HYBRIDCASUAL PLAYBOOK: metahybridcasualplaybook.splashthat.com  In this podcast episode, Michail Katkoff hosts Manish Gajria, Director of Product from Meta, and Ryan Davies, Head of Performance Marketing from Kwalee to discuss the current trends in the mobile gaming market, focusing on value optimization, hybrid casual games, and the impact of AI on user acquisition strategies. They explore the challenges of measurement and attribution in a changing landscape, and the importance of...

After Kress released the rockets at large VCs last week the crew gets back into heated venture capital discussions exploring the complexities of VC investments in gaming and the shifting landscape of game development and funding. The conversation also touches on the potential leadership changes at EA, the implications of recent acquisitions in the gaming industry, and the performance of companies like Roblox. The discussion highlights the strategic moves by companies like MTG and Take-Two,...

Jen Donahoe, Laura Taranto, and Eric Kress live from GamesForum San Francisco. 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 01:29 Panelist Intros 05:53 First Topic: Unfiltered Growth and Monetization 12:50 Incentivized Advertising: Past and Present 17:59 Challenges and Future of Incentivized Ads 27:27 Expanding Beyond Gaming: Brand Collaborations 32:15 Exploring Roblox's Integration with Shopify 32:52 The Shift in Game Design and Monetization 35:29 Surviving in 2025 36:12 Mobile and...

Eric roleplays as his Old Man Yells at Cloud Halloween costume, sparing no expense at Netflix’s strange announcement and an ugly breakdown of modern venture capital. Laura tells us if Pokemon’s new mobile game looks more like Go or Masters, while Jen gives a eulogy for Space Ape. Phil raves at Call of Duties monster success and asks Nadella to release the Game Pass tapes. 00:26 Nintendo Switch Earnings Analysis 16:31 Netflix's Interactive Titles and Generative AI 20:49 Supercell Acquires...

In this episode of Deconstructor of Fun, we dive into the shifting landscape of influencer marketing in the gaming industry, focusing on the emergence and impact of creator programs. Our guests: Patrick "Chief Pat" Carney (Tribe Gaming), Scott Walker (Ninja Kiwi), and Justin Sacks (Nexus.gg) — industry experts and key voices in creator marketing—explore the evolving roles of influencers and creators, moving from short-term campaigns to deeper, sustained partnerships that drive community...

It’s Halloween and conference season, so we’re diving into all the latest insights without of course missing a basketball update. In today’s episode, we got Call of Duty’s continued dominance, Battlefield’s woes, Apple’s App Store for gaming, China’s rise in 4x games, and Barbie’s design mismatch. Dive in for all things gaming, snark included! Hosts: Jen Donahoe, Eric Kress, Phillip Black and Mishka Katkoff Keywords: gaming news, game industry, conferences, shooter games, Netflix gaming,...

In this deep dive discussion, Adam Telfer, Chris Sides, Phillip Black, and Davan Brannan explore the current state of the PC and console shooter genre, analyzing player engagement trends, the impact of COVID-19, and the struggles of new game entrants in a saturated market. They discuss the decline in player numbers for popular titles, the challenges of maintaining engagement, and the implications for future game development. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the challenges and...

Arguably the most fun newsletter for games industry professionals: www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe --- This episode of This Week in Games covers major shifts in gaming, as Netflix shutting down its AAA studio, TikTok’s LiveOps program, and the rise of influencer marketing and Supercell’s all-hands-on-deck approach to save Squad Busters. The episode also addresses the perceived decline of AA studios. Hosts: Jen Donahoe, Adam Telfer, Phillip Black and Mishka Katkoff --- Support...

On his 55th visit to beyond the Wall (aka. Finland) Peter Levin of Griffin Gaming Partners delves into the influence of Finland's gaming scene, the global success of companies like Supercell, and the legacy of titles such as Angry Birds and Habbo Hotel.  We discuss the impact of technology, transmedia trends, and how non-endemic players like Netflix are entering the gaming space. The conversation covers strategic mergers and acquisitions, the resurgence of PC gaming, and the exciting...

In this episode of TWIG (This Week in Games), the team dives into recent gaming industry news, starting with Google’s Play and Xbox announcements, followed by the Game Freak data breach and Xbox developments. 'They discuss Supercell’s mysterious Project Rise, the rumored Destiny Rising mobile game, and blockchain gaming with Off the Grid. The episode also highlights Azra Games’ Project Legends, speculates on Scopely’s next mega-deal, and wraps up with Supercell’s marketing shakeup. 00:00...

Michail Katkoff sits down with Javier Ferreira, Co-CEO of Scopely, to explore the success behind Scopely's hit game Monopoly Go, which has generated over $3 billion in lifetime revenue. Javier shares insights into Scopely's acquisition by Savvy, the impact of solid partnerships, and Scopely's future ambitions with original IPs. Learn about effective game development, strategic risk-taking, and the evolving landscape of the gaming industry. Discover what makes Scopely a leader in IP-based...

The TWIG team unpacks the latest developments in Ubisoft’s internal drama. They also dive into the troubled launch of Squadbusters and explore whether toxic positivity is a growing issue in game development. Plus, get the latest on the Epic vs. Google legal battle and the controversies surrounding Roblox. Tune in for sharp analysis and thoughtful discussion on all things gaming! 02:02 Event Highlights and Industry Insights 04:37 Savvy Games Group and Upcoming Podcasts 08:21 Ubisoft Drama...

Saudi Arabia has a bold vision - to transform itself into a global gaming hub by 2030.  With insights from Savvy Games Group CEO Brian Ward and Gerard Miles, co-CEO of executive headhunting company Mission One, we delve into the Kingdom's strategic efforts to build a robust gaming ecosystem in the Middle East.  Discover the opportunities and challenges of navigating business in Saudi Arabia, and learn how cultural understanding and genuine connections can foster success in this burgeoning...

Jen Donahoe, Eric Kress, Phillip Black, and Mishka Katkoff discuss the impact of California's new digital ownership law, highlights from the Tokyo Game Show, and the record-breaking numbers on Steam. They also delve into Ubisoft's delays, Behavior Interactive's acquisitions, and Meta's new AR glasses, concluding with a look at Genshin Impact's impressive revenue and market influence. Takeaways * Mishka shares insights from his recent travels and conferences. * Squad Busters faces...

Host Jen Donahoe is joined by a panel of emerging game industry professionals—Pedro Bravo (Lead PM Monopoly Go at Scopely), Vlada Kumova (Game Producer at GameFam), and Lara Burić (Game Designer at Hutch). The discussion centers around the challenges and barriers faced by the next generation of game developers as they enter the industry, the difficulties of securing opportunities, and the ongoing changes in hiring practices. They share candid experiences about breaking into the industry,...

Kress bites back at Cupcake listeners, while Adam thinks a Space Marine live service is as dead as the Necrons. Phil thinks MoPoGo is groundbreaking, but no one is surfing the waves yet. Laura tells us the real origin story, and Jen has her best Italian accent. 00:00 Intro 01:49 Shills 02:46 AI in Gaming 07:16 EA Strategy 09:28 Adam & Laura: Origins 18:32 Industry Trends and Predictions 31:28 Favorite Podcast Moments 36:36 GDC Memories and Parasocial Relationships 37:55 Nintendo...

Mishka Katkoff chats with Sebastian Forsström, Head of Paradox ARC, to explore the world of indie game publishing at Paradox Interactive. Sebastian provides an overview of Paradox Interactive and dives into the role of Paradox ARC, a division dedicated to helping indie developers. They discuss how Paradox evaluates and develops games, the importance of sustained user engagement, and effective marketing strategies. Sebastian also shares insights on publishing deals, revenue sharing,...

The crew gets together to talk about the past and the future of This Week in Game show in this special 300th episode. But it wouldn’t be a TWIG without a bit of news. Kress gets triggered by EA’s AI + UGC + Apps presentation. And we all wonder what happened to Spectre Divide - a highly anticipated shooter from a top team that seems to have missed its mark. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

In this episode of the terrific trio: Jen Donahoe, Laura Taranto, and Adam Telfer dive into product strategy and market insights, highlighting how developers are differentiating themselves in a saturated market. The three also discuss Apple’s September event, analyze the PlayStation 5 Pro, analyze Sony’s broader strategy, and look at Roblox’s ambitious goals for expansion and its push to lead in user-generated content. 00:00 Introductions 04:05 Heroic Labs 2 Mil User Milestone 04:45...

Join host Jen Donahoe for an in-depth discussion on venture capital funding in the gaming industry with experts from Transcend Fund, Sisu Game Ventures, and PlayVentures. The panel covers key topics including how VCs work, investment processes, team equity structures, board dynamics, and the unique challenges and opportunities within different gaming platforms. Learn what gaming VCs are looking for and get insights directly from industry professionals who help shape the future of gaming...

Phillip phones it in from Taipei as the team covers the launch of Spectre Divide, Crypto Czar's last hurrah Supercell's potential IPO. Eric Kress dives into Ubisoft’s mismanagement and its effect on company valuation while Adam compares key data insights from NewZoo and Circana. Mishka and Jen talk about influencer marketing trends and shooter game futures. hosts: Jen Donahoe, Eric Kress, Mishka Katkoff, Adam Telfer and Phillip Black --- Support this podcast:...

Sign up for the industry's most insightful weekly newsletter!https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe Ever fancied yourself becoming a VP of a large publisher managing multiple cross-platform teams across several countries? Tune in to the episode and figure out if this is a job for you! Dimo Dimov, Vice President of Live Games at Gameloft, shares his 17-year impressive career journey at Gameloft, from QA to VP. He dives into Gameloft's international growth, his daily...

The crew is one down as Eric Kress, Jen Donahoe, and Mishka Katkoff hop in to knock one off on the road for #300. In this episode, Mishka gives his takeaways from Gamescom. We discuss a conspiracy theory on why Steam is allowed in China and talk about Wukong and Supercell's new CFO. Most importantly, this episode settles the case about Tim Hortons for good. BIG UP for our supporters! Heroic Labs, Sensor Tower, AppsFlyer and Xsolla --- Support this podcast:...

Order your cup of Tim Hortons super hot for this first all-Canadian episode! The lost-and-found podcast host Adam Telfer delves into the state of the industry with Newzoo's Devan Brennan. Topics covered include market trends, forecasts for mobile gaming and the PC market, console performance, and the challenges faced by new free-to-play live service games. The two also explore the optimism surrounding indie and AA game development, and strategies for managing the costs of premium games....