──PLAYER DRIVEN · DESIGN DESK

Operators worth reading twice.

23 ESSAYS

UPDATED WEEKLY

CURATED + GATED FOR MEMBERS

Fiene Ziegler’s Accidental Path from Cultural Studies to Player Community Management at InnoGames

The community management specialist offers insights into how she orchestrates communications between the developers and global player base of Forge of Empires…and explains why she’s so into road trips

L01 Foundations

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↳ DEPTHAll23 L01 Foundations6 L02 Operator15 L03 Lead1↳ PILLARAll Live Ops3 Community2 Trust & Safety1 UGC & Creators3 Player Psychology2 Game Design8

· PROFILE· LIVE OPS

Thad Sasser Loves Learning, Smart Risk-taking, Fun, and MERICA, Part 2

The vet FPS studio exec and current creative director of COD Warzone talks vision, the ‘friendship hostage’ problem, shooter innovations, and American grit

L02 OperatorLIVE OPS +2

Lewis WardJUL 1, 2026

· PROFILE

Thad Sasser Loves Learning, Smart Risk-taking, Fun, and MERICA, Part 1

The vet FPS studio exec and current creative director of COD Warzone opens up about his break into gaming, why QA is a “great path for developers,” and skiing in Tribes

L02 OperatorLIVE OPS +2

Editorial DeskJUN 24, 2026

· PROFILE

ARCANIX’s Oscar Clark on the EU’s DFA, Lightning Lessons, and the Primacy of Player Value, Part 2

The industry vet talks Lightning Lessons, ARCANIX, and how studios can “find the fun” in a sustainable way

L01 FoundationsLIVE OPS +2

Lewis WardJUN 16, 2026

· PROFILE

ARCANIX’s Oscar Clark on the EU’s DFA, Lightning Lessons, and the Primacy of Player Value, Part 1

The veteran gaming industry exec, speaker, and author is acutely attuned to the interplay of ethics and regulation

Operators worth reading twice.

Fiene Ziegler’s Accidental Path from Cultural Studies to Player Community Management at InnoGames

Thad Sasser Loves Learning, Smart Risk-taking, Fun, and MERICA, Part 2

Thad Sasser Loves Learning, Smart Risk-taking, Fun, and MERICA, Part 1

ARCANIX’s Oscar Clark on the EU’s DFA, Lightning Lessons, and the Primacy of Player Value, Part 2

ARCANIX’s Oscar Clark on the EU’s DFA, Lightning Lessons, and the Primacy of Player Value, Part 1

Mediating Irreconcilable Differences with Behavioral Game Economist Catalin Alexandru, Part 2

Navigating Irreconcilable Differences with Behavioral Game Economist Catalin Alexandru, Part 1

Utrecht University’s Dr. Joost Vervoort on Gaming’s Potential to Help Build a Better Future, Part 2

Utrecht University’s Dr. Joost Vervoort on Gaming’s Potential to Help Build a Better Future, Part 1

Quantic Foundry’s Nick Yee on Gamer Motivations, Part 2

Quantic Foundry’s Nick Yee on Gamer Motivations, Part 1

GDC 2026: Riot Games’ Stone Librande on Game Design

NYU Professor Eric Zimmerman On Game Design's Deep and Broad Potential

Player Support at Schell Games with Laura Hall

Meet Christina Camilleri, Netflix Games' "Chaos Gremlin" and "Safety By Design" Champion

The Steelier Side of Amir Satvat's Games Community Success

How Focused Player Psychology, Design, and Post-launch Process Sets the Stage for Live Ops Success

A Discussion With James Au, Author of Making a Metaverse That Matters

Gamefam's Joe Ferencz On Roblox's Metaverse Potential

A Window Into Alex Seropian's UGC-based Studio, Look North World

Profiling the Pariah Teenage Guild Leader

Meet Francisco "Sandi" Montaño, Overwolf's Poster Child For PC Game Mod Breadwinners

Nine Seconds to Fun