Podcast Overview
<p>Welcome to Game Dev Epic Fails by Ludo Launchpad!</p><p>Here, we have honest, postmortem-style conversations with real game developers. So indies and small studios can spot red flags earlier, set saner goals, and build games (and careers) that thrive.</p><p>In each episode, we’ll talk to some of the most successful game developers. Discover their struggles and how they climbed back to success.</p><p>Don’t miss out on some of the most valuable lessons in life, careers, and making great games.</p><p>If you’re working on a game, <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://tally.so/r/3q0l2g" target="_blank">pitch to Ludo Launchpad</a>! We onboard early-stage games and guide you all the way to launch.</p><p>If you like our content, <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://patreon.com/gamedevepicfails" target="_blank">please support us on our Patreon</a>. Your support will help Ludo Launchpad bring dream games to life!</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
1/28/2026
2 verified contact emails on file for Game Dev Epic Fails
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Recent Episodes
April 1, 2026
Tidus Wong - Scaling Your Indie Studio into a Sustainable Business
<p>The conversation delves into the world of finance and indie game development, exploring the shift in the view of successful games, the impact of mergers and acquisitions, the industry downtrend, the biggest lie in the industry, validation and early stage game development, the investment landscape and sustainable games, challenges faced by narrative-driven games, and the costs and budgeting in game development. The conversation covers various aspects of game development, including understanding costs, marketing, localization, funding, and financial indicators. It also delves into the importance of networking, red flags in publisher relationships, and advice for struggling developers. The recommendation of the game 'Black Myth Wukong' is also highlighted.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Shift in the view of successful games in the context of mergers and acquisitions</li><li>Challenges faced by narrative-driven games and the impact on investment Understanding the various costs involved in game development is crucial.</li><li>Developers should consider the significance of marketing costs and the role of indies in marketing.</li><li>Localization is more than just translation and plays a significant role in game success.</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 The World of Finance and Indie Game Development</li><li>16:25 Validation and Early Stage Game Development</li><li>23:11 Narrative-Driven Games and Investment Challenges</li><li>29:43 Costs and Budgeting in Game Development</li><li>38:29 The Impact of Localization</li><li>49:01 Red Flags in Publisher and Investor Relationships</li><li>55:57 Financial Indicators for Sustainable Development</li><li>01:01:16 Advice for Struggling Developers</li></ul>
February 13, 2026
Patrick Rose - The Science of Why Games Fail (and How to Make Them Fly)
<p>In this episode, Patrick Rose, a product strategy, retention, and monetization expert, shares insights on game development, industry entry, and the four pillars of game success: user acquisition, accessibility, monetization, and engagement. He also discusses the impact of autonomy, relatedness, and competence on player motivation, and provides examples from popular games like No Man's Sky, Dark Souls, and Candy Crush Saga.</p><p></p><p>The conversation covers a wide range of topics including game design, monetization, narrative design, and the psychology of player engagement. It delves into the principles of game development, the impact of external rewards on intrinsic motivation, and the importance of narrative design in creating engaging experiences. The conversation also explores the concept of virality in games and the role of AI in narrative design.</p><p></p><p><b>Takeaways</b></p><ul><li>Understanding the four pillars of game success: user acquisition, accessibility, monetization, and engagement.</li><li>The impact of autonomy, relatedness, and competence on player motivation.</li><li>Examples of successful game design and player engagement from popular games like No Man's Sky, Dark Souls, and Candy Crush Saga. Competence and flow theory are closely connected, influencing player engagement and game design.</li><li>External rewards can diminish intrinsic motivation, impacting player engagement and long-term retention.</li><li>Effective monetization involves creating a 'money sponge' system with multiple opportunities for spending, avoiding direct pay-to-win models.</li><li>Narrative design with AI empowers developers to focus on the bigger picture, creating engaging and interactive experiences.</li><li>The 80/20 rule in game design emphasizes benchmarking 80% of the design and innovating on the remaining 20%, aligning with the Pareto principle.</li></ul><p></p><p><b>Chapters</b></p><ul><li>00:00 Introduction to Game Development and Industry Entry</li><li>39:23 Understanding Autonomy, Relatedness, and Competence in Player Motivation</li><li>50:24 Competence and Flow Theory</li><li>55:35 Effective Monetization Strategies</li><li>01:23:04 The 80/20 Rule in Game Design</li></ul><p><br />If you’d like to support the show, you can find us on Patreon at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://patreon.com/gamedevepicfails" target="_blank"><b>patreon.com/gamedevepicfails</b></a><br /><br />If you’re building a game and you want to make sure players will love it before you go all in, pitch your game at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://pitch.ludolaunchpad.com" target="_blank"><b>pitch.ludolaunchpad.com</b></a></p>
January 30, 2026
Susan Gold - Building a Global Playground for Failing Safely
<p>The pilot episode of Game Dev Epic Fails features Susan Gold, the founder of the Global Game Jam. The conversation delves into the challenges and lessons of game development, the messy failure of game development, defining success, the skepticism and challenges of the Global Game Jam, behind-the-scenes of the first Global Game Jam, cultural and translation challenges, and adapting to the pandemic and virtual game jams.<br /><br />The conversation with Susan Gold covers a behind-the-scenes look at the Global Game Jam, the 48-hour game jam experience, diversifiers and creativity in game jams, failure patterns and team dynamics, learning and growth in game jams, the impact of game jams on the industry, the future of Global Game Jam, advice for handling the chaos, and game recommendations and genres.</p><p><br />If you found Susan's insights very helpful, please also subscribe and listen to the Global Game Jam Podcast at the <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/@GlobalGameJam" target="_blank">Official GGJ Youtube Channel.<br /></a></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>The importance of embracing failure in game development</li><li>Defining success in game development The 48-hour game jam experience fosters creativity and learning in a safe environment.</li><li>Game jams have a significant impact on the industry, fostering new ideas and stimulating creativity.</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Introducing Susan Gold and the Global Game Jam</li><li>07:34 The Messy Failure of Game Development</li><li>17:12 Challenges and Skepticism of the Global Game Jam</li><li>25:35 Cultural and Translation Challenges</li><li>33:01 The Role of the Board in Global Game Jam</li><li>43:34 The 48-Hour Game Jam Experience</li><li>50:30 Learning and Growth in Game Jams</li><li>55:44 Impact of Game Jams on the Industry</li><li>01:04:02 Advice for Handling the Chaos<br /></li></ul><p>If you’d like to support the show, you can find us on Patreon at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://patreon.com/gamedevepicfails" target="_blank">patreon.com/gamedevepicfails</a><br /><br />If you’re building a game and you want to validate it before you commit, pitch your game at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://pitch.ludolaunchpad.com" target="_blank">pitch.ludolaunchpad.com</a></p>
6 total episodes available
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is Game Dev Epic Fails?
<p>Welcome to Game Dev Epic Fails by Ludo Launchpad!</p><p>Here, we have honest, postmortem-style conversations with real game developers. So indies and small studios can spot red flags earlier, set saner goals, and build games (and careers) that thrive.</p><p>In each episode, we’ll talk to some of the most successful game developers. Discover their struggles and how they climbed back to success.</p><p>Don’t miss out on some of the most valuable lessons in life, careers, and making great games.</p><p>If you’re working on a game, <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://tally.so/r/3q0l2g" target="_blank">pitch to Ludo Launchpad</a>! We onboard early-stage games and guide you all the way to launch.</p><p>If you like our content, <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://patreon.com/gamedevepicfails" target="_blank">please support us on our Patreon</a>. Your support will help Ludo Launchpad bring dream games to life!</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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