Rise and Play Podcast

How often do we look back and share openly what led to a studio's closing? While we can learn from success, we can learn as much from failures. And we should, especially given how many studios are unfortunately closing these days.In this episode, we go back to the story of Skunkworks Games, the makers of Merge Friends, a notable successful merge game released in 2019 during the rise of other new merge games.----Thank you to our sponsor! Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠go.solsten.io⁠⁠⁠⁠ and mention Rise x Play for a demo and receive a free feature, theme, and art style study included with your Navigator purchase, a $20,000 value. Offer valid through 8/31/23.----A few years later in 2022, we hear the company is shutting down and filing for bankruptcy. The game is no longer running, the whole team has to go and find a new job. What happened? What can we learn from this story to not repeat similar stories? Learn from Collin Foss, ex-CPO at Skunkworks Games on the key lessons and postmortem of the studio. As the management, how do you close a company when you know this is the end? How do you communicate it to the team, when and how? If you enjoyed today's episode make sure to rate it on Spotify, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, or simply share it with a friend. Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play: ⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit riseandplay.substack.com

In this episode previously streamed on 27.04 in partnership with Evolution Nordics, I will share my expertise on the principles of non-violent communication and how they can be applied in a leadership role. Watch the full online workshop here: https://youtu.be/GDRPJL5Sm30----Thank you to our sponsor! Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠go.solsten.io⁠⁠⁠⁠ and mention Rise x Play for a demo and receive a free feature, theme, and art style study included with your Navigator purchase, a $20,000 value. Offer valid through 8/31/23. ----We will delve into the fundamentals of non-violent communication (framework from Marshall Rosenberg), exploring how it can promote understanding, compassion, and empathy in a leadership context. We will also discuss how leaders can utilize these principles to build stronger relationships with their teams, manage conflicts more effectively, and promote a culture of open and honest communication. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting, learning the NVC framework will help you immediately enhance your communication and leadership skills!If you enjoyed today's episode make sure to rate it on Spotify, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, or simply share it with a friend. Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play: ⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit riseandplay.substack.com

We are following up on the previous episode recorded with Miska Katkoff (How To Become A Stoic Leader And Control Your Emotions) to continue our applications of Stoicism to leadership and business. We invited this time, Arseny Lebedev, co-founder and CEO of Original Games and ex-Head of Studio at Machine Zone to talk about applying Stoic principles to business decisions. We all have our internal model to make decisions, but is it always reliable? Video of the episode: https://youtu.be/j8l9IY5q6ZY----Thank you to our sponsor! Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠go.solsten.io⁠⁠⁠⁠ and mention Rise x Play for a demo and receive a free feature, theme, and art style study included with your Navigator purchase, a $20,000 value. Offer valid through 8/31/23. ----We will cover the 4 principles of Stoic philosophy: Justice, Bravery, Temperance, and Wisdom, and how you can apply those in the everyday life business. Arseny will share the case that led him to decide to relocate his whole company from Russia to Portugal when the war in Ukraine hit. Those business decisions always have pros and cons in the long term, but how to avoid the worse decisions? That's where a bit of Stoic thinking can help you!If you enjoyed today's episode make sure to rate it on Spotify, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, or simply share it with a friend. Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play: ⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit riseandplay.substack.com

What is the most fundamental human need: to be seen and recognized for who we are? When holding a management position, how is being yourself a realistic expectation? We discuss in this new episode with Miska the limitations of being truly yourself as a leader. It is easier and even recommended to be yourself when you're part of a game team (i.e. Product Manager, Producer), to build trust and connection with your team. When you are in a management role (i.e. CEO/C-level/VP, Game Director), your title precedes you, and being too much "yourself" can have damaging consequences for people and create an environment of anxiety. Here are some pitfalls: revealing strategic information in the wrong timing or context, saying something that will be misinterpreted, or saying a bad joke. ------------------------------Thank you to our sponsor! Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠go.solsten.io⁠⁠⁠⁠ and mention Rise x Play for a demo and receive a free feature, theme, and art style study included with your Navigator purchase, a $20,000 value. Offer valid through 8/31/23.-------------------------------We will share in this episode several frameworks of communication: Layer your communication with different groups and audiences. Be close and yourself with the people you need to be close to (your core team), not everyone in the company. Accept being disliked for your image, not for who you truly are. You are not a Lead to be liked. You are a Lead to make the right (and unpopular) decisions for the long-term benefit of the company and team.Link to the video of the episode: https://youtu.be/FdrnkMVqe6QIf you enjoyed today's episode make sure to rate it on Spotify, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, or simply share it with a friend. Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play: ⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit riseandplay.substack.com

Maverick Games is a brand-new AAA studio formed by the ex-Forza Horizon Directors. We interview today Harinder Sangha, their COO who shares the foundational journey of the company. Harinder has worked 20 years in tech, and 16 years in the games industry, including building successful studios with a great culture. Sangha is an award-winning studio leader who previously helped form SEGA HARDlight and Sumo Leamington.------------------------------Thank you to our sponsor! Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠go.solsten.io⁠⁠⁠⁠ and mention Rise x Play for a demo and receive a free feature, theme, and art style study included with your Navigator purchase, a $20,000 value. Offer valid through 8/31/23.-------------------------------If you enjoyed today's episode make sure to rate it on Spotify, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, or simply share it with a friend. Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play: ⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit riseandplay.substack.com

How did you start your career in games? Did you also think that working hard, hustling, and reaching "success" at work would bring happiness and fulfillment? How do you reflect on those earlier years of sacrifice for work, that you will never get back? Hear the candid and personal story of the successful Game Designer and Executive Producer Ethan Levy (ex-EP at N3twork and Bioware), also known for hosting The Deconstructor Of Fun podcast, who reflects on his career in games. Ethan shares what he wishes he knew before he began his career and the feeling of regret of sacrificing his personal life for work. Is it ever worth it in the end?------------------------------Thank you to our sponsor! Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠go.solsten.io⁠⁠⁠⁠ and mention Rise x Play for a demo and receive a free feature, theme, and art style study included with your Navigator purchase, a $20,000 value. Offer valid through 8/31/23.-------------------------------If you enjoyed today's episode make sure to rate it on Spotify, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, or simply share it with a friend. Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play: ⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit riseandplay.substack.com

Getting into an emotionally charged conversation at work is one of the most uncomfortable feelings. As a leader, you cannot really get away from it. You start to feel uncomfortable and anxious about the hard conversation you need to have (i.e. dismissal, reassignment, negative feedback, project canceled, conflict resolution...). Your report can feel it too, so everyone feels uncomfortable. It doesn't help to get anywhere. -------------------------------Thank you to our sponsor! Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠go.solsten.io⁠⁠⁠⁠ and mention Rise x Play for a demo and receive a free feature, theme, and art style study included with your Navigator purchase, a $20,000 value. Offer valid through 8/31/23.-------------------------------So how do you approach those conversations in a more serene way, while showing empathy? The work starts with you getting self-awareness of what the situation is and controlling your feelings, preparing for the talk. Learn from Julie Beaugrand (Head of Studio & VP at Rovio), Benjamin Chevalier (co-founder at Mighty Bear Games), and Sophie Vo (General Manager at Savage Game Studios), who share their experience, their learnings, mistakes, and self-management tools. Link to Julie's previous episode on Building The Next Casual Hit At RovioLink to Ben's previous episode on Building A Western Culture Studio in AsiaDon't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play: ⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit riseandplay.substack.com

We often confuse the role of a manager and of a leader. Being a good manager doesn't imply that you are a great leader. Referring back to the episode "How To Lead With A Coaching Mindset" we recorded with Ben and Aaron, a manager's focus is to optimize the outcome of an existing system while maintaining or improving the status quo. A leader's focus is to influence others toward a common goal. A leader sets a direction or changes through influence and extremely good communication. -------------------------------Thank you to our sponsor! Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠go.solsten.io⁠⁠⁠⁠ and mention Rise x Play for a demo and receive a free feature, theme, and art style study included with your Navigator purchase, a $20,000 value. Offer valid through 8/31/23.-------------------------------In this episode, we walk through Ioana Hreninciuc's journey from being the Head of Product at Game Analytics, to becoming the CEO of the company. What was the skill and mental switch required to fulfill the position? What can help you make the switch from "getting things done" to "influencing others to get things done"? The role and responsibilities of a C-level are not for everyone. Is that challenge the right one for you as you look to grow in your career?Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play: ⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit riseandplay.substack.com

In this episode, we continue on the topic of boundaries⁠ with Maria Maunula Senior Producer at Rovio Entertainment Corporation, and Sophie Vo GM at Savage Game Studios, and how to apply those in the role of Producer. Everyone comes to you for every day's requests and problems when you are the Producer. How do you master "Saying no" more often? Learn the communication tools on how to set clear producer boundaries at work. The best producers keep focus and push back distractions to get things done!-------------------------------Thank you to our sponsor! Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠go.solsten.io⁠⁠⁠⁠ and mention Rise x Play for a demo and receive a free feature, theme, and art style study included with your Navigator purchase, a $20,000 value. Offer valid through 8/31/23."-------------------------------Maria Maunula is currently a Senior Producer at Rovio. She has been a producer with years of experience in the games industry, working on businesses of all sizes, from small startups to big corporations such as Seriously, DoDreams, and Nitro Games.Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play: ⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blogHighly recommended reads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/944267.Boundarieshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53359440-boundary-bossArticle on boundaries at work from Ioana Hreninciuchttps://www.riseandplay.io/blogs/how-to-set-boundaries-at-work This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit riseandplay.substack.com

“Neurodiversity” explains the unique ways people's brains work. While everyone's brain develops similarly, no two brains function just alike. Being neurodivergent means having a brain that works differently from the average or “neurotypical” person. ADHD, Autism, Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, and Tourette's syndrome are all examples of neurodiverse conditions. They're diagnostic labels used to explain the diverse ways of thinking, learning, processing, and behaving.-------------------------------Thank you to our sponsor! Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠go.solsten.io⁠⁠⁠⁠ and mention Rise x Play for a demo and receive a free feature, theme, and art style study included with your Navigator purchase, a $20,000 value. Offer valid through 8/31/23."-------------------------------As the leader of your organisation, how inclusive are you of neurodiversity at work? Your employees won't tell you that they're neurodiverse if they don't feel part of an inclusive workplace, or trust that it won't be used against their career progression and performance. How can you be proactive and supportive about it as an employer? What talent opportunities are you missing out on by excluding neurodiverse people? Learn more about ADHD and mental health conditions from Alice Bowman's testimonial, Product Lead at MAG Interactive. Alice is offering insights into the challenges of some of those mental health conditions, and how it could be a virtue at work and for leaders. Hear ideas of what you can implement in your workplace to be more inclusive for people with mental health challenges. Alice has previously worked for companies such as Trailmix, Netspeak Games, and Outplay Entertainment.Shout outs:Safe In Our World  as a great wealth of resources and support for mental health in the games industry ✨Adam Clewes-Boyne whose new community Playing Attention is dedicated to supporting folks with ADHD in the industry 🌟Dominic Shaw who is constantly advocating for neurodiverse individuals through his work with Ukie - The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment, Autistica and #RaisetheGame 💪Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play: ⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit riseandplay.substack.com