Deconstructor of Fun
596 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 84 ratingsDeconstructor 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 @mkatkoff www.linkedin.com/in/michailkatkoff/
Eric Kress @ekress
www.linkedin.com/in/erickress/
Laura Taranto @laurataranto www.linkedin.com/in/laurataranto/
Phillip Black @econosopher www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-black-economist/
Jen Donahoe @Jen_Donahoe www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdonahoe
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support
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Episodes
The Four Things a Founder Should Never Do, by Anton Krasnyy, former founder and CEO of Murka
February 05, 2024 11:30 - 1 hour - 63.9 MBJoin us in Istanbul! www.deconstructoroffun.com/istanbul “Never trust experts nor believe in business friendships. Never allow others to change your vision. And never underpay yourself.” Those are the 4 critical nevers that Anton Krasnyy once wrote on LinkedIn. Anton is a former founder, CEO, and Chairman of Murka, a social casino company originally from Ukraine acquired by Blackstone in 2019. Despite the strong words, I’ve always found Anton to be very empathetic. That’s why I wanted hi...
TWIG #268 Apple is "Hot Garbage" and Blizzard has a brand new boss...
February 01, 2024 17:51 - 1 hour - 142 MBWhile it's not as crazy as the Unity Runtime fee fiasco, it's a close second as the cast reviews Apple's plans to address the EU's DMA rules. Kress eats it and admits that Zynga might have potential this year, with Match Factory showing promise. Blizzard picks a new president, and the cast weighs in on her resume, making recommendations and predictions for her future. Riot and Blizzard called cults, in a good way. Think Istanbul Game Summit (March 7) https://adsonair.withgoogle.com/events/t...
PC and Console Gaming Predictions with Newzoo's Tom Wijman
January 29, 2024 11:43 - 1 hour - 66.5 MBNewzoo's Lead Analyst, Tom Wijman, returns on the podcast to discuss gaming market predictions for consoles and PCs. You can access the full Newzoo report here: https://newzoo.com/games-market-reports-forecasts And check our previous episode here: www.deconstructoroffun.com/blog/2023/11/2/console-gamings-triple-threat --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support
TWIG #266 Apple vs. Epic / Palworld vs. Pokemon
January 25, 2024 14:04 - 1 hour - 139 MBSign up to Istanbul Gaming Summit By deciding not to hear the appeal of the Epic v. Apple case, the injection against Apple's anti-steering rules stands. This means that developers are now free to push US iOS players into web shops. But what doest that mean for the industry? And if this conversation doesn’t tickle your toes, the crew talks Palworld. A real Pokemon killer. The doom and gloom of this episode is brought to you by Eric Kress, Jen Donahoe, Philip Black and Laura Taranto. ---...
TWIG #267 Apple vs. Epic / Palworld vs. Pokemon
January 25, 2024 14:04 - 1 hour - 139 MBSign up to Istanbul Gaming Summit By deciding not to hear the appeal of the Epic v. Apple case, the injection against Apple's anti-steering rules stands. This means that developers are now free to push US iOS players into web shops. But what doest that mean for the industry? And if this conversation doesn’t tickle your toes, the crew talks Palworld. A real Pokemon killer. The doom and gloom of this episode is brought to you by Eric Kress, Jen Donahoe, Philip Black and Laura Taranto. ---...
6 x Operative Changes That Kept SciPlay Growing Despite the Market Headwinds
January 21, 2024 20:17 - 1 hour - 57.3 MBJosh Wilson, CEO of Sciplay returns to the podcast to tell the story behind the company’s evolution over the last two years. SciPlay has grown every quarter despite the economic and privacy headwinds thanks to strategic initiatives discussed in this episode. We also talk about the accusations the company has made and why it has been itself acquired. Istanbul Gaming Summit https://rsvp.withgoogle.com/events/think-games-istanbul-i-google-x-deconstructor-of-fun segments: Last two years a...
TWIG #266 The State of Mobile and Monopoly Go’s anti-Profitability Claims
January 18, 2024 13:32 - 1 hour - 153 MBIstanbul Gaming Summit pre-signup: https://rsvp.withgoogle.com/events/think-games-istanbul-i-google-x-deconstructor-of-fun The squad dips their spoons into the Monopoly Go drama by giving their take on the profitability of Scopely’s blockbuster. We discuss the real reason why NetEase and Activision have suddenly kissed and made up. Scratch our heads as to why Tencent is launching yet another mobile MOBA and dive deep into the state of mobile. The doom and gloom of this episode is brought...
Elena Grigorian, CEO of MyGames - My First 100 Days as a CEO
January 15, 2024 13:19 - 59 minutes - 54.1 MBstanbul Gaming Summit https://rsvp.withgoogle.com/events/think-games-istanbul-i-google-x-deconstructor-of-fun Elena Grigorian joins the podcast after recently taking over as the CEO of MyGames. In this podcast, we cover both business and personal topics starting with what a new CEO should accomplish in their first 100 days in the position and ending with the challenges of balancing work and life in leadership positions. segments: Intro: (0:00) The role of a CEO role: (5:25) Work-life Bala...
TWIG #265 Unity continues to lay off while Netflix drops $1,000M on games
January 11, 2024 11:54 - 1 hour - 160 MB2024 starts where 2023 ended - and that means layoffs. Unity slashes 1,800 jobs while Twitch fires every third person in the latest layoff rounds at these companies. In this episode, we announce the Golden Twig "winners", discuss Clash Mini, and continue to scratch our heads about Netflix Games. Thanks to the show's sponsors: Xsolla, AppsFlyer, Data.ai, and Heroic Labs! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support
Marketing Predictions 2024 with Eric Seufert
January 10, 2024 08:45 - 1 hour - 65.5 MBEric Seufert is a one-of-a-kind marketing expert. He has headed marketing at Rovio, Wooga, and N3TWORK. He has built Mobile Dev Memo into the leading site for marketing professionals. He became a venture capitalist after founding Heracles Capital. In this podcast, Eric Seufert returns back to the podcast to discuss predictions for mobile marketing. A must-listen for all of us! sign-up to our PGC event: https://event.appsflyer.com/appsflyerandheroiclabs --- Support this podcast: https://...
TWIG #264 New China Regulations, Market Predictions and Sony Leaks
January 04, 2024 17:33 - 1 hour - 155 MBHappy New Year, and welcome to the first podcast of 2024! After checking in on the holiday activities, the cast digs into the big news hitting the Chinese game industy. Kress makes predictions about how companies around the world will react to the proposed China game regulations (limiting daily spend, removing loot boxes, etc). Phil pulled out key insights from the Insomniac leak, and the cast discussed how Sony should approach live service across its console business. The Survey: https:/...
TWIG #263 The DoF Game Industry Awards
December 21, 2023 12:45 - 1 hour - 161 MBWhich company took the most damage in 2023? What was the most disappointing game of the year? Who had the worst layoffs what were some of our most inaccurate takes? Tune in to the realest awards show in the industry and hear our picks for each category on many more! --- Join us at PGC London >>> VIP Roundtables --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support
AD APOCALYPSE 2024 with Felix Braberg, Ad Monetization Consultant
December 20, 2023 15:03 - 1 hour - 64.8 MBIn-app ads are either important or crucial depending on the genre of games you’re making. In this episode, I’m joined by Felix Braberg, a true ad monetization expert. Together we discuss the effect of privacy changes on ad monetization, practical ways for games to double their ad revenue, the efficacy of different ad formats, and the changes onset by Apple, Amazon, and Google to the whole ad monetization ecosystem. connect with Felix (www.felixbraberg.com) --- Support this podcast: https:...
The State of Play from Real-Time Payments to Web Shops
December 15, 2023 09:00 - 42 minutes - 98.2 MBHost Jen Donahoe sits down with Xsolla's Interim CEO and President, Chris Hewish, to get the juicy facts from Xsolla's State of Play Report. The insights apply to all platforms and regions, so be sure to listen in. They cover 4 key topics: - The rise of real-time payments - Alternative Payments - Web shops with new data from the top 100 companies - The upcoming EU DMA and side-loading in iOS 17.2 beta For more information about the State of Play report visit the Xsolla Blog here --- ...
TWIG #262 GOOGLE V. EPIC WON'T SAVE US 🧑⚖️ 📵
December 14, 2023 17:02 - 1 hour - 145 MBWith Miska downing soju faster than meat off a KBBQ grill, Eric and Jen lay down the law on Monopoly Go's UA numbers. Laura celebrates Apple's end-of-year awards, while Phil tells developers to hide yo' kids, hide yo' wife; Fortnite is coming for your genre. The crew talks about Epic's court victory that produced Tim Sweney's only natural smile to date. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support
Mobile Gaming Market in 2024 with Lexi Sydow of Data.ai
December 11, 2023 09:34 - 1 hour - 55.5 MBWant to catch your Data.ai 2024 predictions in a TWIG-like format? We got you covered! Jen Donahoe, Michail Katkoff, Brett Nowak and Eric Kress hosted by Lexi Sydow, deconstructed the gaming market while planting several jabs at each others' predictions.Topics discussed: Are we seeing gaming bottom out, or is the market on the up? Which areas in gaming are growing and why? What are today’s top engagement and monetization features? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.co...
"Zero" Cost Acquisition Tactics
December 08, 2023 22:32 - 1 hour - 144 MBHow do you acquire your very first players without a marketing budget? What guerrilla marketing tactics work for games, and how can you execute them creatively? Host, Jen Donahoe asks Julie Bonnecarrère and Pavel Afanasiev, co-founders of Northern Lights Entertainment (NLE), about their journey to soft launching on mobile under extreme budget constraints. NLE is developing Nebulae (https://nebulae.world/) - a 4x strategy MMO for mobile & PC, where politics is a core gameplay component, and...
TWIG #261 Reacting to GTA VI 🚗 🔫
December 07, 2023 17:45 - 1 hour - 146 MBThe not-so-Fabulous Five are right back at it discussing GTA 6 trailer that broke the internet. We recap Slush, the latest boondoggle with Mishka and Phil. Predict what the console gaming market will be in 2024 and get our engines revved up by the latest Forza Customs and Chrome Valley Customs. Connect with the TWIG Cast to give feedback and keep the conversation going! Philip Black, Jen Donahoe, Eric Kress, Laura Taranto & Mishka Katkoff --- Support this podcast: https://podcas...
TWIG #260 Get the F out of here! State of Mobile
November 30, 2023 18:21 - 1 hour - 55.3 MBEthan's back, and so is Kress telling him to "Get the F Out of here!" Laura breaks down June's Journey $1B revenue milestone with Ethan chiming in with a history lesson on Hidden Object games. Jen covers the nominees for the gam3.gg Web 3 awards. Kress gives a state of mobile games industry update and the team talks about the state SKAN4 and the upcoming SKAN5. Connect with the TWIG Cast to give feedback and keep the conversation going (in alphabetical order) Philip Black, Jen Donahoe, Er...
Product Marketing Management in Games with Jesse Lempiäinen, Founder/CEO of Geeklab
November 27, 2023 08:53 - 33 minutes - 30.9 MBWhat is the role of Product Marketing Managers (PMMs) in gaming? The discussion emphasizes two key aspects that PMMs enable: Firstly, facilitating the identification of product-market fit early in the development phase, thereby preventing costly pivots after the game's launch Secondly, they allow Product Managers and Game Directors to concentrate on enhancing key performance indicators (KPIs) and team efficiency by serving as the primary liaison between the game team and internal/externa...
TWIG #259 Monopoly Go's Winning Formula
November 24, 2023 15:12 - 1 hour - 66.5 MBWe have a full house and lots of topics to cover! The talk of the week is Scopely's Monopoly Go crossing $1B in revenue in just 7 months. We have a Esports smackdown and we also talk a bit about Web3 to keep things spicy. Kudos to our sponsors: Heroic Labs, Xsolla, AppsFlyer, and Data.ai --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WEB3 GAMING DREAM???
November 20, 2023 10:18 - 1 hour - 60.2 MBIn the heyday of 2022, there was an unprecedented surge in investment in Web3 games, capturing nearly half of all investment in both dollars and raw numbers. However, the excitement and speculation didn't translate into quality games, resulting in numerous failures within the industry. Warren Woodward, CCO and co-founder of Upptic, a leading growth agency for games, joins the podcast to explain what happened to the Web3 gaming dream and what the future entails. --- Support this podcast: ...
TWIG #258 Grouchy Kress Alert 🚨
November 16, 2023 19:42 - 1 hour - 64.2 MBKress embraces grouchiness and brings the fire to today's podcast. Phil gets triggered by behavioural economics delivering an epic rant. Mishka weakly defends his “China” point and Jen talks about the latest Call of Duty that got drowned by the worst score in the history of the franchise. The crew discusses why console developers are backtracking from the Games-as-a-Service model and announces the Deconstructor of Fun Gaming Awards. The episode is capped by Zynga’s Match Factory breakdown....
7 x GAME INDUSTRY TRUTHS with CHRIS HEWISH, PRESIDENT of XSOLLA
November 13, 2023 08:21 - 1 hour - 69.5 MBIn the latest podcast, Mishka delves into an all-encompassing discussion with Chris Hewish, President and interim CEO of Xsolla. Chris boasts an impressive gaming career that spans iconic companies like Skydance, Survios, DreamWorks, and includes a substantial 13-year stint at Activision. Topics discussed: Macroeconomics vs. Game Investments Console Gaming: Challenges & Opportunities Behavioral Economics Unity’s Odyssey Transmedia Generative AI and Creative Workflows Bonus… --- S...
TWIG #257 Undercover at Blizzcon 🦹
November 09, 2023 22:33 - 1 hour - 60.4 MBWith Miska resuming his jet-set life, Jen reviews hygiene at Blizzcon, while Kress tells us his opinion on the unexpected departure of PlayStation CEO and reminds us of the difference between Trekkies and fans. Laura and Phil go deep on Brawl Stars' new announcement - it's due or die. Phil can't understand The Finals, and neither can Eric. Omega Strikers is dead, and the team performs an autopsy. BIG ups to our sponsors AppsFlyer, Heroic Labs, Data.ai and Xsolla! --- Support this podcas...
Chris Petrovic Teaches Acquiring Great Gaming Companies
November 06, 2023 09:17 - 1 hour - 73.9 MBAre you ready for the Merger & Acquisition Masterclass? Learn from Chris Petrovic, former Zynga Head of Corporate Strategy, why game companies venture into M&A, what are the biggest challenges and reasons leading to failed deals, current M&A trends, and more. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support
TWIG #256 "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH VIDEO GAMES?"
November 02, 2023 17:06 - 1 hour - 139 MBAs Microsoft reorgs Xbox leadership, we debate who could be the perfect person to replace Bobby Kotick as the CEO of Activision. We also discuss why our industry has all the layoffs in the middle of breaking sales records. And we also talk about games: Mario Wonder, Supercell's Mo.Co and Wonder Blast from Good Game Studios. shoutout to our world-class spornsors: AppsFlyer, Xsolla, Heroic Labs, and Data.ai --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroff...
DIARY OF A (retired) CEO
October 30, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 64 MBIn this episode, we explore the unique challenges and successes of a remarkable woman CEO in the gaming industry. Our guest, Carol Miu, has shattered glass ceilings and achieved incredible milestones throughout her career. We'll dive deep into her journey, discussing gender disparities in the CEO role, her most memorable achievements in maintaining work-life balance, industry evolution, and her reflections on her career. Y ou won't want to miss this inspiring conversation with a trailblaz...
How to Get Press, Tips from Mobilegamer.biz
October 27, 2023 21:57 - 48 minutes - 110 MBHow do game companies get press for their new games, big company moments, or new hires? We ask Neil Long, founder and editor of Mobilegamer.biz, for tips and tricks on how to approach game media to get press. Neil Long is the founder and editor of mobilegamer.biz, a new site for the mobile games business. He started out in games industry journalism almost 20 years ago, and before launching mobilegamer.biz he spent seven years at Apple as an App Store games editor, working out of the London...
TWIG 255: "F You Unity, We're not Paying!"
October 26, 2023 15:04 - 59 minutes - 137 MBThe non-sick trifecta of Kress, Phil, and Jen hold down the fort. Kress pushed back on the India opportunity, arguing it's only for the top-of-the-top games. The gang revisits the Unity runtime fee news with new insights and quotes reported by Mobilegamer.biz. Shameless speculation ensues about Microsoft's declining success with Game Pass, meaning they might want to cancel it. What happened to Payday3? Trading was canceled in Rocket League. All this and the top game industry news of the wee...
How to Deal With Negative Feedback a conversation with Sophie Vo of Rise and Play
October 23, 2023 12:03 - 55 minutes - 51.1 MBHow to deal with negative feedback? And the importance of self-esteem, self-awareness, self-reflection, and self-evaluation. In today’s Episode joined by my friend and former colleague, Sophie Vo. Sophie comes with 15 years of experience in the games industry working at companies like Gameloft, Wooga, Rovio, Voodoo, and Savage Game Studios. Sophie is perhaps best known for her Rise & Play podcast and newsletter, which focuses on leadership challenges in the gaming industry. --- Suppor...
Untapped India Mobile Opportunity
October 20, 2023 07:01 - 1 hour - 58.6 MBAccording to Niko Partners, the India games market is projected to generate almost $900M in 2023 with almost ½ a billion players. That's growth of 21% YOY from 2022 for revenue and 12% for the number of players. Probably the most interesting stat is that 97% of India’s gamers play on smartphones. To dig in, we got the platform experts to come and highlight the various opportunities, from overall revenue to implementing new payment methods, sub-dollar price point IAP, exclusive products, an...
TWIG #254 Unity and Activision CEO Fantasy Draft
October 19, 2023 13:19 - 1 hour - 152 MBLaura and Phil deep dive into Monster Hunter's early positive numbers in Japan before arguing over Warcraft Rumble's design and art choice. Jen and Kress put the Activision and Microsoft merger to rest while setting up their fantasy drafts for new CEOs of Activision, post-Bobby Kotick's departure at the end of 2023, and Unity, post-John Riccitiello's departures. Finally, the team reviews all the reasons why Disney shouldn't, can't, and won't buy EA. --- Support this podcast: https://podca...
AR Gaming revived by the Meta Quest 3?
October 13, 2023 08:00 - 44 minutes - 40.6 MBIs there an opportunity for AR gaming on mobile after all the attention coming to AR from the Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro? Here to unpack that topic is Asad J Malik, CEO of Jaru AR. Asad is an augmented reality pioneer whose critically acclaimed narrative storytelling projects positioned him as a visionary in the space before completing his undergraduate degree. He has directed next-generation AR experiences featuring icons like Serena Williams and Lil Nas X and runs the AR company J...
TWIG #253 John Riccitiello's Legacy / EA post FIFA in Numbers
October 12, 2023 12:16 - 52 minutes - 121 MBMishka takes a break from his Chatty Cat Euro Tour and joins the podcast with the fabulous, Jen Donahoe, Laura Taranto, Phillip Black, and Eric Kress. The crew discusses the legacy of John Riccitiello's, who stepped down as the CEO of Unity. We also talk about how EA is doing after getting rid of FIFA and deconstruct TakeTwo's latest mobile game, Top Troops. Donate to those impacted by the war: https://linktr.ee/SUPPORT.ISRAEL?utm_source=linktree_profile_share --- Support this podcast: ht...
The Art of Hiring and Getting Hired with Jordan Mazer, Head of Talent at a16z Games
October 09, 2023 10:33 - 1 hour - 67.2 MBNeedless to say, the games industry is going through a rough patch after a decade of booming growth. That is why this episode, with a16z’s Jordan Mazer, is very relevant both for companies and individuals. Jordan has unrivaled experience scaling high-performing teams at Amazon, Scopely, and Riot. He has interviewed thousands, if not tens of thousands professionals, Jordan shares invaluable insights and best practices for companies and individuals. --- Support this podcast: https://podc...
TWIG #252 Unity's CEO Finally Speak Out while Epic Lays Off 900
October 05, 2023 18:41 - 52 minutes - 48.2 MBJoin us in Tel Aviv > LINK The fabulous four discuss Epic's massive layoffs, Netflix's Love is Blind, Fortnite's price increases, and Unity CEO, John Riccotello's Hosts: Jen Donahue, Laura Taranto, Eric Kress and Philip Black Thanks to our world-class sponsors: AppsFlyer, Heroic Labs, Data.ai and Xsolla --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support
REPRESENTATION IN GAMES and Game Award shows
October 02, 2023 08:00 - 55 minutes - 50.5 MBCo-host of TWIG, Jen Donahoe, kicks off her one-on-one deep dive series of podcasts designed to give listeners actionable tips from experts in the game industry across marketing, publishing, media, and more. First up, Robin Gray from Gray Media, founder of Gayming Magazine, the world's only LGBTQ video game magazine, and creator of the Gayming Awards, coming April 2024. They discuss the benefits of and tips for authentically showcasing representation in your games. --- Support this podc...
TWIG #251 If we were running Unity, we'd...
September 28, 2023 16:09 - 1 hour - 59 MBJoin us in Tel Aviv > SIGNUP We have the full crew back in the house Together we analyze the latest turns in the Unity saga and most importantly (or least importantly) tell what we'd do should we be running the company. We also debate the role of Big Tech in the game industry's future. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support
SPEEDRUN with a16z's Josh Lu and Andrew Lee
September 26, 2023 05:56 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MBSPEEDRUN >>> application link Do you have 15 minutes, a strong core team, and an idea you dream about pursuing? If you said yes three times, you're in for an opportunity of a lifetime, also known as SPEEDRUN. SPEEDRUN is a program for game startups, unlike anything you've seen before: All teams accepted to the program receive 500k funding from a16z. That’s one of the best venture capital in the world. Your team will be welcomed to San Francisco for ten weeks to work on a demo that you'l...
TWIG #250 XBOX SAID WHAT???
September 21, 2023 19:24 - 51 minutes - 117 MBTel Aviv Game Executive Brunch > SIGN UP With Mishka multiple Spritz's deep in Italy and Laura somewhere in a Turkish Hot Air Ballon, Jen, Eric, and Phil get to the meat and potatoes: Go-DOT or GOD-oh? Unity’s proposed runtime response is public, while Eric uncovers buried AppLovin news… You can’t hide from the Kress! Jen reminds us that Privacy Manifest is here, and it’s coming for your fingerprints. Phil can’t get over the Microsoft leaks, and Eric is on the ground floor for Roblox’s deve...
AI GAMING REVOLUTION: Shaping the Future of Play with Pieter Kooyman
September 19, 2023 08:51 - 1 hour - 64.7 MBTune in for a captivating exploration of AI's impact on the gaming industry with Pieter Kooyman, CEO and Founder of Half Moon Studios. We discuss the role of AI from the perspectives of new and established organizations, C-level executives, individual contributors, and the ethical and emotional dimensions of this transformative technology. Don't miss out on this discussion! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support
TWiG #249 Epic Unity Talk
September 14, 2023 14:20 - 55 minutes - 126 MBLet's not mess around. You're here to hate listen as we dissect the PR firestorm coming out of Unity this week. We know it. You know it. Let's get into it! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support
NAVIGATING GAMING MARKET: TRENDS, TRIUMPHS & TROUBLES with Tom Wijman, Newzoo'a Lead Analyst
September 12, 2023 07:11 - 1 hour - 70.6 MBWe dive deep into the ever-evolving world of gaming, exploring the latest trends, successes, and challenges in the global gaming market. We start by dissecting the landscape of mobile, PC, and console gaming. Tackle the question of what's working in the gaming industry, dissecting the impact of AI, the rise of handheld consoles, the promise of transmedia experiences, and the growth of cloud gaming services. We also examine what's not working. Delving into Web3, the slow adoption of VR an...
In Conversation: Minecraft Creator Program Exec Producer Kayla Kinnunen
September 09, 2023 07:00 - 47 minutes - 110 MBThis week, Ethan sits down with Kayla Kinnunen, Executive Producer for the Minecraft Creator Platform. She explains how the platform empowers Minecraft creators to craft amazing content and share it with millions of players around the world. To date, Minecraft Creators have earned payouts of over $500 million crafting content for the worldwide sensation's still massive audience of over 140 MAU. We also learn some expert tips on managing expectations for such a devoted community, and how the ...
TWIG #248 Nintendo - Past, Present, and Future!
September 07, 2023 17:02 - 54 minutes - 124 MBIn this podcast episode, we dive into the remarkable success of the Nintendo Switch and what lies ahead for Nintendo. The Switch has surpassed Wii's total US sales and is closely trailing the Xbox 360 and PS2 in worldwide sales. We explore why it has thrived, including its handheld/console hybrid design, an impressive lineup of first-party games, broad demographic appeal, and Nintendo's strong brand loyalty. However, the Switch does have its limitations, such as its outdated hardware, lackl...
MASTERING COMPANY GROWTH with JOE SCHAEPPI, CEO & Co-Founder of Solsten
September 04, 2023 09:40 - 1 hour - 245 MBIn this power-packed episode, Joe Schaeppi shares his secrets of success for business leaders, founders, and innovators. From mastering board meetings to becoming the ultimate hub for innovators, building cultural diversity, nurturing empathy, and cracking the code on tricky interviews, this episode is a goldmine of invaluable insights to sharpen your entrepreneurial skills and propel your company to greater heights. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned founder, tune in to...
TWIG #247 From Gamescom with a LOT of ❤️❤️❤️
August 31, 2023 17:53 - 1 hour - 141 MBWe have a full house! Phil and Mishka are back from Gamescom reminiscing their flourishing bromance causing Kress to gag (he’s just jealous). We talk about the recently announced slate of games. Jen and Laura debate Netflix Stories. And we summarize the latest market insight report from Data.ai. Link > Helsinki VIP Happy Hour --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support
ISTANBUL CONFIDENTlAL with RINA ONUR , CEO @ Spyke Games / co-Founder of Peak Games
August 28, 2023 18:02 - 58 minutes - 53.8 MBA $55M seed round for a mobile gaming company sounds like a mistake until you talk to Rina Onar, the CEO of the company that raised it. Rina is the co-founder of Peak Games, which sold to Zynga for nearly 2 billion Dollars. But instead of taking it easy after 13 grueling years growing Turkey's first unicorn games company, Rina hopped back on the grind mobile with her ex-Peak co-founders and is now steering Spyke Games as a CEO. In this episode, we talk about the unique characteristics of T...
TWiG 246: Getting cozy with Palia! Merge games trends revealed!
August 24, 2023 15:02 - 47 minutes - 110 MBWith Mishka and Phil living it up with all our lovely listeners at Gamescom, and Ethan to busy building to play pundit this week, it's everyone's three favorite hosts - Kress, Jen and Laura - holding down the fort without any deadweight dragging them down :) This week the crew goes deep on cozy games following the successful beta for cozy MMO Palia as well as discussing Gossip Harbor and the latest trends in the Merge game genre. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/po...