Player Driven

📖 Episode Summary: In this episode of Player Driven, Greg chats with two standout voices in gaming operations— Heidi Christine , CMO and Head of Community at Pixels , and Conor McGinley , Customer Support Lead at Twin Harbor Interactive . Together, they unpack what it really takes to grow and sustain vibrant communities while also delivering high-quality support at scale. From automation and self...

Episode Summary In this episode of Player Driven, host Greg engages in an insightful conversation with Josh Plotnek, Head of Content at Keewano, diving deep into the significance of actionable insights derived from game data analytics. The discussion highlights how understanding player behavior through data can drastically improve player experience and game performance. Josh shares practical tips...

 Guest: Ayla Derrick, Founder & Creative Director at Cave Bear Games ️ Host: Greg Posner 🔹 Episode Summary: What happens when a former teacher with no game dev background builds a studio of junior developers and releases a cozy solarpunk game on Steam? You get Plantasia — a passion-driven project built on heart, hustle, and clear values. Greg sits down with Ayla Derrick to talk about the orig...

🧠 Episode Description: In this episode of Player Driven , we sit down with Jason Wasserman and Vincent Nguyen , the co-founders of Nice Gang , to dive into their journey from major animation studios like Blue Sky ( Ice Age , Rio , Ferdinand ) to launching their own game studio and original IP, Eighth Era . With Season 2 of Eighth Era launching today, Jason and Vincent share how lessons from anima...

Summary: In this episode, Greg chats with AJ Leece, the founder of Brekade , a studio transforming security training into engaging, story-driven video games. From his roots in ethical hacking to building games like “Fishing Expedition” and “SecOps Chaos,” AJ shares how he's gamifying the most dreaded parts of corporate training—and why that's the future of workplace education. Key Takeaw...

User-generated content (UGC) has become a transformative force in the gaming industry, giving players the tools to shape their favorite games and developers new ways to engage their communities. In this episode of the Player Driven Podcast, Scott Reismanis, founder of Mod.io, dives into how his platform is breaking barriers and expanding opportunities for players, creators, and studios alike. Key...

Episode Summary Shaun Laker joins Greg to discuss his journey in the gaming industry, from breaking into QA at EA to leading major AAA projects. They dive into the evolution of producers in game development, the importance of community management, and how Game Guardians is using AI to revolutionize QA testing. Shaun also shares his entrepreneurial challenges and insights into the future of game de...

🎧 Episode Summary: In this episode, Shawn Layden unpacks the creative crisis in AAA development, why $100M+ game budgets are unsustainable, and how developers can reclaim innovation through constraint. Joined by industry analyst Lewis Ward, we talk indie survival, pricing psychology, the rise of Switch 2, and the real reasons games no longer feel “complete.” Whether you’re building a studio, publ...

Episode Summary: In this insightful episode, Greg sits with Tim Smith to discuss COHEZION, a community-focused tool designed to streamline player engagement and community analytics. Tim shares his journey from gamer to entrepreneur, highlighting how his platform helps studios understand and leverage their community data for increased player retention and satisfaction. Key Takeaways (with timestamp...

Episode Summary In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Sonya Haskins (Head of Programming at Augmented World Expo) shares her unexpected path into the world of XR—from a homeschool mom and non-gamer to a competitive VR esports athlete and community advocate. Joined by Lewis Ward (Research Director at IDC), we explore her inspiring story of healing through VR, battling harassment in immersiv...

🎙️ Guest: Tim Cook, Head of Solutions at Spectrum Labs 📌 Topic: The Future of Trust & Safety in Gaming Episode Overview In this episode of the Player Driven Podcast , we dive deep into the world of trust & safety, audience building, and AI-driven moderation with Tim Cook , Head of Solutions at Spectrum Labs . Tim shares how AI is revolutionizing content moderation, the impact of data-driv...

Episode Summary What makes a great level designer? How do you take the leap from AAA studios to launching your own indie game studio? In this episode, Greg sits down with Willem Kranendonk, founder of Odyssey Cocktail Interactive and former level designer at Velen and Zynga. They discuss Willem’s journey from LEGO-loving kid to designing levels for Knockout City and Star Wars: Hunters , the philos...

Podcast Summary: In this episode of Player Driven , host Greg speaks with Emily Scahill , Head of Client Success for Games at SkillSearch , about talent acquisition in gaming , the impact of layoffs , and how studios can hire smarter . Emily shares her journey from HR to recruitment , the importance of networking , and why a holistic hiring approach is key to long-term success. Key Timestamps &amp...

🎮 The Rise of Old Glory Studios | Player Driven Podcast In this episode of Player Driven , we sit down with Lewis Manalo and Matt Patak, co-founders of Old Glory Studios, an indie game studio founded by AAA veterans and combat veterans. With experience at Ubisoft, Sharkmob, Massive Entertainment, and Certain Affinity, these two developers saw an opportunity to create something unique outside the...

🎙️ Episode Summary: How does a writer become the CEO of a game studio? In this episode of Player Driven , Greg sits down with Zack Howe, co-founder of Nyx Studios, to discuss his journey from storytelling to game design, and ultimately to leading a company. Zack shares insights into the making of Havoc , a competitive deck-building game that blends both physical and digital experiences. They dive...

Summary: In this episode, we sit down with Danielle Shneor, Head of Player Support and Strategy at Ilyon, to uncover the secrets behind her remarkable success in the gaming industry. From her early days as a D&D and LARP enthusiast to managing player communities in casual gaming, Danielle shares how her deep understanding of player emotions and needs has transformed customer support into a com...

📅 Guest: Stanley Pierre-Louis, President & CEO, Entertainment Software Association (ESA) 🎤 Hosts: Greg Posner & Lewis Ward (IDC) Episode Summary In this episode, we sit down with Stanley Pierre-Louis, President & CEO of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), to discuss the launch of IICON 2026, a brand-new conference redefining the future of interactive entertainment. On today...

Greg sits down with Catherine Litvaitis, a seasoned community manager with experience at Mouldbreaker Interactive, Armor Games Studios, and Paradox Interactive. Catherine shares her journey from being a player on Neopets to managing communities for various gaming companies. She delves into the importance of community guidelines, the role of a community manager, and best practices for building and...

Summary: In this episode, Greg sits down with Jon Yarbor, co-founder of Nodecraft, to discuss how private servers, accessibility, and player-focused design are reshaping multiplayer gaming. Jon shares his entrepreneurial journey, explains why privacy is the future of online play, and reveals how Nodecraft makes server hosting simple and accessible. If you're an indie or mid-sized game develop...

In this episode of Player Driven , Greg sits down with Ben Kvalo, founder of Midwest Games and a seasoned industry professional with experience at 2K, Blizzard, and Netflix. Ben shares his insights into the evolving role of publishers in the gaming industry, the challenges indie developers face, and how Midwest Games supports underserved creators around the world. Key Discussion Points: The Role o...

Episode Summary In this episode of the Player Driven Podcast, host Greg interviews Łukasz Cieślak, Senior Operations Manager at 5CA. Łukasz shares his journey from support agent to senior operations manager and provides deep insights into the role of BPOs (Business Process Outsourcing) in the gaming industry. He explains how companies like 5CA help gaming studios scale their player support, the es...

In this episode, Greg sits down with Jack Burrows, a level designer at NetEase, to explore the art, science, and philosophy behind video game level design. They discuss how developers balance player experience with creative ambition, the importance of time management and willpower, and how great design tells a story without words. Jack shares personal insights on motivation, creative process, and...

Summary This episode of the Player Driven podcast features Michael Csokas, founder of Iron Octopus Productions, and focuses on his journey from working in the oil field to becoming an indie game developer. He shares how his experience managing logistics in oil spills influenced his approach to video game development, especially with problem-solving and world-building. The conversation highlights h...

Episode Description: In this episode, we dive into the world of game development with Thaddeus Sasser, Game Director of Marvel Rivals at NetEase. Thad shares his journey from working on major franchises like Call of Duty and Battlefield to leading the development of Marvel Rivals. We discuss the challenges of balancing creative vision with stakeholder expectations, bringing iconic Marvel character...

User-generated content (UGC) has become a transformative force in the gaming industry, giving players the tools to shape their favorite games and developers new ways to engage their communities. In this episode of the Player Driven Podcast , Scott Reismanis, founder of Mod.io, dives into how his platform is breaking barriers and expanding opportunities for players, creators, and studios alike. Key...