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

Hiring only senior engineers might feel like a smart move, but is it breaking game development?

In this episode, Ben sits down with Carly Taylor (an engineer and data scientist formerly on Call of Duty, now at Databricks) to tackle one of the most pressing and misunderstood issues in game development today: the crumbling pipeline of engineering talent.

They dive deep into the tragedy of the commons happening across studios, where short-term thinking and overreliance on senior talent are putting the future of game engineering at risk. Carly sheds light on the danger of under-investing in junior talent, the mentorship void left behind by remote work, and the role AI is really playing (hint: it's not what vendors are promising).

Whether you're leading a studio, managing engineers, or trying to break into games yourself, this episode is a wake-up call.

You’ll Hear:
-Why the next generation of engineers is not being mentored
-How studios are draining the senior talent pool
-The real technical challenges of using AI in games
-Why hiring only senior devs doesn’t produce better games
-What juniors bring to the table (and why companies should listen)
-How remote work disrupted knowledge transfer and how to rebuild it
-Why game dev is still one of the most passionate industries in tech

Connect with Carly Taylor:
- Website: https://www.rebeldatascience.com/
- Substack: https://carlytaylor.substack.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carly-taylor
- Databricks: https://www.databricks.com/dataaisummit/speaker/carly-taylor

Join the Building Better Games Community:
- BBG Discord: https://discord.gg/ySCPS5aMcQ
- Level Up Your Production Skills: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg/succeeding-in-game-production
- 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.