Is there a way to predict whether a game will hit or flop? In this episode, Ben is joined by Colan Neese, who has spent a lot of time looking at how audiences relate to products at companies like Twitch and Nielsen. Colan's work at Mind Game Data is focused on "puzzling through the problem of anticipating which games are likely to take off at launch and which seem to be headed nowhere".

The conversation challenges the conventional wisdom about what drives a successful launch, revealing why our data-driven approaches have been too narrow to anticipate success.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

🎮 Why launching at the wrong time can sink your game

👥 How building a community early can make or break you

🔊 The truth about player attention (it’s not just about genres or loud voices online)

📅 When to move your launch date, despite the cost

🕵️‍♂️ And how to spot if your game is actually gaining traction without outside help

Learn more about Colan Neese:

Connect with Colan on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/colanneese/ and subscribe to his newsletters:

• Mind Game Patch Notes: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/mindgame-patch-notes-7336099537939255300/

• LinkedIn Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7336099537939255300/

The Game Dev Leadership Accelerator is live. A successful game begins with leaders who catalyze success instead of wasting everyone’s time. This conversation is a great example of the mindset we teach at Building Better Games at focusing on what matters, not what distracts.
Are you ready to level up your leadership? Book a call with us now!: https://calendly.com/bcarcichcoaching/15-minute-one-on-one

Connect with us:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich

• Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BuildingBetterGames

#GameDev #GameIndustry #DataAnalytics #MarketingStrategy #Leadership

🎮 There are tons of “game dev tools” out there promising to fix your problems… but too often, teams end up serving the tool instead of the tools serving them.

In this video, I’ll break down a simple, practical guide to streamline your process. You’ll learn not just what you need, but why it matters whether you’re running a team, starting a game studio, or pushing an R&D project forward.

✨ What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The Power of Vision → Why a clear, shared vision is your best defense against wasted effort. (And how to avoid traps like jargon, prototype obsession, or endless feature lists.)
  
  

• The Collaborative Space → How a simple whiteboard can become your team’s creative playground — without crushing the fun with overbuilt systems.
  
  

• The Visual Task Board → Why a lightweight task board beats a complicated system every time — and how to avoid becoming a slave to your own process.
  
  

👉 Whether you’re an indie dev, part of a startup, or working on experimental projects, these three tools will help you keep things moving in the right direction.

If you want to start using Favro, my preferred work management system, with a template based on the advice in this episode, sign up here: https://www.favro.com/templates/games/team-function/game-startup

Full Disclaimer: I am a Favro affiliate, because they have been my favorite tool for years. Starts small, scales well, insanely flexible. Check them out!

If you are a leader frustrated with broken systems and feeling like you are endlessly solving the wrong problems, I want to help. I am kicking off a Game Dev Leadership Accelerator where I help leaders and producers level themselves up and solve the problems that matter.

Check the link to be notified once the course is available: https://forms.gle/6HcJi6WChDkRVuF9A

Connect with us:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich

• Substack: https://bencarcich.substack.com

• Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BuildingBetterGames

#GameDev #GameDevelopment #ProjectManagement #GameProduction #Leadership

Setting goals is harder than you think.

In this episode, Ben Carcich is joined by Melissa Phillips, founder of Games Leadership, to dive deep into a topic that leaders often approach with little understanding: goal setting. From a professional perspective, goal setting is about helping people find fulfillment in what they are doing. Melissa discusses how goals have evolved from a basic survival need to a more complicated, individualistic pursuit.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why money is a terrible goal
• The problem with only having giant goals
• The importance of celebrating small wins
• A surprisingly effective way to find your true goals
• Why communicating goals to others matters
• The reality of your changing goals

A successful game begins with better processes. This conversation is a great example of the mindset we teach at Building Better Games.

Learn more about Melissa Phillips (Founder, Games Leadership)

🔗LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melphillips1/

🔗Website: https://www.gamesleadership.com/

🔗 Games Leadership Blueprint Course
(A 12-week program helping leaders craft a sustainable and personalized leadership model.)

Connect with us:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich
• Substack: https://bencarcich.substack.com
• Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BuildingBetterGames

#GameDev #Leadership #ProjectManagement #CareerDevelopment #Goals

Are live service games truly dying, or are we just seeing a new era of evolution?

In this episode, we sit down with game designer and product thinker Ryan Scott to unpack the difficult world of live service titles. Ryan brings a wealth of knowledge from his time working on major titles, sharing his unique insights on what makes a live service game thrive or fail. We dive deep into the concept of "switching costs," the importance of meeting specific player needs, and the delicate balance between mastery and novelty that defines a game's longevity.

🎮We talk about:

• Live service games - dying?

• The importance of serving real player needs

• Why a “better” game is not enough to win

• The elements to balance when updating live service games

• The 3 questions to consider before any update

• How elegance relates to design and complexity

• Who you are building your game for - and who you aren’t building it for

• Why every game is not “Esports-ready” even when the hype says they are

Here's the breakdown of the games and companies we talked about in this episode:

The Games:

• Apex Legends

• Battlefield One

• Battlefield Five

• Call of Duty (CoD)

• Concord

• Counterstrike (CS)

• Dota 2

• Fortnite

• Halo

• Hearthstone

• League of Legends

• Marvel Rivals

• Overwatch

• Path of Exile

• Rainbow Six

• Smite

• Specter Divide

• StarCraft II

• The Cycle

• Valorant

• Warframe

• World of Tanks

• World of Warcraft (WoW)

The Companies & Studios:

• Blizzard

• Epic

• Riot Games

• Sony

• Valve

• 343 Industries/Halo Studios

Learn more about Ryan Scott:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-scott-akamorello/

In today's complex and costly industry, planning and estimation matter more than ever but are often destructive rather than helpful. Elevate your studio's decision-making and collaboration by learning how to get more out of estimation in less time.
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 #GamePublishing #BusinessOfGames #GameMarketing

Do you need game publishing to ship your game successfully? What does a leader in a publishing organization truly do?

Join us for a conversation with Elizabeth Howard, an industry veteran with over 20 years of experience across Aspyr, 2K, and Bungie, where she led publishing and production. Elizabeth views game development and publishing as two parts working together to ship games, defining publishing as everything outside of dev. This episode explores the nature of game publishing, the historical dev-pub divide, and the need for greater integration and shared goals in today's complex market.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why publishing is about selling the game, not building it
• How shared goals between devs and publishers drive success
• The mistake most indie devs make
• Why every indie game needs a real publishing strategy
• What publishers really look for: risk, culture fit, and audience
• Why dev and publishing should be seen as one connected system

Learn more about Elizabeth Howard:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethhoward

Resources mentioned::

• Aspyr: https://www.aspyr.com/
• 2K Games: https://www.2k.com/
• Bungie: https://www.bungie.net/
• Digital Bandidos: https://www.digitalbandidos.com/

In today's complex and costly industry, strategic planning and effective estimation can help you succeed. Unfortunately, most studios don’t know how to estimate in a way that makes the time spent worthwhile.

If you want to spend less time and get more value out of estimation, check out 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 #GamePublishing #BusinessOfGames #GameMarketing

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

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.

• 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/

• 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

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