Inside Nightdive Studios: Restoring Legendary Games from Code to Reality | Larry Kuperman
ABOUT Larry:
Larry Kuperman is a veteran games industry executive and founding member of Nightdive Studios, where he helped establish the company as one of the world's leading forces in video game preservation. Throughout his career, Larry has worked with companies including Stardock, GameStop, Nightdive Studios, and Atari, helping developers bring games to market while advocating for the preservation of gaming history. Today, he continues to mentor developers through the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), speaking on storytelling, personal branding, and sustainable careers in games.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
Larry's journey from healthcare to a 25+ year career in gaming
How Nightdive Studios became the leader in game preservation
Why preserving classic games is more important than ever
The surprising legal challenges behind remastering old games
The history of Atari, Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and early PC gaming
What today's developers should archive for future generations
Why storytelling is one of the most valuable skills in game development
Building your personal brand as a developer or creative
Advice for indie developers pitching publishers and investors
The future of game preservation and why it affects everyone who loves games
In This Episode…
Carl sits down with Larry Kuperman, longtime games industry executive, founding member of Nightdive Studios, and one of the industry's strongest advocates for game preservation. After more than 25 years helping publishers, developers, and studios bring both new and classic games to audiences around the world, Larry shares the lessons, stories, and philosophy that shaped an extraordinary career.
Together they explore why preserving games matters just as much as preserving books and films, the business realities behind game development, what today's developers should be doing to protect gaming history, and how storytelling, personal branding, and community can shape a lasting career. Larry also shares behind-the-scenes stories from Nightdive Studios, Atari, Stardock, and the restoration of legendary classics, along with practical advice for anyone hoping to build a future in the games industry.
Resources Mentioned in this episode:
🔗 International Game Developers Association (IGDA):
https://igda.org/
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