Ep08: Michael Schade

How do award-winning games come together when hundreds of people are involved?In this episode, Martin sits down with Ilari Kuittinen, Co-Founder and Studio Head of Housemarque, to explore the realities of creative collaboration in modern game development.Drawing on more than three decades of experience, Ilari shares insights into building creative teams, scaling from indie projects to AAA productions, maintaining a unified vision, and fostering collaboration between designers, artists, engineers, producers, and marketers.Topics include:The evolution of HousemarqueLessons from developing ReturnalCreative leadership and visionCollaboration across disciplinesCommunication in large teamsRemote vs. in-person workFacilitating better creative processesAdvice for aspiring game developersWhether you're building games, products, companies, or creative teams, this conversation offers practical lessons on turning ambitious ideas into reality.🎧 Listen now and discover why great collaboration remains one of the most important—and challenging—skills in creative work.

In this episode, Michael Schade (CEO, Rockfish Games) shares the raw story behind Everspace — from bankruptcy and publisher betrayal to Steam Platinum success and 800,000 Game Pass players.We cover:• Surviving insolvency• Killing features mid-development• Building trust through radical transparency• Why alignment beats ego leadership• Founder-led marketing strategy• Community as a growth engine

In this episode, veteran game designer Martin Annander reflects on nearly 20 years in the industry and breaks down what creative collaboration really looks like in game development.We discuss:Why constraints can make games betterHow collaboration breaks down in silosTask forces, decision-making, and leadershipHealthy conflict and killing your darlingsRemote work, trust, and creative ownershipWhy systemic design invites players into the processThe future of smaller teams and freelance collaborationA candid, experience-driven conversation about making better games—and working better together.

In this episode, Adam Boyes shares lessons from decades in the games industry—from QA at EA to leadership roles at Capcom, PlayStation, and Iron Galaxy. We explore why defining “what a game is not” matter, and how trust-driven collaboration leads to stronger teams and better games.Topics include:- Building clear creative vision- Empowering teams vs. director-led development- Handling conflict and ego- Involving marketing early- Remote vs. in-person collaboration- Leadership frameworks that scaleChapters:00:00 Intro – Gamescom, Creativity & Collaboration in Game Development  01:20 Adam Boyes’ Journey into the Games Industry  03:45 Breaking In Through QA at Electronic Arts  07:10 From QA to Production & Startup Studio Life  09:50 Blitz: The League – Creative Vision Under Constraints  13:30 Defining a Game: What It Is vs What It Isn’t  16:05 Rumbleverse Origins – From Bar Talk to Real Pitch  19:40 Team Alignment, Values & Creative Boundaries  22:55 Publisher Cancellation & Rebuilding the Vision  26:15 Director-Driven vs Collective Game Development  29:40 Trust vs Speed – The Fall Damage Design Lesson  32:50 What Creative Collaboration Really Means  35:30 When to Involve Marketing & Commercial Voices  38:00 Managing Conflict, Ego & Team Disagreements  41:20 Killing Your Darlings – The Pitch Cemetery  44:15 Leadership Rituals: Dailies & the 1-3-1 Framework  47:10 Remote Work vs In-Person Collaboration  50:00 Conflict Resolution & Emotional Intelligence  53:30 Cultural Differences in Global Game Teams  56:20 Advice for New Game Developers & Collaborators  59:00 Final Thoughts, Community & Where to Find Adam#GameDevelopment #Leadership #CreativeLeadership #CreativeTeams #Collaboration

In this episode, I speak with game-industry veteran Jules Proux about a number of things, including creating environments where artists, engineers, designers, and producers can communicate through a shared creative vocabulary, extracting “tribal knowledge” when joining established projects and balancing creative and commercial voices early in development.#GameDevelopment #Leadership #CreativeLeadership #CreativeTeams #Collaboration

Star Stable’s Art Director Björn Jankes shares what it takes to lead creative teams — with empathy, not ego. Discover how diverse perspectives, trust, and tough calls (“kill your darlings”) shape great games.💡 Insights on creative teamwork, leadership, and growing your craft.#GameDevelopment #Leadership #CreativeTeams

In episode 3, I talk to Matt Zoern about building games with strong core experiences, fostering creative collaboration, and making tough production decisions. Learn how cohesive teams, passion, and listening to your gut lead to better games—and why asking questions and continuous learning are key for newcomers.With 20+ years in the games industry, previously at studios like EA, Funcom, Nvizzio, and Room 8, and now at Borflab and Wildfire, Matt has built and grown multiple studios worldwide, working across diverse genres, platforms, and cultures.

In this episode, my guest is Theodor Diea, Founder & CEO of Goose Byte, a development studio based in Montreal. A former AAA developer, having contributed to games such as Ghost Recon Future Solider, Just Dance 4 and 2014, Mother Russia Bleeds, Brave Frontier, and Rainbow Six Siege, Theo now leads the team behind the upcoming survival game The Signal: Stranded on Sirenis.

In this debut episode, I’m joined by Jerome Ortmann, Senior Marketing & Brand Director at Saber Interactive, a brand marketing and publishing expert with previous roles at Ubisoft, Avalanche Studios and Fatshark.In this episode, we dive deep into the creative and commercial aspects of game development. Our guest shares firsthand experience working with developers, studios, and creative teams, offering practical insights on balancing creative vision with commercial realities, collaborating across teams, and supporting game creators to bring their projects to life.