If you want a job in the game development industry, there's only one thing you should do: create games! In our conversation, Global Game Jam founder Susan Gold discusses what it really takes to start a career in game development. We also talked about that was going on behind the scenes during the first Global Game Jam, we also dived into the reality of failures and how to learn from them.

The full episode is coming out this January 31! Don't miss it!

Here's a very short snippet of my incredible conversation with The Global Game Jam founder, Susan Gold! This clip is from the pilot episode of Game Dev Epic Fails airing on 31 January, 2026!

You can listen to the episode on Youtube, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Spotify.

Who else is joining the Global Game Jam this week?

#globalgamejam #indiegames #gamedev

Here's a snippet of my conversation with Global Game Jam founder Susan Gold!

This pilot episode of Game Dev Epic Fails is airing on 31 January, 2026! You can listen to it on Amazon Music, Youtube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. If you love this snippet, there's much more to unpack when you listen to our full conversation at the podcast.

If you’d like to support the show, please subscribe to our Patreon!
If you’re building a game and you want to validate it before you commit, pitch your game at pitch.ludolaunchpad.com

The pilot episode of Game Dev Epic Fails features Susan Gold, the founder of the Global Game Jam. The conversation delves into the challenges and lessons of game development, the messy failure of game development, defining success, the skepticism and challenges of the Global Game Jam, behind-the-scenes of the first Global Game Jam, cultural and translation challenges, and adapting to the pandemic and virtual game jams.

The conversation with Susan Gold covers a behind-the-scenes look at the Global Game Jam, the 48-hour game jam experience, diversifiers and creativity in game jams, failure patterns and team dynamics, learning and growth in game jams, the impact of game jams on the industry, the future of Global Game Jam, advice for handling the chaos, and game recommendations and genres.

If you found Susan's insights very helpful, please also subscribe and listen to the Global Game Jam Podcast at the Official GGJ Youtube Channel.

Takeaways

• The importance of embracing failure in game development
• Defining success in game development The 48-hour game jam experience fosters creativity and learning in a safe environment.
• Game jams have a significant impact on the industry, fostering new ideas and stimulating creativity.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introducing Susan Gold and the Global Game Jam
• 07:34 The Messy Failure of Game Development
• 17:12 Challenges and Skepticism of the Global Game Jam
• 25:35 Cultural and Translation Challenges
• 33:01 The Role of the Board in Global Game Jam
• 43:34 The 48-Hour Game Jam Experience
• 50:30 Learning and Growth in Game Jams
• 55:44 Impact of Game Jams on the Industry
• 01:04:02 Advice for Handling the Chaos
  

If you’d like to support the show, you can find us on Patreon at patreon.com/gamedevepicfails

If you’re building a game and you want to validate it before you commit, pitch your game at pitch.ludolaunchpad.com