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Doug Pennant

@ludiotic.bsky.social
468 followers 486 following 141 posts

Senior Producer at Infinity Ward | He/Him | Colour-blind | Author of "Pocket Mentor for Game Production"

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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
dougpennant.substack.com/p/creative-a...
dougpennant.substack.com
Creative Assembly: A Tale of Two Cultures
A case study in how environments shape team culture
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
I worked at Creative Assembly for 9 years, and there was such a different culture between the Total War and Console teams, and I've finally written up my thoughts on how this happens. The key: it's all in the environment... Substack Link in reply
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
I played Final Fantasy VII in 1997, featuring "Cloud", 29 years ago... I played Final Fantasy VIII in 1999, featuring "Squall", 27 years ago... ...and only today, on the 27th of August 2026, do I realise that their names basically mean the same thing. -_-
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
More on the community youtu.be/TlTZBMq0HSo?...
youtu.be
Spelkollektivet: Co-Living for Game Developers
YouTube video by Spelkollektivet
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
The GoFundMe campaign: gofund.me/cc48eb8c2
gofund.me
Donate to Save the Home for Indie Game Developers, organized by James Newnorth
For nine years, Spelkollektivet has been home to hundreds of indie game develop… James Newnorth needs your support for Save the Home for Indie Game Developers
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Spellkollektivet, an indie dev community in Sweden, are trying to buy their building they're in, otherwise they might have to leave. They make games and maintain their lives together. It's a glorious example of a community around a shared passion. I've donated. GoFundMe link in replies 👇
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Iguanas
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Coleman
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Following on from last week's exploration of waterfall, here is a more technical guide to one of the ways the games industry manages these monstrous projects. #gamedev #production #waterfall #agile #projectmanagement dougpennant.substack.com/p/the-same-d...
dougpennant.substack.com
The Same Damn Tool I Build Every Damn Project
And Why It Keeps Coming Back To “Resource Vs Workload”
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
It's possible, and things are definitely changing. But I waterfall is already evolved, even before games. Constructing anything physical is almost completely a linear process, from one thing to the next. The only change really comes in the case of art, where late changes can have true impact.
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Back after a short break with a reality check on how waterfall projects are likely here to stay, but why that isn't really a problem... #gamedev #production #waterfall #agile #projectmanagement dougpennant.substack.com/p/waterfall-...
dougpennant.substack.com
Waterfall Isn’t Going Away
But We Can Get Better At It
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
In my game career I never got a formal class in what the classic "milestones" were for, so here is my write-up for anyone who is still getting their head around all this jargon: dougpennant.substack.com/p/pre-produc... #gamedev #production #milestones #projectmanagement
dougpennant.substack.com
Pre-Production? Alpha? What?
Right, let me explain these milestones...
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
If you see this post your getaway vehicle
static.klipy.com
Vic Reeves, Bob Mortimer, and Matt Lucas in a Bath
ALT: Vic Reeves, Bob Mortimer, and Matt Lucas in a Bath
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
This week's article is for any producers looking to be mobile in their career: leave a good trail behind you. dougpennant.substack.com/p/dont-pass-... #gamedev #production #leadership
dougpennant.substack.com
Don't Pass The Garbage
Good handovers will leave success in your wake
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Yeah, it's right at the beginning of the journey. It'll need artists and users to grow, and hopefully the features can grow with that.
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
For music lovers/musicians that want a listening platform that looks out for the artists: Subvert.fm has just launched. This is a platform that is co-owned by is artists and community, and it's looking to grow. Have a look, and consider joining. #music #coop #subvert
subvert.fm
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
This week's article is "The Power Of The Stupid Question", one of my favourite techniques for breaking down assumptions in teams. If you lead with your own humility, you can inspire it in others. dougpennant.substack.com/p/the-power-... #gamedev #production #leadership #humility
dougpennant.substack.com
The Power of The Stupid Question
How You Can Lead With Humility
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
This week I'm continuing to write about accountability, and how you can set the best example with full decision ownership and disclosure. I'm curious...has anyone here already used "Decision Logs"? #gamedev #production #decisions #leadership dougpennant.substack.com/p/own-your-d...
dougpennant.substack.com
Own Your Decisions
How Decision Logs Create Autonomy And Commitment
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Oof! That's a whole new layer!
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
I just don't know if BlueSky really has its shit together for reach.
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Oh yeah? What branch is he in?
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
If you haven't heard of "Risk Management", then my latest article will be an introduction to something very useful. If you are already experienced with risk management then what stories do you have? #gamedev #production #risks dougpennant.substack.com/p/hope-is-no...
dougpennant.substack.com
“Hope” Is Not A Strategy
How To Get Started With Risk Management
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Building on last week's article on ownership, this week I'm sharing how to help iron out those ownership gaps your work can fall into. #gamedev #production #ownership #accountability #yesitslate dougpennant.substack.com/p/the-x-and-...
dougpennant.substack.com
The X and Y Axes of Accountability
Where Feature Meets Pipeline
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
Looks like a Bill too lock 3D printing into just a few companies 😬 The Dangers of California’s Legislation to Censor 3D Printing www.eff.org/deeplinks/20...
eff.org
The Dangers of California’s Legislation to Censor 3D Printing
California’s bill, AB 2047, will not only mandate censorware on all 3D printers; it will also criminalize the use of open-source alternatives. Repeating the mistakes of DRM won’t make anyone safer, bu...
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
This week I'm confronting the question "Can somebody do this?", and exploring why it's so important to give each job a named owner, and how producers make a process of this in the industry. #gamedev #production #ownership dougpennant.substack.com/p/every-prob...
dougpennant.substack.com
Every Problem Needs An Owner
Why “somebody should do this” doesn’t get anything done
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
I've wanted to write this one for ages: I think producers should study design. We wrangle so much information and process, but we're not trained in understanding the minds receiving it. Extended pitch within: dougpennant.substack.com/p/the-value-... #gamedev #gameproduction #design
dougpennant.substack.com
The Value of Design Skills In Production
Why Producers Should Study Design Principles
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
Eww, that's not a good sign. 😬 Sorry you've gone through all this. But fuck yeah Godot 🤘
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
Not a good sign, but hopefully there will be room to build kinder communities in other places, and just use the tool apart from each other. Garry can indeed choose his space, but everyone else can choose too. Will be interesting to see where this goes once the product is more widely known.
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
I feel like I missed some important context from the beginning of that, but...hmmmmmm...
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
Interesting development - #Valve has done a deal with #S&box (i.e. Garrys Mod 2) in which people will be able to sell the games they make on #Steam...royalty-free. 0.0 This feels like a response to the Roblox generation, and quite an exciting one: www.gamesradar.com/games/simula...
gamesradar.com
Garry's Mod creator partners with Valve in deal that ensures games made in his sandbox gem's new successor can be sold royalty-free on Steam: "It's just waiting for us now"
Garry Newman is paying forward the opportunities he's received
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
This is fantastic. You can put websites (and also people) in, and it gives a brutally sarcastic response talking about how AI replaceable they are. deathbyclawd.com
deathbyclawd.com
Are You Just a .md File?
Find out if your SaaS can be replaced by a Claude Skill. The SaaSpocalypse Survival Scanner.
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
This week I'm looking at the reality of joining a new studio in an industry that often doesn't have time to plan effective onboarding, and how a producer can take control of their own start in a new role: dougpennant.substack.com/p/you-need-t... #gamedev #production #projectmanagement
dougpennant.substack.com
You Need To Onboard Yourself
Nobody else knows what you don’t know.
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
This week I'm writing about the difficulty of finding information in large game studios, and with it the success of one simple solution at my previous company. open.substack.com/pub/dougpenn... #gamedev #production #projectmanagement
open.substack.com
When No-one Knows Who To Ask
And why we created the "Ask Production" channel
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
This week I'm writing about the value of game producers having changeable plans, and why they should aim to become their team's "sat-nav": dougpennant.substack.com/p/a-good-pro... #gamedev #production #projectmanagement
open.substack.com
A Good Producer Always Has A Plan
A great producer always has several
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
It's a more reliable place to find people connecting professionally. 🤷‍♂️ It might be full of charlatan slop, but it still does dominate the brandb of "social network for work stuff".
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
"Their lives would be changed" the use of the passive here is insane when they're literally THROWING BOMBS...
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
This week I've been writing about the challenge of bringing improvements to frantic and busy game teams, and the methods I use to help solutions catch up with the pace of development. substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com
When Everyone Is Too Busy For Your Great Ideas
How to make improvements when no-one has time for them.
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Yes, I know...another damn substack, but after the book I really want to keep writing. So... This will be a free, weekly article containing practical lessons from my game development experiences. Human-written and voiced. Subscribe if it's your thing. 🙂 dougpennant.substack.com/p/game-produ...
dougpennant.substack.com
Game Production: A Lifetime At The Edge Of Chaos
It sounds dramatic, but this is the job.
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Reposted by Doug Pennant
HiG @humansingames.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
Looking for a publisher and feeling lost in the void? 😵‍💫 HiG has you covered with a growing list of publishers you can actually pitch to. Link in bio #hig #gamedev #knowledgeispower #gamedevresources
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
store.steampowered.com/app/3308870/...
store.steampowered.com
and Roger on Steam
It was a morning like all others, until she realized her dad wasn't home. In his place, a stranger who speaks nonsense and insists she "takes her medicine". Who is he? Where is dad?
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Ooof... Just played through "and Roger". 60 minutes of heartache. The kind of game where every drag of the mouse feels like an emotional journey. If you played Florence, you should give this a look.
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
Anyone else doing the Global Game Jam this year? I'll be in GGJ Digital Nomads hub in Brasov, Romania!
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
TIL about "The Breachies" - awards for the Worst, Weirdest and Most Impactful data breaches of the year, as compiled by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. My personal favourite is the "I Didn't Even Know You Had My Information Award given to Gravy Analytics🫠 www.eff.org/deeplinks/20...
eff.org
The Breachies 2025: The Worst, Weirdest, Most Impactful Data Breaches of the Year
Another year has come and gone, and with it, thousands of data breaches that affect millions of people. The question these days is less, Is my information in a data breach this year? and more How many...
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
Also to note, my donation is going through Open Collective - a crowdfunding platform intended for grassroots organisations, non-profits, and the support of small communities: opencollective.com
opencollective.com
Raise, manage and disburse money with full transparency.
Open Collective is a legal and financial toolbox for groups. It’s a fundraising + legal status + money management platform for your community. What do you want to do?
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
This is exactly the kind of empowerment I need in a digital world over-saturated with labyrinthian legalese between me and every service I need. I recommend checking it out - it can help you understand which businesses are and aren't trying to exploit their users.
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
As someone who cannot bear to read 15 pages of Terms and Conditions every time I sign into a cafe's WIFI 😵‍💫 I've started a small monthly donation to ToS:DR, a free service that grades websites and services on their ToS and summarises the risks. tosdr.org/en
A screenshot of the linked website. The headline reads "Terms of Service. Didn't Read." The tagline reads "I have read and agree to the Terms, is the biggest lie on theweb. Together, we can fix that." Below is a search bar, and two graphics displaying the summaries for Facebook and Amazon. Some lines are in green, and others are in red with crosses to indicate they are bad for the user.
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
I assume that means a struggle with finding roles, and my best advice is to get out there and meet people in person. Conferences, game jams, networking events...these are all great days to build contacts for the long and short term.
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
Amazing! Thank you for purchasing a copy! 😃 It was really interesting talking to you, and I hope the book is adequate for some inspiration for you.
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 20/09/2025
Stumbled the typing at the end of this one, but it should have been "- or any other industry for that matter."
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Doug Pennant @ludiotic.bsky.social · 20/09/2025
Here's a 10 min segment of a great conversation I had written Gengis. This bit focuses on how you get opportunities in the game industry, or any other industry they. Spoilers: it's through relationships 🫵😶 youtu.be/DzM2_KTCdS8?...
youtu.be
Be Human First to Break into Games
YouTube video by Gengis
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