Conflict Resolution Made Simple
Disagreements happen. Especially in creative endeavours like the development of a videogame, it is to be expected that people have different opinions, and that conflict will occur. Not every conflict…
Essay
From Glorious Purpose to Just Cause
Every studio has a purpose – the thing they exist to do or the effect they wish to have in the world – even if it’s not written it down.…
The 4 areas of leadership responsibility
Leadership in a game studio isn’t just about shipping games or hitting milestones. It’s about what you choose to be responsible for, even when no one is explicitly asking you…
The FIRM Framework for indie studio management
If you’re like most indies, your priorities are simple: finish the game first, everything else second. And even if we agree that this is the right order of things, there…
My Annual Review 2025
Between Christmas and New Year’s, I sat down to review everything that happened in 2025. I’m doing this for the 6th time in a row, and it is easily the…
My favorite things of 2025
I’ve been spending most of the holiday break so far just hanging out with my partner and our daughter–reading books, playing games and watching movies. The only time I’ve eked…
Crunch and other systems archetypes
One of my favorite parts of The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge is his focus on systems thinking. So many persistent problems within organizations (and individuals!) stem from invisible systems that shape…
Why your studio needs a vision (even if you think it doesn’t)
Most leaders I talk to don’t have an explicit long-term vision for their studio. They don’t think they need one. After all, startups thrive on agility—chasing opportunities, pivoting fast, reacting…
Finding co-founder alignment
Co-founder drama is a studio killer. When co-founder relationships go south, you’re not just in for awkward meetings—you could tank your entire company. Disagreements over vision, leadership, or financial decisions…
Why “unique” is better than “best”
Are you competing to be the best? Or to be unique? According to business strategist Michael Porter, unless you are competing to be unique, you don’t have a strategy. After…