Alexis Gresoviac’s Post

How I help my gaming CEO clients grow their studio in 3 simple steps. Some game industry advisors are underwhelming. - Limited international experience. - Insufficient years of industry knowledge. - Lack of versatility in addressing business needs. I believe every advisor has their niche. But all a CEO wants is to go from confusion to clarity. 1. How will I control my run rate? 2. How will I raise money? Here are the 3 steps I help studios take: 1. Take control of high runrate + roadmap. 2. Take charge of publishing & fundraising. 3. Guide you through international opportunities. This is done through the lens of: - 25 years in business. 20 years in games. - 100s of titles under Gameloft, Blizzard & Huuuge. - Working in Japan, South Korea, Europe & US cultures. And when it’s time to roll your sleeves up? We can work together to raise money. Most common Bottleneck in 2024? → Fundraising I attack your biggest bottleneck in the business. The work needs doing. Whether you need advisory on how to get there on time. Or you need a veteran to roll up the sleeves with you. I am here to support. p.s: if you want to take control of your runway, DM me or click “Book an Appointment” at the top of this post

I’m 50. At 20 I left France to work in Japan. 30 years later, I have been managing director of 3 giant studios. I now consult studios from 1:1 coaching to interim CEO. Here’s the story: - Decade 1 - At 16 years old I dreamed of becoming a vet. In France this required genius level math. This led me to economics. It felt like a setback, but it opened a new path. Business - Decade 2 - At 20 years old I wanted to live and work in Japan. It became a dream for me. So I made it happen. My professional life was thriving. There was little work-life balance. But I loved it. - Decade 3 - At 29 years old started my new life. I had a great chance to build a business from scratch. Building Gameloft Japan from just me in my bedroom. To 150 people and becoming a leading mobile game publisher in Japan Then everything changed. With a shift to smartphones, came a reorganisation. By extension, some layoffs. This was right for the business, but hurt deeply. - Decade 4 - At 42 I was Managing Director at Blizzard Korea. We released StarCraft Remastered We did a massive release on Busan beach. It was a proud moment. This was followed by a brief stint at Bethesda. With the quick strategy change left me looking for a new role. This taught me to stay adaptable. I moved to Germany to to eventually become General Manager at Huuuge games. - Decade 5 - Today Who knows? The world is changing rapidly. My guess: - Lots more failures. - Lots more lessons. - Lots more growing. Lots more fun! ——— When I started ACE consulting group I had no idea how to make it grow. Today, I realize 2 simple things lead to success: 1) Patience 2) Flexibility Currently helping a number of CEOs with business growth and publishing. Available to help as a 1:1 coach as an Interim CEO. Here’s to more adventures over the next 10+ years!

I gave a TedX talk on business and bodybuilding. What I needed to grow both: 1) Patience. 2) Flexibility. But there’s 1 more thing that people neglect: Support. 2005 was a pivotal year for me. My first daughter Lily was born. We established a production studio in Japan. By 2008 the company grew from me alone in my bedroom to over 120 people by 2008. It took Patience. 2008 was also a crucial year for 2 reasons: My second daughter Sophie was born. Release of the iPhone 3G and the App Store. We reorganized our company in Japan Shifting from a 100-person team to 20. It took Flexibility. This extended to my personal life. I started hitting the gym during lunch breaks. At first for relaxation, It became my passion. Bodybuilding teaches: Long-term goal setting without shortcuts. Just like in Business. 1) Patience: Growth requires dedication. 2) Flexibility: Success requires balance. However throughout it all. I had Support. My wife supported me in achieving 5% body fat. My management and colleagues supported me growing from 1 to 120 Go alone? You can go fast. Together? You can go further. Who do you have in your corner?

Marketing games is not easy in 2024. But common sense is key. ❌ Warner's "Suicide Squad" Everyone loved Rocksteady because they got Batman right. But they then released a game IP which bombed in theatres. ❌Ubisoft's "Skull & Bones" 11 years of production to have a game that greatly disappointed. 20,000 employees with 100s of good marketing managers can still fail. Why the disconnect? ✅ PAL World and Helldivers 2 Very risky, however the focus on product paid off. Big. ”Make a game that you would enjoy playing with a friend.” Here’s what to consider: 1) Red Ocean vs. Blue Ocean • In a crowded market (Red Ocean), hiring a marketing manager early can be crucial. They help navigate competition and target the right audience. • In a new market (Blue Ocean), focus on market research first. Consultants can guide you before committing to a full-time hire. 2) Cost vs. Benefit • High salaries for marketing managers can be a burden if they're underutilized. Balance your budget with your immediate needs. • Sometimes, investing in a great game is the best marketing. A game people love to play and recommend is priceless. 3) Big Companies vs. Indies • Even big companies like Warner Bros. and Ubisoft can miss the mark. Huge budgets and marketing teams don’t guarantee success. • Indie games often succeed with minimal marketing by focusing on quality and innovation Think of games like Helldivers II or PAL World. 4) Market Saturation • Over-marketing can make all games look the same. The industry suffers when everyone follows the same trends. • Fresh ideas from indie developers keep the market diverse and exciting. They bring new gameplay and creativity. 5) Case-by-Case • There’s no one-size-fits-all in marketing. Each situation demands a unique approach. • Whether it’s market research, investor reassurance, or direct marketing, use common sense and adapt to your specific needs. In the end, focus on quality. Make fun, engaging games. Respect your players. That’s the best marketing strategy in my opnion. Agree?

How do you onboard an advisor? Focus on the foundation. 1. Build a Strong Base Start early for stability: - Ensure the advisor sets a solid foundation - Create an environment of security and trust. - Engage a strategic advisor at the startup phase - Allow the CEO and team to concentrate on core tasks. 2 . Manage Growth Challenge and guide your progress: - Bring in an advisor when you have 10-30 employees. - Seek guidance on growth strategies ➜ have a goal. - Use the advisor's impartial insights to avoid internal biases. - Explore new markets or verticals for expansion. 3. Overcome Stagnation Break free from routine: - Engage an advisor for established companies stuck in routine. - Address issues of complacency and lack of innovation. - Push the company out of its comfort zone. - Plan for future growth to satisfy investors. 4. Conduct Audits Assess and adjust: - Have the advisor audit finance, strategy, product, and processes. - Tailor advice based on company size and cash flow. - Provide management with actionable guidance. 5. Invest Wisely Value the advisor's role: - Understand cost is small compared to potential growth. - Recognize the advisor's role in driving expansion and future-proofing the company. - Aim for significant growth: 10x for small, 5x for mid-sized, 3x for large. There you have it. The essentials of onboarding a strategic advisor. Remember this: "Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together." — James Cash Penney Many companies remain stagnant due to fear of change. Engaging a strategic advisor can be the key to unlocking your full potential. _____________________________ Want to explore how 25+ years of global leadership experience could help your business: Click "Book an Appointment" or send me a DM

I am flying back to Dubai to visit some clients. My first time in Dubai was in 2007 for a Gameloft Meeting. Back then, the city was almost empty. Burj Khalifa wasn’t finished yet. 2014, another Gameloft meeting. Dubai had transformed a lot. 2023, helped work on establishing a new company. And moderate a book fair in Abu Dhabi after Storytel. 2024, to meet clients and friends. I've seen Dubai and the UAE transform into global business hubs. As Dubai evolved, so did I. From corporate meetings to helping others to now developing my own business. A city's growth can reflect your own journey. I found this quite poetic when reflecting. If any new or old contacts are in the area reach out

I left everything in France to move to Tokyo, Japan. This road allowed me to steer the ship at Blizzard & Gameloft: You won’t get anywhere without taking risk. The road took courage, determination and grit. At the core of it all. Life is about taking 1 courageous step. Just like in Star Wars. We all know Luke Skywalker. The frustrated little man, in a small town. Who wanted more. More adventure. More challenges. More action. Similarly, I was raised in a small town in France. But I had bigger aspirations for the future. A future planted in a galaxy far away, in Japan. But like Luke, your dreams are blocked by situations which you can extract yourself from. With the right mindset and courage you can achieve a lot in life. The first step is the most courageous one. That step can: - Transform your surroundings - Get you a promotion - Revive the business Tips that helped me make that step: - Get a taste of the culture (book the flight) - Find a mentor (connect on LinkedIn) - Never stop learning (have a coach) The life you want to live is one step away. It may sound risky at first. But not taking risks is the biggest risk of all. p.s Why do you feel we have too much risk aversion in games?

I have spoken with 100s of publishers. People overcomplicate securing funding. I took care of due diligence for acquisitions for Huuuge Gammes Listen, if you’re an early-stage game developer. Avoid: 1. Only relying on conferences. 2. Trying to handle everything yourself 3. Waiting until you have 3-month runway. 4. Ignoring the importance of building a strong network. 5. Rushing into contracts without understanding implications. Instead: 1. Set priorities straight. (Survival) 2. Seek objective advisory services early. 3. Leverage your advisor’s expertise and network. 4. Prioritize organizing your company to manage growth. 5. Dedicate 1 day a week to focus on finding a publisher. (Same goes for securing investors) Instead of prioritizing a perfect game. Prioritize surviving as a business. With no money you have no company. ↳ Dedicate 8 hours a week on finding a publisher. Need one in less than 3 months? ↳ Then 2-3 days a week. Securing a publisher in 2024 does not have to be as scary as a T-Rex. Start early ➜ Seek help. Go from there. All the best, Alexis & T-Rex

I was Managing Director at Blizzard Korea. Here are the 8 Lessons I learned ↓ 1/ Brand is everything Building one takes time, however it is one of the most powerful things in games. To build a strong brand start building strong core values. Here are the 8 ones of Blizzard: - Gameplay First - Commit to Quality - Every Voice Matters - Embrace your Inner Geek - Play Nice, Play Fair - Think Globally - Lead Responsibly - Learn and Grow Consistency is Key: Deliver a consistent experience Build relationships with your audience through live events. Once built, protect it more than anything else. 3/ Quality will always beat quantity. To become a profitable, award-winning studio, focus on building better games. Quantity can dilute quality. A few outstanding products will always outperform many mediocre ones. Invest in quality at every stage. 4/ Quality and passion will attract top talent. The best people are drawn to excellence and passion. Cultivate these, and the top talent will come to you. Passion is infectious. When your team sees your dedication to quality, it inspires them to bring their best work. Do not settle. 5/ Aim for Operational Excellence. I oversaw a 250 operation and directly managed 11 Senior Directors. Autonomy is key. Empower your leaders to be proactive and create a culture of continuous improvement and accountability. 6/ Stay true to yourself. Authenticity matters. Commit fully and always give your best. Consistency builds trust and loyalty. 7/ Embrace the challenge. Face challenges head-on; they will make you stronger and more resilient. Challenges are opportunities in disguise. They push you out of your comfort zone and drive innovation and personal development. 8/ Invest in your people. Your team is your greatest asset. Provide development opportunities to help them grow. Recognize and reward their contributions. A motivated and skilled team will drive your company to new heights. ---- Follow me to learn how to build better and grow your studio Alexis Gresoviac