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.
Is that a crazy idea to start a new game company in 2024?!
We are resuming the podcast in May, tackling the multiple challenges of building a new company/studio and surviving in 2024.
We kick off this new season, with the journey of Sophie Vo, founder of Rise and Play and first-time CEO of a game company.
Sophie shares her process of becoming a CEO, the challenges of fundraising and pitching, applying the learnings from 100+ entrepreneurs she interviewed in the podcast, building a company like a studio/product, and the importance of digging into co-founders' team dynamics and trust.
Co-host Claire Rozain interviews Sophie, exploring topics from the necessity of curiosity and learning in leadership roles to practical advice for new founders.
The discussion covers the strategies used by Sophie to navigate her company through difficult times, turning constraints into creative opportunities and not being afraid of making the hard call in times of business crisis.
04:04 Sophie Vo's Leap into Entrepreneurship: Building a Game Company in 2024, why???
09:46 Facing Skepticism and Embracing the Challenge
16:23 The Importance of Continuous Learning and Curiosity
19:50 From Solopreneur to Co-Founder: The Decision to Collaborate
20:09 The Solopreneur Journey and Team Dynamics
21:35 Building an Aligned Founding Team and the Role of a CEO
24:47 Effective Leadership and Role Clarity With Mission Cards
28:02 Building Trust and Embracing Challenges
33:47 Adapting to Market Constraints and Embracing Innovation
36:13 Final Thoughts and Advice for Entrepreneurs in 2024
💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: https://www.riseandplay.io/blog
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In this special episode, Sophie Vo shares a heartfelt thank you to the community for their loyalty and support over the past three years, and reveals a major personal update: the start of her new game company, Kylan. This new venture will lead to a short break in podcast content, but we assure listeners that this is just a brief hiatus!
We're back in May! In the meantime, enjoy the evergreen top content from the previous episodes:
91. Founder Jens Begemann's Retrospective on Running Wooga For Over A Decade
90. Solving the Team Culture Map Puzzle with Jen Donahoe
77. Master Emotionally Charged Conversation
59. How to Plan and Nurture Your Career in Games with Miska Katkoff and Sophie Vo
52. Running your 1:1 in a modern workplace (remote) - with Marko Kecman
43. Coaching episode: Tamara Rose Morales, On Examining Your Life Script
32. What You Did Not Know About UX- with Devon Wyland, Head of UX at Solsten
💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: https://www.riseandplay.io/blog
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In this episode, we interview Jamie Smith, a principal game designer at People Can Fly, about the challenges and insights into design leadership for AAA development. While agile development with quick feedback loop is common for mobile games, it is not for AAA! So how do you combine the mindset of agility and traditionally long and siloed AAA game development?
Jamie Smith, with over 13 years of experience working on AAA titles like Tom Clancy's The Division, FIFA, and Call of Duty, discusses his career journey, the transition from production roles to a leadership position, and the importance of team autonomy, cross-discipline collaboration, and decision-making structures in delivering successful game projects. The conversation sheds light on the balance between creative direction and the multitude of factors influencing game design, including technical limitations, publisher expectations, and market comparison, aiming to provide valuable insights for improving management skills and understanding the complexity and legacy of AAA game development.
More about Jamie's work and open AAA design learnings: https://youtu.be/q250xvbn9hg?si=kOEbYofqAGMJzVeH
02:42 The Evolution of a Game Designer, from IC to Leader
12:01 Leading Teams and Defining Quality in AAA Game Design
17:00 Navigating Conflicts and Priorities in Game Development
23:35 Adopting a Holistic Approach to Game Design
29:57 Reflecting on 13 Years in AAA Game Development
💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: https://www.riseandplay.io/blog
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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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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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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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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
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
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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
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In 2023, there were 11.89% female CEOs and 8.95% co-founders (reported from 7 different funds) from approximately 400 companies and 1000 founders. It is progress but there is still a long way to go before we see more women accessing positions of CEOs, especially when they are not founding their own company.
In this episode, we interview Veronica Rojas, who climbed the ranks in her career from product marketing at Gameloft to Head of Studio, ultimately becoming the co-CEO at Uken Games. How does someone become a co-CEO/CEO? What does this role imply, and what should one consider before taking on those responsibilities?
The role of co-CEO has emerged more and more in the gaming industry as we recognize that the demands of a CEO role might become overwhelming as the company scales.
04:01 Veronica's Journey into the Gaming Industry
07:34 The Challenges of Starting a Gaming Startup With No Funding and Experience
15:32 Transitioning from Startup to Corporate
24:03 The Role of Product Marketing in Gaming
25:46 Joining UKEN and Rising to Co-CEO
37:05 The Challenges of Being a Co-CEO
💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: https://www.riseandplay.io/blog
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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
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"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.
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