Play, Watch, Listen
- Episodes
- 194
- Released
- monthly
- Latest episode
- Oct 27, 2026
About the podcast
Join Alanah Pearce (game writer), Mike Bithell (game director), and Austin Wintory (game composer) as they talk about all the games, movies, TV and 'whatever else' that took their interest that week, from three unique perspectives in the games industry.
Episodes 194
191. One Year of DISPATCH! (ft. Game Director Nick Herman & Composer Andrew Arcadi)
This week, Alanah and Mike are joined by Nick and Andrew to discuss the one year anniversary of Dispatch. Lessons learned, the unique 'awards' positioning, post-launch success, and Adhoc Studio's recent …
Show notes
This week, Alanah and Mike are joined by Nick and Andrew to discuss the one year anniversary of Dispatch. Lessons learned, the unique 'awards' positioning, post-launch success, and Adhoc Studio's recent announcements. (Note: due to an issue with one of the mic tracks, the audio for this episode isn't great - apologies).
190. Our 190th Episode Celebration (in person!)
After years of talking about it, Mike, Alanah, and Austin finally had Kerry Dyer (Mike's wife and also stop-motion puppet doctor) on the show to talk about bringing puppets to life! We also discuss how …
Show notes
After years of talking about it, Mike, Alanah, and Austin finally had Kerry Dyer (Mike's wife and also stop-motion puppet doctor) on the show to talk about bringing puppets to life! We also discuss how different mediums seem to naturally avoid feedback/criticism, and memorable moments meeting famous people. Video games are in there somewhere idk.
189. Tim Schafer on leaving Xbox & the future of Double Fine
Mike and Alanah chat with Double Fine's Tim Schafer on the indie future (and past?) of the studio since leaving Xbox, including how you can help!
188. An Interview with one of BIG WALK's Sound Designers!
This week, Mike and Alanah sat down with Em from A Shell in the Pit to talk about BIG WALK, and, ultimately, steal foley (sound design) knowledge for use in their own games. Hey, at least we admit it.
187. Alanah Went to La Sagrada Familia
In this week's episode, the crew discusses THE DEFINITION OF ART (2026 ver), and finding inspiration in the real world rather than other media, as a result of Alanah visiting Barcelona and exploring Antoni …
Show notes
In this week's episode, the crew discusses THE DEFINITION OF ART (2026 ver), and finding inspiration in the real world rather than other media, as a result of Alanah visiting Barcelona and exploring Antoni Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia.
186. Mike's New Game: VAMPIRIUM 1997!
This week, Mike announced the latest game from Bithell Games (now a studio of three), Vampirium 1997. Alanah asks him about it!
186. Austin's Take on Early Access Games
This week, we talk a bit about composing for early access, and how much scores (and VFX) influence films.
184. Clavicular, Human Nature, and 007: First Light
This week, Mike, Austin, and Alanah mostly talk about human nature. No, really. The new James Bond game is also spoken about for about 10 minutes at the end.
183. Bithell Games Presents: AMBERSPIRE
Alanah and Mike chat to game director Nic Tringali about science-fantasy city-builder "Amberspire".
182. Surviving in Freelance Game Dev
Mike and Alanah chat about the pit-falls of working for yourself, and how to manage your time as a freelance (or self-funded indie) game developer.
181. Finally Talking About Xbox & Asha Sharma
SORRY AUDIO LISTENERS: podcast services briefly put a hold on our uploads, so you'll get a few in a row as we catch up! This episode features Austin, Mike, and Alanah talking about the changes at Xbox, among …
Show notes
SORRY AUDIO LISTENERS: podcast services briefly put a hold on our uploads, so you'll get a few in a row as we catch up! This episode features Austin, Mike, and Alanah talking about the changes at Xbox, among other things.
180. We're Scared of Early Access
This week, Mike and Alanah discuss Bithell games, whether Mike is a Golden Retriever Boyfriend, the new era of the cosplay community, collaboration among indie game devs, and our fear of Early Access.
179. This Episode is About Sex (in Video Games)
Alanah, Mike, and Austin discuss sex (or the lack thereof) in video games, and how video game writing and film/TV do and do not compare. Also, happy new year!
178. Where are Video Games Headed in 2026?
Apologies for the late upload! On this episode, Mike & Austin chat about the success of Dispatch, changes to video game dev structures, and where the industry seems to be headed.
177. Dispatch Writer Pierre Shorette Talks CHOICES!
This week, Austin, Mike, and Alanah are joined by Adhoc Studios' Pierre Shorette to talk about Dispatch - the latest narrative driven game made by a group of Telltale alumni.
176. How to Market an Indie Game (& Undertale's Terrible Code)
Alanah and Mike discuss indie game marketing, and the fact that getting past being worried about something sucking is the best way to start... making something!
175. Hollow Knight: Silksong's Difficulty, and Alanah's ChatGPT Video
This week, Alanah, Mike, and Austin chat about Hollow Knight: Silksong (yes, it's hard) and how media seems to prefer difficult games, Alanah's recent ChatGPT video (though this was recorded before it was …
Show notes
This week, Alanah, Mike, and Austin chat about Hollow Knight: Silksong (yes, it's hard) and how media seems to prefer difficult games, Alanah's recent ChatGPT video (though this was recorded before it was published), and the Freewrite Traveler.
174. Wave Tech in Sword of the Sea!
This week, we sat down to chat with Matt Nava from Giant Squid, all about the studio's latest game - Sword of the Sea.
173. IP Rights & Stop Killing Games
Austin, Mike, and Alanah chat about IP Rights and our (very early, uniformed lol) thoughts on the "Stop Killing Games" petition.
172. Mike talks TRON: Catalyst! (& Alanah learns to code)
This week, Mike and Alanah talk about learning to use game engine Godot, the brilliant lighting in TRON: Catalyst, and ethics in genitalia shown in film.
171. A Chat to the Creator of Blue Prince!
This week, Alanah, Mike, and Austin sat down to chat to Tonda Ros - the director of Blue Prince. Apologies for Tonda's echo!
170. We love Blue Prince (but maybe won't finish it, is that okay?)
Alanah and Austin chat Blue Prince, addictive video games, and Satisfactory.
169. From The Banner Saga to Towerborne (ft. Arnie Jorgensen)
This week, Mike, Alanah, and Austin chat to co-founder of Stoic, the creators of The Banner Saga and, more recently, Towerborne!
167. Lay-Offs, Microsoft's new AI (sorry, Phil), and Who Framed Roger Rabbit
This week, Alanah and Mike start out by talking about the lay-offs across WB Games, then jump into talking about Microsoft's newly announced AI "Muse", and then we - finally - get Alanah's thoughts on Who …
Show notes
This week, Alanah and Mike start out by talking about the lay-offs across WB Games, then jump into talking about Microsoft's newly announced AI "Muse", and then we - finally - get Alanah's thoughts on Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
166. Talking to Eternal Strands director Mike Laidlaw!
This week, Austin and Alanah sit down to talk to Mike Laidlaw, the game director of Dragon Age: Origins who most recently started his own studio and make ETERNAL STRANDS. Which Austin also worked on, because of …
Show notes
This week, Austin and Alanah sit down to talk to Mike Laidlaw, the game director of Dragon Age: Origins who most recently started his own studio and make ETERNAL STRANDS. Which Austin also worked on, because of course he did. He cannot be contained.
165. The Studio Making Four Games A YEAR!? (ft. Xalavier Nelson)
Apologies for the delay here - the audio file was corrupted! This week, Mike and Alanah are joined by Strange Scaffold's Xalavier Nelson Jr to talk about how the studio makes so many high quality games, and …
Show notes
Apologies for the delay here - the audio file was corrupted! This week, Mike and Alanah are joined by Strange Scaffold's Xalavier Nelson Jr to talk about how the studio makes so many high quality games, and what it really means to be a good game director.
164. The State of Video Games in 2025
After a break due to the LA fires - which we talk about to begin with here - we chat about a recent 200-page document called "The State of Video Games in 2025" from Matthew Ball. If you'd like links to the …
Show notes
After a break due to the LA fires - which we talk about to begin with here - we chat about a recent 200-page document called "The State of Video Games in 2025" from Matthew Ball. If you'd like links to the charities we mentioned, please check those out on the YouTube version of the podcast!
163. Game Design Challenges & the Indiana Jones Game!
Happy four years of PWL! Sorry about Mike's audio here, we don't know what happened.
These are the latest 40 of 194 episodes. You’ll find older episodes in the podcast’s feed.
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