Ep06: Adam Boyes

In this episode, Adam Boyes shares lessons from decades in the games industry—from QA at EA to leadership roles at Capcom, PlayStation, and Iron Galaxy. We explore why defining “what a game is not” matter, and how trust-driven collaboration leads to stronger teams and better games.Topics include:- Building clear creative vision- Empowering teams vs. director-led development- Handling conflict and ego- Involving marketing early- Remote vs. in-person collaboration- Leadership frameworks that scaleChapters:00:00 Intro – Gamescom, Creativity & Collaboration in Game Development  01:20 Adam Boyes’ Journey into the Games Industry  03:45 Breaking In Through QA at Electronic Arts  07:10 From QA to Production & Startup Studio Life  09:50 Blitz: The League – Creative Vision Under Constraints  13:30 Defining a Game: What It Is vs What It Isn’t  16:05 Rumbleverse Origins – From Bar Talk to Real Pitch  19:40 Team Alignment, Values & Creative Boundaries  22:55 Publisher Cancellation & Rebuilding the Vision  26:15 Director-Driven vs Collective Game Development  29:40 Trust vs Speed – The Fall Damage Design Lesson  32:50 What Creative Collaboration Really Means  35:30 When to Involve Marketing & Commercial Voices  38:00 Managing Conflict, Ego & Team Disagreements  41:20 Killing Your Darlings – The Pitch Cemetery  44:15 Leadership Rituals: Dailies & the 1-3-1 Framework  47:10 Remote Work vs In-Person Collaboration  50:00 Conflict Resolution & Emotional Intelligence  53:30 Cultural Differences in Global Game Teams  56:20 Advice for New Game Developers & Collaborators  59:00 Final Thoughts, Community & Where to Find Adam#GameDevelopment #Leadership #CreativeLeadership #CreativeTeams #Collaboration