The Gaming Playbook w/ Harry Phokou

Harry Phokou

On The Gaming Playbook, Harry Phokou sits down with experts in the games industry who have never been interviewed before. Through these in-depth conversations, Harry unpacks the "Playbook" that made them so successful. Skip the line on Tuesdays and download the real-life cheat codes every gaming industry pro needs to know. LinkedIn: @hphokou Instagram: @hphokou Newsletter: https://join.thegamingplaybook.com/ Business and guest inquiries: playbook@phokou.com

  1. #73 - Michael Szklarski: Why GTA Online and Red Dead Online Keep Losing to Fan Servers

    4h ago

    #73 - Michael Szklarski: Why GTA Online and Red Dead Online Keep Losing to Fan Servers

    Multiplayer doesn't have to be built on day one. Today, I'm joined by Michael Szklarski, Co-Founder of ReadyM, who explains how community-driven multiplayer mods have transformed games like GTA V and why the future of gaming may belong to player-created experiences. From the origins of GTA multiplayer mods and FiveM to Black Myth: Wukong, Oblivion Remastered, Minecraft, Roblox, Skyrim, and Hytale, this conversation explores how UGC (User-Generated Content), modding, and multiplayer communities can dramatically extend a game's lifespan. Whether you're a game developer, publisher, aspiring game designer, or modder, you'll learn how successful games evolve into long-lasting platforms, why some games attract thriving modding communities while others don't, and what it takes to build the next generation of community-powered games. Connect with Michael:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michalszklarskiWebsite: https://docs.ready.mp/Forum: https://forum.ready.mp/Oblivion Multiplayer Mod: https://oblivionmp.firstlook.gg/ Connect with Harry:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hphokouInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokou/ Join our industry events: https://hivemind.world/ Get exclusive podcast recaps & industry insights:→ Subscribe to The Gaming Playbook Weekly at https://join.thegamingplaybook.com Chapters:00:00 Intro01:23 ReadyM and the vision behind community multiplayer02:47 What is UGC multiplayer?05:32 The origins of GTA multiplayer modding07:43 How multiplayer mods work under the hood10:03 How GTMP became FiveM15:17 Why Rockstar acquired FiveM20:11 How UGC extends a game's lifespan25:03 Can developers design games for modding success?29:11 Should studios build official modding tools?35:17 Michael's journey into modding38:58 When modding became a business42:56 Building ReadyM and multiplayer technology46:56 Raising investment and proving the vision53:52 Why Red Dead Redemption Online never reached FiveM's success56:42 Advice for AAA game developers58:41 Advice for aspiring modders

    1h 4m
  2. #72 - Frank Lofaro: The Hiring System Every Studio Founder Needs (Before the Next Mis-Hire)

    Jun 25

    #72 - Frank Lofaro: The Hiring System Every Studio Founder Needs (Before the Next Mis-Hire)

    Hiring isn't guesswork. In this episode, I'm joined by Frank Lofaro, who has helped over 1,700 businesses hire better, from zero-employee startups to companies scaling past 100 people. Before founding Tank Recruiting, he spent three years at AeroTech (one of the largest private staffing firms in the world) and was an employee #12 at Acquisition.com, where he worked as an internal recruiter and hired across an entire portfolio of companies. We talked about how to make your first hire, avoid costly hiring mistakes, identify A-players, create better interview processes, improve candidate experience, and build a team that can scale with your business. Whether you're a founder making your first hire or leading a growing company, this conversation is for you. Connect with Frank: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-lofaro/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/franklofaro/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TankRecruiting Website: http://tankrecruiting.com/ Connect with Harry: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hphokou Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokou/ Join our industry events: https://hivemind.world/ Get exclusive podcast recaps & industry insights: → Subscribe to The Gaming Playbook Weekly at https://join.thegamingplaybook.com Chapters: 00:00 Intro 05:03 How Frank got into recruiting and joined Acquisition.com 08:50 Why hiring speed and candidate experience matter 14:13 Making your first hire: where founders should start 15:59 The mistake of hiring a COO too early 20:12 Why over-titling employees creates problems 23:20 Biggest hiring mistakes from 0–10 employees 26:53 Accountability meetings and managing performance 32:13 The hiring framework: Qualify, Amplify, Evaluate 36:02 How to review resumes and screen candidates efficiently 40:13 Structured interviews and objective hiring decisions 47:39 Take-home assessments and hiring tests 52:31 Frank's favorite interview question 53:49 Who should run first-round interviews? 56:59 The biggest hiring lesson: never compromise on culture fit 01:00:22 Why Frank started Tank Recruiting

    1h 4m
  3. #71 - Chris Bain: Why Making Great Games Is Only Half the Job

    Jun 18

    #71 - Chris Bain: Why Making Great Games Is Only Half the Job

    How do you build a great game company, not just a great game? Today, I'm joined by a former Xbox executive and Player One Consulting CEO, Chris Bain, who shares lessons from working with 100+ game studios, major publishers, and Microsoft. We discuss game pricing, localization, publishing deals, funding, studio growth, leadership, vision, and why so many developers focus on making games but overlook building sustainable businesses. If you're an indie developer, studio founder, publisher, or anyone interested in the business of games, this conversation offers practical insights on turning creative projects into long-term, successful companies. Connect with Chris:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chbain/Website: https://www.playeroneconsulting.com/ Connect with Harry:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hphokouInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokou/ Join our industry events: https://hivemind.world/ Get exclusive podcast recaps & industry insights:→ Subscribe to The Gaming Playbook Weekly at https://join.thegamingplaybook.com/ Chapters:00:00 Intro02:11 From scientist to consultant to Xbox strategist08:08 Inside the Xbox vs PlayStation console wars11:45 How game pricing really works15:30 Cost control and budgeting for game studios18:17 Finding your game's unique selling point (USP)19:54 Market research and understanding player demand21:35 Localization and reaching global audiences27:31 Building games for specific audiences28:33 Common mistakes indie studios make31:09 Why every studio needs a clear vision36:32 The danger of loving development more than business38:49 Making games investable and commercially viable41:23 Funding options, investors, and publisher relationships43:23 What publishers actually do today46:17 Choosing the right publisher for your game48:24 Lessons learned from coaching hundreds of studios52:28 Why the games industry became much harder after 202254:40 Opportunities in VR and emerging markets1:00:02 Studio growth, leadership, and scaling challenges1:10:11 Building sustainable companies in a changing industry1:15:40 Game IP, transmedia opportunities, and future growth

    1h 25m
  4. #70 - Ben Kvalo: Why Indie Developers Give Away Too Much to Get Published

    Jun 11

    #70 - Ben Kvalo: Why Indie Developers Give Away Too Much to Get Published

    What do game publishers actually do in 2026? Why do some indie games succeed while others fail, even with a great product? Today's guest is Ben Kvalo, founder of Midwest Games and former publishing, marketing, and technology leader at Netflix, Blizzard, and 2K. Ben breaks down how modern game publishing works, why traditional publishing models are changing, how Steam's algorithm impacts launches, common mistakes indie developers make, and why the future of game development may be shifting away from traditional industry hubs. Whether you're an indie developer, publisher, marketer, or game industry professional, this conversation provides practical insights into game publishing, Steam marketing, wishlists, launch strategy, publisher relationships, and the future of the games industry. Connect with Ben:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benkvalo/Substack: https://substack.com/@benkvaloWebsite: https://www.midwestgames.com/Tombwater: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3308200/Tombwater/ Connect with Harry:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hphokouInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokou/ Join our industry events: https://hivemind.world/ Get exclusive podcast recaps & industry insights:→ Subscribe to The Gaming Playbook Weekly at https://join.thegamingplaybook.com/ Chapters:00:00 Intro03:00 What Midwest Games does and the concept of Shadow Publishing04:40 The current state of game publishing07:51 Why publishing is becoming modular10:28 Traditional publishers vs specialized expertise15:49 Why publishers still dominate game revenue19:59 Common mistakes indie developers make21:04 Steam page launches and market validation22:23 Demos, Early Access, and launch strategy24:50 Steam wishlists and conversion rates27:46 How external marketing impacts Steam performance28:25 Steam algorithms, launch timing, and visibility32:15 What Shadow Publishing actually includes34:31 The 40+ disciplines behind game publishing40:11 Building effective publishing teams42:55 Why recency matters in publishing expertise46:46 The reality of game development costs in the US52:28 Remote work, talent, and regional advantages55:39 MDEV and the growth of Midwest game development59:10 Industry disruption and future opportunities01:02:46 Advice for aspiring game publishers01:05:37 How to connect with Ben01:06:35 Why you should check out Tombwater

    1h 8m
  5. #69 - Pontus Maehler: Indie Game Funding, Deal Terms and New Markets in 2026

    Jun 4

    #69 - Pontus Maehler: Indie Game Funding, Deal Terms and New Markets in 2026

    Why are indie game funding deals getting harder in 2026? In this episode, I'm joined by Pontus Maehler, games industry advisor and Co-Founder of Agora Gaming Partners, an advisory firm focused on video gaming M&A, publishing, and fundraising. He breaks down the real state of game publishing, project financing, China publishing opportunities, and how indie studios can survive the current market. We cover how publishing deal terms have changed, why vertical slices matter more than ever, common mistakes developers make when pitching publishers, and what actually gets games funded today. If you're an indie developer, game founder, or anyone trying to understand the business side of the games industry, this episode is for you! Connect with Pontus: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pontusmahler/ For pitching a game: scouting@agoragamingpartners.com For Chinese publishing: lili@agoragamingpartners.com Connect with Harry: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hphokou Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokou/ Join our industry events: https://hivemind.world/ Get exclusive podcast recaps & industry insights: → Subscribe to The Gaming Playbook Weekly at https://join.thegamingplaybook.com/ Chapters: 00:00 Intro 03:45 The current state of game funding in 2026 05:20 Why VC funding for indie games is collapsing 08:41 Is the VC model dead for indie developers? 11:08 Bootstrapping vs raising money for indie studios 14:07 Why publishers now demand vertical slices and validation 15:50 How publishing deal terms changed after COVID 16:32 Understanding recoup structures and revenue splits 24:15 Biggest mistakes developers make with publishers 27:44 Developers intentionally underbudgeting projects 28:00 Contract clauses indie devs must understand 31:56 Product financing vs traditional publishers 33:42 Grants, tax credits, and alternative funding sources 36:15 Why developers should pay attention to China 39:18 When to approach Chinese publishers before launch 41:05 How Chinese players differ from Western audiences 46:45 What motivates Pontus to work in games 48:40 How developers should think about target audiences 53:32 Final survival advice for indie studios 54:48 Why developers waste too much time pitching at events 59:00 VC funding, scaling, and long-term strategy

    1h 14m
  6. #68 - Jakub Remiar: Why Chinese Studios Are Taking Over Mobile Gaming

    May 21

    #68 - Jakub Remiar: Why Chinese Studios Are Taking Over Mobile Gaming

    Today, I'm joined by Jakub Remiar, Mobile F2P monetization consultant and veteran game designer, for a deep dive into the future of the mobile games industry. From why China is dominating mobile game design and monetization to how user acquisition became the real battleground, this episode breaks down the uncomfortable realities behind today’s biggest games. Jakub explains why “monetization is game design,” how Chinese studios outscale Western teams, why most mobile studios fail, and what actually separates breakout hits from copycats. If you work in gaming, product, monetization, or are building a mobile game studio, this episode is for you! Connect with Jakub:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@2.5gamers/videosSlack: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-3nua7emvr-A1AXS70f~kRGyniP1PdQjQ Connect with Harry:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hphokouInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokou/ Join our industry events: https://hivemind.world/ Get exclusive podcast recaps & industry insights:→ Subscribe to The Gaming Playbook Weekly at https://join.thegamingplaybook.com/ Chapters:00:00 Intro04:42 Gamescom vs ChinaJoy and why the industry is changing06:47 Why mobile gaming trends move from East to West09:17 Why Western studios ignore massive Asian games11:25 Chinese studios taking over 4X and merge games14:06 Why user acquisition now decides who survives16:12 Supercell, Clash of Clans, and the missed 4X opportunity18:34 How Jakub would build a modern game studio22:44 The modular game development strategy behind hit mobile games26:32 Why paid UA beats “just making a great game”28:19 Balatro, streamability, and viral indie success stories34:06 AI-generated creatives and the future of mobile marketing36:33 Why top studios create thousands of ads every month38:18 Fake ads, King Shot, and the reality of mobile advertising39:39 How mobile games are designed around monetization systems43:52 Product leadership, game economies, and monetization mistakes49:33 Why game design knowledge is so hard to learn publicly53:33 Why even experienced game studios still fail55:47 Is the gaming industry actually doomed?58:27 Career advice for aspiring game designers

    1h 3m
  7. #67 - Alexandre Amancio: Why Small Game Teams Are Starting To Beat AAA Studios

    May 14

    #67 - Alexandre Amancio: Why Small Game Teams Are Starting To Beat AAA Studios

    AAA games are getting too big, and it’s breaking the industry. In this episode, game director Alexandre Amancio (Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry) breaks down why massive teams, bloated scope, and risk-averse design are hurting modern game development, and why smaller, focused teams may be the future. We dive into building high-performance game teams, creating new IPs, community-first development, the hidden cost of AAA production, remote vs in-person culture, and how Alexandre is applying these lessons to his new horror game, Nightholme. If you care about game design, indie studios, AAA development, leadership, AI in gaming, or the future of the industry, this episode is packed with hard-earned insights from 20+ years in games. Connect with Alex:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandre-amancio-2250b42/Nightholme: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4108680/Nightholme/Website: https://www.studioellipsis.com/ Connect with Harry:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hphokouInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokou/ Join our industry events: https://hivemind.world/ Get exclusive podcast recaps & industry insights:→ Subscribe to The Gaming Playbook Weekly at https://join.thegamingplaybook.com/ Timestamps00:00 Intro02:15 Why the games industry is at a crossroads03:08 Alexandre’s new horror game: Nightholme04:10 What’s broken in AAA game development08:26 Why now is still a great time to make games09:40 How explosive industry growth weakened teams10:55 Building a studio differently from day one12:58 Over-specialization is killing creativity14:34 Why small teams are winning again15:27 The biggest mistake new studios make17:51 Why shipping together builds elite teams19:24 Far Cry 2 and the power of underdog teams23:18 Passion vs commercial reality in game development26:10 Why hybrid teams work best30:49 The Assassin’s Creed “three circles” framework36:22 How to prioritize game features correctly37:38 Designing NightHome’s core fantasy and mythology40:59 Why new IP creation is brutally difficult44:42 Why so many ambitious game projects fail49:42 Community-first game development explained54:50 Responding to community criticism the right way56:15 NightHome closed beta and future plans57:01 Building a real game community on Discord58:46 Premium games, live content, and post-launch plans1:00:45 Designing games for streamers and viral moments1:03:40 Alexandre’s advice for game developers1:05:10 Wishlist NightHome and join the community

    1h 6m
  8. #66 - Maria Maunula: How Supercell Made Retros Actually Improve Teams

    May 7

    #66 - Maria Maunula: How Supercell Made Retros Actually Improve Teams

    Why do most retrospectives fail, and how do you turn them into a real driver of team performance? In this episode, I sit down with Maria Maunula, Senior Game Producer at Supercell, to break down how to run retrospectives that actually lead to change, not just empty discussions. From vague action items and anonymous feedback to team trust and accountability, we uncover why most teams get this wrong and how to fix it. We dive into practical frameworks for running better retros, how to structure them for small and large teams, and why frequency, ownership, and follow-up are the difference between stagnation and growth. If you're a game developer, team lead, or working in a fast-paced creative environment, this episode will fundamentally change how you think about improving your team. Connect with Maria:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmaunula/Supercell's games: https://supercell.com/en/games/Join Supercell: https://supercell.com/en/careers/#join Connect with Harry:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hphokouInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokou/ Join our industry events: https://hivemind.world/ Get exclusive podcast recaps & industry insights:→ Subscribe to The Gaming Playbook Weekly at https://join.thegamingplaybook.com/ Chapters:00:00 Intro01:51 From selling toilets to becoming a game producer03:40 What does a producer actually do?05:56 What are retrospectives and who needs them?07:55 Why most retros fail (and what goes wrong)11:21 Real example: connecting work to meaningful outcomes13:21 Should retros be emotional?14:45 Common mistake: focusing on behavior vs outcomes16:58 How often should you run retros?19:27 Ideal team size and retro duration21:25 Structuring a retro: what went well, challenges, actions24:05 Case study: fixing a real team workflow26:00 Missing link in remote teams (and how retros fix it)29:34 Avoiding bottlenecks and empowering the team32:04 Making retros engaging (Miro, visuals, themes)36:45 Timeboxing and participation techniques38:44 Biggest risks: blame culture and conflict40:37 How to follow up on action items properly43:19 Should all teams join the same retro?46:28 Measuring retro success with simple metrics48:59 Using data to influence leadership decisions51:29 Hiring insights: how to stand out in applications59:26 Final advice: making retros actually work

    1h 1m
See All (73)

About

On The Gaming Playbook, Harry Phokou sits down with experts in the games industry who have never been interviewed before. Through these in-depth conversations, Harry unpacks the "Playbook" that made them so successful. Skip the line on Tuesdays and download the real-life cheat codes every gaming industry pro needs to know. LinkedIn: @hphokou Instagram: @hphokou Newsletter: https://join.thegamingplaybook.com/ Business and guest inquiries: playbook@phokou.com

Information

You Might Also Like