How ADHD Saved My Game Dev Career

Описание: Ted Dinola's journey isn't just about surviving the "meat grinder" of early game development-from sleeping in an Econolodge to dodging studio closures-but about understanding his own mind. By diagnosing his ADHD late in his career, he transformed his struggles with focus and exploitative "passion farming" into a sustainable life where he finally understands that his brain isn't broken, just different.

Ted Dinola, a Developer Relations Engineer at a major tech company and Game Engineer. Ted has navigated the volatile peaks and valleys of the industry, moving from precarious contract work to stable leadership roles. He joins the show to dismantle the myth that suffering is a prerequisite for success in games.

The episode explores the chaotic reality of the game industry-from exploitative startups to corporate layoffs-and how understanding one's own neurodivergence is crucial for survival. Ted shares the brutal reality of living out of a motel while trying to break into the industry and explains why "passion" is often weaponized against young developers. This conversation is for anyone who feels like they are drowning in crunch culture or wondering if their different way of thinking is a liability rather than an asset.

Major topics covered:
Surviving the early career meat grinder
The danger of passion farming in game studios
Navigating ADHD and neurodivergence in tech
Coping with studio closures and layoffs
Moving from imposter syndrome to confidence

❓ YOUR TURN: Have you ever experienced "passion farming" or felt like you were just fuel for the meat grinder in a specific studio role?

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👋 I am Jameson Durall, a 25-year game design veteran (Oddworld, Saints Row, Marvel's Spider-Man 2). I help students, indies, and studios build better games and better pipelines.

   / @jamesondurallxp   • https://jamesondurallxp.com • https://substack.com/@jamesondurallxp


Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Early Life
01:19 Discovering a Passion for Game Development
03:32 College Years and Career Decisions
05:54 First Internship Experience
07:54 Full Sail University Journey
09:12 Building Games and Early Career Challenges
22:39 First Job and Industry Realities
33:53 Transition to Zynga
34:56 Starting at Zynga: The Unity Expert
36:04 Challenges with Adobe Air
37:08 Switching Back to Unity
39:15 Massive Layoffs at Zynga
41:05 Becoming a Unity Specialist
43:27 Specialist vs. Generalist Debate
50:12 Advice for Aspiring Game Developers
53:27 The Reality of Game Development Careers
01:00:45 ADHD and Game Development
01:07:53 Navigating Idle Time at Work
01:08:45 The ADHD Hobby Cycle
01:10:29 Creative Control in Game Development
01:11:56 VR Development Opportunities
01:13:56 ADHD Diagnosis Journey
01:20:06 Managing ADHD: Tips and Strategies
01:23:39 The Challenge of Hyperfocus
01:24:34 Balancing Work and Personal Life with ADHD
01:36:59 Effective Scheduling and Organization
01:40:58 Conclusion and Future Plans

#GAMEDEV #GAMEDESIGN #ADHD #NEURODIVERGENCE #CAREERADVICE #INDIEDEV #PASSIONFARMING