GameDev Breakdown

Latest Episodes:

GDC You Later Feb 29, 2020

Show notes

Original Air Date: Feb. 29, 2020 - GDC 2020 is postponed as COVID-19 becomes a real concern in the US. Several organizations have stepped up to support indies impacted by the change. Here's the scoop on what's happening and how you can get involved.Show Links • Official news at https://gdconf.com/ • The https://www.wingsfund.me/gdcrelief • GameDev.World's upcoming https://gamedev.world/relief/If you enjoy GameDev Breakdown • Sign up for our https://codewriteplay.com/newsletter/! • https://codewriteplay.com/the-gamedev-breakdown-podcast/ to the podcast on the platform of your choice • Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gamedevpod, http://twitter.com/codewriteplay, http://twitter.com/mechatodzilla • Check show notes and articles at CodeWritePlay.com Join us on https://discord.gg/auVvvK3!

XR Developer, Aaron Clifford Feb 18, 2020

Show notes

Original Air Date: Feb. 18, 2020 - Some devs have all the fun.Aaron Clifford is the head AR/VR developer for KOVR, a new VR division of video production company, KO Group. He's a FLASH game dev from back in the day--all of us cool kids were--and managed to leverage his experience into cool projects like the Dragon Age: Inquisition web-based party builder that launched along with the proper game.More recently, Aaron tackles cool client projects, pitches awesome game concepts to Oculus, creates official Snapchat Lenses, guides users as a Unity Live Help Expert, and more. We could have filled much more than an hour with his stories and expertise, but if it needs to be said, he's very busy.This is a must-listen for anyone curious about the state of Oculus Quest Store submissions and what to expect before you get serious about developing for the headset.Aaron's Links • https://twitter.com/AaronXRdev • http://kovr.ca/If you enjoy GameDev Breakdown • Sign up for our https://codewriteplay.com/newsletter/! • https://codewriteplay.com/the-gamedev-breakdown-podcast/ to the podcast on the platform of your choice • Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gamedevpod, http://twitter.com/codewriteplay, http://twitter.com/mechatodzilla • Check show notes and articles at CodeWritePlay.com Join us on https://discord.gg/auVvvK3!

Secrets of Story Structure Jan 30, 2020

Show notes

Original Air Date: Jan. 30, 2020 - Learn the tools of the storytelling trade from one of western culture's greatest story analysts. We'll examine the findings of the late screenwriting expert, Syd Field, and look at how collected writing wisdom from outside games translates to our area of expertise.Relevant Links • https://www.amazon.com/Screenplay-Foundations-Screenwriting-Syd-Field/dp/0385339038 • https://channel101.fandom.com/wiki/Story_Structure_101:_Super_Basic_ShitIf you enjoy GameDev Breakdown • Sign up for our https://codewriteplay.com/newsletter/! • https://codewriteplay.com/the-gamedev-breakdown-podcast/ to the podcast on the platform of your choice • Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gamedevpod, http://twitter.com/codewriteplay, http://twitter.com/mechatodzilla • Check show notes and articles at CodeWritePlay.com Join us on https://discord.gg/auVvvK3!

NBA Jam Book Author Reyan Ali Returns Jan 17, 2020

Show notes

Original Air Date: Jan. 17, 2020 - Reyan Ali returns after the launch of NBA Jam from Boss Fight Books to weigh in on Cowboy vs. McGregor, Smash Bros. headlines, the Aaron Hernandez documentary, how to cover up an R. Kelly tattoo, and making loved ones eat just a small, supermarket-sized sampling of crow.Reyan's Links • https://bossfightbooks.com/products/nba-jam-by-reyan-ali from Boss Fight Books • https://twitter.com/nbajambookIf you enjoy GameDev Breakdown • Sign up for our https://codewriteplay.com/newsletter/! • https://codewriteplay.com/the-gamedev-breakdown-podcast/ to the podcast on the platform of your choice • Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gamedevpod, http://twitter.com/codewriteplay, http://twitter.com/mechatodzilla • Check show notes and articles at CodeWritePlay.com Join us on https://discord.gg/auVvvK3!

David Jagneaux of UploadVR Jan 10, 2020

Show notes

Original Air Date: Jan. 10, 2020 - I met David via Twitter while freelancing for Zam.com (now Fanbyte). Beyond writing the definitive unofficial book on Roblox, David has picked up bylines at Forbes Games, IGN, Vice, Polygon, and other outlets. He now juggles tasks as a senior editor at UploadVR and trust me when I say his work in the virtual reality space has been a boon to developers and enthusiasts alike.It's my fault we didn't manage to have David on during 2019, and it's my fault again that his appearance was in the middle of a CES crapstorm, but it's all good news for you! Thanks to this timing, David not only sheds light on the most recent developments for Oculus hardware owners and the company's apparent direction for the near future, but we also get the scoop on some of this year's most promising sights from CES itself.Go send David some love; it's a difficult time of year.David's Links • http://UploadVR.com • https://twitter.com/david_jagneaux • https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Roblox-Book-Unofficial-Customize-ebook/dp/B074ZGYTD4/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=If you enjoy GameDev Breakdown • Sign up for our https://codewriteplay.com/newsletter/! • https://codewriteplay.com/the-gamedev-breakdown-podcast/ to the podcast on the platform of your choice • Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gamedevpod, http://twitter.com/codewriteplay, http://twitter.com/mechatodzilla • Check show notes and articles at CodeWritePlay.com Join us on https://discord.gg/auVvvK3!

PO Boxes Are Not Cool or Fun Dec 18, 2019

Show notes

Original Air Date: Dec. 18, 2019 - Todd heads to the post office to record the pre-Christmas mailbag episode. Chaos ensues.Despite this episode's misadventures, Eggnog Games' Leaving the Tree box set arrived and it's incredible, check it out!https://twitter.com/mechatodzilla/status/1207413888628727809?s=20If you enjoy GameDev Breakdown • Sign up for our https://codewriteplay.com/newsletter/! • https://codewriteplay.com/the-gamedev-breakdown-podcast/ to the podcast on the platform of your choice • Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gamedevpod, http://twitter.com/codewriteplay, http://twitter.com/mechatodzilla • Check show notes and articles at CodeWritePlay.com Join us on https://discord.gg/auVvvK3!

Are NDAs Ever Really Enforced? Dec 09, 2019

Show notes

Original Air Date: Dec. 9, 2019 - We all hear about the importance of non-disclosure agreements, particularly in the game industry. Should we take them seriously? Is anyone ever truly held accountable for breaking one? We explore the topic on this episode of GameDev Breakdown.If you enjoy GameDev Breakdown • Sign up for our https://codewriteplay.com/newsletter/! • https://codewriteplay.com/the-gamedev-breakdown-podcast/ to the podcast on the platform of your choice • Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gamedevpod, http://twitter.com/codewriteplay, http://twitter.com/mechatodzilla • Check show notes and articles at CodeWritePlay.com Join us on https://discord.gg/auVvvK3!

Don’t Hold Yourself Back Dec 05, 2019

Show notes

Original Air Date: Dec. 5, 2019 - A developer asks the community: How do you maintain the motivation to finish projects? It's a simple question, but what lies beneath the surface?In this episode we discuss both the simple answer to this question, and what is usually the deeper, more scientific answer. If you've ever heard of concepts like "self-sabotage" or "self-handicapping," this episode offers the actual mechanics of this phenomenon as well as the causes and the steps you can take to break the cycle.Stop stopping, start finishing.If you enjoy GameDev Breakdown • Sign up for our https://codewriteplay.com/newsletter/! • https://codewriteplay.com/the-gamedev-breakdown-podcast/ to the podcast on the platform of your choice • Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gamedevpod, http://twitter.com/codewriteplay, http://twitter.com/mechatodzilla • Check show notes and articles at CodeWritePlay.com Join us on https://discord.gg/auVvvK3!

A Tale of Tutorials Dec 02, 2019

Show notes

Original Air Date: Dec. 2, 2019 - Welcome back! This time on GameDev Breakdown we're discussing the finer points of tutorials in games, and yes, whether or not they even have a rightful place in them. That idea may surprise you, unless you spend any time talking about development on Twitter where it's become oddly commonplace.This idea comes from a well-intentioned place. As games and players have matured, we've seen a lot of games with subtler, more innovative introductions. As seen in one of the tweets above, for some reason people who like attacking game designers like bringing up the introductory stage of Mega Man X.I generally go out of my way not to criticize the work of other designers, but I would be very hesitant to set up an introductory stage like what Mega Man X features. For one thing, MMX seems to depend on the player having played previous games in the series and having some sense of what's going on. It leaves players to experiment with what amounts to an unusually easy level, mashing buttons and experimenting with enemies and mechanics along the way. Even at that, I find the level visually confusing--quick, you just started, here comes some cars! Just kidding they can't hurt you--and I don't agree that players wouldn't be better served by an optional scene with a few prompts to get newbies acclimated before dropping them into a proper stage.Meanwhile, players in favor of sensible tutorials all pointed me at the same game: Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVtwKiOYdzcBlood Dragon actually had the same challenge to overcome as Mega Man X: a unique game in a pre-existing series that still needs to onboard new players. To do this, Blood Dragon goes all the way in the opposite direction, interrupting players with nearly full-screen prompts every few seconds while the protagonist complains about the delay. Blood Dragon manages to roast an annoying trend in game tutorials (overdoing it) while using a tried and true method to teach players advanced FPS controls in a hurry.This comparison is too simplistic, of course, and also doesn't take into account the widely varied needs across other genres. Angry Birds doesn't need too much handholding, but have you ever designed your own card game?The resource we look at in this episode is the condensed result of a https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/NathanHedges/20171013/307378/Video_Game_Tutorials_How_Do_They_Teach.php on reactions to tutorials and introductory levels featured at Gamasutra.If you enjoy GameDev Breakdown • Sign up for our https://codewriteplay.com/newsletter/! • https://codewriteplay.com/the-gamedev-breakdown-podcast/ to the podcast on the platform of your choice • Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gamedevpod, http://twitter.com/codewriteplay, http://twitter.com/mechatodzilla • Check show notes and articles at CodeWritePlay.com Join us on https://discord.gg/auVvvK3!

Yes, Coding Is Hard Nov 27, 2019

Show notes

Original Air Date: Nov. 27, 2019 - A viral tweet suggests coding isn't hard, developers are just gatekeeping. Yikes.If you enjoy GameDev Breakdown • Sign up for our https://codewriteplay.com/newsletter/! • https://codewriteplay.com/the-gamedev-breakdown-podcast/ to the podcast on the platform of your choice • Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gamedevpod, http://twitter.com/codewriteplay, http://twitter.com/mechatodzilla • Check show notes and articles at CodeWritePlay.com Join us on https://discord.gg/auVvvK3!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected