About Travis George
Travis George joins us on today’s episode, bringing over two decades of experience in the video game industry. Travis has held leadership roles at renowned companies like Activision and Riot Games, where he served as the product lead for League of Legends, helping to grow the game into a global phenomenon with over 117 million monthly players. He later co-founded Vela Games, where he continues to innovate as CEO, focusing on designing new player experiences in the cooperative gaming space.
In this episode, Travis shares his journey from launching his first IT services company as a teenager to pursuing a formal education in game design and eventually playing a pivotal role in building one of the most successful live-service games in history. He offers critical insights into team building, the challenges of scaling a studio, and how to align your company around vision and priorities. Travis also discusses the lessons he learned from his successes and failures, including evaluating personal and professional growth, managing creative burnout, and pivoting when necessary. Whether you’re a novice designer or a seasoned creator, Travis’s experiences and philosophies provide a treasure trove of wisdom for navigating game development. Enjoy!
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Ah-ha! Justin’s Takeaways
The Power of Prioritization: Travis shared a lesson from his time at Riot Games: “It's not just about what's important but what's most important.” This resonated deeply with me as it points out the need to focus on the highest-value objectives instead of spreading yourself thin. As I tackle my upcoming projects, this serves as a reminder to evaluate priorities with clarity and intention, ensuring the team and I are aligned on what matters most.
Reshaping Your Role: One of the most surprising insights from Travis was his decision to "design himself out of a job" at Riot by restructuring his executive producer role into a collaborative leadership model. It’s an interesting example of how stepping back can sometimes create the best path forward for both personal growth and the success of your team. It challenges me to consider where I might need to shift or adapt my own responsibilities to serve long-term goals better.
Real-Life Connections Matter: Travis pointed out the value of in-person networking, even in an increasingly remote world. His story about meeting me at the Dice Conference reminded me how pivotal those serendipitous hallway conversations can be. As someone who sometimes leans into the convenience of remote interactions, I find it a wake-up call to put myself in places where I’ll meet more people to foster those deeper, more meaningful connections.
Show Notes:
"You never know who you're going to meet." (00:05:15)
Travis discusses the importance of attending in-person events like D.I.C.E., where chance encounters can lead to unexpected opportunities. This lesson is something that’s always been a key factor in a company's success. The lesson underscores that building relationships often requires stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing face-to-face interactions.
"What would I really just love to do? " (00:19:47)
Discussing his early IT career and his leadership at Riot, Travis tells us how even self-created success can become a trap if it no longer fulfills you. Here, he emphasizes the importance of reassessing your goals and alignment, not just in business, but in life. Like Travis, when I feel stuck, I often ask myself, "What is the world I want to create now?"
"It's not just about what's important, but what's most important." (00:30:32)
Travis outlines a process built around Vision, Prioritization, and Alignment. His approach to prioritization is particularly interesting, as it’s all about focusing on the highest priorities to achieve impactful results. As companies grow, team leaders must manage increasingly complex projects with competing demands. Training yourself and your team to focus on priorities can significantly enhance efficiency and drive success.
"I realized I didn't want to do that job anymore." (00:38:25)
Travis talks about his decision to step down as executive producer for League of Legends, despite its immense success. This moment serves as a reminder that self-awareness and aligning your career with your values are crucial for long-term fulfillment. This is discussed more in the Ah-ha! Moment above.
“I mean, constraints force, right?” (01:19:47)
In the later part of the episode, we discuss how constraints—whether related to time, resources, or scope—serve not only as a source of creative support but also as a means of achieving clarity and focus. Travis explains that when teams face limitations, they are compelled to prioritize effectively, honing in on what truly matters and eliminating unnecessary elements. By reframing constraints as supportive rather than inhibiting, they can become a powerful tool for driving success in creative projects.
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