Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Balancing Scarcity And Growth In The Games Industry
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Balancing Scarcity And Growth In The Games Industry
Tell us what you thought of the episode and any topics you would like us to cover!
Growth without restraint breaks studios. Scarcity without vision shrinks them. We dig into a practical way forward: carry the hard-won lessons of lean times into the rush of good times, and treat balance as a leadership operating system rather than a nice idea. Using a yin and yang lens, we map how reflection, discipline, and conservation can live alongside expansion, ambition, and speed—so teams create better games without burning out.
We start with the rhythm of the game industry’s cycles and why the boom-bust pattern repeats: overhiring, tool bloat, trend-chasing, and investor pressure. From there, we lay out concrete playbooks leaders can apply immediately. You’ll hear how to focus on core strengths, build a six-month reserve as standard practice, and use milestone-based development to keep scope honest. We talk about staffing resilience—reducing hours, role rotations, and sabbaticals before layoffs—and how open communication turns fear into problem-solving. We also show why constraints spark innovation and how to keep that creative clarity when budgets swell.
Culture and community take center stage. We unpack no-crunch policies, transparent roadmaps, and quarterly reflection rituals that survive leadership changes. We cover empathy in player relations—fair pricing, honest updates, and ongoing support that earns long-term trust—and smart diversification that aligns with your mission instead of scattering attention. Finally, we outline institutional safeguards: reserve-fund policies, duality-thinking leadership training, and scalable systems that flex with headcount and revenue. If you’re ready to swap reactive swings for steady momentum and build a studio that lasts, this conversation gives you the tools to start today.
If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a teammate, and leave a quick review with the one lean-time lesson you’ll carry forward.
Support the show
Join Our DISCORD!
Wishlist Shadow City Mysteries: A Clockwork Noir on Steam!
Pre-Order Shadow City Mysteries: The Roleplaying Game on Backerkit!
Link to my FREE ebook: 5 Heroic Leadership Skills
Music by: Joey the Mad Scientist
Hit subscribe/follow and be sure to check out: https://pressstartleadership.com/
View all episodes
By Press Start Leadership
5
44 ratings
Tell us what you thought of the episode and any topics you would like us to cover!
Growth without restraint breaks studios. Scarcity without vision shrinks them. We dig into a practical way forward: carry the hard-won lessons of lean times into the rush of good times, and treat balance as a leadership operating system rather than a nice idea. Using a yin and yang lens, we map how reflection, discipline, and conservation can live alongside expansion, ambition, and speed—so teams create better games without burning out.
We start with the rhythm of the game industry’s cycles and why the boom-bust pattern repeats: overhiring, tool bloat, trend-chasing, and investor pressure. From there, we lay out concrete playbooks leaders can apply immediately. You’ll hear how to focus on core strengths, build a six-month reserve as standard practice, and use milestone-based development to keep scope honest. We talk about staffing resilience—reducing hours, role rotations, and sabbaticals before layoffs—and how open communication turns fear into problem-solving. We also show why constraints spark innovation and how to keep that creative clarity when budgets swell.
Culture and community take center stage. We unpack no-crunch policies, transparent roadmaps, and quarterly reflection rituals that survive leadership changes. We cover empathy in player relations—fair pricing, honest updates, and ongoing support that earns long-term trust—and smart diversification that aligns with your mission instead of scattering attention. Finally, we outline institutional safeguards: reserve-fund policies, duality-thinking leadership training, and scalable systems that flex with headcount and revenue. If you’re ready to swap reactive swings for steady momentum and build a studio that lasts, this conversation gives you the tools to start today.
If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a teammate, and leave a quick review with the one lean-time lesson you’ll carry forward.
Support the show
Join Our DISCORD!
Wishlist Shadow City Mysteries: A Clockwork Noir on Steam!
Pre-Order Shadow City Mysteries: The Roleplaying Game on Backerkit!
Link to my FREE ebook: 5 Heroic Leadership Skills
Music by: Joey the Mad Scientist
Hit subscribe/follow and be sure to check out: https://pressstartleadership.com/