The GamesIndustry.biz Podcast

Latest Episodes:

GI Live: Let's get physical, with Iam8bit May 21, 2021

Show notes

For the next few weeks, we'll be delivering audio versions of some of the best sessions from our recent GI Live: Online event.

This week, our head of games B2B Chris Dring speaks to Jon M. Gibson, founder of specialist merchandise provider Iam8bit.

The interview explores the company's origins, some of its biggest successes in bringing collectors' items and even special boxed editions to indie games, and what motivates fans to invest in everything from vinyl soundtracks to art prints.

You can also watch the full session on our YouTube channel.

For more news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games, visit www.gamesindustry.biz.

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Bring back Ape Escape May 17, 2021

Show notes

The GamesIndustry.biz team discusses the biggest stories of the past week -- and lays out some simple demands for PlayStation's future.

First up, we discuss Ubisoft's revelation that it will be investing more in high-quality free-to-play experiences based on its biggest brands. We touch on whether this is likely to become the norm for AAA publishers (if it isn't already) and whether free-to-play games might cannibalise their full price counterparts (hint: it's unlikely).

After that, we ponder the news that PlayStation has 25 first-party titles in the works, half of which are said to be new IP. Which Sony properties do we want to see continue, and what are the gaps in their portfolio we believe they need to fill?

Finally, we discuss the issue of scalpers -- or rather how the issue may actually be exaggerated (keep your eyes on the site for more on this topic later this week).

As always, you can get more news, insight and analysis at www.gamesindustry.biz.

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GI Live: Human Fall Flat's 25m sales May 14, 2021

Show notes

For the next few weeks, we'll be delivering audio versions of some of the best sessions from our recent GI Live: Online event.

This week, our head of games B2B Chris Dring speaks Tomas Sakalauskas from No Brakes Games and Curve's VP of Franchise Publishing Gary Rowe about the smash hit indie title Human Fall Flat.

The discussion explores why the physics-based platformer has such broad appeal, how it reached sales levels rarely achieved by indie games, why the developers continue to produce new content for free, and why there's more overlap betwen Human Fall Flat and PUBG than you might think.

You can also watch the full session on our YouTube channel.

For more news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games, visit www.gamesindustry.biz.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Epic vs Apple creates uncertainty May 12, 2021

Show notes

The GamesIndustry.biz team discuss the biggest stories of the week -- which, of course, means Epic's ongoing antitrust trial against Apple.

We reflect on the first week's events and relevations, and share our thoughts on which side has the stronger argument. We also discuss the potential ramifications for the rest of the industry, and the impact it is already having on other major games firms.

For example, Sony's crossplay strategy was called into question when Epic revealed it agreed to pay an additional royalty in order to allows PS4 Fortnite players to connect with those on other platforms. We discuss Sony's decision and the importance of crossplay.

Finally, with E3 less than a month away, we discuss expectations for this year's digital-only show. Can the show cope with the absence of a few key players, and the continuing onslaught of other digital events?

As always, you can get more news, analysis and insight at www.gamesindustry.biz.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GI Live: IO's independence, with Hakan Abrak May 07, 2021

Show notes

For the next few weeks, we'll be delivering audio versions of some of the best sessions from our recent GI Live: Online event.

This week, our head of games B2B Chris Dring speaks to IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak about the rollercoaster journey the Hitman studio has been on for the past few years.

The conversation covers everything from IO's split with former publisher and parent Square Enix, through the risky period of supporting Hitman 2016 alone, charting the rise of the World of Assassination trilogy with Hitman 2, and culminating in full independence and self-publishing for this year's Hitman 3.

You can also watch the full session on our YouTube channel.

For more news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games, visit www.gamesindustry.biz.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can Returnal pave the way for $70 AAA roguelikes? May 05, 2021

Show notes

The GamesIndustry.biz editorial team discuss the biggest stories of the past week, starting with the inevitable discourse around Returnal and difficulty in AAA games.

The PlayStation 5 exclusive released to critical acclaim last Friday, but while it's designed to be a challenging experience, it has prompted a discussion as to whether intentionally challenging gameplay is viable at the level of $70 AAA releases.

We share our thoughts on the alternatives to punishing difficulty, the importance of accessibility and why it is separate from the difficulty discussion, and how indie title Hades has changed expectations for the genre.

Next, we reflect on the results of the recent Accenture survey, which showed 66% of gamers are keen to see more titles from socially responsible developers and discuss how to better drown out the 9% that actively don't.

Finally, we look at the recent changes at Toys For Bob, the Crash Bandicoot developer that has become yet another Call of Duty support studio. Are Activision's eggs all in this single (admittedly best-selling) basket?

As always, you can get more news, insight and analysis at www.gamesindustry.biz.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GI Live: Vicarious to Velan, with Guha Bala Apr 30, 2021

Show notes

For the next few weeks, we'll be delivering audio versions of some of the best sessions from our recent GI Live: Online event.

This week, our head of games B2B Chris Dring speaks to Guha Bala, co-founder of Vicarious Visions and Velan Studios, the team behind Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit and the upcoming dodgeball multiplayer outing Knockout City.

The episode explores Bala's career and journey from indie developer to AAA and back again, as well as his advice on finding the magic in your game concept.

You can also watch the full session on our YouTube channel.

For more news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games, visit www.gamesindustry.biz.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does a game need to sell at "full f**king price"? Apr 27, 2021

Show notes

The entire GamesIndustry.biz team is on hand to discuss the biggest stories of the past week.

We start with unpacking the discourse and the original comments around an interview with Days Gone director Jon Garvin, in which he stated that those wanting a sequel should have bought the game at full price when it launched.

We discuss the many ways the industry has changed and why most titles are no longer reliant on strong early sales, as well as the disparity between demand for a sequel and whether people will actually buy one.

We also look at the implications of Epic adding Itch.io's marketplace to the Epic Games Store and weigh in on Epic vs Apple with our predictions (and concerns) about how the upcoming trial will pan out.

Finally, we also touch on Ubisoft's perhaps ill-advised decision to state that the Assassin's Creed-themed Mr Men books are aimed at young readers as well as adults, and why that's probably not a good idea.

As always, you can get more news, insight and analysis at www.gamesindustry.biz.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Epic Games and the cost of breaking into a competitive market Apr 19, 2021

Show notes

The GamesIndustry.biz team discusses the biggest stories of the past week.

First up, we take a look at reports that the Epic Games Store is losing hundreds of millions of dollars in its efforts to rival Steam, where that data comes from, Tim Sweeney's cheerful response and why he might be right.

Then, we discuss comments by Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa about how the platform holder may focus more on original IP, and how rarely the company has produced new properties in recent generations.

Finally, we share our thoughts on points made in a recent article on GamesIndustry.biz around how design decisions made to improve the user experience can ultimately be twisted to exploit and monetise users.

As always, you can get more news, insight and analysis at www.gamesindustry.biz.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Five Games Of... Brenda Romero Apr 13, 2021

Show notes

The Five Games Of is a special series of The GamesIndustry.biz Podcast that explores the evolution of the video games business through the career of prominent developers, executives and more.

This time, we explore five games from the career of Brenda Romero, one of longest-running developers in the industry.

With a career spanning almost 40 years, we look at how Brenda found her start working on the Wizardy RPG series at the age of 15 and followed its evolution as the games industry matured around it.

The discussion that follows encompasses social games, modding, the long-awaited fifth episode of Doom, the Prohibition Era as inspiration, and supporting a budding young game designer in the family as they achieved their first hit.

Title music by Juilan Villareal.

As always, you can get more news, insight and analysis at www.gamesindustry.biz.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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