After publishing my very first game teardown, I realized how much I enjoyed the process of analyzing games — not just as a player, but through the lens of design, marketing, and strategy. That sparked an idea: instead of letting these projects live in isolation, why not collect them all in one place and build a portfolio that reflects my journey in the gaming industry? That’s how “Play by Sam” was born.
The blog serves as my creative lab, where I dive into titles across genres and platforms. Each teardown goes beyond surface-level reviews — I look at gameplay mechanics, player sentiment, community reception, monetization models, live ops strategies, and competitive positioning. My goal is to connect the dots between what makes a game fun, what drives business outcomes, and how those insights can inform better product decisions.
Over time, Play by Sam has become more than just a blog — it’s a showcase of how I think about games. It reflects my passion for the industry, my data-driven approach to research, and my belief that storytelling and strategy are equally important in shaping successful player experiences.
Whether it’s exploring why certain live ops models keep players engaged or analyzing the challenges of a new market launch, I see Play by Sam as an evolving portfolio that grows alongside my career.