Building Better Games

• E93: The Collapse of the Games Industry with Trent Kusters

  How will the game industry adapt? Are we hurtling towards a gig economy? In this powerful conversation, we sit down with Trent Kusters, co-founder and studio head of League of Geeks, to talk about the future of our industry. Trent takes us on a deep, honest exploration of the game industry’s current state, from platform power struggles and algorithmic curation to the erosion of full-time game dev careers.  This vital conversation goes beyond just metrics, delving into the human element, sustainability, and the legacy we're creating for the next generation of talent. Here's what we'll learn in this episode: - The emergence of a game dev gig economy - Full-time game dev jobs are becoming more rare - How power is consolidating with platform distributors - Indie success is now a scary prospect, with a lot less clarity - Why Leaders need sound financial foresight and tight governance - How algorithm-driven curation misses humanity and judgment - Why it takes 10 years to make a game studio Resources mentioned: Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth: https://www.amazon.com/Doughnut-Economics-Seven-21st-Century-Economist/dp/1603586741 Insomniac Games Founder, Ted Price | The AIAS Game Maker's Notebook Podcast: https://youtu.be/5NaHG3T35vs?feature=shared Creating a Rhythm-Action Game with Hi-Fi Rush Director John Johanas | AIAS Game Maker's Notebook: https://youtu.be/eFtGxFnOwtY?feature=shared Matthew Ball's Presentation: The State of Video Gaming in 2025: https://www.matthewball.co/all/stateofvideogaming2025 Shams Jorjani's "The Business of Video Games" featuring Xalavier Nelson Jr.: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-jyh9a-18333d4 Learn more about Trent Kusters: League of Geeks Website: https://leagueofgeeks.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trentkusters/ X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/trentkusters Recommended games to check out! I Am Your Beast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4RHkNCLtIU&ab_channel=IGN Town To City: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRY-RgWh6hg&ab_channel=IGN Caves of Qud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c6burNvtsU&ab_channel=KitfoxGames Want to know when you’ll be done? Master game and software estimation so you can make better decisions sooner. Learn more in our Advanced Estimation Course: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/advanced-estimation-course Connect with us: Ben’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-better-games/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingbettergames/#  Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZpMT-dUwQR-R4Mb4uub6Sw   #GameDev #GamingIndustry #GameDevelopment #GameStudio #GameIndustryInsights  

  --------  

  1:35:17

  --------

  1:35:17
• E92: 5 Principles Game Producers Need with 35-Year Industry Vet Steve Sargent

  What does it truly take to deliver a great game consistently in an industry known for its challenges and complexities? Join us for a conversation with Steve Sargent, Head of Production at Blind Squirrel Games, a veteran with over 35 years of experience in the game industry, including work on iconic titles like BioShock: The Collection and Mass Effect Legendary Edition. Steve dives deep into the art and science of game production, sharing the things to do, and also what to avoid, from his extensive career. You'll learn: The core role of production Why reporting can actually add value - if it’s done right! The five key behaviors that drive trust and success in game development Why pursuing "efficiency at all costs" can actually be detrimental to creating a great game The importance of understanding "the why" behind your processes, rather than just following rituals How to foster an environment where team members feel empowered to take ownership and solve problems Why planning is essential for alignment, even when the details change Whether you're an aspiring producer, an indie developer, or a seasoned leader, Steve's hard-earned wisdom offers actionable takeaways to help you build better games and stronger teams.  Learn more about Steven Sargent: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-sargent-00ba59/ Blind Squirrel Entertainment: https://blindsquirrelentertainment.com/ MobyGames Profile: https://www.mobygames.com/person/26147/steven-b-sargent/ Resources: Agile Game Development with Scrum by Clinton Keith:  https://www.amazon.com/Agile-Game-Development-Scrum-Clint/dp/0321617415 Mike Cohn's Books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mike-Cohn/author/B001JRX4F4 Connect with us:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-better-games/  Twitter: https://x.com/BBG_Podcast  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingbettergames/#  Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZpMT-dUwQR-R4Mb4uub6Sw   #GameProduction #GameDev #AgileDevelopment #TeamLeadership #BlindSquirrelGames  

  --------  

  1:19:55

  --------

  1:19:55
• E91: How to Stop Compromising and Make the Studio You Actually Want with Critical Path Games

  Game production lives and dies on planning—but most teams are still building like it’s 2010. In this episode, Ben is joined by Jeanne-Marie Owens and Jesse Houston of Critical Path to reveal better ways a studio can function based on decades of experience. From the myth of the “critical path” to the illusion that things will magically come together in the final stretch, they explain why “figure it out later” kills projects, how lack of real commitment cripples teams, and what it actually takes to build a dependable studio culture. Hint: It’s not a short list of “values.” This is a wake-up call for any studio still relying on outdated ideas about how work gets done, and a practical guide to doing better. 🔍 You’ll Hear: - Why “fix it later” is the most expensive lie in game development - What the critical path really means—and how most studios misuse it - Why real planning requires saying no - The deadly effect of partial commitment on team morale and outcomes - Why you have to be willing to make choices that limit your own options - How senior leaders create or destroy the culture by what they tolerate If you’re a studio leader, producer, or creative tired of chaos and ready to build games with clarity, intention, and momentum, check it out! Connect with Critical Path Games: Critical Path Games – https://critpath.com/ 🎮 Join the Building Better Games Community: - BBG Discord – Connect with devs, producers, and leaders building better studios:  https://discord.gg/ySCPS5aMcQ - Level Up Your Production Skills – Take our flagship course:  https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/succeeding-in-game-production - Get Leadership Insights Weekly – Subscribe to the BBG newsletter:  https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/newsletter 🌐 Connect with Us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbg.valarininc YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BuildingBetterGames 👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes on game dev leadership, production, and culture. #GameProduction #GameLeadership #CriticalPath #StudioCulture #BuildingBetterGames

  --------  

  1:42:10

  --------

  1:42:10
• E90: The Engineering Talent Pipeline is Broken: Juniors, AI & the Future of Game Dev w/ Carly Taylor

  Hiring only senior engineers might feel like a smart move, but is it breaking game development? In this episode, Ben sits down with Carly Taylor (an engineer and data scientist formerly on Call of Duty, now at Databricks) to tackle one of the most pressing and misunderstood issues in game development today: the crumbling pipeline of engineering talent. They dive deep into the tragedy of the commons happening across studios, where short-term thinking and overreliance on senior talent are putting the future of game engineering at risk. Carly sheds light on the danger of under-investing in junior talent, the mentorship void left behind by remote work, and the role AI is really playing (hint: it's not what vendors are promising). Whether you're leading a studio, managing engineers, or trying to break into games yourself, this episode is a wake-up call. You’ll Hear: -Why the next generation of engineers is not being mentored -How studios are draining the senior talent pool -The real technical challenges of using AI in games -Why hiring only senior devs doesn’t produce better games -What juniors bring to the table (and why companies should listen) -How remote work disrupted knowledge transfer and how to rebuild it -Why game dev is still one of the most passionate industries in tech Connect with Carly Taylor: - Website: https://www.rebeldatascience.com/ - Substack: https://carlytaylor.substack.com/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carly-taylor - Databricks: https://www.databricks.com/dataaisummit/speaker/carly-taylor Join the Building Better Games Community: - BBG Discord: https://discord.gg/ySCPS5aMcQ - Level Up Your Production Skills: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/succeeding-in-game-production - Subscribe to the BBG newsletter: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/newsletter Connect with Us: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich - Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbg.valarininc - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BuildingBetterGames 👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes on game dev leadership, production, and culture.  

  --------  

  1:18:25

  --------

  1:18:25
• E89: The Cost of Power: Leadership, Burnout & Survival in Game Dev with Melissa Phillips

  Building a game is hard. Leading the team to do it well without losing yourself along the way? That’s even harder. In this episode, Ben sits down with Melissa Phillips, founder of Games Leadership and a former Head of Studio, to talk about the messy, emotional, and deeply human side of game leadership. From BAFTA boardrooms to indie trenches, Melissa brings a rare blend of psychological insight and real-world experience to one of the most overlooked conversations in game development: what happens when power, pressure, and people collide. They dig into what founders get wrong, why doing “everything right” can still lead to failure, and how today’s leaders can navigate burnout, broken systems, and the crushing uncertainty of building something new. You’ll hear: Why leadership in games is different and often lonely The hidden cost of scaling a team too fast How power changes you (whether you like it or not) What founders need before they build the next big thing Why we need to talk about failure and what it teaches us What it really means to lead with resilience in an industry built on chaos If you’re a founder, leader, or future studio builder, this one’s for you. Connect with Melissa & Games Leadership: 🌐 gamesleadership.com 🔗 LinkedIn – Melissa Phillips 🎓 Explore the Games Leadership Blueprint – 12-week leadership program Join the Building Better Games Community Looking to grow as a developer, producer, or studio leader? We've got you covered. ✅ Join the BBG Discord Connect with a community of developers, producers, and industry leaders working to build healthier studios and stronger games. 🔗 https://discord.gg/ySCPS5aMcQ ✅ Level Up Your Production Skills Explore our flagship online course, Succeeding in Game Production, and become the producer your team needs. 🔗 https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/succeeding-in-game-production ✅ Get Insights in Your Inbox Subscribe to our newsletter for fresh, actionable leadership and production content delivered straight to you. 🔗 https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/newsletter Connect with Us: LinkedIn: Building Better Games Twitter: @BBG_Podcast Instagram: @buildingbettergames Website: buildingbettergames.com YouTube: Building Better Games 👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes on building better studios, better games, and better leadership in the game industry.   #GameLeadership #IndieGameDev #StudioCulture #GamesIndustryInsights #LeadershipInGames  

  --------  

  1:00:32

  --------

  1:00:32

More Business podcasts

Trending Business podcasts

About Building Better Games