The GamesIndustry.biz Podcast

The full GamesIndustry.biz editorial team unites to discuss the upcoming video games extravaganza that is E3. Working through the major press conferences that always serve as the tentpole for this annual event, we discuss what we hope to see from each platform holder and publisher in terms of both line-up and strategy, as well as speculate on some of the games that might get announced. The discuss...

Hot off the announcement of the Xbox Adaptive Controller, we're joined by SpecialEffect's Dr Mick Donegan, Joe Morgan and Bill Donegan - a trio of experts in the field of helping disabled gamers play the latest video games. This episode begins with an insight into the making of the Adaptive Controller - for which SpecialEffect was one of the consulting charities - and how it marries different form...

This week we're joined by Mark Estdale, founder of leading voice production firm OMUK. Drawing on his experience directing actors for games ranging from best-selling PlayStation blockbuster Horizon: Zero dawn to Telltale's Game of Thrones series and indie hit hue, he discusses the elements that add up to a great performance in video games. We discuss a brief history of voice acting in games, the r...

We're joined by Kish Hirani, industry veteran and chief technology officer at new virtual reality start-up Terra Virtua. Recorded during the official unveiling of the subscription-based VR platform, this episode discusses the remaining barriers between virtual reality and mainstream adoption. Not only does this involve the ongoing search for that elusive 'killer app', but also a firmer understandi...

James, Brendan and Haydn discuss the impact and implications of Mountains' debut title, Florence: a short but definitely sweet love story built around gameplay vignettes. We ponder the lessons to be learned from this acclaimed titles, both in appealing to a broader audience and exploring the wider remit of what video games can be. We also discuss other titles and developers attempting to break awa...

This week we're joined by Kelly Wallick, CEO of Indie Megabooth and chairperson of the Independent Games Festival. Wallick shares her views on the current state of the industry for independent developers, touching on the issues of discoverability, the varying success rate for studios that have previously exhibited at the Megabooth and the hard work that goes into sustaining an indie studio. She al...

This week, we're joined by Paul Barnes of App Annie and Adam Telfer of Chatterbox Games to discuss the future of the free-to-play market on mobile. Recorded at Pocket Gamer Connects, we ponder the most recent trends and shifts in the mobile market, the impact the ongoing loot box debate might have on free-to-play games, and how the monetisation model might in the coming years. Barnes and Telfer al...

The GamesIndustry.biz team reflects on the games we have most enjoyed over the course of the year, ranging from major AAA blockbusters to mobile hidden gems – and, of course, a certain Switch game. Our collective game of the year may not come as much of a surprise, but listen in to find out which other, more unusual titles we've been playing across all platforms. We also discuss which games we're...

We're privileged to be joined by three prominent actors from the world of video games, all of whom appeared together in Assassin's Creed Origins. Our guests this week are Abubakar Salim (who plays main character Bayek), Alix Wilton Regan (Bayek's wife Aya) and Zora Bishop (Cleopatra). The trio share their experiences with performing in video games – which in Alix's case stretches back to 2009's Dr...

We're joined this week by Gary D Nissenbaum, founder of the Nissenbaum Law Group, to talk about licensing out your IP. Gary talks us through the pitfalls to watch out for, such as termination rights, and offers advice on how developers can ensure their property isn't abused by licensees. The discussion covers everything from merchandise to cosplay, and even touches on how best to secure other lice...

This week, we're joined by a quartet of VR pioneers: Dave Ranyard, founder of Dream Reality Interactive and former Sony London developer; Stuart Whyte, director of VR product development at SOny London; Anna Hollinrake, senior artist at Climax Studios; and Simon Barratt, director and founder of Cooperative Innovations. Recorded during this week's Develop:VR conference, this episode discusses the n...

We're joined by Playful CEO Paul Bettner to discuss his studio's forthcoming release – colourful platformer Super Lucky's Tale – and more. During the episode, we talk about the potential for family-friendly titles on the traditionally hardcore Xbox One, how less realistic art styles might benefit from the power of Xbox One X and the leap from VR to standard 3D gaming for Playful's Lucky franchise....

This week, we're joined by games composer Gareth Coker to talk about his work on titles like Ori and the Blind Forest and most recently Ark: Survival Evolved. In our interview, Coker discusses the challenges of composing for a game that's constantly evolving through the process of taking an Early Access game like Ark to launch, as well as the varied community feedback he received throughout the pr...

Recorded during the GamesIndustry.biz Investment Summit at last week's EGX 2017, we're joined by Good Shepherd's business and product development consultant Ben Andac. Our latest discussion explores the realm of indie publishing, touching on how firms like Good Shepherd decide whether or not to invest in a new studio, what developers should expect from their publisher and why even a one-game deal...

This week, we're joined by Luke Savage (senior academic development manager at Sony Interactive Entertainment UK) and Marcia Deakin (games partnership manager at Next Gen Skills Academy). The discussion focuses on the relationship between the games industry and academia – not just universities, but Higher Education and schools as well. With the oft-pondered 'skills gap' making it harder for studio...

Recorded during this year's European Women In Games Conference, James is joined by Dovetail Games' VP of HR and facilities Gemma Johnson-Brown, Space Ape Games' content marketing boss Deborah Mensah-Bonsu and Nyamyam co-founder Jennifer Schneidereit. Together they discuss the various challenges involved in not only recruiting more women into the games industry – thus balancing the current gender s...

After a disappointing showing at Xbox's Cologne showcase, GamesIndustry.biz editor-in-chief Matt Handrahan, UK editor James Batchelor and publisher Chris Dring unite to discuss the struggles facing the platform holder. The delay of Crackdown 3 has unquestionably damaged the launch line-up for the Xbox One X, but it also exposes a more severe problem in the lack of system-selling first-party IP. Si...

Recorded during a recent press trip to Ubisoft's Singapore studio, we're joined by three of the publisher's regional studio heads: Singapore's Olivier De Rotalier, the Philippines' Chip Go and Chengdu's Jean-François Vallee. The trio discuss the various unique aspects of the games industry in Southeast Asia, the differences in consumer tastes, and the wealth of stories and cultural influences avai...

This week, we are joined by Kostya Lobov of legal experts Harbottle & Lewis to discuss IP protection. Before you cancel your download, bear with us - this is an essential guide for indie and new developers on not only how to protect your rights, but also how to avoid infringing on other people's. Within less than 45 minutes, Kostya attempts to summarise the differences between copyright, patents a...

This week, James Batchelor is joined by the games industry's power couple: John and Brenda Romero. In a year where both development veterans are picking up multiple awards - including a BAFTA for Brenda – we discuss whether the duo faces the perception that their careers have peaked, and what they intend to do about it. We also discuss how Donovan Brathwaite-Romero is coping with the success of Gu...

Recorded earlier this year during Nordic Games Conference, this is a one-on-one chat with noted critic and avid proponent for wider representation in video games Anita Sarkeesian. The discussion reflects on her renowned series Tropes vs Women In Video Games, addressing the potential impact it has had, how game characters have changed since it began, where she hopes to see the medium go next, and t...

Editor-in-chief Matthew Handrahan, publisher Chris Dring and UK editor James Batchelor reflect on this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo. We discuss this year's biggest reveals, the major press conferences, the impact of a higher consumer attendance and the best moments of E3 2017. The discussion touches on the commercial potential for some of the biggest surprises from the week, the challenges...

The entire GI team is on board to discuss what we expect (and hope) to see from this year's E3 conference in LA. Our North American duo of James Brightman and Brendan Sinclair kick off the discussion, before our European triumvirate Matt Handrahan, Chris Dring and James Batchelor offer their thoughts. Across the two groups, we break down what we're likely to see from each of the major publisher an...

Senior editor James Batchelor is joined by special guest Inon Zur for an in-depth discussion about video game music. Recorded during Nordic Game Conference, the composer behind various Fallout, Dragon Age, Prince of Persia and Syberia titles discusses why games should never attempt to emulate the Hollywood method of music production and avoid the process of temp-tracking. He also talks about his s...

Recorded at this year's VRX conference in London, James is joined by Curve Digital and Kuju Entertainment's Brynley Gibson and Testronic's Julian Mower. The trio discuss the current state of the virtual reality market, the search for new genres, the opportunities open to developers, and the need for better quality and polish in the VR titles currently in the works. As always, you can find more ind...