A solo-format episode hosted by Rob Alvarez.
Episode Summary Marking the 25th anniversary of his father’s death, Rob reflects on what Venezuelan actor Mariano Alvarez taught him about believability, performance, and audience connection: and traces those lessons directly into his gamification practice. He recounts how his father’s portrayal of saint José […]
conversation to speak as a Venezuelan. Blending lived experience, political involvement, and game-thinking principles, Rob reflects on the cost of doing everything “by the rules,” the exhaustion of democratic paths, and why this moment matters so deeply to millions of Venezuelans around the world. […]
Want to run away from destroying an experience? Happy to brainstorm → professorgame.com/chat Episode Summary Rob walks through a real Christmas experience at Madrid’s Manantial de los Sueños, using it to demonstrate how a beautifully executed gamified experience nearly collapsed at onboarding. He […]
Exploring useful streaks for your product or org? Let’s chat → professorgame.com/chat Episode Summary Examining why streak mechanics (borrowed from Duolingo and meditation apps like Happier) frequently backfire once users miss a day, triggering the abstinence violation effect and rage-quitting. Drawing on his own […]
Curious if Octalysis fits your engagement challenge? Quick intro chat: professorgame.com/chat Episode Summary Rob Alvarez breaks down “confirm shaming,” the dark pattern where opt-out buttons are worded to make users feel stupid, guilty, or irresponsible for declining a desired action. The hook: a […]
Aiming for sustainable retention? Intro chat (no sales pitch): professorgame.com/chat Episode Summary Rob Alvarez marks the eighth anniversary of Professor Game with a retrospective on 420 episodes, roughly 400 guests, and the consistency that took the show from a launch his mother doubted could […]
Exploring gamification for your product or org? Let’s chat → professorgame.com/chat Episode Summary Exploring where Marty Cagan’s Silicon Valley Product Group methodology and the Octalysis framework reinforce each other and where they leave gaps. He argues that product discovery answers what users need but […]
Exploring gamification for your product or org? Let’s chat → professorgame.com/chat Episode Summary Rob Alvarez announces he has joined The Octalysis Group as Head of Engagement Strategy, Europe, and explains the path from a 2017 Octalysis Design Challenge finalist position through subsequent roles at […]
Episode Summary Rob Alvarez argues that content alone cannot sustain an online community and identifies three “engines” that turn passive followers into committed members: recognition (being seen, heard, and valued), shared language (in-group rituals, memes, and phrases that build identity), and the third space […]
Episode Summary Rob Alvarez explains how he grew his Skool community to over 140 members with zero ad spend, using three game-inspired strategies: leveraging existing social media presence with a clear CTA (such as a free YouTube titles spreadsheet), exploiting platform discovery features (citing […]
