The state of the computer game industry: a conversation with Kate Edwards, of Geogrify and SetJetters

Kevin Lee interviews Kate Edwards, who wears entrepreneurial hats in both the for-profit and non-profit worlds. She’s also a Microsoft alumnus, an activist, and an organizer with deep roots in the computer game industry who speaks frequently at industry events. Kevin and Kate discuss game development, the gaming industry, working conditions within this industry, and concern over how AI is likely to impact things now and in the future. They cover much ground in our talk; topics include: - Kate’s experiences working in the gaming industry, which included work on popular games such as Halo, Fable, Age of Empires, Dragon Age, Modern Warfare, Mass Effect and others. - Why the topic of AI in the creative arts, including games, is a hot topic among game industry employees today. - How the SetJetters app helps fans find filming locations of their favorite TV shows and movies by providing a map and synchronizing scenes from the film with what the location looks like today. - Why fans attracted to filming locations while production is ongoing may either be embraced or encounter hostility form the film crew. - How Kate created a team at Microsoft to help the company navigate political and cultural risks, and later left to focus solely on video game development and consulting. - Kate’s experiences advocating for greater workplace diversity within the gaming industry and her role in the infamous “Gamergate” episode of 2014. - Why mental health issues are endemic in the game industry but are seldom mentioned or addressed. - How the game industry is characterized by a lack of empathy and understanding among gaming industry managers, which can lead to poor decision-making and unrealistic schedules. - Why recent layoffs and RIFs (Reductions in Force) in the gaming industry are largely the fault of management, which scaled hiring too quickly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices