Will Freeman's 20 year career spans many areas of the games industry. He's a freelance journalist, mock reviewer, copywriter and so much more. He's worked with a huge list of notable brands and publications including The Guardian, BAFTA, Epic, the BBC, EA, Vice and PC Gamer. While we do talk about games journalism, this episode quickly turned into an honest and authentic conversation about his career journey and personal struggles. What we're left with is a wonderful love letter to the games industry. I'm sure you'll enjoy this one.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

00:48 Career Journeys in the Games Industry

03:08 The Evolution of a Freelance Career

05:44 Finding Authenticity in the Creative Space

08:58 The Role of Community and Support

11:40 Mental Health and Acceptance in the Games Industry

14:26 The Importance of Open Conversations

17:44 Embracing Imperfection and Vulnerability

20:21 Work-Life Balance and Personal Growth

24:02 Meeting People and Making Friends in the Games Industry

31:39 Balancing Work and Personal Life

35:06 Understanding Energy Levels and Productivity

38:22 Mock Reviews for Games

44:09 How Game Development Roles Overlap

48:38 Navigating Imposter Syndrome in the Games Industry

57:59 The Future of Gaming and Cultural Impact

About Will

With 20 years in games journalism, Will Freeman has contributed reviews, critiques and features to some of the biggest names in the industry, from The Guardian and Edge to Eurogamer and IGN. Will is also a trusted partner for studios and publishers of all sizes, delivering insightful mock reviews that help shape games before release. You can find Will on:

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

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/spadgy.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spadgy_ota

About Me

Hi, I’m Cat Burton! I've built studios, raised funding and shipped games to millions of players. Now I help you do the same with expert games consultancy and coaching. The Goth Boss Podcast dives into the real challenges of making games and running game studios by sharing honest stories and inspiring conversations with my industry friends. You can find me on:

GothBoss (Games Consultancy & Coaching): https://www.GothBoss.co.uk

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gothbosscat

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gothbosscat.bsky.social

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gothbosscat

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode of The Goth Boss Podcast I sit down with my friend Cinzia Musio a leading voice in diversity and inclusion in games.

We unpack the challenges and the myths of diversity and inclusion.

We also discuss the practical steps that leaders can take to build truly inclusive spaces.

Empathy and collaboration is going to make the games industry a much better place for everybody and Cinzia is going to tell you all about how you can make it happen.

Chapters

00:00 Cinzia's Journey into Diversity and Inclusion

10:19 Challenges in Diversity and Inclusion in the Games Industry

15:33 The Political Landscape and Its Impact on D&I

20:25 Practical Steps for Inclusive Workplaces

25:37 Language and Communication in D&I Practices

28:42 Measuring Diversity Beyond Quotas

32:21 Creating a Thriving Team Environment

33:55 Future Aspirations for Diversity in Gaming

36:24 Empathy as a Leadership Skill

40:09 Debunking Myths in Diversity and Inclusion

47:33 Success Stories in Diversity Efforts

About Cinzia

Cinzia Musio (She/They) is an award-winning Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Consultant in the UK, with an approach focusing on intersectionality, and Director at Code Coven. They work across the industry with helping build awareness and education, and using data to drive a culture of inclusion, knowledge sharing, and allyship. Cinzia is a Training Consultant and Researcher for Limit Break, a BAFTA member, and helps manage a UK Games Industry Slack community of over 8000 people. When not at work, Cinzia can be found doing various crafts or cuddling cats.

You can find Cinzia on:

http://cinziamusio.co.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cinzia-musio/

https://linktr.ee/cinzia_musio

About Me

Hi, I’m Cat Burton! I've built studios, raised funding and shipped games to millions of players. Now I help you do the same with expert games consultancy and coaching. The Goth Boss Podcast is where I dive into the real challenges of making games and running studios.

You can connect with me on:

Goth Boss Studios: https://www.GothBoss.co.uk

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gothbosscat/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gothbosscat.bsky.social

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gothbosscat

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join me for an insightful conversation with Lee Kemp from Tea Imp Games as we delve into the world of game design.

Discover the nuances of a game designer's role, the challenges of balancing creative projects with consultancy and his journey of developing the indie game Thingamajigs.

Whether you're a studio leader or an aspiring designer, Lee's experiences and tips offer valuable lessons for anyone in the gaming industry.

Tune in for a blend of professional insights and personal stories that highlight the art and science of game design.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Game Design

02:31 The Impact of Location on Game Development

05:23 The Importance of Office Environments for Juniors

08:21 Design Reviews and the Role of a Game Designer

11:37 Understanding Game Mechanics and Player Experience

14:23 Analysing Game Design Processes

17:20 Common Pitfalls in Game Development

20:22 Balancing Freelance Work and Personal Projects

24:29 The Importance of Design in Game Development

25:44 When to Bring a Designer into the Team

26:30 The Role of Designers in Problem Solving

28:26 Challenges in VR Game Design

30:16 Introducing Thingamajigs: A Wholesome Game Experience

33:22 Navigating the Indie Game Development Landscape

33:48 How to Effectively Collaborate with Designers

37:30 The Importance of Open-Mindedness in Game Development

39:00 What's next for Lee

About Lee

Lee Kemp is a skilled design lead with a head for production and a focus on getting games to release. He’s led teams from 10 to 100 people, from tiny indie hits to platform launch titles.

In his current role as the head of an indie studio (Tea Imp Games), Lee leads the design on internal IPs. Externally, he's also freelance design lead who helping other studios find their creative footing around their own design issues.

You can find him on:

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

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/designergoblin.bsky.social

Tea Imp Games: https://www.teaimpgames.com/

About Me

Hi, I’m Cat Burton! I've built studios, raised funding and shipped games to millions of players. Now I help you do the same with expert games consultancy and coaching. The Goth Boss Podcast is where I dive into the real challenges of making games and running studios.

You can connect with me on:

GothBoss (Games Consultancy & Coaching): https://www.GothBoss.co.uk

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gothbosscat

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gothbosscat.bsky.social

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gothbosscat

P.S. We gave a little shoutout to our friend Dan Blatherwick who is an amazing sound designer for games. He also made the music for this podcast! You can find him at:

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

Portfolio: https://danblatherwick.co.uk/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.