Eric Dieulangard joins us on today’s episode, bringing a ton of experience from the gaming and business worlds. He is currently the Chief Marketing Officer at Equinox, where he was pivotal during the launch of Altered. This trading card game became the most successful TCG Kickstarter ever, raising over $6.6 million. His career path includes professional esports, high-level marketing, and game design; Eric understands what it takes to create impactful gaming experiences.

In this episode, Eric shares his journey from competing as a professional Warcraft 3 player—becoming the first French champion in a major esports tournament—to transitioning into business and marketing leadership. Before joining Equinox, he worked at massive companies like IBM and Webedia, where he honed his skills in sales, team management, and brand growth. Eric and I also discuss lessons learned from his diverse career, offering insights on the importance of being persistent, the value of experimentation, and how to align your passions with professional purpose. Whether you’re looking to crowdfund your dream game, build a career in gaming, or find your path in a creative industry, Eric’s story is filled with awesome, actionable advice.

About Travis George

Travis George joins us on today’s episode, bringing over two decades of experience in the video game industry. Travis has held leadership roles at renowned companies like Activision and Riot Games, where he served as the product lead for League of Legends, helping to grow the game into a global phenomenon with over 117 million monthly players. He later co-founded Vela Games, where he continues to innovate as CEO, focusing on designing new player experiences in the cooperative gaming space.

In this episode, Travis shares his journey from launching his first IT services company as a teenager to pursuing a formal education in game design and eventually playing a pivotal role in building one of the most successful live-service games in history. He offers critical insights into team building, the challenges of scaling a studio, and how to align your company around vision and priorities. Travis also discusses the lessons he learned from his successes and failures, including evaluating personal and professional growth, managing creative burnout, and pivoting when necessary. Whether you’re a novice designer or a seasoned creator, Travis’s experiences and philosophies provide a treasure trove of wisdom for navigating game development. Enjoy!

Alexander Seropian joins us on today’s episode, bringing his vast expertise from decades in the video game industry. Alex is the founder of several influential game companies, including Bungie, Wideload Games, Industrial Toys, and Glenslinger Studios. He has also held leadership roles at Disney and Microsoft, overseeing teams of more than 100 people. Among his many accomplishments, Alex is best known for co-creating the iconic game Halo and for being a driving force in game design and industry innovation. In addition to his executive work, Alex has served as an advisor and investor in numerous startups.

In this episode, Alex shares his journey, from his early days growing up in the 80s and programming on an original Mac, to founding Bungie and navigating the challenges of building and leading teams. He dives into what it takes to manage through failure, the lessons learned from his entrepreneurial ventures, and his thoughts on the future of gaming, including the roles of VR, AI, and Web3. Alex’s insights into game development, team building, and navigating the ever-evolving game industry provide invaluable wisdom for creators at every stage of their careers. Enjoy!