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.
Listen or watch on your favorite platforms
Want to be featured?
For guest or sponsorship inquiries reach out to playbook@phokou.com
Latest Episode
Discover how The Baby in Yellow, an indie horror game born from a game jam, exploded to over 300 million downloads — without any marketing budget or VC funding. In this episode, Greg Lee, co-founder of Team Terrible, shares how content creators, viral design strategies, and long-term thinking helped them turn a side project into a global hit. From leaving Rockstar to building a 12-person indie studio, Greg dives deep into:
- The early days of viral traction
- Designing for shareability and YouTube
- Monetization without selling out
- Building a passionate fanbase
- Advice for aspiring indie developers
If you’re a game dev, indie founder, or creative entrepreneur, this is your blueprint for building something that markets itself. Learn how to go viral, build a studio, and create lasting IP in the age of short attention spans.
Connect with Greg:
LinkedIn: 
/ greg-lee-40aa1276
X: https://x.com/heyimgreg
The Baby in Yellow:
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/de…
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-bab…
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/22…
Discord: 
/ discord
Connect with Harry:
LinkedIn: / hphokou
YouTube: 
/ @hphokou
Instagram: 
/ hphokou
Get exclusive podcast recaps & industry insights: → Subscribe to the Gaming Rally Newsletter www.gamingrally.net
Featured Episodes
Recent Episodes
Today’s guests are Lara Acosta, Luke Matthews, Matt Barker, Sam G. Winsbury, and Jacob Pegs. Lara is a personal branding expert and founder of Literally Academy, boasting 20M+ impressions and a #1 LinkedIn creator title. Luke is an AI-driven ghostwriter with 175,000 followers, known for teaching how to craft posts with precision in just 7 days. Matt is a solopreneur copywriter who left a corporate job to build a thriving business teaching others to attract dream clients through organic content. Sam is the founder of a personal branding agency that has built over 150 brands, achieving millions in inbound leads for clients. Jacob is a former agency owner turned business coach who scaled his consulting business to $500K+ annually, specializing in content-led growth strategies. And I’m your host, Harry Phokou, I ghostwrite and get LinkedIn done for you. In this episode, we talk about our approaches to writing, managing leads, and using AI in content creation. We also share tips on building connections, making the most of video content, and deciding what really matters on LinkedIn. Whether you’re new to LinkedIn or looking to refine your strategy, this episode has practical advice to help you grow your presence and get results.
Today’s guests are Nausheen I. Chen, Ryan R. Sullivan, and Danny DelVecchio. Nausheen is a 3-time TEDx speaker and public speaking coach helping leaders communicate with confidence. Ryan is a podcast strategist who’s launched 100+ successful shows for B2B companies. Danny is a video marketing expert helping founders turn LinkedIn videos into lead-generating machines. And I’m your host, Harry Phokou, I ghostwrite and get LinkedIn done for you. In this special episode, each guest brings a genuine question to ask the other guests about their business or LinkedIn. With one hour of deep dives followed by a 30-minute Q&A, this episode is perfect for entrepreneurs, content creators, or anyone looking to level up their LinkedIn game (and have fun doing it).
Today’s guest is Kseniia Maiboroda, CEO and Co-founder of Elevatix, an AI-powered LiveOps platform built to help mobile games reach their revenue potential. With a strong high-tech and mobile gaming background, Kseniia previously led technical product management for social casino games at Playtika. Over her seven-year career, she’s delivered innovative solutions for top-grossing games, helping clients like Voodoo see substantial gains in player engagement and purchase conversions. From quick SDK integration to fully automated liveops, Kseniia’s approach allows game studios to optimize revenue rapidly, without the hassle of extensive setup or management overhead. In this episode, Kseniia shares her journey of creating Elevatix, an AI-driven platform that personalizes in-game offers to boost mobile game monetization. She explores the real-world applications of AI in understanding player behavior, crafting custom offers, and enhancing user experience — all without relying on personal data, making these tools accessible even for smaller studios. This episode is ideal for mobile game developers, industry professionals, aspiring founders, and anyone interested in the transformative role of AI in gaming.
Today’s guest is Alexis Gresoviac, Founder of Ace Consulting Group and former Managing Director at Blizzard, Gameloft, and Huuuge Games. Alexis has been in the industry for 25 years, growing Gameloft Japan from 1 to 150 people and managing $100M dollars in budgets at Blizzard Korea. In this episode, Alexis reveals the 10 crucial things you need to get right to build a thriving gaming studio. From smart budgeting and decision-making to building teams that fit your culture. You are in for a masterclass!
Today’s guest is Johan Tjäder, the CEO and founder of RankOne, the top platform for gamers and creators to share their passion for games. Johan has grown RankOne into a platform trusted by gamers and developers alike, with over 1.5 million games analyzed thanks to player-driven insights. His platform helps game companies understand their audiences better by offering authentic, cross-platform data that tracks player behavior across time. By empowering players to contribute their experiences, Johan provides invaluable tools for developers looking to reduce risk and create games that resonate in today’s competitive market. In this episode, he shares how his platform has become a game-changer by providing deep, player-driven insights from over 1.5 million games. He explains how RankOne’s data helps developers better understand player behavior and create more engaging games. This podcast is perfect for game developers, game companies, and anyone interested in how data can shape game design.
Today’s guest is Pontus Mahler, co-founder of Agora Gaming Partners, a global investment bank and advisory firm focused on video gaming. With over a decade of experience in creating, managing, and driving projects within gaming & esports, he’s now focused on creating business opportunities in the video game industry and aiding talented gaming startups in reaching the next levels with guidance, and collaboration with investment & publishing partnerships. In this podcast, he dives into the 2024 investment landscape and the rights and wrongs of dealing with publishers. With experience reviewing thousands of pitch decks, Pontus shares what actually works when securing funding and offers practical advice on negotiating with publishers. We also explore the key differences between VCs and publishers, and whether angel investment is a viable option, wrapping up with a rapid-fire Q&A. This podcast is ideal for game developers, indie studios, double- and triple-A companies, and anyone looking to better understand the funding process, pitch strategies, and publisher negotiations.
Want to be guest?
Have a story or strategy that gaming professionals need to hear? Apply here to be a guest on The Gaming Playbook. We’re always looking for leaders, innovators, and experts to share their wisdom with our audience.
For business inquiries or sponsorship opportunities, reach out to playbook@phokou.com
