Behind the Game

Join Sandy Smith, Luke, and special guest Rich Vreeland (a.k.a. Disasterpeace) for a wide-ranging discussion on the creative process behind composing video game soundtracks. Disasterpeace's discography includes iconic soundtracks for games like Fez, Hyper Light Drifter, Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake, and many more. The discussion covers the process of working with developers, the craft of crea...

Join Sandy Smith, Ismael Jorge, and special guest Ben Kvalo, CEO of Midwest Games. It’s a deep dive into big industry trends, what publishers look for in a potential game, risk, and the dynamics that make a game work, or not. This episode also covers Ben’s journey in the gaming industry, and the story behind Midwest Games, which is focused on creating opportunities for the abundant talent across t...

Join Sandy Smith and special guest Jules Hirtzig, from Dotemu, for a deep dive into IP-based games. This episode covers models for IP collaborations, game localization, the process of choosing an IP, and platform considerations (whether to release in PC, mobile, console, etc.), as well as the nuances of collaborating with an IP holder. Jules also shares some personal insights about getting into th...

Join Ismael Jorge, Sandy Smith, and special guest Jaume Molins for an in-depth discussion on the intricacies of multiplayer game development, tackling the industry’s biggest challenges, and exploring current trends. Jaume shares his extensive experience in the gaming industry, offering valuable insights on hosting multiplayer games, managing server resources, and addressing player toxicity. Tune i...

Join Sandy Smith and special guest Brian Woodruff for a discussion about building narratives and quests, player psychology, and the big-picture principles that make games succeed. This episode covers topics from the monomyth to behavior-driven marketing, and what ties them together.  Also, Brian shares some of his personal experiences creating narratives and building game worlds across his years o...

Join Sandy Smith, Ismael Jorge, and special guest Jamie Smith for a great conversation about game mechanics across platforms, working within constraints, developing a new IP, and building a career in the gaming industry. Jamie shares his experience working on iconic AAA titles like Call of Duty: Vanguard and Hood: Outlaws & Legends, and shares insights for young developers. Follow Jamie on Lin...

Join Sandy Smith, Ismael Jorge, and special guest Gus Viegas for a fascinating conversation about all things game marketing. This episode covers industry trends, finding your Ikigai, and a concept coined by Gus called “Fighting the Clone Army,” which brings up key considerations about chasing trends, and originality in the industry. Also, Gus shares some of his personal experiences doing marketing...

In this episode of the podcast, join Sandy Smith at a special book launch event during GDC. The book is Atomic Scaling, by Ludovic Bodin. Sandy and Ludovic discuss how companies like Supercell and Discord managed to create huge things with small teams. As an entrepreneur and investor, Ludovic brings an experienced perspective that developers at every stage can learn from. Check out Ludovic’s Book:...

Join Sandy Smith in an insight-filled discussion with veteran game designer Tony Evans, touching on the future of AI in gaming, the dynamics of successful Kickstarter campaigns, the nuances of building successful children's games, and the influence of art styles. This episode is packed with useful ideas for navigating app store regulations, engaging young audiences, and the strategic use of cr...

Dive into the ASO weeds with Matej Jurcak, ASO Lead at Pixel Federation, whose expertise spans creative assets, monetization, social media, and community management. In this insightful episode, co-hosts Sandy Smith and Ismael Jorge engage Matej in the nuances of ASO and creative assets, aiming to uncover the strategies that make apps stand out in crowded app stores. Matej shares advice on improvin...

Explore innovative influencer marketing strategies with Callan Saurma-Jeltsch, alongside co-hosts Sandy Smith and Ismael Jorge. Callan advocates a community-driven influencer marketing model that moves away from cost-prohibitive inauthentic engagement to a strategy based on authenticity, detailed social media research, and building a sustainable influencer ecosystem around your game. With insights...

In this episode of the podcast, join co-hosts Sandy and Ismael, with guest Johan Eile, a seasoned investor and co-founder of Smulton Ventures, for an insights-filled discussion on navigating the gaming industry's investment landscape. With his extensive experience, including roles at Kabam and on the board of Trophy Games, Johan brings valuable insights into what investors look for in games, e...