Building Better Games

If you're a leader in game dev who feels stuck, able to spot problems but struggling to make a real difference, there is a path forward that levels up your leadership and accelerates your team, game, and career. Sign up here to learn more: https://forms.gle/nqRTUvgFrtdYuCbr6
If your day is nothing but back-to-back meetings, you might be busy, but are you really helping your team and game succeed. Senior leaders often grind 10–12 hour days yet still miss the most critical questions, such as: Are we building the right thing? What is the biggest risk we face?
In this episode, Ben breaks down why we treat thinking as a luxury we can't afford, and why that's exactly what's causing misalignment and waste in your studio.
What you'll learn from this episode:
Why "fast thinking" habits are dangerous in a constantly evolving environment like game dev.
The difference between "scraps of thinking" and structured, effortful "slow thinking".
Three practical ways to build thinking back into your week.
A 60-minute challenge to help you think about what matters instead of rushing into another one on one
If you're a senior leader buried in meetings, stuck in reaction mode, and worried your team is moving fast in the wrong direction, this episode is for you.
Connect with us:
🔗Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/
🔗BBG's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-better-games/
🔗Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingbettergames/#
🔗Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg
🔗YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZpMT-dUwQR-R4Mb4uub6Sw
If you want me to help producers or studios build better games through effective systems and leadership, you can reach me at: [email protected]
#GameDevLeadership #GameProduction #StudioManagement #ThinkingFastAndSlow #BuildingBetterGames

If you're a leader in game dev who feels stuck, able to spot problems but struggling to make a real difference, there is a path forward that levels up your leadership and accelerates your team, game, and career. Sign up here to learn more: https://forms.gle/nqRTUvgFrtdYuCbr6
Is your "culture fit" interview actually just a trap for hiring clones?
We tackle the paradox of culture in game development. While many studios are abandoning "culture fit" to avoid echo chambers and bias, ignoring it entirely can lead to toxic hires that destroy trust and decision-making.
Ben breaks down the two distinct types of culture—Taste vs. Operating System—so you can hire for high-stakes collaboration without sacrificing diversity of thought.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why hiring "clones" feels good short-term, but creates blind spots that stall real problem-solving
How to separate Taste Culture (optional vibes) from Operating System Culture (non-negotiables that ship work)
How different decision-making and feedback models work, and how to choose the right one for your studio
If you're a lead or founder torn between team diversity and everyone "just getting it," this episode gives you a clear framework to balance both—protecting your team's operating system without creating an echo chamber.
Connect with us:
 🔗Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/
 🔗BBG's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-better-games/
 🔗Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingbettergames/#
 🔗Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg
 🔗YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZpMT-dUwQR-R4Mb4uub6Sw
If you want me to help producers or studios build better games through effective systems and leadership, you can reach me at: [email protected]
#GameDevLeadership #StudioCulture #GameIndustryHiring #TeamBuilding #BuildingBetterGames

If you're a leader in game dev who feels stuck, able to spot problems but struggling to make a real difference, there is a path forward that levels up your leadership and accelerates your team, game, and career. Sign up here to learn more: https://forms.gle/nqRTUvgFrtdYuCbr6
Stop treating your game dev estimates like a prophecy; you aren't a prophet.
If your estimates keep failing, it's not because your team is bad at math; it's because you're using estimation as a fortune-telling machine instead of a decision-making tool.
In this episode, Ben breaks down why "perfect" plans are a trap in the high-uncertainty world of game dev. He introduces a four-level framework—from "Priorities First" to "Relative Sizing"—to help you gain predictability, set external expectations, and find shared understanding across disciplines without killing your team's soul in meetings.
What you'll learn in this episode:
Why estimation isn't really about being accurate — and why predictability and velocity are only part of the picture.
Why estimating work without clear priorities can actually slow teams down and lead to worse decisions
How simple throughput tracking can outperform detailed estimates for forecasting — with less friction from the team
When fast "blink" estimates are more useful than detailed sizing, and how they help Design, QA, and Engineering spot risk early
Why the Fibonacci sequence exists in estimation — and how to avoid wasting time debating tiny differences that don't matter
How to recognize when estimation isn't worth the cost, and when time-boxing is the smarter move
If you're a producer or lead tired of watching your team polish a "beautiful plan" while the actual game feels like it's missing the mark, this episode is for you.
Connect with us:
🔗Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/
🔗BBG's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-better-games/
🔗Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingbettergames/#
🔗Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg 
🔗YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZpMT-dUwQR-R4Mb4uub6Sw
If you want me to help producers or studios build better games through effective systems and leadership, you can reach me at: [email protected]
#GameDev #GameProduction #ProjectManagement #BuildingBetterGames #AgileDevelopment

If you're a leader in game dev who feels stuck, able to spot problems but struggling to make a real difference, there is a path forward that levels up your leadership and accelerates your team, game, and career. Sign up here to learn more: https://forms.gle/nqRTUvgFrtdYuCbr6
If your team keeps promising that the game will be "fun later," you aren't suffering from a lack of effort—you're suffering from a lack of prioritization.
Shipping a mountain of features means nothing if you haven't validated the experience with real players. In this episode, we break down why hiding behind a massive backlog or a 100-page GDD is a "red flag" that allows teams to avoid reality for months, or even years. We explore the transition from "plan-based task work" to true "knowledge work," where the goal isn't just to finish a list, but to discover what actually makes your game great.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why waiting for a "magical moment" is the fastest way to ship nothing
How the L-V-N Framework (Learning, Value, Neither) helps you cut dead tasks fast
Which game loops matter right now—and how to prioritize proof over polish
How to balance learning in pre-production with delivering value later on
Why a clear game vision is the best defense against team failure
If you're a leader in game dev struggling with prioritization and watching your team build features that don't "click," this episode is for you.
Connect with us:
🔗Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/
🔗BBG's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-better-games/
🔗Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingbettergames/#
 🔗Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg
🔗YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZpMT-dUwQR-R4Mb4uub6Sw
If you want me to help producers or studios build better games through effective systems and leadership, you can reach me at: [email protected]
#GameDev #GameDesign #BuildingBetterGames #IndieDev #ProjectManagement

If you're a leader in game dev who feels stuck, able to spot problems but struggling to make a real difference, there is a path forward that levels up your leadership and accelerates your team, game, and career. Sign up here to learn more: https://forms.gle/nqRTUvgFrtdYuCbr6
The game industry is undergoing a massive shift. Between the rise of "black hole games" that consume all player attention and the skyrocketing costs of AAA development, the old playbooks for leadership are breaking.
In this episode, Ben is joined by Andrew Brownell, a veteran Game Director at Netflix Games. Andrew brings over 20 years of experience from industry titans like Blizzard (Warcraft III) and Riot Games (League of Legends). Together, they unpack why the "unicorn" development model is failing and why the next generation of leaders must master a new set of "soft" skills to build resilient, high-performing teams in a bleak market.
What you'll learn in this episode:
What Aggressive Gratitude really is and how to use it to build trust
How to lead confidently when the direction isn't clear
Why conflict can create clarity when handled one-on-one
Why character often matters more than skill when hiring
If you're a game dev leader trying to level up performance without burning people out, this episode is for you.
Learn More About Our Guest:
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahbrownell/
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ahbrownell/
🔗 Twitter: https://x.com/ahbrownell
🔗 ContactOut: https://contactout.com/Andrew-Brownell-3180561
🔗 Netflix LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/netflix/
🔗 Netflix Games YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NetflixGames
Connect with us:
🔗Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/
🔗BBG's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-better-games/
🔗Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingbettergames/#
🔗Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg 
🔗YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZpMT-dUwQR-R4Mb4uub6Sw
If you want me to help producers or studios build better games through effective systems and leadership, you can reach me at: [email protected]
#GameDev #Leadership #GameProduction #GameIndustry2026 #BuildingBetterGames