Devoted Talks is a podcast series hosted by Ninel Anderson. We talk with the industry's top voices to share their knowledge and insight and help artists grow. Let’s get real!
Warren Spector: There Is No Time to Try for Mediocrity | Speakeasy 42
What does more than 40 years of making games teach you about creativity, failure and refusing to compromise?In Episode 42 of Speakeasy, Ninel Anderson, CEO of Devoted Studios, sits down with legendary game designer Warren Spector for a conversation spanning the early days of computer games, Ultima, System Shock, Deus Ex, Disney Epic Mickey and the realities of leading increasingly massive development teams.Warren explains why player expression became central to his design philosophy and why, in his words, if two players describe exactly the same experience, the team has failed.They also talk openly about projects that went wrong.Warren breaks down what happened with System Shock 3, why he went through 23 versions of the narrative, how one mechanic reached nine iterations, and the lesson he took from the experience:We cover:- what game development looked like before modern engines and established genres- where Warren's philosophy around immersive sims came from designing games where players become authors of their own experiences- testing games built around extreme player freedom- how Deus Ex came together- protecting a creative vision without controlling your team- leading teams ranging from dozens to hundreds of developers- Warren's experience speaking publicly about bipolar disorder- studio closures, layoffs, and the current state of the games industry- what went wrong with System Shock 3- AI generated content, creative leadership, and the lessons Warren wishes he had learned earlier
14 Aug 2026
How Arkane Survived Long Enough to Create Dishonored | Devoted Speakeasy Ep41
Raphael Colantonio has spent his career building games that were never the safest choice.From founding Arkane Studios with four people and no engine, to co-creating Dishonored and directing Prey, to starting again with WolfEye Studios, his career has been shaped by creative conviction and persistence.In this episode of Devoted Speakeasy, Ninel Anderson sits down with Raphael for an honest conversation about building independent studios, surviving failed projects, working with publishers, defining immersive sims, developing games remotely, and protecting a strong creative identity.🔗 WolfEye Studios: https://wolfeye-studios.com/🎮 Play Weird West: Definitive Edition on Steam:https://store.steampowered.com/app/1097350/Weird_West_Definitive_Edition/🎙️ Devoted Speakeasy brings together the people shaping the games industry for honest conversations about creativity, production, business, and the decisions behind the games we play.Co-create with Devoted:https://devotedstudios.com/
6 Feb 2026
What FNAF Taught Us About Horror Games | Devoted SpeakEasy Ep40 with Jason Topolski
🎨 Devoted Fusion — hire vetted game art talent, manage production, and ship faster.https://app.devotedfusion.com/artfeed?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=speakeasy_ep40
Horror games are kind of EVERYWHERE right now. Indie horror, psychological horror, spooky animatronics… You name it. So we wanted to talk to someone who literally makes these games and knows what is going on.
Jason Topolski (JTop) from Steel Wool Studios joined Devoted SpeakEasy to talk about making horror games, working on Five Nights at Freddy’s, and why fear is such a strong tool in game design.
We get into why horror is a great starting point for small teams, how Steel Wool packs environments with layered details and backstories, and why leaving things unexplained can be WAAAAY scarier than showing everything.
🧑 About Jason:
Jason Topolski is a Creative Director and Co-Founder at Steel Wool Studios. He has worked at Pixar and Telltale and also does improv, board game design, voice acting, and directing.Jason on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtopolski/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jtopolski/) Steel Wool Studios https://steelwoolstudios.com/ (https://steelwoolstudios.com/)
🔗 Follow Devoted Studios on Social Media:
🎨 Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/devoted-studios (https://www.artstation.com/devoted-studios)
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/devotedstudios (https://www.linkedin.com/company/devotedstudios)
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devotedstudios (https://www.facebook.com/devotedstudios)
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/devotedstudios_ (https://x.com/devotedstudios_)
💬Discord: https://discord.gg/6x46SWhC (https://discord.gg/6x46SWhC)
💻 Visit the website: https://www.devotedstudios.com (https://www.devotedstudios.com)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
316,336
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 44 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
30
Social presence
0
YouTube
86
Engagement
60
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