Scott Johnson

Given your status, I don't even know how you feel about this particular status, but when people think of who's out there really poking holes in things in the games industry in terms of journalism, your name is always coming up. Is that a weird thing for you to know that you're that guy? Absolutely.

Well, let's talk more about that. You're known, obviously, for kind of hard hitting games industry coverage. Sometimes breaking news about an upcoming layoff will come through one of your channels, social media or something or something you've written. Sometimes you're the first to kind of know why something didn't happen or something got canceled or something like this.

Well, let's talk more about that. You're known, obviously, for kind of hard hitting games industry coverage. Sometimes breaking news about an upcoming layoff will come through one of your channels, social media or something or something you've written. Sometimes you're the first to kind of know why something didn't happen or something got canceled or something like this.

And I'm just curious how you got there. I mean, I assume games have been a big influence on you for a long time, maybe since childhood. But what led you down the road that would take you, I guess, all the way to NYU and graduating and then off into the games business as a journalist?

And I'm just curious how you got there. I mean, I assume games have been a big influence on you for a long time, maybe since childhood. But what led you down the road that would take you, I guess, all the way to NYU and graduating and then off into the games business as a journalist?

Did you know that when you were considering the jump and you, you know, this meeting's great because I love pivot points in people's career. That sounds like a real pivot point for you. When you decided to, you know, throw your reporting weight into the games business and Did you realize at that time just how deep that well goes in terms of the news churn?

Did you know that when you were considering the jump and you, you know, this meeting's great because I love pivot points in people's career. That sounds like a real pivot point for you. When you decided to, you know, throw your reporting weight into the games business and Did you realize at that time just how deep that well goes in terms of the news churn?

The industry has grown so quickly and so much and so drastically in the last 20 years that There's not a day that goes by without something to talk about that isn't necessarily just what's the new Madden like. It's about who's moving and who's shaking. Where did all that investment money go? Why did this guy just leave Activision and go somewhere else?

The industry has grown so quickly and so much and so drastically in the last 20 years that There's not a day that goes by without something to talk about that isn't necessarily just what's the new Madden like. It's about who's moving and who's shaking. Where did all that investment money go? Why did this guy just leave Activision and go somewhere else?

Did you know then what we know now, which is this is one of the most lucratively talked about industries really in tech?

Did you know then what we know now, which is this is one of the most lucratively talked about industries really in tech?

Sure. And, you know, we're talking about a lot of different outlets since your beginnings there, Joystick Column, when you were freelancing, you know, Killscreen Edge, Eurogamer, not to mention the Kotaku time and your time there as editor. Do you miss that job? I'm always curious about this, is where I really, you know, where most of your work became evident to me was when you were at Kotaku.

Sure. And, you know, we're talking about a lot of different outlets since your beginnings there, Joystick Column, when you were freelancing, you know, Killscreen Edge, Eurogamer, not to mention the Kotaku time and your time there as editor. Do you miss that job? I'm always curious about this, is where I really, you know, where most of your work became evident to me was when you were at Kotaku.

Yeah. And I always wonder if the job of not just overseeing what you're writing and what you're hearing and how you're doing it, but also kind of the overall gist of what the quote unquote publication, in this case, an online resource is saying. Do you miss that part of it?

Yeah. And I always wonder if the job of not just overseeing what you're writing and what you're hearing and how you're doing it, but also kind of the overall gist of what the quote unquote publication, in this case, an online resource is saying. Do you miss that part of it?

Oh, Stephen's great.

Oh, Stephen's great.

Did that lean into what would become your book called Blood, Sweat and Pixels? The triumphant turbulent stories behind video games are made. Did all of that, I guess, initial exposure to how the industry works push you to go? Yeah, there's more going on behind the scenes than players realize. It's not just these games they buy and play. There's more going on there.

Did that lean into what would become your book called Blood, Sweat and Pixels? The triumphant turbulent stories behind video games are made. Did all of that, I guess, initial exposure to how the industry works push you to go? Yeah, there's more going on behind the scenes than players realize. It's not just these games they buy and play. There's more going on there.

I guess tell me the inspiration for that book because I really enjoyed that book.