Building games is a challenge, but Pocket Worlds is taking a unique approach with their social platform Highrise. As CEO Anton Bernstein explains, the goal is to connect users through shared experiences. Rather than traditional models, Highrise focuses on rapidly iterating based on frequent and direct user feedback.

Anton conducts weekly interviews to gain a deep understanding of how players engage which informs Pocket World’s priorities. The team also empowers creators within the community to design their own games and worlds. Through tools like Highrise Studio, creators can build experiences that keep users engaged. By allowing community members to shape the platform, Pocket Worlds is building a truly social and collaborative gaming world. Their fast-paced culture of autonomy and experimentation has led to ongoing evolution of Highrise to best serve users and creators.

0:00 The route to Pocket Worlds

7:57 Founding and running a gaming-focused social platform

18:19 Iterating, learning, and building for users and creators

23:01 Company culture, speed, and gaming development

To learn more about Pocket Worlds and Highrise, head to https://www.pocketworlds.com/

To discover the next step in your gaming career, head to https://www.gamelogicrecruitment.com/

Welcome to Game Logic where gaming industry expert Myke Parrott interviews top-class Gaming professionals from some of the world’s most respected Games Studios. These conversations unveil the business side of the gaming industry and reveal insights from some of the people who make the world’s best video games possible. 

This show discusses everything from launching new titles, game development, streaming, UX and UI through to eSports, Free To Play Mobile Gaming and even Web3 Crypto innovations. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the creative processes, challenges, and triumphs from CTOs, engineers, developers, art directors, designers, animators and producers offering an immersive journey into the heart of the gaming universe.

What games sparked a lifelong passion for development? For Zach Hooper, director of production at ProbablyMonsters, it was early PC titles like Morrowind and Wolfenstein that first drew him into gaming. As a kid modding those classic games, he discovered a knack for tinkering under the hood and learning development tools. That hands-on experience eventually led Zach to pursue a career in the industry. He tells his story from those early modding days up through roles at studios like Monolith Productions and Microsoft. Zach also discussed his current work producing games at ProbablyMonsters and why the studio's culture of work-life balance is such a good fit. Even with many responsibilities now, Zach still makes time to play the latest roguelikes. His passion for gaming continues to drive his work helping others pursue their own careers in development.

0:00 Intro 2:20 Career progression in the gaming industry, from QA to production roles. 11:35 The differences between working at a large company and a startup. 17:03 Work-life balance and culture at Microsoft and ProbablyMonsters. 20:51 Production roles, culture, and teamwork in game development. 24:41 Mentorship and career growth in the gaming industry. 28:38 Job search strategies and gaming recommendations.

To discover the next step in your gaming career, head to https://www.gamelogicrecruitment.com/

Welcome to Game Logic where gaming industry expert Myke Parrott interviews top-class Gaming professionals from some of the world’s most respected Games Studios. These conversations unveil the business side of the gaming industry and reveal insights from some of the people who make the world’s best video games possible. 

This show discusses everything from launching new titles, game development, streaming, UX and UI through to eSports, Free To Play Mobile Gaming and even Web3 Crypto innovations. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the creative processes, challenges, and triumphs from CTOs, engineers, developers, art directors, designers, animators and producers offering an immersive journey into the heart of the gaming universe.

Why has voice direction become more important in the games industry in recent years? There are many ways to get into voice direction, as the skills needed have only recently been recognized as a special job. Kirsty Gilmore's journey began with experience in theatre and sound engineering, leading to work at the BBC before realising voice direction in games was an option. 

There is a growing appreciation for voice acting as her job requires her to translate between developers and actors to help bring characters to life. Kirsty works with many game studios, from small indie teams to big publishers and on games like Baldur's Gate 3. If you have a passion for both performance and games, pursuing voice directing can provide an engaging career guiding stories.

To discover the next step in your gaming career, head to https://www.gamelogicrecruitment.com/

Welcome to Game Logic where gaming industry expert Myke Parrott interviews top-class Gaming professionals from some of the world’s most respected Games Studios. These conversations unveil the business side of the gaming industry and reveal insights from some of the people who make the world’s best video games possible. 

This show discusses everything from launching new titles, game development, streaming, UX and UI through to eSports, Free To Play Mobile Gaming and even Web3 Crypto innovations. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the creative processes, challenges, and triumphs from CTOs, engineers, developers, art directors, designers, animators and producers offering an immersive journey into the heart of the gaming universe.

0:00 Intro 0:47 Voice acting and performance direction in the gaming industry. 6:35 Career path in game audio direction and casting. 11:50 Voiceover professionals in the gaming industry, and the growing importance of acting and performance in games. 15:25 Voice directing for video games, including awards and responsibilities. 19:17 What does a Voice Director do? 24:20 Directing games with sensitive content, including mental health and trauma. 28:21 Upcoming indie games and the challenges of game development.

How do you find your way into the fascinating world of narrative design for video games? As the Narrative Lead at Doborog, Geoffrey Golden has had an interesting journey to his current role. Geoffrey accidentally fell into game writing after starting his career in comedy writing. 

While he loved games as a child, programming proved a challenge, so writing was a natural fit. Over time he focused specifically on narrative design, realising the potential in this growing field. Geoffrey's work has taken him around the world, collaborating with international studios. 

As a narrative designer, he derives great creative fulfilment from crafting stories while balancing commercial constraints. His passion for games is evident as he excitedly discusses an upcoming sequel to one of his all-time favourite titles. His journey shows how following your interests can lead to unexpected opportunities in the video game industry.

To discover the next step in your gaming career, head to https://www.gamelogicrecruitment.com/

Welcome to Game Logic where gaming industry expert Myke Parrott interviews top-class Gaming professionals from some of the world’s most respected Games Studios. These conversations unveil the business side of the gaming industry and reveal insights from some of the people who make the world’s best video games possible.

This show discusses everything from launching new titles, game development, streaming, UX and UI through to eSports, Free To Play Mobile Gaming and even Web3 Crypto innovations. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the creative processes, challenges, and triumphs from CTOs, engineers, developers, art directors, designers, animators and producers offering an immersive journey into the heart of the gaming universe.

0:00 Evolution of narrative design in video games.

4:24 International game writing in narrative design.

8:07 Hiring American writers for game narratives.

12:52 Creative freedom in video game writing.

17:21 Production constraints in game storytelling.

23:00 Creative fulfilment and growth in game development.

How can you break into a career in game audio? Gav Shepherd, Co-CEO at Rev Rooms, details his unique path working in the games  industry. He took an unconventional route to the industry, gaining experience in TV and movies, including major Disney releases, before moving into the gaming industry. He also discusses the complex process of localization for films, noting the challenges of replacing vocal performances and songs into dozens of languages.

Gav shares how he founded Rev Rooms to emphasise the importance of technical skills in audio implementation. Rev Rooms particularly focuses on sourcing new audio talent by teaching programmers audio implementation. Gav looks for a passion for sound above formal qualifications in order for Rev Rooms to "grow their own" talent and contribute to the evolving field of game audio.

To discover the next step in your gaming career, head to https://www.gamelogicrecruitment.com/

Welcome to Game Logic where gaming industry expert Myke Parrott interviews top-class Gaming professionals from some of the world’s most respected Games Studios. These conversations unveil the business side of the gaming industry and reveal insights from some of the people who make the world’s best video games possible. 

This show discusses everything from launching new titles, game development, streaming, UX and UI through to eSports, Free To Play Mobile Gaming and even Web3 Crypto innovations. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the creative processes, challenges, and triumphs from CTOs, engineers, developers, art directors, designers, animators and producers offering an immersive journey into the heart of the gaming universe.

0:00 Intro

3:10 Career path in audio engineering, from early interest to 38 years in the industry.

7:22 Switching from movie audio to game audio.

13:41 Gaming, music, and film industry experiences.

18:09 Audio post-production for Disney films, including Beauty and the Beast.

21:57 Starting an audio development company during Brexit and COVID-19 pandemic.

26:58 Hiring and training audio coders for video games, with a focus on internships and personal passion for sound.

What challenges did studios face when launching new games in 2023?

James Batchelor is Editor-in-Chief at GamesIndustry.biz and reports on the games industry during this time of economic uncertainty. James faces a balancing act to tell the full story; on one hand, James has a duty to report on all of the studio closures and layoffs that many developers face, however, only focusing on the negatives risks damaging the industry even further. It is important to also highlight any funding successes or new projects that showed the industry's continued potential for growth.

With development costs rising as the market matures, even attending industry events has become more difficult for some independent journalists. Through it all, James aims to provide useful analysis and context to help the games industry navigate changing market conditions. It’s a challenging yet critical time for journalism to both inform and offer encouragement to the developing sector.

To discover the next step in your gaming career, head to https://www.gamelogicrecruitment.com/

Welcome to Game Logic where gaming industry expert Myke Parrott interviews top-class Gaming professionals from some of the world’s most respected Games Studios. These conversations unveil the business side of the gaming industry and reveal insights from some of the people who make the world’s best video games possible. 

This show discusses everything from launching new titles, game development, streaming, UX and UI through to eSports, Free To Play Mobile Gaming and even Web3 Crypto innovations. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the creative processes, challenges, and triumphs from CTOs, engineers, developers, art directors, designers, animators and producers offering an immersive journey into the heart of the gaming universe.

What does it take to break into the exciting world of video game development? Tanner is an environment artist at Squanch Games and his interest in working in the games industry  started from being inspired by games like LittleBigPlanet in his youth to studying art in college and persevering through over 100 job applications. He shares key advice for aspiring developers, such as focusing your portfolio to only showcase your strongest work. Tanner also stresses the importance of networking by engaging recruiters on LinkedIn and finding ways to get passionate about the development process from an early age. From his varied career path between different studios, he demonstrates the importance of truly loving the games you work on. This interview offers a fascinating look into one developer's perspective on finding your niche and getting your foot in the door of game development.

To discover the next step in your gaming career, head to https://www.gamelogicrecruitment.com/

Welcome to Game Logic where gaming industry expert Myke Parrott interviews top-class Gaming professionals from some of the world’s most respected Games Studios. These conversations unveil the business side of the gaming industry and reveal insights from some of the people who make the world’s best video games possible. 

This show discusses everything from launching new titles, game development, streaming, UX and UI through to eSports, Free To Play Mobile Gaming and even Web3 Crypto innovations. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the creative processes, challenges, and triumphs from CTOs, engineers, developers, art directors, designers, animators and producers offering an immersive journey into the heart of the gaming universe.

Why should you always be networking in the gaming industry? Mike's journey through the gaming industry is as compelling a reason as any. From his early days in engine development to navigating through roles in studios of various sizes, Mike emphasises the importance of networking. Even when securely employed, he stresses the significance of staying connected and how it can make a layoff less of a daunting experience. 

Mike's contributions to open-source engine development in the 2000s and his pioneering role in expanding companies into North America further accentuate the value of building professional relationships.

Mike's current responsibilities include establishing infrastructure and implementing best practices to improve team productivity during prototype development. His journey shows the rewards of proactive networking in the dynamic landscape of the gaming industry.

To discover the next step in your gaming career, head to https://www.gamelogicrecruitment.com/

Welcome to Game Logic where gaming industry expert Myke Parrott interviews top-class Gaming professionals from some of the world’s most respected Games Studios. These conversations unveil the business side of the gaming industry and reveal insights from some of the people who make the world’s best video games possible. 

This show discusses everything from launching new titles, game development, streaming, UX and UI through to eSports, Free To Play Mobile Gaming and even Web3 Crypto innovations. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the creative processes, challenges, and triumphs from CTOs, engineers, developers, art directors, designers, animators and producers offering an immersive journey into the heart of the gaming universe.

How do you go from a repair technician to the studio head of your own gaming company? Francisco Bravo shares his fascinating career journey, starting from studying computer science and doing freelance repair work as a child, to working for various technology consulting firms throughout his education and early career. He discusses pivotal roles developing new ideas around AI and data analytics at previous companies, as well as feeling unfulfilled in his most recent corporate position. It was this unhappiness, combined with a passion for game development and encouragement from his wife, that led Francisco Bravo to take the risk of founding BrewMasters Games alongside friends with a shared interest in creating games for busy adults. Under his leadership as studio head of BrewMasters Games, Francisco Bravo is developing their first title Dungeon’s Anima while pursuing new opportunities at the upcoming GDC conference.

To discover the next step in your gaming career, head to https://www.gamelogicrecruitment.com/

Welcome to Game Logic where gaming industry expert Myke Parrott interviews top-class Gaming professionals from some of the world’s most respected Games Studios. These conversations unveil the business side of the gaming industry and reveal insights from some of the people who make the world’s best video games possible. 

This show discusses everything from launching new titles, game development, streaming, UX and UI through to eSports, Free To Play Mobile Gaming and even Web3 Crypto innovations. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the creative processes, challenges, and triumphs from CTOs, engineers, developers, art directors, designers, animators and producers offering an immersive journey into the heart of the gaming universe.

What does it take to break into the competitive gaming industry? Just ask Trevor Wernisch, UX Director at Unbroken Studios. With over 20 years of experience in visual design and interfaces, Trevor has seen his fair share of ups and downs. In our conversation, he shares how passion and perseverance helped him land that coveted first gaming job despite lacking direct experience. Trevor also offered invaluable advice for job seekers, emphasising the importance of showing initiative through side projects and customising your application to the role. Now leading the UI/UX charge on exciting new titles like the upcoming Harry Potter: Quidditch game, Trevor's journey is proof that creativity and dedication can help you overcome any gaps in your resume.

To discover the next step in your gaming career, head to https://www.gamelogicrecruitment.com/

Welcome to Game Logic where gaming industry expert Myke Parrott interviews top-class Gaming professionals from some of the world’s most respected Games Studios. These conversations unveil the business side of the gaming industry and reveal insights from some of the people who make the world’s best video games possible.

This show discusses everything from launching new titles, game development, streaming, UX and UI through to eSports, Free To Play Mobile Gaming and even Web3 Crypto innovations. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the creative processes, challenges, and triumphs from CTOs, engineers, developers, art directors, designers, animators and producers offering an immersive journey into the heart of the gaming universe.