Bret Robbins, Creative Director behind Dead Space and Call of Duty, joins Devoted SpeakEasy to share the unfiltered truth about creating a brand new AAA IP.
🔗 Check out Brett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bret-robbins-a91a3350/
TIMECODES:
0:00 - Intro
0:42 - Get to Know Bret Robbins
2:41 - The Early Days of Dead Space
6:17 - Breaking Through a Crowded Market
20:08 - Creative Role vs Leading a Company
31:08 - What Worked When Scaling a Studio
43:27 - How to Build a Successful New IP
48:16 - AI in Game Development
50:02 - A Success Story
53:01 - Blitz Round: Rapid Fire Q&A!
55:33 - Ending
🎮 What you will learn in this episode
• Why launching a new IP is tougher than ever
• The two things that make or break any game: a clear vision and a battle-tested team
• How timing and market noise buried Immortals of Aveum
• Lessons on early marketing, community building, and showing work in progress
• How tight budgets and real constraints can spark better design
• Remote versus in-studio production and what actually works for creative teams
👉 Subscribe for more SpeakEasy episodes with game industry leaders and visit Devoted Studios to learn how our strike teams help studios ship ambitious games faster. → https://devotedstudios.com/
🔗 Follow Devoted Studios on Social Media:
🎨 Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/devoted-studios
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/devotedstudios
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devotedstudios
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/devotedstudios_
💬Discord: https://discord.gg/6x46SWhC
💻 Visit the website: https://www.devotedstudios.com
#GameDevelopment #gamedev #AAA #newIP #DevotedSpeakEasy #BretRobbins #DeadSpace #gameindustry #AAAGames #DevotedStudios #CoDevelopmentStudios #GameCoDevelopment
In the second part of the interview with Brandon Huffman, managing attorney at Odin Law, Ninel and her guest unpack the investor side: what to accept, what to push back on, and how to protect your team, your equity, and your roadmap.
We dig into:
✅ When to go to a publisher vs an investor
✅ How valuation and dilution can shrink your stake
✅ SAFEs vs convertible notes (and the surprise dilution hiding in them)
✅ Control terms like board seats, veto rights, and compensation
✅ Strategic investors and the rights that can block future deals
✅ Protecting founder equity with vesting, cliffs, and buybacks
✅ What drag-along and tag-along mean in practice
✅ How to handle a bad investor relationship
✅ Why it’s worth looping in a lawyer early (many defer fees until funding closes)TIMECODES:0:00 Intro
0:27 Our guest
1:46 When to choose a publisher vs investor
7:00 Key things to check in investor deals
18:04 Anti-dilution clauses and why they matter
20:04 Protecting your role as founder
26:29 Common investor terms
31:26 Managing a mismatch with an investor
32:59 Ending
👉 📌 Get smarter about game development. Hit subscribe!
🔗 Follow Devoted Studios on Social Media:
🎨 Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/devoted-studios
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/devotedstudios
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devotedstudios
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/devotedstudios_
💬Discord: https://discord.gg/6x46SWhC
💻 Visit the website: https://www.devotedstudios.com
#GameDevelopment #IndieDev #GameBusiness #VentureCapital #SAFEs #ConvertibleNotes #GameStudio #Fundraising #DevotedStudios #BrandonHuffman #OdinLaw #GamePublishing
HOLD UP! ✋ In this episode of Devoted Speakeasy, Ninel, our CEO, talks with Brandon Huffman, managing attorney at Odin Law, to break down the traps, hidden clauses, and money math every indie (and even AAA) dev should understand before putting pen to paper.
From milestone traps to brutal recoup terms, Brandon shares the real-world contract details that can make or break your studio. Pitching your first game or your fifth, this is the episode that could save you years of headaches (and a lot of cash).
We cover:
🎯 Why publishers are tightening their terms in 2025
📊 The recoup clause that can wipe out your revenue
📅 How to structure milestones so you actually get paid
🚫 Termination clauses that can bankrupt a studio
💬 How to keep your creative vision when working with a publisher
If you’re an indie dev, a small studio, or anyone thinking about partnering with a publisher… watch this before you sign anything.
👉 📌 Subscribe for more unfiltered game dev talks!
🔗 Follow Devoted Studios on Social Media:
🎨 Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/devoted-studios
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/devotedstudios
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devotedstudios
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/devotedstudios_
💬Discord: https://discord.gg/6x46SWhC
💻 Visit the website: https://www.devotedstudios.com
In this episode of Devoted Speakeasy, Ninel hangs out with Dimitri Berman, Lead Character Artist at Obsidian Entertainment, to talk about the chaos, creativity, and caffeine that went into building the cast of Avowed.TIMECODES:0:00 Intro
1:34 What Avowed Is Really About
4:03 Why RPG Character Pipelines Are So Complicated
15:29 Step-by-Step: Creating a Character
21:59 What It’s Like to Design 900 Characters with 3 Artists
30:17 Creature Design vs Outfit Design in Game Dev
38:03 What It Really Takes to Be a Character Artist
41:45 What’s Next for Character Development
43:24 Fail Stories
46:35 Blitz Questions
49:14 Ending
We get into:
What it actually takes to build characters for a huge RPG
Why they switched engines mid-production (spoiler: lighting was a nightmare)
What it’s like designing mushroom-infected people and ogres with six-packs
How much players really care about fashion… even in first-person
And why creature artists are a little weird (in the best way)
If you’ve ever tried making a character, shipped an RPG, or just love hearing the behind-the-scenes of game dev, this one’s worth sticking around for.
👉 Like what you hear? Hit like, drop a comment, and don’t forget to subscribe. We’ve got more dev stories coming your way.
🔗 Follow us on Social Media:
🎨 Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/devoted-studios
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/devotedstudios
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devotedstudios
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/devotedstudios_
💬Discord: https://discord.gg/6x46SWhC
💻 Visit the website: https://www.devotedstudios.com
#ObsidianEntertainment #Avowed #GameDev #CharacterArt #DevotedSpeakeasy #RPGDesign #DevotedStudios #Metahuman
Ever wondered who animated your Sim yawning, or who decided they should clean toilets with that much personality? In this episode, we go behind the scenes with two of the creative minds who have shaped The Sims for over a decade.🚀
✨ Jessica Stites (Art Director) and Lacey Banister (Senior Animation & VFX Director) from Maxis join Ninel Anderson to talk about everything from:
Animating weird but lovable Sim moments
Staying creative while working on the same game for years
The necessity of cheat codes,
The evolution of inclusivity and expansion packs
The real work behind making The Sims feel fun and familiar
Being female team leaders in a male-driven industry
And yes… someone had to model every toilet. 🧼
Watch the video version:
https://youtu.be/7ZBwRHHLUtY
🚀 Check out our brand new Devoted Fusion platform – connecting game creators with curated freelance artists in minutes: https://shorturl.at/p1JgH
🔗 Follow us on Social Media:
🎨 Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/devoted-studios
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/devotedstudios
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devotedstudios
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/devotedstudios_
💬Discord: https://discord.gg/6x46SWhC
💻 Visit the website: https://www.devotedstudios.com
#TheSims #GameDev #DevotedSpeakEasy #Maxis #Animation #GameArt #WomenInGames #SpeakEasyPodcast #GameDevelopment #DevotedStudios
We’re recording in a brand-new studio for SpeakEasy Ep. 33!
This time, Ninel chats with Chris Hunt, Art Director at Meta Reality Labs, who’s been deeply involved with designing avatars for the metaverse. 🎮
Tune in for:
🎨 What it’s really like to design avatars at Meta
🕹️ The cool technology behind Avatar 2.0
😎 How avatars are changing the way we express ourselves online
🎯 The future trends in avatar development
TIMECODES:
0:00 Intro
0:32 Chris Hunt’s Career in the Spotlight
5:00 The Importance of Avatars in Games
8:13 What’s Involved in Updating to Avatar 2.0
12:44 The Concept Behind Fantastical Avatars
20:17 Creating an Inclusive Avatar Style
25:55 Scaling Clothing for Avatars & Key Design Principles
33:31 How to Keep Avatars Consistent Across Devices
36:20 The Next Big Trend in Avatar Development
40:45 Ending
🔗 Follow us on Social Media:
🎨 Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/devoted-studios
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/devotedstudios
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devotedstudios
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/devotedstudios_
💬Discord: https://discord.gg/6x46SWhC
💻 Visit the website: https://www.devotedstudios.com
#Metaverse #MetaverseAvatar #Meta #SpeakEasyPodcast #DevotedStudios #DevotedFusion
We’re shaking things up with our second in-person SpeakEasy episode - SpeakIndie. Ninel Anderson came to visit the Heart Machine studio and talked with Alx Preston, the studio's CEO.
We filmed this interview in October 2024 but couldn’t release it earlier for some reason. A lot of things have happened since then. Heart Light Breaker was released in early access, Heart Machine suffered layoffs, Alx started a new campaign on Patreon, and much more. So all this stuff is not discussed here. However, the interview covers tons of resonating topics about our industry that shouldn’t remain silent:▶️ How to start and maintain the Kickstarter campaign▶️ How to communicate with publishers▶️ What is the current situation in the industry▶️ How to plan the budget for the project▶️ How to produce a game in the brand new genreIt’s personal, it’s insightful, and yes, it’s a lot of insights.
Watch the video version of the interview:https://youtu.be/xP71U7EZPhM 🔗 Follow us on Social Media: 🎨 Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/devoted-studios 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/devotedstudios 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devotedstudios 🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/devotedstudios_ 💬Discord: https://discord.gg/6x46SWhC 💻 Visit the website: https://www.devotedstudios.com The Heart Machine official site: https://www.heartmachine.com/ Hyper Light Breaker on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1534840/Hyper_Light_Breaker/ Alx Preston on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alx-preston-a6729262/#GamingIndustry #GameDevelopment #HeartMachine #AlxPreston #IndieGameDeveloper #SpeakEasyPodcast #SpeakIndie #GameDevelopment #DevotedStudios
Ninel Anderson meets with VFX expert Jason Keyser to discuss building and growing a VFX team for video games.
Jason brings 18 years of experience to the table and offers INSIGHTFUL advice on finding top VFX talent, what to look for in portfolios, and how to create a team that really clicks. If you’re looking to learn more about the VFX process in game development or how to build a solid team, this SpeakEasy episode has you covered!Links on the platforms and sources mentioned in the episode:Fusion by Devoted platform: https://devotedfusion.com/ VFX Apprentice: https://www.vfxapprentice.com/ Realtime VFX forum: https://realtimevfx.com/ Jason Keyser on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-keyser-42070b3/ YouTube VFX Apprentice: https://www.youtube.com/@VFX_Apprentice -------------------------------------------------------------------Watch the video version on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/Y0J2YjBEM5w🔗 Follow us on Social Media: 🎨 Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/devoted-studios 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/devotedstudios 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devotedstudios 🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/devotedstudios_ 💬Discord: https://discord.gg/6x46SWhC 💻 Visit the website: https://www.devotedstudios.com #VFX #GameDevelopment #VFXTeam #GameDesign #SpeakEasyPodcast #GameDevelopment #DevotedStudios
In this episode of Speakeasy, Ninel, CEO of Devoted Studios, sits down with Steve Abeyta, the creative genius behind Battlefield Mobile and Call of Duty Warzone Mobile.Watch the video version on YT:https://youtu.be/99Nn9sWQhbI Steve Abeyta's LinkedIn page:https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveabeyta/ Ever wondered what it takes to bring massive console games to your phone? Steve spills the secrets on the creative process (spoiler: it’s way more than just shrinking down graphics!).What you’ll learn in this episode:🎮 The creative process behind mobile game development⚔️ The evolution of Battlefield Mobile and Call of Duty Warzone Mobile📱 The latest trends shaping the future of mobile gaming🎧 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe to get the latest on more exciting interviews with gaming industry experts! 🔗 Follow us on Social Media: 🎨 Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/devoted-studios 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/devotedstudios 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devotedstudios 🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/devotedstudios_ 💬Discord: https://discord.gg/6x46SWhC 💻 Visit the website: https://www.devotedstudios.com #BattlefieldMobile #CallOfDutyWarzoneMobile #MobileGaming #GameDevelopment #UserGeneratedContent #VRGaming #MobileGameDesign #SpeakEasyPodcast #GameDevelopment #DevotedStudios
In this special episode, Ninel Anderson sits down with Billy Ahlswede, a game industry veteran who’s worked on League of Legends, Valorant, and now the exciting new title Seekers of Skyveil! We dive into: 🔥 Billy’s journey from Riot Games to a startup 🎭 The creative process behind Seekers of Skyveil 🎨 Character design, skins, and game balance 💡 How community feedback shapes game development 🕹️ The evolution of extraction-style gameplay in a MOBA setting 🚨 A wild Bungie story that almost caused a disaster 🔗 Follow us on Social Media: 🎨 Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/devoted-studios 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/devotedstudios 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devotedstudios 🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/devotedstudios_ 💬Discord: https://discord.gg/6x46SWhC 💻 Visit the website: https://www.devotedstudios.com
In SpeakEasy Episode 29, we chat with Jesse Lee, the Concept Art Director at Striking Distance Studios, about how to create horror games and bring terrifying creature design to life. Jesse shares fun stories, and cool tips, and shows us how his concept art for games like Dead Space and Callisto Protocol is so creepy it’ll give you nightmares!
We also spotlight some awesome work by Boris Turano. You'll love this episode if you love concept art, horror game design, or visual storytelling in games!
Featured guest:
Jesse Lee
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesseleeconceptart/
https://www.artstation.com/jesse_lee
Artist Spotlight:
Boris Turano
https://www.artstation.com/birez
Topics Covered:
Jesse’s start with Dead Space and what makes it so special
What goes into creating a terrifying game
The process of designing horror creatures and environments
Overcoming limitations and finding inspiration
A special shoutout to Boris Turano’s art
How long does it take to bring horror to life in games?
Tips & Tricks in Creating Horror Games
Join us for SpeakEasy Episode 28 The guest of the episode is Cecil Kim, Art Director of thatgamecompany ("Sky: Children of the Light" game)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecil-kim-ba4985/
Don't miss to subscribe on our YouTube channel
Timecodes for your convenient navigation:
0:00 Intro
2:17 A Back Story: The Team Behind ThatGameCompany
5:12 Taking the Next Big Step
9:03 Building the Direction of Sky
13:02 Taking Risks to Build A Masterpiece
16:41 Creating an Organic Social Interaction in Sky
17:53 Building Worlds: The Art of Sky
20:01 COZY: The New Feel in Games
21:12 Sky: The Bedtime Game
22:18 Creating Skyfest IRL for an Online Community
24:18 An Interactive Experience
25:25 The Transmedia Evolution
26:48 Creating an Expanded Universe
28:55 Working Across Multiple Projects
31:13 The Difficulty of the Gaming Industry
32:34 Ending
In this episode of SpeakEasy, we sit down with Cecil Kim, the visionary Art Director behind Sky: Children of the Light from ThatGameCompany. Cecil takes us through the journey of building Sky—from assembling a talented team to taking bold creative risks that pushed the boundaries of social interaction in gaming.
Discover how Cecil and his team created immersive worlds, brought a new sense of coziness to games, and developed transmedia experiences that expanded the Sky universe.
Cecil also shares his insights on hiring top talent, managing multiple projects, and the challenges faced in today’s evolving gaming industry. Whether you're an aspiring artist, a game developer, or a fan of Sky, this episode offers a deep dive into the creative process behind one of the most unique games of our time.
Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insightful episodes!
📣 Don't Miss Out!
🔗 Follow us on Social Media:
🎨 Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/devoted-studios
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/devotedstudios
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devotedstudios
🐦 Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/devotedstudios_
💬Discord: https://discord.gg/6x46SWhC
💻 Visit the website: https://www.devotedstudios.com
💬 Tags:
#GamingIndustry #ArtDirection #GameDevelopment #SkyGame #CecilKim #ThatGameCompany #SpeakEasyPodcast #WorldBuilding #GameArt #CreativeProcess
Join us for SpeakEasy Episode 27 featuring Allen Dilling, a renowned Art and Creative Direction Consultant with a 25-year legacy at Blizzard Entertainment. Here’s Allen’s profile on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allen-dilling/
Watch the episode's video version on our YouTbe channel @DevotedStudios
Timecodes for your convenient navigation:
0:00 Intro
0:59 Highlights of a 25 yr career
1:53 Art Styles & Trends
4:44 20 Years of WarCraft
7:57 Creative Freedom
11:05 The Anxiety of Working with Beloved Titles
12:49 The Secret Sauce
14:35 The Key things that make a title successful
16:42 The Transition Period Between Sequels
18:28 RTS Meeting its end?
21:20 Live Service vs Paid Games
23:50 Strategies around Updates
26:09 Tips, Tricks, & Inspiration
28:30 Making Fresh Ideas
30:17 Ending
In this episode, we dive deep into Allen's illustrious career, exploring his highlight moments at Blizzard and his work on iconic titles like Starcraft and Warcraft.
Discover the evolution of art styles and trends in the gaming industry and learn about the creative freedom and challenges involved in developing beloved franchises.
Allen shares his insights on the anxiety of working on high-stakes projects and offers valuable tips and tricks for generating fresh ideas in a competitive field. Whether you're an aspiring artist, a gaming enthusiast, or simply curious about the behind-the-scenes magic of Blizzard games, this episode is packed with inspiration and expertise.
Topics Covered:
=> Allen Dilling’s career highlights at Blizzard
=> Evolution of art styles and trends in gaming
=> Creative freedom in game development
=> Managing anxiety while working on beloved titles
=> Tips for innovative and fresh creative ideas
Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insightful episodes!
🔗 Follow us on Social Media:
🎨 Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/devoted-studios
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/devotedstudios
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devotedstudios
🐦 Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/devotedstudios_
💬Discord: https://discord.gg/6x46SWhC
💻 Visit the website: https://www.devotedstudios.com
Welcome to Devoted SpeakEasy Episode 26! 🌟 This month, we're thrilled to bring you an exclusive interview with Minoh Kim, the brilliant Art Director of League of Legends maps and modes at Riot Games! 🎮✨
In this episode, Minoh Kim dives deep into his incredible journey in the game development industry, sharing insights from his early days at Cryptic Studios to his impactful role at Riot Games. Discover how he led the art direction for iconic maps and modes in League of Legends and contributed to the character designs for the acclaimed game Valorant.
🔥 What's Inside:
- 🚀 Minoh Kim's inspiring career path and industry experiences
- 🖌️ Behind-the-scenes of art direction for League of Legends maps and modes
- 🎨 Insights into character design for Valorant
- 🎮 Expert tips on game development and design
- 🌟 Valuable advice for aspiring game artists and developers
📣 Don't Miss Out!
Like, subscribe, and hit that notification bell to stay updated with our latest episodes!!
Timecodes for your convenient navigation:
0:00 Intro
1:42 Shaun’s Journey: From a Small Studio to the Big Leagues
4:15 Top 5 Skills Learned from the Call of Duty Franchise
5:24 Building Maps for Call of Duty
10:36 Strategies to Speed Up Map Creation
13:20 Learning to Fix Production Pitfalls
16:37 Maps for CoD BO 4 and the First Battle Royal Map
18:29 How the Blackout Map was Developed
21:15 Iterating Small while Pitching and Developing New IPs
21:46 Cinematics for Black Ops Cold War and Warzone Specifics
23:12 The Gear and Weapons in Call of Duty
26:13 Pitching Your Ideas in AAA Studios
27:39 Multiple Experiences in the Same Environment: How to Make Them Universal?
28:54 Diversity in the Video Gaming Industry
31:50 Ending
Welcome to Devoted SpeakEasy Episode 25! Join us for an insightful conversation with Art Director Shaun Bell as he shares his experience working within the expansive Call of Duty franchise.
Listen in as Shaun provides invaluable insights into the art of map creation, learning processes crucial for game development, and the essential considerations every Art Director in the gaming industry should know.
🔗 Follow us on Social Media:
🎨 Artstation: www.artstation.com/devoted-studios
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/mycompany
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/devotedstudios
🐦 Twitter: twitter.com/devotedstudios_
💻 Visit the website: devotedstudios.com
#DevotedSpeakEasy #GamingIndustry #ArtDirector #CallOfDuty #ExclusiveInterview #StayTuned 🎮🔥
Timecodes for your convenient navigation:00:00 Intro and guest presentation01:59 Key things to know about developing live service games07:22 Release process and release managers11:58 Building the culture of engineering teams
16:26 About the Palia experience: how to grow the team efficiently
18:18 Working at Gardens: what is Serge’s role in the project19:45 Collective performance: what it means22:06 Tech debt. Examples of how to deal with it27:36 Riot experience: what Serge did good and bad30:38 AI tools for engineers
In today's episode, we delve into the intricate engineering world with our guest, Serge Knystautas. With a solid background as a software entrepreneur in the gaming industry, Serge has held pivotal roles such as Director of Software Engineering at Riot Games, Head of Engineering at Singularity 6, and currently serves as the head of engineering at Gardens Interactive.
Gardens Interactive gained significant attention last year for securing $31.3 million in funding to develop a fantasy action role-playing game. Join us as we explore the complexities of live service games, navigate their releases, and delve into the future landscape of AI and engineering environments. Don't miss out on this insightful episode! Tune in now.
🔗 Follow us on Social Media:
🎨 Artstation: www.artstation.com/devoted-studios
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/mycompany
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/devotedstudios
🐦 Twitter: twitter.com/devotedstudios_
💻 Visit the website: devotedstudios.com
#devotedstudios #speakeasy #liveservice #gaming #riotgames #leageoflegends #engineering
🎙️ Welcome to SpeakEasy Episode 23! Watch the video version on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/T-CiGIReBxE Join us for an incredible journey through the world of game art development with our host Ninel Anderson and his guest, Artem Volchik. Artem, a self-taught game developer, has over 16 years of experience in the industry and has worked on iconic titles like Valorant, HALO Reach, and Overwatch while at renowned studios like Riot Games, Blizzard, and Bungie games.
In this episode, Artem shares his journey of becoming a game art director without traditional training and discusses his transition from creating 3D art assets to leading art teams on major game projects. You will find out how to become a game artist!
Artem offers valuable insights into balancing artistic vision with game design development and shares his expertise in shaping stunning game environments, characters, and props. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn from one of the best in the field!
🔗 Stay connected with us: 🔹 Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/devoted-studios 🔹 LinkedIn: htps://www.linkedin.com/company/devotedstudios/mycompany 🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devotedstudios 🔹 Twitter: https://twitter.com/devotedstudios_ 🔹 Visit our website: https://devotedstudios.com/
🎙️ Welcome to SpeakEasy Episode 22! 🎮 Watch the video version on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/HaEPtlDfYkc
Timecodes for your convenient navigation:
0:00 Intro.
0:41 Emmanuel Valdez Introduction
2:16 Working with licenses in video games
6:38 Working with the Lego License.
10:10 Where High Moon Studio came from.
10:45 How to be an Art Director and a Co-Founder.
13:20 A Good Professional Artist.
14:19 Lego Masters anecdote
16:08 The importance of Research on working with Licenses.
18:42 Building a production Pipeline on working with different Brands.
24:45 Mixing Lego with the Real World.
28:00 Feedback sessions with Licensors.
31:00 Ending.
In this electrifying episode, our host Ninel Anderson engages in a riveting conversation with Emmanuel Valdez, a seasoned Art Director with over 30 years of gaming industry mastery. Emmanuel's illustrious career spans from directing AAA console games to founding and leading game development studios. Currently serving as the Art Director at Visual Concepts (2K Games), he brings his artistic genius to life in titles like the Lego 2K Drive. 🚀🎮
Join us as we unravel the secrets behind working with gaming giants, exploring Emmanuel's experiences with renowned franchises. Emmanuel Valdez shares his journey, insights, and the creative forces that drive the industry's most iconic titles, from the intricacies of creative direction to shaping entire gaming landscapes. 🌟
🔗 Stay connected with us:
🔹 Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/devoted-studios
🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/devotedstudios/mycompany/
🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devotedstudios
🔹 Twitter: https://twitter.com/devotedstudios_
🔹 Visit our website: https://devotedstudios.com/Stay Devoted!
#SpeakEasyPodcast #GamingIndustry #Licensing #branding #Storytelling #DevotedStudios #LEgo
🎙️ Watch the video version on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/UN6vrhy0yXc Timecodes for your convenient navigation: 00:00 Intro + the guest’s presentation 01:21 Neel’s career journey and the job at EA 04:27 Creating storytelling content for Apex Legends. First steps 06:30 What is transmedia? Neel’s explanation 07:58 Short films for Apex Legends. How were they created? 18:52 Storytelling content for Battlefield 2042 21:38 How Neel produced shorts for the Star Wars franchise 25:39 Work at start-ups vs working at big studios: different approaches to the storytelling content 28:44 Social media channels (TikTok) to promote content for games In this episode, our CEO Ninel Anderson engages in a captivating conversation with Neel Upadhye, a visionary Creative Director and Writer renowned for his expertise in transmedia and storytelling. Neel brings his creative brilliance to the table, having left his mark on legendary franchises such as Apex Legends and Star Wars. 🌌📝 Join us as we unravel the secrets behind crafting immersive narratives that transcend gaming experiences. Neel shares his insights into the art of transmedia storytelling, offering a behind-the-scenes look at his journey shaping some of the most iconic worlds in gaming and beyond. 🎮📖 🔗 Stay connected with us: 🔹 Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/devoted-studios 🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/devotedstudios/mycompany/ 🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devotedstudios 🔹 Twitter: https://twitter.com/devotedstudios_ 🔹 Visit our website: https://devotedstudios.com/ #SpeakEasyPodcast #GamingIndustry #Transmedia #Storytelling #DevotedStudios #EA
In this captivating episode, our CEO Ninel Anderson sits down with Chris Matthews, the brilliant Art Director and Co-founder of Ridgeline Games, an EA first-party studio. Chris leads and mentors a talented team of artists and creatives, crafting the immersive and engaging narrative experiences that have become synonymous with the iconic BATTLEFIELD franchise. 🚀🎨 Join us as we dive deep into the art of photogrammetry and the creative processes that bring the digital battlefield to life. Chris shares his insights, the studio's vision, and what it takes to create gaming experiences that keep players on the edge of their seats. 🌟 🔗 Stay connected with us: 🔹 Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/devoted-studios 🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/devotedstudios/mycompany/ 🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devotedstudios 🔹 Twitter: https://twitter.com/devotedstudios_ 🔹 Visit our website: https://devotedstudios.com/ #SpeakEasyPodcast #RidgeStudios #BATTLEFIELD #GamingIndustry #Photogrammetry #DevotedStudios #EA
