Season 1- Episode 1

Welcome to Episode 1 of Behind the Games — the launchpad for your weekly backstage pass into the business, tech, and creative forces shaping the world of video games.

In this kickoff episode, host A.J. Scarlato— educator, entrepreneur, former game developer, and game fanatic introduces the mission behind Behind the Games: a podcast built for indie devs, industry pros, and startup-minded creatives who want to learn what it really takes to make games—and build studios that last.

Whether you're an aspiring game developer, a product manager at a major studio, or a solo dev launching your first game, this podcast gives you an edge. You’ll hear directly from the people who are building the future of gaming—from AAA studios and indie outfits to solo creators, technologists, and creative directors. Every episode is designed to offer a blend of tactical advice, big-picture strategy, and authentic stories from inside the trenches.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why this podcast was created—and what makes it different
• The types of guests you’ll hear from: producers, product managers, technical directors, community leads, studio founders, and more
• The key themes we’ll dive into: creative direction, leadership, crunch culture, innovation, marketing, tech stacks, game engines, funding models, and team building
• A behind-the-scenes look at the challenges facing modern game studios
• What to expect from upcoming episodes and how to get involved in the Behind the Games community

If you’re tired of fluffy interviews and want to hear the real talk behind the success (and failure) of games you love—or want to make—this show is for you.

You’ll hear from developers and leaders who have:

• Launched viral indie hits
• Navigated publisher negotiations and contract pitfalls
• Built sustainable studios on shoestring budgets
• Dealt with layoffs, burnout, and rebuilding
• Used emerging technologies like AI, procedural generation, and blockchain in development
• Transitioned from big tech or academia into the game industry—and brought bold new ideas with them

Each week, you’ll walk away with:

Practical frameworks and strategies
Lessons learned the hard way
Insights on scaling teams and products
Tools and resources you can apply right now

And we’ll also explore what it really means to succeed in this industry—beyond downloads and dollars. Topics like work-life balance, creativity under pressure, community, and personal reinvention are just as important.

New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen—and join a growing community of builders, makers, and dreamers.

Subscribe. Share. Review.
Let’s build something incredible!

Website:  https://www.behind-the-games.com

Blog: https://www.behind-the-games.com/blog

Instagram: @behindthegamespodcast

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:01

Hello there, and welcome to Behind the Games. My name is AJ Scarlato. I am an educator, entrepreneur, former industry executive, game fanatic, and most importantly, your host on this weekly journey into the minds, mechanics, and madness of the game dev world. As a former developer at one of the largest AAA studios, I'm excited to bring you key insights and connections from this crazy industry. Have you ever dreamed of launching your own indie game? Have you ever wondered how AAA Studios manage multi-million dollar projects? Are you curious about the tech and business behind the games we all love? Well, if you said yes to any of these, then you are in the right place. This is episode one, a quick preview of what to expect here on Behind the Games. Each week, I'll sit down and interview one-on-one with game developers, product managers, creative directors, startup founders, indie game studios, and much, much more. From industry legends at AAA Studios to scrappy indie teams just shipping their first titles, you'll hear real stories from real people shaping the future of gaming. Also, as a sneak peek, I'm excited to advise I have two AAA Studio leaders lined up and many small studios lined up as well. And this just is about how games are made. It's about how studios build, how they launch, scale, fund, fail, learn, and level up. You'll get practical takeaways on game production, funding strategies for indie studios, the technology behind the games, the tools that are used, the secrets behind everything, navigating burnout, crunch time, how leadership works, and the hard truths of surviving and thriving in game development. And hey, if you're a startup junkie yourself, a tech-savvy dreamer, or someone who simply loves decoding the why behind the wow, this podcast is for you. This show is designed to be a backstage pass and a playbook. Whether you're an aspiring developer, a veteran looking to pivot, or just obsessed with gaming as a craft, I'm here to bring you closer to those people and those strategies pushing this industry forward. The game industry is extremely large and expanding every single day. So sit down, relax, grab your favorite beverage, or press play while you're running, driving, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Please enjoy this experience. Take a moment to subscribe to this podcast so you can see the next version. It is just starting, but I am here to take you on a great journey and something I am truly passionate about. Until then, keep building, keep dreaming, and I'll see you behind the games.