Player Driven

Greg
  • 5.0(30개의 평가)
  • 관리
  • 매주 업데이트

Welcome to Player Driven, the hub where gaming insights and community collide.We believe that behind every great game is a thriving community and an unforgettable player experience. Whether it’s building inclusive environments, exploring the latest tech, or diving into the art of storytelling, our mission is simple: to empower the creators, communities, and players that make the gaming world extraordinary.What We’re About:🎮 Insightful Conversations – Through our podcast and community clubhouse, we bring industry leaders, creators, and innovators together to explore the cutting-edge of gaming.🌍 Player-Centric Focus – From accessibility to trust and safety, we champion the initiatives that keep players at the heart of the industry.📈 Data Meets Creativity – With a knack for combining KPIs with compelling narratives, we highlight strategies that don’t just work but resonate.🤝 Community Building – We celebrate what makes the gaming community special: its people. From indie developers to AAA veterans, every voice matters here.Join us as we explore what drives games, empowers communities, and defines success in the ever-evolving gaming landscape.Your Game. Your Story. Your Community.

  1. 2일 전

    ENCORE: Balancing Family, Career, and Community in the Games Industry

    Episode Summary How do you break into the games industry later in your career? And once you’re in, how do you build a meaningful life and community without burning out? In this episode, Greg is joined by Amir Satvat, a Business Development leader at Tencent and the winner of the "Game Changers" award. Amir is one of the industry's most important connectors, having built a community that has helped thousands find jobs and opportunities. Amir shares his incredible journey from finance at Goldman Sachs to gaming in his late 30s, offering a practical playbook for career pivots. He breaks down his disciplined, non-negotiable approach to balancing a high-stakes job with being a present father and husband, and reveals why true networking is a 12-month game of building relationships, not a last-minute job hunt. This conversation is packed with wisdom for anyone looking to build a sustainable and impactful career in games. Timestamps (01:55) The Pivot: Amir details his unconventional path from banking and healthcare into the games industry.(11:00) The Non-Negotiable Framework: How Amir uses rigorous time-blocking to protect family time and avoid burnout.(25:49) Confronting Ageism: Amir discusses the industry's challenge with retaining and valuing older talent.(32:25) The #1 Networking Mistake: Why you need to build relationships long before you need them.(39:40) The Financial Modeling Trap: How a finance-first mindset can be both a powerful tool and a creativity killer in game development. Guest Bio Amir Satvat is a leader in Business Development and Strategy at Tencent and the founder of a professional gaming community that has helped thousands of people. Known as one of the industry's most important connectors, his work is driven by a deep passion for helping others succeed. LinkedIn: Amir SatvatCommunity Hub: ASGC's Games Jobs Resources | WELCOME Key Topics Breaking into the games industry mid-careerEffective networking strategies for long-term successBalancing a demanding career with fatherhood and family lifeTransferable skills from other industries (finance, tech, healthcare)Community building and the power of trustContinuing education and staying relevantIndustry challenges: ageism, the future of consoles, and business models

    1시간 3분

  2. 2월 10일

    The Dark Souls of Politics: Gaming for Change

    On this episode of Player Driven, Lewis and Greg are joined by Joost Vervoort, Associate Professor at Utrecht University (in the Netherlands) and Science/Impact Director at Speculative Agency. We dive into the "imagination factory" of the games industry and explore how video games can move beyond simple escapism to become tools for systemic societal change and climate activism. 🎙️ Episode Highlights & Timestamps [00:50] Introducing Joost Vervoort: Background in ecology, political science, and 10 years of "action research" at the intersection of games and sustainability.[04:13] Formative Gaming: How the labyrinths of Doom and the emergent storytelling of Vampire: The Masquerade shaped Joost’s view of games as "imagination factories".[09:00] Project STRATEGIES: An EU-funded initiative exploring how the game industry can decarbonize while using games as a cultural phenomenon to influence societal discourse.[12:34] "All Will Rise" Deep Dive: A courtroom deck-builder inspired by Ace Attorney where you take billionaires to court for environmental destruction.[24:57] The "Dark Souls of Politics": Why high-difficulty games like Hollow Knight: Silksong and Elden Ring teach "perceived self-efficacy"—the belief that you can tackle messy, complex real-world challenges.[37:21] Examples of Excellence: Discussing Wolfenstein’s explicit anti-fascism and Citizen Sleeper’s focus on community resilience.[50:00] What’s Next for 2026?: The All Will Rise Kickstarter, visiting schools to promote game literacy, and Joost’s new research into "infrastructures of mystery".🧠 Key Themes & Learnings ⚖️ The Power of the "Speculative" Moving Beyond "Goody Two-Shoes" Design: Joost argues that games about climate change often fail because they are "too polite." All Will Rise embraces a "wild, poetic, and slightly naughty" vibe to make activism feel dangerous and exciting rather than like a lecture.Local Over Global: Instead of abstract "climate change," the game focuses on a burning river in a fictionalized South India (Kerala) to make the stakes concrete and personal.🛠️ Games as "Action Research" Self-Efficacy through Play: Beating a difficult boss in Dark Souls or Silksong can fundamentally change a player's relationship with reality, giving them the confidence to engage with "messy" politics in real life.Culture Building: Change doesn't happen through information alone; it happens by creating a gaming culture that normalizes new identities and standards.🏗️ Challenging the Industry The Publisher Paradox: Publishers often avoid "politically threatening" or narrative-heavy games for fear of backlash, driving innovative, "courageous" projects toward platforms like Kickstarter.🔗 Related Links Join the Community: Jump into our Discord to discuss the episode!Speculative Agency: Check out the upcoming All Will Rise Kickstarter.Project STRATEGIES: Learn about sustainable transition in the game industry.

    51분
  3. How AI Is Rewriting Trust and Safety in Games

    2월 3일

    How AI Is Rewriting Trust and Safety in Games

    Recorded live at Pocket Gamer London, Greg sits down with Hill from Checkstep for a wide ranging conversation on trust and safety, AI powered content detection, parenting in a gaming household, and why moderation is no longer just about removing harm. Hill shares her journey from data analyst to GTM leader in trust and safety, how Checkstep is building on top of the rapidly evolving AI ecosystem rather than competing with it, and why “build vs buy” decisions are becoming existential for modern studios. They explore: • What trust and safety really means for multiplayer games and UGC platforms • Why content detection is replacing traditional moderation language • How large language models are changing speed to value for studios • Where humans still matter in AI driven workflows • Detecting grooming and harmful behavior without exposing moderators to trauma • Why keystroke detection and behavioral patterns are becoming new signals • The real ROI conversation studios want proof on • Promoting positive player behavior instead of only policing bad actors • Parenting in a gaming household and how Greg thinks about kid safe play • Why balance beats bans when raising young players • Continuous learning, newsletters, and staying sharp in fast moving industries • What success looks like for startups scaling with investors • Hill’s 2026 goals and growing meaningful industry partnerships The conversation blends operator level insight with personal stories, from renovating bathrooms at night to Wordle streaks and Goat Simulator family sessions. If you care about LiveOps, community health, AI in CX, or building safer game ecosystems at scale, this episode is for you.

    44분
  4. The Riot Publishing Paradox and The Resurrection of Hytale

    1월 27일

    The Riot Publishing Paradox and The Resurrection of Hytale

    In this episode, Greg and Colan break down the surprising success of Hytale after its departure from Riot Games, the strategic restructuring at Ubisoft, and the evolving multi-platform future of Xbox. Colan provides a deep-dive "dissertation" on the three eras of Riot Games publishing and explains why the studio may be "trapped by its own success". Key Discussion Points1. The Hytale Miracle: From Cancellation to Chart-Topper The Buyback: After Riot Games effectively shuttered the project, the original founders bought back the rights and launched into Early Access. Market Dominance: Within its first weeks, Hytale ranked #4 in search and #9 on Twitch, commanding roughly 2.5% of the total gaming market. The China Factor: Colan highlights the massive "opportunity cost" for Riot/Tencent, noting that Hytale could have been a native competitor to Minecraft in a Chinese market with over 700 million accounts.2. The Evolution (and Stagnation) of Riot Games Publishing The Golden Era (2019-2020): Riot enjoyed a historic run with "heaters" like Valorant, Teamfight Tactics, and Legends of Runeterra. The "Trapped" Success: Colan argues that Riot is now bloated by the weight of its own success; the immense resources required to maintain massive live-service hits prevents them from taking bold risks on new IP. Riot Forge Lessons: Why Riot’s attempt to release smaller "love letters" to the community failed to act as a funnel for new players.3. Ubisoft’s Strategic Reset Cancellations & Restructuring: Ubisoft has canceled six games, including the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake, while mandating a 5-day return-to-office policy. The Global Shift: An analysis of why game development is shifting from expensive hubs like California to subsidized regions like Riyadh.4. The Shooter Landscape: Highguard vs. Marathon Highguard’s Attention Deficit: Despite viral memes, the game lacks measurable player attention, making it a high-risk launch in a genre dominated by Apex and Overwatch. The Case for Marathon: Colan remains "bullish" on Bungie’s Marathon, predicting it will successfully claim a "bronze medal" spot in the extraction shooter hierarchy.Featured Quotes"Riot is first-in-class at maintaining live ecosystems, but that success becomes a weight. Why risk anything when you have a thing you can monetize forever?" — Colan NeeseResources & Links Colan’s Newsletter: Subscribe to "Patch Notes" on Substack or LinkedIn for the full dissertation on Riot's publishing history. Player Driven Workshop: Sign up for next week’s player experience session at PlayerDriven.io. DICE Summit 2026: Catch Greg and Colan live in Las Vegas next month.

    56분

  5. 1월 20일

    300M Losses & $650 Legos: Is the Gaming Industry in a Tailspin?

    Episode SummaryIs the gaming industry entering a "negative flywheel"? This week, we dive into the staggering reports of Black Ops 6 underperforming and what it means for the future of Microsoft Gaming and potential layoffs. We also tackle Jeff Bezos’ controversial take on the death of the PC and why "anti-appliance" gaming is the future—even if latency remains our biggest enemy. Plus, we explore the "Whales of Gaming": why middle-aged millennials just dropped $650 on Pokemon Legos and how nostalgia is driving a new premium tier in the industry. Join the Community: https://discord.gg/ycdYB3mUUm Key Takeaways The Microsoft Dilemma: If the biggest game of the year reportedly loses $300M, how does the industry pivot to save costs without a "tailspin" of layoffs? The Cloud vs. The Box: Why Jeff Bezos thinks your local PC is going away, and the "speed of light" problem holding back cloud gaming for competitive players. Nostalgia as a Business Model: How Pokemon and Lego are "teaming up" to capture the high-disposable income of adult collectors while the younger generation sticks to free-to-play. Crypto Farmers' Last Laugh: Why the hardware once used for mining is now the most valuable asset in the AI revolution.Timestamps 00:00 – Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and the $300M Microsoft "Loss" 02:55 – Jeff Bezos vs. PC Gamers: Is the hardware era ending? 04:40 – The Latency Problem: Why cloud gaming can't beat the speed of light 08:20 – The $1,000 Gaming Machine: Why hardware costs are skyrocketing 11:30 – Lego Pokemon & The "Whale" Audience: Why we can't let go of childhood 18:30 – The Five-Headed Dragon: How Pokemon conquered every medium 24:30 – Personal Faves: Our "Mount Rushmore" of PokemonConnect with the Show Greg Posner: Playerdriven.io Colan Neese: SVP of Gaming at Screen Engine ASI. Find him on LinkedIn or subscribe to his newsletter, Patch Notes, on Substack. Join the Community: https://discord.gg/ycdYB3mUUm

    25분
  6. Player Support, Trust & Safety, and the Future of Community-Led Games | Schell Games

    1월 13일

    Player Support, Trust & Safety, and the Future of Community-Led Games | Schell Games

    In this episode of Player Driven, Greg Posner sits down with Laura Norwicke Hall, Senior Player Support Specialist at Schell Games, to unpack what modern player experience really looks like when games scale. Laura shares her unconventional journey from managing communications at a zoo to building player support and trust & safety systems for games like Among Us 3D and I Expect You to Die. Along the way, she breaks down how studios should think about moderation, community feedback, AI, and player trust not as reactive systems, but as core product infrastructure. This is a practical, behind-the-scenes conversation for anyone building or operating live games, platforms, or digital communities. 🔑 Key Topics & Takeaways🧠 Transferable Skills & Career GrowthLaura explains why soft skills, empathy, and cross-team communication often matter more than industry-specific experience, and how a growth mindset enabled her transition into game development. 🎮 Player Support as Product IntelligencePlayer support isn’t just about closing tickets. Laura walks through how player feedback becomes: Early bug detection LiveOps prioritization Internal advocacy for players And why every report deserves due diligence until proven otherwise.🔊 Voice Moderation, Trust & Safety at ScaleThe conversation dives deep into: Why Schell Games implemented voice moderation post-launch How AI-powered tools reduced toxicity by over 60% Why bans alone weren’t enough and how muting changed player sentiment The challenge of moderating reclaimed language and contextual speech🏠 Private Lobbies & Player ConsentLaura shares lessons learned from player backlash around moderation in private spaces and how Schell Games introduced opt-in unmoderated private lobbies with clear guardrails for safety and youth accounts. 🤖 AI as an Accelerator, Not a CrutchRather than chasing hype, Laura talks about using AI responsibly to: Learn faster Validate sources Improve response quality in player support While still maintaining human judgment and nuance.🔮 Looking Ahead: Community, AI, and 2026The episode closes with a forward-looking discussion on: Where AI fits into player experience next How studios should think about trust, safety, and community long-term Why listening systems will matter more than moderation systems alone🔗 Learn More Schell Games: https://www.schellgames.com Follow Player Driven for more conversations on the business of games, community, and player experience

    47분

  7. 1월 6일

    Building Media That Lasts 20 Years with Chris James, CEO of Steel Media

    What does it actually take to build a media and events business that survives multiple platform shifts, economic cycles, and industry hype waves? In this episode of Player Driven, Greg sits down with Chris James, CEO of Steel Media and the force behind Pocket Gamer and Pocket Gamer Connects, to break down two decades of hard-earned lessons at the intersection of games, media, business, and live events. Chris shares how Steel Media evolved from traditional games journalism into a global conference platform, why focus beats scale early, and why in-person connections still matter in a Zoom-first world. This conversation is packed with practical insights for founders, operators, and anyone building a long-term business in games or tech. Whether you are running a studio, launching a startup, or trying to scale a media brand, this episode cuts through hype and gets real about what actually works. Key Topics Covered• Building a focused media business instead of trying to do everything • The hardest moments of running a company and knowing when to cut losses • Why live events still drive trust and real business outcomes • Hiring decisions that unlock the next stage of growth • The long-term outlook for games despite short-term industry negativity Key Takeaways with Timestamps1) Focus beats ambition early Trying to be everything to everyone kills momentum. Sustainable growth starts with doing one or two things exceptionally well. ⏱️ 00:00 – 02:45 2) Knowing when to shut things down matters Sunk cost fallacy is real. Closing projects, even good ones, is often the most responsible leadership decision. ⏱️ 02:55 – 05:15 3) The games industry is bigger than the doom narrative Despite layoffs and turbulence, gaming continues to grow as both a business and a creative medium. ⏱️ 06:30 – 08:40 4) In-person events still create trust faster than digital Meetings, shared spaces, and real conversations remain critical for deal-making and long-term relationships. ⏱️ 11:00 – 15:30 5) Hiring should remove bottlenecks, not add comfort Your first hires should unlock growth by covering gaps, not cloning your own skill set. ⏱️ 35:15 – 37:45 If you care about the business of games, the future of media, and how to build something that lasts longer than the current hype cycle, this episode is for you. 🎧 Listen now and join the Player Driven community for more conversations like this.

    1시간

  8. 2025. 12. 30.

    ENCORE: Revolutionizing Reality: The Digital Overlay Transforming Retail and Gaming with Beau Button

    Episode Summary:In this special encore presentation, we revisit one of our earliest and most popular conversations. Originally recorded two years ago, Greg Posner sits down with Beau Button, the visionary CTO and Co-Founder of Atlas Reality. Beau breaks down how Atlas Reality is merging the digital and physical worlds through a "virtual real estate" metaverse that actually drives foot traffic to brick-and-mortar retail. From the transition from enterprise software to gaming to the "guerrilla warfare" of shipping a product, Beau offers a transparent look at the highs and lows of building a location-based gaming powerhouse. Key Takeaways: The Bridge to Physical Retail: Discover how Atlas Reality uses a patent-pending, card-linked reward system to motivate players to shop at physical stores, turning gaming into a powerful marketing engine for retail. A Pragmatic View of Web3: Why Atlas Reality identifies as a Web2 game inspired by Web3 tenets. Beau explains why "ownership" and "equity" matter more than buzzwords like blockchain or NFTs. The Reality of Startup Growth: Beau shares the "hard way" lessons of scaling from a 12-person startup to a 30+ person company, including the transition from "just get it out the door" to sustainable engineering. Community as a Founder: The mental health toll and strategic value of a founder personally managing Discord and Reddit communities during the first six months of a launch. The Future of Work: Why low-code, no-code, and generative AI aren't threats to engineers, but tools that turn great developers into "rockstars" by handling the boilerplate work.Memorable Quotes:"Building software is not hard. Shipping a software product is very hard.""I’m not a gamer in the traditional sense... I appreciate the machines, the energy, and I’m inquisitive. My take from games is: I just want to know how they work.""If you’re not establishing a customer feedback loop, you are doing yourself a disservice. It’s a blessing and a curse, but it’s essential."Links & Resources: Atlas Reality: atlasreality.com Connect with Beau Button: LinkedIn Connect with Greg Posner: LinkedIn

    55분
모두 보기(140개)

5
최고 5점
30개의 평가

소개

Welcome to Player Driven, the hub where gaming insights and community collide.We believe that behind every great game is a thriving community and an unforgettable player experience. Whether it’s building inclusive environments, exploring the latest tech, or diving into the art of storytelling, our mission is simple: to empower the creators, communities, and players that make the gaming world extraordinary.What We’re About:🎮 Insightful Conversations – Through our podcast and community clubhouse, we bring industry leaders, creators, and innovators together to explore the cutting-edge of gaming.🌍 Player-Centric Focus – From accessibility to trust and safety, we champion the initiatives that keep players at the heart of the industry.📈 Data Meets Creativity – With a knack for combining KPIs with compelling narratives, we highlight strategies that don’t just work but resonate.🤝 Community Building – We celebrate what makes the gaming community special: its people. From indie developers to AAA veterans, every voice matters here.Join us as we explore what drives games, empowers communities, and defines success in the ever-evolving gaming landscape.Your Game. Your Story. Your Community.

정보

  • 제작진
    Greg
  • 방송 연도
    2023년 - 2026년
  • 에피소드
    140
  • 등급
    전체 연령 사용가
  • 저작권
    © 2026 Player Driven
  • 웹사이트 보기
    Player Driven