Podcast Overview
<p><b>Tash, Luke, and Matt are here to talk all things Games Production.</b></p><p></p><p>What is Production really, what are the common pitfalls, and what's new in Production Land? Join us as we dive headlong and with wild abandon into Games Production best practices, Games Industry Hot Topics, and all while trying to figure out why 'Jesus Got Cancelled'.</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
2/26/2026
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Recent Episodes
June 11, 2026
Where's Our Wally?
<p><b>Episode 009: Where's Our Wally?</b></p><p></p><p>Tash and Matt hold down the fort while Luke battles Ikea furniture and smart plugs. We explore the high-stakes world of relocation in the games industry and why "Time Under Tension" isn't just for powerlifters—it's a survival strategy for producers.</p><h4>The Cast</h4><ul><li><b>Matt Ibbs:</b> Games Leadership Coach / Host</li><li><b>Natasha Nathani:</b> Games Industry Veteran / Technical Producer</li><li><b>Luke Timms:</b> Games Industry Veteran / Product & Delivery Leader</li></ul><p></p><p><b>🤯 Hot Topic:</b> Searching for a job is a full-time job, but are you doing it effectively? Matt and Tash discuss the "Urgent vs. Important" trap and why taking a "rest day" from LinkedIn might be the most productive thing you do all week. Tash draws parallels between her European Championship powerlifting prep and high-pressure game production. We talk about why rest is a discipline, why sleep is a productivity tool, and why we need to stop treating game development like open-heart surgery.</p><p></p><p><b>🎲 True or Flase:</b> Matt pitches a "Cozy Serial Killer" game that Tash and Luke desperately want to be real. Can they spot the real game hidden in the nonsense?</p><p></p><p><b>💡 Key Takeaways:</b></p><p></p><ul><li><b>Recoil Power:</b> Like a heavy squat, production requires "Time Under Tension"—but you only get the recoil if you've allowed for the recovery.</li><li><b>The "Ikea" Test:</b> If you can survive building furniture with a toddler, you can manage a AAA dev cycle.</li></ul><p></p><p><b>⏰ Chapters:</b></p><p></p><ul><li>00:00 Intro / Waffles: The Missing Luke & Tasty Goodness</li><li>01:32 Tash’s Life Update</li><li>03:26 Masterclass: Powerlifting & Time Under Tension</li><li>06:51 Redundancy & The Burnout Matrix</li><li>09:44 Luke Arrives: The Ikea Furniture Saga</li><li>12:52 True or False: Nasty Rabbits vs. Real Strategy</li><li>18:23 I Dub Thee: Where's Our Wally?</li><li>21:03 Outro: Dead Muscles & Christmas Weight</li></ul>
May 28, 2026
MetaCritic Meltdown (Provocatato)
<p><b>Metacritic is marking its own homework.</b><br /><br />We kick off with a deep dive into the influence of Metacritic. Is a single number enough to tank a company's stock? We look at the Pearl Abyss controversy and ask if we've lost the "art" in the pursuit of the "percentage."<br /><br />🤯 <b>Hot Topic:</b> The Snapshot Problem. Why are we still using static review scores for live-service games? We discuss the "Redemption Arc" of games like No Man's Sky and why Metacritic might already be obsolete in the age of SteamDB.<br /><br />🎯 <b>Production Masterclass:</b> Beef in Teams. "Can't we all just get along?" Luke and Tash tackle the friction between artists, coders, and producers. We break down how to handle conflicting communication styles and why a little bit of respectful disagreement is actually the secret sauce of a great game.<br /><br />💡 <b>Key Takeaways:</b><br /><br /><b>Metacritic is a Snapshot:</b> It rarely reflects the "Redemption Arc" of modern games.<br /><br /><b>Conflict is Growth:</b> Echo chambers lead to bad products; respectful debate leads to hits.<br /><br /><b>Know Your Style:</b> Are you a "Direct" communicator or a "Poetic" one? Knowing the difference stops the "Quick Chat" panic.<br /><br /><b>Relax: </b>We're just making games. No one's a surgeon here.<br /><br /><b>🎙️ Sound Bites:</b><br /><br />" I'm not taking pronunciation tips from a Scottish person!"<br />"Provocatato: A sexy Mr. Potato Head in suspenders."<br />"Why are we using AI to write a CV to get past an AI filter?"<br />"Can't we all just get along? It became my catchphrase."<br /><br /><b>⏰ Chapters:</b><br /><br />00:00 Banter: Abyss vs. AB-is<br />03:56 Metacritic: The Stock Market Killer<br />10:34 The Pearl Abyss 78 Score Drama<br />14:43 No Man's Sky & The Redemption Arc<br />18:10 Is Metacritic Obsolete?<br />21:03 I Dub Thee: Provocatato<br />22:22 Masterclass: Beef in Teams & Conflict<br />30:45 Direct vs. Poetic Communication<br />38:35 The "Quick Chat" Trauma<br />45:53 Outro: Make Games Fun Again</p>
May 14, 2026
Andrew
<h3>Show Notes & Description</h3><h4>Overview</h4><p>Tash, Luke, and Matt are back for Episode 007, and it’s a big one because we have a listener! We dive into the controversial world of relocation and RTO, plus a masterclass on how producers can help indies fight for eyes in a saturated market.</p><h4>The Cast</h4><ul><li><b>Matt Ibbs:</b> Games Leadership Coach / Host</li><li><b>Natasha Nathani:</b> Games Industry Veteran / Technical Producer</li><li><b>Luke Timms:</b> Games Industry Veteran / Product & Delivery Leader</li><li></li></ul><p><b>Episode 007: Andrew</b></p><p></p><p><b>We have a listener!</b> Huge shoutout to Andrew Wilson-Slight for reaching out. We spent a good chunk of this episode answering his "Catch-22" question about moving from corporate QA to the games industry.</p><p></p><p><b>🤯 Hot Topic: The Relocation Lie.</b> Is it fair for companies to slash salaries by 40% and then demand you move your entire family to a new city? We discuss the shift from the "Year of the Employee" to the era of "Golden Handcuffs."</p><p></p><p><b>🎯 Production Masterclass: Fighting for Discoverability.</b> With thousands of games hitting Steam every month, how do you stand out? We talk about the producer's role in building hype, managing influencers, and why "Backwards Planning" is your best friend.</p><p></p><p><b>🤝 Breaking the Catch-22:</b> We give Andrew some actionable advice on building a testing portfolio, using Game Jams to prove your metal, and why your "Why" is the most important part of your cover letter.</p><p></p><p><b>💡 Key Takeaways:</b></p><p></p><ul><li><b>Remote First is a Talent Hack:</b> Companies that embrace remote work get the best talent while others are stuck with whoever lives within a 30-mile radius.</li></ul><p></p><ul><li><b>Portfolios aren't just for Artists:</b> Testers should have portfolios too. Break down a game, find the bugs, and document the solutions.<p></p></li><li><b>Accountability vs. Responsibility:</b> In marketing a game, the producer is accountable for the flow, even if they aren't the ones posting to TikTok.<p></p></li></ul><p><b>🎙️ Sound Bites:</b></p><p></p><ul><li>"He has like a shit cat. That's the episode title."</li><li>"If there was a trophy for caring less, I would have it in my hand."</li><li>"I wrote some absolutely amazing fake games, and then Gemini deleted them... get fucked, you piece of shit."<p></p></li></ul><p><b>⏰ Chapters:</b></p><p></p><ul><li>00:00 Banter: The Shit Cat & The Care-Off</li><li>02:29 Andrew: Our First (and Best) Listener</li><li>07:24 Hot Topic: The Relocation Trap & RTO</li><li>16:51 Remote-First Success Stories</li><li>17:29 Masterclass: Market Saturation & Discoverability</li><li>25:03 The Producer/Community Manager Collaboration</li><li>28:41 Andrew’s Question: Breaking the QA Catch-22</li><li>33:35 Cover Letters: Selling your "Why"</li><li>39:10 I Dub Thee: "Andrew"</li><li>41:15 Outro & The Gemini Rant</li></ul>
8 total episodes available
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- What is Game Prod Pod?
<p><b>Tash, Luke, and Matt are here to talk all things Games Production.</b></p><p></p><p>What is Production really, what are the common pitfalls, and what's new in Production Land? Join us as we dive headlong and with wild abandon into Games Production best practices, Games Industry Hot Topics, and all while trying to figure out why 'Jesus Got Cancelled'.</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?
Information about guest appearances is not available.
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