GameDev Unsung Heroes

Caryn Vaino, aka HellChick, from Quake Clans back in the day, is now a UI expert. She's worked on some big titles over her time as a developer - Wolfenstein, Call of Duty, Quake IV, Monday night Combat are just a few of those. See? Told you she was accomplished! But she does other stuff to. Shes a knitter. And an artist. And an Alpaca raiser. Is there no end to her talents? We find out!

The producer behind oh so many hits of the early 2000's - Spiderman, for Activision, being one highlight. He's done so many interesting things, and he's not stopping now! Chris' resume reads like a list of games everyone has played. Ultimate Spiderman, Medal of Honor, The Evil Within, Archangel, NHL2K3 - the list just goes on. Plus a stint as an executive at Skydance -  one very accomplished game dev executive.

Dave Taylor, the legend of the mad game developer of Santa Monica, a man who marches to the beat of his own drum, who's work includes Doom and Quake - a seminal indie who has seen it all come and go, and yet still returns for more! Dave resides in CA, by the beach and is integral to the LA indie scene, but has definitively made his own path in the games industry. Quite the unique individual and linux enthusiast.

DJ has been around games for sometime, and worked on some big titles as a VFX artist, and chances are, you've seen his work somewhere.

DJ has been involved in games like Halo, a bunch of the Call of Duty Games, and most recently has a whole slew of games his company have created the VFX for, like Starfield, Doom Dark Ages and Star Wars - Jedi Survivor.

So come learn about him - he's an incredible and unique character!

Matt Pritchard, late of Ensemble and Valve, has had a varied career, with lots of ups and downs, and work on some major titles - Counter strike 2, Portal 2, Brothers in Arms, Left for Dead, and of course, almost all the Age of series. Sometimes he got to work twice on the same game, but with a 30 year gap! Hear lots of tales of the making of the Age of Empires titles, among other things!

Mike Arkin, producer and studio runner, describes working for Ellen, the career of an indie, and how RTS games on console ARE possible! Mike is another veteran of Game Development, and he's got quite the accomplished resume. BattleZone : Battlefield Commander (as well as BattleZon 97 Redux), Die Hard Triology, Alien Versus Predator : Extinction, Independence Day, the list goes on and on.

Les Ellis, ex journo and now producer extraordinaire, talks his career. Starting out in the British UK games magazine scene, and graduating to producer, and then studio runner for JAW, Les has come a long way. He's been involved in some big titles, like Doctor Who: Edge of Reality, Star Wars: Flight of the Falcon, Gauntlet: Dark Legacy and Empire of Sin. Plus, he has how own coffin. Find out more!