David Gardner joins us this week with tales of the early days of videogames. A teenage tech prodigy, he was employee #11 at EA, ran Atari and is now a games VC. We talk Hawkins distortion fields, Atari sandwiches and when EA was hip - this week!
Episode Highlights
[00:00:00] Intro: Meet David Gardner
An introduction to David Gardner’s journey in games, from his early days to becoming a leader at Electronic Arts and later a venture capital investor.
[00:07:30] Breaking into Games: From Atari to EA to Atari
David Gardner shares an overview of his journey, from his early Atari days to becoming a key figure at Electronic Arts, to VC-ing and beyond. He also shares tips and tricks about being a "super connector" and the best way to create a network.
[00:13:55] Obsessed with Computers: The Poster Child with an Apple II
David shares how he got started with games, from knocking on doors at 12 years old, to being on first-name basis with the Atari team & being snuck into conventions.
[00:22:19] The Start of EA: Hired at 17 and Flown to California
David talks about getting hired by EA, setting up international trade for the company, and going on his first trip to London that changed his life. They also discuss the 10,000 hours rule and the role of education in growing up.
[00:33:04] EA's Beginnings: Forging a Path
David tells stories from EA’s early expansion, including culture, leadership, and publishing strategies that shaped the modern industry.
[00:42:05] Building EA's UK Branch: Translating Business Practices Internationally
Behind-the-scenes tales of creating EA's international branches, setting trends in the packaging and selling of games, and EA's growth over 20 years.
[00:49:07] The Kool-Aid from the Past: Starting Anew and Going Back Home
David touches on the culture shock of going back to the US, navigating company politics, and why he ultimately left for the UK again. They discuss leaving EA and his old life behind, finding your place, and feeling valued.
[00:56:54] Working at Atari: The Wake Up Call
David unpacks the challenges at Atari and the economics of games across decades, from boxed products to digital distribution & free-to-play. He also discusses his start in investing.
[1:05:03] From Executive to Investor: Founding London Venture Partners
The journey from publishing to investing and venture capital, and why David co-founded LVP to back innovative game studios and companies (Unity, Playfish, Supercell, and more).
[1:12:18] Outro: Closing Remarks
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