Player, Too

Hey! It's our 50th episode, and we're pulling out all the stops! Join us as we discuss some of our favorite moments in gaming - and some of our favorite moments in game development! Also, rumors about the death of Mass Effect and efforts to stem the tide of AI clones in the news, and a sprawling fantasy 4X in the Game of the Week!

How does a team balance the accountability needed to ship games with the freedom necessary for creative teams to do their best work? Rade and Dave discuss the right kind of constraints with special guest veteran producer Harvard Bonin! Also, the demise of Bioware and a genuinely crazy Gears of War budget number.

We know AI is a sore subject for many our listeners, but even more studios are jumping headfirst into the space. Rade and Dave discuss AI and game development and make a few guesses about what's coming next. Also, Xbox and Epic in the news - and one of the best survival experience around releases its 1.0 version in the Game of the Week!

In recent months, a lot of studios have gotten burned investing in high-cost live service games. Why are players feeling live service fatigue? Also, additional discussion about what we are collectively losing with increased reliance on contractors and external teams, and Bitreactor and Microsoft in the news again!

How do developers know what they're building is fun - especially when "fun" is such a subjective term? Join Rade, Dave, and special guest Adam Isgreen for a mini-Westwood reunion and an in-depth discussion of how teams evaluate what they're building! Also, a Microsoft patent in the news, and Adam's Game of the Week!

What defines a successful launch? Whatever your metric, the release of Wardogs probably meets it (and then some). This week, Rade and Dave are back with a case study on a new top-selling shooter, discussing the developer, the launch strategy, and the game itself. Spoiler: one of us grades it higher than the other! Also, Microsoft back in the news, and not in a good way.

We've had a lot of discussion lately about the problems that plague the game industry. But what needs to change? Is there a path forward to a brighter future? Rade and Dave have thoughts in a super-sized episode this week. Also, hardware in the news, and a just-released indie RTS/roguelite in the Game of the Week segment!

Has gaming peaked? Are the industry's best days behind it? This week, Rade floats a bold (and somewhat bleak) premise, and we discuss - with some surprising conclusions. Also, Kojima's leap from Playstation to XBox in the news, and a great single-player RTS is our Game of the Week!

Even historically successful game studios with a stable of great legacy titles are struggling in today's environment. This week, Rade and Dave unpack the perils of running an outdated playbook in 2026 and the consequences of failing to realize that the industry has shifted. Also, Gamescom in the news, and Dave's most obscure and hardcore Game of the Week to date!

When a game is "done" is often a subjective call, but early community involvement can help guide the way. Join us for this week's conversation as we dive into a topic that every studio has to address at some point (if they're going to ship anything!) Also, celebrity passings and GTA6 leaks in the news, and Rade with a rare Game of the Week pick!