Hi! I’m Cat Burton, a games industry veteran of 17 years.
This is The Goth Boss Podcast where I dive into the real challenges of making games and running studios.
From burnout and imposter syndrome to scaling teams and finding funding, I share honest stories and conversations with inspiring people across the games industry.
Whether you’re leading a studio, building your first game or growing a team, my goal is to help you survive and succeed in the games industry.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hi! I’m Cat Burton, a games industry veteran of 17 years.
This is The Goth Boss Podcast where I dive into the real challenges of making games and running studios.
From burnout and imposter syndrome to scaling teams and finding funding, I share honest stories and conversations with inspiring people across the games industry.
Whether you’re leading a studio, building your first game or growing a team, my goal is to help you survive and succeed in the games industry.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What if the key to solving the climate crisis, social inequality and even human behavior wasn’t found in policy papers, but in games?
In this episode, I sit down with Trevin York, founder of Dire Lark, to explore how Games for Change are reshaping the way we tackle global challenges. From climate action and healthcare to finance and education, Trevin reveals how playful design can turn complex, serious topics into experiences that inspire real-world impact.
We dive into the power of data to understand players, what it takes to design for transformation and the surprising business realities of running a purpose-driven game studio. You’ll hear how AI is influencing funding and what aspiring designers can do to build games that truly make a difference.
If you’ve ever wondered how games could actually change the world, this conversation will make you rethink what “serious play” really means.
Books:
Design for the real world by victor Papanek: https://amzn.to/43d7nKK
Design when everybody designs by ezio manzini: https://amzn.to/3KKd2lh
Designs for the pluriverse by Arturo escobar: https://amzn.to/4nMxzV3
Ideas Arrangements Effects by the Design Studio for Social Intervention: https://amzn.to/477DpJx
The Transformational Framework by Sabrina Culyba: https://amzn.to/4n446Vt
Trevin's book - The Game Needs to Change: https://www.routledge.com/The-Game-Needs-to-Change-Towards-Sustainable-Game-Design/Prax-Whittle-York/p/book/9781032836195?srsltid=AfmBOoq7wZEBpY_yHJWvlB1iKJPOXi4CLmyWnPxGWdl4q1DXIl7DWJ69
About Trevin
Trevin York has spent over a decade collaborating with talented teams to make games and other interactive experiences focused on effecting lasting change. As the founder of Dire Lark, Trevin works with organizations ranging from tech startups to game studios to international firms, bringing game design techniques and processes to projects aiming for real-world positive impacts across a variety of contexts. You can find Trevin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevin-york/, and Dire Lark at: https://direlark.co.uk/
About Cat
Hi, I’m Cat Burton! I've built studios, raised funding and shipped games to millions of players. Now I help you do the same with expert games consultancy and ecosystem building. The Goth Boss Podcast is where I dive into the real challenges of making games and running studios.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.