Game Dev London Podcast

In this episode, Carina sits down to talk with Jarvs Tasker about her community management journey, some of her favourite indie games that inspire her, the gaming industry as well as advocating for more Accessibility within the Gaming Industry at Nothing Without Us

In this episode, Nina is joined by the wonderful 2D/3D artist Hana Noelle, to talk about what it's like to be a queer, neurodivergent migrant in the industry and how we can create spaces and communities that support and consider the marginalized.

In this episode, Oscar is joined in his podquest to 'learn everything about #gamedev you never dared to ask' by gamedev legal consultant Myska Hattersley. In this episode, they talk about recent incidents of misogynistic content in games including materials which Sky News called disturbing and game advertising and and how complex it can be when bad actors create unacceptable content and the risks and regulation overreach adversely affecting legitimate game developmentPLEASE NOTE: The discussions are opinion, they do not constitute legal advice.

In this episode of Growing Pains, GDL host and Games Strategy Consultant Jay Uppal sits down with Daniel Kim. Dan has spent most of his professional career working across the Korean Games Industry, working with giants like Kakao, Smilegate and XL-Games in the past. In this conversation, Jay and Dan dive into some of the nuances that are currently driving the Korean games Industry as well as gaining insights into the opportunity for external game devs looking into Korea. This will be an exciting episode for anyone who wants to understand the wider context within the Global Games Industry and how significant a player Korea is within that space.Growing Pains is a series focusing on key business trends and people shaping the Global Games Market and their impact on the Games Industry. In this series, Jay speaks with industry leaders across the Games and Gametech space, trying to demystify the industry, understand the state of leadership, and answer the all-important question, 'Is having a fun game still enough to succeed in today's games market?'Episode 9 Segments:00:10 Introduction to Episode Nine01:40 Dan's Journey into Games04:30 Life in Korea13:00 Games Industry = High Status in Korea17:40 Korean Games Industry by the Numbers27:00 The Indie Scene in Korea36:40 Streaming in Korea is Complicated43:00 Networking in Korea50:00 Current State of Korean Politics and Economy56:00 Final Tips from Dan

In this episode, Oscar is joined in his podquest to 'learn everything about #gamedev you never dared to ask by Graham McAllister, specialist in Game Vision and Team Alignment. We explore the underlying cause of too many game failures. A failure to properly define game vision and how this is a question of psychology. Do we accurately understand why the player will care about our game?

In this episode, Nina sits down with Marshall, a seasoned game designer whose career spans both F2P mobile and AAA titles like Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War. We dig into their journey into game development, uncovering the twists and turns that led them to the industry, as well as diving into their design philosophies, favorite tools, and learnings over time

In this episode, Oscar is joined in his podquest to 'learn everything about #gamedev you never dared to ask' by gamedev legal consultant Myska Hattersley. In this bumper episode they talk about the EUs investigation into the practices of Star Stable Online and Consumer Protection Principles released on 21/03/25. What the implications are and how this affects the games industry.PLEASE NOTE: The discussions are opinion, they do not constitute legal advice

In this episode, Oscar is joined in his podquest to 'learn everything about #gamedev you never dared to ask' by Simon Sparks, an expert in People, Talent, and Culture in games. We explore what 'culture' means in practice in games and how.

In this episode, we will discuss Friendly Fire Digital's experience on the Game Academy course and what we are currently working on with the team we have created since the course ended

In this episode, Zsuza, Head of People and Culture at Wushu Studios, joins us to chat about what makes the people at Wushu tick, and what spirit and values they aim for consistently

In this episode, Emily and Sadie will discuss the pros and cons of their University experience whilst also discussing and providing advice for Networking.

In this episode, Oscar is joined in his podquest to learn everything about #gamedev you never dared to ask by fellow #GDL Host and indie game legal consultant Myska Hattersley. They talk about her journey from growing up in South Africa with a focus on law (and Drones) into finding her place in the industry she had always aspired to.

In this episode, Oscar is joined in his podquest to learn everything about #gamedev you never dated to ask by fellow #GDL Host and producer at Climax Roni Yosko. They talk about the differences and challenges we face when making games in an AAA team verses indie - and what lessons can be learned on both sides.

In this episode, Nina is joined by Brendan Walker to dive deep into the evolving world of indie VR development. Over the last decade, the landscape of VR has shifted - so what does it take to survive as an indie VR dev today? Brendan shares his experiences navigating the highs and lows, from pitching prototypes to dealing with touch development decisions, and the challenges and considerations made in developing for multiple VR platforms.

In this episode of Growing Pains, GDL host and Games Strategy Consultant Jay Uppal sits down with Timofey Sugaipov, ex-Analytics Engineer at Trailmix Games to talk all things Data. Data has become one of the biggest keywords in the last decade in both the Games and Tech industries, but its role and function in studios is still a bit of a mystery to most. In this episode, we deep dive into the core functions of Data in a Studio; looking from setup and execution. Tim is definitely one of the experts in this field; I think his knowledge of Data as a discipline will be indispensable if you want to understand better how to use data to empower the creative process rather than limit it. Growing Pains is a series focusing on key business trends and people shaping the Global Games Market and their impact on the Games Industry. In this series Jay speaks with industry leaders across the Games and Gametech space; trying to demystify the industry, understand the state of leadership, and answer the all-important question 'Is having a fun game still enough to succeed in today's games market?'

In this episode of the Game Dev Local Podcast, host Oscar continues his ongoing podquest to uncover everything about game development that you never dared to ask. This time, he's joined by Game Dev Local founder Stuart De Ville for a deep dive into platforms, channels, and discovery—three key pillars of getting your game noticed in today's competitive market.From choosing the right platforms for your game to understanding different distribution channels and the ever-evolving challenges of discoverability, Oscar and Stuart break down what developers need to know to maximize their reach and connect with their audience. Whether you're an indie dev navigating self-publishing or a seasoned pro looking to refine your marketing strategy, this episode is packed with insights to help you get your game into the hands of players.Tune in for an engaging conversation on the opportunities and pitfalls of launching games in the modern industry landscape!

Success in game development isn't just about making a great game—it's about making the right decisions at every stage. From prototyping and team management to marketing and funding, indie developers need solid strategies to navigate an increasingly competitive industry. In this episode, GDL Director Tom Morgan and Founder Stuart De Ville break down key tactics indie devs can use to build sustainable studios and successful games. They'll explore smarter prototyping, effective leadership, community engagement, and how to position your game for success in today's market. Whether you're a solo dev or running a small team, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you develop, market, and sell your game more effectively.

In this episode of Growing Pains, GDL host and Games Strategy Consultant Jay Uppal sits down with Rhys Elliott, Games Journalist and Games Analyst at MIDiA Research, together they discuss some of the biggest gaming trends that are impacting the industry today. Delving into everything from AI to Ads and the ever-elusive Switch 2. This episode covers our top takes for some of what 2025 holds in stake from a broader business perspective for the Games Industry. Growing Pains is a series focusing on key business trends and people shaping the Global Games Market and their impact on the Games Industry. In this series Jay speaks with industry leaders across the Games and Gametech space; trying to demystify the industry, understand the state of leadership, and answer the all-important question 'Is having a fun game still enough to succeed in today's games market?'

In this episode, Chris Gregory and Emily Inkpen from Alternative Stories, the team behind 'The Dex Legacy' join Oscar to explore what lessons we can learn from the writing and sound world-building from Audio Drama. Oscar was previously a guest on Alternative Stories and Fake Realities Podcast which can be found here: Alternative Stories: https://alternativestories.com/ Emily Inkpen: https://www.emilyinkpen.com/ You can find the full audio version of this episode by visiting: https://anchor.fm/game-dev-london Visit Our Website - https://www.gamedevlocal.com - for meet ups, game jams, competitions and more! Join Our Discord - https://www.gamedev.london/join Follow Us On Twitch - https://www.twitch.tv/gamedevlondon

In this episode, Nina and Jeff chat about the secret sauce in strong teams and the value of passion, perspective, and communication across all forms of design.

In this episode of Growing Pains, GDL host and Games Strategy Consultant Jay Uppal sits down with Teemu Haila, CPO and founder of Metaplay, they discuss Teemu's path in Games from the early days of mobile and live-service games to the behemoth the industry has become today. His journey in games has seen him found and lead several teams across various facets and regions within the industry. So tune in as he shares some of his learned insights from his time growing and building games as well as the teams that empower them. Growing Pains is a series focusing on key business trends and people shaping the Global Games Market and their impact on the Games industry. In this series, Jay speaks with industry leaders across the Games and Gametech space; trying to demystify the industry, understand the state of leadership, and answer the all-important question 'Is having a fun game still enough to succeed in today's games market?' Jay Uppal https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayant-uppal-18ab34a5/ Teemu Haila https://www.linkedin.com/in/teemuhaila Metaplay Inc https://metaplay.io/

The GDL podcast is back for 2025. In this special episode, the Founder and CEO of GDL is joined by Jay Uppal (host of the popular GDL Growing Pains series) to talk all things Games and beyond. Warning: Lot of tangents abound. So, if you want to hear more about The State of Play and where we've been, where we are going, and how we fit into the world, and hey if that's not enough, then just tune in to hear two grown men complain about being British!

In this episode, GDL Host Laura Donohue Speaks to Jimmy Zhou, an Insights Manager at Riot Games, about the benefits of being a mentor and mentee, how to get the most out of a mentorship, and how to find your perfect mentor.

Gunnar Holmsteinn from Quest Portal joins Oscar on his Podquest to explore the influence of Dungeons and Dragons and his decision to make the next generation of Virtual Table Tops (VTTs) - we also talk a little about a positive use of AI to support the games master.

In this episode of Growing Pains, GDL host and Games Strategy Consultant Jay Uppal sits down with Kae Cheung, senior designer at Payload Studios, they discuss Kae's path into game design and the broader industry trends that impacted Payload Studios. Once a proud champion of UK's games industry, Payload is only one of a number of studios that has recently been brought to the verge of bankruptcy. Jay and Kae have a candid discussion about the time period leading up to the recent decision that has seen Payload lay off roughly 90% of its staff, in a bid to understand what went wrong and if there were ways to mitigate it. Note from Jay: The conversation in this episode is a crucial one to understand and learn from what we are currently seeing in the Games industry. While we are discussing this through the lens of Payload Studios, they could be replaced by any number of studios in the games industry that have seen similar results this year. While I'm seeing an abundance of people supporting one another in the industry, I have not yet seen much from the leadership perspective in terms openly addressing the decisions that have been made in recent years. I think without the conversation around accountability and the role of leaders in studios we're essentially bound to repeat a similar cycle n the future. My hope with this episode is not to single Payload out but to start a conversations around the broader topic of leadership in the games industry, why the industry is in its current slump, and how can we put safeguards to prevent similar situations in the future. Growing Pains is a series focusing on key business trends and people shaping the Global Games Market and their impact on the Games Industry. In this series Jay speaks with industry leaders across the Games and Gametech space; trying to demystify the industry, understand the state of leadership, and answer the all important question 'Is having a fun game still enough to succeed in today's game market?'

Amelia Price from Sustainable Film joins Oscar on his Podquest to explore the different challenges and lessons faced by Film and Game Studios when it comes to leaving a reduced impact on the world. What practical ways can we be more sustainable?

Greg Hennessey, Design Director at CCP Games (Eve Online), has had an interesting and winding journey through games which has brought him from his home country of Canada all the way to Iceland. In this episode, we take a peek at his life as a Design Director, cover how leaders can make themselves open to critique and leave the door open for conversation and talk about the his idea of a great party.

In this episode of Growing Pains, GDL host and Games Strategy Consultant Jay Uppal sits down with Anime Producer Will Feng to discuss everything about life in Japan. Will has been in the Animation space for 20+ years and has been right on the frontlines of the recent Anime boom that has inspired some of the recent transmedia strategies in games. Jay and Will dive deep into everything from life in Japan as a foreigner to the secrets behind building working relationships in Japan. Growing Pains is a series focusing on key business trends and people shaping the Global Games Market and their impact on the Games Industry. In this series Jay speaks with industry leaders across the Games and Gametech space; trying to demystify the industry, understand the state of leadership, and answer the all-important question ‘Is having a fun game still enough to succeed in today's games market?' Jay Uppal Social https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayant-uppal-18ab34a5/ Will Feng Social https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-feng-93528a3/ Episode 5 Segments: 00:00 Introduction to Episode Five 01:46 Introduction to Will 03:46 Animation in US vs Japan11:40 Cultural Differences Working in Japan16:40 Business in Japan is just Done Differently24:10 Legal is Still a Nightmare28:10 Find Your Clan (Networking in Japan)34:00 Life in Japan as a Foreigner40:30 Bars in Japan44:30 Transmedia in Japan50:50 Are Visual Novels Games?55:00 Do the Grind57:00 Netflix – Anime, Games, & Live Action01:03:15 Korean Webtoons on the Rise01:05:15 Collaborating with Japanese Productions01:10:20 Japanese Idol Culture01:16:20 Ending Segment

Fellow host Laura joins Oscar on his Podquest to explore the nature of professional learning in various forms from the humble webinar to interactive workshops, accelerator programs, mentoring and even peer information sharing. Why does it matter that we keep on learning? And what does someone doing that training need to consider in the ways they deliver that?

In this episode, host Nina Kim sits down with David Evans, the indie developer of Sail Forth. David delves into the creative inspirations behind his project, reflecting on the journey of building a game as a solo dev. With candid stories from his personal experience, David opens up about the challenges and triumphs he faced during development, and offers insights for anyone who is starting on a similar journey.

In this episode of Growing Pains, GDL host and Games Strategy Consultant, Jay Uppal sits down with Bastian Bergmann, the Co-founder of Solsten.io. Solsten is a Consumer Insights research firm that aims to put individual players back at the core of the game development cycle. They use psychologically backed techniques meshed with traditional behavioural research to identify the way and how behind a player's action to offer clearer insights for decision-makers to better understand their audience and more effectively communicate with the player rather than the statistic. In this discussion Jay and Bastian delve into Solsten's journey so far and the importance of understanding your gaming audience and their intrinsic motivations; as well as how a players psychology offers new insight into your players mindset and what that could mean for your game. Growing Pains is a series focusing on key business trends and people shaping the Global Games Market and their impact on the Games Industry, In this series Jay speaks with industry leaders across the Games and Gametech space; trying to demystify the industry, understand the state of leadership, and answer the all-important question ‘Is having a fun game sill enough to succeed in today's games market?' Jay Uppal https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayant-uppal-18ab34a5/ Bastian Bergmann https://www.linkedin.com/in/bergmannbastian/ Solsten 2024 – State of the Player Report: https://solsten.io/state-of-the-player Gen-Z Traits Article: https://solsten.io/blog/gen-z-traits-ideology-gap Bastian's Blog: https://technicallyentertaining.substack.com/ Solsten Website: https://solsten.io/ Episode 4 Segments: 00:00 It's Getting Harder to Make Successful Games 00:30 Introduction to Episode Four 02:04 Introduction to Bastian 04:07 Founder's Journey for Solsten 13:04 Player Research: Behaviour vs Psychology 23:50 When Player Psychology Matters 32:05 How to use Player Insights 37:05 Empowered Marketing: Finding your Players 46:50 Gaming & Gender 52:15 The Startup Mentality 01:01:05 Opportunities with AI 01:05:35 Navigating Data Privacy 01:07:35 Tips for Founders 01:10:45 Solsten's Vision & Closing Thoughts

Nina Kim from Rare joins Oscar on his Podquest to discuss the challenges of defining the multifaceted role of game designer, as well as the joys of the ever-evolving nature of design.

In this third episode, of Growing Pains, GDL host and Games Strategy Consultant, Jay Uppal sits down with Kamen Brestnichki, an AI researcher and Co-founder of Martian Lawyers Club, a newly founded Indie Games Studio based out of the UK. They dive into all things AI, discussing the hype behind the AI ecosystem and the broader ramifications of AI technologies in games and beyond. Growing Pains is a series focusing on key business trends and people shaping the Global Games Market and their impact on the Games Industry. In this series Jay speaks with industry leaders across the Games and Gametech space; trying to demystify the industry, understand the state of leadership, and answer the all-important question 'Is having a fun game still enough to succeed in today's games market?' Jay Uppal https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayant-uppal-18ab34a5/ Kamen Brestnichki https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamen-brestnichki https://martianlawyers.club/ https://x.com/MartianLawyers https://store.steampowered.com/app/2824790/GUG Episode 3 Segments: 00:00 Introduction to Episode Three 04:45 What is AI? 12:25 Using AI to Make Games 21:47 Humans vs AI 31:05 MLC's AI Stack 34:40 Ethics of Using AI for Development 42:05 Advice for New Adopters 45:10 Do we need Intelligent NPCs? 52:15 Efficacy of No-code 56:00 State of the AI Ecosystem 01:00:10 AGI and the Singularity 01:04:35 Favourite Games 01:07:10 Ending Segment + Learning Resources

In this episode, Ioana from Mojiworks joins Oscar on his Podquest to learn everything about game development to explore how to design games meant for sharing, which is also the topic of her new book with CRC press.

This week I am joined by my friend, Nicholas, who is a narrative designer, artist, and founder of Essay Games. His artwork and games have been featured in Kotaku, Rock Paper Shotgun, Game Developer, Critical Distance, Unwinnable, The Washington Post, and The New York Times. His games are interesting, thoughtful, and delve deeply into human stories. While his last two games relied on his skill for research, his current undertaking, Bundle of Joy, draws on his recent experience of becoming a parent during the pandemic. We speak at length about creativity as a practice and what his personal go-to tools are to tell stories and create games Wishlist Bundle of Joy: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3138370/Bundle_of_Joy/ https://bsky.app/profile/essaygames.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-o-brien-essaygames/ https://essaygames.itch.io/

In this second episode of Growing Pains, GDL host and Games Strategy Consultant, Jay Uppal sits down with Shariar Sharabi the Creative Lead at VR studio Realities.io. They delve into the VR ecosystem, the process of learning and what it means to lead. Sha's personal journey in games and endless drive for growth provide an interesting backdrop for framing this discussion around learning and leadership in a new light. Growing Pains is a series focusing on key business trends and people shaping the Global Games Market and their impact on the Games Industry. In this series Jay speaks with industry leaders across the Games and Gametech space; trying to demystify the industry, understand the state of leadership, and answer the all-important question 'Is having a fun game still enough to succeed in today's games market?' Jay Uppal >> https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayant-uppal-18ab34a5/ Shariar Shahrabi >> https://www.linkedin.com/in/shahriar-shahrabi/ Sha's Portfolio + Blog >> https://shahriyarshahrabi.medium.com/ https://ircss.github.io/ Episode 2 Segments: 00:00 Introduction to Episode Two 02:25 Early Career Pressures 16:10 Transitioning to VR 23:10 The VR/XR Ecosystem 31:40 Growing in a Startup Environment 38:15 The Makings of a Manager 54:22 Burdens of Leadership 01:12:15 Learning & Growth 01:23:25 Sha's Book Recommendations 01:27:40 Making a Good Game 01:30:30 Ending Segment

In this episode, 'Hot Take', Stuart, Laura, and Oscar explore what the what, why, and wherefore of using Early Access in game development and give our own hot takes on the topic at the end.

In this episode, our host Max Louis of MLC, and freelance artist James Brady sit down to explore his journey into the world of game art. James shares how he first got into freelance work, detailing the challenges and rewards of building a career in this competitive field. We dive deep into his experiences, discussing the highs and lows of freelancing, from the creative freedom it offers to the unpredictability of the work. James also gives us an insider's look at his impressive career in AAA game development, revealing what it's like to contribute to some of the industry's most well-known titles.

In the first episode of a new series titled Growing Pains, GDL host and Games Strategy Consultant, Jay Uppal dives into some of the key trends that are currently driving the Global Games Market alongside Devan Brennan of Newzoo. They discuss all things in Games Business and share tips for doing business in today's global games industry. Growing Pains is a new series focusing on key business trends shaping the Global Games Market and their impact on the Games Industry. In this series Jay speaks with industry leaders across the Games and Gametech space; trying to demystify the industry and answer the all-important question 'Is having a fun game still enough to succeed in today's games market?' Jay Uppal >> https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayant-uppal-18ab34a5/ Devan Brennan >> https://www.linkedin.com/in/devan-brennan-358671a9/ Newzoo >> https://www.linkedin.com/company/newzoo/ 00.00 - 02.28 - Introduction to Growing Pains 02.28 - 05.40 - Introduction to Devan and Newzoo 05.40 - 09.00 - Topline games industry overview 09.00 -19.05 - State of Mobile 19.05 - 34.32 - State of PC + Console 34.32 - 39.30 - Cross-platform games boosting the PC market 39.30 - 48.15 - What is the right size for a game today? 48.15 - 55.25 - What opportunities does early access present for your game? 55.25 - 59.05 - Indies please don't make a F2P PC/Console game 59.05 - 01.06.50 - The state of Indie and AA in the games market 01.06.50 - 01.12.00 - The use of Gen AI in Game Development 01.12.00 - 01.17.15 - UGC in games and what it means for the future 01.17.15 - 01.25.40 - Building effective Steam Discount Strategies 01.25.40 - 01.29.05 - Importance of IP for Indies and smaller players 01.29.05 - 01.32.35 - Nuances of Business Development in Korea + Japan 01.32.35 - 01.46.05 - Do's and Dont's for Business Development in Games 01.46.05 - 01.51.30 - Imposter Syndrome 01.51.30 - End - Closing remarks

In this episode, Laura Donohue, Senior Design Researcher joins me this week to dive into the realms of user research, and how it can be used to empower and inform creativity in game dev. We talked about collecting player feedback, how to use it responsibly as well as personas and knowing how to balance vision and player desires!

In this episode, GDL Host Laura Donohue speaks to Claire Vergnes about what inclusive design is, why it's important, and how to do it. We also talk a lot about how smells impact memory, we promise it's related!

In this episode, GDL Host Laura Donohue speaks to Jonathan Bieda about the iterative process of UX Design and how it can help teams better cater to their audience. There was also a lot of talk about meatloaf. Find Laura Donohue at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ljdonohue/ Find Jonathan Bieda at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonbieda/ https://www.jonathanbieda.com/

In this episode, GDL Host Laura Donohue speaks to Steve Stopps from Excalibur Games about all things data! Steve shares his not so secret secrets on how to leverage data to make vital game development decisions. Editor's Note: Due to technical issues, the mic sounds were too low and picked up unintended background noise, so we had to use echoed audio from camera footage instead. We're working hard to improve this for future episodes. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

It is the very first episode of Structured Creativity with Najmah Salam (but you can call her Naj). In this show, we'll be exploring that space between process and play and how leading figures in games and otherwise nurture and harness creativity. In this episode,Our guest is Jason Thai-Kennedy, Senior Communications Manager at Electronic Arts. We discuss underrated skills for game devs, Jason's adrenaline-junkie antics and a brilliant theme park idea.

Hot Takes is a new format where GDL hosts from various professional backgrounds share their opinions on the latest news and trends in the game industry. In this episode, Stuart De Ville, Laura Donohue and Oscar Clark exploring the realities of the publisher (and self-publishing) from the perspectives of a new indie dev, experience developer and a publisher. We ask what we want from a publisher, whether we really can do it all ourselves and give our own hot takes on the topic at the end.

In this episode, GDL Host Laura Donohue speaks to Dr. Mark Brady from Sutherland Labs about their shared experience in games research. They discuss why research is important, what are some of the types of topics and methods they've tackled, and how to become an empathetic and effective researcher.

In this episode, Oscar's ongoing "Podquest to learn everything about #gamedev that you never dared to ask" continues with Kristian Rivers, Founder of Adinmo. They talk about their shared history of the earliest days of mobile games and the rise of the role of ads in the ecosystem. But what has led to poor experiences using ads and why it's important for the players and the brands for us to make the ad experience actually "Good".

In this episode, Join Tom Morgan as he interviews Daisy-may Hutton, the new GDL Host and Producer at Glowmade. Daisy shares her journey into the games industry, offering insights on entering the industry with transferable skills, pivoting your skill set from another industry to game development and what life is like as a game producer. Tune in for valuable advice and firsthand experiences from a game producer!

In this episode, Oscar's ongoing "Podquest to learn everything about #gamedev that you never dared to ask" continues with PlanetPlay CEO Rhea Loucas. They talk about how games and developers strive to make real world impacts on the world around them. PlanetPlay were recently nominated in the Sustainability category of the Develop: Star Awards 2024.

In this episode, GDL Host Roni Yosko speaks to Aaron Ludlow, Product Director at Playstack London, about Playstack's latest success, Balatro, and their many other indie titles. They discuss how Indie Developers can prepare to find a publisher, common pitfalls, and ways the industry has changed to make indie games far more relevant in today's gaming market. https://playstack.com/ You can find the full video version of this episode by visiting: https://www.youtube.com/@GameDevLocal/videos Visit Our Website - https://www.gamedevlocal.com - for meet ups, game jams, competitions and more! Join Our Discord - https://www.gamedev.london/join Follow Us On Twitch - https://www.twitch.tv/gamedevlondon

In this episode, GDL host and CEO Stuart De Ville talks with Tom Pigott, founder and CEO of Ludo.ai, about the transformative role of AI in the gaming industry. They discuss the current impact of AI tools on game development and explore their potential for growth. Tom explains how AI tools like Ludo.ai are enhancing the creative process, providing specific examples of increased efficiency and innovation. The conversation addresses common misconceptions about AI, emphasising the importance of understanding its true capabilities and limitations.Tom shares insights into the future evolution of AI in gaming, highlighting opportunities for developers to create more engaging and personalised player experiences. Ethical and legal considerations are also discussed, with advice on how developers can responsibly integrate AI into their projects. Stuart and Tom consider ways to shift industry conversations from fear to optimism about AI's benefits, and Tom offers practical advice for developers eager to start using AI tools in their workflows.