Game Dev Local Podcast

In this episode of Growing Pains, GDL host and Games Strategy Consultant Jay Uppal sits down with Timofey Sugaipov, ex-Analytics Engineer at Trailmix Games to talk all things Data. Data has become one of the biggest keywords in the last decade in both the Games and Tech industries, but its role and function in studios is still a bit of a mystery to most. In this episode, we deep dive into the core...

In this episode of the Game Dev Local Podcast, host Oscar continues his ongoing podquest to uncover everything about game development that you never dared to ask. This time, he's joined by Game Dev Local founder Stuart De Ville for a deep dive into platforms, channels, and discovery—three key pillars of getting your game noticed in today’s competitive market. From choosing the right platforms...

Success in game development isn’t just about making a great game—it’s about making the right decisions at every stage. From prototyping and team management to marketing and funding, indie developers need solid strategies to navigate an increasingly competitive industry. In this episode, GDL Director Tom Morgan and Founder Stuart De Ville break down key tactics indie devs can use to build sustainab...

In this episode of Growing Pains, GDL host and Games Strategy Consultant Jay Uppal sits down with Rhys Elliott, Games Journalist and Games Analyst at MIDiA Research, together they discuss some of the biggest gaming trends that are impacting the industry today. Delving into everything from AI to Ads and the ever-elusive Switch 2. This episode covers our top takes for some of what 2025 holds in stak...

In this episode, Chris Gregory and Emily Inkpen from Alternative Stories, the team behind 'The Dex Legacy' join Oscar to explore what lessons we can learn from the writing and sound world-building from Audio Drama. Oscar was previously a guest on Alternative Stories and Fake Realities Podcast which can be found here: Alternative Stories: https://alternativestories.com/ Emily Inkpen: https:...

In this episode, Nina and Jeff chat about the secret sauce in strong teams and the value of passion, perspective, and communication across all forms of design.

In this episode of Growing Pains, GDL host and Games Strategy Consultant Jay Uppal sits down with Teemu Haila, CPO and founder of Metaplay, they discuss Teemu's path in Games from the early days of mobile and live-service games to the behemoth the industry has become today. His journey in games has seen him found and lead several teams across various facets and regions within the industry. So tune...

The GDL podcast is back for 2025. In this special episode, the Founder and CEO of GDL is joined by Jay Uppal (host of the popular GDL Growing Pains series) to talk all things Games and beyond. Warning: Lot of tangents abound. So, if you want to hear more about The State of Play and where we’ve been, where we are going, and how we fit into the world, and hey if that’s not enough, then just tune in...

In this episode, GDL Host Laura Donohue Speaks to Jimmy Zhou, an Insights Manager at Riot Games, about the benefits of being a mentor and mentee, how to get the most out of a mentorship, and how to find your perfect mentor.

Gunnar Holmsteinn from Quest Portal joins Oscar on his Podquest to explore the influence of Dungeons and Dragons and his decision to make the next generation of Virtual Table Tops (VTTs) - we also talk a little about a positive use of AI to support the games master.

In this episode of Growing Pains, GDL host and Games Strategy Consultant Jay Uppal sits down with Kae Cheung, senior designer at Payload Studios, they discuss Kae's path into game design and the broader industry trends that impacted Payload Studios. Once a proud champion of UK's games industry, Payload is only one of a number of studios that has recently been brought to the verge of bankruptcy. Ja...

Amelia Price from Sustainable Film joins Oscar on his Podquest to explore the different challenges and lessons faced by Film and Game Studios when it comes to leaving a reduced impact on the world. What practical ways can we be more sustainable?

Greg Hennessey, Design Director at CCP Games (Eve Online), has had an interesting and winding journey through games which has brought him from his home country of Canada all the way to Iceland. In this episode, we take a peek at his life as a Design Director, cover how leaders can make themselves open to critique and leave the door open for conversation and talk about the his idea of a great party...

In this episode of Growing Pains, GDL host and Games Strategy Consultant Jay Uppal sits down with Anime Producer Will Feng to discuss everything about life in Japan. Will has been in the Animation space for 20+ years and has been right on the frontlines of the recent Anime boom that has inspired some of the recent transmedia strategies in games. Jay and Will dive deep into everything from life in...

Fellow host Laura joins Oscar on his Podquest to explore the nature of professional learning in various forms from the humble webinar to interactive workshops, accelerator programs, mentoring and even peer information sharing. Why does it matter that we keep on learning? And what does someone doing that training need to consider in the ways they deliver that?

In this episode, host Nina Kim sits down with David Evans, the indie developer of Sail Forth. David delves into the creative inspirations behind his project, reflecting on the journey of building a game as a solo dev. With candid stories from his personal experience, David opens up about the challenges and triumphs he faced during development, and offers insights for anyone who is starting on a si...

In this episode of Growing Pains, GDL host and Games Strategy Consultant, Jay Uppal sits down with Bastian Bergmann, the Co-founder of Solsten.io. Solsten is a Consumer Insights research firm that aims to put individual players back at the core of the game development cycle. They use psychologically backed techniques meshed with traditional behavioural research to identify the way and how behind a...

Nina Kim from Rare joins Oscar on his Podquest to discuss the challenges of defining the multifaceted role of game designer, as well as the joys of the ever-evolving nature of design.

In this third episode, of Growing Pains, GDL host and Games Strategy Consultant, Jay Uppal sits down with Kamen Brestnichki, an AI researcher and Co-founder of Martian Lawyers Club, a newly founded Indie Games Studio based out of the UK. They dive into all things AI, discussing the hype behind the AI ecosystem and the broader ramifications of AI technologies in games and beyond. Growing Pains is a...

In this episode, Ioana from Mojiworks joins Oscar on his Podquest to learn everything about game development to explore how to design games meant for sharing, which is also the topic of her new book with CRC press.

This week I am joined by my friend, Nicholas, who is a narrative designer, artist, and founder of Essay Games. His artwork and games have been featured in Kotaku, Rock Paper Shotgun, Game Developer, Critical Distance, Unwinnable, The Washington Post, and The New York Times. His games are interesting, thoughtful, and delve deeply into human stories. While his last two games relied on his skill for...

In this second episode of Growing Pains, GDL host and Games Strategy Consultant, Jay Uppal sits down with Shariar Sharabi the Creative Lead at VR studio Realities.io. They delve into the VR ecosystem, the process of learning and what it means to lead. Sha's personal journey in games and endless drive for growth provide an interesting backdrop for framing this discussion around learning and lea...

In this episode, 'Hot Take', Stuart, Laura, and Oscar explore what the what, why, and wherefore of using Early Access in game development and give our own hot takes on the topic at the end.

In this episode, our host Max Louis of MLC, and freelance artist James Brady sit down to explore his journey into the world of game art. James shares how he first got into freelance work, detailing the challenges and rewards of building a career in this competitive field. We dive deep into his experiences, discussing the highs and lows of freelancing, from the creative freedom it offers to the unp...

In the first episode of a new series titled Growing Pains, GDL host and Games Strategy Consultant, Jay Uppal dives into some of the key trends that are currently driving the Global Games Market alongside Devan Brennan of Newzoo. They discuss all things in Games Business and share tips for doing business in today's global games industry. Growing Pains is a new series focusing on key business tr...