Want to turn your Discord community into a revenue-generating machine?

In this episode of The Gaming Playbook, I sit down with Tom Gayner, CEO of Levellr, who’s helped Scopely, Krafton, and even the NFL build high-performing Discord communities.

We dive into the most common mistakes studios make, why Discord users are 6x more valuable, and how AI is revolutionizing community management.

If you’re a game studio, this is your blueprint for building a self-sustaining, monetized community.

Connect with Tom:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomgayner/
Website: https://www.levellr.com/

Connect with Harry:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hphokou
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokou

Get exclusive podcast recaps & industry insights:

→ Subscribe to the Gaming Rally Newsletter www.gamingrally.net

👉 Enjoyed the episode? Like, comment, and subscribe to help more developers find us.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:44 Why most studios ignore Discord
05:48 Data: Discord users = 6x more valuable
11:57 Pre-launch Discord strategy
15:06 Creating organic player-to-player interaction
17:02 Minimum requirements before launching a Discord
20:10 What resource investment actually looks like
23:04 How Levellr started & why it matters now
27:40 AI's breakthrough in community insight grouping
30:42 Querying your own Discord like a knowledge base
32:28 Fastest way to get 1,000 engaged members
34:08 Game/Discord integration examples
37:56 Best way to hire a community manager
42:32 Is Discord ROI Real or Just Hype?
46:16 The Fear of Backlash (And Why It's Wrong)
49:25 The Future of Discord in Game Publishing
52:34 Getting Insights from Player-Run Discords
55:02 Community Advice for Publishers
56:18 How to reach Tom & final thoughts

#GameDev #DiscordCommunity #RetentionStrategy #CommunityGrowth

Why do most good games still fail today, even with great gameplay?

Markus Wilding – former marketing leader at Take-Two, 2K, and Private Division – joins me to reveal why visibility is now more critical than quality... and how developers and publishers must adapt to survive.

We unpack how outdated marketing playbooks are killing games, why community building is non-negotiable, and the practical strategies every studio needs to market smarter in 2025.

Expect deep dives into:
- Why 90% of marketing strategies are stuck in the past
- How to use influencer marketing correctly in today's market
- How early-stage market validation can save your studio
- How to build community momentum before launch
- Why the future belongs to "snackable fun" games, not bloated AAA
- Practical frameworks for self-auditing your game's marketing readiness

Whether you're an indie developer, publisher, marketer, or founder, this conversation will shift how you approach game success today.

Connect with Markus:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markus-wilding/
Website: https://beyondthewall.games/

Connect with Harry:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hphokou
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokou

Get exclusive podcast recaps & industry insights:
→ Subscribe to the Gaming Rally Newsletter

Enjoyed the episode? Like, comment, and subscribe to help more developers find us.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
02:01 Markus' Transition From AAA to Consulting
07:03 Why Visibility Beats Quality Today
12:51 Discord, Reddit, and Building Real Player Communities
17:01 Why the "19,000 Games on Steam" Stat Is Misleading
21:31 The Old Game Problem
30:20 Why Graphics No Longer Guarantee Success
33:42 Finding the Fun: What AAA Forgets
35:00 Why "Snackable Gameplay" Dominates
38:48 What Good Marketing Advice Actually Looks Like
42:50 Why Understanding Development Is Non-Negotiable
48:37 Why Markus Is Optimistic About Gaming’s Future
50:25 Connect With Markus

#GameMarketing #IndieGameDev #GamingIndustry #MarketingStrategy #CommunityBuilding

In this episode of The Gaming Playbook, I sit down with Peter Fodor, founder and CEO of AppAgent, a top-tier mobile marketing agency behind games from Supercell, Netflix, and Scopely. Peter shares the unfiltered truth about why most mobile games fail to scale, the critical mistakes studios make, and how to win in today's privacy-first, saturated market.

Expect deep dives into:- How to test game ideas before writing a single line of code
- The role of creative frameworks and hooks in ad success
- Why LiveOps is the future of monetization
- Managing remote creative teams without losing your mind
- How AI is reshaping mobile game marketing and who should be scared

Whether you're a mobile dev, a UA manager, or building the next breakout title, this episode will make you rethink your strategy from the ground up.

Connect with Peter:
LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/petrfodor/⁠

Connect with Harry:
LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/⁠
Youtube: ⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@hphokou⁠
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hphokou

Get exclusive podcast recaps & industry tips – Sign up for the Gaming Rally Newsletter! http://http//gamingrally.net/

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and drop your thoughts in the comments.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
02:04 The State of Mobile Gaming Post-COVID
05:20 The Biggest Mistakes Mobile Studios Make
07:35 How Small Teams Can Pre-test Game Ideas
10:13 Increasing LTV through LiveOps
14:13 Are IP & Influencer Collabs Only For Big Studios?
16:41 Testing IPs & Understanding Your Audience
18:31 The Power of Creative Frameworks
23:00 Lessons from Walking Planet & Player Surveys
27:15 Timeless Creative Principles (AIDA, KISS)
30:42 Why Most Game Ads Fail at the Hook
32:32 Hooks vs. Storytelling: The Key Mindset Shift
35:04 Managing Creative Teams Remotely
39:17 Frameworks: Who Builds Them And How?
43:37 How to Build Systems Collaboratively
46:07 Hiring Creatives: What to Look For
49:28 AppAgent’s Future & Vision
53:39 AI's Impact on UA, Creative Production & Future Roles
58:02 Advice to Young People Entering Games
59:44 Final Thoughts For The Mobile Games Industry

#MobileGameMarketing #GameDevTips #UserAcquisition #CreativeStrategy #MobileGames2025