Game Dev w/ John Romero (Father of FPS games) & Lirone Glikman (Global Business Dev Consultant)

Gaming legends John Romero & Lirone Glikman share vital game dev insights: start small, focus on design over tech, network effectively & embrace simplicity for success.

Key takeaways
  • Start simple and keep scope small - overcomplicating things is a common junior developer mistake. Focus on finishing small projects first.

  • Game design matters more than technical complexity - players care about gameplay and ideas, not the underlying technology stack.

  • Networking and attending industry conferences is crucial for career growth - it provides opportunities to meet collaborators, find jobs, and learn from others.

  • Creativity and innovation come from diverse sources - fashion, movies, books, and other media can inspire unique game concepts and designs.

  • Specialization in gaming has evolved significantly - modern game development has many specialized roles from narrative writers to shader programmers.

  • Release when truly ready - rushing unfinished work leads to failure. The mantra “it’s done when it’s done” helps ensure quality.

  • Free content can drive success - giving away some content for free while selling premium features (freemium model) remains effective.

  • Evolution of tools has transformed development - modern engines and tools make it easier to prototype and iterate quickly.

  • Learning is an ongoing process - even after decades of experience, staying current with new technologies and techniques is essential.

  • Simplification beats complexity - focus on core mechanics and polish them rather than adding unnecessary features.