Game Hugs
78 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 5 years ago - ★★★★★ - 3 ratingsGame Hugs is a fortnightly podcast that focuses on the individuals who work in the computer and video game industry.
From publishers to journalists, developers to esports, artists to cosplayers, there are fascinating, entertaining, and god forbid maybe even educational stories to be told about what goes on behind the scenes.
Created by Guy ‘Yug’ Blomberg, hosted by Jason Imms.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Chris Wright (Fellow Traveller)
December 09, 2018 22:55 - 56 minutes - 77.6 MBChris Wright is a 17 year veteran of the games industry and the founder and Managing Director of three companies: indie games label, Fellow Traveller, games marketing agency, Double Jump Communications, and indie games investment vehicle The Treasure Hunters Fanclub. After a decade working in the AAA games industry including senior marketing roles at THQ, Chris found himself out of a job in 2011 when THQ closed their Australian studios Bluetongue and THQ Studio Aus. Rather than get another...
Louis Roots (Bar SK)
November 15, 2018 05:30 - 42 minutes - 58.8 MBLouis Roots is the proprietor, owner, and curator of Bar SK, the first gallery space dedicated to interactive art in Australia. Louis has previously curated and run events in South Africa, England, the USA, and all around Australia. His interest lies in the social aspect of videogames, and he is known for quickly creating bespoke controllers that add tactility and accessiblity to the games he exhibits. Join Louie and our host Jason Imms for a... strange, irreverent, yet fascinating episod...
Dave Gilbert (Wadjet Eye Games)
October 15, 2018 22:00 - 50 minutes - 69.6 MBWadjet Eye Games founder Dave Gilbert has been interested in adventure games since 1986, when his mother made the mistake of buying him a copy of Infocom’s Wishbringer. Fifteen years later, he discovered the Adventure Game Studio engine and began making his own ever since. Dave joins our host Jason Imms this week to discuss how he moved from a career in the garmet industry to running one of the most prolific adventure game studios and publishers in the world.
Robert Yang (NYU Game Center)
August 26, 2018 23:55 - 58 minutes - 80.5 MBRobert Yang is an assistant arts professor at NYU Game Center, and makes "surprisingly popular 3D video games about gay culture and sexuality." Known best for his work on The Tearoom, Rinse and Repeat, and Cobra Club, Yang believes that it's important for game creators to include sexuality in their games, despite the fact that it's not always easy to do so. Join Yang and our host Jason Imms as they discuss his games' persistent bans from the Twitch streaming platform, why he makes the ty...
Shang Lun Lee 李尚倫 (PlayReactive)
June 27, 2018 00:49 - 1 hour - 103 MBOur guest this week is Shang Lun Lee (李尚倫), one of the directors of PlayReactive, a "play-making" collective based in Melbourne, producing video games, interactive theatre, and installation pieces. Shang Lun is also a former director of the long-running Freeplay independent games festival, and most importantly to this episode, an incredible thinker. Join our host Jason Imms as he chats with Shang Lun about privilege, why we make games, how the structures we put in place to support our wo...
Liam Routt (Film Victoria)
June 03, 2018 23:55 - 1 hour - 99 MBLiam Routt leads the Games and Digital Media team at Victorian Government screen agency Film Victoria, and is the very special guest joining us on Game Hugs this week! Film Victoria has played a big part in the re-establishment of the Australian games industry since its crash began back in 2011. Liam started his career in games as a developer, and now fosters the careers of others through his work at the country's most prolific government funding agency. During the episode, Liam and our ...
Meghann O'Neil (PC PowerPlay)
May 07, 2018 01:38 - 1 hour - 94.8 MBOn this week's show, Australian freelance games journalist Meghann O'Neil joins our host Jason Imms to discuss her decade of writing for PC PowerPlay Magazine, her belief that all games deserve a chance to be covered, and the challenges of going back to pitching now that the magazine has dropped to quarterly publishing. Meghann is the intersection of all things indie games, just ask one of the hundred or so designers she met at PAX AU last year. As well as ten years of freelancing for PC P...
Vee Pendergrast (Stirfire Studios)
April 08, 2018 23:55 - 1 hour - 90.5 MBVee Pendergrast is a co-founder of Stirfire Studios, but has something of a different perspective on launching and running games studios in Australia. Her background is in business management and finance, meaning she has chosen the games industry not just because making games was her passion, but because she saw it as a highly capable industry. Vee co-founded Stirfire Studios in 2010 while working in tech business development. Vee has been instrumental in raising seed capital al...
Angharad "Rad" Yeo (ABC Spawn Point)
March 27, 2018 04:55 - 59 minutes - 81.3 MBHello and welcome to... Dog Hugs? Joining us this week is Angharad "Rad" Yeo, one of the hosts of ABC Me's Spawn Point. Spawn Point is a (hugely popular in its own right) kids' spin-off of the hugely popular video games coverage show Good Game, which celebrated its tenth and final year of airtime in 2017. Rad is one of three hosts of the show, and joins our host Jason Imms to chat about life as an ABC TV presenter, her musical aspirations, and her utterly gorgeous dog Boatmeal.
Will Smith (FOO VR, Tested.com, Maximum PC)
March 04, 2018 22:55 - 1 hour - 95.4 MBWill Smith is the CEO of FOO VR (they make cartoons in real-time using virtual reality), the host of The FOO Show (a VR talk show), co-host of the Still Untitled: The Adam Savage Project podcast, and a former editor of Tested.com. Will was also the first editor to ever hire our host Jason Imms as a freelance writer! Join the pair to hear them discuss why in the world they took a chance on our intrepid host, as well as Will's long and storied career in tech and games journalism, and the ri...
Liam Esler (GCAP, GX Australia)
February 18, 2018 22:55 - 54 minutes - 74.8 MBThis week brings to a close our episodes recorded during Game Connect Asia Pacific (GCAP) 2017, with none other than the departing organiser of the event, Liam Esler. Liam is a bizdev, narrative, and production specialist about to dive into the terrifying world of entrepreneurship. He was formerly the Event Manager for GCAP, and co-founder of GX Australia. Join our host Jason Imms as he and Liam discuss what GCAP has become and where it came from, and how it was both shaped by, and itsel...
Patrick Stafford (Stafford Content
January 28, 2018 23:16 - 1 hour - 55.2 MBThis week, our host Jason Imms is joined (in a Melbourne French for breakfast) by digital copywriter, freelance journalist and professional writer, Patrick Stafford. Patrick is currently a digital copywriter for MYOB, as well as providing his services on contract under his own brand Stafford Content, and working as a freelance journalist for The Atlantic, Polygon, Eurogamer, Kotaku, and more. Join Jason and Patrick for insights into the life of a freelance journalist, Patrick's thoughts ...
Matt Trobbiani (Team Fractal Alligator)
January 15, 2018 00:36 - 49 minutes - 45.7 MBMatt Trobbiani is an indie game designer and developer, and head at Team Fractal Alligator. Matt created Hacknet, a critically received and popular game released in 2015, which saw players taking on the role of a hacker, penetrating systems, avoiding detection, and madly typing realistic commands in to a virtual console interface. Join Matt and our host Jason Imms as they took some time for an interview during the otherwise hectic Game Connect Asia Pacific conference, and hear Matt's thoug...
Rami Ismail (Vlambeer)
December 10, 2017 22:55 - 52 minutes - 47.8 MBRami Ismail is the business and development half of Vlambeer, the indie studio responsible for hits like LUFTRAUSERS, Ridiculous Fishing, Nuclear Throne, and more. He's also well known for supporting the growth of independent game development by travelling the world, speaking at events, and working with and promoting communities in underrepresented regions. Rami sat with our host Jason Imms during Game Connect Asia Pacific (GCAP) to discuss his history at Vlambeer and combative relations...
Adam 'Pez' Perry (You Game Bro?)
November 26, 2017 22:55 - 1 hour - 55.8 MBAdam ‘Pez’ Perry is the host of the Twitch-broadcast You Game Bro? podcast, and founder of the Australasian Gaming Podcast Network. Pez's broadcasting work has led to him securing brand ambassador roles with Lenovo and Intel in Australia and New Zealand, and allowed him to land major sponsorships to support the ongoing creation of the You Game Bro? podcast. Join Pez and your host Jason Imms as they discuss the benefits and challenges of one-on-one interview-based podcasts, passion-driven ...
David Gaider (Beamdog)
November 13, 2017 03:46 - 1 hour - 58.6 MBDavid Gaider is a game designer, writer, and narrative designer, with a long and storied history at RPG powerhouse Bioware. Today, David is the creative director at Beamdog, helping to bring enhanced editions of some of the games he worked on back in his Bioware days to modern hardware and audiences. David recently sat with our host Jason Imms at the Game Connect Asia Pacific conference in Melbourne to talk about his work on Baldur's Gate, Dragon Age, and Knights of the Old Republic, being...
Teddy Dief (Square Enix Montréal)
October 30, 2017 04:44 - 56 minutes - 52 MBWe have a very special episode for you this week, friends: The inaugural Game Hugs Live, recorded on-stage at PAX Australia 2017! Joining our host Jason Imms on the stage was Square Enix Montreal creative director Teddy Dief(pronounced “deef,” despite Jason’s horrendous mispronunciations), discussing life as an indie, Glitch City LA, the anxieties of success, and moving away from a lifelong goal of working at Naughty Dog to take a risk on the Kickstarter-funded Hyper Light Drifter.
Tim Colwill (Point & Clickbait)
October 15, 2017 22:55 - 1 hour - 93.4 MBThis week we welcome Tim Colwill, editor in chief of the hilariously satirical Point & Clickbait to the guest chair. Join him and our host Jason Imms for a trip down memory lane as the pair relive the shuttering of beloved Australian games outlet games.on.net, discuss the dodgy closure of Interzone Games, and come to understand the strange parallels between poking fun at the games industry, and working for the Australian Meat Industry Employees Union.
Jess McDonell (GameSpot)
October 01, 2017 22:55 - 48 minutes - 44.4 MBIn this week's episode, host Jason Imms spoke with excellent GameSpot host and video producer, Jess McDonell about joining one of the biggest games journalism outlets in the world, what to do with your hands on camera, and what it means to work for a truly global outlet.
Wyld (Twitch Streamer)
September 18, 2017 11:55 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBWyld is a Twitch streamer, Minecraft modpack creator, and internet personality who has made a huge career change through entertaining his audience and creating content live on the internet. Join Wyld and our host Jason Imms as they discuss how a life can change through getting into livestreaming, the challenges and joys of playing games on the internet for a living, and the ethical side of publisher relations and junkets.
Alayna Cole (Queerly Represent Me)
September 03, 2017 23:55 - 1 hour - 62.8 MBThis week's Game Hugs features the founder of Queerly Represent Me, sessional academic at the University of the Sunshine Coast, and freelance games journalist and columnist Alayna Cole. Alayna joins host Jason Imms for our usual jaunt through the career that has led to her current position in the Australian games industry, as well as something of a rebuttal. In response to Game Hugs Episode 55 with Lisy Kane on the subject of how tertiary education is serving and failing the Australian gam...
Luke Lancaster (ReedPop)
August 20, 2017 23:55 - 1 hour - 57.2 MBSay hello to Luke Lancaster, who was until recently a well-known Australian associate editor at CNET, before being selected as the new PAX Australia Content Manager, replacing ex-Game Hugs host Guy 'Yug' Blomberg. He's also a co-creator of The Badguys, an excellent weekly webcomic that recently took home the top prize in Stan Lee's POW! Media Superhero Comic Contest. This episode marks the beginning of a Game Hugs multi-part episode experiment, in which we check in with Luke in the week b...
Eli Hodapp (Touch Arcade)
August 06, 2017 23:55 - 1 hour - 86 MBEli Hodapp is the editor in chief of Touch Arcade, the world's largest reviews and news site dedicated to Apple mobile devices. He's also possibly a Juggalo, though the jury is still out on that one. Join Eli and host Jason Imms this week as they discuss working remotely, American gun culture, and the question of elitism in free-to-play vs. premium games. Show Notes Episode 54 with Matt Ditton of Mighty Games featured a related conversation on free-to-play ethics in games.
Lisy Kane (League of Geeks)
July 23, 2017 23:55 - 1 hour - 56.1 MBAs a producer at League of Geeks, co-founder at Girl Geek Academy, and a Forbes 30 Under 30 lister, Lisy Kane doesn't seem to do anything by halves. Join Jason Imms this week for a chat with Lisy about her incredible and densely accomplished career. Also, the pair take a look at how the Australian education system is both serving and failing the game development industry, internships, and how Armello's intriguing profit-share program works. Show Notes Lisy Kane League of Geeks Girl Ge...
Matt Ditton (Mighty Games Group)
July 09, 2017 23:55 - 1 hour - 65 MBMatt Ditton is the managing director of the Mighty Games Group (Shooty Skies, Disney Crossy Road, Charming Keep, Charming Runes) and Many Monkeys Development (Breath of Light, ANZ Future Play), both based in The Arcade in Melbourne, Victoria. Matt is one of Australia's veteran game developers, one of the rare few that stuck around after the industry crash that began in 2010. In fact, his chat with Jason Imms in this episode goes into some depth on what the crash looked like on the ground, ...
Ken Wong (Mountains)
June 25, 2017 23:50 - 54 minutes - 37.4 MBKen Wong is the founder and creative director of Mountains, a self-described "craft games studio," based in Melbourne. He's also well known for his work as the lead designer and artist on Ustwo's seminal mobile title, Monument Valley. In this episode, Ken and Jason discuss his work with Ustwo, being discovered by American McGee, his work on Alice: Madness Returns, and much more.
Katie Stegs (Lumi Consulting)
June 12, 2017 23:50 - 53 minutes - 36.7 MBKatie Stegs is co-founder and creative director of games PR and marketing agency Lumi Consulting. You might think this would place sufficient burden on Katie's calendar, but NO. Katie has also co-founded Blush Box, a collective of game creators that focuses on romance, love and sexuality, and a symposium and game jam called Heartbeat which hopes to give that community a chance to come together and grow. In this episode, Jason Imms chats with Katie about her dark caravanning past, what driv...
Guy 'Yug' Blomberg (ReedPop, PAX)
May 31, 2017 00:45 - 1 hour - 53.2 MBGuy 'Yug' Blomberg is not only the creator of this fine podcast, but also the newly appointed Global PAX Content Director, ensuring that every PAX show around the world is crammed full of amazing stars, panels, expo booths, and entertainment. No, Yug won't be interviewing himself - his new role doesn't leave enough time to concentrate on Game Hugs, so this episode will be the first for new host, and past Game Hugs guest, freelance games and tech journalist Jason Imms. You can read the full...
James Cullinane (CBS Interactive)
March 07, 2017 22:04 - 1 hour - 43.5 MBJames Cullinane is the Games Account Manager at CBS Interactive, including sites GameSpot, Giant Bomb, GameFAQs, ComicVine, Metacritic and CNET. He was previously the Editor of Gameplanet, before becoming the Editorial Director accross both New Zealand and Australian Gameplanet sites.
Paul Verhoeven (28 Plays Later)
February 26, 2017 22:00 - 1 hour - 43.5 MBPaul Verhoeven is a writer, comedian, host, and storyteller. He co-hosts the popular gaming podcast 28 Plays Later with Kris Straub, is the host of the ABC3 show Steam Punks, and is currently writing the upcoming novel Loose Units. Previously he was a host and producer of various Triple J programs including The Breakfast Show, Nerdy by Nature, and The Graveyard Shift. He is a regular guest on The Project, Studio 3, and Good Game, having also co-hosted on gaming show Save Point and geek com...
Kamina Vincent (Mountains)
February 19, 2017 22:00 - 50 minutes - 34.6 MBKamina Vincent is the Producer at Mountains, a new studio featuring the talents behind games such as Monument Valley and Cuphead. She has volunteered at almost even gaming event in Australia from Freeplay, Transmedia Victoria, Global Game Jam, GDC, and GCAP - the later of which she eventually went on to organise and coordinate volunteers. She has worked for Tin Man Games, originally as a QA Tester, then Community Manager, and eventually Producer.
Chantal Morley (Bandai Namco)
February 12, 2017 22:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBChantal Morley is the Operations Manager at Bandai Namco Entertainment Australia, having previously been the Operations and Social Media Coordinator, and the Operations Coordinator at Atari Australia prior to that. She manages the logistics, manufacture, buying and shipping of products across all the business, looks after the budges and sales reporting, and is an Authorised Assessor of Games with over 400 titles under her belt.
Ryan Hartman (Penny Arcade)
February 05, 2017 23:00 - 53 minutes - 37 MBRyan Hartman is the Director of Events at Penny Arcade, overseeing the PAX portfolio of gaming conventions (including the recently released PAX Unplugged) as well as being involved in the expansion of other Penny Arcade properties. He was previously working for ReedPOP as the Program Manager across the PAX shows, managing speakers, content, travel, and logistics.
Krister Collin (Freelance Game Developer)
January 29, 2017 23:00 - 1 hour - 54.2 MBKrister Collin is an award-winning game developer, having worked for Flat Earth Games, Epiphany Games, and Well Placed Cactus. He is the organiser of the monthly IGDA Sydney Beer & Pixel events, and is a Game Design Teacher at the Academy of Interactive Entertainment.
Dan Graf (Indie Game Developer)
January 22, 2017 23:30 - 1 hour - 54.5 MBDan Graf is an indie game developer who most recently teamed up with Featherweight Games to make Rodeo Stampede, a game which has had over 50 million downloads and was awarded Apple's Top 10 Games of 2016, and Google Play's Most Innovative 2016. Prior to his recent success, he was a Product Manager and Game Designer at Halfbrick Studios working on Fruit Ninja Champions, a Story Unit Artist at Dr D Studios working on films such as Happy Feet 2 and Max Max: Fury Road, 3D Artist on the Half ...
Mark Serrels (Allure Media)
January 15, 2017 23:30 - 1 hour - 52 MBMark Serrels is the Managing Editor at Allure Media, overseeing Kotaku, Gizmodo, and Lifehacker. He was previously the Editor of Kotaku for over six years, and was the Managing Editor of Official Xbox Magazine, Official Nintendo Magazine, Official PlayStation Magazine, and Australian 360 Magazine. He is an award winning Journalist, having won the Lizzie IT Journalism Awards for Best Journalist in 2015, and Best Games Coverage for Kotaku 5 years in a row.
Dean Longmore (Lead Learning and Content Designer)
October 23, 2016 23:30 - 1 hour - 62.4 MBDean Longmore is the Lead Learning and Content Designer for Global English, and the Designer/Programmer of the iOS title Station Stop. Dean was a Game Designer for Team Bondi, where he worked on the Rockstar Games published title L.A.Noire. He was the Lead Content Designer at IntoScience working across science education based games, and was also the Lead Game Designer at Saudi Arabian studio Semaphore.
Skaidris Gunsmith (Beta Bar)
October 16, 2016 23:30 - 53 minutes - 36.6 MBSkaidris Gunsmith is the co-founder of Beta Bar - Next Level Gaming Events, and is also the creator of the popular card game Suddenly Drunk, through his new Gunsmith Games company. He was previously the Brand Manager for the Mana Bar Melbourne, and built custom arcade cabinets.
Jason Imms (Freelance Journalist)
October 09, 2016 23:30 - 1 hour - 48.7 MBJason Imms is a Freelance Journalist, founder of the Tas Game Development Society, and is currently the Community Manager for Tasmania's Enterprize Hubs. As a freelancer Jason has written for publications including IGN, GameSpot, Giant Bomb, Kill Screen, PC PowerPlay, Official PlayStation Magazine, Kotaku, HYPER, Games.on.net, and Tested.com.
Phil Larsen (Prettygreat)
October 03, 2016 00:30 - 51 minutes - 35.6 MBPhil Larsen is the Managing Director at game developer Prettygreat (Land Sliders). He was previously the Chief Marketing Officer for Halfbrick Studios, working on the launches of Fruit Ninja, Jetpack Joyride, Colossatron, Raskulls, and more. Prior to that he was a games writer for PALGN and AustralianGamer.
Morgan Jaffit (Defiant Development)
September 26, 2016 01:30 - 1 hour - 72.7 MBMorgan Jaffit is the Creative Director of Defiant Development, the creators of the Hand of Fate series. Prior to starting his own studio, Morgan was the Assoc Creative Director at Pandemic Studios, Lead Designer at A2M, Writer at Ubisoft Montreal, Game Designer at Relic Entertainment, and Game Designer / Writer at Irrational Games. He is a pillar of the Australian games industry, having worked both locally and abroad for over a decade on such titles as Freedom Force, Homeworld 2, Splinte...
Amy Potter (Leaping Tiger)
September 19, 2016 01:30 - 29 minutes - 20.3 MBAmy Potter is the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of gaming location based tool Leaping Tiger. Coming from a graphic design background working for such companies as Mitsubishi Electric and Cluster Creative, she also runs her own creative self titled company, and is the host of the kiwi gaming show 'Hot Chips Gaming'.
Bradley Jolly (DYoshi)
September 12, 2016 01:30 - 1 hour - 46.8 MBBradley Jolly is a Twitch partner streamer known as DYoshi, who is also a casual assistant for Hanabee Entertainment. He was previously a Sales Assistant and Shift Supervisor at Dick Smith Electronics for over 8 years, was a Presenter for Level 3 then New Game Plus, and was the PR and Community Manager for the Melbourne Anime Festival.
Sally Kellaway (Zero Latency)
September 05, 2016 01:30 - 1 hour - 59.7 MBSally Kellaway is the Senior Audio Designer at Zero Latency, Co Chair for the IGDA Virtual Augmented and Mixed Reality Special Interest Group, Technical Evangelist for Firelight Technologies (FMOD), and Sound Designer / Educator for her self named consultancy company. One of the stars in the digital audio industry, she initially started as a QA Tester for the Creative Assembly, before moving on to become their Junior Audio Designer and Motion Capture Technician. She went on to be an Audio ...
Stephanie Bendixsen (Good Game)
August 29, 2016 01:30 - 1 hour - 50.2 MBStephanie Bendixsen, also known as Hex, is the co-host and presenter of the popular ABC TV shows Good Game and Good Game: Spawn Point. She has worked on the live Good Game events such as the Roffle Cup at the Sydney Opera House, Good Game Live as part of comedy festivals, and numerous appearances at conventions around the country. She will also be featuring in the upcoming ABC show How to be a Fan with Hex.
Nic Watt (Nnooo)
August 22, 2016 01:30 - 1 hour - 53.3 MBNic Watt is the Founder and Chief Design Officer at Sydney based developer and publisher Nnooo. Originally developing games in the UK, he worked as an Artist/Designer for Supersonic Software, World Lead at Asylum Entertainment, Lead Designer at Visual Science, and Lead Designer at Electronic Arts.
Trent Kusters (League of Geeks)
August 15, 2016 01:30 - 1 hour - 55.4 MBTrent Kusters is the Co-Founder & Director of League of Geeks, the studio that recently released Armello. Entrepreneurial by nature, he built and managing multiple companies before moving across to become a Lead Designer at Torus Games, then Creative Director at Divisive Media. He is also currently an Industry Advisor for DiGRA Australia, Lecturer (Game Writing) for the Victorian College of Arts, and is a Board Member on the Freeplay Independent Games Festival.
Patrick Kolan (Reboot PR)
August 08, 2016 01:30 - 1 hour - 73.4 MBPatrick "Patch" Kolan is the Co-Founder & Director of Reboot PR, an agency that represents clients such as Bethesda, QV Software, Plastic Wax, and Final Fantasy XIV among others. Beginning a career as a freelance games writer while still in school, Patch wrote for such publications as HYPER, PC PowerPlay, GamePro, Official PlayStation Magazine, and more. After a brief time at Pulse Communications working on the launch of the Xbox 360, he was given the opportunity to be one of the founding ...
Christopher Yabsley (Ache Bit)
August 01, 2016 01:30 - 1 hour - 44.6 MBChristopher Yabsley is a Composer and Developer, currently the working on the soon to be released Dungeon League - a competitive dungeon crawler party game.
James Kozanecki (PPR)
July 25, 2016 01:30 - 1 hour - 55.7 MBJames Kozanecki is a Senior Account Manager at PPR, working across accounts such as Dell / Alienware, 2K Games, and Wargaming. Previously an Account Manager for Double Jump Communications and Surprise Attack Consulting, he was also the Marketing Co-ordinator for Mindscape Asia Pacific (Konami), as well as a Staff Writer and Community Manager for Gamespot Australia.