Player 4
Fotis Kamatsos
Q1
What’s a childhood memory or early gaming experience that stayed with you?
My very first proper gaming experience is in 2007 with Football Manager. I was instantly hooked on the complexity, the planning ahead, and the pleasure of building something for the long haul. It taught me how to think several steps ahead very probably one of the very first times I’d ever been introduced to the notion of “project planning” without realizing it consciously.
Q2
What’s something you played recently—alone or with others—that really stuck with you or taught you something?
Still Football Manager but now 2024 version! The later versions just get better and more detailed. Every new season is a new puzzle, and it’s incredible how much the game can teach you about leadership, adversity, and making the best of things be it people or projects.
Q3
What’s a moment in gaming that made you feel truly accomplished—like something you’d brag about in a job interview? Think boss battles, platinum trophies, or anything that shows your resilience and excellence.
Winning the Champions League with a second-division team I developed over 10 in-game years in Football Manager. It was down to a great deal of careful planning, grit, and resisting the temptation to take better-paid job opportunities along the way. Proper and truly a “long game” triumph that felt just as rewarding as wrapping up a huge proposal!
Q4
A game that offers deep immersion, challenge, or relaxation—perfect for solo play and personal growth.
Football Manager again—it’s ideal for single-player. It’s engaging, reflective, and infinitely demanding. Every decision has repercussions, and it provides genuine ownership of results.
Q5
FIFA is my choice here. Whether it’s 1v1 competition, co-op games, or friendlies with a tournament twist, it’s always tense, even more so since you can never quite know what’s going to happen, and fun for jeering (and a little shouting).
Q6
Which character best reflects your role in a team project at PNO? The silent strategist, the chaos coordinator, the morale booster?
I’d probably be the quiet but high-achieving type—like a manager of a football team. Not necessarily in the limelight, but conducting the team, making strategic plays, and positioning other players to win.
Q7
Imagine you’re sent to the ultimate beach office. What one game would you bring to keep yourself entertained, sane, and possibly productive?
Football Manager again. There’s just always something to do—scouting, training, matches—and it’s replayable indefinitely. I could play it for decades and still find new challenges.
Q8
From teamwork and adaptability to decision-making under pressure or creative problem-solving—what gaming lessons show up in your day-to-day?
A lot, to be honest! Games like Football Manager have made me a better strategist, allocator of resources, and resilience after a failure. Failing to win a big game and having to regroup is not that different from getting back on one’s feet after a failed proposal. It’s also taught me how to think in the long term but remain flexible, which is precisely relevant for writing proposals and working on projects.