Digiai.ACADEMY is a podcast for people working or want to get into and better understand the video game industry. Host André Persson interviews big and small stars from the past and present, sharing insights of how we built the industry and how some of the best games of all time came to be and what lessons have been learned along the way.
Julien Wera on the Rise & Fall of his studio PART 2
What happens when your dream studio has to shut down? Here’s the honest truth from Julien Wera in a unique Part 2 follow-up of the Rise & Fall of Moon Rover.In our latest chat, Julien shares the raw realities of running Moon Rover and the challenges faced from market dynamics. After three years of passion and creativity, the studio halted operations due to funding struggles, leaving behind what could have been an incredible studio.Julien reflects on the importance of having a supportive environment for creators and how the industry needs to evolve to ensure stability for developers. Listen & Watch the full conversation and learn about the future of game development!
2 Apr 2026
Julien Wera on DICE, Ubisoft and the Rise & Fall of his studio PART 1
In this season premiere two-parter, Julien Wera shares his extensive journey through the gaming industry at companies like DICE, Paradox Interactive and Ubisoft. From marketing to studio leadership, emphasizing the importance of team size, creative pillars, research, and navigating industry challenges. Discover insights on building a studio culture, balancing innovation with risk, and leadership lessons learned along the way including his very own studio challenges. This part 1 was recorded November 2025.
This interview is suited for people wanting to better understand game development, marketing, live service, starting and running your own studio and more!
31 Dec 2025
Dreamhack - Shahin's story on running the biggest game festivals in the world
Events are coming back and with games now part of everyday life, one person is a big part of that change. Today we’re tapping into Shahin Zarrabi’s story how he got to work with the biggest gaming event brand in the world and will learn what the future holds for Dreamhack and how your game can connect with the players. Let’s dive in!
11 Dec 2025
Lesson 4: How Hazelight's COO manages the studio to make award winning games
In this lesson, Hazelight COO Oskar Wolontis reveals how he ended up joining and climbed the ranks in a startup that would become the award winning studio it is today. Developers of Split Fiction, It Takes Two and A Way Out, all directed by Josef Fares who's first game Brothers: A tale of two sons set the foundation for a studio that keeps delivering on its promise. How do they do it? Oskar gives us the insights!
27 Nov 2025
Lesson 3: How PlayStation's marketing made gaming cool
In this lesson, Geoff Glendenning shares his journey from struggling in school to becoming a pivotal figure in the marketing world, particularly with the launch of PlayStation in Europe. He discusses the importance of connecting with youth culture, the evolution of marketing strategies, and the impact of AI on the industry. Geoff reflects on his experiences, the challenges faced in the marketing landscape, and offers valuable advice for the next generation of marketers.
Chapters00:00 The Journey Begins: From Education to Marketing02:51 The world before PlayStation07:30 It began with Ridge Racer13:00 The Edgy Marketing Strategy: Targeting the 18-30 Demographic15:54 Cultural Influences: The Intersection of Music and Gaming18:50 The Evolution of PlayStation Marketing: From Underground to Mainstream21:41 Creating a Movement: The Role of Influencers in Brand Success29:34 The Evolution of PlayStation Marketing36:48 Navigating Corporate Culture and Autonomy42:45 The Nostalgia of the 90s and Brand Legacy52:14 The Shift to Data-Driven Marketing59:33 Lessons Learned from Marketing Risks01:03:28 Navigating Controversy in Gaming Marketing01:05:11 The State of the Gaming Industry01:11:15 Advice for Aspiring Marketers
13 Nov 2025
Lesson 2: Sundberg - The Maverick behind Just Cause, Mad Max, theHunter tells all secrets
In this lesson, Christofer Sundberg discusses his extensive journey in the gaming industry, from his early days at a young Paradox to co-founding Avalanche Studios and creating the Just Cause franchise. He shares insights on the challenges of game development, the importance of maintaining company culture, and the lessons learned from various projects, including Mad Max and theHunter. Christofer emphasizes the need for creativity, resilience, and the willingness to take risks in the ever-evolving gaming landscape.
00:00 The Early Days of Gaming and Christofer's Journey
06:53 Transitioning from Paradox to Rock Solid Studios
15:30 The Rise and Fall of Rock Solid Studios
21:33 The Birth of Avalanche Studios and Just Cause
29:54 Expanding Horizons: theHunter and New Ventures
38:40 Navigating Free-to-Play Models and AAA Games
48:22 The Disney Breakup and Project Cancellations
53:23 Pitching Mad Max: A Dream Come True
58:42 Navigating Creative Differences with Warner Brothers
01:04:08 Transitioning to New Projects and Self-Publishing
01:08:53 The Impact of Investment on Company Culture
01:14:37 Building Liquid Swords: An Improved Approach
01:23:33 Sustainable Game Development Philosophy
01:30:05 Advice for Aspiring Developers
29 Oct 2025
Lesson 1: Knowing is half the battle (of game development)
In this first lesson, host André Persson is setting the foundation for the academy through valuable insights from various devs, marketing, research and tech. Guests: Zoran Roso - Ex PlayStation & Tencent, Mikael Svensson - AWS, Jos Hoebe - BlackMill Games, Tana Tanoi - Dead Teapot Games, Emmanuel Rosier - Newzoo, Mattias Bergqvist - Northify, Christian Szymanski - Second Stage
00:00 Intro & Zoran - marketing & brands
09:37 Jos Hoebe - running studio doing what they do best
14:47 Tana Tanoi - building new studio & expectations
17:23 Mikael Svensson - tech & live service
19:20 Emmanuel Rosier - research and industry trends
23:53 Mattias Bergqvist - QA
26:05 Christian Szymanski - performance marketing & live service
28:00 Closing remarks and future episodes
24 Oct 2025
Lesson 0: What I've learned from 30 years working with games
Discover how André Persson, host of the upcoming podcast Digiai.ACADEMY started in the industry producing TV and Streaming shows, his retail career at EB Games & GameStop and how he ended up in Publishing & Development, working on some of your favourite games!Digiai.ACADEMY is an upcoming podcast for people working in the video game industry. André interviews stars from the past and present, sharing insights of how we built the industry and how some of the best games of all time came to be and what lessons have been learned along the way.
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