The Mindset of Personal Success in the Game Industry, with Tommy Tallarico
In this episode:Jordan sits down with legendary video game composer, producer, and entrepreneur Tommy Tallarico, whose career spans over 30 years in the gaming industry. Known for his work on iconic titles like Prince of Persia, Earthworm Jim, and MDK, Tommy shares his inspiring journey from homelessness to launching major projects such as Video Games Live and the new Intellivision Amico console. This episode dives deep into Tommy’s mindset for success, offering advice on goal-setting, perseverance, and the importance of networking. Tommy also discusses his approach to creating successful video games and his passion for bringing back family-friendly gaming experiences.Topics covered:How Tommy broke into the video game industryHis journey working on iconic games like Prince of Persia and Earthworm JimTommy’s vision for the Intellivision Amico and how it aims to bring back family gamingInsights into building successful development teams and working with indie developersThe future of video games post-pandemic and the impact of remote work on creativityFor more game industry tips:Learn more about Jordan & Bright BlackListen on iTunes | Spotify (Support the show and leave a review)Visit www.playmakerspodcast.com for the full blog post and more!Episode Timestamps:[01:43] Tommy's early career journey: from game tester to game audio[06:30] First big break with Prince of Persia and redefining sound design in games[10:15] Tommy’s mindset on success[13:10] Goal-setting and climbing metaphorical mountains in your career[17:10] Networking and why selling yourself is key to success[20:00] The importance of passion and genuine connection with others[24:10] Intellivision Amico and the return of couch co-op gaming[32:15] How Amico offers a unique digital board game experience[36:00] Working with indie developers and offering personalized development support[40:50] The impact of COVID-19 on game development and team collaboration[44:20] Tommy’s final thoughts on on success and his future projectsResources & media mentioned in this episode:Connect with Tommy on LinkedInCheck out more of Tommy’s workMeet Amico!Connect with Tommy on InstagramWatch "The Secret" DocumentaryThe Secret (Book byRhonda Byrne)
How to Create Breakthrough Worldwide Hits, with Amy Jo Kim
In this episode:Jordan sits down with Amy Jo Kim, a game designer, community architect, and innovation coach, named by Fortune as one of the “Top 10 Influential Women in Games.” Amy Jo has contributed to hit games like The Sims, Rock Band, Ultima Online, and Covet Fashion, and has worked on non-gaming products such as eBay, Netflix, and NYTimes.com. She is also the author of “Community Building on the Web” (2000) and “Game Thinking” (2018).Amy Jo dives deep into her concept of “Superfans” and explains why they are critical to achieving market success. She discusses her approach to creating innovative products, how to find superfans early, and how this methodology can scale projects to achieve global success.Topics covered:What are “Super Fans” and why they are critical to getting a “beachhead” in the marketWhy the “Fast Follow” method limits growth potentialHow to quickly find and engage with Superfans to grow your productHow to create innovative projects that scale in a BIG way Amy Jo’s Superfan Challenge: A free challenge designed to help teams identify their superfansFor more game industry tips:Learn more about Jordan & Bright BlackListen on iTunes | Spotify (Support the show and leave a review)Visit www.playmakerspodcast.com for the full blog post and more!Episode Timestamps:02:58 Introduction to Amy Jo Kim and her journey in the gaming industry06:26 Combining game design with innovation across industries07:44 The power of Superfans: engaging early adopters to drive product success12:12 Avoiding the “Fast Follow” strategy: learning from copycat games16:14 Testing your core game loop with superfans and early adopters20:07 The role of Superfans in evolving game design22:06 Why tuning the core loop is essential for success25:38 The connection between the core loop and player journey28:22 Using Superfan techniques to build a community34:43 Identifying superfans in casual games 38:31 Join Amy Jo Kim’s Superfan ChallengeResources & media mentioned in this episode:Connect with Amy Jo Kim:Amy Jo on LinkedInAmy Jo on TwitterTake Amy Jo’s FREE challenge: Superfan ChallengeCheck out Game Thinking: GameThinking.ioAmy Jo's Podcast: Getting2AlphaBooks by Amy Jo Kim:Game Thinking: Innovate Smarter &...
--------
40:58
--------
40:58
Shots On Goal, with Jon Radoff
In this episode:Jordan sits down with Jon Radoff, the founder of Beamable,the creator-centric platform for building live games in Unity. Jon's career spans across multiple areas of the game industry, from building one of the first commercial internet games to leading the development of popular mobile games like Game of Thrones Ascent and Star Trek Timelines. Jon shares his insights on building successful games by taking multiple "shots on goal," balancing creativity with data, and understanding when to pivot or push forward with a project. He also dives into the future of the metaverse and how it could impact game development.Topics covered:Jon’s entrepreneurial journey and how Beamable evolved into what it is todayKey tips and techniques for getting your game off the groundThe balance between iterating on a game and deciding when to move on to a new projectWhy you should get user feedback before you even have a playable version of your gameHow to know when it’s time to throw in the towel on a projectThe future of the metaverse and how creators will shape itFor more game industry tips:Learn more about Jordan & Bright BlackListen on iTunes | Spotify (Support the show and leave a review)Visit www.playmakerspodcast.com for the full blog post and more!Episode Timestamps:[03:16] Jon’s start in games: creating one of the first commercial games on the internet[08:26] Moving into mobile games and the creation of Game of Thrones Ascent[10:15] How to balance creativity and data in game development[13:00] The importance of taking "shots on goal" in game design and business strategy[17:53] When to start testing and gathering feedback on game ideas[20:05] Building an audience and gathering feedback before having a playable game[25:22] Lessons learned from Star Trek Timelines and using real-time data from players[28:30] Managing risk and deciding when to stop working on a game[31:45] Balancing iteration time versus moving on to a new project[35:03] Creativity in game development versus pure data-driven design[38:25] The future of game creation and Beamable’s vision[44:43] Jon’s thoughts on the metaverseResources & media mentioned in this episode:Connect with Jon:Jon on LinkedInJon on TwitterJon’s BlogCheck out Beamable:
--------
50:59
--------
50:59
How to Win as a Mobile Game Entrepreneur, With Joakim Achrén
In this episode:Jordan interviews Joakim Achrén, a gaming entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience. Joakim shares his journey from co-founding two venture-backed gaming startups, including Next Games (which IPOed in 2017), to his current role at Elite Game Developers. Joakim helps aspiring game entrepreneurs launch their own studios and is also an angel investor in companies like Skunkworks Games, Lightheart Entertainment, and Savage Game Studios. He also provides deep insights into how mobile game entrepreneurs can navigate the challenges of game development, from early validation to scaling successful games.Topics covered:How Joakim caught “the bug” for helping other foundersWhat comes between the early validation phase and obtaining data from user behavior within a playable version of your gameThe most common trap mobile developers fall into The biggest takeaways you should be gaining from your metricsThe key to building mobile games that make players want to come backThe balance between “stealing like an artist” and innovating What the gaming industry can learn from Pixar’s creative process For more game industry tips:Learn more about Jordan & Bright BlackListen on iTunes | Spotify (Support the show and leave a review)Visit www.playmakerspodcast.com for the full blog post and more!Episode Timestamps:[03:31] Joakim's early career and his journey into game development[06:52] Starting Next Games and working with AMC on The Walking Dead[09:48] The "bug" that inspired Joakim to help game founders[12:11] Biggest mistakes mobile game developers make[14:56] Joakim's view on Game Pass and the evolution of free-to-play models on PC and console[17:35] Understanding the gap between early validation and real user data[22:06] The common pitfalls in mobile game concepting and iteration[27:57] The balance between innovation and "stealing like an artist"[31:45] Building an audience-first approach in game development[36:15] Pixar’s "Brain Trust" model and how it applies to game studios[40:36] The impact of COVID-19 on the game industry and the rise of social gaming[44:20] Joakim’s thoughts on the future of mobile gaming and game developmentResources & media mentioned in this episode:Connect with Joakim Achrén:Joakim on LinkedInJoakim on TwitterJoakim’s BlogLearn more about Elite Game Developers:Elite Game Developers WebsiteBooks mentioned:Creativity, Inc.
--------
44:07
--------
44:07
What Games Truly Are, with Tadhg Kelly
In this episode:Jordan sits down with Tadhg Kelly, an experienced consultant specializing in augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and video games, with a rich background in game design and production. Tadhg has held significant roles at notable companies like BSkyB, Lionhead Studios, Climax Studios, and Mobile Game Doctor. His work spans a variety of game projects, from board games and live-action role-playing games to large-scale PC games and innovative AR/VR technologies. In this episode, Tadhg shares his journey from game designer to consultant, offering invaluable insights into the industry's evolution and the lessons he has learned along the way.Topics covered:Tadhg’s transition from game designer to consultant and the lessons he learned along the wayUnderstanding the "Sexy/Worthy Trap" and how to use it to your advantage in game designBalancing speed-to-market against feature development in game projectsThe benefit of having diverse skill sets in the gaming industryCommon mistakes made in the early stages of game developmentThe value of letting your game developer do their jobFor more game industry tips:Learn more about Jordan & Bright BlackListen on iTunes | Spotify (Support the show and leave a review)Visit www.playmakerspodcast.com for the full blog post and more!Timestamps:[03:04] Tadhg’s journey from game designer to consultant[06:15] Lessons learned from working on various game projects[09:47] Examples of “cliff projects” and challenges in game development[13:00] Consulting and transitioning from traditional game development[17:19] The “Sexy / Worthy Trap” and how it influences successful games[22:27] Simple mistakes in the early stages of game development[24:06] Why assumptions about gameplay and player psychology can lead to failure[26:57] The importance of being “sexy” rather than “worthy” in game development[30:09] Writing game design documentation and focusing on the user experience[36:30] Lessons from working on platforms like OUYA and Magic Leap[44:43] Tadhg’s thoughts on consulting and what’s next in the game industryResources & media mentioned in this episode:Connect with Tadhg:LinkedInWork with Tadhg at Mobile Game DoctorRead the What Games Are Blog
Jordan Blackman interviews the leaders and legends of the video game industry so that you can succeed with your game project, career, or venture. Discover how you can produce, market, and operate games more successfully so that your career can be more satisfying and impactful, whether you're a game designer, engineer, or entrepreneur and whether you work at a studio, publisher, brand or startup. Jordan is an industry insider, who has worked as a Senior Producer at Ubisoft and a Lead Designer at Zynga. Since 2012, Jordan has been helping clients like EA Sports, AMC Networks, The Pokemon Company, Ellen Degeneres, and Capcom create and grow hit games. In each episode of Playmakers, he goes to work uncovering valuable insights, tactics, and know-how from a wide range of entertaining personalities including designers, writers, product managers, technologists, studio founders, executives, and more. Why? So that you get practical perspectives and insights week after week. No matter your experience or discipline, this is the show that can level you up on everything from raising funds to live operations, and everything in-between. Oh, and you'll have fun every step of the way, because there's a magic sprinkle of goofiness in each episode. So thwack that subscribe button and buckle your safety belt, 'cus this here is the wildest ride in the metaverse.
Colombia