The AIAS Game Maker's Notebook

Trent Kusters chats with Ubisoft Mainz Creative Director, Manuel Reinher. Together they discuss his extensive work in the Anno series and his path from the art team to direction; the creative and technical challenges of working in the historical strategy game genre; their approach to depicting the Roman Empire in the latest series release, Anno 117: Pax Romana; how a seemingly simple transition from square to hexagon tiles comes with massive ramifications in all parts of game design; and how they tackle accessibility without sacrificing complexity and depth.
This episode is supported by Xsolla
Episode Host: Trent Kusters
Producers: Claudio Tapia and Josh Chu, The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing and leaving us a rating and review.
Support the show and get all of our episodes early/ad-free: https://bit.ly/4kU34Lt
Follow us: linktr.ee/AIAS
Please consider supporting game dev students with: AIAS Foundation

Alexa Ray Corriea chats with Adhoc Studio's Nick Herman about their debut title, Dispatch. Together they discuss the difficulties of funding narrative based titles and how that led to their collaboration with Critical Role; how they approached the superhero genre from outside the fandom; balancing player choice with narrative intentions; what they learned from player testing; and why they chose the episodic format.
This episode is supported by 
Xsolla
iam8bit
Episode Host: Alexa Ray Corriea
Producers: Claudio Tapia and Josh Chu, The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing and leaving us a rating and review.
Follow us: linktr.ee/AIAS
Please consider supporting game dev students with: AIAS Foundation

Trent Kusters chats with Lee Petty, Creative Director on Double Fine's newest adventure, Keeper. Together they discuss where the idea to anthropomorphize a light house; why they avoided dialogue and how it pushed them creatively; how silence and emptiness shape emotional tone; the importance of restraint; and what he's learned about leadership throughout his journey at Double Fine.
This episode is supported by 
Xsolla
iam8bit
Episode Host: Trent Kusters
Producers: Claudio Tapia and Josh Chu, The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing and leaving us a rating and review.
Support the show and get all of our episodes early/ad-free: https://bit.ly/4kU34Lt
Follow us: linktr.ee/AIAS
Please consider supporting game dev students with: AIAS Foundation

Jun Shen Chia chats with SILENT HILL f game director Al Yang of Neobards Entertainment. Together they discuss how Neobards collaborated with Konami and famed Japanese writer Ryukishi07 on creating the newest chapter in the Silent Hill series; designing the combat to create tension and feel like a puzzle; creating a game for existing fans that brings in new players; and balancing fun while trying to tell a deep emotional story.
This episode is supported by 
Xsolla
Episode Host: Jun Shen Chia
Producers: Claudio Tapia and Josh Chu, The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing and leaving us a rating and review.
Follow us: linktr.ee/AIAS
Please consider supporting game dev students with: AIAS Foundation

Adam Orth chats with Brandon Adler and Kyle Koenig about their latest work at Obsidian Entertainment, The Outer Worlds 2. Together they discuss the lessons they learned from the first game and what they sought to improve; how they implemented comedic and narrative elements into every aspect of gameplay; what ideas ended up on the cutting room floor; and what's next for themselves and the franchise.
This episode is sponsored by:
Xsolla
Episode Host: Adam Orth
Producers: Claudio Tapia and Josh Chu, The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing and leaving us a rating and review.
Support the show and get all of our episodes early/ad-free: https://bit.ly/4kU34Lt
Follow us: linktr.ee/AIAS
Please consider supporting game dev students with: AIAS Foundation