Let's talk about outsourcing game development.

It's an essential part of the industry and no one of prominent AAA titles wouldn't be released without it. However, some people consider external developers as something unreliable.

In the 18th episode of the Devoted SpeakEasy podcast, we're going to break this myth and prove that outsourcing game-dev may be both efficient and high-quality. Besides, we try to find out how to set up a workflow, how to build communication with artists from different time zones and with different cultural backgrounds, what tools to use, and what to consider while preparing an outsource brief.

Join the nice company of our host Ninel Anderson and her titled guest Tuan Ngo. Both of them are experienced experts in the field of external development. Ninel is the CEO of Devoted Studios which contributed to the production of Guild Wars 2, Halo The Masterchief Collection, WWE 2K22, Grounded, Angry Birds, and other prominent titles. Tuan had been working as an outsourcing specialist at Amazon. Before that, he had collaborated with Blizzards, EA, Konami, Snap Inc., and other studios.

Listen to the episode, get useful insights, and feel free to share it.

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Prepare to be inspired as Virtual Production industry powerhouses discuss the transformative impact of virtual production on the filmmaking landscape. Gain valuable insights into the creative possibilities, technological advancements, and the future of virtual production as they share their firsthand experiences and expertise.

Joan Bevan Webb, formerly a Strategic Brand Marketing Consultant (Media Webb) and VP of Entertainment Marketing & Business Development (Mav12), brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table. Her illustrious client list boasts renowned names like James Cameron, Oliver Stone, Doug Trumbull, Tim Burton, and the Coen Brothers. With collaborations with industry giants such as IMAX, Pixar, Sony, DreamWorks, MGM, and Disney, Joan Bevan Webb has been at the forefront of cutting-edge virtual production techniques.

Joining Joan Bevan Webb is Vitalii Boiko, Founder and CEO at PixelaLabs, a leading virtual production company. Known for their groundbreaking UE4/5 cluster rendering technology called nDisplay, Vitalii Boiko has been revolutionizing the virtual production landscape. With previous experience as a Lead Engineer at IndustrialVR and Software Engineer at EON Reality, DirecTV, Softline, and Frogwares, Vitalii Boiko brings a unique perspective and technical prowess to the roundtable.

Completing the panel is Dani Bellar Pilukas, the Director of Physical Production at Lux Machina Consulting. With an impressive background as an Imagineer, Show Programmer, and Principal at Walt Disney Imagineering, Dani Bellar Pilukas has played a pivotal role in the development and engineering of cutting-edge technical video solutions for film and TV, broadcast, live events, and permanent installations. Her notable projects, including Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (Thea Award 2020), Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge (Thea Award 2019), and Pandora: World of Avatar (Thea Award 2018), have showcased his innovative approach to physical production.

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Join us in this exciting episode as we delve into the world of animation, uncovering its future prospects, industry challenges, and common mistakes made by animators. Our special guest, Harvey Newman, a distinguished BAFTA Board Member, YouTube blogger, and renowned figure in the animation industry, shares invaluable insights on building effective teams and fostering cross-department collaboration.

Check out the YouTube version of the podcast:

https://youtu.be/X3Re0lwAiCI

Watch the episode video version on our YouTube!

https://youtu.be/w4gWNJlrIZg  

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/noahkadner/  

Visit our website and check out our projects:

https://devotedstudios.com 

Follow us on Social Media:

Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/devoted-studios/  

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/devotedstudios_

Have you heard of Virtual Production? It's cutting-edge technology that has revolutionized the movie industry. Believe it or not, some of the blockbuster movies you've watched recently were created using game engines.

In this episode, we'll explore the exciting new possibilities that Virtual Production offers filmmakers. We'll discuss the skills required for artists who work with this technology and the demand for professionals in this field. We'll also take a look at other industries that can benefit from Virtual Production and how to get involved in creating Hollywood's biggest blockbusters.

Our special guest for today is Noah Kadner, a renowned figure in the Virtual Production world. He's the founder and editor-in-chief of VirtualProducer.io, co-founder of The Virtual Company, and a senior writer for Epic Games, Apple, and American Cinematographer magazines. Noah is also the author of the Virtual Production Field Guide series for Epic Games and the host of the Virtual Production Podcast. 

So, tune in and join us for an insightful discussion on Virtual Production.

Join us as we sit down with Ryan Lastimosa, ex-Creative Director of Respawn Entertainment, to get insights from his wisdom and experience in the game industry. Our guest is an honored specialist who has designed hundreds of weapons for AAA Shooters: Call of Duty 4, Apex Legends, Titanfall 1, Titanfall 2, and more.

Fall Guys is one of the most successful video games over the last decade. 

This cartoony platformer earned $185 million of revenue from 8.2 million players just in its first month — awe-inspiring numbers!

 In the new episode of the Devoted SpeakEasy podcast, we are peeking behind the scenes of Fall Guys' development.  

So welcome our guest — Alexander McKinney-Raphelt, a studio Art Director at Epic Games. He is one of those responsible for the visual side of Fall Guys. Join our host Ninel (Gryuner) Anderson and find out tons of insight about creating a legendary game, character customizations, working with a community, managing methods, and more.

Tune in and find the answers to the hottest production and team management questions. What makes Proletariat as a team successful? What are the tips and tricks of creating addictive games like Spellbreak? What are the problems and challenges of a fast growing team?  How to keep your distributed team motivated?  Why should you sometimes let your employees ‘drown’? How to find and hire people with the right skills?

Want to learn how to build scalable character customization pipelines without spending your entire project budget ? Want to learn new tricks on how to create valuable content that players actually want to buy? Want to learn how PlanetSide2 and Team Fortress uses community efforts to create customizable content, increase engagement and spend less money? Want to learn how to become a successful Lead Artist?   

(13:17): Involving community into building content  

You’ve heard it everywhere by now - it’s a brave new world in gaming in 2020. And as people are more open than ever to finding ways to spend more time together online, there are thinkers who analyze these trends to figure out which companies and founders are worth investing time, energy - and of course, those big bucks - into.

In E05 of Devoted Speakeasy, join host Ninel Anderson as she chats with Sam Englebardt, Managing Partner of Galaxy Interactive, Richard Kim, Partner at Galaxy Interactive, and William Rhys Dekle, Partner at Strategic Alternatives. Between them they’ve supported the likes of Mythical, Proletariat, DazzleRocks, and more. Find out how these decisions are made, straight from the minds of some of the industry’s most experienced and thoughtful investors.

14 Things to Know to Raise Money in Gaming in 2020:

01) (01:50) 5 things investors are looking for in a pitch

02) (03:53) How do investors do their due diligence on content?

03) (07:43) The Pitch Process, and case studies from Galaxy’s portfolio

04) (20:53) Cold calling investors vs. warm intro?

05) (22:42) Is building a “Founder Brand” a necessity?

06) (23:10) How to research investors?

07) (27:25) Are consultants helpful in raising money?

08) (29:17) Supporting each other is key!

09) (30:27) What is the difference between a lead investor and a follower?

10) (31:10) How do you price your business?

11) (36:05) Do your math! Is VC actually a good solution for you? What other options do you have?

12) (37:29) Overall time, from starting pitching, to term sheet draft, to final version. When would you actually receive the money in your account?

13) (38:55) What's the usual time between the rounds? What should the founder be doing in between rounds?

14) (42:52) How has the process changed with the advent of the pandemic?

#devotedSpeakeasy #gaming #GamingVenture

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www.galaxyinteractive.io

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This episode is a master class in how to compel players to explore and thrive in fictional worlds. Christopher Barrett started out creating maps and mods as a fan of Myth, which led to opportunities at Bungie that have never stopped coming. Over the course of two decades, he has been an artist on Halo 1, Environmental Art Director on Halo 2 and Halo 3, Art Director of Destiny, Art and Game Director of Destiny 2, and now Game Director of an unannounced project.

In E04 of Devoted Speakeasy, join host Ninel Anderson as she chats with Chris about:

(2:18): Building worlds you want to explore

(5:15): Using the concept of “postcards” to tease an idea of a place you want to visit

(9:15): Drawing inspiration from beloved fiction from childhood

(12:20): How to communicate personal achievement through the visual language of gear rarity

(17:50): The importance of building upon existing, recognizable tropes

(24:15): The challenge of helping artists in a big team find common language

(30:40): The nuances between an Art Director and Game Director in leading a team

(37:50): Being a social media ambassador for Destiny through its ups and downs