Press Start Leadership Podcast
Welcome to the Press Start Leadership Podcast, your ultimate guide to unlocking your leadership potential in the dynamic world of the video game industry. Join me, Christopher Mifsud, a seasoned industry professional with two decades of experience leading and nurturing teams for renowned digital creative companies worldwide. This podcast is your secret weapon in an industry that often promotes talented individuals without providing the necessary leadership training. Drawing from my personal experiences and dedicated investment in top-tier coaches and programs, I've successfully bridged the gap in leadership development. I'm excited to share these invaluable insights with a broader audience, empowering you in the video game industry. Whether you're a video game industry pro or aspiring to lead a creative product and development team, this show is designed to help you maximize your team's potential and embrace your role as a visionary leader. Together, we'll explore proven strategies, industry trends, and personal anecdotes that will give you the competitive edge you need. Are you ready to level up your leadership skills and excel in the vibrant world of video game development? Join us on the Press Start Leadership Podcast and let's begin this transformative journey. Just Press Start!
Episodes
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Exceptional game design often boils down to mastering the basics – specifically the three Cs: Character, Camera, and Controls. These foundational elements create the framework upon which unforgettable player experiences are built, yet they're frequently overlooked amidst complex development processes.
The choices we make about these core...
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Strategic decision-making in game development demands more than creative intuition—it requires structured analysis and thorough planning. This deep dive explores how game studio leaders can create effective business cases that balance creative vision with financial sustainability.
Making decisions that shape your studio's future involves...
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Every game developer knows the brutal sting of excitement followed by crushing disappointment when funding disappears at the last moment. That promising investor call, the enthusiastic publisher meeting—all ending with radio silence or a polite "not at this time" email. It's the industry's version of Lucy yanking away Charlie Brown...
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Drowning in conflicting priorities? Juggling last-minute bug fixes with creative feature requests? Your intuition can only take you so far in the complex world of game development leadership.
When technical challenges, creative demands, and business realities collide, logical reasoning becomes your most powerful tool. This episode dives into...
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What if the quickest path to innovation wasn't avoiding failure, but embracing it? Game development thrives on creativity and calculated risk-taking, yet many studios still operate under a culture where mistakes are hidden rather than highlighted as growth opportunities.
The fail-fast learn-fast approach transforms how game teams operate...
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Navigating leadership in the video game industry demands a unique blend of creativity, technical expertise, and business acumen. Yet even the most experienced studio heads and senior producers face challenges that test their skills and resilience. The solution? A strategic partnership with a mentor who understands the industry's unique pressures ...
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Ever notice how the same questions keep popping up in your game studio? Why the wheel gets reinvented with each new project? The culprit is likely hiding in plain sight: your institutional knowledge is trapped in silos, scattered across tools, or worse—locked in the heads of veteran team members who could leave at any moment.
Knowledge reposi...
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What happens when game industry leaders pause to reflect? The answer might surprise you.
Reflective leadership stands as a transformative practice for video game industry professionals caught in the whirlwind of deadlines, development challenges, and high-pressure decision-making. Through intentional self-reflection, leaders gain powerful ins...
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Leadership in the video game industry demands far more than managing deadlines and resources – it requires creating an environment where creativity flourishes, burnout is prevented, and teams feel genuinely supported. Today we're diving deep into the strategies that separate good managers from exceptional leaders who transform their development t...
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Have you ever believed something so completely—only to discover it was entirely wrong? Christopher Mifsud shares a transformative childhood story about confidently misidentifying cows as kangaroos, thanks to his family's playful misinformation. This seemingly simple misunderstanding becomes a powerful metaphor for how easily we accept narratives ...
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Every great game begins with a great team. For indie developers breaking into the video game industry, assembling that first development team stands as perhaps the most pivotal challenge you'll face—and the foundation upon which your success will be built.
This episode delivers a comprehensive roadmap for aspiring game development leader...
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Ever wonder what separates good game development leaders from truly exceptional ones? The answer lies not in their technical expertise or industry connections, but in how they think. Critical thinking—that deep analytical ability to dissect problems, anticipate challenges, and craft strategic solutions—has become the defining skill for leadership succ...
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Forget what you thought you knew about effective game studio leadership. The high-stakes world of video game production demands more than just decisiveness and authority—it requires the transformative power of empathy.
This episode dives deep into how empathetic leadership revolutionizes the development process, exploring practical strategies...
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How do you lead a video game studio through constant uncertainty? The answer lies in mastering a delicate balance of optimism and strategic caution.
Today we dive deep into the leadership approaches that transform industry volatility from a threat into a competitive advantage. The video game landscape constantly shifts beneath our feet—with t...
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Game development is a complex creative endeavor that demands diverse skills, substantial resources, and meticulous planning. For indie studios operating with limited budgets and small teams, these demands can feel overwhelming. That's where strategic outsourcing becomes not just helpful, but potentially transformative.
Our latest episode...
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Ready to level up from developer to studio head? The path demands more than just technical expertise—it requires a complete transformation in how you think, lead, and envision the future of game creation.
This deep dive explores the leadership metamorphosis that aspiring studio heads must undergo to successfully navigate the complex world of ...
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What separates successful game studios from those that struggle? The answer often lies in research methodology. Whether you're leading a small indie team or scaling a AAA studio, your ability to gather, analyze, and implement data-driven insights directly impacts your game's potential for success in today's hyper-competitive market.
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Burnout has become the silent productivity killer in game development studios worldwide. When creative professionals constantly push boundaries while facing tight deadlines, technical challenges, and market pressures, their mental and physical wellbeing often pays the price. This episode dives deep into recognizable burnout symptoms specific to creati...
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Feedback can be a double-edged sword in the fast-paced environment of game development, but mastering its use is crucial for success. Often, the distinction between valuable insights and unhelpful criticism can determine whether your project flourishes or flounders. In today's episode, we explore the nuances of feedback management and its impact ...
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What if the key to unlocking innovation in the video game industry lies in embracing mistakes? Imagine transforming setbacks into stepping stones for success. In this episode, we're turning the spotlight on how leaders can harness the transformative power of errors to foster a culture of growth and creativity. We discuss the inevitability of mist...
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