Game Dev Advice: The Game Developer's Podcast

Creative Directors, Diversity and Inclusion, Level Ex, Your Mutant Ability, Van Halen, Making For Honor, Mythic Quest, Player Motivation, and Hades with Jason VandenBerghe of Level Ex


Listen Later

On this episode we welcome Jason VandenBerghe, VP Studio Creative Director at Level Ex. We start by discussing COVID-19, his excitement about making games for doctors, and thoughts about the future of game design. He shares his story of breaking into the industry with The X-Files Game and his transition from programmer to producer to creative director at EA. Jason then offers specific advice for people in the industry and those looking to break in while telling about the fastest hire ever made at Ubisoft.

He shares intriguing stories on his favorite games so far, including the development of For Honor at Ubisoft and working with Van Halen on Guitar Hero. He speaks about his excitement for this golden age of design experimentation right now, along with threats that include a backlash to diversity and inclusion, engaging with players, and the dangers of self-defeating beliefs amongst developers.

Before telling a few more hilarious industry stories Jason shares candid thoughts on AR & VR, and his love for Beat Saber. We wrap things up talking about his two current favorite games that include his must-play “Game of the Year”, along with parting advice to game designers.

Jason VandenBerghe has led creative teams for over two decades, developing triple-A games for Ubisoft (For Honor), Activision (Call of Duty), and Electronic Arts (James Bond 007). At Level Ex, he employs game design methodologies, honed through extensive experience in the consumer games industry, to capture the greatest challenges of medical and surgical procedures as video game mechanics. 

 

Discussion Details:

[01:10] Introducing Jason VandenBerghe

[02:00] Thoughts about pandemic life

[03:40] His passion around game design

[09:51] The challenges and excitement of working at Level Ex

[13:39] What it’s like to work with medical professionals

[15:37] How he started in the industry on The X-Files Game

[22:00] Going from Programming into Production then Creative Director at EA

[24:49] When his annual reviews changed, he knew he was in the right path

[26:21] What he wishes he’d known when starting out

[28:38] Quality vs. Sales - his NPD discovery

[32:14] Key advice for getting your first job and the fastest hire ever made

[37:46] How to advice your current career

[44:29] Favorite projects so far – For Honor and Guitar Hero: Van Halen

[54:51] Excitement around Diversity and Inclusion, which is long overdue in the industry

[1:00:36] Threats including the backlash about Diversity and Inclusion, triple-A player engagement, and self-defeating beliefs

[1:05:20] Thoughts on AR & VR and love for Beat Saber

[1:07:55] Funny stories about Mythic Quest roots and Red Steel 2

[1:16:57] Playing the game of spotting Creative Directors at GDC

[1:18:36] His love for Spelunky 2 and obsession with Hades

[1:21:18] Player psychology and motivation

[1:23:19] Why he wanted to be a filmmaker

[1:24:12] How to connect

[1:24:49] Parting piece of advice – tear down the walls

[1:26:28] Cut to outro

 

Show Links:

Noah Falstein Wikipedia

Level Ex website

Level Ex SIGGRAPH 2019 YouTube

The X-Files Game Wikipedia

James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing Wikipedia

For Honor Wikipedia

Playing Hard IMDb (on Steam)

Guitar Hero: Van Halen IMDb

Unity website

Beat Saber website

Red Steel 2 IGN

Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet IMDb

Spelunky 2 Steam

Hades Steam

GDC Engines of Play: Talk 3 YouTube

Thoughts on Games for Change YouTube

 

Connect with Jason:

The_DarkLorde Twitter

The_DarkLorde website

Jason VandenBerghe Designing the Future at Level Ex

Jason VandenBerghe YouTube videos

 

Game Dev Advice:

*New: Game Dev Advice Patreon

*Game Dev Advice Twitter

*Game Dev Advice email

*Game Dev Advice website

*Level Ex website - we’re hiring for all kinds of roles

*Game Dev Advice Hotline: (224) 484-7733 – give a call and ask a question

*www.gamedevadvice.com for full show notes with links

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Game Dev Advice: The Game Developer's PodcastBy The HP Video Game Podcast Network - John JP Podlasek

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

50 ratings


More shows like Game Dev Advice: The Game Developer's Podcast

View all
Nintendo Voice Chat by IGN & Geek Media

Nintendo Voice Chat

3,382 Listeners

Classic Gaming Podcast by Space Freight Service

Classic Gaming Podcast

58 Listeners

Super Best Friends Video Game Sleepover by The HP Video Game Podcast Network

Super Best Friends Video Game Sleepover

43 Listeners

Coffee with Butterscotch: A Game Dev Comedy Podcast by Butterscotch Shenanigans

Coffee with Butterscotch: A Game Dev Comedy Podcast

159 Listeners

Weekly Games Chat by Weekly Games Chat

Weekly Games Chat

267 Listeners

The WAN Show by Linus Tech Tips

The WAN Show

1,107 Listeners

ARGcast - Another Retro Gaming Podcast by Bleav

ARGcast - Another Retro Gaming Podcast

22 Listeners

The Life & Times of Video Games by Richard Moss

The Life & Times of Video Games

11 Listeners

Darknet Diaries by Jack Rhysider

Darknet Diaries

7,878 Listeners

Indie Game Movement - The podcast about the business and marketing of indie games. by Andrew Pappas, Indie Game Marketer and Consultant

Indie Game Movement - The podcast about the business and marketing of indie games.

8 Listeners

The Video Game Pharmacy Podcast by The HP Video Game Podcast Network

The Video Game Pharmacy Podcast

8 Listeners

Practical AI by Practical AI LLC

Practical AI

192 Listeners

Backstage Gaming by The HP Video Game Podcast Network

Backstage Gaming

7 Listeners

Super Gamer Boys by Super Gamer Boys

Super Gamer Boys

32 Listeners

The HP Podcast (From Handsome Phantom) by The HP Video Game Podcast Network

The HP Podcast (From Handsome Phantom)

40 Listeners

Game Developer Podcast by GameDeveloper.com

Game Developer Podcast

31 Listeners

The MinnMax Show by MinnMax

The MinnMax Show

2,046 Listeners

Game Dev Field Guide by Zackavelli

Game Dev Field Guide

95 Listeners

Triple Click by Maximum Fun

Triple Click

1,132 Listeners

Indie Game Lunch Hour by Indie Game Academy

Indie Game Lunch Hour

9 Listeners

Gamecraft by Mitch Lasky / Blake Robbins

Gamecraft

94 Listeners

The Indie Game Development Podcast by sasquatchbstudios

The Indie Game Development Podcast

27 Listeners

Full Time Game Dev by Thomas Brush

Full Time Game Dev

20 Listeners