The Gaming Playbook w/ Harry Phokou

On The Gaming Playbook, Harry Phokou sits down with experts in the games industry who have never been interviewed before. Through these in-depth conversations, Harry unpacks the "Playbook" that made them so successful. Skip the line on Tuesdays and download the real-life cheat codes every gaming industry pro needs to know.LinkedIn: @hphokouInstagram: @hphokouNewsletter: https://join.thegamingplaybook.com/Business and guest inquiries: playbook@phokou.com

The Gaming Playbook w/ Harry Phokou is a business podcast hosted by Harry Phokou, with 76 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Harry Phokou hosts The Gaming Playbook w/ Harry Phokou, a business show with 76 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #76

  #76 - Doug Pennant: How to Build a Career That Lasts in the Games Industry

  Aug 6, 20261h 14mS1

  Today, I'm joined by Doug Pennant, a Senior Producer at Infinity Ward, drawing on 16 years across Alien: Isolation, Total War, and Call of Duty, who explains how game developers can build resilient, long-term careers in an industry shaped by layoffs, changing technology, and increasingly project-based employment. We talked about transferable skills, difficult managers, networking before you need a job, adapting your CV to the market, and why MobyGames could become an important hiring tool for game developers. If you're a game developer, producer, or an industry professional who wants to build a career that lasts, this episode is for you. Connect with Doug: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-pennant/ Substack: https://dougpennant.substack.com/ His book: https://www.amazon.com/Pocket-Mentor-Production-Mentors-Careers/dp/1032785608 Connect with Harry: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hphokou Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokou/ Join our industry events: https://hivemind.world/ Get exclusive podcast recaps & industry insights: → Subscribe to The Gaming Playbook Weekly at https://join.thegamingplaybook.com Chapters:00:00 Intro 01:46 Why personal resilience matters in the game industry 04:02 Why growing game studios struggle with management 11:56 What new developers should know about difficult bosses 20:31 What career resilience actually means 23:05 The producer interview test for adaptability 25:42 Why investing in skills creates career security 29:45 Why game industry jobs for life are disappearing 31:55 What caused the game industry layoffs 40:17 Smaller studios and the future of game development 43:43 Why networking matters before you need a job 45:26 Job hunting and the hidden game industry job market 51:01 When your skills no longer match the market 55:06 Codev and outsourcing as more durable career paths 56:09 Using MobyGames to get discovered by recruiters 1:02:24 What a producer does 90 days before launch 1:04:26 Why game teams must stop adding features 1:08:30 Why every visionary needs strong brakes 1:10:53 Self-care and staying optimistic about games 1:12:20 How cultural grants can fund video games 1:13:20 Doug’s book, Substack, and where to follow him

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  Episode #75

  #75 - Adam Selcuk: Why Steam Alone Isn't Enough to Sell More Copies of Your Game

  Jul 30, 202654 minS1

  Today, I'm joined by Adam Selcuk, CPO at VaultN, who explains why game studios are leaving significant revenue on the table by ignoring third-party PC game distribution. Drawing on 20+ years in digital game retail, Adam breaks down how publishers can sell more copies, reach new markets, improve discoverability, and maintain control over pricing and distribution. We discuss why Steam alone isn't enough, how third-party distribution can significantly increase game sales, and what developers should do before launch to maximize revenue. If you're an indie game developer, publisher, or studio founder looking to sell more copies of your game, this episode is for you. Connect with Adam:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamselcuk/ Website: https://vaultn.com/ Connect with Harry:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hphokou Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokou/ Join our industry events: https://hivemind.world/ Get exclusive podcast recaps & industry insights:→ Subscribe to The Gaming Playbook Weekly at https://join.thegamingplaybook.com Chapters:00:00 Intro02:43 How PC game distribution has evolved07:50 Why Steam isn't enough anymore11:18 The biggest distribution mistake developers make15:24 How third-party distribution increases sales20:34 Why cheap game keys end up on grey-market websites25:07 Why discoverability is everything29:22 Pre-orders, wishlists, and where to send players31:39 Why modern game distribution took so long to evolve36:01 Why solo developers should care about third-party stores39:24 How local storefronts create more sales42:27 The future of PC game distribution46:49 The biggest misconception about game distribution47:55 Adam's best marketing advice for indie developers53:36 Where to connect with Adam

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  Episode #74

  #74 - Quentin Cobb: How to Build a Fundable Indie Studio in 2026

  Jul 23, 20261h 8mS1

  What does it really take to get an indie game funded? After 17 years in AAA game development, Quentin Cobb left studios behind to found Ironroot Games. In this conversation, he shares what he's learning while actively pitching publishers and investors, raising funding, building a vertical slice, and navigating today's publishing landscape. We discuss publisher expectations, angel investors, AI in game development, pitching a game studio, and why investors often back founders as much as games. If you're an indie game developer, studio founder, or anyone trying to fund your next game, this episode is packed with practical advice from someone living it today. Connect with Quentin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quentin-cobb/ Website: https://ironrootgames.com/ Connect with Harry: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hphokou Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokou/ Join our industry events: https://hivemind.world/ Get exclusive podcast recaps & industry insights: → Subscribe to The Gaming Playbook Weekly at https://join.thegamingplaybook.com 00:00 Intro 01:45 Quentin's AAA background and founding Ironroot Games 04:25 Why funding is the biggest challenge for indie studios 06:25 How Quentin survived after the Microsoft layoffs 09:03 Angel investors, friends & family, and early funding 11:29 Building a team before funding exists 15:44 What publishing deals are possible in 2026? 19:01 Why publishers invest in founders, not just games 22:22 Becoming a first-time CEO and earning investor confidence 26:35 Publisher pitches vs investor pitches 28:27 AAA vs indie development: biggest differences 29:55 Lessons from developing The Last of Us 33:03 Finding the features players actually care about 36:08 Why Ironroot Games is focused on single-player 37:29 AI in game development and publisher expectations 47:24 China, Europe, and finding the right publishing partners 57:07 How to get honest feedback from publishers 59:49 Making games that are personal 1:08:54 Gamescom plans and pitching the prototype 1:12:00 Final advice for every indie game developer

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  Episode #73

  #73 - Michael Szklarski: Why GTA Online and Red Dead Online Keep Losing to Fan Servers

  Jul 2, 20261h 4mS1

  Multiplayer doesn't have to be built on day one. Today, I'm joined by Michael Szklarski, Co-Founder of ReadyM, who explains how community-driven multiplayer mods have transformed games like GTA V and why the future of gaming may belong to player-created experiences. From the origins of GTA multiplayer mods and FiveM to Black Myth: Wukong, Oblivion Remastered, Minecraft, Roblox, Skyrim, and Hytale, this conversation explores how UGC (User-Generated Content), modding, and multiplayer communities can dramatically extend a game's lifespan. Whether you're a game developer, publisher, aspiring game designer, or modder, you'll learn how successful games evolve into long-lasting platforms, why some games attract thriving modding communities while others don't, and what it takes to build the next generation of community-powered games. Connect with Michael: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michalszklarski Website: https://docs.ready.mp/ Forum: https://forum.ready.mp/ Oblivion Multiplayer Mod: https://oblivionmp.firstlook.gg/ Connect with Harry: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hphokou Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokou/ Join our industry events: https://hivemind.world/ Get exclusive podcast recaps & industry insights: → Subscribe to The Gaming Playbook Weekly at https://join.thegamingplaybook.com Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:23 ReadyM and the vision behind community multiplayer 02:47 What is UGC multiplayer? 05:32 The origins of GTA multiplayer modding 07:43 How multiplayer mods work under the hood 10:03 How GTMP became FiveM 15:17 Why Rockstar acquired FiveM 20:11 How UGC extends a game's lifespan 25:03 Can developers design games for modding success? 29:11 Should studios build official modding tools? 35:17 Michael's journey into modding 38:58 When modding became a business 42:56 Building ReadyM and multiplayer technology 46:56 Raising investment and proving the vision 53:52 Why Red Dead Redemption Online never reached FiveM's success 56:42 Advice for AAA game developers 58:41 Advice for aspiring modders

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  Episode #72

  #72 - Frank Lofaro: The Hiring System Every Studio Founder Needs (Before the Next Mis-Hire)

  Jun 25, 20261h 4mS1

  Hiring isn't guesswork. In this episode, I'm joined by Frank Lofaro, who has helped over 1,700 businesses hire better, from zero-employee startups to companies scaling past 100 people. Before founding Tank Recruiting, he spent three years at AeroTech (one of the largest private staffing firms in the world) and was an employee #12 at Acquisition.com, where he worked as an internal recruiter and hired across an entire portfolio of companies. We talked about how to make your first hire, avoid costly hiring mistakes, identify A-players, create better interview processes, improve candidate experience, and build a team that can scale with your business. Whether you're a founder making your first hire or leading a growing company, this conversation is for you. Connect with Frank: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-lofaro/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/franklofaro/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TankRecruiting Website: http://tankrecruiting.com/ Connect with Harry: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hphokou Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokou/ Join our industry events: https://hivemind.world/ Get exclusive podcast recaps & industry insights: → Subscribe to The Gaming Playbook Weekly at https://join.thegamingplaybook.com Chapters: 00:00 Intro 05:03 How Frank got into recruiting and joined Acquisition.com 08:50 Why hiring speed and candidate experience matter 14:13 Making your first hire: where founders should start 15:59 The mistake of hiring a COO too early 20:12 Why over-titling employees creates problems 23:20 Biggest hiring mistakes from 0–10 employees 26:53 Accountability meetings and managing performance 32:13 The hiring framework: Qualify, Amplify, Evaluate 36:02 How to review resumes and screen candidates efficiently 40:13 Structured interviews and objective hiring decisions 47:39 Take-home assessments and hiring tests 52:31 Frank's favorite interview question 53:49 Who should run first-round interviews? 56:59 The biggest hiring lesson: never compromise on culture fit 01:00:22 Why Frank started Tank Recruiting

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