Rephonic
Artwork for The Fourth Curtain
Game Development
Video Game Development
Video Games
Video Game Industry
Game Design
Mobile Gaming
Microsoft
Mortal Kombat
The Oregon Trail
Gaming Industry
Education
Cyberpunk
Deus Ex
Super Evil Megacorp
Dungeons and Dragons
Electronic Arts
Tabletop RPG
Vainglory
Apple II
Cocoon

A GUIDED TOUR OF VIDEOGAME MAKERY! Hosts Alex Seropian (founder Bungie, Wideload, Industrial Toys) and Aaron Marroquin (Art Director, Game Designer, part time magician) take you on a tour of the minds that create our favorite video games. We may also wander around in our own heads too. We aim to inspire, educate and entertain you about the games you love, the people that make them and hey, if you'... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes112Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Video GamesLeisure

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Artwork for The Fourth Curtain

Latest Episodes

Founder and CEO of Young Horses Phil Tibitoski joined us to explain how you can succeed without greenlights! Their student project Octodad went on to IGF fame and solid sales, followed by the charming Bug Snax. We talk knowing when to ship and the ar... more

Our guest was chief creative officer at Blizzard and helped drive some of the biggest videogames ever, like StarCraft and World of Warcraft. Now CEO of Bonfire Studios, he's making a new title, Arkheron. We discuss smurfing, game seeds and cracking t... more

YouTube

If your hilarious party game is laced with snark you know the work of this week's guest, Jackbox CEO Mike Bilder. One of the legion of the Midway diaspora, he saw the transition from coin-op to console. We discuss drive vs crunch, streaming platforms... more

YouTube

We have an insight-packed and hopeful discussion with Owen Mahoney, CEO of Maplestory's Nexon. This Choplifter fan went on to acquire JAMDAT and DICE for EA, then saw the future with Embark. We discuss forever games, where stories come from and the h... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Mike Bilder
CEO of Jackbox Games
Jackbox Games
Episode: You Don't Know Jack's Mike Bilder Laughs Out Loud
Owen Mahoney
Former CEO of Nexon and longtime game industry executive
Nexon
Episode: It's Raining Technology with Nexon's Owen Mahoney
Billy Basso
Developer of Animal Well
Animal Well / solo developer
Episode: The Guts of Indie with Animal Well's Billy Basso
Patrick Söderlund
One of the most accomplished game developers and executives in video games
Embark Studios; former CEO of DICE and EA
Episode: Patrick Söderlund and the Raiders of the Arc
Trip Hawkins
Founder of Electronic Arts and 3DO, an influential figure in the gaming industry
EA
Episode: Trip Hawkins, the Electronic Artist
Brian Fleming
Co-founder of Sucker Punch Productions
Sucker Punch Productions
Episode: Ghost of Yotei's Mud Blood and Steel, with Sucker Punch
Chris Zimmerman
Co-founder of Sucker Punch Productions
Sucker Punch Productions
Episode: Ghost of Yotei's Mud Blood and Steel, with Sucker Punch
Paul Sage
Founder and CEO of Ruckus Games
Ruckus Games
Episode: The Origin Stories of Elder Scrolls' Paul Sage
Kelly Wallick
Partner at OneUp Ventures, founder of Indie Megabooth, and former chairperson of the Independent Games Festival.
OneUp Ventures
Episode: Indie Megabooth's Digital Nomad Kelly Wallick

Hosts

Alex Seropian
Founder-turned-host with deep ties to Bungie, Wideload, and Industrial Toys; engages guests on career arcs, leadership, and the craft of making games.
Aaron Marroquín
Art Director and Game Designer; co-host known for deep dives into creative process, studio culture, and industry shifts.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 109 ratings
  • Meh

    Creative talk from the out-of-touch management class.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Jorgan byorgan
    United States10 months ago
  • great gaming cast

    this is one of the best gaming podcast!! who’s who of great game makers!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MarleyX
    United States10 months ago
  • Great games podcast

    This is a great games podcast with fantastic guests. I was wondering why the overall rating was so low and saw it only had two ratings. Have no idea why someone would give this one star unless they had a personal grudge.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mobile Gamer 2001
    Canadaa year ago
  • Presses all the right buttons!

    I can’t imagine stories like these are being collected anywhere else. Listening to the hosts and their excellent guests is like a Who’s Who of the recent age of video games.

    For those who remember it, listening to T4C gives me the same vibes I get from reading Levy’s “Hackers”.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    joecentric
    United States3 years ago
  • Filling a Delightful Need

    For those of us that have *loved* games since we were wee lads and lasses… and have wondered about the behind the scenes innovators and journey-persons bringing these delightful experiences to us, Alex and his merry band of pirates are bringing those stories to our eyes and ears.

    I’m particularly delighted by the fact they are highlighting some of the games most formative to my love of the medium— from Marathon on the Mac (I *loved* that game and burned many hours on it with joy) to Plants vs Z... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cumulusguy
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

A few reviews express frustration with perceived elitism or niche focus, but overall sentiment is positive.
Show blends personal anecdotes with broader industry trends, keeping discussions engaging for both newcomers and insiders.
Guests are consistently high-caliber and bring actionable insights for developers and PR alike.
Listeners praise candid, behind-the-scenes storytelling from industry veterans.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Trip Hawkins, the Electronic Artist
Q: How did you meet John Madden? How did Madden football start?
I started working on sports games in 1983 when I came up with the idea for one-on-one basketball, which then led to my eventual licensing of Dr. J and Larry Bird for that game, paving the way for more sports titles.
The Origin Stories of Elder Scrolls' Paul Sage
Q: How did you end up becoming the CEO of Ruckus Games?
I believe my experience and being in the industry since 95 led others to see me as a natural choice.
The Origin Stories of Elder Scrolls' Paul Sage
Q: How did you come up with the name Ruckus Games?
We had a whole bunch of names and we just kind of voted on it, and Ruckus was the one that everybody was drawn to.
How to Make an Atari Sandwich, with David Gardner
Q: What was your experience transitioning from EA to Atari?
The transition was complex; I underestimated the politics involved at Atari compared to my time at EA.
World of Warcraft's Seth Sivak Tips the Dealer
Q: What was it like transitioning from startup founder to exec at Blizzard?
It's a different job, managing an organization versus building, and I found more fulfillment in driving projects hands-on.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Fourth Curtain

What is The Fourth Curtain about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show brings together veterans and rising stars from the video game industry to explore how games are made, published, and imagined. Episodes frequently cover career journeys, studio culture, development practices, and the changing economics of gaming, with thoughtful dives into indie paths, AAA transitions, and the impact of new tools like AI. Listeners can expect candid stories about creativity, leadership, and the realities of bringing games to market, often anchored by long-running studios and influential figures in publishing, technology, and game design. A standout thread across episodes is the balance between artistic risk and sustainable production, plus a recurring emphasis on mentorship, community, and the human side of making... more

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How many listeners does The Fourth Curtain get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Fourth Curtain?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Fourth Curtain:

1. AI For Humans: Weekly AI News, Tools & Trends
2. Hard Fork
3. Decoder with Nilay Patel
4. Dwarkesh Podcast
5. The a16z Show

How many episodes of The Fourth Curtain are there?

The Fourth Curtain launched 4 years ago and published 112 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Fourth Curtain?

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What guests have appeared on The Fourth Curtain?

Recent guests on The Fourth Curtain include:

1. Mike Bilder
2. Owen Mahoney
3. Billy Basso
4. Patrick Söderlund
5. Trip Hawkins
6. Brian Fleming
7. Chris Zimmerman
8. Paul Sage

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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