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Artwork for Kiwi Talkz

Kiwi Talkz

Kiwi
Nintendo
Metroid Prime 2
Bethesda
Game Development
Skyrim
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Dredge
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Fallout 4
Video Game Development
Starfield
Fallout 3
Game Design
Rockstar Games
Naughty Dog
Bryan Walker
Cultural Differences
Video Game Narrative Design
Donkey Kong Bananza
Donkey Kong Country Returns

Podcast with various Video Game developers as well as other people involved in entertainment such as TV/Film

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes207Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Video GamesLeisureTV & Film

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Artwork for Kiwi Talkz

Latest Episodes

Jake Kazdal is a japanese game developer who has worked on games such as Galak-Z and Skulls Of The Shogun, he has worked for Nintendo, SEGA and Square Enix and is releasing his new game Awaysis very soon. This is a rare pullback of the curtain on Jap... more

I got together some of the old Retro Studios crew including Kynan Pearson (Metroid Prime 2,3 & DKCR), Jay Epperson (DKCR & Tropical Freeze), Eric Kozlowsky (DKC Tropical Freeze) and Brad Taylor (DKC Tropical Freeze), the latter has never appeared on ... more

Heather Cerlan a former artist at Naughty and Bethesda, in this interview she shares her journey from a passionate artist to a studio founder, discussing her experiences at Naughty Dog and Bethesda, her insights on game development, and her ambitious... more

Gabriel Betancourt is a former lighting artist at Treyarch and of course Naughty Dog. We cover his career at Naughty Dog and various other topics on the game industry.

#thelastofus #lastofus #lastofuspart2

WEBSITE - gabereel.com/

CALORI... more

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Recent Guests

Kynan Pearson
Designer
Retro Studios (former)
Episode: REVIEW - Super Mario Galaxy Movie With Former Nintendo Devs!!
Brad Taylor
Environmental Artist
Retro Studios (former)
Episode: REVIEW - Super Mario Galaxy Movie With Former Nintendo Devs!!
Jay Epperson
Concept Artist
Retro Studios (former)
Episode: REVIEW - Super Mario Galaxy Movie With Former Nintendo Devs!!
Heather Cerlan
Co-founder and CEO of Nier Studios; former texture artist at Naughty Dog, Bethesda, and BioWare
Nier Studios
Episode: #207 - Heather Cerlan Interview On Naughty Dog, Bethesda, Last Of Us, Hawthorne, Creation Engine
Gabriel Betancourt
Lighting artist best known for works at Naughty Dog on The Last Of Us, The Last Of Us Part II, Uncharted 4
Naughty Dog
Episode: #206 - Gabriel Betancourt Interview On Naughty Dog, Last Of Us, Neil Druckmann, Lighting, Nintendo
Benson Russell
Veteran game designer, former Naughty Dog designer known for The Uncharted Trilogy and The Last of Us
Naughty Dog (former), Unhandled Exceptions LLC (consulting)
Episode: #205 - Benson Russell Interview On Naughty Dog, The Last Of Us, Uncharted, Neil Druckmann, Scope..
Rob Carr
Audio designer known for Rockstar Games
Rockstar Games
Episode: #204 - Rob Carr Interview On Rockstar Games, GTA 5, GTA 6, Audio Design, AI, Red Dead Redemption....
Lee Minchram
DJ, sound designer, and composer discussed as Featurecast; worked on Final Vendetta and Terminator 2D No Fate
Bitmap Bureau (collaborating game studio)
Episode: #202 - Featurecast Interview On Terminator 2D No Fate, Composing, Brad Fiedel, Sound Design....
Joe Houston
Famous game developer known for his work on Demon Souls and other notable titles
Episode: REVIEW - Hollow Knight: Silksong (With Demon Souls Dev)

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 36 ratings
  • Adds

    Very loud and very unexpected adds

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    KD#27
    United States10 months ago
  • pretty epic

    yes yes very epic

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    femboyfries
    United Statesa year ago
  • Podcast Addict
    PigDan
    3 years ago
  • Excellent interview podcast. Asks a lot of good questions.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    PigDan
    3 years ago
  • Excellent interview podcast. Asks a lot of good questions.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    PigDan20
    3 years ago

Listeners Say

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Ads are noted as very loud and disruptive by some listeners.
Listeners value deep-dive guest expertise and industry storytelling when pitching guests or sponsors.
Content is described as epic by listeners.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

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#206 - Gabriel Betancourt Interview On Naughty Dog, Last Of Us, Neil Druckmann, Lighting, Nintendo
Q: What was the role of a director's clear vision in the success of The Last Of Us Part II?
Having a clear, strong director vision was identified as a primary factor for smooth production, especially during parts of development when many components needed alignment. Without a decisive vision, projects risk becoming chaotic and harder to finish on time; with a clear vision, teams can coordinate more effectively and deliver a cohesive experience.
#206 - Gabriel Betancourt Interview On Naughty Dog, Last Of Us, Neil Druckmann, Lighting, Nintendo
Q: How did Naughty Dog navigate the production challenges as teams grew beyond 200 people?
As teams expanded, the studio faced reduced direct interaction and a shift toward a more factory-like production. The guest emphasizes preserving core collaboration and encouraging cross-discipline input, while acknowledging the need for middle managers and structured processes to maintain quality and maintain the 'gel' of the group.
#206 - Gabriel Betancourt Interview On Naughty Dog, Last Of Us, Neil Druckmann, Lighting, Nintendo
Q: Does the lighting style change between Uncharted and The Last Of Us series? And if so, how specifically?
Yes. Uncharted leans into strong, cheerful color palettes with bold primary hues and blue skies, using color to support action and readability. The Last Of Us, by contrast, uses a subdued, cinematic palette with restricted hues, emphasizing mood and atmosphere—60% dark, 30% subtle hue, and 10% highlight—achieved through a combination of light mapping, fog, dust, and post-processing to soften blacks and create a living, film-like texture.
#204 - Rob Carr Interview On Rockstar Games, GTA 5, GTA 6, Audio Design, AI, Red Dead Redemption....
Q: What are your thoughts on AI as a tool in audio design?
AI is useful as a tool to accelerate workflow—like batch renaming or scripting help—but it shouldn't replace creative decision-making. When used properly, AI can help designers do more in less time, without sacrificing quality.
#204 - Rob Carr Interview On Rockstar Games, GTA 5, GTA 6, Audio Design, AI, Red Dead Redemption....
Q: Did you physically go on location to record audio for Los Santos or other real places, or was it mostly remote work and libraries?
Occasionally. For GTA V, parts of the team did reference recordings in LA, but many sounds came from studio work and libraries; Lapland references were also gathered to capture specific ambience, while other sounds were created or adapted in-house.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Kiwi Talkz

What is Kiwi Talkz about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Listeners get a window into the lives and workflows of senior game developers across AAA and indie environments. Episodes commonly explore studio culture, production pipelines, engine decisions, and the balance between creative vision and production constraints, with frequent emphasis on leadership, collaboration, and managing crunch. A standout element is the mix of candid industry anecdotes with practical takeaways for art, design, audio, and world-building, often paired with insights into career pivots from large studios to independent ventures. The show often shines a light on the human side of making big titles, including funding, publishing hurdles, and the shift toward community-driven indie projects, which can be especially intrigui... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Kiwi Talkz?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Kiwi Talkz:

1. SpawnCast
2. Noclip Crewcast
3. Digital Foundry Direct Weekly
4. Retronauts
5. Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast

How many episodes of Kiwi Talkz are there?

Kiwi Talkz launched 2 years ago and published 207 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Kiwi Talkz?

Recent guests on Kiwi Talkz include:

1. Kynan Pearson
2. Brad Taylor
3. Jay Epperson
4. Heather Cerlan
5. Gabriel Betancourt
6. Benson Russell
7. Rob Carr
8. Lee Minchram

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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