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March 9-13, 2026
Moscone CenterSan Francisco, CA

Agenda

Putting the "Friends" in Friendslop: The Story of 'PEAK'

Nick Kaman  (Studio Head, Aggro Crab)
Location: Room 2010, West Hall
Date: Tuesday, March 10
Time: 11:50 am - 12:20 pm
Pass Type: Festival Pass, Game Changer Pass - Get your pass now!
Audience Level: All
Track: Independent Development
Format: Lecture
Vault Recording: Video
Audience Level: All

In this talk, one of the developers of PEAK will tell the story of how the game came to be, from a wild month-long game jam in Korea to the astonishing launch that none of them could have predicted. The talk will share some of the insights learned from the experience, including what was successful about it but also some reasons why you'd want to proceed with caution before booking that AirBNB. Finally, the talk will discuss how making PEAK has shifted the perspectives of the leadership at Aggro Crab towards a stronger studio culture– one that can better prevent stress and burnout while also becoming more nimble in an ever-changing industry. Is friendslop the future? You'll have to watch the talk to find out. It'll be peak.

Takeaway

Attendees will gain insight into PEAK's extremely rapid game development process that differs from the traditional production model we all know. The goal is to inspire them to explore these alternative methods that can enhance creativity, make the process more enjoyable, and help to prevent burnout.

Intended Audience

The intended audience is indie developers. Anyone from a solo developer to those who work at or lead a small-to-mid sized studio. Even if that doesn't describe you, I think the talk will still be interesting!