The Gaming Founders Podcast

The Gaming Founders Podcast

Author: Eden Chen and Kevin Zhang Language: English Episodes: 19
Behind every game you love, there's a story of how it almost didn't happen. The Gaming Founders Podcast pulls back the curtain on those pivotal moments, moving past the polished headlines to the real decisions and struggles that define a company's path. Hosts Eden Chen, a CEO building developer tools, and Kevin Zhang, a venture capitalist, bring a dual perspective to their conversations. They sit down with the people who actually built the studios, platforms, and technologies shaping play, focusing not on gossip but on the tangible lessons from the trenches. In each episode, you'll get an unfiltered look at the origin stories, the specific tactics that helped companies navigate crises, and the hard-won insights about team building, funding, and creative survival. This isn't just a series of interviews; it's a masterclass in building something that lasts within the volatile and thrilling world of games. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a developer with a side project, or simply fascinated by the business of creativity, this podcast offers a rare, grounded look at the resilience and strategy required to make it. Tune in for honest dialogue that cuts through the hype, providing a real-world education from those who have already played the game.
Episodes
Fireside Chat with Mike Seavers at the Online Services Summit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:44
What happens when your game studio scales from 300 to 5,000 people in record time?Mike Seavers, SVP of Technology at Scopely and veteran technical leader from Riot Games and Epic Games, joins hosts Eden Chen (CEO, Pragma…
From Struggling Startup to Gaming Giant: Bing Gordon's EA Odyssey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:49
Today Bing Gordon, co-founder of Electronic Arts, joins hosts Eden Chen and Kevin Zhang to share his remarkable journey from a sports-obsessed kid in suburban Detroit to pioneering the modern gaming industry. Gordon deta…
Pivoting To Survive: Stan Vishnevskiy's Journey on Founding Discord [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:32
What desperate "Hail Mary" move saved Discord when it was about to fail? (Exclusive interview with rarely-interviewed co-founder)Discord almost died at launch. Then a desperate Reddit post changed everything. In this rar…
The Twitch Tactics: Kevin Lin's Streaming Journey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:37
What strategic pivots and challenges did Kevin Lin face in transforming Justin.tv into Twitch, a platform that forever changed gaming and live streaming?Eden and Kevin welcome Kevin Lin, the co-founder of Twitch, to delv…
Stirling Rank's Rise with Ready or Not [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:49
In this episode, Eden and Kevin speak with Stirling Rank, COO and co-founder of Void Interactive. Stirling had an unconventional journey from high school filmmaking to creating the indie game hit Ready or Not. In the dis…