Game Dev Unchained

Leisure EN ↓ 425 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

Author

Game Dev Unchained

Episodes

0220: Indie AAA Solo Developer on Bright Memory with Zeng Xiancheng 14.04.2020 1:12:56

Zeng Xiancheng is the solo indie developer for Bright Memory. What makes his feat so fantastic is that the game looks and plays like a AAA game utilizing the latest technology in game tech. We talk about his process and determination to complete this commercial success story. For the video version, please visit https://youtu.be/pwIOcaC0188 https://store.steampowered.com/app/955050/Bright_Memory/ h...

Game School Online | The State of Lighting in VFX and Game Industries with Scott Knapp 07.04.2020 1:07:22

Scott Knapp comes on and talks about the state of lighting for both the VFX and game industries. What it means to be a lighting artist and how it's one of the leading jobs that is hot in demand right now, and how virtual production is playing a major part. https://www.patreon.com/bluchamps https://www.bluchamps.com/merch For the video version, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJTROSzRr...

0219: Roundtable News: Work from Home Orders, Magic Leap Selling, Naughty Dog Crunches, Gamestop 31.03.2020 1:15:00

Everyone in the industry is forced to work from home. Is it a dream come true? Magic Leap is looking to sell but is it coming off as desparate? Naughty Dog is overworking people again...and GameStop self-proclaims as a essential business. Check out this week's Roundtable News Episode. For the video version, please visit https://youtu.be/Gf0q7Z9lSko https://www.patreon.com/bluchamps https://www.blu...

Games ReCAP | Epic Games Publishing Deal 30.03.2020 7:20

Epic Games is getting into the publishing game. Is it as ground breaking as everyone is making it out to be? Watch the video version here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--t6M9uDtYE Every Monday/Wednesday/Friday Brandon talks about the biggest stories in game news that affects game developers.

GduX.me | Ways to Put Off Starting Your Next Project for Your Own Sanity with Nina Freeman 24.03.2020 46:43

A big part of being a game developer is being in-between big projects. Sometimes, the in-between phase isn't just a few days or months, and it can feel like you're losing steam if you're not kicking off the next big game. For the video version, please visit https://youtu.be/F1tmVZJ9Pks www. Perforce.com http://ninasays.so/beachdate/ https://www.twitch.tv/hentaiphd Follow Nina on Twitter: https://t...

0218: Coronavirus Good for the Industry? 17.03.2020 1:02:23

The Coronavirus is sweeping the world and is forcing every company to impose remote working. Are their upsides to this for the game industry? Is this real, or do we not know the long-term implications on this just yet? For the video version, please visit https://youtu.be/bd6geYIQm3M https://www.patreon.com/bluchamps

0217: Roundtable News | Coronavirus Ruins GDC, Stadia and Geforce Now Deflated, Riot Games Valorant 10.03.2020 1:10:03

How bad is the Coronavirus affecting game devs? Does Stadia have a chance to turn things around in 2020? Geforce Now all fluff? What is going on with Riot Games?! Watch this Roundtable News episode to find out! For the video version, please visit https://youtu.be/IY2fn4WxNEw https://www.patreon.com/bluchamps https://www.bluchamps.com/merch

0216: California AB5 Affecting Game Devs with Zac Rich 03.03.2020 1:07:53

California AB5 Bill passed in November 2019 and are already having ramifications in all creative industries, including the game industry. Contractors all over California are finding themselves at a disadvantage and Zac Rich helps paint a clear picture on what this all means for game devs. Check out https://www.outstandly.com/ for all your art services needs. For the video version, please visit htt...

GduX.me | Mix and Jam: Becoming a Youtube Influencer with Andre Cardoso 25.02.2020 1:06:07

Andre Cardoso started with curiosity on how game mechanics of major games were made and is now working at Unity as a Evangelist and has the hottest youtube channel, Mix and Jam. In this fireside chat, he shares his philosophy and his story of how he came to be! For the video version, please visit https://youtu.be/LusYiPV_a0w www. Unity.com https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLyVUwlB_Hahir_VsKkGPIA h...

0215: The $0 Budget Marketing Guide with Victoria Tran 18.02.2020 55:32

There are many ways to approach marketing and Victoria lays down the foundation of being effective without spending a fortune. For the video version, please visit https://youtu.be/LJr6nKQSSjs @TheVTran https://www.patreon.com/bluchamps https://www.bluchamps.com/merch

0214: Roundtable News | Crunch Culture, Google Stadia, Over Saturation of Games, and Virtual Reality 11.02.2020 1:06:13

What is going on with crunch culture in the game industry right now? How is Google Stadia tracting with early adopters? How are indie game developers dealing with so many choices out there? What is the biggest impact for VR? Beat Saber or Half Life: Alyx? Watch this Roundtable News episode to find out! Check out https://www.outstandly.com/ for all your art services needs. For the video version, pl...

GduX.me | IP Licensing for Games with Jay Powell 04.02.2020 1:24:59

You DO need a way to stand out in the market. You DO need a partner to help promote your game. You DON'T need hundreds of thousands of dollars to secure a license or IP. For the video version, please visit https://youtu.be/dG_UrEppBMQ https://www.powellgroupconsulting.com/indie-game-business/ http://perforce.com/ https://unity.com/ https://www.patreon.com/bluchamps

0213: Indie Dev with Family Featuring Richard Khoo 28.01.2020 1:19:36

Richard Khoo joins us to talk about starting a indie dev studio with his family. We talk about the challenges, game design principles, and differences that presents opposed to his AAA 300+ plus team past experiences. Check out https://www.outstandly.com/ for all your art services needs. For the video version, please visit https://youtu.be/oWDh8wxCDOE https://www.khookey.com https://www.magehunter....

GduX.me | Leveraging the Turbulent Roller Coaster of Life with Richard Lico 21.01.2020 1:09:29

This talk will emphasize the importance of life experience and using that information to build gameplay moments which resonate with players. For the video version, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv1cas9UZok https://animationsherpa.thinkific.com/ @Foofinu https://www.patreon.com/bluchamps

0212: Entrepreneurship and Figuring that Out with Ryan Kingslien 14.01.2020 1:02:57

Ryan Kingslien is a successful entrepreneur and is the CEO of the Game Art Institute. In this episode, Ryan discusses his beginnings being a premiere evangelist in the beginning days of Zbrush and finding his passion into teaching game development. Check out https://www.outstandly.com/ for all your art services needs. For the video version, please visit https://youtu.be/5Sr9oYQ1kZg https://www.gam...

0211: The Biggest Impacts of the the Last Decade in Review 07.01.2020 1:01:51

Happy New Year! I will be ushering the first episode of 2020 with last year's review and what to look forward to for this upcoming year. The bulk of the episode also is about analyzing the biggest trends of the past decade and how game developers should look at the data to forge the path ahead! Support us on Patreon and get the exclusive weekly episodes of Life Unchained. A behind the scenes look...

GduX.me | How to Lead and Art Direct Smaller Games with Cecil Kim 31.12.2019 1:01:22

How do you put together an art team to manage resources and make the best out of smaller budget? In this talk, Cecil will compare how working from AAA studios is very different from running your own studio and share the challenges he’s had. In addition, he will show how to keep pushing to continue making games. For the video version, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7wog9SEdVM https:/...

GduX.me | Working in the Margins with Meg Jayanth 24.12.2019 1:02:10

The games industry marginalizes people on multiple axes - but there are many of us here navigating work and life in these non-traditional and often precarious spaces. For the video version, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4C6866pZPU Follow Meg on Twitter: https://twitter.com/betterthemask Support us on Patreon and get the exclusive weekly episodes of Life Unchained. A behind the scen...

GduX.me | Overcoming the Fear of Changing with Lucas Gonzalez 17.12.2019 53:17

Game Development behaves pretty much like life: it is constantly evolving. This is probably one of the things that make this job so exciting, but also what it can make it pretty unsettling. For the video version, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn7e9VPw3Yc Follow Lucas on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KingKuranes Support us on https://bit.ly/2PssmUx and get the exclusive weekly episode...

GduX.me | Build Your Own Reputation and Help Other through Marketing with Derek Lieu 10.12.2019 46:57

This talk will teach you how to make connections, and get clients simply by generously sharing your knowledge with others. By making written or video content based on your wealth of experience, you will position yourself as an expert in your field, and help others solve their problems. . For the video version, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DB-C6BaFO_8 https://www.derek-lieu.com/subs...

GduX.me | Photogrammetry is the Future! So Don't Be Left Behind with Jonathan Holmes 03.12.2019 1:09:16

Jonathan Holmes is the Community Manager & Support Lead @ Quixel, which is now a part of Epic Games. In this fireside chat during GduX.me 2019 Part DeuX, Jonathan speaks on the topic of new evolving technology constantly changes the workflows of game developers, and advises how to thrive in these conditions. For the video version, please visit https://youtu.be/ZYlLJfP3NRs https://www.artstation.co...

0210: Public Relations with Michael Brown 26.11.2019 1:01:08

Michael Brown is the CEO of Vicarious PR (vicariouspr.com) and we discuss the pitfalls and successes of how developers promote their games. For the video version, please visit https://youtu.be/-QjqzZiuOvI www.vicariouspr.com https://twitter.com/VicariousPR Support us on Patreon and get the exclusive weekly episodes of Life Unchained. A behind the scenes look of building a startup within game devel...

0209: Catching up with the Industry with Matthew Burns 19.11.2019 41:34

Matthew Burns is a Writer, Composer, & Game Developer and a podcast-favorite for his introspective thoughts on the game industry. He joins us to discuss the latest developments within the industry. For the video version, please visit https://youtu.be/OX3_6ujXBLM https://www.linkedin.com/in/mburns/ @matthewseiji

GduX.me | Streaming Wars, Loot Boxes, Indie Dev Future 12.11.2019 1:14:19

Games ReCAP (AKA Roundtable Discussion) is when we gather game dev professionals and offer their opinions on the state of the game industry affairs that affects game developers. This segment took place in GduX.me 2019 Part DeuX on Day 2. For the video version, please visit https://youtu.be/c5hj1QF46V8 Support us on Patreon and get Games ReCAP, our spinoff show of Roundtable News, in podcast form t...

GduX.me | No Country for Old Devs with Des Gayle 05.11.2019 48:32

The game industry is a tough place especially with veterans every year having less and less options. Des Gayle talks about his personal experience through the industry and how it has evolved his career and thinking in games. For the video version, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3CjzrbGSaM http://www.alteredgene.co.uk/index.html https://twitter.com/kid_desimo