Keeping on Point: A Session with Playbook Owners Richard and Kris

If you attended any big fighting game tournament over the past couple of months, chances are you’ve heard the term “Playbook Elite” or “PBE” among the community. For those unfamiliar, Playbook is a small video game and book lounge owned by married couple Richard and Kris Brojan.

Their professional gaming team: dubbed as Playbook Elite, was launched just last year and is composed primarily of top fighting game players. Since its humble beginnings, Playbook has met much success with their players receiving consistent top standings in tournaments around the country as well as hosting a number of major local fighting game events.

Beginnings

Richard’s interest for video games and gaming started at the young age of 8 years old. “We owned almost every console at home” he recalled fondly.

When he wasn’t playing at home, he would frequent the arcades, where his love for fighting games began to develop.  “By the time I was in high school and college, all of my friends were gamers. It really became my passion,” Richard said.

While Richard was playing, Kris on the other hand developed a fondness for books.  Her love for reading started with Archie comics. “I still have a big collection of Betty and Veronica comics” Kris said. From there, Kris eventually branched out to different genres of literature and slowly developed her penchant for literary works.

The two met and got together while they were taking Architecture in college. After 6 years, Richard and Kris tied the knot and soon enough their first child was born. Kris decided to become a stay-at-home mom and left the corporate world, with Richard now as the sole breadwinner of the family.

Eventually the two started a business in the food industry. It was only after their third child was born that the two thought of putting up another business. “By the time our third child was born, our business had more or less been established and needed little supervision” Richard said, “We thought that now would be the best time to put up another side business. We decided on something that was basically the culmination of both our favorite pasttimes: gaming and reading”

On November 8, 2014, Playbook’s first branch in Paranaque’s Pergola Mall opened its doors to the public.

Entering the world of Competitive Gaming

When Playbook was launched a year and a half ago, Richard and Kris never really intended to get into professional gaming. “We just wanted to put up a business that combined both of our passions” Richard states. “Playbook was intended to be a fun, family friendly place where anybody could go to if they just wanted to kick back and relax, be it by playing games or reading books.”

Their first exposure to competitive gaming actually occurred when he met with local Super Smash Bros. player Patrick “Dr. Patrick” Espinosa. “Patrick was really passionate about smash.” Richard recalls. At the time, the store had no Wii U’s. The couple was skeptical of investing in Smash at first since Nintendo isn’t really a big name here compared to Playstation. It would take about a month of chiding and convincing from Patrick before Richard bought two Wii U units, including Gamecube controllers and adapters for Smash. “The very same day I bought them, I put the post in social media and invited people to come and play Smash.” Richard says.

The following day, the couple was surprised to find a crowd of people flocking the little lounge all looking to play smash. “It really made us realize the possibilities in competitive gaming” Richard says. Thanks to the overwhelming reception, Playbook started its first venture: a Super Smash Bros. circuit.

From there, Richard began tapping into the different fighting game scenes in the country, hoping to promote gaming and the lounge. As they got to know more about the communities and the gamers, Richard and Kris got more and more invested. “Our eyes were opened when we saw the players who take their respective games seriously to the point of competing locally. As a fellow gamer, I can really appreciate the work they put in.” Richard says. “This appreciation eventually led to the decision of sponsoring local players at events.”

Recruiting Players

Creating the team that would eventually become Playbook Elite was a gradual process. “Richard did his research. He had to learn the game, the players, and the skill level needed. When he had his eye on someone, he would ask around the community to know more about that person.” Kris states.

However, Richard and Kris pointed out that skill wasn’t the only factor in landing a sponsorship. ”We wanted someone who would be able to represent Playbook in the proper light. The individual must be an extension of Playbook’s image: wholesome, approachable and an all-around good person.”  Kris explains. “Playbook differs itself from other gaming lounges in that it is also very much a family-friendly place. It’s not only for hardcore competitors, but also for casual gamers who just want to come in and relax. The image is something we’re determined to keep up.”

“Seeing them come to Playbook is really important, since I would see them practicing their craft. I would talk to them regularly whenever they went to casuals or events and get to know them better.” Richard says. “If the player was skilled in the game and also a good, morally upright individual, then we give them the opportunity.”

For the love of the fight

While many could say that it would have been more lucrative if Playbook chose to focus on more popular games like League of Legends or DoTA 2, Richard still chooses to put all their effort in promoting the local fighting game scene. “We’re not doing this for the revenue primarily. I’ve been a console gamer for most of my life, and my passion is with that and fighting games.” Richard says. “It was the reason why I took the chance when I saw the opportunity to form a team and strengthen the local FGC.”

Richard and Kris are also confident that they have established a good recipe for success. “We know how to run a business. At the same time we’re doing this to promote the fighting game community.”

 When asked whether they were open to eventually branching out to other genres in competitive gaming, the couple said that it is still a possibility, though currently their focus is on fighting games.

On growing the scene

Richard believes that the best way to grow the local FGC would be through good collaboration between organizers/store owners and the media. “We have to let people know that DoTA isn’t the only scene here right now. Fighting games are here. We need to give it proper exposure and help people learn the game.”  He says. “Give them a taste of it. Eventually, out of all the people you give free samples to, somebody is bound to like it. And when they like it, they’ll want to learn it.

For its part, Playbook has done some steps towards introducing the genre to newcomers. “Whenever we have casuals, we have one hub exclusively for training. New players can go there and train and get tips from pro players. We also post tutorials and replays on Facebook”.

At Present

The couple is currently busy making preparations the opening of their newest branch in Makati. While no exact date has been given, they are targeting to open the new store some time mid- May. “The new venue is around 4 times bigger than our store at Parañaque. Expect more books, more consoles and more casuals.”

Of course, with the launch of a new store, there’s going to be a big opening. “We hope that we’ll be able to organize a big tournament at the grand opening, so that’s something to definitely look forward to.”

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