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Rise Above by Ascendant Studios

Rise Above by Ascendant Studios

By Ascendant Studios

Rise Above season 1 has arrived! New episodes every other Monday. Watch on YouTube or your favorite audio platform. In this series, we speak to industry-leading developers who are masters of their craft in the video game industry and learn about their origin story, their path to success and the challenges they’ve experienced along the way. Each episode aims to provide insights and inspiration for current and future creators, players, and gaming fans alike, as we explore how these leaders Rise Above.
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Candid Conversations with Dead Space Creative Directors | Bonus Episode

Rise Above by Ascendant StudiosFeb 22, 2023

00:00
49:26
Design from the Heart ft. Scott Kester

Design from the Heart ft. Scott Kester

Join Art Director and Co-Founder of Ruckus Games, Scott Kester, as he shares how his love for comic books and video games took him on an unconventional path into the games industry, and the many lessons he learned along the way.

Scott Kester fell in love with video games as a kid, but didn’t head directly into the industry as an adult. He worked in comic books at first, and eventually landed a job at Gearbox almost by accident. Creating a small video game project with a friend in their spare time opened a door that has enabled Scott to have an incredible career creating memorable characters and doing art direction on fan favorite projects like Borderlands and Battleborn.

Catch up with our previous podcast guests on YouTube, SpotifySpotify, or your favorite podcast platform. Hit the subscribe button so you don't miss an episode.

Just like when creating games, we're trying new things and learning along the way as we work to create the best podcast possible. Let us know what you think about Rise Above by rating and reviewing the show so we can grow and improve our podcast together.

Please consider subscribing to our newsletter, The Standup, for more insights and inspiration from industry-leading developers who are masters of their craft. We'll also occasionally provide inside info and updates about our game if you're interested in that.

Check out more content from Ascendant Studios on our website and YouTube channel, where you can watch talented developers from around the industry talk candidly about their experiences creating some of the best games ever made. We'll also take you inside the studio to meet the team behind our debut title, Immortals of Aveum.

Aug 21, 202301:02:45
Designing a Brand New Fantasy World in Immortals of Aveum ft. Dave Bogan and Julia Lichtblau
Aug 07, 202337:55
Imagining an Unconventional Fantasy World in Immortals of Aveum ft. Bret Robbins

Imagining an Unconventional Fantasy World in Immortals of Aveum ft. Bret Robbins

Bret Robbins, game director and CEO of Ascendant Studios, tells how he and lead writer, Michael Kirkbride, envisioned the world and narrative of Immortals of Aveum. He shares insights into character development, the history of the Everwar, why they chose to ground the fantasy world of Aveum in modern dialogue, and the importance of balancing a serious tone with humor in storytelling.

Join us to learn more about Immortals of Aveum, its intriguing cast of characters, and how Bret Robbins and Ascendant Studios crafted a brand new, unique fantasy world.

Rise Above season 1 has arrived! Hit the subscribe button so you don't miss an episode.

Just like when creating games, we're trying new things and learning along the way as we work to create the best podcast possible. Let us know what you think about Rise Above by rating and reviewing the show so we can grow and improve our podcast together.

Please consider subscribing to our newsletter, The Standup, for more insights and inspiration from industry-leading developers who are masters of their craft. We'll also occasionally provide inside info and updates about our game if you're interested in that.

Check out more content from Ascendant Studios on our website and YouTube channel, where you can watch talented developers from around the industry talk candidly about their experiences creating some of the best games ever made. We'll also take you inside the studio to meet the team behind our upcoming title, Immortals of Aveum, as we're developing the game.

Jul 24, 202324:35
Game Devs: Everyday People Entertaining the World ft. Anthony Nicholson

Game Devs: Everyday People Entertaining the World ft. Anthony Nicholson

Anthony Nicholson grew up playing video games, but always saw game makers as rock star geniuses that did something impossible for everyday humans. Being a professional athlete seemed more attainable. Anthony had a scholarship and played football in the NCAA, but his passion for games never faltered, and he eventually sought a path into the video game industry and never looked back.

Today, Anthony harnesses the leadership skills he’s cultivated his whole life as Senior Project Producer at Gearbox Software, with over 12 years of experience working on titles like cult favorite Battleborn and the beloved Borderlands franchise. Join us as Anthony provides a peek into life as a rockstar genius, aka everyday human who makes games, and shares what he’s learned along the way.

Rise Above season 1 has arrived! Hit the subscribe button so you don't miss an episode.

Just like when creating games, we're trying new things and learning along the way as we work to create the best podcast possible. Let us know what you think about Rise Above by rating and reviewing the show so we can grow and improve our podcast together.

Please consider subscribing to our newsletter, The Standup, for more insights and inspiration from industry-leading developers who are masters of their craft. We'll also occasionally provide inside info and updates about our game if you're interested in that.

Check out more content from Ascendant Studios on our website and YouTube channel, where you can watch talented developers from around the industry talk candidly about their experiences creating some of the best games ever made. We'll also take you inside the studio to meet the team behind our upcoming title, Immortals of Aveum, as we're developing the game.

Jul 10, 202340:12
Game Devs Unleashed ft. Haden Blackman
Jun 26, 202354:44
Producing a Legacy: Real Lessons in Shipping Games ft. Kevin Boyle

Producing a Legacy: Real Lessons in Shipping Games ft. Kevin Boyle

Jun 12, 202329:08
Making Video Games Fun, First and Foremost ft. Chris Scholz

Making Video Games Fun, First and Foremost ft. Chris Scholz

Join games industry veteran and Free Range Games CEO, Christopher Scholz, as he shares hard lessons and inspiration from his years creating games for franchises like Tony Hawk, Spider-Man, and now Lord of the Rings.

Rise Above season 1 has arrived! Hit the subscribe button so you don't miss an episode.

Just like when creating games, we're trying new things and learning along the way as we work to create the best podcast possible. Let us know what you think about Rise Above by rating and reviewing the show so we can grow and improve our podcast together.

Please consider subscribing to our newsletter, The Standup, for more insights and inspiration from industry-leading developers who are masters of their craft. We'll also occasionally provide inside info and updates about our game if you're interested in that.

Check out more content from Ascendant Studios on our website and YouTube channel, where you can watch talented developers from around the industry talk candidly about their experiences creating some of the best games ever made. We'll also take you inside the studio to meet the team behind our upcoming title, Immortals of Aveum, as we're developing the game.

May 29, 202331:50
Imagining the Evolution of Video Game Art: 3 Decades in Art Design ft. Dave Bogan
May 15, 202354:02
How BioShock’s Little Sisters Almost Got Cut: Tough Decisions in Game Design ft. Paul Hellquist
May 01, 202358:34
Unearthing the Art Behind Art Direction: Creating Memorable Game Worlds ft. Julia Lichtblau
Apr 17, 202349:59
How BIG DREAMS Became a BIG GAME: The Origins of Ascendant Studios and Immortals of Aveum | Bonus Episode

How BIG DREAMS Became a BIG GAME: The Origins of Ascendant Studios and Immortals of Aveum | Bonus Episode

We are Ascendant and this is our story. Take a behind the scenes look at the origins of our studio and the experienced team developing Immortals of Aveum™.

Immortals of Aveum is Ascendant Studios first game, releasing on July 20th, 2023. But how did it all begin? Get to know the people behind the epic magic shooter, and how Bret Robbins and co. built a studio from a daydream! This is who we are, what we are all about, and how Immortals of Aveum came to be!

Watch the Immortals of Aveum Official Reveal Trailer here: https://bit.ly/3GJEQBn

Made by the creators of Call of Duty and Dead Space, Immortals of Aveum is set in an original fantasy universe engulfed in magic, rife with conflict, and on the verge of oblivion. Ascendant Studios is an independent team of veteran developers with BAFTA and Game of the Year award-winning experience, and EA Originals will release the studio’s debut title. Immortals of Aveum is built on Unreal Engine 5 and will release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on July 20, 2023.

Apr 14, 202312:57
Candid Conversations with Dead Space Creative Directors | Bonus Episode

Candid Conversations with Dead Space Creative Directors | Bonus Episode

Join us for a candid conversation between Bret Robbins, Creative Director of the 2008 hit Dead Space, and Roman Campos-Oriola, Creative Director of the 2023 Remake, as they share insight into design decisions, the challenges of creating then recreating a game, and what they learned along the way.

Just like when creating games, we're trying new things and learning along the way as we work to create the best podcast possible. Let us know what you think about Rise Above by rating and reviewing the show so we can grow and improve our podcast together.

Please consider subscribing to our newsletter, The Standup, for more insights and inspiration from industry-leading developers who are masters of their craft. We'll also occasionally provide inside info and updates about our game if you're interested in that.

Check out more content from Ascendant Studios on our website and YouTube channel, where you can watch talented developers from around the industry talk candidly about their experiences creating some of the best games ever made. We'll also take you inside the studio to meet the team behind our upcoming title, Immortals of Aveum, as we're developing the game.

Feb 22, 202349:26
Bret Robbins - Founder, Game Director & CEO of Ascendant Studios | Pilot Episode

Bret Robbins - Founder, Game Director & CEO of Ascendant Studios | Pilot Episode

Welcome to our inaugural episode of Rise Above. Today we're speaking with Ascendant Studio's own Bret Robbins about his storied career creating and directing unforgettable journeys like Dead Space and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

Just like when creating games, we're trying new things and learning along the way as we work to create the best podcast possible. Let us know what you think about Rise Above by rating and reviewing the show so we can grow and improve our podcast together.

Please consider subscribing to our newsletter, The Standup, for more insights and inspiration from industry-leading developers who are masters of their craft. We'll also occasionally provide inside info and updates about our game if you're interested in that.

Check out more content from Ascendant Studios on our website and YouTube channel, where you can watch talented developers from around the industry talk candidly about their experiences creating some of the best games ever made. We'll also take you inside the studio to meet the team behind our upcoming title, Immortals of Aveum, as we're developing the game.

Dec 15, 202229:43