We kick things off with a deep dive into what separates different Nordic countries with regional experts Phillip Black and Mishka Katkoff.

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

Phillip Black sits down with Leo Yao, General Manager of Timi Studio Group’s J3 studio, for an exclusive look at the making of Call of Duty Mobile and the upcoming Delta Force.

Discover how Timi shocked Activision with a two-month Nuketown demo, the secrets behind COD Mobile’s record-breaking live ops, and why Delta Force pivots to tackle Battlefield.

Insights:

Chapters:

00:53 Leo Yao and Timmy's Studio Group

02:31 Call of Duty Mobile: Development and Success

05:21 Challenges and Strategies in the Mobile FPS Market

09:23 Team Structure and Company Culture at Timmy

14:14 Cross-Platform Gaming and Future Trends

18:10 Chinese PC Shooter Market Insights

21:21 PC vs Mobile: A Developer's Perspective

23:38 Delta Force: Fitting into the FPS Landscape

25:49 Live Service and Content Updates

28:23 Monetization Strategies for Delta Force

30:14 The Rise of Extraction Shooters

36:54 Why Delta Force? The Strategy for IP's Revival

38:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts