Some episodes of Dev to Dev reveal a journey that feels instantly relatable, and Zac’s story is one of those. We talk about growing up in a small UK town, carrying an original Xbox across miles to make a LAN party happen, and the strange internal push-and-pull between wanting everything to be perfect and wanting everyone around you to succeed.

Zac’s competitive streak runs through his whole life—football, board games, Halo ranking grinds—but what's fascinating is how it sits alongside sincere empathy. He’s the kind of engineer who builds tools so other developers can thrive, even if it means rewriting systems others would ignore. That duality shaped his transition from years of grinding through Flash and HTML5 at a gambling studio to finally stepping into a AAA Codev team where he felt creatively at home.

We talked openly about imposter syndrome, the pressure of submitting code you know isn’t perfect, and how becoming a developer can make you both more introspective and more forgiving of other games’ flaws. We close on family: the early doubts, the pride, and the dream of one day making a game his daughters will get to play.

• Growing up in a small town and navigating early identity duality between his football and gaming passions

• Competitive roots formed through Mario, GoldenEye, & Halo

• Discovering game development via the Halo 2 dev diaries

• Evolving from Flash/HTML5 slots work into modern C++ engineering

• Learning to balance perfectionism with iteration

• Finding belonging at a Codev studio filled with creative, passionate developers

• Navigating imposter syndrome and learning to reflect with kindness

• Family support, pride, and the hope of eventually making games for his kids

PODCAST DETAILS

Find the Podcast at:

• Patreon: DevToDevPodcast
• RSS: https://feeds.castos.com/r37p9
• Instagram: @devto.devpodcast
• Bluesky: @devtodevpodcast.bsky.social‬
• TikTok: @devtodevpodcast
• YouTube: @DevToDevPodcast
• Email: DevToDevPodcast@Gmail.com

Find Zac At:

• ⁠https://www.instagram.com/zfm7/⁠
• ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-markham/⁠

• (00:00:00) - Dev to Dev: An Interview With Former colleague and friend
• (00:00:57) - What First Influenced You To Play Video Games?
• (00:07:33) - Football and gaming in the UK
• (00:13:15) - Zach Gets Real About His Competitiveness
• (00:17:29) - Starting Out: Learning to Make Video Games
• (00:20:54) - Tutorials in computing before university
• (00:27:30) - How to get your foot in the game industry with a degree
• (00:35:56) - How to Get Out of a Rut
• (00:36:25) - How to get out of your 'Luck'
• (00:40:36) - MPG Studios: The Dream realized
• (00:43:34) - Moving from mpg to Blueprint
• (00:48:55) - The Process of Design and Engineering
• (00:54:43) - Does Competition Play a Part in Your Work?
• (00:59:24) - How has being a developer changed you as a gamer?
• (01:02:00) - How Having Been a Developer Changed You
• (01:04:07) - How does your family relate to your job?
• (01:06:54) - In the Elevator With Adam Levine

This week’s Dev to Dev conversation is with someone whose journey genuinely surprised me at every turn — producer and creative leader Landon Hood. His path into games didn’t follow the traditional routes. In fact, it’s full of unexpected pivots, green-light moments, and people who changed the course of his life at just the right time.

Landon grew up in Maryland, discovered World of Warcraft in eighth grade, and immediately found himself drawn into the parts of MMO play that look suspiciously like early production training — scheduling raids, coordinating people, leading with confidence. He didn’t know it yet, but those skills were planting seeds for everything that came later.

What struck me most was how honest he is about the messy middle of his journey. He pursued auto mechanics, flirted with the military, and eventually ended up at community college — where a Design Professor became a career-changing mentor. She pushed him into opportunities he didn’t see in himself, including the fateful art show that connected him with Bully Entertainment and launched his first job in games.

From there he carved out a career built on flexibility, creativity, and pure willingness to jump into the unknown. VR prototypes before VR was cool. AR toothbrush apps for Disney. Holograms. NASA graphic novels. And eventually, a major role at ZeniMax Online Studios leading creative services work on ESO and Bethesda projects.

Landon also shares how moments of failure reshaped him — including a tough relocation to Florida that collapsed beneath him and ultimately helped him rebuild with more humility and perspective. He talks openly about burnout, therapy, ADHD, and learning to see each setback as something survivable.

And today? He’s at Blizzard, connecting with the universe that first lit the spark.

It’s an incredible conversation with someone who has seen nearly every corner of the industry, stayed grounded through chaos, and keeps pushing forward with empathy and passion.

• How World of Warcraft shaped his confidence, leadership, and communication
• The professor who changed his life with a single push
• The art show that launched his industry career
• Going from VR prototypes to DreamWorks and NASA projects
• Helping hold ZeniMax’s creative services team together during director turnover
• How ADHD became a superpower in production
• Navigating burnout, therapy, and industry instability
• Landing at Blizzard in a universe deeply personal to him

Find the Podcast at:

• Patreon: DevToDevPodcast
• RSS: https://feeds.castos.com/r37p9
• Instagram: @devto.devpodcast
• Bluesky: @devtodevpodcast.bsky.social‬
• TikTok: @devtodevpodcast
• YouTube: @DevToDevPodcast
• Email: DevToDevPodcast@Gmail.com

Find Landon At:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/landonhood

• (00:00:00) - Dev to Dev
• (00:00:19) - Blizzard Entertainment's Landon Hood on '
• (00:00:43) - What First Inspired You To Play Video Games?
• (00:03:17) - How World of Warcraft Made Me a Gamer
• (00:07:08) - Startups: How I Learned To Paint Cars
• (00:14:16) - The Making of 'Bully'
• (00:17:21) - Bully's Steven Levinson on Becoming a Creative Producer
• (00:20:27) - How I Went From Bully Entertainment to MAD Studios
• (00:25:20) - Started a cannabis dispensary while still in college
• (00:30:13) - Tom Holland on His 'Reception' With Adam Levine
• (00:30:36) - Developing Projects at Bully
• (00:32:48) - ZeniMax: The Transition From Bully to Zos
• (00:39:46) - The Creative Services Team at Zos
• (00:46:42) - Zelda on Being a Blanket Warrior
• (00:51:52) - How Does Your Family Relate To Your Job?
• (00:53:49) - How Having Been a Game Developer Has Changed You
• (00:55:09) - Blizzard's Landon on The Fort Lauderdale Drama

S01 E10 of Dev to Dev - the Podcast about everyday Videogame developers and why they do what they do every day - features a candid conversation with Liam McDonald who shares how gaming shaped his identity — from RuneScape escapades in school libraries to exciting projects at both Indie and AAA studios. Liam and I dive deep into the power of curiosity, risk-taking, and the unseen human side of game development.

Highlights

• Discovering community through early online games like RuneScape and Medal of Honor.

• Pivoting from politics to game design through a leap of faith at E3.

• The realities of relocating a family for an exciting role — and navigating the pandemic abroad.

• Insights into balancing creativity, family life, and imposter syndrome.

• Why mentorship and empathy are vital in helping new developers find their footing.

Liam’s story is one of resilience and rediscovery — a reminder that game development isn’t just about mechanics and code, but about people, purpose, and learning who you are along the way. Once again it wonderfully embodies the spirit of this podcast by exploring what it's really like to build a career in Game Development.

Find the Podcast at:

Patreon: DevToDevPodcast

RSS: https://feeds.castos.com/r37p9

Instagram: @devto.devpodcast

Bluesky: @devtodevpodcast.bsky.social‬

TikTok: @devtodevpodcast

YouTube: @DevToDevPodcast

Email: DevToDevPodcast@Gmail.com

Find Liam At:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-mcdonald-50861143

• (00:00:00) - Dev to Dev: A Conversation with Liam McDonald
• (00:00:42) - What First Inspired Liam To Play Video Games?
• (00:07:39) - Friends through Online Worlds
• (00:11:51) - Why Liam studied politics instead of coding
• (00:18:36) - How to Get Out There in the Game Development World
• (00:20:16) - Talking About the Computer Driving License
• (00:21:14) - How to get your first job in the industry
• (00:25:29) - How Liam got his foot in the door via E3
• (00:29:14) - Design and QA at the same time
• (00:33:30) - Back to School: Learning to Program
• (00:34:43) - How Liam got his first job in the industry
• (00:38:01) - Leaving The UK
• (00:40:58) - How Liam joined, and left, PlayStation
• (00:49:11) - The Making of a US Career
• (00:55:31) - Return to ZeniMax: The Pandemic Crisis
• (00:58:33) - How Does Liam's Family See His Role?
• (01:01:11) - How has being a game developer affected Liam's gaming habits?
• (01:03:26) - How Having Been a Game Developer Changed Liam as a Human?

In Dev to Dev S01 E09 I sit down with John “Bau” Bautista, a veteran combat designer whose path runs from arcade halls and QA grindhouses to leading teams on AAA franchises. Bau’s journey is about persistence, rule‑breaking, experimentation, and turning melee combat into storytelling through rhythm, space, and feel.

Bau learned to “game the system” on Centipede, discoveringhow feedback, rhythm, and pattern mastery turn rules into a playground. Those noisy, social arcades shaped his belief that games are experiences you feel, not just stories you watch.

A Monty Python quip during a Midway interview opened thedoor to QA, where meticulous repro steps and player empathy formed his design backbone. That QA foundation became the scaffolding for his to-date 26 year career across multiple AAA studios.

From spacing and mind games to impact and reaction, Bautreats melee as a language. Through studio closures and even lost credits, he kept chasing clarity of feel and the “celebration moments” that tell players an action truly landed.

Now as Lead Combat Designer, Bau draws lessons from every game - polished or messy. His advice: assume good intent, study widely, and focus on resonance between player intent and game response.

Find the Podcast at:

Patreon: DevToDevPodcast

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Rq9lZoWphzXvxkrETrWg0

RSS: https://feeds.castos.com/r37p9

Instagram: @devto.devpodcast

Bluesky: @devtodevpodcast.bsky.social‬

TikTok: @devtodevpodcast

YouTube: @DevToDevPodcast

Email: DevToDevPodcast@Gmail.com

Find Bau At:

• ⁠https://...

• (00:00:00) - DevtoDev: An Interview With John Feist
• (00:00:47) - What First Inspired You To Play Video Games?
• (00:03:47) - The Story in Videogames
• (00:06:09) - Pitfall's Early Arcade Days
• (00:08:22) - Are You the Only Gamer in Your Family?
• (00:10:24) - Immortal: Starting Out PC Gaming
• (00:15:48) - Getting Into the Entertainment Industry
• (00:17:17) - Midway Games QA Training
• (00:22:35) - MIDWAY QA: Learning the Process
• (00:26:42) - Mixing Combat Systems
• (00:31:05) - From POV to The Collective
• (00:35:15) - Pov vs. Tech Design
• (00:39:15) - You Worked On DaVinci Code & Silent Hill
• (00:44:23) - How The Tomb Raider Remake Came About
• (00:50:34) - Splatterhouse: From Double Helix to Namco
• (00:55:27) - Philip Glass on Combat Design
• (01:03:13) - How To Make a Good Video Game
• (01:07:08) - How Does Your Family Compare To Your Career?
• (01:10:27) - Talking To Phil Jackson About 'Call of Duty'

In this episode of Dev to Dev, host Alex Sulman sits down with Matt Brunhofer, a game developer whose unconventional path ran through theater, film, and even EMT work before finding its home in video games. Matt’s journey is about persistence, creativity, and the joy of helping others succeed behind the scenes.

Discovering the Art of Collaboration

Growing up in Virginia, Matt’s love of storytelling began with filmmaking and theater. He chased the thrill of live performance—running lights, cables, and stage changes—and found his passion in the teamwork and energy of production rather than the spotlight. That drive to create experiences that move people would later define his life in games.

An Unexpected Breakthrough

After studying creative writing at Full Sail University, Matt moved to Los Angeles to pursue screenwriting. A chance look at a job posting at Square Enix led to an unexpected new chapter. Hired as a QA tester on Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, he discovered a workplace full of passionate, creative people who truly loved what they did. “I realized,” he recalls, “this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.”

Building Worlds at ZOS

That spark carried him to ZeniMax Online Studios, where he worked on The Elder Scrolls Online and an unannounced MMO. Fascinated by how tools and systems support creativity, Matt transitioned into technical production, helping bridge the gap between developers and the technical teams building the foundation of their games. “Helping others do what they love—that’s what drives me,” he says.

Finding Purpose Behind the Curtain

Matt’s story is one of rediscovering purpose. Whether balancing lights in a theater or balancing boss fights in ESO, his passion for storytelling and teamwork shines through. His journey reminds us that creative fulfillment often comes not from the spotlight, but from empowering others to create—and that the path to game development can be as unique as the games themselves.

Find the Podcast in both Video & Audio forms at:

Patreon: DevToDevPodcast

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Rq9lZoWphzXvxkrETrWg0

Instagram: @devto.devpodcast

Bluesky: @devtodevpodcast.bsky.social‬

TikTok: @devtodevpodcast

YouTube: @DevToDevPodcast

Email: DevToDevPodcast@Gmail.com

• (00:00:00) - Interview
• (00:00:48) - How Starting Playing Video Games Inspired My Career in Film
• (00:06:59) - Philip Glass on Video Games
• (00:11:43) - Tom Holland on Playing Video Games and Acting
• (00:14:38) - WWE Superstar Tyler Oakley on His Acting Training
• (00:19:30) - What Was It About WWE That Drawed You To Write For The
• (00:20:37) - How QA at Square Enix Went From Internship to Full-
• (00:22:30) - How Making a Video Game Was Never Easy
• (00:26:00) - When I Walk In the Door of Square Enix
• (00:31:14) - How Zenimax Online's QA Talent Went From Square to
• (00:34:05) - How to transition from QA to Technical Producer
• (00:41:17) - Zos on Becoming a Technical Producer
• (00:46:20) - Has Working in the Industry Affected Your Gaming?
• (00:49:16) - Have You Played Any MMOs?
• (00:52:23) - Are You More Of A Multiplayer Gamer or A Single-Player Gamer
• (00:55:19) - How Does Your Family Support Your Video Game Profession?
• (00:58:00) - Moving to LA and Starting a Business
• (00:59:09) - Matt Brunhofer: Which Do You Think Defines You More

In this episode of Dev to Dev – the podcast about everyday video game developers and why they do what they do every day – I talk with Orlando Jimenez. Orlando’s story is rooted in perseverance and curiosity. From his first encounter with Spider-Man on the Nintendo 64 to shaping combat systems on AAA games, he’s a developer who turned challenges into opportunities and setbacks into stepping stones.

Growing up in the Bronx, Orlando’s love of games began as a personal escape and evolved into a calling. His fascination with what made games feel “right” led him to pursue a degree at Full Sail University, where he faced serious financial and academic challenges. But rather than give up, he pushed forward — retaking classes, refining his skills, working full time during the day whilst studying at night, before graduating with honors.

After building prototypes and reaching out directly to recruiters, Orlando landed an internship at ZeniMax Online Studios that grew into a role as an Associate Combat Designer. Through it all, he’s carried one belief: growth never stops.

Highlights:

• Early inspiration from Spider-Man on the Nintendo 64

• Overcoming setbacks and returning to Full Sail University stronger than ever

• Landing a combat design role through persistence and self-driven learning

• Lessons learned about humility, curiosity, and collaboration

• The importance of fundamentals and empathy in great game design

Thank you for listening and I really hope you enjoyed this episode. Please subscribe in your Podcast App of choice to keep up-to-date with each new episode when it lands. And if you would like to keep the Podcast ad free please consider joining the Patreon. Think of it as a Virtual Tip Jar at a minimum, with the option to upgrade for additional benefits such as:

• Video Versions of each episode

• (00:00:00) - Dev to Dev: Orlando's Story
• (00:00:46) - In the Elevator With Video Game Legends
• (00:01:42) - The First Video Game You Played
• (00:04:43) - How Spider Man Inspired The Making of Video Games
• (00:06:31) - When I Was a Gamer: Spider Man N64
• (00:08:28) - How to get your degree in game design
• (00:13:20) - Did You Compete With Yourself While Studying?
• (00:16:58) - The Desire to Make Things Better
• (00:18:45) - Post-School: Learning to Make Games
• (00:25:37) - "It's okay if it doesn't work..."
• (00:29:57) - Tom Brady on the team's
• (00:30:18) - ZeniMax's 3 Year Capstone
• (00:36:42) - Unreal Engine 2 Demo
• (00:40:49) - The ESO Job Interview
• (00:42:54) - Combat Designer on The Internship
• (00:47:39) - Battlefield 1: A Natural Transition
• (00:49:13) - In the Elevator With Designers
• (00:50:35) - Having a dual role at Work
• (00:53:42) - Does Your Family Understand How Much You Do?
• (00:55:32) - How Combat Design Affects The Game
• (00:59:38) - Uncovering the Stories of Video Games
• (01:00:40) - Be Curious About Your Work

In the next episode of Dev to Dev – the podcast about everyday video game developers and why they do what they do every day – I sit down with Leamon Tuttle to explore how his path from philosophy student and artist led him to take on the position of “Loremaster” – a role rarely filled and easily mis-understood.

Leamon’s career in games is a masterclass in embracing the unexpected. A Maryland native who grew up surrounded by couch co-op classics like GoldenEye and Zelda, he followed his passions for Philosophy and Art before ultimately finding his place in game development.

Leamon initially pursued his dream of making games via an animation school, only to realize that the highly technical side of 3D modeling wasn’t for him. But that artistic training, combined with his academic background in philosophy, gave him a unique way of thinking about stories and ideas. When a QA opening at ZeniMax appeared, he took it as a chance to learn more about how games are made and potentially find his way into Concept Art.

Inside ZeniMax, Leamon’s gift for writing quickly became apparent. He began reviewing quests, collaborating with narrative designers, and learning how great stories are built from player interaction. Eventually, he joined the writing team and became a principal writer on major Elder Scrolls Online expansions before stepping into the role of Loremaster.

For Leamon, lore isn’t about limits – it’s about structure and opportunity. He describes how working within an established IP provides creative direction rather than restriction, and how his role often balances protecting canon with supporting gameplay innovation. He also reflects on games’ power to build communities, connect friends across decades, and tell stories that can make players think deeply about the world around them.

Leamon’s story is a testament to creative adaptability. From traditional artist to worldbuilder, his journey proves that every step – even the unexpected ones – can lead to meaningful storytelling. His time as Loremaster highlights the importance of blending narrative depth with interactivity, and the joy of crafting worlds that feel truly alive.

Thank you for listening and I really hope you enjoyed this episode. Please subscribe in your Podcast App of choice to keep up-to-date with each new episode when it lands. And if you would like to keep the Podcast ad free please consider joining the Patreon. Think of it as a Virtual Tip Jar at a minimum, with the option to upgrade for additional benefits such as:

• Video Versions of each episode

• Occasional additional Shows

• Direct access to me and the show

⁠

• (00:00:00) - Dev to Dev: Leeman Tuttle
• (00:00:54) - What First Got You Inspired By Video Games?
• (00:01:42) - The Legend of Zelda
• (00:03:09) - Growing Up An Indie Video Game Player
• (00:08:43) - How To Make a Video Game
• (00:13:09) - Making Videogames Was My Passion
• (00:14:53) - How To Break Into The Video Game Industry
• (00:17:54) - Limits to Video Game Development
• (00:20:41) - Getting your foot in the studio with ZeniMax QA
• (00:23:34) - Writing Was a Passion of Mine
• (00:25:46) - Writing Made in Video Games
• (00:28:19) - The Story of The Elder Scrolls Online
• (00:32:35) - The Elder Scrolls: Story Writing
• (00:34:58) - The Loremaster: Wasn't Planned
• (00:37:20) - The difference between the Principal Writer's Role and the Loremaster
• (00:40:13) - The Lorax: Constraints
• (00:47:53) - How Has Your Role Impact Your Gaming Life?
• (00:53:20) - "It's Healthy"
• (00:53:52) - Are You Able to Get Your Dad To Play Video Games?
• (00:56:11) - Lehman on 'Law and Order': A Personal Experience

In this episode of Dev to Dev – the podcast about everyday video game developers and why they do what they do every day – I sit down with accessibility designer Nick Heindl to explore his journey from a small town in Wisconsin to shaping inclusive design in AAA development. Nick’s story is one of persistence and empathy, rooted in both personal struggle and a love for games that often sat outside the mainstream. From teaching himself multiplication through Number Munchers on the Apple II to obsessing over quirky N64 titles like Conker’s Bad Fur Day and Harvest Moon 64, Nick’s influences set him on a unique creative path.

After studying computer science and linguistics, Nick began to see the possibility of game development as a career. An internship at Amazon confirmed that big tech wasn’t the right fit, while Raven Software revealed that meaningful opportunities could exist closer to home than he had ever imagined. From Raven to PUBG, and eventually to ZeniMax Online Studios, Nick’s journey reflects a constant drive to connect technical engineering skills with creative design. Along the way, Call of Duty Online introduced him to an entirely different cultural lens on games—an experience that reinforced his appreciation for diverse perspectives.

Most of all, Nick’s story is about empathy. Having experienced firsthand what it felt like to be othered in school, he carried that awareness into his work, championing accessibility long before it was an industry-wide conversation. At ZeniMax, that passion became a full-time role—bringing his journey full circle. Nick’s reflections highlight how game development isn’t just about code or design, but about people. His story is a reminder that games can and should be for everyone.

Thank you for listening and I really hope you enjoyed this episode. Please subscribe in your Podcast App of choice to keep up-to-date with each new episode when it lands. And if you would like to keep the Podcast ad free please consider joining the Patreon. Think of it as a Virtual Tip Jar at a minimum, with the option to upgrade for additional benefits such as:

• Video Versions of each episode

• Occasional additional Shows

• Direct access to me and the show

⁠Patreon.com/DevToDevPodcast⁠

Also please reach out if y...

• (00:00:00) - Dev to Dev: Nick Heindle
• (00:00:54) - What Was The First Video Game You Played?
• (00:04:25) - Coming soon: Living in Wisconsin
• (00:06:17) - Growing Up With My Half-Brother
• (00:12:18) - Stardew 2: Harvest Moon
• (00:14:32) - How Did You Become a Game Developer?
• (00:21:12) - Making a Game in Computer Science
• (00:25:20) - Making Video Games Was Never my Goal
• (00:31:58) - The battle for equality
• (00:32:09) - Starting at Activision as an Intern
• (00:36:11) - Mixing Cultures: Call of Duty Online
• (00:42:40) - Call of Duty Online: The Weird Side
• (00:52:35) - Pushing the issue of game accessibility
• (00:54:09) - Disability in the Making of Minecraft
• (00:59:25) - How Does Your Family Understand Your Work?
• (01:05:30) - Dota 2's Story
• (01:06:34) - Making Ready for Dark Souls