#49 - Mike Bithell’s Journey From Auteur To Studio Boss
This week on the Game Developer Podcast we quiz Bithell Games CEO and Disney TRON: Catalyst creative director Mike Bithell about his journey from small-time indie to head of a successful game development studio. In this episode, Mike breaks down his creative influences and leadership lessons from over a decade of making commercial games, and what his experience means for developers trying to survive the economic turbulence of 2025.
The Game Developer podcast is a bi-weekly podcast chronicling the triumphs, catastrophes, and everything in between of game development, sharing lessons and strategies fellow developers can use to hone their craft.
Follow Game Developer on Bluesky and LinkedIn!
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gamedeveloper.bsky.social
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gamedeveloperofficial.
Learn more about Bithell Games: https://www.bithellgames.com/
Music By: Mike Meehan
Edited By: Pierre Landriau
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#48 - Snapping Your Career into Place with Ben Brode
In this episode fresh from the GDC Showcase archives, Bryant sits down with Ben Brode, Chief Development Officer at Second Dinner (Marvel Snap) to discuss the importance of expertise in your own game, exploring the limits of your design space, striking the balance between "functional" and "understandable," thinking like a game designer, and much more.
Learn More about GDC: https://gdconf.com/?_mc=hsad_gdcsf_gamdev_le_x_x_2025
Similar Talks @ GDC 2025: https://gdconf.com/conference/game-design?_mc=hsad_gdcsf_gamdev_le_x_x_2025
More From Ben Brode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjhsY2Zuo-c
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Carving out a Creative Career with Deborah Chantson
Danielle is joined by Deborah Chantson, Writer and Narrative Designer at Sticky Brain Studios Inc., to discuss her multifaceted career writing for games, interactive media, TV and short films, as well as her gorgeous forthcoming folklore adventure game, Rooster.
Wishlist Rooster on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1834220/Rooster/
Stay on top of the latest news: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/latest-news
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#46 - Preserving the Past With Charles Cecil
Danielle sits down with legendary adventure game designer Charles Cecil, cofounder of Revolution Software, to discuss the upcoming remake of Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars, the difference between classic and modern adventure gamers, the infamous "goat puzzle," finding that hint system sweet spot, and a lot more.
Learn more about GDC Showcase: https://showcase.gdconf.com/
Check out Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2544110/Broken_Sword__Shadow_of_the_Templars_Reforged/
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#45 - On the Unionization Frontlines with Autumn Mitchell, Emma Kinema and Chris Lusco
Hot off the heels of major unionization wins at Blizzard Entertainment and Bethesda Game Studios, Senior Editor Bryant Francis is joined by Emma Kinema of the CWA, as well as Autumn Mitchell and Chris Lusco of Bethesda Softworks, to discuss the ongoing surge of organizational efforts sweeping the video game industry.
Read more about the new unions at Blizzard and Bethesda: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/over-500-blizzard-entertainment-workers-form-wall-to-wall-union
SAG-AFTRA performers call strike against major game studios over AI: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/sag-aftra-authorizes-video-game-actor-strike-over-ai
Read Bryant's piece on Project 2025 and its potential impact on game developers: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/how-will-project-2025-impact-game-developers-
Find out how video games get made! The official podcast for GameDeveloper.com brings you illuminating conversation and commentary from brilliant people in the video game industry. Hosted by Game Developer publisher Alissa McAloon and editor-in-chief Danielle Riendeau. Music by Mike Meehan. Published monthly.
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