Player Driven

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 Takeaways

1. UGC’s Role in Expanding Gaming Lifecycles

Baldur’s Gate 3 has seen over 50 million mod downloads in its first year, with 40% of its player base engaging with mods—double the industry average. Scott explains that mods keep games fresh, encouraging players to return for new experiences, whether it’s simple cosmetic tweaks or major gameplay changes. Console players, in particular, have embraced mods, often consuming more content than their PC counterparts.

2. Breaking Down Barriers for Console Modding

Traditionally, console ecosystems were closed off to modding due to strict certification processes and security concerns. Mod.io changed the game by partnering with PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo, bringing mods to consoles for the first time. This shift has allowed console players to experience UGC at a scale previously reserved for PC gaming, with games like Baldur’s Gate 3, SnowRunner, and Skater XL leading the charge.

3. The Business Case for UGC

Mod.io collaborated with Simon Carlos of GameDiscoverCo to analyze UGC’s financial impact. The results are clear: games with UGC see a 23% revenue increase over five years, retain 90% more players, and even boost paid DLC sales by up to 26%. UGC not only enhances player engagement but also creates opportunities for studios to better understand what their audience wants through player-created content trends.

4. How Mod.io Supports Developers and Players

Implementing modding isn’t just about enabling creativity; it’s also about maintaining quality and safety. Mod.io offers automated content scanning for malware and inappropriate material, customizable curation settings for studios, and community reporting tools to flag problematic mods. For developers, this means greater control over their games’ ecosystems while giving players the freedom to create and share.

5. The Future of UGC in Gaming

Scott envisions a future where games become platforms for creators, allowing indie developers to launch full-fledged titles as mods within larger games. This approach could solve one of the biggest challenges for indie creators—finding an audience—while providing established games with fresh, high-quality content. As Scott says, “You don’t have to democratize creation—you just have to enable imagination.”

Featured Guest

Scott Reismanis is the founder of ModDB and Mod.io. With over 20 years of experience in the gaming industry, Scott has helped bring UGC to the forefront of modern gaming, enabling players to create and share content across platforms.

Memorable Quotes

“UGC isn’t competition; it’s an opportunity to deepen engagement and extend a game’s lifecycle.”

“You don’t have to democratize creation—you just have to enable imagination.”

Relevant Links

Explore Mod.io: www.mod.io

SPONSOR:
Check out Nexys Mobile and the Red Magic 10 Pro: https://www.nexysmobile.com/redmagic

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 development.

03:27 – A high school gym teacher introduced Shaun to EA, setting him on his career path.
04:26 – Started in QA at EA, working on games like James Bond: Everything or Nothing and NBA Street.
05:41 – Early QA days felt like Grandma’s Boy—pizza, long hours, and tight-knit teams.

07:33 – Every studio operates differently, but profitability often dictates creative freedom.
08:17 – Studios like Respawn thrived due to strong leadership and a focus on quality.
17:48 – Key lessons: Avoid crunch, communicate clearly, and establish strong development pillars.

14:18 – Community management varies—Plants vs. Zombies had a supportive fanbase, while Gears of War was more intense.
16:36 – Community managers are the frontline of player feedback, taking in both praise and criticism.
17:03 – A strong community presence can make or break a game’s long-term success.

21:26 – Game Guardians was founded to tackle inefficiencies in game QA.
22:51 – AI-driven automation solves major QA challenges: reducing repetitive testing, supporting live-service games, and catching hard-to-find bugs.
24:13 – AI isn’t replacing QA testers but augmenting their capabilities, allowing them to focus on higher-value tasks.

26:38 – The idea for Game Guardians took shape after Shaun’s layoff from Respawn.
30:51 – The biggest struggle as a founder: learning to unplug and avoid burnout.
50:20 – Advice to his younger self: Pick battles wisely and set better boundaries to maintain mental health.

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, publishing your first title, or just care about where gaming is headed, this one’s for you.

1. Constraint is the Mother of Creativity
   Shawn argues that early tech limits forced creative brilliance. Today’s boundless tech might actually dilute focus. “Discipline is more valuable than horsepower.”
2. The AA Tier Has Collapsed
   The middle class of game development is disappearing. Studios either go ultra-lean indie or mega-budget AAA. Shawn says we must revive sustainable $20M–$80M games.
3. Game Pricing is Outdated
   The $59.99 model hasn’t budged in decades — even as dev costs skyrocket.
4. “No One’s Coming to Save You”
   Indie devs need to act like entrepreneurs. That means tighter budgets, faster shipping, and proving the team can actually deliver. Don’t wait for publishers, move first.
5. Game Completion = The New Differentiator
   Shawn misses the joy of rolling credits. He believes more studios should return to crafted, finishable games. Not just endless live ops.

• 🎤 Shawn Layden on LinkedIn
• 📊 Lewis Ward, IDC
• 🎮 Girls Make Games Scholarship Fund
• 🧵 More from Player Driven

Sponsor:

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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 timestamps):

• Community-Driven Development (07:10): Engaging communities early significantly boosts loyalty and advocacy.
• Value of Data (17:07): Leveraging qualitative and quantitative data from player feedback provides deeper insights into community needs.
• Optimizing Workflow with Automation (35:09): Automation reduces burnout by streamlining tasks, allowing community managers to focus on meaningful player interactions.
• Early Community Building (07:46): Building communities early in the development cycle is critical to long-term game success.
• Importance of Feedback Loops (37:39): Keeping players informed on issue resolution enhances satisfaction and trust.
• Evolving Role of Community Managers (12:07): Today's community managers require diverse skill sets, from analytics to direct community engagement, highlighting the importance of supportive tools.

Notable Quotes:

• "In traditional SaaS, they would kill for this amount of data." – Tim Smith
• "Community managers are your allies; you just need to get them the information so they can bring it to the appropriate sources." – Greg

Links:

• Connect with COHEZION: COHEZION Website

This weeks episode is sponsored by Nexys Wireless. Check out the REDMAGIC Pro 10 - www.nexysmobile.com/redmagic

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 immersive spaces, and her vision for more inclusive, player-driven virtual worlds.

This one’s raw, real, and packed with insights on XR safety, community building, and the untapped power of play.

1. VR as a LifelineSonya discovered VR in 2017 and credits it with helping her manage chronic pain, regain physical independence, and even lose 40 pounds—all while seated, gaming daily.
2. Esports as EmpowermentStarting in Echo Arena, Sonya became one of the top players—despite being a middle-aged woman in a male-dominated space. She proved that skill, not stereotype, determines success.
3. Toxicity in VR is Real—But FixableShe shares harrowing experiences of harassment and doxxing, but also offers hope: community-led moderation, tools like ToxMod, and peer pressure can shift the culture.
4. Why Gorilla Tag WorksThe smash-hit XR game owes much of its success to player autonomy and a dev team that listened from day one. Players invent their own rules—just like on a playground.
5. AWE's New Gaming HubSonya teases a massive new initiative debuting at AWE: a full-on Gaming Hub featuring a Games Pavilion, dev stage, networking events, and hands-on VR experiences. Gamers, take note—June in Long Beach is going to be big.

• How a VR headset at Best Buy changed Sonya’s life
• Using Echo Arena to recover from physical limitations
• Sexism and harassment in early XR environments
• The evolution of moderation and safety tools in VR
• Gorilla Tag’s runaway success and community-first model
• The future of AWE and why gaming is taking center stage
• Personal resilience, reinvention, and the human side of tech

• AWE (Augmented World Expo): https://www.awexr.com
• Lewis Ward, IDC: XR & gaming industry insights
• Sonya's Handle: Hasko7 across social platforms (Twitter, LinkedIn, BlueSky, Facebook)'

Sponsor: 

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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-driven decision-making in gaming, and why community management is more than just banning bad actors—it’s about fostering positive engagement.

1️⃣ AI & Trust & Safety – How Spectrum Labs helps detect toxicity and positive behaviors in user-generated content across gaming, dating, and social platforms.
2️⃣ Understanding the "Movable Middle" – Why segmenting online communities into positive users, neutral users, and toxic users helps shape safer gaming spaces.
3️⃣ The Future of AI in Gaming – Tim explores how generative AI will shape player engagement, content creation, and moderation strategies while tackling ethical concerns.

✔️ Learn how data and AI are shaping trust & safety in gaming.
✔️ Discover best practices for building healthier online communities.
✔️ Get insights on how gaming companies can measure and reward positive behaviors.

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 philosophy behind great level design, and why he believes game studios need to take more risks. Willem also shares insights into his new studio, OCI, and their vision for "Cocktail Games"—a bold new approach to game development.

• Founder, Odyssey Cocktail Interactive
• Former Level Designer at Velen Studios (Knockout City) & Zynga (Star Wars: Hunters)
• Passionate about innovation in game design & the power of hybrid genres

⏳ 01:25 – From childhood LEGO builds to professional level design
🔨 06:15 – What is level design, really? (Hint: It’s more than just making maps)
🎭 12:30 – Finding creativity in unexpected places (Pink Floyd, JFK conspiracies & more)
🔥 22:00 – Proactivity in game development: Learning by doing
🏗️ 26:50 – Why Willem launched Odyssey Cocktail Interactive
🍸 36:40 – What are “Cocktail Games” & how they blend genres for fresh experiences
📢 41:58 – The importance of community-driven development
🚀 45:25 – The future of game development: Risk-taking, AI & industry shifts

🎤 “You can have all the great mechanics in your game, but it’s nothing without the right playground.” – Willem Kranendonk
🎤 "Level design is about executing the fun. It's about taking an idea and making it feel right." – Willem Kranendonk
🎤 “Indie games are taking the world by storm because they’re willing to take risks AAA studios won’t.” – Greg Posner

🔗 Odyssey Cocktail Interactive Website
🔗 Willem on LinkedIn

• Emily transitioned from HR management into recruitment, reversing the usual career trajectory.
• Her passion for video games led her to SkillSearch, a games and interactive tech talent agency.
• Takeaway: Follow your interests—they can lead to unexpected and fulfilling career paths.

• Many candidates don’t fully understand the challenges of a role before accepting it.
• Overhiring during COVID led to mass layoffs when demand normalized.
• Takeaway: Studios must think long-term when hiring, considering risks like overexpansion and retention issues.

• Reaching out to professionals on LinkedIn can provide mentorship and industry insights.
• Studios and job seekers alike should leverage networking to stay ahead of trends.
• Takeaway: Proactive networking can open unexpected opportunities.

• SkillSearch helps gaming studios fill roles by providing top industry talent.
• They offer salary benchmarking, employer branding advice, and recruitment strategy insights.
• Takeaway: Companies should view recruitment agencies as strategic partners, not just headhunters.

• CVs should be clear and concise, highlighting achievements in bullet points.
• Cover letters should be short but tailored to the role.
• LinkedIn is now a key job search tool—keep it professional and updated.
• Takeaway: Small details in presentation and outreach can make a huge difference in landing a job.

✅ Be strategic in hiring – Avoid short-term thinking.
✅ Network effectively – It can lead to career-defining opportunities.
✅ Optimize your job search tools – LinkedIn, resumes, and cover letters matter.
✅ Stay informed – Market trends impact hiring and job security.

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 constraints of big publishers.

Their first game, Victory’s Grave: Outflank, is a tactical PvP shooter designed to balance realism, strategy, and accessibility. They want to create a game that feels authentic without the extreme complexity of military simulators or the overly casual approach of mainstream shooters.

In this episode, we explore their journey from AAA to indie, the current challenges in game development, and how they’re using equity crowdfunding to involve players in their success.

[00:00] 🎙️ Meet Old Glory Studios Lewis and Matt share their backgrounds in the gaming industry and military service, explaining how their paths led them to start their own studio.

[09:00] 🎮 Why Go Indie? They discuss the limitations of working in AAA studios, the creative compromises that come with big-budget game development, and why going independent gives them the freedom to build the game they truly want.

[22:40] 🔍 Finding the Fun First One of their biggest priorities was making sure Victory’s Grave: Outflank was fun from the start. They talk about their approach to playtesting and how early player feedback helped shape the game’s mechanics.

[30:10] 💰 Crowdfunding Instead of Traditional Investors Rather than going through traditional investors or big publishers, Old Glory Studios is using equity crowdfunding, which allows players and supporters to own a piece of the company. They explain why this model makes sense for their vision and how it helps them stay independent.

[50:10] 🚀 What’s Next? With a playable prototype already developed, the team is now focused on building a vertical slice and preparing for early access within a year. They also discuss how players can get involved by wishlisting the game, investing, and providing feedback.

🎮 Wishlist Victory’s Grave: Outflank on Steam
💡 Learn more & invest in Old Glory Studios
📲 Follow their fundraise!

🎙️ 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 deep into:
✅ How to transition from writing to game design to running a studio
✅ The challenges of designing a unique card game in a crowded market
✅ Fundraising strategies—angel investors vs. Kickstarter
✅ The importance of building a strong player community
✅ Leveraging influencers for game marketing

If you're an indie developer, a deck-builder fan, or just love a good success story, this episode is packed with valuable insights!

• [02:00] Zack’s career shift: From writer to game designer to CEO
• [08:45] How Havoc was born and the unique mechanics that make it stand out
• [15:30] The funding journey: How Zack secured angel investors and Kickstarter success
• [24:10] Why community is the lifeblood of a great game
• [32:00] The power of influencers in game marketing—and how to get them onboard
• [41:53] Zack’s biggest lessons from wearing multiple hats in the industry

Zack Howe is the co-founder and CEO of Nyx Studios, where he leads the development of Havoc, a competitive deck-building game available in both physical and digital formats. With a background in writing and game design, Zack brings a unique storytelling-first approach to game development.

Connect with Zack & Nyx Studios:
🎮 Play Havoc on Tabletopia
💬 Join the Havoc Discord
📢 Follow Zack on Twitter

🔥 Be adaptable. Zack’s career shift from writer to CEO proves that staying flexible opens doors.
🔥 Fundraising is a grind. Whether through angel investors or Kickstarter, securing funding takes strategy and persistence.
🔥 Community is king. Players, influencers, and content creators can help your game succeed faster than traditional marketing.
🔥 Don’t fear failure. Every misstep is a learning opportunity—whether it’s a pricing mistake on Steam or an underperforming Kickstarter campaign.