The Here's Waldo Podcast

Jen MacLean, co-founder and CEO of a new studio, Dragon Snacks Games, is building social role-playing experiences that resonate with younger audiences. Formerly Xbox's General Manager of Creator Partnerships, she managed top partner relationships and co-led content strategies. With a passion for gaming, she also held senior roles in game development, driving worldwide business development at AWS and serving as Executive Director for the IGDA and IGDA Foundation.

In this episode, Jen shares her journey in the gaming industry and the vision behind Dragon Snacks Games. She offers insights into designing safe, engaging games for Gen Z and Gen Alpha, exploring their unique preferences and how to capture their attention. Jen also highlights the importance of fostering clear values and principles in startups and explains how Dragon Snacks Games aims to fill critical gaps in the gaming industry.

Nancy MacIntyre is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of leadership in the gaming and digital entertainment industry. She has an outstanding track record, having launched over 100 games, including 11 No. 1 titles, collectively generating more than $2 billion in revenue. Nancy has held pivotal roles at top companies such as LeapFrog, LucasArts, Atari, and Hasbro. She also co-founded and served as CEO of Fingerprint, a global provider of digital content for kids that reached millions before being acquired by Sandbox Group.

Currently, Nancy leads WorldWinner (formerly Game Taco) as its CEO, steering the skill gaming platform known for its "Play to Win" experience. Since joining in 2021, she has revitalized the brand by doubling its real-money player base and tripling cash entry fees, solidifying WorldWinner's leadership in the competitive skill gaming space.

Tune in as Nancy shares her extensive journey and insights, including building major brands, the rapid growth of the skill gaming industry, and her unique reflections on entrepreneurship and leadership in the gaming industry.

Robin Lavallée is the CEO and Co-Founder of Implicit Conversions, a company dedicated to bringing nostalgic games back to life by porting beloved classics to modern consoles using cutting-edge emulation technology. Their innovative software ensures that timeless games run seamlessly on today's platforms like the PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, preserving gaming history for future generations.

In this episode, Robin shares his journey from working at industry giants like Ubisoft and Meta to founding his own company. Tune in to discover insights into his unexpected leap into entrepreneurship, the challenges and rewards of developing emulation technology, strategies for building and managing a remote team, and his vision for the future of video game hardware.

In this episode of the Here's Waldo Podcast, Lizzie Mintus sits down with Anton Bernstein, the CEO and founder of Pocket Worlds, the fast-growing Y Combinator-backed company that has connected over 45 million users and 10,000 creators through shared virtual experiences. Pocket Worlds is the parent company behind two major platforms: High Rise and Everskies. High Rise is the leading virtual world where users create avatars, express themselves, and forge deep friendships through shared experiences. Meanwhile, Everskies offers a creative space for users to dress up pixel dolls and interact with their community. Anton shares how these platforms have shaped social interactions in online gaming and how experimentation led to the growth and success of High Rise.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation about growing up in the Soviet Union to founding multiple successful companies. Anton reflects on his entrepreneurial journey and offers valuable insights into user acquisition, engagement strategies, and the importance of social connection in virtual spaces.

In this episode of the Here's Waldo Podcast, Lizzie Mintus chats with William Schmitt, the Head of Studio at Proof of Play, a company on a mission to shepherd games into Web3's on-chain universe through uncompromisingly fun games. With over 32 years in the gaming industry, William has held key leadership roles at Disney Interactive, Scopely, THQ, Activision, and more. He has launched 60 titles across 23 platforms, including Tetris Worlds, South Park: The Stick of Truth, Spider-Man, and Madden Football.

Tune in to explore William's "fail fast" philosophy and how rapid prototyping and player feedback shape his game design approach. He shares insights on balancing quality with deadlines, the importance of iterative development, and focusing on core features that deliver "the fun."

Joe Schaeppi is the CEO and co-founder of Solsten and is on a mission to fundamentally change the way that humans connect. With a strong background in psychology, he leverages his expertise in human behavior and motivation—gained from leading UX strategy at McCann and his impactful work as an adventure-based psychotherapist—Joe is pioneering the use of video games for cognitive assessment, which opens up new possibilities for patient retention, preventative care, and even mental health diagnostics and treatment.

🎮 Tune in to discover how Solsten's data-driven insights reveal what truly makes players tick, capturing 400+ psychological data points related to desires, motivations, values, and personality traits. Joe and his team empower developers to understand player behavior, enhance personalization, and effectively target market segments. Their mission is to create games that resonate deeply with players, fostering emotional connections and driving engagement.

Garrett Young is a 25+ year game industry veteran who led development teams at major companies, including Microsoft, Activision, Disney, and Id Software, contributing to the creation of iconic franchises such as DOOM, Quake, and Rage. He also played a pivotal role in launching the Forza Motorsport and Project Gotham Racing franchises, along with delivering numerous other AAA titles.Today, Garrett brings his extensive expertise to lead Empty Vessel, where excitement is building for their upcoming game, Defect, which has already garnered over 1.9 million views on its YouTube trailer. Tune in as we explore Garrett Young's remarkable career, discussing the critical role of playtesting, his insights on emerging industry trends, and reflections on the key elements that have driven the success of legendary titles.

Heidi Vogel is a seasoned entrepreneur with over five companies under her belt, and today she shares her incredible journey from tech pioneer to gaming innovator. As a mother of four, she faced challenges managing her children's digital playground, which inspired her to develop GuardianGamer's monitoring solution. Her latest venture, GuardianGamer AI, seeks to bridge the gap between parents and kids in the gaming world by equipping parents with the tools they need to understand and connect with their children's gaming experiences. Through this initiative, Heidi is not only transforming the way families engage with gaming but also fostering a safer and more positive environment for children.

Whether you're a parent, gamer, or entrepreneur, tune in for valuable insights on the positive impact of gaming on kids, the evolution of technology, and how to navigate new industries with confidence.

John Goodale was employee #60 at Unity in 2010, where he launched and rapidly expanded Unity Asia. Under his leadership, he transformed Unity into the preferred platform for game developers across the region, driving exceptional growth and establishing the company as a dominant force in the gaming industry.

Having also held key positions at Sega and Activision, John now serves as the CEO of Jam.gg, where he leads an innovative B2B cloud gaming service that offers developers powerful white-label solutions.

Tune in for exclusive insights into John's early days at Unity, the leadership strategies that fueled Unity Asia's success, his approach to nurturing international partnerships, and his vision for the future of cloud gaming.

Chris Quaidoo is the Content Acquisition Lead at Carry1st, a leading African mobile games publisher backed by investors like Bitcraft and A16Z. He's also a Venture Partner at Griffin Gaming Partners and hosts Venture Games, a podcast where he interviews key players in gaming and venture capital.

Tune in to this episode of the Here's Waldo Podcast to gain valuable insights into the African gaming market, highlighting its challenges, growth potential, and how Carry1st is driving innovation with local payment solutions. Chris also shares his perspective on what makes a game thrive in emerging markets and the importance of networking and mentorship in building successful careers in gaming.