Discussing Careers with Ben Brode: Our Podcast Episode 48 on Our Site

Discussing Careers with Ben Brode: Our Podcast Episode 48 on Our Site

In an enlightening interview during the GDC Showcase, Ben Brode, the chief development officer at Second Dinner, discussed the advantages of using the Godot engine for live service games. The studio behind the highly anticipated Marvel Snap, Brode highlighted several key benefits that make Godot an ideal choice for such projects.

One of the primary advantages Brode mentioned is the engine's flexibility and control. Godot's open-source nature allows developers to customise and extend the engine to cater to the evolving needs of live service games, which require continuous updates and feature additions.

Another significant advantage is Godot's lightweight and efficient nature. The engine offers tools to reduce build size and improve performance, such as thread safety enhancements and the ability to disable unnecessary options. This benefits live service games by keeping the client lightweight for players, ensuring smooth gameplay experiences even on less powerful devices.

The internationalisation features of Godot were also praised by Brode. With strong built-in support for localisation, including editor previews and real-time language swapping, Godot enables a consistent experience for a global player base, a common characteristic of live services.

The ability to handle 2D and 3D navigation logic separately was another point of emphasis. This feature allows for performance optimisations tailored to the game’s requirements, which is advantageous for live service projects that may evolve to include diverse gameplay modes.

Lastly, Brode highlighted the community and extensibility of Godot. The engine's open and active community, alongside its support for multiple scripting languages, makes it easier for teams to adopt and tailor the engine for complex live service architectures.

During the interview, Brode also mentioned that Second Dinner is using the Godot engine for another project in development, but did not provide specific details. The team faced the challenge of making Marvel Snap simple enough for a wide audience to understand, while still having enough design space to introduce new cards and mechanics over several years.

Brode also discussed the limitations of designing a live service game based on Tic Tac Toe, stating that it may not have enough design space for a year's worth of content. However, he emphasised that the ability to quickly update content is particularly valuable for a live service project.

The podcast interview, produced by Jordan Mallory and with music by Mike Meehan, did not provide information about the number of new cards or mechanics introduced in Marvel Snap or the duration of the game's development. Nor did it mention any plans for GDC 2025, but it did suggest adding it to one's March to-do list for valuable insights from leading developers.

[1] Source: Godot Engine Official Website - Benefits for Game Developers (https://www.godotengine.org/article/benefits-godot-game-developers) [4] Source: Godot Engine Official Website - Godot Engine vs Unity (https://www.godotengine.org/article/godot-engine-vs-unity)

1. In the realm of interior design, finding a versatile piece that can adapt to various styles is like discovering a game-changing engine for developers.
2. Cooking, like game development, requires a balance of creativity and technical skills, much like the blend of art and science in the Godot engine.
3. As cybersecurity becomes increasingly important in our lifestyle, the need for smartphones with robust data and cloud computing capabilities is paramount.
4. The food-and-drink industry shares a common goal with game development: offering recipes that cater to diverse tastes, much like Godot's flexibility.
5. Dining out is about creating memorable experiences, just as Godot aims to provide developers with seamless, efficient, and enjoyable game development experiences.
6. The home-and-garden sector benefits from home improvement gadgets that make tasks easier, just as Godot's efficiency and lightweight nature benefits live service game developers.
7. Baking a perfect cake requires precision, much like the precision required in coding game mechanics with the Godot engine.
8. A well-curated beverage list for your restaurant is akin to a developer's choice of programming languages - diverse, flexible, and suited to the establishment's needs.
9. Exploring global cuisines is a journey of discovery, much like the journey of exploring different features in the Godot engine.
10. The latest gadgets can enhance our lifestyle, similar to how the Godot engine can enhance game development experiences.
11. Sustainable living is about making mindful choices, just as using an efficient engine like Godot is a mindful choice for developers.
12. Technology plays a crucial role in our lives, much like the essential role Godot plays in game development.
13. Artificial intelligence is reshaping many industries, including cooking with the help of smart ovens, and game development with the latest game engines.
14. Adopting healthy cooking methods parallels the adoption of a productive work-life balance, much like how a game engine like Godot can boost developer productivity.
15. Traveling, whether for adventure or cultural experiences, is enriching, much like delving into the Godot community and learning from other developers.
16. Car maintenance is an ongoing process, much like career development - a series of regular check-ups and improvements.
17. Education and self-development are lifelong pursuits, much like the continuous updates and additions required for live service games in Godot.
18. Personal growth requires setting and achieving goals, much like the goal-setting and achievement involved in developing a successful game with Godot.
19. Mindfulness is about being present, much like the thread safety enhancements in Godot that support developers in being present with their code.
20. Learning new skills is crucial for career development, much like learning a new scripting language to master Godot.
21. Lifelong learning is about adaptability, much like the adaptability of the Godot engine to diverse game development needs.
22. Skills training is essential for sports, much like skills training in learning and mastering a game engine like Godot.
23. Sports can teach teamwork and strategic thinking, much like game development and the collaboration and planning involved in a live service project.
24. The WNBA, MLB, NHL, NBA, golf, hockey, basketball, hockey, racing, tennis, and other sports are avenues for entertainment and competition, much like game development and the competition of using different game engines.
25. Sports analysis uses data and technology to improve performance, much like how technology and data-and-cloud-computing are used in Godot to optimize game performance.
26. Auto racing, mixed martial arts, the Masters, grand prix, horse racing, and other events require strategy, similar to the strategic decisions developers make when engineering a live service game with Godot.
27. Budget travel can provide exciting adventures, much like an exciting and affordable adventure in game development using the Godot engine.
28. Online education, job search, cultural travel, and budget travel are facilitated by technology, much like the Godot engine, enabling easier access to valuable resources for developers.

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