If your hilarious party game is laced with snark you know the work of this week's guest, Jackbox CEO Mike Bilder. One of the legion of the Midway diaspora, he saw the transition from coin-op to console. We discuss drive vs crunch, streaming platforms, and the human touch - this week!

TIMESTAMPS

[0:04:38] Intro: Mike Bilder

[0:06:25] From Learn Television to Jackbox: The Full Company History
Mike explains Jackbox’s origin story; he traces it from Jellyvision to You Don't Know Jack to Jackbox Games.

[0:10:10] AI, Writers, and the Jackbox Principles: What Makes Jackbox Uniquely Human
Mike explains their commitment to human-written comedy and game writers in a world of AI.

[0:15:19] Early Career: From Motorola to Midway
Hosts ask about Mike's first jobs; he shares his CS background, persistence breaking into game development, and meeting his wife on a Motorola work trip.

[0:32:02] Nine Years at Midway: Coin-Op, NFL Blitz, and the Politics of an NFL License
Mike covers what it was like at Midway, the culture, a forced pivot, and ultimately losing the NFL license.

[0:45:00] The Art of the Pivot: How Jackbox Thinks About Innovation and What's Next
Mike discusses the pattern of reinvention across Midway and Jackbox, staying fresh with party packs, and third-party publishing.

[0:51:02] Platforms, Netflix, and the Race to Be Everywhere: Jackbox's Distribution Strategy
Mike explains the licensing model, the platform expansion, streaming ambitions, and the Twitch audience mode origin story.

[1:04:52] Mike's Superpower: From Engineer to Producer to CEO
Alex asks Mike to name his superpower; Mike reflects on problem-solving, leading from passion, and 18 years of bringing joy through party games.

[0:06:58] Outro: Wrapping Up

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