Evo Gaming #464 - Vision Vs Narrative In Games

Today’s episode is hosted by Jamie Manton and he is joined on the podcast by Gabriel Slomka, Technical Lead at Scopely, Oguz Konya, Technical Team Lead at DIGIT Game Studios, and Fabio Paes Pedro, Technical Director at MAG Interactive.The conversation explores how AI is changing the way mobile game studios develop, maintain and manage their games. The speakers discuss how AI is accelerating code production, creating new challenges around technical and cognitive debt, and potentially changing the level of abstraction at which engineers work. They also examine how developer roles are evolving, the impact on junior hiring and career development, and why human communication, technical leadership and accountability remain essential as AI becomes more integrated into development workflows.The discussion also looks at the growing importance of legacy codebases in an industry where established games can remain successful for years. The speakers explore how AI can help developers understand unfamiliar code, identify bugs and address technical debt, while highlighting the continued need for experienced engineers, strong engineering principles and careful testing. Finally, they consider the balance between short-term delivery and long-term code quality, and how studios can use AI to improve reliability, maintainability and the overall quality of their games. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's episode is hosted by Harvey Anderson and they are joined on the podcast by Craig Spiers, Lead Producer at Flix Interactive Ltd, Gabriel Chauri, Lead Game Designer at Dovetail Games, Tiina Makelaa, Senior Development Manager at Remedy Entertainment Plc, Aaron Morley, Product Manager at Sumo Digital. The conversation explores the fear of making games and the challenges that can arise throughout the game development process. From creative uncertainty and decision-making to production pressures and evolving expectations, the discussion considers how these factors can influence the journey from an initial concept to a finished video game. It also touches on the realities of working in a collaborative gaming industry where creativity, technical expertise and project management must come together. The exchange highlights wider questions around confidence, creative risk-taking and the practical demands of delivering successful games. By examining the relationship between game design, development planning and production workflows, the discussion offers useful context for aspiring developers, experienced game creators and anyone interested in video game production. It provides an opportunity to reflect on the challenges of game development and the approaches that can help creative teams navigate uncertainty while bringing their ideas to life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's episode is hosted by Elliot Tripp and they are joined on the podcast by Victoria Yurchenko, Art Operations Manager at Playtika, Atilla Kabakcıoğlu, Senior Project Manager at Athena Studio. The conversation explores the hidden costs of leadership in the games industry, examining the responsibilities, pressures and challenges that come with managing creative teams and delivering successful projects. It considers how leadership decisions influence game development workflows, team performance and the balance between creative ambition and operational efficiency. The exchange highlights the wider demands of gaming industry leadership, from coordinating multidisciplinary teams to managing production schedules and maintaining quality in a competitive market. It also considers the importance of communication, collaboration and effective project management in supporting sustainable game development. By looking at the organisational and human factors behind leadership, the discussion offers a broader perspective on what it takes to guide teams through complex production environments while navigating competing priorities and expectations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's episode is hosted by Paul Hackett and they are joined on the podcast by Adnaan Ebrahim, Game Director - New Games at Wooga. The conversation explores the visibility advantage in gaming and how clear thinking around game development, creative direction and player engagement can support the development of compelling experiences. The exchange highlights themes around mobile games, game design, new game development and the wider gaming industry. It considers how visibility can connect with product development, creative strategy and audience awareness while examining broader approaches to building and evolving games in a competitive market. The discussion also touches on gaming leadership, player experience, development processes and the changing demands of the video game industry. These insights provide useful context for professionals interested in game development, mobile gaming, game design and emerging approaches to creating engaging digital entertainment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's episode is hosted by William Thompson and they are joined on the podcast by Kenny Shea Dinkin, Creative Consultant | Creative Leadership, Product And Game Design at CitizenKenny Consulting. The conversation explores vision in games and how creative direction, product thinking and game design principles influence the development of engaging interactive experiences. The exchange highlights the relationship between creative vision, player expectations and the evolving landscape of the gaming industry.The discussion covers the importance of narrative design, creative leadership and strategic approaches to building memorable games. It also explores how teams can align ideas, innovation and execution to create stronger gaming experiences. The conversation provides insights into game development, storytelling techniques and the role of creative consultancy in shaping future projects. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's episode is hosted by Melanie Lindsey and they are joined on the podcast by Jimmy Tisell, Community Lead at Fatshark, Arnaud Jarry, Community Manager at Voodoo, Dale Emasiri, Community Strategist (Consultant) at Coffee Stain Publishing. The conversation explores the evolving role of community management in the video game industry, focusing on player engagement, communication strategies and building meaningful connections between game creators and audiences. The exchange highlights how gaming communities contribute to long-term success and brand growth. The discussion also covers community strategy, digital engagement and emerging trends shaping the future of interactive entertainment. From feedback loops to audience relationships, the conversation examines how community management continues to influence the gaming landscape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's episode is hosted by Harvey Anderson and they are joined on the podcast by Joaquin Ober, UI/UX Lead, Artemiy Nikitin, Lead Content Manager at Wargaming Group Ltd, Dave Wilson, Art Director. The conversation explores creative gap challenges within gaming, focusing on how design, user experience, content strategy and visual development connect to create engaging digital experiences. The exchange highlights the importance of collaboration between creative teams and the evolving role of innovation in the gaming industry. The discussion also covers approaches to improving workflows, aligning artistic vision with player expectations and building stronger creative processes. Listeners can gain insights into game design trends, UI/UX practices and the ways teams can overcome a creative gap while developing impactful gaming experiences. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's episode is hosted by Harvey Anderson and they are joined on the podcast by Veronika Fesenko, Senior Outsource Manager at 4A Games, Katarzyna Wiszniewska, Associate Art Director at Triple Espresso, Illia Goncharov, Producer at Wargaming Group Ltd, Matthew Zoern, Chief Executive Officer at WildFire Productions. The conversation explores managing teams in gaming, focusing on leadership, collaboration, outsourcing processes and the development of effective workflows across the gaming industry. The exchange highlights how creative and technical teams can work together to support successful game production. The discussion also covers wider topics around game development, studio operations and team coordination. Managing teams in gaming continues to evolve as gaming companies adapt to new technologies, global collaboration models and changing player expectations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's episode is hosted by Aarronn Campbell and they are joined on the podcast by Iki Ikram, Studio Art Director at Firesprite, Chris Hunter, Art Lead / Senior Artist at d3t Ltd, Ben Bauer, World Director at YAGER, Olena Krasavina, Producer at Bohemia Interactive, Julia Spinola, Producer at Fireshine Games. The conversation explores the human first approach in the games industry, focusing on creativity, collaboration, game development culture and the importance of people within successful gaming projects. The exchange highlights how teams across the industry balance artistic vision, production and player-focused experiences. Listeners can gain perspectives on creative leadership, studio collaboration and evolving trends within game development. The discussion also highlights the human first approach through the lens of teamwork, innovation and building engaging experiences for modern audiences. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's episode is hosted by Aarronn Campbell and they are joined on the podcast by Maurice Kroes, Lead Producer at Supercell, Daniel Mesonero, Development Director at Starbreeze, Ryan Cloono, Senior Producer at Avalanche and Jingna Zhu, Producer at Sharkmob. The conversation explores game production and the everyday challenges involved in coordinating modern game development. It considers the demands of production management, communication and collaboration while balancing priorities across creative and technical teams. The discussion also looks at how producers navigate changing requirements, development schedules and the practical realities of keeping complex projects moving forward. The exchange highlights the broader role of game production within the gaming industry, including project management, team coordination and effective development processes. It offers a wide-ranging look at the pressures and responsibilities surrounding production work and how strong workflows, communication and collaboration can support teams throughout the game development lifecycle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.