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PODCAST

Press Start Leadership Podcast

Press Start Leadership

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

leisure video games

All Episodes

19:05

Aligning Your Game with Market Demand: How to...

Press Start Leadership Podcast ·

2025/08/10

Tell us what you thought of the episode and any topics you would like us to cover! The game industry has evolved beyond simply creating fun experiences. Today, success demands strategic alignment between creative vision and market realities. Whether you're an indie developer or AAA studio leader, understanding how to identify viable game opportunities through strategic market alignment can mean the difference between commercial success and obscurity. Strategic market alignment isn't about ab...

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12:47

Fail Fast, Succeed Faster: How Dirty Prototyping...

Press Start Leadership Podcast ·

2025/07/27

Tell us what you thought of the episode and any topics you would like us to cover! Hesitation and perfectionism are killing your game studio's creativity. In the high-stakes world of video game development, the pressure to deliver polished work can paradoxically lead to expensive failures and missed opportunities. This episode dives deep into how dirty prototyping—creating quick, rough, and ready versions of game ideas—has become a critical competitive advantage for forward-thinking studios. ...

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21:16

Character, Camera, Controls: The Foundation of...

Press Start Leadership Podcast ·

2025/07/20

Tell us what you thought of the episode and any topics you would like us to cover! 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 elements significantly impact player satisfaction and game success. Chara...

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17:48

Game-Changing Business Cases

Press Start Leadership Podcast ·

2025/07/13

Tell us what you thought of the episode and any topics you would like us to cover! 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 navigating complex terrain where the stakes couldn't be higher. Poor choi...

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17:19

Lucy and the Football: Surviving Game Funding Setbacks

Press Start Leadership Podcast ·

2025/06/22

Tell us what you thought of the episode and any topics you would like us to cover! 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's football just as he's about to kick. This emotional whiplash isn't just frust...

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17:47

Logic 101: How Game Development Leaders Can Make...

Press Start Leadership Podcast ·

2025/06/15

Tell us what you thought of the episode and any topics you would like us to cover! 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 why sharpening your logical thinking is just as crucial as honi...

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12:25

Oops I Did It Again: Why Celebrating Failures Makes...

Press Start Leadership Podcast ·

2025/06/09

Tell us what you thought of the episode and any topics you would like us to cover! 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 at their core. By creating environments where small, early failures becom...

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19:17

Finding Your Guide: How Industry Mentors Transform...

Press Start Leadership Podcast ·

2025/06/02

Tell us what you thought of the episode and any topics you would like us to cover! 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 and opportunities. Mentorship transforms game development leaders...

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16:26

Building Game Studio Repositories: Capturing...

Press Start Leadership Podcast ·

2025/05/25

Tell us what you thought of the episode and any topics you would like us to cover! 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 repositories aren't just organizational tools—they're strategic assets that...

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11:19

The Power of Looking Inward: How Self-Reflection...

Press Start Leadership Podcast ·

2025/05/18

Tell us what you thought of the episode and any topics you would like us to cover! 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 insights that enhance their effectiveness, strengthen team dynamics, and...

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9:44

Strategic Leadership: Empowering Your Game...

Press Start Leadership Podcast ·

2025/05/11

Tell us what you thought of the episode and any topics you would like us to cover! 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 teams. The foundation of effective leadership starts with understa...

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12:23

Cows vs. Kangaroos: Why Critical Thinking Matters

Press Start Leadership Podcast ·

2025/05/04

Tell us what you thought of the episode and any topics you would like us to cover! 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 without verification, even from trusted sources. Leadership excel...

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10:48

The Hidden Level: Team Building in Indie Game...

Press Start Leadership Podcast ·

2025/04/27

Tell us what you thought of the episode and any topics you would like us to cover! 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 leaders, unpacking exactly how to build a team that combines technical prowess w...

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10:41

The Strategic Edge: Critical Thinking in Game...

Press Start Leadership Podcast ·

2025/04/20

Tell us what you thought of the episode and any topics you would like us to cover! 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 success in the fast-paced world of game development. This episod...

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10:50

The Empathy Cheat Code: Unlocking Your Team's Hidden...

Press Start Leadership Podcast ·

2025/04/13

Tell us what you thought of the episode and any topics you would like us to cover! 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 studio heads can implement immediately. We break down the misconcept...

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10:56

Navigating Game Industry Chaos: Leadership Strategies...

Press Start Leadership Podcast ·

2025/04/06

Tell us what you thought of the episode and any topics you would like us to cover! 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 technological leaps, evolving player expectations, and fierce competit...

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10:48

Outsource Like a Boss: Indie Game Development Without...

Press Start Leadership Podcast ·

2025/03/30

Tell us what you thought of the episode and any topics you would like us to cover! 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 unpacks the complete framework for optimizing outsourcing partnerships to...

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11:19

From Code to Command: The Developer-to-Studio Head...

Press Start Leadership Podcast ·

2025/03/23

Tell us what you thought of the episode and any topics you would like us to cover! 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 game development management. We start by examining the fundamental mi...

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11:05

Level Up Your Research: Because Guessing Is For Noobs

Press Start Leadership Podcast ·

2025/03/16

Tell us what you thought of the episode and any topics you would like us to cover! 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. We dive deep into the multifaceted world of game development research, explori...

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11:06

Game Over for Burnout: Leveling Up Your Studio's...

Press Start Leadership Podcast ·

2025/03/09

Tell us what you thought of the episode and any topics you would like us to cover! 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 creative teams and offers a comprehensive framework for building su...

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229 results

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