This next episode of Dev to Dev - the Podcast about everyday videogame developers and why they do what they do every day - was a really fun one for me. Talking to Brandon Van Haren about his journey hit on so many of the realities of game development that don’t always get talked about.

He started out like a lot of us by playing games with family and getting hooked early. But what stood out was how he kept “playing” even when he wasn’t allowed to. Drawing levels, walking people through them, essentially prototyping before he even knew what design was… it’s such a pure version of this craft executed by someone who at the time had no idea what the craft even was!

Hearing about Brandon’s transition into the industry - going from leading student teams at College to being an intern and having to absorb feedback from experienced directors - reminded me of how humbling that shift can be, and one we’ve all gone through in some form. Brandon talks very openly about that adjustment, and how important it is to learn when to push and when to align.

We also get into encounter design, which I think is also rarely discussed. His focus on visual storytelling by showing players what’s happening rather than telling them really resonated with me. It’s one of those areas where design, narrative, and player experience all intersect in subtle but powerful ways.

And then there’s the live service side of things. Shipping multiple updates a year, learning to push tools beyond their limits, and working with the same team for over a decade - it’s a great look at how consistency and collaboration can lead to mastery over time.

Finally, I really appreciated his perspective on growth. Even after years in one engine, he made the effort to learn Unreal in his own time, just to stay sharp and open up new opportunities. That kind of mindset is what keeps a long career moving forward.

Highlights

Early creativity through drawing and “playing” self-made levels
Transitioning from student leadership to industry humility
The importance of feedback and team alignment
Visual storytelling as a core pillar of encounter design
Pushing tools to their limits in a live service environment
Self-driven learning to stay relevant in a changing industry

Find the Podcast at:

Find Brandon At:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-van-haren-5ba62544/