In the next episode of Dev to Dev - the podcast about everyday videogame developers and why they do what they do every day - Andy Roberts explores his journey into game development. In some ways this one feels a little like a time capsule from a very different era of the industry - one where curiosity and persistence had to do a lot more of the heavy lifting - but the lessons learned and the insight given is just as valuable today as it was then.

We talk about how Andy’s early interest in creativity led him into early digital art and programming, not because he set out to make games, but because it was the only way he could actually play them. That thread - making things happen when they don’t exist - is something that runs through his entire career.

What really stood out to me was how much of Andy’s growth came from proximity to talented people. Sitting in rooms, listening, absorbing, and gradually finding his voice. It’s a great reminder that you don’t have to have all the answers, you just need to stay open and engaged long enough to learn them.

There’s also a lot here about ego, collaboration, and the reality of working in teams. The idea that design isn’t about owning ideas, but about shaping them, is something I think a lot of people struggle with early on.

And finally, there’s that sense that being a game developer isn’t really a job you switch on and off - it’s just part of how you think. That constant analysis, curiosity, and drive to create doesn’t really go away.

• Creativity as a necessity, not a luxury, in early game development
• Breaking into the industry before clear career paths existed
• Learning design through observation and collaboration
• The importance of managing ego in creative teams
• Adapting to different projects, constraints, and technologies
• Balancing being an introvert in a role that requires you to be outgoing

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• Email: DevToDevPodcast@Gmail.com

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-van-haren-5ba62544/
• And his Company: https://www.thalamusdigital.co.uk/

This next episode of Dev to Dev - the Podcast about everyday videogame developers and why they do what they do every day - was a really fun one for me. Talking to Brandon Van Haren about his journey hit on so many of the realities of game development that don’t always get talked about.

He started out like a lot of us by playing games with family and getting hooked early. But what stood out was how he kept “playing” even when he wasn’t allowed to. Drawing levels, walking people through them, essentially prototyping before he even knew what design was… it’s such a pure version of this craft executed by someone who at the time had no idea what the craft even was!

Hearing about Brandon’s transition into the industry - going from leading student teams at College to being an intern and having to absorb feedback from experienced directors - reminded me of how humbling that shift can be, and one we’ve all gone through in some form. Brandon talks very openly about that adjustment, and how important it is to learn when to push and when to align.

We also get into encounter design, which I think is also rarely discussed. His focus on visual storytelling by showing players what’s happening rather than telling them really resonated with me. It’s one of those areas where design, narrative, and player experience all intersect in subtle but powerful ways.

And then there’s the live service side of things. Shipping multiple updates a year, learning to push tools beyond their limits, and working with the same team for over a decade - it’s a great look at how consistency and collaboration can lead to mastery over time.

Finally, I really appreciated his perspective on growth. Even after years in one engine, he made the effort to learn Unreal in his own time, just to stay sharp and open up new opportunities. That kind of mindset is what keeps a long career moving forward.

• Early creativity through drawing and “playing” self-made levels
• Transitioning from student leadership to industry humility
• The importance of feedback and team alignment
• Visual storytelling as a core pillar of encounter design
• Pushing tools to their limits in a live service environment
• Self-driven learning to stay relevant in a changing industry

• Spotify
• Patreon
• ⁠RSS⁠
• ⁠Instagram⁠
• ⁠Bluesky⁠
• ⁠YouTube⁠
• ⁠Blog⁠
• Email: DevToDevPodcast@Gmail.com

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-van-haren-5ba62544/

The next episode of Dev to Dev - the podcast about everyday videogame developers and why they do what they do every day - is with former colleague and all round top fella, Aram Granger.

Aram’s journey into games is about as far from “planned” as you can get. He spent years in film and TV VFX before even considering games as a career. And yet, when he made the jump, it all clicked. Not because he’d trained for it, but because he’d built the right instincts along the way.

One of my favourite moments was how he described VFX as “putting the sauce on the substance.” That idea really landed for me, especially because designers like me spend so much time thinking about systems and mechanics but the way those systems feel is crucial and the visual layer is so important to it.

There’s also something really refreshing about how he talks about learning. Even after decades in the industry, he still approaches things with curiosity and humility. He’s not trying to be the smartest person in the room but rather he’s trying to make things the best he can, learn from others, and keep improving.

And then there’s the feedback loop that’s true for Aram both in games and in life. The idea that we’re all chasing that little “attaboy” moment, whether we’re players or developers. It’s simple, but it explains so much about why games work.

• Transitioning from Hollywood VFX into games
• Why visual effects are critical to game feel
• The importance of feedback and player reward
• Learning through experimentation, not formal paths
• “Strong ideas, held loosely” as a development mindset

• Spotify
• Patreon
• ⁠RSS⁠
• ⁠Instagram⁠
• ⁠Bluesky⁠
• ⁠YouTube⁠
• ⁠Blog⁠
• Email: DevToDevPodcast@Gmail.com

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/aramgranger/