Building Safer Multiplayer Spaces with Nodecraft’s Jon Yarbor
Podcasts
•
January 28, 2025
In this insightful episode, Greg chats with Jon Yarbor, co-founder of Nodecraft, about the future of multiplayer gaming. They dive into how private servers are creating safer, more inclusive spaces for players, the importance of accessibility in server hosting, and why great support teams are the unsung heroes of gaming. Jon also shares his inspiring journey from working at Subway to launching Nodecraft and reflects on how empathy and innovative design are transforming the player experience. Whether you’re a gamer, an indie developer, or just curious about the business of multiplayer, this episode has something for you.
Key Topics & Themes:
Why Privacy Matters in Online Gaming
Jon explains the shift from public lobbies to private servers and how this focus creates safer, more enjoyable gaming experiences.
Notable Quote: “Most players just want to game with their friends in a safe space—they don’t want the noise of public lobbies.”
Breaking Down Barriers with Accessible Hosting
Nodecraft’s mission is to make server hosting simple, even for non-technical users, so anyone can create and manage multiplayer experiences.
Notable Quote: “You shouldn’t need to be an IT expert to host a Minecraft server for your kids or community.”
Jon’s Entrepreneurial Journey: Subway to Startup
Jon shares how his passion for gaming and drive to solve real-world problems led him to co-found Nodecraft, despite starting with minimal resources.
Notable Quote: “I didn’t want to spend all my mental energy at a software job—I needed to save it for building something I believed in.”
The Critical Role of Support in Gaming
Great support teams are the bridge between players and developers, and Jon explains why investing in support staff pays off for companies and players alike.
Notable Quote: “Great support reps are the unsung heroes of the gaming world.”
How Accessibility Drives Player and Developer Success
Accessibility isn’t just for players—game developers benefit from tools that make hosting easier and enable user-generated content (UGC).
Fascinating Stat: Only 2% of active players create servers using traditional hosting tools—Nodecraft’s accessibility changes that.
Major Moments:
[12:20] The shift to private multiplayer spaces and why it matters.
[33:00] Jon’s Subway-to-Startup journey: A founder’s story.
[50:00] Accessibility as the key to success for players and developers alike.
[55:00] Jon’s advice for game developers tackling multiplayer challenges.
Resources & Links:
Follow Jon on social: @CaptainYarb on BlueSky and LinkedIn
Key Topics & Themes:
Why Privacy Matters in Online Gaming
Jon explains the shift from public lobbies to private servers and how this focus creates safer, more enjoyable gaming experiences.
Notable Quote: “Most players just want to game with their friends in a safe space—they don’t want the noise of public lobbies.”
Breaking Down Barriers with Accessible Hosting
Nodecraft’s mission is to make server hosting simple, even for non-technical users, so anyone can create and manage multiplayer experiences.
Notable Quote: “You shouldn’t need to be an IT expert to host a Minecraft server for your kids or community.”
Jon’s Entrepreneurial Journey: Subway to Startup
Jon shares how his passion for gaming and drive to solve real-world problems led him to co-found Nodecraft, despite starting with minimal resources.
Notable Quote: “I didn’t want to spend all my mental energy at a software job—I needed to save it for building something I believed in.”
The Critical Role of Support in Gaming
Great support teams are the bridge between players and developers, and Jon explains why investing in support staff pays off for companies and players alike.
Notable Quote: “Great support reps are the unsung heroes of the gaming world.”
How Accessibility Drives Player and Developer Success
Accessibility isn’t just for players—game developers benefit from tools that make hosting easier and enable user-generated content (UGC).
Fascinating Stat: Only 2% of active players create servers using traditional hosting tools—Nodecraft’s accessibility changes that.
Major Moments:
[12:20] The shift to private multiplayer spaces and why it matters.
[33:00] Jon’s Subway-to-Startup journey: A founder’s story.
[50:00] Accessibility as the key to success for players and developers alike.
[55:00] Jon’s advice for game developers tackling multiplayer challenges.
Resources & Links:
Follow Jon on social: @CaptainYarb on BlueSky and LinkedIn
Key Topics & Themes:
Why Privacy Matters in Online Gaming
Jon explains the shift from public lobbies to private servers and how this focus creates safer, more enjoyable gaming experiences.
Notable Quote: “Most players just want to game with their friends in a safe space—they don’t want the noise of public lobbies.”
Breaking Down Barriers with Accessible Hosting
Nodecraft’s mission is to make server hosting simple, even for non-technical users, so anyone can create and manage multiplayer experiences.
Notable Quote: “You shouldn’t need to be an IT expert to host a Minecraft server for your kids or community.”
Jon’s Entrepreneurial Journey: Subway to Startup
Jon shares how his passion for gaming and drive to solve real-world problems led him to co-found Nodecraft, despite starting with minimal resources.
Notable Quote: “I didn’t want to spend all my mental energy at a software job—I needed to save it for building something I believed in.”
The Critical Role of Support in Gaming
Great support teams are the bridge between players and developers, and Jon explains why investing in support staff pays off for companies and players alike.
Notable Quote: “Great support reps are the unsung heroes of the gaming world.”
How Accessibility Drives Player and Developer Success
Accessibility isn’t just for players—game developers benefit from tools that make hosting easier and enable user-generated content (UGC).
Fascinating Stat: Only 2% of active players create servers using traditional hosting tools—Nodecraft’s accessibility changes that.
Major Moments:
[12:20] The shift to private multiplayer spaces and why it matters.
[33:00] Jon’s Subway-to-Startup journey: A founder’s story.
[50:00] Accessibility as the key to success for players and developers alike.
[55:00] Jon’s advice for game developers tackling multiplayer challenges.
Resources & Links:
Follow Jon on social: @CaptainYarb on BlueSky and LinkedIn
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