The Business of Video Games Podcast

Do we got another great conversation for you here friends? Yes we do!

In this episode, Shams and Fernando sit down with industry veteran Adam Boyes to explore his remarkable journey through the industry over the last decades. Adam shares stories from his early years, continuing to look at his time at Midway and Capcom, and his transition into business development and executive leadership.

The conversation leads over to Adams experience with navigating Japanese corporate culture, digital distribution with titles like Bionic Commando Rearmed and an unexpected stint consulting for major non-gaming IPs like Kraft Foods(!).

But what is a conversation with Adam Boyes without diving into his years at PlayStation during the PS4 generation, including the backstory behind one of the most iconic industry memes: the legendary “How to Share a Game on PlayStation” video..

But before we jump into the interview, Shams and Fernando also sheds some light on Sweden’s outsized footprint in the global games industry, from its unusually strong export numbers to the cultural and economic aspects that have helped Swedish studios punch far above their weight for decades (and continue to do so).

The "How to share your game on PlayStation"-meme

VR in the parking lot

Vivrato.com

It's time to continue our conversation with Chris and Tyler som Red Hook Studios!

In this second half of our interview with Red Hook Studios founders Chris and Tyler, we focus on what happened after Darkest Dungeon 1. Wrapping up Kickstarter commitments, the surprising intensity of Early Access, and how the game’s success never really gave the team a chance to slow down.

Among other things, we also touch on their DLC approach, some of the business decisions behind Darkest Dungeon 2 and why they ultimately accepted an Epic Games Store deal that fully funded the sequel despite community pushback.

Beyond the interview, Shams and Fernando also get into the state of industry events like GDC, plus what they’ve been playing and thinking about lately - because even in a packed episode, there’s always room for a little extra.

Find Red Hook Studios on Steam here

We are back!

And what a time to be alive when we start of Season 4 with two real bangers.

Chris Bourassa and Tyler Sigman are the creative minds behind Darkest Dungeon and co-founders of Red Hook Studios. Chris - who still believes he’s not really an artist, despite shaping one of the most iconic visual styles in gaming - joins forces with Tyler, the design wizard and production mastermind.

In this episode (the first of two), we dive into their backstory, unpack their Kickstarter ride, and explore how they turned stress, madness, and misery into one of the most unforgettable indie darlings out there.

Find Red Hook Studios on Steam

In our final episode of the season, Shams and Fernando drop the guest format to tackle a few persistent myths and misconceptions that have been quietly annoying us all year.

We dig into things like:

How a game can be a bestseller and still be considered a disappointment

What minority investments really mean — and what they don’t

No shouting, no hot takes (okay, maybe one), just two people who’ve seen a few things, trying to make sense of a business that often doesn't.

Thanks for listening this season — see you soon.

support us on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BusinessOfVideoGames

Nobody does shadow drops (the act of releasing a game with no advance marketing) quite like Landfall Games, who've done it many times; most recently moving 2 million units of PEAK in less than 2 weeks after shadow dropping it in June.

Fernando talks to Landfall's Chief Business Officer Rebecca Lautner and Head of Publishing Kirsten-Lee Naidoo to get the inside story of how they've become the masters of this unusual tactic.

XCOM designer and Sid Meier protege Jake Solomon is embarking on a new mission: CEO of his own studio. Jake gives Shams and Fernando a window into his extraordinary career, telling stories from his days at Firaxis and talking about his journey to found Midsummer Studios.

Follow Jake's progress at https://www.midsummerstudios.com/

Fourty two is the answer to life - but it's also the number of points of wisdom justly dispensed by games industry veteran Paul Kilduff-Taylor - mastermind behind Developer/Publisher/Operator - Mode 7 Games. Paul wrote the list of "42 Essential Game Dev Tips That Are Immutably Correct and Must Never Be Disputed by Anyone Ever At Any Time!"  and we unpack some of these and try to figure out why Paul is a very wise man. Because he is.

(sorry about Shams audio - its fixed in the next episode!)

Check out the original blog post here

https://modecollapse.substack.com/p/42-essential-game-dev-tips-that-are

And more info on Mode 7 Games: https://www.mode7.games/

Season 3 finally continues with a truly unique indie business auteur!

Xalavier Nelson Jr. runs Strange Scaffold, a game studio that defies convention—achieving repeated success while staying boldly artistic. Listen in to hear Xalavier and Strange Scaffold manage what so few others do. 

👉 Visit Strange Scaffold and explore their games here. https://www.strangescaffold.com/

As we're in a festive mood we decided to try something new and unpack what life is like at a service provider in the games industry. Some describe it as the hardest biz dev job in the industry and they wouldn't be wrong.

Serial entrepreneur Alexander Bergendahl shares how Lootlocker helps developers and publishers level up and get closer to their players. 

https://lootlocker.com/

This episode, we’re diving into the wild world of user-generated content (UGC) with Scott Reismanis, CEO of Mod.io. Ever wondered WHY mods go from hobby projects to gaming game-changers such as DOTA or CS? Scott’s here to spill the beans on Mod.io’s mission, the challenges of getting studios on board, and why UGC is still the future (spoiler: it’s awesome).

We’ll chat about big decisions, big trends, and big dreams for modding. 

Mods, memes, and major insights—don’t miss it!