Host Carmen Askerneese speaks with Guest Josh Navarro this week. From nostalgic arcade memories to the intricacies of game design, Josh shares his journey from a passionate gamer to a seasoned professional in the industry.

Josh's Bio: Josh was raised in Dallas, TX and went to Texas Tech University for undergrad before moving to Florida to pursue game design at the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy. Since then, he has worked at Electronic Arts, Crystal Dynamics, and most recently Cloud Chamber. He has 6 years of game development experience as a Technical and Systems Designer and has contributed to titles such as Madden, Marvel’s Avengers, Perfect Dark, and the upcoming Bioshock.

Josh's Links:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/joshmnavarro

Instagram: @jnavarro_

-------------Follow Carmen on socials for Colorful Pixels updates and more: TikTok: @CarmenAskerneeseInstagram: @CarmenAskerneeseBluesky: @CarmenAskerneeseSubstack: The Save Point

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#videogames, #gamedevelopment, #gaminghistory, #programming, #gamedesign , #career , #madden , #careeradvice, #gamingindustry

Host Carmen Askerneese speaks with James Mielke about his journey from a passionate gamer to a game developer and journalist. They discuss the early days of gaming, the evolution of the industry, and the importance of independence in game development. James shares insights on how aspiring developers can navigate their careers and the significance of shipping games, regardless of their commercial success. The conversation highlights the changing landscape of the gaming industry and the opportunities available for new creators.

Chapters

00:00 The Spark of Gaming Passion

05:02 From Player to Creator: The Journey Begins

13:22 Navigating the Game Industry: A Career Path

17:52 Transitioning to Game Development

22:27 Advice for Aspiring Game Developers

Links:

• Stay up to date on James’ upcoming projects: https://www.tigertron.co/

• BlueSky handle: https://bsky.app/profile/milkman.bsky.social

Bio:

James Mielke is a 27-year veteran of all aspects of the game industry, having worked at EGM before moving into game dev and publishing, working for Square Enix, Q Entertainment, and Q-Games where he founded the indie gaming festival BitSummit. He now runs his own development studio, Tigertron, with his co-founder Sam Kennedy.

-------------Follow Carmen on his socials for updates: TikTok: @CarmenAskerneeseInstagram: @CarmenAskerneeseBluesky: @CarmenAskerneeseSubstack: The Save Point

#podcast #gamedevlopment #GameSpot #career #games #videogamemusic #IndieGame

Host Carmen Askerneese sits down with Eric Dies to explore his journey from a young gamer to a seasoned game developer. They discuss Eric's early influences, his work on iconic games like Halo, and his passion for storytelling through game design. Eric shares insights into the creative process, the evolution of gaming communities, and the importance of collaboration in the industry.

About Eric:

Eric Dies is a multidisciplinary designer and screenwriter, shaped by an MFA from SCAD and a career building high-impact experiences for major franchises. At 343 Industries (now Halo Studios), he led design and realization efforts across the Halo franchise, crafting its transmedia portfolio, UI/UX, and narrative marketing. His work—recognized by SXSW, PromaxBDA, and Adobe—blends visual innovation with immersive storytelling. Recently named a Semi-Finalist in the BlueCat TV Writing Competition, Eric also writes character-driven thrillers with speculative sci-fi leanings.”

Socials & Links:

Instagram: @mrdies

LinkedIn: Eric Dies | LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrdies/

IMDB: https://imdb.me/ericdies

Design Site: https://www.mrdies.com

Other Projects:

“END_LOOP” (TV Series // In Development): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37745204/

Chapters

00:00 The Early Days of Gaming

02:30 Influences and Inspirations in Game Development

05:18 The Evolution of Gaming Communities

07:54 Transitioning to Professional Game Development

10:19 The Journey from Animation to Game Design

13:21 Skills Transfer in the Gaming Industry

15:57 Reflections on Career and Community

18:37 Connecting with Eric Diaz

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#gaming, #gamedevelopment, #animation, #community, #careerpath, #ElderScrolls, #Halo, #co-opgames, #gamingindustry, #storytelling