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
Xsolla State of Play report:
https://xsolla.com/newsroom/xsolla-autumn-2024-report
Mobile gaming is bigger than ever, with the industry set to hit $98.7 billion in 2024. But where is that growth coming from? In this episode, we sit down with Xsolla’s Chris Hewish to break down the key trends shaping the global market—from Asia’s dominance to the rise of emerging regions like Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.
We also dig into how player demographics are shifting and what it means for game makers. With diversity becoming a bigger focus, studios are rethinking how they engage and design for an increasingly varied audience.
Chris unpacks the impact of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), explaining how developers are navigating new monetization opportunities beyond traditional app stores. We also tackle the surge of direct-to-consumer web shops, how gaming is merging with mainstream entertainment (yes, we’re looking at you, Secret Level), and what all of this means for the future of the industry.
If you want to stay ahead of where mobile gaming is headed, this episode is a must-listen.
How do Playtika and Wooga nail their Live Ops strategies? What does GameRefinery say you’re missing?
In this episode, Nadav Moshes (Product & Market Insights Lead at Playtika), Maxime Graux (Head of Product Management at Wooga), and Erno Kiiski (Chief Game Analyst at GameRefinery) sit down with our very own Jen Donahoe to dissect the art and science of Live Ops.
From mobile to PC/console gaming, we break down the latest trends driving social, engagement, and monetization events. Discover how understanding player motivations is the key to creating better events and why a holistic event framework is critical to your Live Ops success.
We dive into practical strategies around segmentation, iteration, and gamified offers to level up engagement and boost your monetization. Whether you’re building your Live Ops muscle or refining your existing strategy, this episode is packed with actionable insights for every game developer.
01:05 Meet the Experts: Nadav, Max, and Erno
07:36 Social LiveOps: Trends and Examples
12:31 Monopoly Go's Collaborative and Competitive Events
15:02 June's Journey: Social Features and Player Motivations
25:11 Engagement LiveOps: Long-Term and Short-Term Events
33:07 The Importance of Long-Term Engagement
36:40 Short-Term Collection Mechanics
38:15 Multi-Stage Mission Events
43:19 Advanced Segmentation in LiveOps
49:54 Challenges in Testing and Iteration
51:19 Monetization Strategies and Bundle Offers
01:01:50 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways
TikTok’s gaming experiment closures and Marvel Snap’s China operations highlight the challenges of scaling global hits. Netflix’s games strategy is dissected, alongside surprising trends like the resurgence of Solitaire, which seems to be tapping into the nostalgia economy.
The discussion turns heavier as the team unpacks sweeping workforce cuts at Huuuge Games and the growing dominance of Chinese game developers on the global stage. Bonfire Studios’ new game announcement and Matthew Ball’s analysis of gaming’s shifting market dynamics provide fresh perspectives on innovation and competition.
01:13 TV Show Marketing
02:49 Marketing Strategy Debate
06:14 Shills
10:19 Nintendo Switch 2 Leaks
12:56 TikTok and Marvel Snap Shutdowns
16:36 Industry Moves and New Roles
19:44 Netflix Games Strategy
21:36 Solitaire Making a Comeback??
31:31 Bonfire Studios’ New Game
34:36 Huge Games Workforce Cuts
35:28 Matthew Ball’s Market Analysis
47:12 The Rise of Chinese Game Developers
49:57 The Cost of Game Development
58:02 Future Growth Levers in Gaming
Jen Donahoe sits down with Alexandra Takei, a rising star who’s making waves in the gaming industry.
They dive into what it takes to bridge the gap between business and creativity in gaming, the hard-earned lessons from startups, and how proactive collaboration can drive innovation.
Alexandra discusses empathy and mentorship's critical role in her career and shares advice for those navigating the fast-paced gaming ecosystem.
01:04 About Alex Takei
03:43 Early Career and Entry into Gaming
10:30 Blizzard Experience and Mentorship
23:51 PJourney to Content Creation
29:11 Venture Capital and Bitcraft
34:51 Understanding Game Complexity and Business Models
35:32 The Importance of Team Inclusivity
36:27 Challenges of Pitching and Raising Money
37:14 Navigating Game Development Constraints
38:14 Startup Dynamics vs. Big Companies
39:20 Wearing Multiple Hats in a Startup
42:20 Empathy and Flexibility in Leadership
50:55 The Role of Mentorship
57:52 Final Advice for Aspiring Professionals
01:00:57 Alex's Sign-Off
gaming industry, podcasting, venture capital, Blizzard, mentorship, career journey, game development, business strategy, content creation, women in gaming, gaming, business, empathy, mentorship, startups, game development, career advice, leadership, women in gaming, entrepreneurship
Join us at PGC After Dark: https://lu.ma/m75avtgb
This week’s TWIG episode starts with bold predictions for 2025 in mobile gaming, followed by Eric Kress’s half-hearted backtracking on hyper-casual games and the latest Nintendo Switch 2 leaks before deep diving into Marvel Rivals’ potential impact.
The team revisits the year’s most significant moments, explores standout moments, and wraps up with listener feedback and reflections.
00:00 Squad Intros
01:28 California Wildfires + How to Help
03:18 Shills
05:34 Predictions for 2025 in Mobile
09:44 Corrections and Hyper Casual Talk
14:06 Nintendo Switch 2 Leaks
16:05 Investments and Funding News
20:15 Marvel Rivals
34:10 Talk of the Year: Mass Layoffs
34:53 Embarrassing Predictions
35:58 Company Damage: Ubisoft's Downfall
37:04 Most Disappointing Game
40:36 Financial Success: Mice Nuts
42:32 Questionable Moves
47:46 Brilliant Moves
50:35 Crushing It: Brawl Stars
53:13 Layoff Lowlights
53:43 Limping Donkey Award
55:20 Listener Feedback and Wrap-Up
CEO and co-founder of PvX Partners (www.pvxpartners.com), Joe Wadakethalakal shares his unique journey from India to Indonesia and beyond. Key takeaways from our chat with Joe Wadakethalakal:**Resilience matters**: Entrepreneurship is brutal—Joe’s journey shows how surviving failures and tough times builds long-term success.**Market size over Network**: Starting in large, scalable markets (U.S., India, China) beats hustling in smaller ones. Lesson learned the hard way.**Smart fundraising wins**: Raising capital isn’t just about money—it’s about unlocking talent, momentum, and strategic growth. Just don’t overdo it!Chapters:00:00 Intro 05:53 Banking and Private Equity Experience12:28 Challenges and Lessons Learned18:53 Joining MPL and Strategic Growth49:20 The Importance of Capital in Startups54:10 Leaving MPL and Starting PVX01:00:48 PVX's Unique Approach to UA Financing01:19:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
CAST YOUR VOTE!
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Brace yourself for the most candid awards show in gaming! Join us as we dissect the highs and lows of 2024, dishing out Golden TWIGs for the year’s most memorable moments. From epic fails to surprising triumphs, we’re covering it all:
Get ready for unvarnished opinions, heated debates, and a no-holds-barred look at the gaming industry’s rollercoaster year.
Don’t miss this annual tradition where you separate the gold from the garbage!
The Hybridcasual Playbookhttps://metahybridcasualplaybook.splashthat.com/
In this episode of the Deconstructor of Fun podcast, Mishka Katkoff interviews Vincent Fevrier, CMO of Tap Nation, discussing the evolution of hybrid casual games and the unique position of French publishers in the gaming industry.
They explore Tap Nation's growth from a startup to a mid-size publisher, the challenges of transitioning from hypercasual to hybrid casual, and the importance of user acquisition and marketing strategies.
The conversation also delves into acquisition strategies, building internal capabilities for live operations, and the future outlook for the gaming industry.
Chapters
00:00 The Rise of Hypercasual Gaming in France
02:52 Tap Nation's Evolution: From Hypercasual to Hybrid Casual
06:04 Navigating Challenges in a Post-COVID Gaming Landscape
08:54 Marketing Strategies: LTV vs. CAC in Hybrid Casual
12:04 Acquisition Strategies: Building a Portfolio of Games
14:56 Operational Changes: Adapting to Hybrid Casual Dynamics
17:51 Building Internal Capabilities for Game Development
21:00 The Future of Tap Nation: Diversifying Game Types
24:07 Competing in a Crowded Market: Finding Unique Assets
32:25 The Competitive Landscape of Game Publishing
35:11 Building Relationships in the Gaming Industry
39:11 Navigating Acquisitions and Partnerships
44:17 The Evolution of Tapnation and Its Strategies
50:43 Industry Outlook: Challenges and Opportunities
keywords
hypercasual, hybrid casual, gaming industry, Tap Nation, ad tech, game development, user acquisition, monetization strategies, French gaming market, game publishing, game publishing, acquisitions, industry trends, mobile gaming, Tapnation, partnerships, user acquisition, market growth, gaming industry, competitive landscape
Michail Katkoff and Gerard Miles dive into the nuances of executive headhunting, exploring the role of headhunters, pathways to the C-suite, and the significance of personal branding and mentorship in career growth. They share insights on how candidates can position themselves for leadership roles and embrace strategic thinking to thrive in a competitive hiring landscape.
The discussion also highlights common mistakes in the executive search process, the importance of empathy in interviews, and the value of building genuine relationships. They address the challenges and advantages of international relocation, as well as the growing role of AI in hiring, stressing the need for candidates to be prepared and deeply engaged throughout the process.
00:00 Introduction to Executive Headhunting
01:00 Understanding the Role of an Executive Headhunter
10:41 Navigating the C-Suite: Pathways to Leadership
20:36 Building Your Personal Brand for Executive Roles
27:32 The Importance of Mentorship in Career Growth
37:59 Common Mistakes in Executive Search
44:40 Empathy in the Interview Process
51:40 Building Relationships in Recruitment
57:38 Challenges and Benefits of International Relocation
01:10:48 The Rise of AI in Executive Hiring
keywords: executive headhunting, C-suite, leadership, personal brand, mentorship, career growth, talent acquisition, strategic thinking, networking, hiring process, executive search, interview preparation, candidate experience, recruitment process, international relocation, AI in hiring, empathy in interviews, building relationships, hiring mistakes, talent acquisition
No agenda? No problem! Ethan returns from UEFN dormancy to break some exciting news. Jen sells a BMW, while Eric tries to sell a Roblox correction. The Puzzle Queen herself ascends to browbeat Royale Kingdom into better KPIs, and Phil shares pictures of his cat in a banana.
01:17 Holiday Reflections and Family Updates
03:03 Good News, Bad News
04:01 Parenting Challenges and Teenage Years
06:23 Podcast Banter and Personal Stories
08:29 Cat Updates and Car Stories
12:50 Seattle Winter and Personal Updates
14:22 Startup Exit and GameFam
15:09 Roblox and UEFN Discussion
29:03 The Evolution of Fortnite's Algorithm
29:17 Challenges with Limited Analytics
30:27 Licensed Content and Revenue Sharing
31:45 The Future of Survival Crafting Games
33:21 Comparing Royal Kingdom and Royal Match
35:13 Analyzing Game Revenue Trends
37:06 Predictions for 2025 Gaming Trends
39:22 Golden Twig Awards Recap
53:21 Handheld Gaming Innovations
55:25 Holiday Wishes and Final Thoughts
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