The Gaming Playbook w/ Harry Phokou

Today's guest is Callum Godfrey, the Head of Third Party Publishing at nDreams.With over 20 years in the gaming industry, Callum has worked with major players like Activision, EA, King, and Wargaming. He’s been involved in everything from AAA titles to mobile games and now focuses on the fast-evolving world of VR. These days, he’s back to being hands-on with game teams, leading third-party publishing at nDreams, and pushing the boundaries of VR gaming.In this podcast, he shares his journey through the gaming industry, offering valuable insights on understanding your audience, prioritizing LiveOps, and pitching to publishers. He also explores the future of AAA games and provides practical tips for handling layoffs.Whether you're a game developer or part of a gaming studio aiming to publish your game or implement LiveOps effectively, this podcast is for you.Connect with Callum:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callum-godfrey-89a42b4/Connect with Harry:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/Youtube: ⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@hphokouInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokouSign up to Gaming Rally Newsletter (Harry Phokou & Ali Farha's weekly newsletter): gamingrally.netChapters:00:00 Introduction3:11 Why Knowing Your Audience Is Key8:45 How To Effectively Understand Your Audience13:33 Breaking Down Audience Data With Three Key Pillars19:26 Why It’s Worth Prioritizing LiveOps Early24:36 Essential Roles and Tools for Building a LiveOps Game32:27 What Does the Future Look Like For Triple-A Games?38:36 The Do’s and Don’ts of Pitching to a Publisher49:40 Survival Tips For Those Laid Off57:16 Ways To Connect and Reach Out to Callum

Today's guest is Chris O'Connell, a renowned recruitment mentor and host of The Purpose-Led Leadership Podcast.Chris is a former global top biller at SThree and the founder of a £25M recruitment business, which he successfully scaled and sold. With over 75,000 LinkedIn followers and a track record of mentoring over 50 businesses, Chris now helps recruitment leaders build purpose-driven, high-performing companies. He specializes in leadership coaching, talent management, business development, and strategy execution, guiding leaders through transformational growth and exit strategies.In this podcast, Chris O'Connell shares heartfelt lessons from his coaching experience and personal struggles. He opens up about the tough challenges that shaped him, offering advice on how to stay resilient, lead with purpose, and keep growing. You'll also hear practical tips on business development and creating a healthy work-life balance.This podcast is perfect for CEOs, entrepreneurs, and business owners who want to grow both personally and professionally while building stronger, more successful businesses.Connect with Chris:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chrisoconnellcoachConnect with Harry:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@hphokouInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokouSign up to Gaming Rally Newsletter (Harry Phokou & Ali Farha's weekly newsletter): gamingrally.netChapters:00:00 Introduction1:46 Why Vision and Purpose Matter Most07:14 Generating Business Using LinkedIn16:11 Effective Task Management Advice18:40 Overcoming the Struggle of Delegating Tasks and Giving Instructions22:37 Chris’s Story: Turning Adversity into Strength31:13 How the Right Team Can Transform Your Business and Mindset36:53 Setting Boundaries to Avoid Burnout40:15 Building a Proactive Business Development Culture for Long-Term Growth45:55 Truly Getting To Know Your Team48:20 Keeping Yourself Accountable, Not Your Team50:33 Treating Business as a Marathon, Not a Sprint52:50 My Career Journey: Learning Over Earning56:04 What Gets Chris Up In The Morning57:48 What Does The Future of Chris O’Connell Look Like?01:00:21 Ways To Reach Out To Chris

Today’s guest is Christina-Marie Drake, a leading recruiter at Ghostpunch Games and founder of Moms in Gaming.With nearly a decade of experience in HR and recruitment, including five years in the gaming industry, Christina-Marie has helped connect top talent to game studios through her expertise in social networking, leadership, and strategic initiatives. A former recruiter at Naughty Dog, she transitioned from contract work to full-time roles, driven by her passion for candidate experience and human connection. Christina-Marie is also a proud Women in Games Ambassador and LinkedIn Top Voice.In this podcast, she shares practical steps for handling a layoff, from preparation to securing your next job. She discusses her own layoff experience and offers advice on building a master resume, deciding whether to learn new skills or keep applying, and filling gaps in your resume. Christina also addresses age-related concerns in job hunting and how to broaden your search to different titles. The episode wraps up with a Q&A session for additional insights.This podcast is for professionals facing or recovering from layoffs, career changers, and anyone looking to enhance their job search strategies.Connect with Christina:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinasaidso/Connect with Harry:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/Youtube: ⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@hphokouInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokouSign up to Gaming Rally Newsletter (Harry Phokou & Ali Farha's weekly newsletter): gamingrally.netChapters:00:00 Introduction1:44 Christina’s Layoff Story5:22 Preparation For a Layoff08:47 Building a Master Resume15:56 Learning New Skills or Keep Applying23:22 What’s Stopping You From Taking a Side Job?29:10 Filling That Gap In Your Resume35:07 Practical Advice On Handling a Layoff46:00 Does Age Matter In Job Search?54:42 Expanding Your Job Search to New Titles56:10 Ways To Connect With Christina57:17 Getting a Job Without Experience01:02:12 Wrap-Up Q&A with Harry Phokou

Today's guest is Simran Whitham, founder and CEO of FORMAT, the award-winning events production and creative agency.With over 8 years of experience in marketing and production across the events, video games, and digital creative industries, Simran has co-founded and worked as Head of Marketing at Tri-Heart Interactive, Head of Player Engagement at Milky Tea, Lead Social Media Manager at The Lowry Theatre, and marketing executive at VR/AR studio XR Games. Along the way, he gained invaluable experience that inspired him to create FORMAT, a leading games industry community nightlife event.In this episode, Simran delves into the secrets behind organizing successful and profitable events. He shares the journey of FORMAT, from its inception to groundbreaking gaming events, and offers practical advice on everything from generating lead flow and tracking attendees to finding the balance between profitability and fun. Simran also provides insights on overcoming challenges, networking strategies, and how to make your event stand out.This podcast is ideal for event planners, aspiring entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in the events and games industries. Whether you're looking to launch your first event or seeking ways to optimize and grow your existing business, this podcast is for you.Connect with Simran:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simran-whitham-939957143/X: https://x.com/simranwhithamConnect with Harry:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/Youtube: ⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@hphokouInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokouSign up to Gaming Rally Newsletter (Harry Phokou & Ali Farha's weekly newsletter): gamingrally.netChapters:00:00 Introduction00:40 What is FORMAT?1:46 The Origin Story of Revolutionary Gaming Events7:40 Simran’s Resilience and Going Against the Stream9:58 What Makes FORMAT Events Better Than Others12:50 Tips For Starting Your Very First Event18:47 How to Generate Lead Flow Like FORMAT20:41 Strategies for Tracking Attendees and Managing Data24:24 You Win Or You Learn26:46 What to Do When Hard Work Isn't Paying Off30:42 The Importance of Networking and Going to Events35:19 Lesser-Known Events Worth Attending37:49 Simran’s Networking Strategy for Gamescom45:15 FORMAT’s Way To Making Event Business Profitable50:49 Capitalistic and Profitable or Fun and Losing Money56:21 How To Organize a Fun and Profitable Event1:04:40 Advice For Aspiring Entrepreneurs1:07:40 Ways To Connect and Find Out More About Simran

Today's guest is Tarak Ford, Head of Development at Kwalee, a leading mobile game publisher and developer that also creates games for PC and consoles.With over 12 years in the industry, Tarak started in external QA and quickly moved into leadership roles at studios like Lionhead and Crytek. At Kwalee, he’s been key in growing the team from just 20 people to over 400, opening offices around the world, and helping the company publish games on almost every platform, reaching over a billion downloads.In this podcast, he shares his experiences managing global teams, the challenges of growing an international remote studio, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. He offers practical advice on improving onboarding processes, dealing with cultural differences, building cohesive teams through diversity, and more.This podcast is perfect for game development professionals, from aspiring leaders and team managers to studio founders and HR specialists, who want to learn how to successfully build and manage teams in the gaming industry.Connect with Tarak:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarakford/Connect with Harry:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/Youtube: ⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@hphokouInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokouSign up to Gaming Rally Newsletter (Harry Phokou & Ali Farha's weekly newsletter): gamingrally.netChapters:00:00 Introduction01:04 Tarak’s Day-to-Day Life as a Head of Development at Kwalee02:21 Growing Teams and Starting Remotely03:57 Why Build an International Remote Team05:54 Lessons from Building an International Remote Studio08:40 How to Deal With Cultural Differences10:53 Improving Onboarding Experience for a Candidate14:15 Practical Tips and Advice for Candidates23:59 Innovation Through Diversity of Thought27:12 How to Build a Cohesive Team31:16 Useful Tools for Managing Teams Globally33:55 How to Optimize Tool Costs39:31 Onboarding to a Company's Values and Culture46:26 Tips for Growing a Team for the First Time

Today’s guest is… me, Harry Phokou. I was invited to join Andrew Pappas on the Indie Game Movement podcast to discuss business development. In this episode, I shared my journey of launching a ghostwriting business back in April and offered practical tips on leveraging LinkedIn for growth in the gaming industry. We covered personal branding, optimizing LinkedIn profiles, starting meaningful conversations, and creating content that attracts leads. I also explored consulting opportunities and highlighted the importance of maintaining effort and momentum for sustained business growth. If you’re an indie game developer or industry professional seeking practical tips and strategies to enhance your business development and leverage LinkedIn for growth, this podcast is for you. Connect with Andrew: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpappas-rengen/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/_andrewpappasSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/09Oe1whtHspOllY7DpHlrm?si=7c16add38f3a4cbe Connect with Harry:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/Youtube: ⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@hphokouInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokou Sign up to my weekly Newsletter for gaming professionals: gamingrally.net Chapters:00:00 Introduction2:04 The Gaming Playbook Podcast3:13 From Business Development to Personal Branding and Ghostwriting5:35 Hobbies and Networking7:40 The Q Box Round: Momentum, Real Name, and Gaming Preferences11:30 The Importance of Business Development16:01 Creating Business Opportunities with LinkedIn21:33 Optimizing LinkedIn and Starting Conversations32:12 Content to Post on LinkedIn40:13 Treating LinkedIn Like a Radio and Understanding the Algorithm46:12 Growth Opportunities for Indie Studios50:53 In-depth Advice on Consulting01:00:01 Final Advice: Conversation Stats, Momentum, Continuous Learning01:03:52 Special Offer and Ways to Connect

Today’s guest is Raphael Colantonio, President and Creative Director at Wolf Eye Studios.Raphael Colantonio has been a prominent figure in the game industry since 1993. He founded Arkane Studios in 1999 and brought us classics like Arx Fatalis, Dark Messiah, Bioshock 2 (co-development), and the Dishonored series. With hundreds of awards to his name, Raphael co-founded WolfEye Studios in 2019, releasing Weird West in 2022. Besides his expertise in creative direction and game mechanics, Raphael is also a talented musician, having composed music for Dishonored, Prey, and Weird West.In this podcast, he shares his journey from Arkane Studios to founding WolfEye, diving into his passion for game development, the challenges of creating games, the importance of long-term teams, and managing a remote studio.This podcast is for anyone interested in game development, from aspiring developers and studio founders to gaming enthusiasts looking for behind-the-scenes insights.Connect with Raphael:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphael-colantonio-658350/Twitter/X: https://x.com/rafcolantonioInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rafcolantonio/Connect with Harry:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hphokouInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokouRaphael’s music: https://www.youtube.com/@WeirdWolvesSign up to Gaming Rally Newsletter (Harry Phokou & Ali Farha's weekly newsletter): gamingrally.netChapters:00:00 Introduction2:09 Raphael's Journey: From Arkane to WolfEye5:33 The Drive of Passion in Raphael's Career Choice10:40 Playing Games or Exploring Worlds14:33 Embracing Failure in the Game Development Process22:25 Dishonored 1 vs Dishonored 2: Production Challenges and the Importance of Lore28:00 Balancing Roles: President, Co-Creative Director, and CEO31:32 The Value of a Long-Term Team at WolfEye39:57 Remote Work and Team Synchronization43:54 WolfEye and Their Debut Game 'Weird West'45:37 Practical Advice for Founders49:48 Ways to Connect and Check Out Raphael’s Work

Today's guest is Kshiraj Telang, a seasoned artist and Art Director at Moon Active.With over 20 years in the entertainment industry, including over a decade in mobile games, Kshiraj has worked at 11 gaming studios worldwide, gaining a unique perspective on diverse environments. He began his career as a cartoonist, evolving into roles as an animator, web artist, and flash game designer. Now, Kshiraj leads a talented team at Moon Active, providing vision for the company and its products. He also launched the 'Doodles to Downloads' podcast to give back to the industry and share insights on game art. In this podcast, he shares insights into the differences in work culture between various countries and the impact of these experiences on his professional development. Kshiraj also discusses the challenges and strategies of managing a globally distributed remote team. Additionally, he touches on how to become a better leader and the critical role of decision-making.This episode offers valuable inspiration and practical advice for aspiring or senior artists and leaders in the gaming industry. Andrew Hubermann's podcast about the GrowthMindset: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQDOU3hPci0⁠Connect with Kshiraj:LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kshiraj/⁠Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DoodlestoDownloadsInstagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/kshiraj/⁠Connect with Harry:LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/⁠Youtube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@UCtZBNcgtKJR2NtGct3-cFWg ⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokou/Sign up to Gaming Rally Newsletter (Harry Phokou & Ali Farha's weeklynewsletter): gamingrally.net⁠Chapters:00:00 Introduction01:20 Kshiraj’s Career Journey and Podcasting04:12 Lessons Learned from Working Across Cultures06:07 How to manage a remote team09:24 How Cultural Mindset Influenced Kshiraj's Career12:06 King vs. Rovio: Cultural and Work Style Differences17:04 Quality or Iterative Art? Which is better?19:03 How Iteration Affects Motivation21:31 Kshiraj's Way to Enable a Team as an Art Leader28:26 The Vision Behind a Fully Remote Global Studio35:05 Helpful Tools for Remote Work from Kshiraj39:58 Why the Mobile Industry? Its Dominance and Kshiraj's Choice44:16 Advice for Aspiring Artists47:13 How to Become a Great Leader: Essential Traits and Skills54:09 How Kshiraj Winds Down After Work55:53 Ways to Connect and Kshiraj’s podcast56:34 Final AdviceMusic: https://www.bensound.comLicense code: TPMOHN9REZGWEFBQ

Today’s guest is Selim Ozturk, founder and director of The Pixel Movement a global gaming recruitment agency.Over the last 12 years, he transitioned from sales to recruitment, excelling not only in finding the right candidates but also in building long-term partnerships. In the last four years, he focused on gaming recruitment and founded 2 agencies having placed 100s of candidates. The Pixel Movement now supports game developers, publishers, gaming VCs and gaming service providers globally.In this episode, he shares valuable lessons on building long-term relationships, innovative approaches to supporting clients and candidates, and how to streamline the interview process for better outcomes.This podcast is for both current and aspiring gaming professionals, hiring managers, and recruiters.Please enjoy this episode of the Gaming Playbook.Connect with Selim:LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/selimozturkConnect with Harry:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokouYoutube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@hphokouInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokouSign up to Gaming Rally Newsletter (Harry Phokou & Ali Farha's weekly newsletter): gamingrally.netChapters:00:00 Introduction03:24 Selim’s Journey into Gaming Recruitment07:35 Founding The Pixel Movement and Its Vision12:20 What Most Studios Get Wrong About the Recruitment Process15:30 What Makes a Better Interview Process18:59 The Importance of Feedback for Both Candidates and Clients28:06 How to Build Long-Term Relationships37:53 How Trust Helps Selim Achieve Great Results47:20 Balancing Empathy and Process in Recruitment58:22 Selim’s Advice for Aspiring Recruiters1:02:47 Selim’s Advice for Gaming Professionals Out of Work1:05:47 The Pixel Movement's Unique Feature1:08:41 Ways to Connect with Selim

Today’s guest is Ferran Punti García, The Breach Studios co-founder and CEO.With extensive experience in the gaming industry and beyond, he was a pioneer in organizing eSports championships for Starcraft and Counter-Strike1.6. He created a successful franchise of PC cafés in Spain and then pivoted to game development, working on Java and early Unity games. Later, he co-founded Kerad Games with famous footballer Gerard Piqué, serving as CMO and overseeing Golden Manager. After 7 years, he co-founded The Breach Studios, where he now drives its success as CEO with their latest award-winning game "Project ST".In this podcast, he shares the highs and lows of being CEO and running your own studio, the challenges of keeping the studio alive, and insights on creating standout games.If you're a CEO in the gaming industry or someone aspiring to start your own gaming studio, or if you're looking to refine how you manage your current studio, this podcast is for you.'Project ST' game trailer ➜ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATjKIKEWBIEThe Breach Studios official website ➜ https://thebreachstudios.com/Sign up for Gaming Rally (Ali Farha & Harry Phokou's free weekly email newsletter): https://gaming-rally.ck.page/newsletterConnect w/ Ferran Punti (Guest):LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ferranpunti/Twitter/𝕏: https://x.com/ferranpuntConnect w/ Harry Phokou (Host):LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@hphokouInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokouChapters:00:00 Introduction3:22 Ferran's Background and Journey to Becoming CEO06:37 What is the role of a CEO?10:06 CEO Realities: Disasters and Mistakes16:20 Ferran's Way Through Problems: Resilience, Networking, and Never Giving Up21:26 How to Develop a Game That Stands Out in 202430:26 Are Games Only About Money Nowadays?35:58 Ferran's Decision-Making Advice for Sustaining a Gaming Studio40:18 Ferran on LinkedIn: Networking, Hiring, and the Challenge of Commercial Spam44:40 Advice for Aspiring CEOs49:23 Ways to Learn More About Ferran's Work