YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY: Recent Episodes
Dorian Chou
This is YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY, an interview podcast with people from the games industry. Rotating guests, in-depth conversations and topical dialogue action guaranteed.
Time to sheath your lightsaber and listen to this podcast folks! This episode I am joined by Justin Perez, a gameplay designer who is best known for his work on games with incredible combat such as Kingdoms of Amalur Reckoning and the Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order series. We discussed the current state of the games industry, him appearing in the book Press Reset and the importance of working from home. Furthermore we talk about all things Star Wars, what he pays attention to when it comes to combat, the industry being more transparent about the game development process and we dive into the menace that is Oggdo Bogdo.
Time – Topic Discussed:
0:00 - Intro
02:30 - Guest topic: What did I learn doing this podcast?
07:50 - Press Reset & The closure of 38 Studios
17:10 - You need only a few people to start a game but a lot to finish a game
21:00 - Seeing the release of Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning
24:25 - What is going on in the games industry?
37:20 - How games look like during development
45:00 - Star Wars guidelines
55:00 - Creating a sequel without hitting the reset button
59:40 - Does working on Star Wars games take something away from the excitement?
01:07:30 - Justin’s top 3 Star Wars content
01:09:18 - What makes great combat?
01:14:20 - Remote work
01:22:20 - Things that changed when becoming indie
01:23:50 - Outro
Things mentioned on the show:
Immortals of Aveum
Grounded II: Making The Last of Us Part II
Double Fine Documentary
The Making of STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order - Documentary
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Social Media:
Justin Perez
Justin Perez on Twitter (@thejustinperez)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: @thomas.martin.martin)
A brand new episode for all you great murder mystery loving detectives out there is here!
This time I am joined by Andrejs Kļaviņš from Color Gray Games. Andrejs and his brother are the creators of the Case of the Golden Idol, one of the best indie games of recent memory. We discuss making the game, how to find the right difficulty for a puzzle game and how becoming a father impacts your sleep schedule.
Furthermore, we go into detail on designing a word based game for an international audience, cut content of the game and if AI can help to create interesting puzzles.
Time – Topic Discussed:
0:00 - Intro
02:20 - Guest topic: Mobile games
04:50 - What is The Case of the Golden Idol?
06:15 - The starting screen
09:00 - Growing up with point and click adventure games
10:44 - Ramping difficulty
18:10 - Localization
20:50 - Testing and adding smaller features to help with difficulty
24:15 - When is something done?
26:30 - Cut content
29:15 - The prototype of The Case of the Golden Idol
31:15 - The post mortem of the game
35:25 - Using AI for the story of the next game
38:00 - Difficult aspects of game development that gamers underestimate
40:10 - Known developers that reached out to Andrej
43:15 - Latvian culture in the game
46:30 - The importance of disagreement
49:52 - Outside aspects of a game that impacts its success
54:20 - Balancing personal creative satisfaction and creating a commercially viable product
57:30 Getting a dog and a daughter
59:35 - Outro
Things mentioned on the show:
Slice & Dice
Social Media:
Color Gray Games
Andrejs Kļaviņš on Twitter (@AndrejsKlavins)
Color Gray Games on Twitter (@ColorGray7)
The Case of the Golden Idol Homepage
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: @thomas.martin.martin)
Let’s get the dust off and finish this year strong! This episode I am joined by Stephen Gilarde, who is a DJ best known for being featured on the Hotline Miami 1 & 2 soundtrack. We discuss why he came back to the M|O|O|N moniker, his side project Was Fret, how Hotline Miami changed his life and his opinions on landlords.
Furthermore, we go into detail on the issue with Spotify, Stephen talks about the only good website on the internet, dealing with social media and we get never before shared insights on some of his work.
Time – Topic Discussed:
0:00 - Intro
03:26 - Guest topic: Baseball
15:24 - The problem with housing
24:48 - The origin behind the name M|O|O|N
29:33 - The beginnings of Hotline Miami
39:32 - After Hotline Miami
43:55 - Being called a video game musician
49:30 - M|O|O|N vs. Was Fret
58:50 - When is something done?
01:02:45 - Spotify and Bandcamp
01:09:30 - Social Media
01:15:50 - Does pineapple belong on pizza?
01:19:50 - Creating music for Trackmania
01:21:55 - How much is Spotify paying its artists?
01:23:03 - Comments on his past works
01:19:29 - Outro
Things mentioned on the show:
Hotline Miami Trailer
M|O|O|N EP
Particles EP
Artist: SCATTLE
Artist: Carpenter Brut
Artist: Pertubator
Gamergate
M|O|O|N - Mains hum
Social Media:
M|O|O|N
M|O|O|N on Bandcamp
Was Fret on Bandcamp
Stephen Gilarde on Instagram (@m.o.o.n.m.u.s.i.c)
Stephen Gilarde on Twitter (@m_o_o_n_music)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Facebook (youmeindustry)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: @thomas.martin.martin)
Let me pitch you an idea. How about you check out this new podcast episode?! This episode I am joined by Masao Kobayashi, who is the co-founder and the studio manager of Cut to Bits. We discuss growing up in Japan, pitching games to publishers and cultural differences.
Furthermore, we go into detail on community management, learning from mistakes and Masao shares his three essential manga recommendations.
Time – Topic Discussed:
0:00 - Intro
03:50 - The What else do you do?-podcast
09:30 - Doing the podcast for himself
12:23 - Splitting the podcast
16:50 - Growing up in Japan
22:15 - Cultural differences
29:20 - Pitching a video game
35:50 - Community management
40:03 - Food he misses from Japan
41:55 - The indie scene of Japan
48:30 - Manga recommendations
51:40 - Outro
Things mentioned on the show:
What else do you do? - podcast
How Asian do you feel - podcast
The Farewell by Lulu Wang
Asobu Japan
Manga recommendations:
Say Hello To Black Jack
Ushio & Tora
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
What else do you do? - Podcast Episode 45. Wait, you wanted to be a nun? (Rebekah Valentine Interview)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY - Rebekah Valentine Interview
Social Media:
Cut To Bits
Cut To Bits on Twitter (@CutToBits)
Homepage of Cut To Bits
Masao Kobayashi
Masao Kobayashi on Twitter (@MegaMasao)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Facebook (youmeindustry)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: @thomas.martin.martin)
Haha! (imagine this being said in a Micky Mouse voice) This episode I am joined by AJ, who is the founder and CEO of Dlala Studios. We discuss their upcoming title called Disney Illusion Island and what it is like to run a 35 people studio. Furthermore, we get into the design decisions behind making great coop games, what keeps AJ up at night and with AJ being a Disney expert I had to ask about Goofy wearing pants while Pluto isn't.
Time – Topic Discussed:
0:00 - Intro
03:08 - Guest topic: Being blessed by a pug
06:10 - Guest topic: Bringing the band back together
08:30 - Revealing Disney Illusion Island on D23
12:22 - Interacting with Disney on the game
20:25 - Hard lessons learned during Battletoads
24:31 - Learning how to run a studio
29:30 - Dealing with responsibility
32:00 - Winning UK’s Best Boss and Best Places to Work in 2022 from gamesindustry.biz
36:08 - How problems can arise in running a studio
44:50 - Feeding the beast
50:03 - Point and Click Adventures
52:30 - Disney Goes Classical
54:12 - Surviving the loss of a 3 million dollar deal
01:01:28 - The golden rules of great co-op
01:05:04 - Looking at reviews
01:07:30 - Lessons learned
01:19:29 - Outro
Things mentioned on the show:
Parsec
Disney Illusion Island - World Premiere Trailer
The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company by Robert Iger
Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration by Ed Catmull
That Will Never Work: The Birth of Netflix and the Amazing Life of an Idea by Marc Randolph
The Double Fine Documentary
Noclip - Video Game Documentaries
Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture by David Kushner
Immerse by Lifeformed (Music of the Double Fine Documentary)
Disney Goes Classical
How Dlala survived the loss of a $3m Disney deal by James Batchelor
Social Media:
Dlala Studios
Dlala Studios on Twitter (@dlalastudios)
Homepage of Dlala Studios
AJ Grand-Scrutton
AJ Grand-Scrutton on Twitter (@dnost)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Facebook (youmeindustry)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: @thomas.martin.martin)
Haha! (imagine this being said in a Micky Mouse voice) This episode I am joined by AJ, who is the founder and CEO of Dlala Studios. We discuss their upcoming title called Disney Illusion Island and what it is like to run a 35 people studio. Furthermore, we get into the design decisions behind making great coop games, what keeps AJ up at night and with AJ being a Disney expert I had to ask about Goofy wearing pants while Pluto isn't.
Time – Topic Discussed:
0:00 - Intro
03:08 - Guest topic: Being blessed by a pug
06:10 - Guest topic: Bringing the band back together
08:30 - Revealing Disney Illusion Island on D23
12:22 - Interacting with Disney on the game
20:25 - Hard lessons learned during Battletoads
24:31 - Learning how to run a studio
29:30 - Dealing with responsibility
32:00 - Winning UK’s Best Boss and Best Places to Work in 2022 from gamesindustry.biz
36:08 - How problems can arise in running a studio
44:50 - Feeding the beast
50:03 - Point and Click Adventures
52:30 - Disney Goes Classical
54:12 - Surviving the loss of a 3 million dollar deal
01:01:28 - The golden rules of great co-op
01:05:04 - Looking at reviews
01:07:30 - Lessons learned
01:19:29 - Outro
Things mentioned on the show:
Parsec
Disney Illusion Island - World Premiere Trailer
The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company by Robert Iger
Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration by Ed Catmull
That Will Never Work: The Birth of Netflix and the Amazing Life of an Idea by Marc Randolph
The Double Fine Documentary
Noclip - Video Game Documentaries
Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture by David Kushner
Immerse by Lifeformed (Music of the Double Fine Documentary)
Disney Goes Classical
How Dlala survived the loss of a $3m Disney deal by James Batchelor
Social Media:
Dlala Studios
Dlala Studios on Twitter (@dlalastudios)
Homepage of Dlala Studios
AJ Grand-Scrutton
AJ Grand-Scrutton on Twitter (@dnost)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Facebook (youmeindustry)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: @thomas.martin.martin)
Welcome all you cute foxes! This episode I am joined by Lifeformed and Janice Kwan, the composing duo behind the outstanding soundtrack of the indie darling Tunic. We discuss their working process, how a vacation to Taiwan became a permanent residence change and what breakfast essentials nourished them to compose a 60 track soundtrack.
Furthermore, we discuss what it was like to work 7 years on a soundtrack, how they both come up with track titles and I get to lose a couple of potential sponsorships while asking about their hardware issues over the years.
Time – Topic Discussed:
0:00 - Intro
03:50 - Guest topic: Convenient store experiences
10:53 - The process of coming up with a song
23:45 - Warm up for making music
25:03 - Coming up with music ideas
28:41 - Finishing a track vs. working on multiple at the same time
30:10 - Going back to older tracks an re-doing them
35:25 - Swapping tracks
38:00 - Being worried about the game
41:00 - Coming up with new music
45:25 - How the environment impacted the music
48:20 - Being inspired by Chrono Trigger
50:55 - Coming up with track titles
53:35 - The food that is now associated with Tunic
54:40 - Finding your own voice
56:42 - When is a track done?
01:00:25 - Stopping yourself from crunching
01:04:57 - Dealing with hardware problems
01:09:50 - Mixing
01:12:50 - Writing instinctual
01:15:49 - Doing remixes
01:19:29 - Outro
Things mentioned on the show:
Podcast episode with Felix Kramer
The Tunic Soundtrack
Tunic Shop Theme (My Favourite Customer)
Redwood Colonade track of the Tunic Soundtrack
Secret of the Forest track of the Chrono Trigger Soundtrack
Janice Kwan x Gardener EP
Ocean Glaze track of the Tunic Soundtrack
Social Media:
Lifeformed
Lifeformed on Twitter (@lifeformed)
Lifeformed on Bandcamp
Lifeformed on YouTube (Lifeformed)
Lifeformed’s Homepage
Janice Kwan
Janice Kwan on Twitter (@alsojanice)
Janice Kwan on YouTube (Janice Kwan)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: @thomas.martin.martin)
Take your seat everyone, class is about to start! This episode I am joined by Richard Lemarchand, professor in the USC Games program at the University of Southern California to discuss his recently released book called A Playful Production Process! We discussed the making of his book, what it was like to work with industry legends, how a new generation of video game makers are tackling game design and much more. Furthermore, we discuss the hero’s journey, how Richard felt watching the Uncharted movie and I get to ask about the essential snacks he is missing out on since he moved to the US.
Time – Topic Discussed:
0:00 - Intro
02:29 - Guest topic: The books by Octavia Butler
08:52 - a playful design process
19:49 - Guest topic: The making of the book
21:52 - How did the design approach of students change over time?
21:56 - How has the perception of game development education changed?
24:48 - Seeing his students find successes on their own
29:00 - The change in perception in video game education
32:50 - The Meadow VR
36:20 - Seeing Uncharted sequels and the Uncharted movie
41:44 - Questioning the Hero’s Journey
47:14 - Quiet moments vs. big showpiece scenes
52:30 - Providing feedback without demoralizing the receiver
56:12 - Snacks Richard can’t get anymore
57:20 - Lessons learned
01:06:58 - Outro
Things mentioned on the show:
Kindred by Octavia Butler
Parable of the Sower by Ocativa Butler
Parable of the Talents by Ocatvia Butler
Xenogenesis Series by Octavia Butler
Scary Mary Trailer
On Writing by Steven King
Game Feel by Steve Swink
Heirloom by Abby Sherlock and Kathryn Yu
The Meadow VR
The Klaxo Radio Hour
Martzi’s Homepage
The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler
loudQUIETloud: A Film About the Pixies
Social Media:
Richard Lemarchand
Richard Lemarchand on Twitter (@rich_lem)
Richard Lemarchand on Instagram (rich_lem)
The homepage of A Playful Production Process
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Facebook (youmeindustry)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: @thomas.martin.martin)
BREAKING NEWS…AWARD WINNING REPORTER JOINS PODCAST! This episode I had the pleasure of welcoming Rebekah Valentine for another episode. We discussed her reports on work culture in the games industry, what her job entails and how to build a trustworthy relationship with sources. Furthermore, we discuss our favorite food related memories, the state of journalism in the industry and I get to learn more about the ins and outs of doing a food related podcast.
Time – Topic Discussed:
0:00 - Intro
03:18 - Guest topic: What is the best meal we have ever eaten?
11:46 - What does her day look like?
19:49 - What happens when breaking news comes in?
20:20 - The ethics of reporting and boycotting
23:56 - How do you become a trustworthy reporter?
27:50 - How IGN became known for great reporting
33:08 - Making mistakes
39:42 - The relationship between an editor and a writer
42:47 - Bringing in personal touches into writing
48:58 - The state of games journalism in 2022
53:17 - Patreon for Journalism
58:10 - Journalism 101
01:05:58 - Undertale
01:10:10- The Cozywood Kitchenette
01:17:30 - The Metric System
01:18:45 - Pies
01:12:45 - Lessons learned
01:25:20 - Outro
Things mentioned on the show:
Rebekah’s interview with Swen Vincke about Baldur's Gate 3
IGN reporting on the issues at Activision Blizzard
Rebekah’s reporting on Global Step
Rebekah’s reporting on Scavengers Studio
Rebekah’s reporting on the studio culture at Bungie
Investigating Three Indie Superstars Accused of Emotional Abuse by People Make Games
Inside The Culture Of Sexism At Riot Games by Cecilia D'Anastasio
The one year anniversary of Defector
Social Media:
Rebekah Valentine
Rebekah Valentine on Twitter (@duckvalentine)
Rebekah Valentine’s work at IGN
The Cozywood Kitchenette Podcast
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Facebook (youmeindustry)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: @thomas.martin.martin)
Hey kiddo… I found one of them episodes you like to listen to! This one features an interview with concept artist and illustrator Alex Neonakis, who worked at Naughty Dog. While at Naughty Dog, she worked on games such as The Last of Us, Left Behind, Uncharted 4, Lost Legacy and The Last of Us Part II. We discuss the exceptional work she did at the studio, her passion for details, the current state of the industry and much more. Furthermore, we talk about the concept art of Elden Ring, how social media impacts our perception of art and I get to ask about a very interesting theory about Martyr Logarius from Bloodborne. We openly talk about story events and locations of The Last of Us Part II, so if you don’t want to get spoiled, you better finish the game first and then come back. Time – Topic Discussed:
0:00 - Intro
04:10 - Guest topic: Being a raid leader in World of Warcraft
06:55 - Guest topic: Elden Ring
14:04 - The job of a concept artist
20:20 - Wear and tear in clothing
23:50 - Staying motivated
26:40 - Her love for details
34:18 - Design notes from the director and player feedback
37:50 - Big setpieces vs. intimate moments
43:31 - Going freelance
48:18 - Crunch in the industry
55:00 - Lessons learned
01:01:00 - The impact of social media on art
01:04:53 - State of the industry
01:08:45 - Negativity on twitter
01:10:53 - Master Chef
01:12:20 - The implosion of Bon Appetit
01:13:35 - The infamous Martyr Logarius theory
01:15:38 - Outro
Things mentioned on the show:
Character Concept artist Hyoung Taek Nam
Alex fake Twitter campaign for The Last of Us
Take on Me in The Last of Us Part II
Blood, Sweat and Pixels by Jason Schreier
Activision Blizzard scandal
Eytan Zana
Neil Druckmann
Bruce Straley
Deleted Owen’s painting in the Last of Us Part II
Ashley Swidowski
The implosion of Bon Appetit
Martyr Logarius
The Ice king from Adventure Time
Social Media:
Alex Neonakis
Alex Neonakis on Twitter (@Beavs)
Alex Neonakis on Instagram (@alexneonakis)
Alex Neonakis’s Homepage
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Facebook (youmeindustry)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: @thomas.martin.martin)
Hey Aniki… it’s time for another episode! This time I got to interview cover and poster artist Zi Xu. She is known for her incredible work for companies such as Sega, Mondo, Marvel, DC and Star Wars. We talk about the difficulty of being a freelance artist, how to deal with burnout, what inspires her and the importance of not being ashamed of your hobbies. Furthermore, we geek out over Yakuza, discuss Marvel movies and I get to learn more about her current obsession, world's fairs. Please enjoy! Time – Topic Discussed:
0:00 - Intro
01:33 - Yakuza
06:00 - Guest topic: World’s fair
14:00 - Follow your passion
19:38 - The issue with Marvel and DC movies
26:40 - Concept art
37:34 - Inspirational artbooks
41:29 - Condensing a video game character
49:12 - Giving the client what they want
51:41 - Deciding what your time is worth
57:03 - Dealing with burnout
01:01:00 - Drawing hands and eyebrows
01:02:40 - Practicing
01:04:10 - Lessons learned at the Maryland Institute College of Art
01:09:02 - Lessons learned while watching Blue Period
01:10:31 - Outro
Things mentioned on the show:
Francis Bourgeois
Nerdy Paintings from the Neuschwanstein Castle
More Info on the Castle
Cave Room inside the Castle
Magnetic Rose
Blue Period
Social Media:
Zi Xu
Zi Xu on Twitter (@ziqqix)
Zi Xu on Instagram (@ziqqix)
Zi Xu’s Homepage
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Facebook (youmeindustry)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: @thomas.martin.martin)
Put your pens down everyone and check out the newest podcast episode. I am joined by legendary graphic designer Cory Schmitz, who is best known for his work on logos such as Oculus, Valorant, Ghost of Tsushima, Sable, Control, and Analogue. We talk about his design process, his love for Columbo, what makes a great logo and Risograph. Furthermore, we dig deeper into the Papyrus font in Avatar, changing logos, what makes a great cinema and his love for shooting photos on film. Time – Topic Discussed:
0:00 - Intro
02:06 - Guest topic: Columbo
06:17 - Guest topic: e-Ink Tablet
09:46 - What does a graphic designer do?
14:00 - Separating projects
18:29 - Emergency note taking
19:17 - Last minute logo
20:55 - Plotter Notebooks
24:47 - Getting excited when logos get revealed
25:38 - Changing logos
26:44 - One-time logo
29:17 - Explaining a logo
37:11 - Commercials
39:46 - Using Papyrus in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
41:51 - The Bleeding Cowboy font
43:09 - Risograph
46:38 - Using film rolls
50:12 - What companies should avoid doing
51:51 - Aspects he wishes people would know more about
53:10 - Making his own video game
54:45 - Designing a Famicase
58:10 - “Visiting” Kojima Productions
59:40 - Working previous jobs
01:02:49 - His favorite cinema
01:05:27 - Designing a logo for a podcast
01:08:48 - Outro
Things mentioned on the show:
Columbo
Shooting Columbo Book
Super Note by Ratta
Sable Logos
Below Logos
Notebooks by Plotter
Millimeter Milligram Notebooks
Pepsi Logo Change
Pocari Sweat Commercial
Gravity Rush Commercial
Famicase
Michio Kaku
Sign of the Cancer by Juraj Herz
World Without Sun by Jacques-Yves Cousteau
Social Media:
Cory Schmitz
Cory Schmitz on Twitter (@CorySchmitz)
Cory Schmitz on Instagram (@coryschmitz)
Cory Schmitz’s Homepage
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Facebook (youmeindustry)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: @thomas.martin.martin)
Listen up everyone! This episode I had the pleasure to be joined by the lovely Debra Wilson. She is a voice acting powerhouse best known from her roles as Amanda Waller in Telltale’s Batman, Savathun from Destiny, Okoye in Marvel’s Avengers in War for Wakanda, Cere Junda in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Shelda from Bugsnax. We discuss some of her most memorable roles, blackness in video games, magical voice recording sessions and Debra shares her love for scorpions and tarantulas. Please enjoy.
Time – Topic Discussed:
0:00 - Intro
02:33 - Debra’s scorpions and tarantulas
12:16 - What franchise made her say the craziest names?
13:41 - The process of a recording session
19:10 - Being typecast as a voice actor
24:32 - Returning to a role
29:24 - Preparation for a arole
32:26 - Blackness in video games
36:18 - Recording alone vs. being in a group
39:10 - Casting white voice actors to voice black characters
54:15 - Debra’s incredible face collage shirts
58:30 - What makes a good voice acting director?
01:02:50 - Tips for improving the vocabulary
01:04:09 - Debra on Cameo
01:05:35 - Outro
Things mentioned on the show:
Video about temp music (The Marvel Symphonic Universe)
The gray area of casting for characters of color in games by Alan Wen
Nicolas Cage Face Collage Shirt
Social Media:
Debra Wilson
Debra Wilson on Cameo
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Facebook (youmeindustry)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: @thomas.martin.martin)
Welcome to the final part of the Jason Schreier "Press Reset" special! One more time the show continues to feature interviews with people from the book. “Press Reset” details the stories of game development studio closures and how it affected the people behind some of gaming's biggest titles to date. This time I am joined by Joe Faulstick, the former producer at Irrational Games on Swat 4, Bioshock and Bioshock Infinite. Joe shares what it was like to produce some of the games industry's most legendary games, why scheduling video games is so difficult and why he left the games industry. He also talks about his experience working with Ken Levine, how in his opinion the industry must evolve and his gripe with plain oatmeal.
Time – Topic Discussed:
0:00 - Intro
04:32 - How did Joe end up in the games industry?
07:25 - How did Joe’s story get into the book?
09:25 - What was it like to read the book?
12:00 - Indie vs. AAA
14:18 - Joe’s favorite chapter
15:04 - Joe’s journey throughout game development
38:36 - Finding the fun in video games
50:59 - Changing visions
58:20 - Working with Ken Levine
01:05:50 - Guest topic: Fixing the issues of the industry
01:19:09 - Joe’s gripe with plain oatmeal
01:21:10 - Is Joe ready for Gordon Ramsay coming over?
01:23:01 - Outro
Things mentioned on the show:
Bioshock Demo Video
Bioshock Hunting the Big Daddy Demo
Bioshock Infinite Reveal Trailer
Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull
Christmas Beef Wellington by Gordon Ramsay
Social Media:
Joe Faulstick
Joe Faulstick on Twitter (@joefaulstick)
Joe Faulstick on Instagram (jfaulstick)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Facebook (youmeindustry)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: @thomas.martin.martin)
Ready for more? Well, here you go! The Jason Schreier "Press Reset" special goes on and continues to feature interviews with people from the book. “Press Reset” details the stories of game development studio closures and how it affected the people behind some of gaming's biggest titles to date. This time I am joined by Joe Quadara, the former lead combat designer at Big Huge Games on Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. Joe touches upon his journey into the games industry, how to design great combat and how a legendary baseball player ended up being his boss. We also discuss the closure of Big Huge Games and how indie games are creating a path to a better games industry.
Time – Topic Discussed:
0:00 - Intro
03:56 - How did Joe’s story end up in the book?
05:20 - What it was like reading his own story
06:34 - Did Joe learn something new about 38 Studios?
07:40 - How Joe ended up in the games industry
12:42 - Joe’s Tekken Tag Team Tournament Team
13:46 - Quality assurance back in the day
16:52 - How Joe became a combat designer
18:25 - The best designers are multi disciplinary
19:40 - Joining Big Huge Games
24:30 - The creation of the combat pit
27:20 - The balance of criticism
31:56 - What makes good combat design?
34:56 - The difference of combat between East and West
38:30 - Why do combat designers hate combat barks?
40:22 - The secret internal build of Urban Chaos
42:42 - The uncertain future of Big Huge Games
48:18 - Politely saying no
50:27 - The feedback for the combat of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
52:07 - The end of Big Huge Games
54:01 - The chaos that comes along with a studio closure
54:40 - How Joe tackles the issue of sustainability of the the games industry
59:41 - Outro
Things mentioned on the show:
The Curse of the Bambino
Curt Schilling
Social Media:
Joe Quadara
Joe Quadara on Twitter (@bazooie)
Joe Quadara on Instagram (@bazooie)
Joe Quadara on Facebook (@Joe Quadara)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Facebook (youmeindustry)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: @thomas.martin.martin)
Welcome to the very first podcast special! The Jason Schreier "Press Reset" special features interviews with people who appeared in his book. It details the stories of game development studio closures and how it affected the people behind some of gaming's biggest titles to date. I had the pleasure to interview Zach Mumbach, who is a former producer at Electronic Arts for games such as Dead Space 2, Dante’s Inferno, Battlefield Hardline, and the cancelled Star Wars Project Ragtag. Zach shares his journey into game development, what it was like seeing Visceral Games getting closed, what he learned from Amy Hennig and how the industry needs to evolve.
Time – Topic Discussed:
0:00 - Intro
3:08 - Guest topic: Skateboarding
05:47 - The importance of skateboard decks
07:02 - Skateboarding and inclusivity
09:06 - How did Zach’s story end up in the book?
14:26 - Reading his own story in the book
17:37 - Being a workaholic
22:00 - How Zach just walked into EA and got a job
25:40 - Quality assurance back in the day
30:07 - Becoming a producer
35:53 - Working on Godfather II & Dante’s Inferno
39:30 - Putting hats on Isaac
41:19 - Working on Army of Two
45:35 - Working on Battlefield Hardline
47:51 - Star Wars Project Ragtag
50:55 - Interacting with Amy Hennig
54:17 - The closure of Visceral Games
01:02:54 - The return of Skate and Dead Space
01:12:06 - Where are the older game developers?
01:14:49 - Leaving the industry
01:20:11 - Visiting the budget hotel room he worked on
01:21:31 - Returning to the industry
01:27:04 - Crunch in the games industry
01:34:30 - Was it worth it?
01:36:25 - Lessons learned
Things mentioned on the show:
Knives sent over to Visceral Games
Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi
Dead Space Part 1 - The Deepest Dive by MinnMax
Social Media:
Zach Mumbach
Zach Mumbach on Twitter (@zachulon)
The Wandering Band on Twitter (@AWanderingBand)
Zach Mumbach on Instagram (@zachulon)
Zach Mumbach on Facebook (@zachulon)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Facebook (youmeindustry)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: @thomas.martin.martin)
Welcome crime detectives from all over the world and join Gary Kings and myself onto a journey through mysteries, game development, writing, trailer making and Dopesmoker cuts. Gary Kings is a writer and designer of National Insecurities and created games such as Once Upon a Crime in the West and 2000:1 A Space Felony.
Time – Topic Discussed:
0:00 - Intro
3:03 - Guest topic: The Hobbit Dopesmoker edit
13:02 - Music choices in 2000:1 A Space Felony
17:20 - Game Jams
26:43 - Calculating people being stuck in games
35:19 - Two great design choices in Gary’s games
37:46 - The third (secret) ending of 2000:1 A Space Felony
42:10 - What makes a good murder mystery?
50:46 - Tropes in murder mystery
53:04 - E3 Trailers
01:02:20 - How does Gary view a trailer
01:04:34 - How Gary makes trailer
01:07:51 - The difficulties with making a trailer
01:10:15 - The process of writing
01:15:57 - Writing with a partner
01:18:19 - Scribbling the narrative structure of a game on a table
01:25:10 - Plugs and Outro
01:27:23 - Gaming’s most famous trailer makers
Things mentioned on the show:
2000:1: A Space Felony by National Insecurities
Once Upon a Crime in the West by National Insecurities
THE HOBBIT: DOPESMOKER EDITION by Gary Kings
The Raid 2 by Gareth Evans
Ribvolver
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly by Sergio Leone
Details about the Old Gods Are Dead
The Ace Attorney series
Return of the Obra Dinn
Sable E3 Trailer
Metroid Dread Trailer
Derek Lieu
El Paso, Elsewhere Trailer
Skatebird
Social Media:
Gary Kings
Gary King’s Homepage
National Insecurities on itch.io
National Insecurities on Twitter (@NIPresents)
Gary Kings on Twitter (@GaryJKings)
Gary Kings on Instagram (@garyjkings)
Mohammed Taher on Twitter (@robokick)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Facebook (youmeindustry)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: @thomas.martin.martin)
Grab your coffee, put down your favorite Evanescence album and dive into the newest episode! This time I am joined by Mohammed Taher, who is the founder and creative director of Brave Wave, a music label that features some of Japan's most legendary video game music composers. We discuss the thought process behind directing an album, his high quality standards and his biggest inspirations.
Time – Topic Discussed:
0:00 - Intro
1:30 - Oppression of Palestine
3:46 - The response of the industry
19:45 - The way Rami Ismail engage with the topic
22:40 - The games Mohamed currently plays
26:57 - Mohammed’s Street Fighter Main
28:40 - Guest topic: Investing and the stock market
01:09:10 - The origins of Brave Wave
01:17:37 - Directing an album
01:30:27 - The Generation Series
01:40:42 - Mohammed’s inspiration
01:47:43 - Favorite Evanescence tracks
01:51:05 - Drinking coffee
01:55:40 - Learning Japanese
01:59:58 - Plugs and Outro
Things mentioned on the show:
Our Interview with Rami Ismail
Mass Effect by Bioware
The Witness by Jonathan Blow
Ultra Street Fighter IV by Capcom
Generation Series: Street Fighter II
Morning Brew Newsletter
How Index Funds Beat Hedge Funds over Time
Limited Run Games
World 1-2: The Complete Collection
Aphex Twin
The Generation Series
The Criterion Collection
Data Discs
Art by Storm Thorgerson
Evanescence
V60 Filter Coffee
The Retro-Active Experience
Social Media:
Brave Wave
Brave Wave Homepage
Brave Wave on Bandcamp
Brave Wave on Instagram (@bravewavemusic)
Brave Wave on Twitter (@BraveWaveMusic)
Mohammed Taher on Instagram (@robokick)
Mohammed Taher on Twitter (@robokick)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Facebook (youmeindustry)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: @thomas.martin.martin)
Put down your notebooks and jump into a brand new interview! This time I am joined by Nicole Nageli, who is an amazing artist, writer and speaker. We discuss her fascination with legacy, fear in art, her love for great notebooks, some of her favorite video games and much more. She also drew an incredible little picture of our interview, be sure to check the social media channels of the podcast to see it!
Time – Topic Discussed:
0:00 - Intro
1:06 - Graduating high school
3:12 - How we met
6:57 - Guest topic: Fear in art
11:10 - Finishing a project
19:57 - What made her become an artist
28:18 - Preparing for interviews
33:26 - Her relationship with video games
37:57 - Creating fanart for movies vs. video games
42:18 - Deciding when something is finished
48:15 - Returning to older notes
53:25 - Naming her book
54:54 - What makes a good notebook
01:07:27 - Plugs and Outro
Things mentioned on the show:
Fear in Art by Nicole Nageli
The Book of Life by Jorge R. Gutiérrez
Press Reset by Jason Schreier
Blood, Sweat, and Pixels: The Triumphant, Turbulent Stories Behind How Video Games Are Made by Jason Schreier
Finishing a Game by Derek Yu
How Star Wars was saved in the edit
Music artist: Lakey Inspired
Director David Sandberg’s Youtube Channel
Nicole’s TEDx Speech
THE OWL HOUSE Fake Audition
Social Media:
Nicole Nageli’s Homepage
Nicole Nageli on Instagram (@nicolenageliart)
Nicole Nageli on Instagram(@nicolenageliofficial)
Nicole Nageli on YouTube (Nicole Nageli)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Facebook (youmeindustry)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: @thomas.martin.martin)
Welcome to the sequel interview called 'The Davination'
This episode I am, once again, joined by Dave Mervik, the senior narrative director from Tarsier Studios. In this follow-up interview we get to discuss the changing nature of horror, his work on Little Nightmares II, how to engage with art and moving on to different projects. We also discuss terrible sequel names, things we talked about on the episode from 2020, never before released information on Little Nightmares II as well as Statik and we close off the show by collaborating in a very special way.
Time – Topic Discussed:
0:00 - Intro
3:10 - Momo
6:46 - How do people experience media
11:40 - The Exorcist III
17:29 - Frank
21:40 - The Fountain
24:53 - Guest topic: The Emigrants by Vilhelm Moberg
29:00 - It Takes Two
32:28 - Modern horror in games and movies
36:14 - Creating endings
39:03 - Three act structure
41:28 - Genius planner vs. random pretender
45:47 - Going back to older work
48:48 - Naming the podcast episode
52:15 - When is something good enough?
56:22 - Little Nightmares II
58:40 - Re-naming Little Nightmares II
01:00:05 - Moving on to different projects
01:02:35 - Weirdest piece of media that made it into a game
01:05:58 - Plugs and Outro
Things mentioned on the show:
Momo by Michael Ende
Silent Hill 2 Soundtrack
I, Partridge: We Need to Talk about Alan by Alan Partridge
Dolly Parton - Jolene
Dolly Parton - Jolene (33rpm slowed down digital version)
The Exorcist III by William Peter Blatty
Frank by Lenny Abrahamson
The Fountain by Darren Aronofsky
The Emigrants by Vilhelm Moberg
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Garth Brooks Greatest Hits (Full Album) Best Songs of Garth Brooks
It Could Happen to You by Andrew Bergman
Midsommar by Ari Aster
Hereditary by Ari Aster
Statik PSVR - I solved a 3 year old secret message hidden in plain sight!
Little Nightmares II
Statik
Peter Cook and Chris Morris interview
Social Media:
Tarsier Studios
Tarsier Studios Homepage
Tarsier Studios on Instagram (@tarsierstudios)
Tarsier Studios on Twitter (@TarsierStudios)
Tarsier Studios on Facebook (@TarsierStudios)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Facebook (youmeindustry)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: @thomas.martin.martin)
By clicking here you have become the Apex Champion! Congratulations! You just won an incredible podcast episode with Jobye Karmaker, from Respawn Entertainment. Learn more about what goes into the thought process of creating environments for Apex Legends, how a pork chop that Jobye cooked ended up in the game and how to provide meaningful feedback to junior artists. Furthermore, we discuss his work on Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order, how it feels like to finish a level he has worked on for a year in under half an hour and the importance of mental health.
Time – Topic Discussed:
0:00 - Intro
3:00 - Guest topic: Mental health
7:50 - A typical day at work for Jobye
10:20 - What does an environment artist do?
12:00 - Dealing with different styles in video games
12:50 - How does the story impact the design
13:55 - The difference between working on Star Wars and Apex
17:00 - The feeling of not being able to see your work ingame anymore
20:32 - The evolution of technology and graphical fidelity
22:25 - How does an environment artist play games?
24:04 - When is something truly finished?
26:05 - How much of a game’s story goes into the design process
27:40 - Strict regulations for Star Wars
30:44 - Being able to finish the segment you worked on for a year in under 15 minutes
32:30 - Putting yourself into environment art
34:05 - Behind the scenes on the Mirage Pork Chop
36:40 Cooking skills
38:05 - What makes a good Omakase?
41:17 - Visiting the places you worked on ingame
44:05 - Emergencies during development
46:32 - Fields of expertise
48:08 - Having fresh eyes in environmental art
50:50 - Looking back at older work
51:51 - Providing feedback
53:05 - The difference in procedure between companies
54:43 - Tuna story
56:08 - Being Asian in the games industry & diversity
57:33 - Crunch
01:02:57 - Plugs & Outro
Things mentioned on the show:
Jobye's work in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Jobye’s Donburi Bowl
The legendary Mirage Pork Chop
Social Media:
Jobye Karmaker
Jobye on Twitter (@jobyek)
Jobye on Instagram (@jobyek)
Jobye on Arstation
Jobye’s Homepage
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Facebook (youmeindustry)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: @thomas.martin.martin)
Welcome to a very special episode of YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY. After the re-announcement of the highly controversial game Six Days in Fallujah, I wanted to learn more about the issue and the stereotypical portrayal of Arabs and Muslims in video games and Western media. I got the chance to interview Rami Ismail and we talked about how the USA dictates the discourse, how it is impossible to make a game like this that isn’t political, Rami’s experience boarding airplanes and much more.
Time – Topic Discussed:
0:00 - Intro
3:47 - The conversation around Six Days in Fallujah
10:20 - The influence of the USA on the world
19:13 - The issue with Six Days in Fallujah
29:55 - Apolitical wars
31:38 - Minorities in the USA
34:05 - The Current State of Muslim Representation in Video Games and other forms of media in 2021
40:46 - Ms. Marvel and other shows
45:01 - Two different views of the world
46:41 - Growing up bi-racial
52:34 - Rami’s experiences at the airport
58:17 - Middle East and other countries not being considered a real place
01:00:49 - Rami’s Ramadan plans for 2021
01:02:50 - Plugs & Outro
Things mentioned on the show:
Six Days in Fallujah Is Complicated and Painful For Those Connected to the Real Events by Rebekah Valentine
The Current State of Muslim Representation in Video Games by Imad Khan, Farah Khalaf, Rami Ismail, Romana Ramzan
Is this Arabic?
Rami Ismail at XOXO teaching Arabic in 18 minutes
The Tragic Fate of the Afghan Interpreters the U.S. Left Behind by T.A Frail
Anne Munition talking about being bi-racial
Rami’s Mother on Twitter
Rami’s Mother on Twitch
Social Media:
Rami Ismail
Rami Ismail on Twitter (@tha_rami)
Rami Ismail on Instagram (@tha.rami)
The Habibis Podcast on Twitter (@The_Habibis)
The Habibis Homepage
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Facebook (youmeindustry)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: @thomas.martin.martin)
Welcome to the new virtual reality of YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY. Join Dominic Eskofier and me for a reality bending episode as we discuss how he worked for legendary companies such as Rockstar Games and Nvidia, him funding his own company, leaving games journalism and what he is currently up to at Eden in Amsterdam. We also discuss the new NFT hype, how VR can change the world and he shares what he considers to be the best VR headset on the market.
Time – Topic Discussed:
0:00 - Intro
1:08 - Catching up with Dominic
4:39 - Guest topic: Non-fungible tokens
8:50 - Bitcoin
11:20 - The technological revolution
26:44 - The current state of games journalism
42:40 - The potential influence of VR on racial bias
47:34 - Working at Rockstar Games
52:40 - Red Dead Redemption 2 and spoiler culture
57:04 - Best VR headsets on the market
01:06:42 - Dominic’s journey into VR
01:14:46 - Working at Nvidia
01:17:10 - Eden & Eden Snacker
01:26:04 - Plugs
01:27:38 - Lessons learned & outro
Things mentioned on the show:
Dominic Eskofier How Virtual Reality will create a better Humankind TEDxTalk
The influence of immersive virtual reality on racial bias
VR gives kids the power to dream with their eyes wide open
Noah Caldwell-Gervais analysis of Red Dead Redemption
Social Media:
Dominic Eskofier
Dominic Eskofier on Twitter (@DolAtoR)
Dominic Eskofier on Facebook
EDEN Homepage
EDEN on Facebook
Eden on Twitter (@madebyeden)
Eden on Instagram (@ig.madebyeden)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Facebook (@youmeindustry)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: @thomas.martin.martin)
Time to dig in... DIGGIN'...into another brand new podcast episode. This time I am joined by the incredible Lauren Davidson from Dropped Monocle Games. She previously worked on great games such as the wonderful Thimbleweed Park! On this episode I get to learn more about writing point and click adventure games, her journey into the industry and diversity as well as accessibility. We also get to gush about our love for the Yakuza franchise, Bugsnax and much more! Also, you should all check out the Twitter/Instagram page of the show to see some great art, which was drawn live during the show!
Time – Topic Discussed:
0:00 - Intro
2:15 - Guest topic: Diversity in video games and the industry
11:21 - How did Lauren join the games industry
15:41 - Working on Thimbleweed Park
18:38 - Writing humour in video games
21:20 - The writing process in video games
23:54 - Dealing with writer's block
25:55 - Writing Thimbleweed Park characters
27:25 - State of writing in video games
31:24 - Mass Effect: Andromeda
33:45 - Fans demanding changes
35:50 - Avoiding Mary Sue issues
38:38 - Sims 100 baby challenge
39:50 - Gushing about Yakuza
42:53 - Accessibility in video games
51:55 - Grabbing a pen and paper
52:20 - Working on free to play games
56:50 - Plugs
58:28 - Closing comments, drawing and outro
Things mentioned on the show:
Ron Gilbert Puzzle Dependency Chart
Tim Schäfer Design Document on Grim Fandango
Abby Russell Sims 100 Baby Challenge
Plumbella Sims 100 Baby Challenge
Social Media:
Lauren Davidson
Lauren Davidson on Twitter (@boosegoose)
Lauren Davidson Homepage
Dropped Monocle Games Homepage
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: @thomas.martin.martin)
Dedicated to J.B. and L.B.
THE TRUTH BEHIND IGN EXPOSED - Oh wait, that’s not how you do a clickbait headline...since you are already here... Well, then how about a simple welcome to the brand new season of the show. Peer Schneider of IGN joins me this episode and we talk about game journalism, his love for Nintendo Switch Joycons, how to run the worlds biggest gaming website during a pandemic and much more:
Time – Topic Discussed:
0:00 - Intro
1:50 - Guest topic: Running IGN during the pandemic
19:51 - Struggling video game outlets
24:16 - Figuring out how to create content for new platforms
31:27 - Adblock in 2020
33:03 - Peer’s sausage spreadsheet
34:40 - How are your German skills these days?
35:28 - Staying positive on the internet
39:15 - Harassment on the internet
41:24 - Dealing with controversies
47:14 - Thought process behind reviews and other content
50:13 - Responsibility of being Chief Content Officer
51:46 - Joy-Con love
53:55 - Getting things signed
55:23 - What key takeaways would you hope people learned from you
57:06 - Nurturing talent at IGN and dealing with departure
01:01:16 - YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY Review
01:03:45 - Plugs
01:04:10 - Closing comments / outro
Links:
Peer Schneider
Peer Schneider on Instagram (@Peerign)
Peer Schneider on Twitter (@Peerign)
Find reviews, news and articles on the IGN Homepage
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: @thomas.martin.martin)
Dedicated to J.B.
Hi there, I hope you are doing well and I hope that you are able to enjoy the holidays. I know 2020 has been a weird year but this is also the year of the inception of this very podcast... so that's at least something, right? Please join me on this wrap-up episode to close of the year, so we can hopefully leave it all behind. Stay safe and see you next year.
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: thomas.martin.martin)
Get in your chair or on the couch. Put on a nice gaming soundtrack because it is time to get comfy. This episode I am joined by Kevin Schulz, the founder of Black Screen Records. A record label that specializes in releasing video game soundtracks on vinyl and CD. They also distribute various titles in Europe and make sure that people don’t end up at the customs office. We talk about how he founded the label, his love for Star Wars, the process of approving a record test pressing, his favorite album and so much more. Be sure to put on a nice pair of headphones and jump into our conversation.
Links:
Black Screen Records
Black Screen Records on Instagram (@blackscreenrecords)
Black Screen Records on Twitter (@blackscreenrec)
Black Screen Records on Facebook (@blackscreenrecords)
Kevin Schulz on Twitter (@kevinschulzzz)
The Black Screen Records Homepage
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Twitter (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Twitter (@DorianChou)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY on Instagram (@youmeindustry)
Dorian on Instagram (@dorian.chou)
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: thomas.martin.martin)
This episode I can guarantee a perfectly air-conditioned show. Yousif Alroumi joins me and talks about his goal to get video game companies to invest in the Middle East. Through events such as GX The Games & Media Entertainment Expo or fighting game tournaments like Kuwait Battle Royale he wants to put Kuwait on the spotlight of the world. He talks about the 10 year anniversary of his company Fikra, his journey into the industry, challenges as well as successes and he shares one of the best stories I have ever heard. The legendary date story. If you want to know how dates played a major role in his relationship with Square Enix, you better check out the episode.
Links:
Fikra
Follow Fikra on Twitch (@FikraKW)
Follow Fikra on Instagram (@fikrakw)
Follow Fikra on Twitter (@FikraKW)
The Fikra Homepage
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY
@DorianChou on Twitter
@youmeindustry on Twitter
@dorian.chou on Instagram
@youmeindustry on Instagram
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: thomas.martin.martin)
Soothing whale sounds are slowly but surely setting the right mood for the brand new episode. This time Stefan Lange & Teflora from Radical Fish Games are jumping into action. Both of them worked on the game Cross Code, which was recently released on console platforms. We talk about starting small in the games industry, what it was like to see Cross Code coming to Nintendo Switch, game development advices and a lot more! We also get a behind the scenes look into the development of Cross Code, learn how they work together as a team and discuss what the best Ace Attorney game is. We somehow also talk a whole bunch about whales… be sure to stick to the end to hear a unique new sound made by Teflora!
Links:
Follow Stefan Lange on Twitter
Follow Teflora on Twitter
Follow Teflora on Soundcloud
Follow Radical Fish Games on Twitter
Radical Fish Games Homepage
Cross Code Launch Trailer
You can follow the show on:
@DorianChou on Twitter
@youmeindustry on Twitter
@dorian.chou on Instagram
@youmeindustry on Instagram
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: thomas.martin.martin)
Nighttime. After midnight. The streets of Tokyo are soaked from the rain. The alleys are filled with smoke. The bright neon lights of the city are cutting through the night and get caught in the puddles of water. This is Liam’s world….but this is also the perfect setting to listen to the brand new episode! Join me and photographer/game designer Liam Wong on a journey through his travels and work. On this episode we get tons of behind the scenes information on some of Liam’s most famous projects, we discuss inspiration, instagram, getting into the industry, feedback and much more. The same “click” Liam needs to capture his pictures will also give you the power to listen to the podcast. So press the play button and enjoy.
Links:
The video we mentioned during the podcast, that inspired Liam and his work: Memories of Tokyo
Follow Liam Wong on Instagram
Follow Liam Wong Noir (black and white photography) on Instagram
Follow Liam Wong on Twitter
Follow Liam on Facebook
Liam’s Homepage
You can follow the show on:
@DorianChou on Twitter
@youmeindustry on Twitter
@dorian.chou on Instagram
@youmeindustry on Instagram
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: thomas.martin.martin)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY EPISODE 07: Mike Williams
A brand new episode flies in! On this episode I am joined by Mike Williams, who is the Reviews Editor at US Gamer. We dig deeper on what it is like to moderate a big gaming forum, what Assassin's Creed title deserves a sequel, discuss writing reviews in 2020, comics, and so much more. Plus I get schooled on the difference between Tonkatsu and Tokusatsu. I also had the chance to design the official YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY super hero. He is energy based. You can find him on the social media pages of the show (see below).
You can find reviews by Mike and other great reviewers at US Gamer
Follow Mike on Twitter: @AutomaticZen
Follow US Gamer on Twitter: @USgamernet
Follow the show on Twitter or Instagram to see my horrible drawings: @youmeindustry
Follow Dorian (yes, this is me) on Twitter: @dorianchou
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: thomas.martin.martin)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY EPISODE 06: John Linneman
A brand new episode coming right at you. This time I am joined by John Linneman, who works for Eurogamer / Digital Foundry. He creates videos where he digs deeper into the technical aspects of video games and how they are created. John talks about the great console wars, his fascination with older hardware, his approach to video creation and we get some behind the scenes information on some of his coolest projects. There is so much other stuff in here, but I don’t wanna spoil the entire thing. Give it a listen already!
Follow John on Twitter: @dark1x
Follow Digital Foundry on Twitter: @digitalfoundry
You can find works by John and other great content creators over at the Digital Foundry Youtube page
Follow the show on Twitter or Instagram to see my horrible drawings: @youmeindustry
Follow Dorian (yes, this is me) on Twitter: @dorianchou
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: thomas.martin.martin)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY EPISODE 05: Carl Varnado
Due to the recent events in the USA I decided to conduct a few special episodes with people of color from the games industry. This time I am joined by Carl Varnado, who runs the special interest group called Black in Games over at the International Game Developers Association. We discuss racism in video games, in the games industry and in America. In honor of this months second episode I decided to donate 20$ to the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Community Bail Fund. I will try to highlight more people of color form the games industry in upcoming episodes. Here are a few shoutouts from Carl (@writerofkings):
Join the Black in Gaming Facebook Group
Lisette Titre-Montgomery - Double Fine (@zette16)
Markus Montgomery - We Are Game Devs (@marcusingames)
Dennis Mathews - Revelation Interactive (@Revel8nStudios)
J Patton - Sony
Tony Barnes - RetroNinja (@Twitchfactor
Nichol Bradford - CEO, Founder of the Willow Group (@Nichol_Bradford)
Jerry Lawson / Karen Lawson
Kevin Brown - Microsoft
Bennie Terry - Executive Producer at Oddworld Inhabitants (@bennieterryiii)
Renee Gittins - IGDA (@RikuKat)
Tristin Hightower - IGDA (@TristinsTweets)
Nika Nour - IGDA Foundation (@Nika)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY EPISODE 04: Rebekah Saltsman
Another month, another guest. This episode I am joined by Rebekah Saltsman, who is the co-founder and CEO of the publishing/development studio Finji. Bekah shares her insights on crunch, what it’s like to run a studio in 2020, how the games industry will respond to COVID-19 and we finally have the answer which character of Night in the Woods is better: Greg or Bea! We also talked about so many other things, but if those things don’t get you excited for this episode…what will?
You can follow Rebekah Saltsman on Twitter: @BexSaltsman
You can follow her studio on Twitter and Instagram: @finjico
Their homepage with all their great titles is: finji.co
Follow the show on Twitter or Instagram to see my horrible drawings: @youmeindustry
Follow Dorian (yes, this is me) on Twitter: @dorianchou
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: thomas.martin.martin)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY EPISODE 03: Felix Kramer
This time I am joined by the incredible Felix Kramer and we get to talk about their job as a producer, why Katamari Damacy is such a great game and what it is like to juggle multiple projects at once. Furthermore, we get into some very interesting theories on the Pokemon Sobble, Drizzile and Inteleon! We also covered a ton of other things but I don't wanna spoil all the fun, right?
You can follow Felix on Twitter and Instagram: @legobutts
You can also check out the website felix.zone for more info on what Felix worked on and how to reach out.
Follow the show on Twitter or Instagram to see my horrible drawings: @youmeindustry
Follow Dorian (yes, this is me) on Twitter: @dorianchou
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: thomas.martin.martin)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY EPISODE 02: Dave Mervik
On this episode I get to interview Dave Mervik from Tarsier Studios. He worked on games such as Static, Little Big Planet Vita and Little Nightmares I & II. We discuss topics such as horror movies, what it's like being a narrative designer, going on stage in front of hundreds of people... and I get to dig deeper into possible connections between veganism and Little Nightmares. Please enjoy!
Dave isn't on any social media platforms, but I highly recommend to check out Little Nightmares and follow Tarsier Studios, since they are going to release the sequel in 2020!
Twitter: @TarsierStudios
Follow the show on Twitter or Instagram to see my horrible drawings: @youmeindustry
Follow Dorian (yes, this is me) on Twitter: @dorianchou
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Artwork by Thomas Martin (Instagram: thomas.martin.martin)
YOU ME AND THE INDUSTRY EPISODE 01: El Huervo
On this episode El Huervo (Niklas Åkerblad) comes onto the show and talks about art, music, video games and his creative process. Other topics also include Destiny guns, movies and... pineapple on pizza?
Follow El Huervo on Twitter: @ElHuervo, Instagram: elhuervo and check out his Bandcamp page for incredible music!
Follow the show on Twitter: @youmeindustry, Instagram: youmeandtheindustry
Intro/Outro by FreshMcZone
Cover by @thomas_martinmartin