🎙️ Atomic Scaling: Lessons from the Games Industry for the World
Ludovic Bodin is a successful games entrepreneur, investor, and now author, his book Atomic Scaling takes lessons from some of game development's greatest leaders
Look for a new interview every week discussing current and relevant game industry development topics!
This week is GDC week! This event is way too much for an old guy like me. I seriously cannot keep up with GDC meetings, events, and work.
Given how crazy this week is, we’re switching our schedule a bit, and I’ll skip Marketwire this week.
Today, I’d like to help my friend Ludovic Bodin announce his new book, Atomic Scaling. It’s a great read on applying lessons learned from game development. In this book, you’ll get insights from some of the best in the business, including Ilkka Paananen from Supercell, Gabe Newell from Valve, and many others.
Check out my discussion with Ludovic about his new book and many of his key insights in today’s episode!
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Speakers:
Ludovic Bodin. Entrepreneur, Investor, and Author at Atomic Scaling.
Joseph Kim. CEO at Lila Games.
Ludovic Bodin is a seasoned tech and gaming industry veteran with over 20 years of global experience. Our conversation revolved around his latest book, "Atomic Scaling," in which he shares invaluable lessons from the gaming industry and explains how these principles can be applied to various other sectors.
Ludovic's journey to writing this book began with a fateful meeting in Helsinki with Ilkka Paananen, the CEO of Supercell. Ilkka's words about keeping teams small and focused while achieving substantial growth resonated with Ludovic, planting the seed for what would eventually become Atomic Scaling.
The book's core framework, the 3P3R model, encompasses the following elements:
People:
Keep teams small and agile for as long as possible.
Foster trust and empower employees through a "magical pair" leadership approach.
Prediction:
Encourage everyone to make predictions and teach them how to do so effectively.
Differentiate between prediction (hypothesis-driven) and prophecy (opinion-driven).
Embrace rapid testing and iteration to align predictions with reality.
Playbook:
Create alignment by establishing clear rules and roles, akin to a finite game.
Continuously adjust the playbook as the company evolves through different stages.
Revenue:
Optimize the freemium model, drawing from the gaming industry's expertise.
Reach:
Utilize the OBE (Own, Buy, Earn) model to expand reach and acquire users.
Retention:
Implement the LOVE framework (Live product development, Organized event calendar, Very special sales and offers, Engagement and re-engagement) to maximize retention.
Throughout our discussion, Ludovic emphasized the importance of creating a common language and understanding within an organization. By adopting the 3P3R framework, companies can foster better communication, alignment, and ultimately, success.
Ludovic's motivation for writing Atomic Scaling extends beyond sharing wisdom with the gaming industry. He aims to provide a navigation system that can help entrepreneurs and professionals find more peace and fulfillment in their daily lives. Through self-awareness and a focus on continuous improvement, readers can identify their strengths and weaknesses, building teams that complement their skills and drive success.
Gaming has long been at the forefront of innovation, pioneering new technologies, business models, and organizational strategies. Like Ludovic, I also believe other industries can benefit from the lessons and experiences from game development.
Anyway, make sure to check out the full discussion.
Also, check out Ludovic’s book endorsements! 😮
Also, if you’re going to GDC on Thursday, you can sign up for Ludovic’s book party!
Sign up below: