Stay ConnectedDeconstructor of Fun podcast is created by games professionals for games professionals. We explore the business side of the games industry with the goal of bringing listeners content that is relevant, insightful, and entertaining on a weekly basis.
Hosts:
Michail Katkoff www.linkedin.com/in/michailkatkoff/
Eric Kress www.linkedin.com/in/erickress/
Phillip Black www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-black-economist/
Jen Donahoe www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdonahoe
Copyright: © Deconstructor of Fun
Josh Wilson, CEO of SciPlay, returns to the podcast for the third time to discuss key topics such as the significance of Q5, the challenges of app store reliance, the stalled growth in the gaming market, the emergence of hybrid casualization, and the role of AI in gaming.
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Continue the conversation on our Slack channel: www.deconstructoroffun.com/slack00:00 Introduction and Previous Conversations
03:28 Understanding Q5 and Its Impact on Gaming
12:38 Navigating App Store Reliance and Customer Ownership
21:46 Stalled Growth in the Gaming Market
31:24 Customer Retention as a Business Strategy
37:44 Embracing Change and Innovation
40:55 The Shift to Hybrid Casual Gaming
55:15 The Role of AI in Gaming
01:09:02 Future Skills in a Changing Landscape
Eric speedruns through an a16z correction, while Phil can’t wrap his head around Funplus’ new 4x Dark Legion thesis. Adam tells us Netease’s Fragpunk is dead, and Jen tells us games journalism is alive. Against all odds, Netflix Games records its first positive segment. And did you hear that? It’s the inZOI train CHUGGin’.
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02:16 Post-GDC Debriefing
09:35 A16Z Speed Run
13:48 Game Journalism is Back!!
17:08 Nintendo Direct and Switch 2 Rumors
18:41 MOBA Shutdowns and VC Funded Games
25:15 FunPlus and Dark Legion
31:00 DC Comics in Gaming: Challenges and Failures
35:03 The Future of 4X Strategy Games
37:18 Marvel Rivals and Rag Punk Analysis
56:27 Netflix's Gaming Strategy
The rowdy and tired DoF crew closed down their GDC with a live TWIG show at Moscone Center. Tune in!
Chapters:
02:47 Kickoff
03:15 GDC Vibe Check
06:30 Industry Sentiment and Challenges
21:20 Emerging Markets and New Game Development
22:26 A16Z Speed Run and Industry Shifts
26:21 Funding Trends and Credit Lines
27:40 Absurd Ideas and Rumors
31:00 Supercell's MoCo Launch
33:53 Embracing Experimentation in Gaming
38:31 Absurd Compensation Packages in the US
43:28 The Future of AA and Indie Game Funding
46:57 Highlights from Recent Gaming Events
51:55 Impact of the Podcast on Careers
01:02:54 The Rise of Apps and AI in Mobile Gaming
01:05:05 VCs, Ad Tech, and Online Gambling
01:07:41 Closing Remarks and Thank Yous
Alexei Chemenda, CEO and co-founder of Poolday.ai, discusses how AI enables marketers to focus on strategy and storytelling. Discover the future of personalized video ads, the evolving role of A/B testing, and the importance of combining creative and analytical skills in marketing.
00:00 Introduction: Misconceptions About AI in Marketing
01:53 Revolutionizing Ad Creation with AI
02:53 Personalization and Creative Control
04:15 Continuous Creative Cycle
04:37 AI in Gaming and Brand Marketing
09:22 Balancing Volume and Quality in AI-Driven Marketing
16:37 Predictive Analytics and Data Fluency
20:19 Future Skills for Marketing Leaders
23:13 Enhancing Human Creativity with AI
25:22 Conclusion and Contact Information
Marion Balinoff and Sara Guerola share data-driven strategies for maximizing influencer marketing in gaming.
As CPIs rise and privacy regulations evolve, influencer marketing is becoming a key performance channel. Marion and Sara break down budget calculations, track organic uplift, and analyze campaign performance while highlighting tactics like QR codes, giveaways, and custom in-game assets to boost conversions.
Whether you’re testing with smaller creators or scaling with top-tier influencers, this episode provides a strategic framework for driving profitable results.
00:00 Introduction to Influencer and Podcast Marketing
02:56 Meet the Experts: Marion and Sarah
04:33 Defining Influencer and Podcast Marketing
08:16 Budgeting and Setting Objectives
14:24 Measuring Campaign Performance
23:58 Tracking Links and Performance Metrics
24:35 Challenges in Getting Clicks
25:08 Podcast Advertising Strategies
27:21 Creative Performance Reports
30:40 Influencer Integration in Games
32:56 Effective Campaign Strategies
34:45 Deep Integration Benefits
38:11 Creative and Contract Tips
42:57 Final Thoughts and Recommendations
Mishka wrestles with the implications of AppLovin’s Triple Dot acquisition, while Scopely’s latest move has everyone questioning the future of Pokémon Go. Eric breaks down the latest insights from the Turkish gaming industry, while Jen dissects the Midia Research gamer segmentation report. Phil revisits the hypercasual ad playbook, while Subway Surfers just keeps running. Plus, a final look at GDC announcements, the mobile vs. console showdown, and what it all means for the industry.
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04:24 Turkish Gaming Industry Insights
06:20 GDC Event Announcements
09:16 Triple Dot and AppLovin Acquisition Analysis
22:58 Midia Research Gamer Segmentation Report
30:10 Social Elements in Gaming
30:35 Mobile vs Console
31:13 Farmville, Monopoly Go, and Female Gamers
33:41 Subway Surfers
34:23 The Hypercasual Ad Strategy
41:12 Scopely's Acquisition of Niantic Games
44:04 The Future of Pokemon Go
53:50 Scopely's Strategy
www.skillz.com/developeraccelerator/
We dive deep into the world of real-money skill-based gaming and the exciting new Developer Accelerator launched by Skills Inc.
Our special guest, Andrew Paradise, CEO and co-founder of Skillz, sheds light on the potential and market opportunity within this rapidly growing industry, discussing what types of games and studios Skillz is looking to support.
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:19 Skill-Based Mobile Games Accelerator
04:09 Monetization and Market Strategy
13:32 Retention and Engagement Metrics
22:07 Skill-Based Gaming Market Insights
25:36 Understanding Sweepstakes and Skill-Based Gaming
26:17 Skill-Based Gaming Prizes and Competitions
28:06 Future of Skill Gaming
30:32 Expanding Game Genres and Market Reach
32:57 Skill-Based Gaming on Different Platforms
33:36 Addressing Bot Concerns in Skill Gaming
37:43 Insights from the Startup Journey
43:14 Challenges and Benefits of Going Public
45:52 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
The world-class panel of Turkish founders and investors with Mehmet Ecevit (ex-CEO and co-founder of Gram Games), Batuhan Celebi (CEO and co-founder of Grand Games), and Görkem Turk (founder of Laton Ventures) shares their thoughts on what makes the Turkish gaming ecosystem unique, the importance of data-driven design, and how to maintain company culture while scaling.
THE HYBRIDCASUAL PLAYBOOK: https://metahybridcasualplaybook.splashthat.com/
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Welcoming Guests
00:30 Success Stories and Achievements
03:31 Challenges and Strategies in Game Development
09:14 Company Culture and Hiring Practices
17:47 Scaling Companies and Future Prospects
21:14 Insights on the Turkish Gaming Ecosystem
31:07 Balancing Creativity and Data-Driven Decisions
44:46 Balancing Internal and External Motivations
45:56 Early Days and Scaling Merge Dragons
47:25 The Impact of External Validation
49:29 Cultural Differences in Handling Failure
53:20 Challenges in the Turkish Gaming Industry
01:07:32 The Importance of Mentorship and Partnerships
01:24:22 Future of the Turkish Gaming Ecosystem
01:30:43 Conclusion and Community Engagement
Eric tries his best to make sense of the AppLovin deal, while Monster Hunter Wilds has never made more sense. Laura covers Supercell’s Lonely Island play, Boat Game, while Jen defends Disney IP as it STEPs it up in Japan. Phil wants a recount of Guitar Hero’s demise, while Activision announces another entry in the franchise.
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00:00 Introduction and Hosts
02:27 Today's Topics Overview
03:01 Jen's UCLA Story
04:00 GDC Announcements
05:46 AppLovin's Short Seller Drama
07:26 Steam's Record-Breaking Numbers
08:32 AppLovin's Game Division Sale
12:50 Sony's PlayStation VR 2 Price Drop
13:55 Supercell and SpaceApe Updates
17:15 Forte's Acquisition of Sealants
18:06 Miniclip Acquires Lessmore
18:38 Supercell's New Boat Game
23:05 Supercell's Market Mismatch
23:34 Roblox Comparison Debate
24:06 Monetization Challenges
25:01 Split Faction Reviews
25:43 Fable Delayed Again
26:44 Monster Hunter's Global Success
31:29 Disney Step in Japan
34:10 Scopely's Vanity Play
39:06 Guitar Hero Mobile Announcement
44:45 The Fall of Music Games
46:52 Conclusion and Farewell
“The way we survive is built on being creative every day”
We sit down with Burak Vardal, CEO and co-founder of Rollic, to explore how the company skyrocketed in just a couple of years from a Turkish startup to one of the most successful mobile game publishers in the world.
Burak shares insights on:
Download the FREE Hybrid Casual Playbook:
metahybridcasualplaybook.splashthat.com/
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00:00 Introduction and Background of Rollic
06:41 Türkiye as a Hub for Game Development
13:18 Business Model and Future Vision
25:54 Competition and Talent in the Turkish Gaming Industry
29:45 Creativity in Gaming: The Key to Success
31:54 The Importance of Ideation in Mobile Gaming
33:52 The Role of Testing in Game Development
36:32 Transitioning from Startup to Industry Leader
46:46 Advice for Aspiring Game Developers
52:47 Final Thoughts and Future Prospects
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