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
In this episode, David Nelson co-Founder of Magnetic and a true maverick of our industry, dives deep into the nuances of mobile gaming innovation.
David discusses his journey through King, including the formation and successes of the experimentation group. As the industry transforms, he explains the importance of understanding your audience, the pitfalls of following trends blindly, and the necessity of building a strong company strategy. David also offers insights on how to navigate organizational changes and cultivate a culture of constructive conflict.
Finally, get a sneak peek into what Magnetic is working on and its approach to creating the next big hit in mobile gaming.
01:03 David Nelson's Background and Identity
04:38 Career at King and Experimentation Group
06:18 Starting a New Company and Investor Insights
09:44 Importance of Honest Feedback and Alignment
11:59 Challenges and Strategies in Game Development
24:31 The Role of Conflict in Meetings
33:07 The Debate Over Small Games
34:04 Testing and Proving Concepts
38:04 Framework for High-Impact Tests
40:35 Challenges of Creative Work
43:33 Experimentation Group Achievements
49:59 Navigating Corporate Culture
55:58 Building Trust and Social Capital
01:03:46 Advice for Driving Change
01:12:21 Insights on Mobile Game Industry
01:35:23 Final Thoughts and Reflections
We kick things off with a deep dive into what separates different Nordic countries with regional experts Phillip Black and Mishka Katkoff. Next, we tackle Squad Busters’ ambitious new update. Will it be enough to reverse its decline, or is it too little, too late? Then, there will be chaos in the streaming world as Netflix Games gets GTAd! What went down, and what does it mean for the company’s gaming ambitions? Only Kress can give it to us. Finally, Jen takes us through the Game Awards (aka. the Jeff Keighley Awards) — the wins, the snubs, and what it all means for the industry. Hosts: Mishka Katkoff, Eric Kress, Jen Donahoe, and Phillip Black. 02:07 Supercell's LinkedIn Antics 03:07 Nordic Rivalries Explained 05:09 Event Updates 07:43 Path of Exile Monetization 08:32 Roblox and UEFN Profitability 12:11 Epic Games and Telefonica Deal 15:52 AppLovin's Ad Strategy Change 16:43 Brawl Stars and Toy Story Collaboration 17:25 Netflix Games Licensing Issues 26:07 Build a Rocket Boy Acquisition 28:28 Beam Ventures Gaming Fund 33:40 Game Updates: Path of Exile 2, Marvel Rivals, Delta Force 37:57 Pokemon TCG Pocket's Performance 39:56 Pokemon Go vs. TCG Pocket 44:07 Royal Kingdom's Launch and Comparison 49:42 Supercell's Squadbusters Update 57:17 Game Awards 2024 Highlights
Cameron Stewart, Group Vice President at SciPlay, shares valuable insights on the robust growth of social casinos, emphasizing retention and monetization strategies.
We explore how SciPlay operates with low concentration levels in the market, the importance of personalizing user experiences, and the innovative approaches driving their success.
Get an insider's look at the strategic decisions, including talent investment and the unified infrastructure for game development, that make SciPlay a leader in the field.
Additionally, Cameron speaks on the benefits and challenges of a return-to-office workplace culture and the strategic value of acquisitions and portfolio diversification.
00:00 Welcome and Introduction
00:28 Understanding the Social Casino Market
03:15 Challenges and Strategies in Game Development
06:15 Segmentation to Personalization
10:25 Retention and Engagement Metrics
16:39 Monetization and Live Operations
33:09 Direct-to-Consumer Strategies
37:19 Exploring the Social Casino Market
38:32 Partnerships and Strategies
40:37 Innovations and Player Behavior
42:11 The Role of IP in Casino Games
43:45 Player Engagement and Retention
51:05 Work Culture and Talent Investment
59:04 Strategic Acquisitions and Diversification
01:06:18 Key Learnings and Advice
01:10:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Social Casino, Monetization, Retention, Personalization, Gaming KPIs, Player Experience, Live Operations, Direct to Consumer, Market Trends, SciPlay, social casino, game development, innovation, acquisitions, player engagement, market strategy, IP integration, casino industry
With Miska set on another jet, Q5 launches in earnest with Marvel Rivals, Delta Force, Path of Exile 2, Infinity Nikki, and Girlsfront Line 2. Oh my, oh my.
Kress gives his full review of Infinity Nikki’s costumes, while Jen pulls “Franchise” Beetlejuice. How can Marvel Rivals cross-promote in every Marvel game? Adam pours cold water retention down the acquisition’s back while Phil tries to light the Chinese game industry fire while wearing a tight desert camouflage shirt (?).
00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
00:56 Meet the Hosts
01:33 Secret Level Screening Review
06:13 Game Exec Supper Club Announcement
07:47 Industry News and Corrections
09:55 Investment and M&A Updates
12:36 New Game Releases and Performance
34:43 Mastery Issues in the Game
35:11 Unique Selling Points and Differentiation
35:46 Honeymoon Phase and Meta Development
36:56 Onboarding and Mastery Curve
39:22 Marvel Cross-Promotions and IP Management
44:32 Path of Exile 2: Strategy and Success
53:59 Delta Force: A Battlefield Clone
58:12 Fortnite's New Tactical Shooter
01:00:59 Infinity Nikki: A Unique Pivot
01:07:36 Concluding Thoughts and Future Discussions
Mishka Kaktoff is joined by Steve Lockwood from TikTok and Roy Yanai from AppsFlyer, who share their extensive insights on evolving attribution techniques, overcoming challenges in the privacy landscape, and future-proofing measurement strategies.
This episode is packed with valuable information that can help improve your campaign performance, game design, and overall marketing outcomes.
Chapters:
00:00 Understanding Mobile Marketing Attribution
01:11 Guest Introductions
04:11 Evolution of Attribution
07:40 Challenges in Attribution
08:59 TikTok's Role in Attribution
12:12 Debate on Last Click Attribution
18:02 Incremental Testing and Media Mix Modeling
31:29 Questioning the Truth in Marketing
32:35 The Evolution of Attribution Methods
33:28 Advertiser Perspectives on Ad Networks
35:07 The Importance of Views in Advertising
36:57 TikTok's Unique Role in Advertising
42:44 Future-Proofing Measurement Strategies
45:28 The Role of Privacy in Measurement
56:06 Success Stories in Attribution
01:01:57 Future Trends in Measurement
01:08:38 Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts
Up Down Up is now available as an audiobook on Audible!
https://www.amazon.com/UP-DOWN-companies-succeed-others/dp/B0CR7T9DPT
In this episode, Kim Nordstrom joins the podcast to discuss his journey in the gaming industry, from releasing his first game in 1995 to significant roles at PlayStation, King, and Paradox.
The conversation delves into topics from his book 'Up, Down, Up,' exploring what it takes to build a successful game company, the importance of culture and psychological safety, and the challenges of transitioning between growth and maturity phases.
Kim also shares insights from his interviews with top industry leaders and how these experiences have shaped his current role as CEO of PlayerUnknown Productions.
01:05 Kim Nordstrom's Career Journey
03:06 The Making of 'Up, Down, Up'
06:31 Exploring Company Growth Patterns
10:19 The Importance of Company Culture
30:16 Understanding Psychological Safety
43:03 The Importance of Actions Over Words
44:10 Changing Culture Through Leadership
46:20 The SEAL Team Leadership Experiment
47:32 Scaling Teams and Maintaining Culture
48:57 Principles and Values in Leadership
53:34 The Role of Timing in Success
58:58 Navigating Growth and Maturity Phases
01:11:25 Challenges of Innovating Within Established Companies
01:24:32 Reflections on Leadership and Wisdom
01:28:43 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
In this episode of This Week in Games, we dive into the intriguing rumors surrounding a potential new PlayStation Portable and discuss Elon Musk’s rumored AI game studio, which could reshape innovation in the space.
On the business side, we analyze the closure of Ubisoft studios and the enduring popularity of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
In mobile gaming, we spotlight Habby’s big launches, including Capybara Go and Archero 2, before discussing Path of Exile 2's early access success.
Plus, we compare two heavyweight Eastern shooters, Marvel Rivals and Delta Force, and examine why so many new MOBAs struggle to gain traction.
Don’t miss this deep dive into the industry’s most exciting stories!
Chapters:
02:48 Shills
04:17 Hybrid Casual Playbook Release
04:38 App Monetization Report
10:30 Fortnite's Record-Breaking Season
14:29 PlayStation Portable Rumors
16:47 Elon Musk's AI Game Studio
18:39 Investments and M&A
24:33 Ubisoft Studio Shutdowns
30:07 Pokemon Trading Card Game Success
35:37 Habby's Big Launches: Capybara Go and Archero 2
40:44 Path of Exile 2 Early Access
43:18 Battle of the Eastern Shooters: Marvel Rivals vs. Delta Force
48:27 The Struggles of New MOBAs
56:51 Conclusion and Sign-Off
In this episode, host Mishka Katkoff is joined by Sergei Vasiuk, LiveOps Director at Wargaming and author of 'Running a Successful Live Service Game.'
The two delve into Sergei's book, discussing everything from the evolution of gaming models to data-driven development, player engagement, monetization strategies, and the challenges of global operations.
This episode is a treasure trove of insights for anyone in game development or LiveOps. Tune in for practical advice, learnings from Wargaming, and how to keep players engaged and your game profitable!
00:41 Importance of Live Operations
01:08 Overview of Sergei's Book
03:34 Sergei's Journey and Role at Wargaming
07:50 The Evolution of Gaming Models
12:03 Challenges and Strategies in Live Service Games
31:29 The Future of LiveOps and Community Engagement
38:23 Building Relationships with Content Creators
40:12 The Role of Data in Game Development
42:11 Understanding LiveOps and Player Engagement
45:34 The Importance of Decision Making in LiveOps
58:34 Balancing Monetization and Player Experience
01:11:16 Global Operations and Regional Relevance
01:18:42 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Dive deep into the world of game development and user acquisition with AppLovin’s Daniel TchernahovskyIn this episode, we explore the growth of mobile gaming, the significance of hybrid monetization, and the impact of automation and AI on user acquisition strategies.
Learn how Applovin's journey from startup to powerhouse company evolved, the importance of maintaining company culture, and strategic insights on app and game monetization.
00:51 Daniel’s Journey with Applovin
08:21 Industry Trends and Insights
18:23 The Rise of Hybrid Monetization
31:46 Aligning Marketing and Product Teams
35:09 Understanding Benchmarks and Metrics
37:14 Integrating User Acquisition in Development
38:33 Team Dynamics and Agile Development
42:50 Predictive LTV and Visualization Techniques
47:35 Avoiding the Doom Loop
56:50 The Rise of Apps vs. Games
Happy Thanksgaming! This week, the Deconstructor of Fun crew kicks things off with a recap of the buzzing Slush event before diving into a deep analysis of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. From there, we tackle Ubisoft’s heated return-to-office controversy and explore Hasbro’s massive $150 million investment in gaming.
The latter half of the episode delves into Royal Kingdom’s prolonged soft launch strategy and wrap up with a discussion on FIFA’s latest collaboration with Mythical Games. Can they rival EA FC?
Tune in for insights, reflections, and a glimpse into what lies ahead in the evolving gaming landscape!
00:00 Happy Thanksgaming!
02:54 Slush Event Recap
08:26 Heroic Labs Updates
17:37 Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Analysis
29:49 Ubisoft's Return to Office Controversy
36:54 Hasbro's $150 Million Investment in Gaming
41:03 Mattel vs. Hasbro: A Tale of Two Toy Giants
45:48 The Interconnectedness of Toys and Gaming
54:47 Game District's Acquisition of Gleam Games
55:49 AppCharge Raises $26 Million for Gaming Apps
56:36 Royal Kingdom's Market Strategy
01:10:47 Mythical Games' New Arcade Football Game
01:15:44 Wrapping Up: Reflections and Future Prospects
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