, and it’s up to the voice director to transport you.” — Inel Tomlinson Step into the fire with us this conversation might just change how you think about the stories, voices, and people who shape the games you love. Press play and join the journey. 🧭 Timestamps:00:00 - Voiceover Studio for Game Development 05:54 - Blueprints: A Unique Mystery Experience 08:27 - Unveiling Game Characters Post-Audition 10:04 - Voice Director Guides Actor's Performance 13:21 -  Joining an Established Franchise Challenges 16:52 - Behind-the-Scenes in Gaming 19:41 - Wii Motion Control Memories 23:14 - Diverse Voices Enrich Gaming 26:42 - Balancing Fun and Future Uncertainty 30:23 - Real Life Resident Evil Filming 35:06 - Challenges of Solo Game Development 38:31 - AI Job Market Challenges 39:35 - AI's Impact on Video Game Ethics 44:22 - Monster Hunter's Growing Popularity 48:44 - Celebrating Button Bashing in Gaming 50:09 - Horrible Science New Series Launch 👤 Guest Info:Inel Tomlinson  is known for his voice work in Space Marine 2, The First Descendant, and other major video game titles. He has appeared on the BAFTA award-winning series Horrible Histories, and continues to work across television, radio and stage.  🌐IMDb  📸 Instagram 🔗 Resources & Mentions:(chronological order of appearance) Fractured Space on SteamPinewood Studios Official SiteRed Dwarf Official SiteAldi UKWikipedia: NESWikipedia: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES video game)a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/2621340/Blue_Prince/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    52 min
  3. Becoming Amicia – Charlotte McBurney on A Plague Tale, Final Fantasy and more

    08/06/2025

    Becoming Amicia – Charlotte McBurney on A Plague Tale, Final Fantasy and more

    After a childhood spent backstage at the opera, what’s it like to find yourself voicing one of gaming’s most unforgettable heroines? This episode, ReadyAimFire welcomes Charlotte McBurney, the BAFTA-nominated actor behind Amicia de Rune in A Plague Tale: Innocence and A Plague Tale: Requiem, and young Jill in Final Fantasy XVI. From a whirlwind of a creative upbringing to stepping into roles that challenge heart and soul, Charlotte takes us through her journey so far, with some hilarious anecdotes and revealing insights. You’ll hear:  How Charlotte grew up backstage at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and once ‘kidnapped’ a lollipop lady off the street to perform her own version of The NutcrackerHow the Requiem script was written with Charlotte in mind, after the devs saw what she could do in the first gameWhat Charlotte really thinks about Amicia’s signature slingshot killsWhy she believes actors who truly love games change the medium from within. “I feel very, very deeply connected to Amicia. It's my first character that I ever got to play professionally. We sort of grew up together.” Charlotte McBurney If you’re curious as to how a theatrical family pedigree, late-night dinner debates with Yo-Yo Ma, and sheer creative audacity combine to shape one of gaming’s most unforgettable heroines, this episode is for you. 🧭 Timestamps:00:00:00 – Introduction to acting: enchanted by the opera stage 00:05:05 – Theatre's timeless influence on gaming 00:06:36 – Voice acting: the craft of amplifying expressions 00:10:12 – Charlotte’s first experience: learning on the job 00:15:44 – The emotional toll of voice acting  00:17:09 – A script that brought her to tears: A Plague Tale’s incredible writing  00:21:56 – Surprising similarities: narrative and design in gaming and opera 00:25:44 – Discovering gaming through friendship 00:28:45 – Charlotte’s favourite game scene in A Plague Tale 00:32:30 – Recording Requiem, insights into the process 00:35:20 – Amicia de Rune’s journey ends 00:37:19 – Siblings vs the Inquisition – and rats! 00:39:41 – Why Charlotte loves rats 00:44:28 – The power of character: the bond between Charlotte and Amicia 00:47:29 – Respected in the room: R&D and game development 00:51:27 – The process of performance 00:55:27 – Charlotte’s (surprising!) musical instrument of choice 58:09 – Solo show: The City for Incurable Women   👤 Guest Info:Charlotte McBurney is known for A Plague Tale: Requiem, A Plague Tale: Innocence, Final Fantasy XVI and podcast series Abridgd... Too Far! She is also part of theatre collective fish in a dress, and is currently appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe in The City for Incurable Women at the Pleasance Courtyard.  🌐IMDb  📸 Instagram 🔗 Resources & Mentions:(chronological order of appearance) Chicago Symphony OrchestraLyric Opera of Chicagoa...

    1 hr

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We bring players closer to the games they love by chatting with the people who make them, from actors and developers to everyone in between.