Player Driven

In this episode, Greg sits down with Julie Banta, Director of Engineering for Build & Release at Respawn, to break down what it actually takes to keep a massive live game like Apex Legends running day after day.

Julie pulls back the curtain on the real machinery behind live service games: shipping updates across six platforms, reacting to hotfixes in real time, balancing player satisfaction with business realities, and what happens when millions of players discover a bug before telemetry even catches it.

Whether you’re building an indie title, supporting a AAA LiveOps team, or just curious how Apex stays online season after season—this is a masterclass.

• How content actually gets from dev environment to players
• What happens during season launch week
• Why shipping across PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC is pure chaos

• How Respawn monitors crashes, spikes, and player reports
• When Reddit finds the bug before telemetry does
• The internal “bat signal” that triggers Build & Release into action

• Why live service code turns into “six years of hacks”
• The tension between cleaning tech debt and keeping seasons on schedule
• The brutal truth about maintaining legacy systems while shipping new content

• How Respawn avoids burnout during crisis moments
• Why great teams protect each other’s off-hours
• What good management looks like in a 24/7 operational environment

• The KPIs that actually matter
• What a “quiet weekend” is for Build & Release
• Why listening to players beats every dashboard

• From USAA → EA IT → Respawn
• How to “connect your dots” when shifting industries
• Her perspective on diversity and belonging in modern game development

If you enjoyed this breakdown of Apex’s LiveOps brain, follow Player Driven for more conversations with the people shaping the future of gaming.

What does it really mean to design a game — and what can that teach us about culture, creativity, and even our daily lives? In this episode, Greg is joined by Lewis Ward and Eric Zimmerman, legendary game designer, professor at NYU’s Game Center, and author of The Rules We Break. Eric’s career spans from pioneering web-based multiplayer with Sissy Fight 2000 to co-founding GameLab and shaping Diner Dash, one of the most influential time-management games ever made.

We dig into the fundamentals of game design, the ethics of addictive mechanics, the surprising history of Monopoly, and why prototyping isn’t just for developers — it’s a mindset for anyone building systems or communities.

Joining us for this conversation is Lewis Ward, long-time industry analyst, who helps unpack Eric’s insights with both sharp questions and nostalgia for 90s game culture.

• Iteration as a Superpower – Why prototyping is the start of design, not the end.
• Feedback Everywhere – How observing body language and engagement rhythms tells you more than analytics.
• Sissy Fight 2000 & Early Multiplayer – The “flame wars” era and lessons for today’s online communities.
• Diner Dash’s Secret – How a “casual” game ended up brutally difficult — and why that mattered.
• Loops Within Loops – What makes Balatro so compelling, and how game design patterns keep players hooked.
• Ethics & Addiction – Dark design patterns, dopamine hits, and the responsibility of game creators.
• The Rules We Break – How Eric uses hands-on exercises to teach design as a 21st-century literacy.
• The Real Monopoly Story – Why one of the world’s most iconic games is often misunderstood.

• Eric Zimmerman’s book: The Rules We Break
• Classic text: Rules of Play (Zimmerman & Salen)
• NYU Game Center: gamecenter.nyu.edu
• Follow Player Driven for more conversations: playerdriven.io

00:00 – Intro & Eric’s background
03:30 – Teaching game design & iteration
13:30 – Sissy Fight 2000 & the flame war era
21:00 – Diner Dash and the rise of “casual” games
26:30 – Feedback loops, dopamine, and ethics
42:00 – The Rules We Break: learning design through play
50:30 – Monopoly, culture, and closing reflections

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Player Driven on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube for more conversations at the intersection of games, business, and community. And visit playerdriven.io to explore more resources, clips, and insights from the show.

What if the biggest leaps in gaming don’t happen at global mega-conferences, but in regional rooms where developers, vendors, and communities connect in a meaningful way? In this episode of Player Driven, host Greg speaks with Jason Lepine, Founder & CEO of XP Gaming, about the real impact of local events and why they’re foundational to the future of the industry.

• A clear look at why local gaming conferences matter and how they differ from the big expos.
• A behind-the-scenes story of how XP Gaming and the Montreal International Game Summit (MIGS) were built and evolved.
• Insight into how vendors, sponsors, and local hubs create real value for studios and creators.
• Career lessons from Jason’s journey and how showing up to local events changed lives.
• A forward-looking discussion on how these grassroots gatherings shape the next era of gaming.

00:00 – Introduction: Why local events matter
03:15 – The origin story of XP Gaming
07:40 – What MIGS is and how it’s evolved
13:05 – The vendor and sponsor role in local conferences
18:30 – Stories of impact: community, careers and connection
23:55 – Looking ahead: how local events will build the industry’s future
27:10 – Wrap-up and key takeaway

(Note: Timestamps are illustrative; please adjust to the final edited version.)

Jason Lepine
Founder & CEO, XP Gaming
Jason Lepine is the driving force behind XP Gaming, a company dedicated to growing and connecting Canada’s game ecosystem through community-building, education and events. Under his leadership, XP Gaming has re-energized the Montreal International Game Summit (MIGS) and helped transform local industry gatherings into powerful growth platforms.

• XP Gaming: xpgaming.biz
• Montreal International Game Summit (MIGS): migs.biz
• Follow Jason Lepine: LinkedIn
• Previous Episode on Game Community & LiveOps: [Link to Episode #XX]

If you found value in this episode, please hit Subscribe, leave a review in your podcast app, and share with a friend who works in gaming, dev, or community-building. Also, check our blog at Player Driven for related show notes and links.

What does it take to build a shooter that can handle millions of players and still keep people coming back for more?

In this episode, Greg is joined by Thad Sasser, a veteran designer whose career has touched some of the most iconic shooters ever made, including Battlefield, Call of Duty, PUBG, and Rivals. Together, they dive into the realities of scaling franchises, balancing innovation with player expectations, and the leadership lessons learned from building at AAA scale.

• Thad’s journey from QA to designing levels showcased at E3
• Why community is the hidden feature that keeps shooters alive
• The balance between innovation and expectation (and why not every player voice should shape the vision)
• Leadership lessons in delegation, trust, and building creative teams
• How global studios are reshaping game development and what the West can learn

Thad Sasser has spent over two decades in game development, contributing to genre-defining franchises and leading teams at some of the biggest studios in the world. His career highlights include Battlefield Hardline, Call of Duty: United Offensive, and PUBG. Today, he continues to focus on building great teams, innovating within FPS, and shaping the future of multiplayer experiences.

• Subscribe to Player Driven on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen
• Visit playerdriven.io for more episodes and insights
• Follow Greg and Player Driven on LinkedIn and YouTube for clips and updates

In this episode of Player Driven, Greg talks with Keith Pape, founder of YellowPike Media, about how to build authentic, lasting connections between studios, players, and communities. Keith shares how YellowPike became known as a gaming marketing agency that thrives on creativity, bold experiential campaigns, and a passion for games.

From Times Square takeovers for Metal Gear to guiding indie studios on their first hires, YellowPike Media focuses on doing the right thing—for clients, communities, and players. If you’re interested in game marketing strategies, community management, or how agencies partner with developers and publishers, this episode is packed with insights.

• All-In Culture – Why YellowPike Media avoids rigid roles and builds campaigns through collaboration across trailers, influencers, events, and content.
• Community Managers as Essential Hires – How strong community leads shape player trust and often grow into producers, biz dev, or operations.
• Experiential Marketing Done Right – Lessons from live activations like the Metal Gear Solid Times Square campaign, and how to turn moments into long-tail content.

Founded by Keith Pape, YellowPike Media is a creative gaming marketing agency built by lifelong gamers. With over a decade of experience, the agency has worked with top publishers and indie studios to deliver standout campaigns across influencers, community, live events, and storytelling. Their philosophy is simple: do the right thing, and long-term success follows.

Connect with Keith and YellowPike Media:

• Twitter/X: @YPM_agency
• Instagram: @YPM_agency
• Threads / Bluesky: @YPM_agency

• Explore more episodes of Player Driven, the podcast about the business of games: playerdriven.io
• Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts

Overview

What happens when regulation collides with game design? In this episode, I sit down with industry veteran Oscar Clark to unpack the EU’s proposed changes around virtual currency, the ethics of monetization, and why “finding the fun” is still the core of building sustainable games. From self-regulation to skill-mapping the next generation of developers, this conversation goes deep into the business of games and the future of LiveOps.

Episode Highlights

• Why current EU regulations on virtual currency could unintentionally harm indie developers while missing the real issues
• The nuance of FOMO, scarcity, and seasonal content—when it drives engagement vs. when it becomes exploitative
• Lessons from history: how Battlefront II’s monetization backlash should have been a wake-up call for the industr
• The need for skills mapping and career development frameworks to help juniors grow into seniors—and why games lag behind other industries
• How LiveOps and retention loops (like soap opera-style storytelling) keep players coming back for years
• Oscar’s journey from GDC talks to his new LiveOps strategy platform, Arcanics, and how it aims to make sustainable operations accessible to all studios

Why It Matters

For industry professionals, this episode offers a clear-eyed look at the tension between regulation, monetization, and player trust. You’ll walk away with practical insights into LiveOps best practices, the importance of designing around player value rather than revenue, and a framework for thinking about career development in gaming. Whether you’re running a AAA franchise or bootstrapping an indie project, the lessons here point to one truth: sustainable growth comes from finding the fun and retaining players long-term.

About the Guest

Oscar Clark is the co-founder of Arcanics, a newly funded LiveOps strategy platform. A 30-year industry veteran, Oscar has written multiple books including Games as a Service and Playing with Balance. He is a frequent speaker at GDC and global gaming conferences, known for blending practical LiveOps experience with big-picture industry insight.

Next Steps

👉 Explore more insights at PlayerDriven.io

👉 Join the conversation in our Discord community

👉 For consulting, learning modules, and frameworks on retention, monetization, and LiveOps strategy—reach out directly.

• .The surprising parallels between AAA vs. indie studios and corporate vs. startup marketing
• Why interviewing for leadership roles goes both ways—and how to avoid misalignment with execs.
• .Delegation lessons: why hiring cheap can cost more, and how to balance junior growth with execution
• OKRs (Objectives & Key Results) as a tool to align creative marketing with measurable company impact.
• Indie advice: what type of marketer to hire first when you’re two devs with a great game but zero promotion.
• .Building evangelists: how customer marketing programs turn clients into advocates

For studio leads, LiveOps managers, or indie founders, this episode is a roadmap to scaling marketing without losing sight of authenticity. You’ll walk away with clarity on how to structure your first marketing hire, practical delegation tactics, and how to align creative efforts with KPIs that actually move revenue. Think of it as a playbook for turning marketing from “nice-to-have” into a growth engine.

Christine Dart is a veteran marketing leader with deep expertise in B2B growth, customer engagement, and creative brand-building. She’s known for transforming visions into measurable results, from doubling revenues to launching innovative customer marketing programs. Her career blends entrepreneurial scrappiness with corporate leadership, making her a go-to voice on what works—and what doesn’t—in modern marketing

🔗 Dive deeper at PlayerDriven.io for consulting, learning resources, and community discussions.
💬 Join the Player Driven Discord to connect with peers on retention, LiveOps, publishing, and more.

In this encore episode of Player Driven, Greg sits down with Shaun Laker, founder of Game Guardians and veteran of Respawn, EA, and The Coalition, to explore how AI-driven automation is reshaping QA, empowering developers, and changing what it means to ship a game.

Since this conversation first aired, Game Guardians has accelerated, and so has Player Driven. We’re now working directly with studios, bringing in new sponsorships, and expanding our reach to deliver more industry news and best practices straight to your inbox.

If you want to understand how AI is already redefining game development — and why the next competitive advantage might come from smarter QA instead of bigger budgets — this is a must-listen.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why traditional QA can’t keep up with the demands of modern live service games
• How AI agents can reduce costs, catch more bugs, and supercharge QA teams
• Shaun’s journey from modding Duke Nukem to leading QA innovation with Game Guardians
• The balance between automation and human oversight — and why “humans in the loop” still matter
• Practical advice for studios on when to invest in QA and automation

About Shaun Laker
Shaun is the founder of Game Guardians, a startup focused on AI-powered QA automation. With over 20 years in the industry at studios like Respawn, EA, and The Coalition, he brings deep insights into how games are built — and where they break.

Resources & Links

• Explore Game Guardians: GameGuardians.io
• Subscribe for more insights and industry best practices: PlayerDriven.io
• Join the mailing list to get the latest news, strategies, and behind-the-scenes content in your inbox

👉 Enjoyed this episode? Visit PlayerDriven.io to check out new content, see how the team is expanding, and sign up for the mailing list so you never miss the next big conversation in gaming.

Description
Eric Chou started with a mod for Command and Conquer. Today, he runs Honor Games and works on the front lines of mental health. In this episode, we unpack the evolution of a community-built mod into a full studio, what it takes to shift from modding to indie development, and how mental health became part of Eric’s mission.

He shares practical advice for narrative design, community-building, and supporting others through tough times. This is a thoughtful conversation about ambition, burnout, and why games matter beyond the screen.

Perfect for game devs, modders, and anyone thinking about doing work that truly matters.

🎯 5 Key Moments and Timestamps

[06:50] From writer to narrative designer
Eric breaks down how he leveled up from fan fiction to building full story arcs in the modding scene

[13:30] Why leaving modding took years
Transitioning to indie development was not just a tech challenge but an emotional and creative shift

[20:25] Teaching economics through gameplay
Eric explains how Vultures blends factory management and stock market dynamics to build systems thinking

[27:00] Mental health is part of the mission
From working at 988 to designing a mental health card game, Eric explains how personal experiences shaped his path

[44:45] The Trigger Initiative
Eric shares plans to mentor unfinished indie games and help them reach MVP without becoming a traditional publisher

🧠 Big Takeaways

• Narrative design should support gameplay, not just live beside it
• Mods can create lasting impact long after development stops
• Mental health support starts with listening without judgment
• Education and game design are not mutually exclusive
• Indie support can be reimagined as community-powered mentorship

🔗 Links Mentioned

• Honor Games Website
• Eric Chou on LinkedIn

What does it take to turn a gaming hobby into a six-figure salary? In this episode, Greg sits down with Sandi, a stay-at-home dad who taught himself to create mods for ARK: Survival Ascended and ended up building a UGC empire with over 80 million downloads. From his first furniture mod made for his daughter to launching blockbuster premium content, Sandi shares his incredible journey and the community-driven strategies that fueled his success.

We're also joined by Shahar Sorek, CMO of Overwolf, the platform at the heart of the in-game creator economy. Shahar breaks down why UGC is no longer optional for game studios, how Overwolf provides a "white glove" service to de-risk the process for developers, and why creators like Sandi represent the future of player engagement and retention. This is a must-listen for any developer, publisher, or community manager looking to understand the power of community-led growth.

Timestamps:

• (01:47) Sandi's Origin Story: From marketing professional to stay-at-home dad and accidental modder.
• (09:03) The Creator Economy: Shahar explains Overwolf's mission to turn in-game creation into a legitimate profession.
• (17:13) Building in Public: How Sandi uses Discord, X, and community feedback to decide what to build next.
• (22:50) The Tools of the Trade: Sandi and Shahar discuss the essential tools for a UGC creator, from Unreal Engine to analytics.
• (30:10) Getting Started: Actionable advice from both Sandi and Shahar for anyone who wants to start creating UGC.

Guest Bios:

• Sandi Fais a self-taught, professional mod creator for games like ARK: Survival Ascended and Hogwarts Legacy. He is one of the top creators on the CurseForge platform, with his mods collectively reaching over 80 million downloads. You can find his work on CurseForge and connect with him on X (formerly Twitter) .
• Shahar Sorek is the Chief Marketing Officer at Overwolf, the all-in-one platform that enables creators to build, distribute, and monetize in-game apps and mods. He is focused on empowering the in-game creator economy and fostering the relationship between studios, creators, and gamers. Connect with him on LinkedIn.

Key Topics:

• User-Generated Content (UGC) Monetization
• In-Game Creator Economy
• Community Building & Engagement
• Player Retention Strategies
• LiveOps and Content Pipelining
• Game Modding and Development
• Indie Game Discoverability
• The Future of Game Publishing

Relevant Links:

• Overwolf
• CurseForge
• ARK:
• Unreal Engine
• Tebex

Credits:

Hosted by Greg Posner, founder of Player Driven — a podcast about the business of games and how smart people scale them.