Out of Play Area – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Episode 39 features Jason Knobler, a Senior Staff Engineer at Lightning Games in Philadelphia. Jay’s a fellow Full Sail University alumni, who has worked as an Engineer on Rockstar Games’ Red Dead Redemption, and is also writing his own Harmony Game Engine.

1. (00:00) John’s Life Notes
2. (4:15) Who is Jason Knobler? 
3. (14:19) Origins
4. (28:41) First Job Digital Embryo
5. (40:38) Rockstar San Deigo & Red Dead Redemption
6. (01:14:03) Going Back to Philly
7. (01:17:05) Harmony Game Engine part 2
8. (01:26:24) John’s Outro

Harmoney Game Engine GitHub: https://github.com/GameOverture/HarmonyEngine

Jay’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Game_Overture

Jay’s Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/game_overture

Connect with the host: http://elkingpin.com 

Come On The Show: https://outofplayarea.com 

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/out-of-play-area/id1550421307 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Da0qLAOBi6rV6ccSzx1gX?si=043f4ec5a6034bf0

Follow @outofplayarea & @elkingpin on Twitter

Check out Descript using my affiliate url: http://descript.com?lmref=john@outofplayarea.com

Episode 38 features Claude Jerome, a Lead Gameplay Designer for Firewalk Studios part of the Probably Monsters family. Claude’s experience has led him from Vicarious Visions, 1st Playable, to Microsoft on Project Spark, and Bungie on Destiny to where he is today. We talk about how he got where he is, where he’s trying to go, and everything in between. 

1. (00:00) John’s Life Notes
2. (2:56) Who is Claude Jerome? 
3. (17:23) Island Mates
4. (24:26) Firewalk Studios & Probably Monsters
5. (46:08) Building Culture
6. (50:18) Bungie
7. (01:09:32) Project Spark at Microsoft
8. (01:19:45) East Coast Dev
9. (01:27:33) Origin
10. (01:38:07) Final Round
11. (01:49:19) John’s Outro

Claude’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Claude_Jerome

Claude’s LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudejerome/

Game Devs of Color Expo 2020: Advanced Game Feel: https://youtu.be/EABa8X3lEPM

Project Spark E3 Demo: https://youtu.be/m37sVEgJrOA

Connect with the host: http://elkingpin.com 

Come On The Show: https://outofplayarea.com 

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/out-of-play-area/id1550421307 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Da0qLAOBi6rV6ccSzx1gX?si=043f4ec5a6034bf0

Follow @outofplayarea & @elkingpin on Twitter

Check out Descript using my affiliate url: http://descript.com?lmref=john@outofplayarea.com

On episode 29 we sit down with Jason Jurecka, a Lead Software Engineer at Visual Concepts, who just released WWE 2k22 laying the smack down on the competition. He’s a fellow Full Sail Alumni who I had the pleasure to work with at R* San Diego on Red Dead Redemption 1 and GTA V, and who has worked with damn near all the heavy hitters in the game from Blizzard, to EA on Battlefield, to where it all started at Big Huge Games on Catan & Rise of Legends.

Chapters:

1. (00:00) Who is Jason Jurecka?
2. (13:12) UGC Tools for Wrestling Games
3. (23:07) A Day as an Engineer
4. (35:36) Coming Up in a Small Texas Town
5. (46:23) Finding the Right School for Comp Sci
6. (56:58) Unpacking Burnout
7. (01:04:42) Tools & Pipeline Engineering at Rockstar
8. (01:12:44) Final Project at Full Sail
9. (01:21:02) Schools of Engineering
10. (01:31:15) Final Round
11. (01:45:57) John's Final Thoughts & Teaser

Episode Resources:

Support Humanitarian Relief for Ukraine (epicgames.com)

Jason Jurecka’s' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-jurecka-9362182/

Visual Concepts’ Careers: https://vcentertainment.com/careers/

Connect with the host: http://elkingpin.com 

Show: https://outofplayarea.com 

Learn more about Full Sail University https://www.fullsail.edu/

Episode 28 is dedicated to the people of Ukraine.

We sit down with Alan Blaine, a Principal Technical Designer for Bungie on Destiny, and a former Rockstar Designer for Red Dead Redemption and Grand Theft Auto V. We talk about the latest release of the Witch Queen, his upcoming GDC 2022 talk, and the craft of being a Technical Designer and a good manager while still staying hands on as a Technical Designer.

Chapters:

1. (00:00) Who is Alan Blaine?
2. (12:37) Principal Tech Designer Responsibilities
3. (25:59) Play Your Game
4. (32:20) Starting as a Technical Artist
5. (47:30) Thrasher & Skate Boarding
6. (53:58) Shared World Shooters
7. (01:04:20) Grand Theft Auto
8. (01:12:40) The Chopping Block
9. (01:21:57) GDC Presentation
10. (01:28:59) Final Round
11. (01:38:58) Words for Aspiring Devs
12. (01:48:27) John's Final Thoughts & Teaser

Episode Resources:

GDC 2021 Panel Avoid an Identity Crisis as a Technical Designer: https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1027541/Avoid-an-Identity-Crisis-as

GDC 2022 Talk: 1000 Hours of Difficulty: How Destiny Build Systemic Challenge: https://schedule.gdconf.com/session/1000-hours-of-difficulty-how-destiny-builds-systemic-challenge/882052

Alan Blaine’s' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-blaine-4163314/

Alane’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Alan_M_Blaine

Bungie Careers : https://careers.bungie.com/

Connect with the host: http://elkingpin.com 

Show: https://outofplayarea.com 

Episode 27 of Out of Play Area the game developer's podcast features James Kane, a Game Designer & QA Manager at Raccoon Studios in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He's an old WB Games Montreal buddy in arms during our time on Metallica & Gotham Knights, who has gone on to do major things in the industry coming up through QA and studying Game Design at Dawson College. 

Chapters:

1. (00:00) Who is James Kane?
2. (9:02) Day in the Life of a Junior Designer & QA Manager
3. (18:59) Different QA Branches
4. (24:37) Levels of QA Part 2
5. (30:44) Alternative to Bug Quotas
6. (38:06) Origin Story
7. (50:00) Going to Typhoon Studios
8. (56:51) Raccoon Logic
9. (01:02:35) Final Round
10. (01:13:04) John's Final Thoughts & Teaser

Episode Resources:

James' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kane-14893b47/

Racoon Logic : https://www.raccoonlogic.com/careers

Connect with the host: http://elkingpin.com 

Show: https://outofplayarea.com 

Marie has a long career in game development, where she has worked on several AAA titles such as Batman Arkham Origins, Dead Rising, RollerCoaster Tycoon and Deus Ex. She worked for a number of well-renowned studios such as Ubisoft, Capcom, Warner Bros and Eidos, eventually making her way up to Game Director.

Nowadays, she is a consultant who offers her services for studios, publishers, investors and schools. Marie was also one of the early pioneers of eSports, which she started her side career in by co-driving Femina Gaming, the world’s then-biggest community org for female esports. Her focus was on events and she arranged Counter-Strike competitions at Dreamhack 2004-2010. She then continued in competitive MOBA SMITE, fielding roles such as commentator, analyst and coach for a top #12 team. She also organized and produced tournament broadcasts for ESL and Meltdown eSports bar.

Chapters:

1. (00:00) Who is Marie Mejerwall?
2. (12:00) A Game Director's Job
3. (22:46) Do What You Love
4. (31:53) Earn Your Credits
5. (39:32) Breaking into AAA at WB Games Montreal
6. (51:26) Change is Key for Growth
7. (59:32) More Than Your Role
8. (01:07:12) Negotiating & Selecting Your Team
9. (01:20:25) Final Round
10. (01:39:52) John's Final Thoughts & Teaser

Episode Resources:

Marie's Website: https://mejerwall.com

Marie's MobyGames: https://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,592335/

Marie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariemejerwall/

Game Dev Map: https://www.gamedevmap.com/

Show Website: http://outofplayarea.com  Connect with the host: http://elkingpin.com 

On Season 2’s premiere episode we surf the waves of change with Mauro Fiore, 

Studio Design Director at EA Firemonkeys in Melbourne, Australia.

Mauro has spent 20+ years navigating the ever evolving gaming landscape - from console to casual to mobile and beyond. 

Join us as we discuss his journey from Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center to Angel Studios, Rockstar Games, Zynga, Forgame, Linekong, and EA, working on titles such as Midnight Club 2 & 3, Red Dead Redemption, CityVille, FarmVille 2, BattleCore, Independence Day Extinction, Real Racing 3, Need for Speed No Limits, the Sims Free Play, and the Sims Mobile. 

Chapters:

1. (00:00) Who is Mauro Fiore?
2. (14:37) Leaving Artifacts
3. (25:56) Higher Education
4. (37:50) Angel Studios
5. (52:49) Part of the Angel Family
6. (01:11:03) Designing the Wild West
7. (01:25:12) Strive to Stay Relevant
8. (01:39:17) Head North to Zynga
9. (01:55:03) Developing for Mobile Startups
10. (02:07:09) Life Down Under in Australia
11. (02:25:10) The Metaverse & NFTs
12. (02:41:59) Better Hiring Practices
13. (02:56:01) John's Final Thoughts

Show Resources:

Midnight Club

Take 2 Buys Zynga

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

Portfolio: https://www.maurovfiore.com/

This bonus episode features your host John R. Diaz, a Senior Technical Designer for Electronic Arts Frostbite Engine. In this 1:1 we look back on the podcast and the inaugural year, where we've been, and where we hope to go in 2022.

Season 202(2) will kick off at the end of January / early February. See you all then!

Feel free to connect with John www.elkingpin.com

And connect with the show at www.outofplayarea.com 

Links to other recommended podcasts:

Game Dev with a Shot of Jameson: https://open.spotify.com/show/2lvzEmdq6X9vwKWMi4F6CF

The AIAS Game Maker's Notebook: https://www.interactive.org/Interviews/the_game_makers_notebook.asp

The Game Dev Show: https://www.ptw.com/thegamedevshow/

The Habibis: https://thehabibis.transistor.fm/

GDC Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3IjaJ0YoZiVvgOK5xRlDQx

Zero To Play Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/13V48s0adPvEQRHHKPUU13 

Johnny Wu is a QA Director at Riot Games in Santa Monica who has worked for Respawn on Apex Legends, King, Zynga, and King.

Chapters:

1. (00:00) Who is Johnny Wu?
2. (07:34) A Toast with Johnny
3. (15:43) What is a QA Director?
4. (25:20) Getting into Games
5. (32:37) Learning the QA Craft
6. (39:52) Working at King
7. (51:10) Canada to London
8. (59:13) L.A. L.A. Land
9. (01:07:36) Manager Life
10. (01:13:46) Riot Games
11. (01:23:08) Final Round

Links:

Johnny Wu on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnywu85/ 

Connect with the host: https://linktr.ee/jkingpin 

Follow the show: http://outofplayarea.com 

Episode 22 of the game dev's podcast features Elaine Gomez a Game Designer at Brass Lion Entertainment based out of New York City. 

Elaine Gómez is an award-winning game designer currently working at Brass Lion Entertainment with 5 years of experience in gameplay and systems design. She is one of the six co-founders of Latinx in Gaming and supports the non-profit organization with game development-related initiatives and resources. Elaine is passionate about mentorship and often lends her design knowledge and resources to serve young game developers across the globe.

Chapters:

1. (00:00) Episode Origin Notes
2. (02:57) Homeland Talk
3. (09:17) Elaine’s Roots & Hustling to Get On
4. (17:28) Design Portfolio
5. (26:03) Designing In The Pandemic
6. (32:57) Being Your Authentic Self
7. (45:16) Soft Skills Are Essential
8. (51:46) Emotional Intelligence & Self-Advocating
9. (01:08:14) Founding a Family in Latinx in Gaming
10. (01:14:42) Representation & Women in Design
11. (01:28:27) Academics & Graduate Programs
12. (01:39:09) Final Round Games
13. (01:52:26) UX in Beyond Blue

Links:

https://twitter.com/chulatastic 

http://www.elaine-gomez.com/ 

https://brasslionentertainment.com/careers/

https://www.amazon.com/Games-Design-Play-detailed-iterative/dp/0134392078 

https://www.pureref.com/