Libsyn Directory

Getting Hired, Learning New Tools, VR, Layoffs, Unionizing, and Trends

Game Dev Advice: The Game Developer's Podcast

Release Date: 03/10/2019

Comics, Crazy Game Submissions, Careers, Industry Rant, and Production

Game Dev Advice: The Game Developer's Podcast

20-year industry veteran Nick Laing of Amazon Games and I discuss how he went from a Comic Book Artist into game dev as a Concept Artist & UX Designer, Game Designer, and Producer, working at EA, Microsoft, and Amazon Games on games like NFL Street, MMA, and Forza, compulsion versus compelling game design, loot boxes, game budgets, interviewing, the state of VR, game submission war stories, and how to improve Production, hosted by John ‘JP’ Podlasek. (See gamedevadvice.com for all the details.)

Triple-A Art, Roots of Mocap, SonyPlayStation, Being a Problem Solver

Game Dev Advice: The Game Developer's Podcast

Dwayne Mason of NXA Studios shares about the early days of motion capture, getting hired by Sony PlayStation, setting up Domino’s franchises, the value of being a problem solver, working at Midway Games, starting then expanding in China plus Argentina, plus working on marquee games like Mortal Kombat, Resident Evil, Street Fighter, and many more, by John ‘JP’ Podlasek. (See gamedevadvice.com for all the details.)

Indie Game Dev, Rick and Morty, Double Fine and Being in the Game Press

Game Dev Advice: The Game Developer's Podcast

Chris Johnson of the Player One Podcast shares about getting in the industry, working at Adult Swim with developers like Double Fine, being in the game press, the value of playing games with others, his love for “Sea of Thieves”, and working on his popular podcast of 13 years. (Check out gamedevadvice.com for full show notes.)

Running An Indie Game Studio, Loot Boxes, AR, Markiplier, and Producers

Game Dev Advice: The Game Developer's Podcast

Tom Eastman and Ben Perez discuss their seven years of running indie developer Trinket Studios, challenges they’ve overcome, lessons learned, advice for getting into the industry, favorite projects, new technologies, loot boxes, guerrilla marketing, YouTubers, funny stories, and thoughts on game production. (Check out gamedevadvice.com for full show notes.)

Crunch Culture and What You Can Do To Escape...Hint, It Ain't On Twitter

Game Dev Advice: The Game Developer's Podcast

The industry’s dirty little secret is in the spotlight again (just Google “intense crunch”) and surprise, everyone’s shocked. Why? It’s been going on since games were on floppy discs. Everyone’s preaching unions. But they’re not going to be your savior, at least any time soon. So instead of waiting for the union tooth fairy, hear my advice for researching and applying to companies that take culture and work-life balance seriously. They exist. Take action and rise above the Twitter ranting.

NBA Jam BOOMSHAKALAKA!!, Shaq, Dota, Rage 2, The Twilight Zone and Pins

Game Dev Advice: The Game Developer's Podcast

Tim Kitzrow is a video game & pinball legend, having worked on dozens of games, including the arcade BOOMSHAKALAKA!! classic, NBA Jam. Hear how he got started in voice-over work, studied with famous comedians at The Second City, and took on EA with Mutant League Football. Learn about his work in the upcoming Rage 2 along with a special Dota Jam Announcer pack. How NBA Jam is cursed, Shaq would take an arcade cabinet on the road, and Stern Pinball is back and thriving. (Go to gamedevadvice.com for details.)

PUBG, Red Dead 2, Taking Risks, Freelancing, Game Dev, VR and a Lawsuit

Game Dev Advice: The Game Developer's Podcast

James Brady started in 2015 and has already worked on games like Red Dead Redemption 2, PUBG, and other blockbusters. The risky decision to leave his job and pursue game dev, then later leave Rockstar. How his Silent Hill fan art went viral. The difference between U.S. & European studios. Why freelancing is safer than being an employee. What it was like experiencing PUBG’s success. Sound design’s importance, plus VR dev challenges. (See gamedevadvice.com for all the details.)

Dave Mirra BMX, Coding, Nintendo, Tax Breaks, Tokyo, and Sucker Punch

Game Dev Advice: The Game Developer's Podcast

Hear how CTO Dave Grace was hired as an audio engineer. What it was like working on Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX. How he formed his own company. Worked at Square Enix on Final Fantasy XV. Advice for getting in the industry plus what careers are always in demand. Learn the importance of reputation. Worked on Sly Cooper, Spyro 3, and other games. Challenges around unionization. Tax breaks for studios in Canadian and the U.S. Opinions on current game industry trends. (See gamedevadvice.com for all the details.)

Getting Hired, Learning New Tools, VR, Layoffs, Unionizing, and Trends

Game Dev Advice: The Game Developer's Podcast

Hear how 3D artist Humberto (Tito) Gamboa was hired. How schools often teach outdated tech. Working at a small game studio. Thoughts on online communities & industry events. Why you need to learn beyond school. The value of Twitter, Discord, ArtStation & 80 Level. Tips for applying to game studios. Ideas on learning different art tools. Discussion on unionization. Strategies on being prepared for a layoff. Thoughts on VR and great audio design. Opinions on past and current game industry trends.

AR, VR, Game Industry Trends, Unity, and Early Mobile Phone Game Dev

Game Dev Advice: The Game Developer's Podcast

-Hear from developer & CEO Patrick Curry who talks about his company, FarBridge.

More Episodes

Summary:

*Hear from 3D artist Humberto (Tito) Gamboa who talks about working on an unusual VR project

*How he was quickly hired based on his portfolio

*Thoughts on the day-to-day workload as a 3D artist and generalist

*How what you learn in school is likely outdated

*The importance of learning tools like Substance Painter

*Where to find great online communities for learning

*Thoughts on attending in-person industry events

*How you need to do more than just what’s taught in school

*The importance of ArtStation for checking out other portfolios as benchmarks

*Tips and strategies for applying to game studios

*How diversifying your abilities by learning a niche skill can help you

*What it’s like working at a startup as an artist

*Hear the kind of big tech challenges he has to solve

*How using Twitter and 80 Level are useful for keeping him up-to-date

*How he’s learning tools like Houdini and Substance Alchemist

*Thoughts on layoffs and unionizing the game industry

*How outsourcing often doesn’t help reduce crunch

*Ideas and strategies on how to be prepared for a layoff

*Where you live can affect your financial ability to save and be prepared

*Thoughts on how VR was hot, has cooled off, and where it can go

*Ideas for using VR outside of traditional gaming

*The unusual cake we had to celebrate the launch of a game

*How audio designers can make a great impression and get hired

*Why having a talented audio designer can really improve your game

*Thoughts on the game industry, both past and current trends

Quotes:

*“One of them had hair everywhere...a timber man looking dude”

*"Just because you’re a 3D modeler doesn’t mean you’re going to be modeling all day”

*“Coming out of college a lot of the stuff I’d learned was out-of-date”

*“Sometimes your instructor might not be in the industry or never has been”

*“I could have done much of my college online looking up tools and buying people’s tutorials”

*“That’s just hard, we all feel shitty about our work”

*“It’s helpful to pick up a secondary skill...a niche skill”

*“Not a lot of people enjoy doing everything in a certain category of art”

*“At smaller companies, you get to wear different hats to pitch in and help”

*“We get a bunch of interesting tech problems the art team as to tackle in some form”

*“5 years from now there’ll be tools out we don’t know about so you have to be in that mindset about learning”

*“3D changes very quickly”

*“I see people posting on Twitter and I’m like “oh my God that’s awesome”

*“Procedural stuff combined with AI is going to be popular in the future”

*“Twitter is scary right now with how many layoffs are happening”

*“Companies need to be more prepared to take care of employees if it does happen”

*“We’re kinda spoiled in Chicago”

*“I’ve joined at a good time and at a good place”

*“It was trendy for a while and lost its cool factor”

*“I would have loved to have VR in 1st grade, put on our headsets, and suddenly we’re on Mars”

*“So how does it work, how does it connect to your brain and show you the images?”

*“Can I go back to the blue pill now if I was on the red pill?”

*“People were walking by looking at our butt cake”

*“Oh yeah Jeff works with Rob Scallion... and then Jeff’s cool points just shot up”

*“Cardio Ex has a soundtrack that will blow people’s minds”

*“Every game company and their uncle were making some version of that”

About My Guest:

Humberto (Tito) Gamboa is a 3D Artist currently working at Level Ex, Inc., a Chicago game studio making video games for doctors. He’s been in the game development industry for 2 years and learning Tech Art on the side.

Resources:

*Tito on Artstation

*Tito on Twitter

*Video games for doctors at Level Ex, Inc.

*ArtStation

*Discord

*Ryan Blake on ArtStation

*Bob Nelson online

*CLO’s Marvelous Designer

*Thew on Twitter

*Ryan Blake’s Realistic Character Production on 80 Level

*Andrew Johnson’s Artist Resume: What It Is & What It Does on 80 Level