Game Maker's Notebook

We're on a release break for new episodes, so here's one our past great chats from May 16, 2022! 
Corey May speaks with the Oliver Lewin and Graham Parkes, two of the developers behind Before Your Eyes. Together they discuss how they created the blinking mechanic in game jams; the process of "learning by doing and learning by failing"; the technical and narrative challenges that arose from the game's central mechanic; and their experience releasing their first title to wide acclaim including winning a BAFTA. 
This episode is supported by Xsolla
Episode Host: Corey May
Producers: Claudio Tapia and Josh Chu, The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
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We're on a quick release break for new episodes, so here's one our past conversations from Mar 27, 2023 with Tarn Adams and Zach Adams, brothers who together created Dwarf Fortress! Trent chats with the brothers about their 20 year journey in creating the aforementioned title including the early inspirations that led them to learn programming; the games they developed before Dwarf Fortress; crucial creative and community milestones; working together with Kitfox Games on the updated version for Steam; and their favorite stories from their ever growing community.
This episode is supported by 
Xsolla
Episode Host: Trent Kusters
Producers: Claudio Tapia and Josh Chu, The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
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Please consider supporting game dev students with: AIAS Foundation

Austin Wintory chats with Bence Pajor, the Audio Director behind Embark Studios' smash hit extraction shooter, Arc Raiders. Together they discuss his early career in music and how he transitioned to audio design; his work at DICE on the Battlefield series; the moral implications when designing realistic audio experiences for combat simulations; balancing music to not break player immersion; and creating modern synth music with retro aesthetics.
This episode is supported by 
Xsolla
iam8bit
Episode Host: Austin Wintory
Producers: Claudio Tapia and Josh Chu, The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
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Please consider supporting game dev students with: AIAS Foundation

Alexa Ray Corriea chats with Jenny Jiao Hsia, co-director of Consume Me. Together they discuss where Jenny first got the idea to tell a semi-autobiographical story through video games; learning to not micromanage and lean on your team; how personal finances restrict or enable creativity; the dangers of social media and need for external validation; and the importance of having interests outside of games to help with creative and personal fulfillment.
This episode is supported by 
Xsolla
iam8bit
Episode Host: Alexa Ray Corriea
Producers: Claudio Tapia and Josh Chu, The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing and leaving us a rating and review.
Follow us: linktr.ee/AIAS
Please consider supporting game dev students with: AIAS Foundation

Adam Orth chats with Virgil Watkins, the design director behind Embark Studios' smash hit extraction shooter, Arc Raiders. Together they discuss his early passion in modding and how it led to him joining Embark Studios as a Technical Designer on the initial PVE version of Arc Raiders; how internal testing shaped the system design and core experience of the PvPvE version; the ways they're seeking to improve the game post-launch; and how they balance handcrafted experiences with randomness in the deadly Arc encounters.
This episode is sponsored by:
Xsolla
iam8bit
Accelbyte
Episode Host: Adam Orth
Producers: Claudio Tapia and Josh Chu, The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing and leaving us a rating and review.
Support the show and get all of our episodes early/ad-free: https://bit.ly/4kU34Lt
Follow us: linktr.ee/AIAS
Please consider supporting game dev students with: AIAS Foundation