Episode 465 — Business Lessons From 20 Years in the Gaming Industry with David Vonderhaar
The only way to build the next big thing is to stop trying to copy the last one.
In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with David Vonderhaar, studio lead at Bullet Farm and former studio design director for the Call of Duty franchise, to unpack what it really takes to innovate in a world obsessed with replication. From navigating harsh feedback from passionate audiences to building a studio from the ground up after two decades inside a billion-dollar franchise, David shares the mindset, courage, and conviction required to do things on your own terms. This is a conversation about originality, resilience, and the cost of choosing the harder path.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Why true breakthroughs come from being original, not from copying what’s already working
- How to keep teams engaged under pressure without burning them out
- What it takes to bet on yourself when walking away from a sure thing
If you want to build something that lasts, you have to be willing to build it before anyone else believes in it.
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Show Notes:
Imitation is the death of innovation. “The way to break through is to do something unique and original that people haven’t done before. That’s how you become Call of Duty. You don’t become Call of Duty because you copied Call of Duty.”
The hardest challenge isn’t building the product. It’s building the company that builds it. “It’s hard enough to make a game, and now try to make a studio within a division of a bigger company that’s trying to make a game, and then try to make a studio on your own to make that game. That is the tallest order of almost impossible that you could go for.”
A passionate audience is a gift, even when it stings. “I will take somebody who cares about what you’re doing over somebody who doesn’t care any day of the week. They’re not personally attacking me. They just care. They care a lot.”
The best leaders build the conditions for others to do their best work. “My job is to create an environment where you can do the best work of your lives. That is your job as a founder. That is your job as a CEO. That is your job as the startup guy. Create that environment, and you will be successful with a team of people who want to help each other be successful.”
Connect with Michael
- Text directly at 404-531-7691
