It’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye ... or millions of dollars. This podcast drags mad geniuses and bold creators from every corner of interactive entertainment out of their comfort zones to answer the question, 'What the f**k were you thinking?' Expect brutally honest stories, creative courage under fire, and practical insights that’ll inspire (or warn) anyone daring enough to chase magic.
We Thought It Would Be Easy
Claim This Podcastby Jordan Weisman & Jonathan Grant
5.0(6 reviews)
6 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
55
Podcast Authority
BetaFairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality79
Social90
YouTube0
Engagement32
Podcast Overview
It’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye ... or millions of dollars. This podcast drags mad geniuses and bold creators from every corner of interactive entertainment out of their comfort zones to answer the question, 'What the f**k were you thinking?' Expect brutally honest stories, creative courage under fire, and practical insights that’ll inspire (or warn) anyone daring enough to chase magic.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
7/1/2025
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55
Podcast Authority
BetaFairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality79
Social90
YouTube0
Engagement32
8
Excellent Areas
1
Good Performance
10
Growth Opportunities
excellent
Publishing Consistency
Every 7 days
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good
iTunes Tags
6.9/10
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Recent Episodes
August 14, 2025
Ed Fries: The Father of the Xbox is Really a Hacker at Heart
<p>Ed Fries joins hosts Jordan Weisman and Jonathan Grant to show how a teenage arcade hacker became the exec who helped turn Microsoft into a gaming powerhouse. Curiosity first, constraints as fuel, and a ruthless respect for shipping, that hacker ethos still drives how he works & builds things today.</p><p>Check out Ed's venture fund 1Up Ventures - where he's building a community of the most talented, experienced, and creative independent game developers in the world.<br>https://1upfund.com/</p><p>Don't forget to check out the IDGA, he world’s largest nonprofit membership organization supporting the people who make games.<br>https://igda.org/</p><p>Quick reference mentioned by Ed:</p><p> • Amir Satvat’s “Dear parent” letter — a frank, supportive overview for families weighing game careers, with realistic odds and next steps.<br>https://www.linkedin.com/posts/amirsatvat_dear-parent-of-a-college-high-school-or-activity-7316429901132165125-vFYb/</p><p> • Amir Satvat’s “Harsh truth about game degrees” — data on employability by role, what to study, and practical alternatives.<br>https://www.linkedin.com/posts/amirsatvat_the-harsh-truth-about-game-degrees-too-many-activity-7324100230067453952-YaW2/</p><p>00:00 Jordan Weisman and Jonathan Grant welcome Ed Fries<br>07:13 Early Hacker Days<br>17:37 Excel's "Sindogs" Bug<br>25:07 Joining Microsoft's Games Group<br>29:00 Navigating Corporate Politics<br>36:28 Xbox Origins & Brand Battles<br>46:39 Building Game Portfolios<br>59:52 Post-Microsoft & Family Focus<br>01:05:48 Passion vs. Profit in Gaming<br>01:15:22 1Up Ventures & New Bets<br>01:21:23 Advice for Young Creators<br>01:27:52 Regrets & The Fickle Nature of Pitches<br>01:34:57 Closing & What's Next</p><p>Follow us on Instagram:<br>https://www.instagram.com/wethoughtpod</p><p>Follow us on X:<br>https://www.x.com/wethoughtpod</p><p>Follow us on LinkedIn:<br>https://www.linkedin.com/company/we-thought-it-would-be-easy</p>
July 31, 2025
Daniel Dociu: From Guild Wars to The Expanse, Making Art That Serves Story First
<p>Art Director & visual powerhouse Daniel Dociu joins Jordan Weisman and Jonathan Grant to torch “style bibles,” praise imperfections, and argue that art should grow like aged cheese - slow, organic, story-first. He recalls sketching Crimson Skies, turning Guild Wars into a “playable painting,” and painting The Expanse covers with zero notes. The trio spar over rapid prototyping, AI’s coming shake-up, and how small, gutsy teams can still out-create lumbering megaprojects.</p><p>Check out Daniel's INCREDIBLE ArtStation, where you can find many examples of his amazing work:<br>https://www.artstation.com/daniel_dociu</p><p>00:00 Jordan Weisman and Jonathan Grant welcome Daniel Dociu<br>05:12 Daniel's Unique & Definitional Style<br>07:27 Style Can't Be Frozen - It Must Be Grown<br>12:31 Style Guides vs Real Creativity<br>17:32 Conducting an Art “Orchestra” of Hundreds<br>23:44 Becoming Distinctive by Accepting Imperfection<br>32:22 Directing Art by Starting Conversations<br>35:09 On Sequels & Sameness<br>40:19 Navigating AI's Role in Creativity<br>40:27 AI, First Chairs, and the Future's Smaller Teams<br>45:56 Concentric Development: Prove Fun Before Polish<br>49:41 Personalization vs. Localization in Gaming<br>54:25 The Destructive Nature of the Approvals in Games<br>01:08:08 Painting The Expanse: A No-Notes Approval Story</p><p>Follow us on Instagram:<br>https://www.instagram.com/wethoughtpod</p><p>Follow us on X:<br>https://www.x.com/wethoughtpod</p><p>Follow us on LinkedIn:<br>https://www.linkedin.com/company/we-thought-it-would-be-easy</p>
July 24, 2025
Mitch Gitelman: On Building MechCommander, Shadowrun, Battletech - and Why Kindness Wins
<p>Mitch Gitelman: Building MechCommander, Shadowrun, Battletech - And Why Kindness Wins</p><p>Game-making maestro Mitch Gitelman sits down with Jordan and Jonathan to spill the wild origin story of how “a kid who didn’t know what a pixel was” bluffed his way into Sony - and then built classics like MechCommander, Shadowrun Returns, and BattleTech. From goat-pasture negotiations and Microsoft war stories to why “improvise, adapt, overcome” (and a lot of kindness) still beat crunch and corporate ego, this episode all about creative hustle and staying human in AAA chaos.</p><p>Check out SLICE - Seattle Loves Indie Creators Expo, is a one-day games industry conference that Mitch is helping out with:<br>https://seattleslice.org/</p><p>Follow us on Instagram:<br>https://www.instagram.com/wethoughtpod</p><p>Follow us on X:<br>https://www.x.com/wethoughtpod</p><p>Follow us on LinkedIn:<br>https://www.linkedin.com/company/we-thought-it-would-be-easy</p>
6 total episodes available
Recent guests on We Thought It Would Be Easy
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Chris Taylor
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Justin Gary
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is We Thought It Would Be Easy?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
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This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
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