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Rise and Play Podcast

Rise and Play Podcast

By Sophie Vo

At Rise and Play, we give voice to leaders, entrepreneurs, educators and influencers of the game industry who are here to make a change. We love games and want to make this industry last through healthy team cultures, awareness and education.

Each episode will tackle a wide range of important topics such as leadership, team culture, self-management, conscious leadership, work-life balance, game education, ethics in business, equality, diversity and inclusion... brought by the different perspectives of our guests.
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18. MasterClass Special - Crystallise Your Team Vision

Rise and Play PodcastOct 19, 2021

00:00
18:04
118. Growing Beatstar Into A $125M hit - with Game Lead Charmie Kim

118. Growing Beatstar Into A $125M hit - with Game Lead Charmie Kim

In this episode, we deconstruct the success of Beatstar, from the lens of design and company culture at Space Ape Games, with our special guest Charmie Kim, Game lead at Space Ape Games.

We explore the evolution of game development from first-mover advantages beginnings to the complex, research-driven approach necessary in today's competitive market.

Through Charmie's journey from working on Samurai Siege Live Ops to leading the highly successful music game Beatstar, we uncover insights on how to innovate within various game genres, and the importance of research, marketing, and adapting to the market. Beatstar has grossed over $125m and has attracted over 60m players since its launch in September 2021.

Key takeaways: the significance of direct player engagement, the strategic necessity of market research before genre selection, and the pivotal role of diverse team adaptability in meeting contemporary gaming demands.

01:35 Charmie Kim: A Trailblazer in Game Design and Leadership

06:00 Tracing Charmie Kim's Journey from Fashion to Game Design

15:47 The Strategic Shift at Space Ape Games: Exploring New Genres

20:32 Innovating in the Music Game Genre with BeatStar

32:06 The Importance of Market Research in Modern Game Development

37:13 Concluding Thoughts and the Future of Game Development


💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Mar 26, 202438:34
117. Inside Paladin Studios: A 20-Year CEO Journey With Derk De Geus

117. Inside Paladin Studios: A 20-Year CEO Journey With Derk De Geus

We interview Derk De Geus, co-CEO and Co-Founder of Paladin Studio to explore leadership lessons learned over two decades in the gaming industry. The episode covers the genesis of Paladin Studio, its transition from a service company to a game development studio, and how it navigated challenges and growth without external investment. Bootstrapping successfully a studio is a rare story we hear of these days!

Derk shares insights on the importance of self-awareness, empathetic communication, and aligning one's core being with their professional roles. The discussion delves into the pitfalls of rapid scaling, the benefits of retreats for personal and leadership development, and the significance of creating a supportive and creative company culture.


01:37 The Genesis of Paladin Studio: A 20-Year Journey

03:50 Navigating the Early Days and the Shift to Entertainment Games

09:20 The Evolution of Leadership and Business Strategy

16:14 The CEO's Dilemma: Balancing Creativity and Business and Finding Balance

23:20 Embracing Creativity Beyond Work

24:11 The Synergy of Creative and Business Minds

26:13 The CEO Role Reimagined: Co-CEO for Creative Freedom

26:25 Navigating Operational and Strategic Challenges

28:33 The Transformative Power of Retreats

35:26 Leadership as a Journey of Self-Discovery

39:59 Cultivating a Culture of Shared Values


💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Mar 19, 202442:07
116. Inside Interior Night: Building Innovative Stories For Mature Audiences

116. Inside Interior Night: Building Innovative Stories For Mature Audiences

Different teams make different games, for different audiences,

In this episode, we interview the duo Caroline Marchal and Charu Desodt, respectively CEO and Studio Director at Interior Night, to share their journey building an innovative AAA studio from scratch.

Interior Night is an independent game studio formed by Quantic Dream and Sony veterans based in London, dedicated to creating innovative interactive stories for a broad and mature audience. They are the crreators of the original interactive drama As Dusk Falls , a new take on narrative games which received unanimous reviews (9/10 IGN, 9/10 GameSpot, 9/10 Steam).

We cover the evolution of the AAA industry, the growth of representation of women in gaming, the journey of starting a new AAA studio and the significance of having a clear vision and being persistent with it. Caroline had a strong vision of a new kind of AAA narrative games she wanted to make for a mature audience (mothers, non gamers, spouses), and supported by a highly experienced diverse team, she materialized that vision successfully with their first title As Dusk Falls.

01:16 Interior Night Studio: A Female-Led Game Development Studio

02:21 The Journey of the Studio Founders: From Game Designers to Studio Leaders

06:26 The Birth of Interior Night: A Leap of Faith into Entrepreneurship

09:44 The Making of 'As Dust Falls': A Unique Interactive Narrative Experience

18:54 The Impact of 'As Dust Falls' on Players: A New Approach to Gaming

22:01 The Journey of Funding and Building a Game Studio

30:38 Reflections on Leadership and the Future of the Gaming Industry


💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Mar 12, 202440:19
115. Laura Carter CEO's Diary: Leading A Purpose-Driven Gaming Company in 2024

115. Laura Carter CEO's Diary: Leading A Purpose-Driven Gaming Company in 2024

In this episode, we follow the journey of Laura Carter, CEO and co-founder of TreesPlease Games, with the mission to bring a positive impact on the planet, through games. After a stellar career at companies such as Natural Motion, Square Enix, The Walt Disney Company and PlayStation Studios, Laura decided in 2019 to take a leap and bring her passion for the planet and business together and found TreesPlease Games.

TreesPlease Games raised $8M in seed funding in 2023: https://mobilegamer.biz/treesplease-games-gets-8m-in-seed-funding-reveals-debut-game-longleaf-valley/

Laura shares about the process of navigating the challenges of starting a company as an initial solo founder, raising funds, assembling a team, making a game that aligns with the company's environmental mission, and managing the operational demands of achieving the company's goals. The team at Trees Please is proud to have planted nearly a million trees through their gaming activity and first casual puzzle title Longleaf Valley. Despite various challenges, TreesPlease aims to continue creating environmentally-themed casual puzzle games, with plans to launch more in 2024.

Learn more about TreesPlease reforestation project:

https://www.treespleasegames.com/real-tree-planting

https://www.edenprojects.org/


01:03 Laura's Journey into Entrepreneurship

03:34 The Birth of TreesPlease Games

05:23 Challenges and Triumphs of Starting a Company

06:57 The Importance of a Supportive Network

07:32 Balancing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship

10:01 Building the Founding Team

10:26 Securing Initial Funding

12:23 The Journey of Building Longleaf Valley

17:35 The Impact of Longleaf Valley, planting 1,000,000 trees

36:51 The Future of TreesPlease Studio


💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 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.

Mar 05, 202440:46
114. UP, DOWN, UP: Why Some Game Companies Succeed, While Others Fail

114. UP, DOWN, UP: Why Some Game Companies Succeed, While Others Fail

The podcast features Kim Nordström, a gaming industry veteran from Paradox Interactive and King, and the author of 'Up, Down, Up', a book about the life cycle phases of gaming startups.

We delve into Kim's analytical approach exploring startup successes and failures, identifying key patterns across companies. Over two years of research, Kim interviewed over a hundred gaming founders, CEOs, and leaders. Relevant topics ranging from the necessity of creative tension and disciplined decision-making in leadership, the four critical phases of development for startup companies as compared to a human life cycle, and the importance of knowing one's purpose in their role as founders or CEOs, and at the different growth and decline phases. Many practical and philosophical insights from the book are highlighted.

02:00 The Author's Gaming and Entrepreneurial Journey

05:28 The Process of Writing the Book

06:31 The Value of the Book

07:04 The Process of Interviewing Companies

08:43 The Structure and Purpose of the Book

14:48 The Importance of Discipline in Success

25:47 The Role of a CEO in a Gaming Company

29:47 Solutions and Challenges in Leadership

30:40 The Role of a CEO and the Importance of Support

33:40 The Struggles of Leadership and the Need for Self-Care

36:04 The Dynamics of Co-Founders and Team Composition

38:32 The Importance of Conflict and Challenge in Team Building

51:12 The Role of a CEO in Different Phases of a Company

54:48 Understanding Your Purpose As a CEO or Founder


Get your copy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/UP-DOWN-companies-succeed-others-ebook/dp/B0CR4D417V


💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 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.

Feb 27, 202441:55
113. The Emerging Trend Of Co-CEO In Games - with Veronica Rojas

113. The Emerging Trend Of Co-CEO In Games - with Veronica Rojas

Feb 20, 202441:06
112. Diversity: A Strategic Investment Approach at 1Up Ventures

112. Diversity: A Strategic Investment Approach at 1Up Ventures

As the gaming industry is maturing, we become aware of the importance of diversity in audience, teams, and leadership. But what about the investment side?

In this episode, we interview Kelly Wallick, the former founder of Indie Megabooth and now a partner at 1Up Ventures, founded in 2019 by Ed Fries (Former Microsoft Vice President). Their mission is to build a diverse and inclusive community of the most talented, experienced, and creative independent game developers in the world. Their portfolio includes noteworthy emerging studios such as Lightforge Games, Superbloom, and Gardens.

We discuss the importance of diversity in the gaming industry, how a team that reflects its audience increases the potential for success, and the role of founders' community building in nurturing success.

Wallick shares her gaming journey leading her to the investment side, the vision for 1Up Venture, and the unique community-centered approach they bring to venture capitalism.


02:19 Kelly's Journey into the Gaming Industry

04:37 The Birth and Growth of Indie Megabooth

06:42 Transitioning to 1Up Venture

10:30 Investment Decision-Making at 1Up

20:45 Betting on Diverse Teams

21:27 Investment Structure and Strategy

22:14 Building a Founders Community within the Gaming Industry

27:16 Challenges and Successes in Community Building from a Venture Side

39:31 How to connect with 1Up


💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 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.

Feb 13, 202441:29
111. Success In Business Will Not Bring You More Happiness - with Miska Katkoff

111. Success In Business Will Not Bring You More Happiness - with Miska Katkoff

"What if I build my own company? What if I have more money? Then, I will be happier!"

In this episode, Sophie interviews Miska Katkoff, founder of Deconstructor of Fun and former CEO of Savage Games, to reflect on the journey post-acquisition from PlayStation Studios in 2022.

We discuss the definition of success and the common pressures individuals face in attaining it. Miska shares his personal experience navigating his sense of achievement, dealing with external validation, and the value he places on self-reliance. He discusses the importance of understanding personal values and setting personal goals instead of adopting those prescribed by others. He also encourages listeners to seek therapy as a tool for understanding oneself and promoting mental health. We also touch on the role money plays in their definitions of success.


Link to the MindJournal mentioned in the episode.


00:47 Discussing the Concept of Success

01:38 External Success vs Internal Success

06:24 The Role of Comparison in Success

07:47 The Importance of Setting Personal Goals

11:05 The Role of Money in Defining Success

21:18 The Impact of Material Possessions on Happiness

24:27 The Importance of Therapy in Stressful Times

24:55 The Role of Therapy in Personal Growth

25:54 The Impact of Stress on Personal Relationships

27:13 The Struggles of Startup Life

28:17 The Power of Normalizing Therapy

28:38 Overcoming Prejudices and Resistance to Therapy

29:31 The Importance of Mental Training

30:56 The Journey of Self-Discovery through Therapy

31:24 The Role of Coaching in Personal Development

34:48 The Impact of Upbringing on Success Drive

37:34 The Importance of Self-Realization and Serving Others

44:18 The Power of Journaling and Self-Reflection

45:33 The Persistence of Internal Issues Despite Success


💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 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.

Feb 06, 202449:45
110. The Road To Becoming A Solopreneur In Games - with Matej Lancaric

110. The Road To Becoming A Solopreneur In Games - with Matej Lancaric

With thousands of people being laid off in the gaming industry over the past few months, what does it look like to create your own job rather than waiting for the job market to recover?

Matej Lancaric, known for his prominent role in UA in Games, shares his journey as a solopreneur on the podcast. We cover Matej's transition from a corporate career to UA consultancy, his unique approach to providing value to the audience, the evolution of his content creation, and his definition of success. He emphasizes being true to oneself, maintaining authenticity, and cherishing the flexibility provided by being a solopreneur.

If you need help marketing your game, you should reach out to Matej: https://lancaric.me/

Follow his podcast on UA: two-and-a-half gamers.


00:35 Guest Introduction: Matej Lancaric

00:59 Matej's Journey in the Gaming Industry

03:35 Transition to Solopreneurship

05:10 The Power of Authenticity

05:50 The Leap into the Unknown

05:59 The Challenges of Going Solo

06:46 The Importance of Being Yourself

08:13 The Journey of Starting a Newsletter

08:41 The Reality of Launching Games

10:54 The Value of Sharing Knowledge

13:13 The Struggles of Being Criticized

19:50 The Evolution of Content Sharing

22:29 The Importance of Feedback in Solo Work

22:55 Building a Unique and Playful Brand

23:51 The Birth of the Dancing Unicorn and Two and a Half Gamers

24:59 The Evolution of Content Creation and Branding

27:05 The Role of Happiness and Authenticity in Personal Branding

32:46 The Challenges and Rewards of Being a Solopreneur

33:32 Defining Success as a Solopreneur

39:43 The Art of Time Management and Content Creation

41:42 Reflections on the Journey and Future Aspirations


💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 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.

Jan 30, 202445:01
109. How Metacore Disrupted The Puzzle Market With A Merge Hit

109. How Metacore Disrupted The Puzzle Market With A Merge Hit

In this episode, Mika Tammenkoski, the CEO and co-founder of Metacore shared the evolution of his gaming company since its inception in 2020. From a small team prototyping smartwatch games to novel merge mechanics, the company has grown to 190+ members.

The studio’s first global hit game Merge Mansion already has over 50 million players. Metacore is one of the fastest growing game companies in Europe, with EUR 129 million in revenue in 2022 and a team of 190 professionals. The company has raised EUR 180 million in funding from Supercell and is one of their portfolio companies.

Mika talks about the company's early meetings and experiences, his personal journey into the gaming industry, and the decision to shift focus from new technologies to more established gaming markets.

He also sheds light on the company's culture and the vital importance of a robust talent acquisition strategy. Furthermore, Mika provides insights on Metacore's expansion plans, with a new studio in Berlin and operations extending to other games.


00:00 Introduction and Background of Metacore

00:31 Interview with Mika, CEO and Co-founder of Metacore

01:48 Mika's Journey into the Gaming Industry

04:47 Mika's Experience at Digital Chocolate

08:08 Founding of Everywear Games and Transition to Metacore

10:28 Challenges and Learnings from Previous Ventures

17:06 The Birth of Merge Mansion

18:49 The Testing and Iteration Process of Merge Mansion

23:55 Reflections on the Development Process

27:10 The Journey of Game Development and Company Growth

28:06 Challenges and Learnings from Global Launch

28:43 Understanding the Role of Story and Advertising in Gaming

29:37 The Evolution of Company Culture

30:37 Influence of Other Cultures and the Importance of Adaptability

32:40 The Importance of Talent Acquisition and Internal Growth

34:33 Reflections on Company Growth and Expansion

34:59 The Importance of Defining and Evolving Company Culture

43:18 Looking Forward: Future Aspirations and Expansion Plans for Metacore

47:33 Challenges and Strategies in Scaling Skills and Leadership

48:03 The Role of Community in the Gaming Industry

53:50 Closing Thoughts: The Importance of Inspiration and Continuous Learning


💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 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.

Jan 26, 202439:05
108. Inside Lightforge Games: Is Open Salaries For You And Where To Begin?

108. Inside Lightforge Games: Is Open Salaries For You And Where To Begin?

What would happen if someone leaked their company's full compensation information to the entire company? That's how you can evaluate your readiness to move your company toward an open salaries policy, or not. In the future of work, where more and more employees will prioritize transparency and equality, open salaries are poised to become a standard for Gen Z in Western cultures. If you want to remain competitive in the long term and hiring talents, you may want to consider embracing open salaries.

In this episode, Matt Schembari, CEO at Lightforge Games, shares the research on open salaries and the current state of the open salary movement and provides concrete benefits and challenges from Lightforge's experience practicing open salaries over the past three years.

You can find additional resources from Matt's GDC 2023 talk here.

As a recognition for their effort in pioneering a better culture for the game industry, Lightforge Games received the 2024 Game Changers Awards by Lightspeed and Gamesbeat.

Topics covered:

  • Why open salaries make sense in specific contexts and how to determine if it applies to your situation.
  • Steps to initiate open salary practices if you haven't already.
  • Establishing a company with open salaries from the ground up.
  • Exploring the pros and cons of open salaries, including potential pitfalls.
  • Embracing a coaching culture for leaders and employees.


💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 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.

Jan 16, 202431:18
107. How To Build A VC Backable Gaming Business In India?

107. How To Build A VC Backable Gaming Business In India?

🇮🇳 SPECIAL INDIA SERIES 🇮🇳

In this last episode of the series, we unleash India's gaming potential from an investment point of view with Vivek Ramachandran, early-stage investor at Matrix Partners.

We dive into the exciting world of game development and explore the potential of the Indian market.

We discuss the growth of the media and entertainment sector, the rise of mobile gaming, and the opportunities for global distribution. Vivek also shares insights into the challenges and opportunities for game development in India, the talent ecosystem, and the importance of quality and cultural context in game design.

Whether building for the Indian audience or targeting the global market, this episode offers valuable insights for game developers and investors.

Additional IGDC resources on building a VC backable studio in India: https://youtu.be/0y-h1WqUJXI?feature=shared


Topics Discussed:

- Introduction of guest Vivek and his background in entrepreneurship, business, investment, and gaming.

- The growth and potential of the Indian market in the media and entertainment sector.

- Overview of India's digital landscape, including the impact of networking infrastructure and increased accessibility to entertainment.

- The rise of mobile gaming in India and its success due to free-to-play models and improved internet access.

- Opportunities and challenges in game development in India, including talent, game design, scaling, and user acquisition.

- The potential for India-native gameplay formats and adapting games for different audiences.

- The role of Matrix Partners in supporting early-stage game developers and the billion-dollar opportunity in the Indian gaming market.

- Importance of quality, storytelling, and cultural context in game development.

- Localization challenges in a country with multiple languages and the need for a strategic approach.

- Insights for both Indian and international game developers looking to enter the Indian market and partner with Matrix Partners.


💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 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.

Jan 09, 202442:18
106. Inside QuriousBit: How To Build A Culture Code From The Start

106. Inside QuriousBit: How To Build A Culture Code From The Start

🇮🇳 SPECIAL INDIA SERIES 🇮🇳

In this episode, we follow the journey of Ram Reddy, CEO and co-founder at QuriousBit, and former product leader at Play Simple, which was acquired by MTG in 2021 for $510M.

QuriousBit was founded end of 2022 and raised its funding of $2 million from gaming-focused venture capital firm Lumikai and early-stage investor General Catalyst.

The studio is taking a fresh and innovative approach, both in game design and distribution, to achieve category-leading success in the highly competitive global casual gaming market, given current market conditions. Think of it as a mix of Tetris and Sudoku, with a lot of unique puzzle elements.

But the main reason why we're excited to talk to QuriousBit is the approach of how they built the company, focusing on the culture first. Like Netflix or Valve, they started with a culture handbook of 75 pages, that we will share in this episode!


QuriousBit marks the rise of a new generation of Indian gaming studios that want to leave a sustainable trace with their company, and we're excited to be part of it!


Read more at:
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/funding/gaming-startup-quriousbit-raises-2-million-in-funding-from-lumikai-general-catalyst/articleshow/103993791


💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 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.

Jan 09, 202435:07
105. Inside SuperGaming: Unleashing The Untold Stories From India

105. Inside SuperGaming: Unleashing The Untold Stories From India

🇮🇳 SPECIAL INDIA SERIES 🇮🇳

In this episode, we go on a captivating journey into the world of gaming and e-sports in India. Joined by Roby John, the CEO of SuperGaming and former co-founder of June Gaming, we discuss the rise of India's gaming industry and the unique player-centric and cultural approach SuperGaming has taken in building its innovative Indo-Futuristic Battle Royale title: Indus.


More about Supergaming: https://www.youtube.com/@supergaming6686

More about Indus: https://www.youtube.com/@IndusGame


Topics Discussed:

- Super Gaming's mission to build India's gaming revolution

- The development of cross-platform games and SuperPlatform

- Roby's background as a teacher and its influence on community-building through gaming

- The journey of building June Gaming (Roby's first company) and the lessons learned

- The success of Mask Gun and the importance of ground insights

- The integration of Indian culture and festivals in their game Indus

- The creation of Indus, an Indo-futuristic battle royale game

- Super Gaming's focus on data, iterative improvements, and community building

- The accessibility of the internet and a young demographic driving the growth of mobile gaming in India

- Super Gaming's approach to creating Indian-specific games and storytelling

- The significance of representation and empowerment in their games

- The incorporation of traditional Indian music and instruments

- The upcoming closed beta release and the excitement of player feedback

- The talent and collective effort behind Super Gaming's games



💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 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.

Dec 26, 202342:25
104. Inside Supernova: Providing An AI Tutor For Every Child

104. Inside Supernova: Providing An AI Tutor For Every Child

🇮🇳 SPECIAL INDIA SERIES 🇮🇳

What if AI could be the answer to providing quality education for every child in the world? What if we could leverage tech and entertainment to have a social impact at scale?

That's the world problem Rishi and his Supernova AI team try to crack. In the episode, we go deep inside Supernova's fascinating journey, where the team believes that learning should be fun and interactive instead of just being a passive experience. We live in the age of user-centricity, and like every other product, educational experiences need to be a lot more user-friendly. 

Targeted toward kids aged 4-12, the company started by Anirudh(Previously Co-Founded Myra Medicine & exited to medlife), Nawin & Maharishi in 2021 aims to redefine the current passive forms of learning by providing super fun & engaging Live Quizzes,  “Byte-Sized” lessons & worksheets on CBSE topics. Every time kids come to one of Supernova’s Live Quizzes, they learn & practice a CBSE math skill in innovative 30-minute sessions.

See for yourself about the incredible capabilities of Supernova: https://youtu.be/J_hVsEdzZz8

Supernova raised pre-seed funding of $1.1 million in 2022. The pre-seed round was led by Lumikai VC, with participation from Kae Capital, All In Capital, Goodwater Capital & strategic angel investors.


💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 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.

Dec 19, 202332:57
103. Inside Mayhem Studios: Building An Ambitious Battle Royale From India

103. Inside Mayhem Studios: Building An Ambitious Battle Royale From India

🇮🇳 SPECIAL INDIA SERIES 🇮🇳

In this episode, we sit down with Ojas Vipat, the CEO and co-founder of Mayhem Studio ($20 million raised in a Series A round led by Sequoia Capital), to uncover the untapped potential and lack of awareness surrounding the Indian gaming scene. Ojas shares his journey and what led him to break away from the norm and start his studio. We discuss the development of the gaming market in India, the shift towards more popular genres, and the rise of esports.

But what makes Mayhem Studio stand out? Ojas reveals their mission to build for India, showcasing the rich stories and heritage of the country through immersive gaming experiences. Their latest creation, "Underworld Gang Wars," is a mobile shooter game set in a meticulously crafted map called Dhantara, which pays homage to various locations in India. With over 6 million pre-registered players and positive feedback from closed alpha testing, the game is set to take the gaming world by storm.

More about the game here: https://underworldgangwars.com/


Topics discussed:

- Development of the gaming market in India

- Rise of esports in India

- Mayhem Studio's aim to build India as a gaming powerhouse

- Emerging community of esports in India and specific trends

- Popularity of mobile gaming in India

- India's competitive nature and the popularity of other sports

- Mayhem Studio's journey and formation

- Mayhem Studio's goal of showcasing Indian culture through gaming

- Challenges and opportunities in the Indian gaming industry

- Mayhem Studio's focus on creating a unique gaming experience

- Talent shortage in the gaming industry in India and opportunity for global experts to help


💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 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.

Dec 12, 202336:36
102. Inside Bombay Play: Bringing Hyper Social Games From India To The World

102. Inside Bombay Play: Bringing Hyper Social Games From India To The World

🇮🇳 SPECIAL INDIA SERIES 🇮🇳

In this episode, we are joined by Oliver Jones, CEO and co-founder of Bombay Play, one of the leading gaming studios in Bengaluru, India. Oliver shares his journey in the gaming industry before founding Bombay Play, from working at Zynga and Glu to founding his first company Moonfrog Labs (acquired for USD 90 million by Stillfront in 2021).

Oliver talks about the booming gaming ecosystem in India and how companies like Zynga and EA established their studios in the country to leverage local talent. He shares how Moonfrog Labs, his first startup, focused on creating content for the Indian market and eventually gained traction leading to the acquisition by Stillfront.

We dive into the challenges and successes of building a gaming company in India, including the importance of bootstrapping, building a strong team, and focusing on a specific genre. Oliver shares insights on their strategy of creating card games with a social casino twist, targeting a gap in the market. Oliver emphasizes the importance of quick iterations, adapting to the market, and taking bold bets in game development.

Check Bombay Play's latest title Block Heads (a Duel Puzzle Game) in Soft Launch.


Topics Discussed:

- The gaming ecosystem in India

- Building Moonfrog Labs and Bombay Play

- Bootstrapping and generating revenue

- Focusing on specific genres

- Cultural differences and working culture in India

- Creating a purpose-driven culture

- Quick iterations and adapting to the market

- The future of the Indian gaming market


💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 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.

Dec 12, 202342:57
101. Jenny Xu's Grit Diary: Lessons From Building A Fitness Game For GenZ

101. Jenny Xu's Grit Diary: Lessons From Building A Fitness Game For GenZ

This episode is about the inspiring journey of a resilient young entrepreneur, who is committed to cracking the puzzle of fitness to mobile games for GenZ.

In this episode, we interview Jenny Xu, the CEO of Talofa Games, to discuss her journey in the gaming industry and the creation of their unique fitness RPG game, Run Legends.

Jenny shares her background in the industry, including her previous solo-founded company, JC Soft Inc., and being part of the Niantic Kickstarter Program leading to the creation of Talofa Games.

We dive into the details of Run Legends, a co-op fitness RPG game that combines modern gaming with fitness, aiming to surpass existing fitness gaming options. Learn more about the fitness habits and preferences of Gen Z, and what it takes to create a game experience for GenZ.


💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 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.

Dec 12, 202339:45
100. Revolutionizing Game Publishing: Kepler Interactive's Co-Ownership Model

100. Revolutionizing Game Publishing: Kepler Interactive's Co-Ownership Model

In this captivating episode, we dive into the revolutionary game publishing model of Kepler Interactive. Join our conversation with Catherine Chew, Senior Director of Investments and Business at Kepler, to uncover the secrets behind their unique co-ownership model.

In 2021, Kepler has raised $120 million from NetEase in a financing round as part of its launch.

At Kepler, studio founders become co-owners with a say in the decision-making process of the collective and are able to utilize the benefits that a model like this can provide. Marketing, operations, finance, publishing, technology and even team expertise: the combination of resources enables each studio to achieve their goals, all while maintaining creative freedom.

Among the founding studios at Kepler: A44, Alpha Channel, Awaceb, Ebb Software, Shapefarm, Sloclap and Timberline. The company's executive team is led by the founders of independent video game fund Kowloon Nights.


A co-ownership model sounds great on paper, but how does it work in practice?

Join us for an insightful conversation that will change the way you think about game development and publishing!


Topics Discussed:

- Kepler Interactive's co-ownership model and its impact on game publishing

- Cat's journey from consulting to joining Kepler Interactive

- The origins of the disruptive publishing model created by the founders of Kepler

- How Kepler strives for alignment and collaboration among studios

- The criteria Kepler looks for when considering new studios to join the collective

- The power of collaboration and synergy among studios within Kepler

- Kepler's commitment to sustainable growth and organic expansion

- The trade-off between rapid scaling and long-term sustainability in the gaming industry

- Kepler's vision for the future and their commitment to unique gaming experiences


💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 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.

Nov 21, 202340:25
99. Antti Hattara's Founder Diary: The Sisu Journey Of Starberry Games

99. Antti Hattara's Founder Diary: The Sisu Journey Of Starberry Games

In this episode of the podcast, we interview Antti Hattara, CEO and Co-Founder at Starberry Games. We discuss Antti's journey in the mobile gaming industry, from the Digital Chocolate Alumni days to working on popular games like Jelly Splash (Wooga) to starting his own company in 2017. Antti shares his experiences bootstrapping, pivoting the company, securing funding, and navigating the challenges of the industry. We also talk about the growing gaming ecosystem in Berlin.

Starberry is known for its successful title Merge Mayor, released in 2019. We delve into market topics like platforms, merge games, social features, and the importance of making tough decisions as a founder. Antti emphasizes the value of persistence and adaptability in a volatile market.


Topics Discussed:

- Antti's journey in the mobile gaming industry

- Working on Jelly Splash and other games

- Antti's decision to start his own company

- Pivoting and securing funding

- Challenges in the gaming industry

- Merge games and social engagement

- Making tough decisions as a founder: how to do the hard things the right way?

- Why Berlin is the place to be to open a new studio?


💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 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.

Nov 17, 202337:41
98. From Game Design To Leadership: The 7 Super Skills Every Designer Should Grow

98. From Game Design To Leadership: The 7 Super Skills Every Designer Should Grow

In this episode, we invite Niek Tuerlings a seasoned F2P mobile game designer and writer for naavik.co, who previously worked at Spil Games, Wooga, Voodoo, and now at Moonlit Games, a mobile studio based in Berlin.

You can read the latest piece from Niek here: https://naavik.co/deep-dives/evolution-of-hybridcasual-deepdive/


We cover Niek's journey in games and the importance of broadening those 7 extra skills as a designer if you want to grow in the industry:

1. Game design core skills: UX/features/core gameplay/system design

2. Player understanding and empathy

3. Prototyping

4. Writing and communication skills

5. Product management, understanding the business of games

6. Narrative / Storytelling

7. Leadership


Niek and I built the first casual studio at Voodoo and launched Plantopia in 2020, as the first internal casual game published at Voodoo. We talk about how we approached game development developing casual games with hypercasual speed. We delve into player retention, monetization, and the value of smaller team sizes in F2P games.


Topics discussed:

- Building casual games in a hyper-casual way

- Career journey as a designer in the gaming industry

- Experiences at Wooga and the development of Plantopia

- F2P business model and player retention

- Writing endeavors and gaining market knowledge

- New venture at Moonlit Games and the influence of blockchain technology. Current game: Rogue Nation (⁠Android⁠/⁠iOS⁠) by ⁠moonlitgames.io⁠


If you want to get in touch with Niek:

Blog: ludocious.com


💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 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.

Nov 07, 202339:33
97. Coaching 101: You Are The Blocker To Your Full Potential And Can't See It

97. Coaching 101: You Are The Blocker To Your Full Potential And Can't See It

In this episode, we are joined by Oscar Carbonell, currently serving as the Chief of Staff at Rossum, trained Coach and former Product Leader in games. We delve into the world of coaching and people leadership in the gaming industry, shedding light on the essential role it plays in fostering effective leadership and organizational development.

The discussion expands to reflect on the games industry's potential to learn from more mature industries and the power of coaching in supporting CEOs and engaging teams effectively. Sophie and Oscar examine the 3 key leaders' fears and their impact on leadership, as well as the concept of self-responsibility and its correlation with business outcomes. The importance of understanding oneself and resolving personal conflicts is emphasized as a prerequisite for impactful leadership. We also demystify the distinctions between coaching, mentoring, and consulting, with coaching being defined as a process that encourages individuals to find their own answers and lead authentically.


Topics Discussed:

- Coaching and people leadership in the gaming industry

- The role of a Chief of Staff in game companies

- The importance of self-awareness in leadership

- 3 most common fears and their impact on leadership style

- Coaching as a tool for personal growth and self-discovery

- The distinction between coaching, mentoring, and consulting

- The prerequisites for coaching and the commitment it requires

- The transformative power of coaching in personal and professional life


💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠⁠

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 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.

Oct 31, 202353:06
96. Power Rangers and Beyond: 10 Years Pivoting Product To Finding Success at nWay

96. Power Rangers and Beyond: 10 Years Pivoting Product To Finding Success at nWay

We interview Taehoon Kim, the co-founder and CEO of nWay, the successful multiplayer fighting games company behind Chrono Blades and Power Rangers: Legacy Wars, acquired by Animoca Brands in 2020. TK shares his journey into the gaming industry as a serial entrepreneur, including his experience at Samsung, Real Time Worlds, and founding Nurian Software which was later acquired by Netmarble.

TK shares the journey of nWay, a gaming company focused on delivering the best fighting multiplayer games with various IPs across multiple platforms. We delve into the 10-year evolution of the company, from initially creating games for Facebook, then expanding to mobile, console, and PC, all the way to collaborating with renowned IPs like Power Rangers and WWE.

For the funny anecdote, find out how Street Fighter characters made it into the Power Rangers universe! Disclaimer: The fans were very upset at first! Luckily it has been deescalated with humour!


Key points:

- Key business insights on the challenges and rewards of building and selling companies such as Nway and Nurian Software.

- Discussion on the significance of teamwork, passion, and pioneering new game experiences.

- TK's take on the importance of an idea-driven company culture and avoiding the hiring of people with big egos.

- Exploration of the ideal team size for innovative game development and the critical evaluation of culture fit during hiring process.

- Insights into the funding and success milestones of Nway's popular games like Power Rangers and WWE.

- Discussion about strategic partnerships with IP holders resulting from Nway's success.


💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 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.


Oct 24, 202345:06
95. Inside MY.GAMES: Unlocking The Remote Talent Advantage With Anton Gorodestky

95. Inside MY.GAMES: Unlocking The Remote Talent Advantage With Anton Gorodestky

In this episode, Sophie Vo is joined by Anton Gorodetsky, the Head of Industry Relations at MyGames. Anton discusses the shift to hybrid work and MyGames' transition to fully distributed teams. They talk about the benefits of remote work, such as finding talent globally and working with international teams.


They also dive into the challenges and considerations of establishing offices and hubs in different locations, including legal and tax implications. Anton emphasizes the importance of analyzing market development and talent concentration when choosing office locations.


Sophie and Anton discuss the success of MyGames' game Rush Royale (over $230M lifetime revenues) and how it was made fully remote with a small, talented team. They emphasize the need for trust and collaboration among team members.


The conversation concludes with a discussion on the impact of different cultures on remote work and the importance of cultural awareness and education.


Topics discussed:

- Shift to hybrid work and fully distributed teams

- Benefits of remote work

- Establishing offices and hubs in different locations

- Legal and tax implications

- Success of Rush Royale (over 230MM lifetime revenues)

- Trust and collaboration in remote teams

- Impact of different cultures on remote work


💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 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.



Oct 17, 202341:31
94. Inside Lightheart Entertainment: 4-Year Retrospective Building A Holacratic Organization With Kalle Kaivola

94. Inside Lightheart Entertainment: 4-Year Retrospective Building A Holacratic Organization With Kalle Kaivola

In this latest episode, we welcome Kalle Kaivola, co-founder of Lightheart Entertainment, known for their hit game Mr. Auto Fire (over 16 million downloads). Together, we discuss the company culture and the challenges of building a holacratic culture, inspired by the Teal organization described in the book "Reinventing Organisations" by Frederic Laloux.


Holacracy is a system of self-management where leadership roles are not subject to a traditional hierarchy of command. Instead of having a static job description, individuals in a holacracy assume multiple roles, each associated with a purpose, domain, and accountabilities. It distributes authority and decision-making through a holarchy of self-organizing teams rather than being vested in a management hierarchy.


While it looks great on paper, how does that work in practice? This approach impacts all the layers of what makes a company culture and strategy:

  • Who joins the company?
  • Who makes the decisions and on what?
  • How decisions are being made (not by the CEO or leaders).
  • Which games are greenlighted?

Four years since its founding, the team has been growing with this core holacratic culture and delivering proven success with Mr. Autofire. Maybe there are aspects that you can take away from a holacratic culture for your own company. How ready are you to let go of control?


🎥 Watch it on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/O4NOnciptDg

💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 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.


Oct 10, 202337:35
93. Miska Katkoff & Sophie's Diary: Leadership Pains And Lessons For Our Next Ventures
Oct 03, 202351:30
92. Martial Valéry Founder's Diary: 10 Years Of Hard-Earned Lessons At OhBiBi

92. Martial Valéry Founder's Diary: 10 Years Of Hard-Earned Lessons At OhBiBi

In this latest episode, we welcome Martial Valery, co-founder of Oh Bi Bi, a French mobile video game studio known for their latest hit, Frag Pro Shooter (over 150 million downloads).

We are reflecting on over a decade of founding, building, and growing the studio, navigating the ups and downs of the company, including scaling up and down, company and game pivots. Martial opens up about the failures and lessons learned, such as the painful experience of a game flop, disappointment, and losing people. I appreciate how open and humble Martial is in sharing these entrepreneurial mistakes because there is as much to learn from the mistakes (if not more) as there is from the wins.

We will also delve into OBB's unique approach to game development, emphasizing its aim to create fresh, fun, and original games that leave a positive impact on gaming culture. The main lesson learned over a decade is the continued focus on hiring amazing talent and the importance of working with kind-hearted individuals is the foundation of a sustainable business in the gaming industry.


Topics discussed in this episode:

- Martial's journey from Gameloft to starting OBB

- Challenges faced as a young creative director

- Lessons learned from game failures

- Importance of company culture and direction, in hindsight

- OBB's creative-driven approach to game development

- Balancing creativity and business

- Hiring practices and company values at OBB

- Embracing growth as conscious leaders in the industry


💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 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.


Have a great week, don't forget to take care of yourself 💜

Sep 26, 202341:52
91. Jens Begemann CEO's Diary: A Decade of Wooga's Evolution To Success

91. Jens Begemann CEO's Diary: A Decade of Wooga's Evolution To Success

In this episode, we interview Jens Begemann, the former co-founder and CEO of Wooga, the Berlin-based casual mobile games company behind the success of Diamond Dash, Jelly Splash, and June's Journey.

We cover Jen's journey in the gaming industry and the lessons he learned as an entrepreneur that led him to found Wooga in 2008. We also explore the growth of Wooga, its successful games, and the company's shift to mobile gaming. The conversation touches on the significance of company culture, hiring the right people, and the need for constant adaptation in the ever-changing gaming market. We discuss the difficult decisions and strategic mistakes made along the way, as well as the ultimate decision to sell Wooga to Playtika at the end of 2018. Today, when we observe the company's growth and revenues, Wooga is more successful than it has ever been.


Topics covered:

- Challenges faced in the dot-com bubble burst in 2000

- Importance of having a network and clear vision before starting a company

- Growth of Wooga and its early successful games Brain Buddies, Diamond Dash, Bubble Island, Jelly Splash, Pearl's Perils

- Shift from Facebook games to mobile games

- Importance of company culture and hiring the right people, from the start

- Challenges and mistakes made leading to a difficult year with layoffs in 2017

- Decision to sell Wooga to Playtika in 2018

- Why Playtika was the right choice for Wooga, post-acquisition


💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 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.


Have a great week, and don't forget to take care of yourself.

Sep 19, 202301:06:57
90. Solving The Team Culture Map Puzzle - with Sophie and Jen Donahoe

90. Solving The Team Culture Map Puzzle - with Sophie and Jen Donahoe

We say it is essential to build diverse teams for innovation, creativity, and performance. Diversity of individuals sounds great on paper, but how do we make it work as a team in practice? How do you make people who avoid confrontation collaborate with confrontational people? How do you lead a team in an egalitarian way while most of what they've known is hierarchical leadership?

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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!

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In this episode, we deconstruct with Jen Donahoe (Game Marketing and Growth Leader, co-host for Deconstructor Of Fun) The Culture Map book by Erin Meyer, and how we applied the 8 cultural dimensions with teams in our career:

Communicating: Low vs High Context

Evaluating: Direct negative feedback vs Indirect negative feedback

Persuading: Principles- first or Applications-first

Leading: Egalitarian or Hierarchical

Deciding: Consensual or Top-Down

Trusting: Task-based or Relationship-based

Disagreeing: confrontational or non-confrontational

Scheduling: Linear or Flexible Time


No matter where you live or grew up, you need to be intentional about where you stand on the cultural spectrum as a leader and communicate it well to your team. It is not about cultural differences only, but also personality and cognitive differences where the same frameworks apply!


We are taking a break with the podcast and will come back in September with a new series on Change Management! Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠

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. 


Aug 22, 202354:50
89. Unlock Your True Self With Liberated Leadership - with Steve Cuss

89. Unlock Your True Self With Liberated Leadership - with Steve Cuss

"There's a whole bunch of leaders out there who wake up every morning and put on a mask. They transform into their work selves, playing a role they think they're supposed to play. It's like they're living a double life. But let me tell you, it's not easy to keep up this charade.

Behind that mask, these leaders face some serious challenges. They can't catch a decent night's sleep, and anxiety weighs them down day in and day out. Their energy levels go up and down like a yo-yo, and they feel exhausted most of the time..." Steve Cuss.

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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.

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In this episode, I am talking to Steve Cuss, who has an extensive background in the video games industry, starting his journey in 1994 as a programmer at Intelligent Games and quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the Development Director and co-owner after a successful management buyout. Steve later spent 20 years in leadership roles at EA and then Criterion, leading the development of notable titles including Black, the Burnout series, Star Wars Battlefront, and latterly focusing on the Need for Speed series.


In 2023, Steve decided to take his learnings outside of EA by founding The GamePlan Consultancy to help other leaders be their authentic selves with what he calls Liberated Leadership. Steve has also authored a book titled “Liberated Leadership: Lessons Learned from 20 Years Producing Video Games at EA,” which is scheduled to be published in the summer of 2023. Stay tuned!


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

Aug 08, 202336:51
88. How To Rebuild Trust - with Jen Donahoe

88. How To Rebuild Trust - with Jen Donahoe

You just inherited or built a new team. You've made a mistake of judgment, communication, or decision with the team. Now, the team doesn't like you or trust you but you still need to achieve an outcome together. What do you do? How do you come back from that situation and rebuild trust? It is unfortunately a common leadership story in everyday business.

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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.

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In this episode, we go through ⁠Jen Donahoe's⁠ 20 years of career and leadership learnings at Disney, Mattel, EA, Zynga, Scopely, and Riot Games as a Growth and Marketing Executive. Moving from one company culture to another is a transition, and you will inevitably make cultural mistakes. Jen and I will share how we used the Trust triangle framework to rebuild trust with our teams, sharing personal and professional anecdotes.

The 3 pillars to rebuild trust are Empathy, Logic, and Authenticity. Check Francis Frei's video for the full framework: https://www.ted.com/talks/frances_frei_how_to_build_and_rebuild_trust


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

Aug 01, 202346:10
87. Changing The Money Game - with Marina Barthélémy

87. Changing The Money Game - with Marina Barthélémy

In this episode, we deconstruct with Marina Barthélémy how to make sound financial decisions for your company when things are going well, instead of making those decisions when things are going wrong. Marina has an impressive track record in gaming and finance. She previously worked as the CFO at Amplitude Studios, which SEGA later acquired in 2016. Marina and her co-founder Arthur, recently launched their own gaming fund PixCapital, to support premium studios.

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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.

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We will cover in this episode how to prepare your company for an exit or funding, how to evaluate the right funding partner, and how to get your team ready for funding with a strong vision, culture, playable, and scope. Those principles apply to any business model in gaming (F2P, premium, web3) when money is less available.


Related episode on Why We Need More Women As Investors: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/riseandplay/episodes/39--Why-We-Need-More-Women-As-Investors---with-Salone-Sehgal-e1lv318/a-a8c2lb2


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

Jul 25, 202348:26
86. Leadership Journey At Ustwo Games - with Maria Sayans and Daniel Gray

86. Leadership Journey At Ustwo Games - with Maria Sayans and Daniel Gray

Today is a special episode as we're witnessing an intimate leadership conversation between Maria Sayans and Daniel Gray, respectively CEO and Chief Creative Officer at Ustwo Games. What is it to be a leader at Ustwo Games?

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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.

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Maria will share her leadership evolution from the McKinsey days to CCP Games to later becoming the CEO at Ustwo Games. The key transformation for her was to find her authentic style of leadership beyond the motherly expected leadership style.

We previously recorded this single episode with Maria, if you want to hear more about the company culture at Ustwo Games: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/riseandplay/episodes/42--Making-Games-With-Impact-At-Ustwo-Games---with-Maria-Sayans-e1nn9cs/a-a8h028l

We will also hear from Daniel and how he grew from being a QA manager at Kuju, to being a producer at Lionhead, to later becoming the Chief Creative Officer at Ustwo Games. Daniel contributed to the success of iconic titles such as Monument Valley.

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


Jul 18, 202331:23
85. The Human Science Of Scaling Company Culture - with Bastian Bergmann
Jul 11, 202331:32
84. How To Build An Antifragile Casual Games Studio - with Michael Martinez
Jul 04, 202340:16
83. What Can We Learn From Failing A Startup - with Collin Foss

83. What Can We Learn From Failing A Startup - with Collin Foss

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.

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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.

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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

Jun 27, 202337:05
82. Apply Non-Violent Communication At Work - with Sophie

82. Apply Non-Violent Communication At Work - with Sophie

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

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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.

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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

Jun 20, 202344:41
81. How To Solve Messy Business With Stoicism - with Arseny Lebedev

81. How To Solve Messy Business With Stoicism - with Arseny Lebedev

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

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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.

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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

Jun 13, 202333:01
80. The Limitations of Being Truly Yourself - with Sophie and Miska

80. The Limitations of Being Truly Yourself - with Sophie and Miska

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/FdrnkMVqe6Q

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

Jun 06, 202333:44
79. Building A Team Of Maverick - with Harinder Sangha

79. Building A Team Of Maverick - with Harinder Sangha

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.

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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.

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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

May 30, 202330:49
78. What I Wish I Knew Before I Began My Career - with Ethan Levy
May 23, 202330:34
77. Master Emotionally Charged Conversations - with Julie, Ben, Sophie

77. Master Emotionally Charged Conversations - with Julie, Ben, Sophie

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.

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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.

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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 Rovio

Link to Ben's previous episode on Building A Western Culture Studio in Asia


Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play: https://www.riseandplay.io/blog

May 16, 202337:33
76. Leveling Up From Manager To C-Suite Leader - with Ioana Hreninciuc

76. Leveling Up From Manager To C-Suite Leader - with Ioana Hreninciuc

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.

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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.

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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

May 09, 202335:51
75. How To Become A Boundary Boss - with Maria Maunula and Sophie

75. How To Become A Boundary Boss - with Maria Maunula and Sophie

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!

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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."

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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/blog


Highly recommended reads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/944267.Boundaries

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53359440-boundary-boss

Article on boundaries at work from Ioana Hreninciuc

https://www.riseandplay.io/blogs/how-to-set-boundaries-at-work

May 02, 202330:06
74. Understanding Neurodiversity At Work - with Alice Bowman

74. Understanding Neurodiversity At Work - with Alice Bowman

“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.

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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."

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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 EntertainmentAutistica and #RaisetheGame 💪


Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play: https://www.riseandplay.io/blog

Apr 25, 202339:31
73. Pivoting Your Company Strategy 360 - with Nicolas Godement
Apr 18, 202328:28
72. Manage Your Time Like CEOs - with Simonetta and Ioana

72. Manage Your Time Like CEOs - with Simonetta and Ioana

Apr 11, 202335:57
71. How To Hire Great UX Designers In Games - with Olga Marushchak
Apr 04, 202335:01
70. How To Become A Stoic Leader And Control Your Emotions - with Sophie and Miska

70. How To Become A Stoic Leader And Control Your Emotions - with Sophie and Miska

In this new segment of Rise and Play, I sit down with my business partner Miska Katkoff, CEO at Savage Games, and the founder of Deconstructor of Fun In those episodes, we will share with Miska our reflection thoughts on our leadership work at Savage Games. What can you gain from being more Stoic as a leader? As leaders, we tend to believe that we are responsible for everything that happens around us: company outcomes, actions, and behavior of others. The reality is that we have very little control over what’s going on around us. It takes wisdom to know the difference between precisely what we have control over, and what we don’t. “Identify what you can change and what you cannot change. Accept the things you cannot change, and have the courage to act on the things you can change.” The only things you can really control are your perception and actions. So, how do you apply this to your day-to-day business and process of decision-making, especially tough decisions? That's what we will cover in this segment today!


Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/OyIpv-cEViYhttps://youtu.be/OyIpv-cEViY


Thank you to our sponsor! Identify your ideal audience with today's sponsor Solsten to streamline development decisions and get to market faster. Visit solsten.io/contact-us and mention Rise x Play for a demo and receive 30% off your first Solsten engagement crafted to your studio’s needs.

Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play: https://www.riseandplay.io

Read more about How to Lead Teams As A Stoic: https://medium.com/ironsource-levelup/leading-teams-as-a-stoic-1-2-d0045dd024d3

Mar 28, 202350:34
69. The Journey Of Next Games To Becoming A Netflix Studio - with Saara Bergström
Mar 21, 202327:46