Game Dev Local Podcast

In this episode Oscar is joined in his podquest to 'learn everything about #gamedev you never dared to ask' by Ivan Marchand, Co-Founder of Gamevestor.co. We talk about funding methods and the new path that the Gamevestor team is introducing and how the are mixing up the way we look at getting investment for your game.

In this episode, Oscar is joined in his podquest to 'learn everything about #gamedev you never dared to ask' by Charlie Scowen from SteelMedia, who is responsible for arranging the speaker line-up for the PGConnects events. We talk about the process of setting up and running events across the world and in particular with PGCLondon which kicks off the UK Game Industry for the year.

In this episode, Oscar is joined in his podquest to 'learn everything about #gamedev you never dared to ask' by Evgeniy Tolstykh, PM from The Outsource Band and formerly of Wargaming, about the complex position that a Producer, Project Manager, Programme manager can find themselves in when working on complex games.

What does it take to revitalize a dying genre?In this episode of Growing Pains, I sit down with Sean Gorman and Mark Ranson, Lead Designer and Art Director for Void Interactive's SWAT Tactical Shooter - Ready or Not. Together we explore Void's journey, going from its indie roots to the global studio it is today. It was clear that from the start, Void had something special going on, with their passion for the tactical shooter genre and willingness to work globally and differently. The studio has a unique setup and I really believe it adds an extra layer...

In this episode, Oscar is joined in his podquest to 'learn everything about #gamedev you never dared to ask' by fellow host and captain of the team here at GDL. We talk about Google's AI world generating platform Gemini and its implications for game making and maker (as well as the wider issues affecting the role of LLM Gen AI tools). And don't forget GDLX coming up on 20th March 26.

In this episode, Oscar is joined in his podquest to 'learn everything about #gamedev you never dared to ask' by Huw Millward, the indie dev responsible for the breakout viral hit Warsim: The Realm of Aslona. We talk about the impact of creating something for yourself then suddenly becoming a breakout success and what comes next - as they build a team for the next game; Slumbox.

Carina sits down to talk to Conway Sutton about his Freelance Game Writer journey. They also talk about his passion for modding, as he began modding the game Monster Prom quite obsessively and ended up freelance writing form Monster Con, which is their 4th installment in the series. Conway also talks about accessibility in the gaming industry, not only as representation in games but also how one can adapt to make games playable and interactable by people with disabilities; as well as making events more accessible by considering neurodiversity and how to make them LGBTQ+ family friendly.

In this episode of the Game Dev Local Podcast, host and GDL CEO Stuart De Ville sits down with Lauran Carter, a driving force behind Guildford Games and Liquid Crimson, the creative force helping studios tell their stories and connect with players in powerful ways, to unpack an unconventional path into the games industry and how it almost didn't happen!

Lauran shares how her journey into games took shape, the transferable skills that mattered more than any job title, and the realities of building a career outside the traditional routes. Together, they explore the...

In this episode, Oscar is joined in his podquest to 'learn everything about #gamedev you never dared to ask' by fellow GDL host, the Gaming Recruiter, Darren Butler, as we talk about the difficulties of the last year and to speculate of what to look out for in '26. We explore issues of related to hiring and training in games as well as the contradictions involved with the advice so often given to "go make a studio".

In this episode, Oscar is joined in his podquest to 'learn everything about #gamedev you never dared to ask' by Harry Phokou, host of The Gaming Playbook, where we talk about how and importantly why to use LinkedIn and other platforms to build up your profile through Authority; Relatedness and Reciprocation.

In this episode, Oscar is joined in his podquest to 'learn everything about #gamedev you never dared to ask' by Melanya Laz, Head of Growth at AI monetisation engine, Elevatix, and host of the GameBix Heroes podcast. We talk about business development, networking and sales with plenty of tips and secrets that anyone can follow; even those who don't like 'selling'.

What does it really take to start making games? In this episode, Stuart De Ville (CEO of Game Dev Local) sits down with Rob MacKay (Creator of RobsGameShock.com) to talk about the messy, magical first steps of becoming a game developer.From finding your path and overcoming imposter syndrome to finishing your first project and building the right community around you - Stu and Rob break down the myths, the mindset, and the mistakes every new dev makes (and why that's okay).Where you're sketching your first idea, downloading your first engine, or wondering where the hell to...

In this episode, Oscar is joined in his podquest to 'learn everything about #gamedev you never dared to ask' by Mike Coeck, CEW (Chief Executive Walrus) at Belgian developer Cybernetic Walrus talking about Roadside Research. A game which has had a tremendous reception in terms of wishlist numbers, beta players, and where the team have set an incredibly challenging release timeframe.

In this episode, Oscar is joined in his podquest to 'learn everything about #gamedev you never dared to ask' by Jordan/Sunny and Daniel/Dansky of Team Folon, two of the incredible team behind the epic Fallout London. The guys talk through their journey, the issues they faced, the challenges they had to overcome to make that amazing, the crazy scale of game mod, and inevitably the lessons learned.

In this episode, Oscar is joined in his podquest to 'learn everything about #gamedev you never dared to ask' by Alex Murauski, CEO of Alconost, about the world of localisation and culturalization for text, images and voice, and the value of modern platform approaches for managing game assets.

In this episode, Stu sits down with GDL’s brand-new Director Monty to: Officially welcome them to the team

Dive into why game dev events matter more than ever

Share what GDL is building for the UK indie community (and beyond)

We talk about the power of events in helping developers connect, showcase, and survive in an industry that’s as tough as it is exciting. Whether you’re a first-time jammer, a seasoned indie, or just curious about the scene, this one’s packed with insight and stories.Visit Our Webs...

In this episode Oscar is joined in his podquest to 'learn everything about #gamedev you never dared to ask' by Constantin-Alexandru Iorga, Sr LiveOps Manager at Scopely working on Stumble Guys. We talk about what's involved with managing a community game that needs sustainable ongoing updates as part of LiveOps.Constantin-Alexandru Iorga

In this episode Oscar is joined in his podquest to 'learn everything about #gamedev you never dared to ask' by Andrew Pappas, Founder of Indie Game Movement Podcast and Regen Marketing about the role of podcasts and how different people approach sharing their expertise with the #gamedev community.

In this episode, we'll explore how to leverage LinkedIn effectively to build a personal brand that not only attracts opportunities but also aligns with your professional goals. Whether you're seeking new roles or aiming to establish your own video game or art studio, Mel's expertise offers invaluable guidance.

What does it take to shape how millions discover content on Reddit and develop tech to fight global malnutrition? In this episode of Growing Pains, I sit down with Rachel Caisi Miller, Product Manager for Reddit Search Experiences and Product volunteer at Taimaka, to unpack her journey scaling one of the internet’s most influential discovery engines while also improving child health outcomes in Nigeria.We explore the decision-making models Rachel uses to balance user needs, AI, and ethics at Reddit, and how those same principles are helping nonprofits tackle urgent global challenges. For anyone who wants to build tr...

In this episode, Carina talks to Damian Kennett about his Community Manager learnings and the skills needed, we identify transferable skills from both the hospitality & customer service industry. They also talk about some of their favourite games and mechanics and briefly get into how difficult it is to keep up with the ever changing market of social media.

In this episode Oscar is joined in his podquest to 'learn everything about #gamedev you never dared to ask' by Geoffrey Mugford, game developer and educator, talk about how we can use game design principles to help people learn, without resorting to "Chocolate Broccoli".

In this episode Oscar is joined in his podquest to 'learn everything about #gamedev you never dared to ask' by Andrew Wailes, CEO of PlaySafeID about the risks, practicalities and the Online Safety bill coming into force in JulyTrigger Warning: In the context of the act some of the explicit harms are mentioned in reference

In this episode Oscar is joined in his podquest to 'learn everything about #gamedev you never dared to ask' by veteran Product Manager Julianne Harty. They discuss the critical role of product management in gaming, emphasizing user-centric design, the importance of first-time user experiences, and the challenges of transitioning from traditional game development to live service models.

In this episode of Growing Pains, we dive into the complex world of AI anti-cheat systems with André Pimenta, founder and CEO of Anybrain. Anybrain is using AI to transform the gaming industry by directly mapping and analyzing player interactions to detect cheating behaviour in-game, tackling everything from bot usage to account boosting. André shares his journey in building Anybrain, from working with AI before it was cool and their early origin as a stress management tracker, to their ultimate pivot towards fair play in gaming. Tune in to see how Anybrain uses AI technologies to make games into a...

In this episode, Carina sits down to talk with Alex Eichinger about his background in the gaming industry and how being a leader has helped him to inspire and empower others. We talk about his journey from leader to working in consultancy as well as some of his favourite games.

In this episode, Oscar is joined in his podquest to 'learn everything about #gamedev you never dared to ask' by behavioral game economist Catalin Alexandru. The two discuss the intersection of behavioral economics and game design, exploring how economic models influence player behavior and the challenges faced by mobile developers in the current landscape.

In this episode, Emily and Kyle will discuss updates and struggles they've faced whilst working on their upcoming game.

In this episode, Oscar is joined in his podquest to 'learn everything about #gamedev you never dared to ask' by veteran game designer Alexander Rehm, Director of LiveOps at People Can Fly. They discuss each step required to get a game ready for live and why LiveOps is more than 'just' seasonal updates.

In this episode of Growing Pains, GDL host and Games Strategy Consultant Jay Uppal sits down with Hei Man Chan. Heyman has had an interesting journey in games. Originally trained as a lawyer, Heyman first started off his games journey as a gaming content creator in Hong Kong. Over time, he was able to use this to transition into the industry as a Product Marketer at the UK-based Indie Publisher Slug Disco. So for everything from life as a content creator to his work in an Indie Publisher, tune in above.Growing Pains is a series focusing on key...

In this episode, Oscar is joined in his podquest to 'learn everything about #gamedev you never dared to ask' by veteran game designer Alex Moore, to explore the multifaceted world of game design. They discuss their extensive experiences in the industry and the importance of defining game design language. Alex also shares a tool he is developing to help visualize the process.

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...

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