Deconstructor of Fun

GDC’s over, but the takes are still hot. Eric Kress recaps the chaos and questions Dark Legion’s staying power, while Phil gives the Game Craft boys a well-deserved nod.

Then it’s Switch 2 speculation time: is Nintendo finally back in the power game? Meanwhile, Roblox cozies up to Google for rewarded ads—what does that mean for the ecosystem?

Meanwhile, AppLovin fights off short seller heat while asserting market dominance. Plus, Tencent’s playing the long game with Ubisoft, again—no surprise, but lots to unpack.

02:12 GDC Highlights and Dark Legion Update
03:18 Game Craft Podcast
05:27 CEO Interviews and App Charge Partnership
07:31 GDC Attendance and Dark Legion Performance
15:58 Switch 2 Announcement
23:26 Roblox Rewarded Ads and Google Partnership
31:54 AppLovin's Short Seller Allegations
36:17 Hedge Fund Hotels and Market Dynamics
36:36 AppLovin Market Dominance
38:49 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Acquisition
43:57 Supercell's New Game: First Impressions
53:22 Ubisoft's $1.25 Billion Tencent Deal
01:05:36 Tencent's Long Game and Market Strategy 

What makes the company a great place to work? We discuss the significance of company culture, leadership evolution, and the vital role of customer obsession with AppsFlyer's CEO and co-founder, Oren Kaniel.

Oren shares his entrepreneurial journey, how the company overcame early financial challenges, and the importance of remaining innovative and passionate. Additionally, we explore AI's role in the future of business, balancing data privacy with technological advancements, and the grand vision for AppsFlyer's continued growth and impact.

02:44 Building a Company Culture

06:33 The Importance of Customer Obsession

15:24 Challenges and Early Days of the Startup

20:15 Navigating Growth and Scaling Up

25:06 Hiring and Nurturing Talent

42:15 Transparency vs. Clarity in Leadership

44:02 Innovative Solutions for Business Growth

56:39 The Role of AI in Business Transformation

01:05:47 Building a Sustainable Business Ecosystem

01:15:20 Future Prospects and Innovations

Josh Wilson, CEO of SciPlay, returns to the podcast for the third time to discuss key topics such as the significance of Q5, the challenges of app store reliance, the stalled growth in the gaming market, the emergence of hybrid casualization, and the role of AI in gaming.

Subscribe to the Deconstructor of Fun Newsletter: www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe

Continue the conversation on our Slack channel: www.deconstructoroffun.com/slack00:00 Introduction and Previous Conversations

03:28 Understanding Q5 and Its Impact on Gaming

12:38 Navigating App Store Reliance and Customer Ownership

21:46 Stalled Growth in the Gaming Market

31:24 Customer Retention as a Business Strategy

37:44 Embracing Change and Innovation

40:55 The Shift to Hybrid Casual Gaming

55:15 The Role of AI in Gaming

01:09:02 Future Skills in a Changing Landscape

Eric speedruns through an a16z correction, while Phil can’t wrap his head around Funplus’ new 4x Dark Legion thesis. Adam tells us Netease’s Fragpunk is dead, and Jen tells us games journalism is alive. Against all odds, Netflix Games records its first positive segment. And did you hear that? It’s the inZOI train CHUGGin’.

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02:16 Post-GDC Debriefing
09:35 A16Z Speed Run
13:48 Game Journalism is Back!!
17:08 Nintendo Direct and Switch 2 Rumors
18:41 MOBA Shutdowns and VC Funded Games
25:15 FunPlus and Dark Legion
31:00 DC Comics in Gaming: Challenges and Failures
35:03 The Future of 4X Strategy Games
37:18 Marvel Rivals and Rag Punk Analysis
56:27 Netflix's Gaming Strategy

The rowdy and tired DoF crew closed down their GDC with a live TWIG show at Moscone Center. Tune in!

Chapters:

02:47 Kickoff
03:15 GDC Vibe Check
06:30 Industry Sentiment and Challenges
21:20 Emerging Markets and New Game Development
22:26 A16Z Speed Run and Industry Shifts
26:21 Funding Trends and Credit Lines
27:40 Absurd Ideas and Rumors
31:00 Supercell's MoCo Launch
33:53 Embracing Experimentation in Gaming
38:31 Absurd Compensation Packages in the US
43:28 The Future of AA and Indie Game Funding
46:57 Highlights from Recent Gaming Events
51:55 Impact of the Podcast on Careers
01:02:54 The Rise of Apps and AI in Mobile Gaming
01:05:05 VCs, Ad Tech, and Online Gambling
01:07:41 Closing Remarks and Thank Yous

Alexei Chemenda, CEO and co-founder of Poolday.ai, discusses how AI enables marketers to focus on strategy and storytelling. Discover the future of personalized video ads, the evolving role of A/B testing, and the importance of combining creative and analytical skills in marketing.

00:00 Introduction: Misconceptions About AI in Marketing

01:53 Revolutionizing Ad Creation with AI

02:53 Personalization and Creative Control

04:15 Continuous Creative Cycle

04:37 AI in Gaming and Brand Marketing

09:22 Balancing Volume and Quality in AI-Driven Marketing

16:37 Predictive Analytics and Data Fluency

20:19 Future Skills for Marketing Leaders

23:13 Enhancing Human Creativity with AI

25:22 Conclusion and Contact Information

Marion Balinoff and Sara Guerola share data-driven strategies for maximizing influencer marketing in gaming.

As CPIs rise and privacy regulations evolve, influencer marketing is becoming a key performance channel. Marion and Sara break down budget calculations, track organic uplift, and analyze campaign performance while highlighting tactics like QR codes, giveaways, and custom in-game assets to boost conversions.

Whether you’re testing with smaller creators or scaling with top-tier influencers, this episode provides a strategic framework for driving profitable results.

00:00 Introduction to Influencer and Podcast Marketing

02:56 Meet the Experts: Marion and Sarah

04:33 Defining Influencer and Podcast Marketing

08:16 Budgeting and Setting Objectives

14:24 Measuring Campaign Performance

23:58 Tracking Links and Performance Metrics

24:35 Challenges in Getting Clicks

25:08 Podcast Advertising Strategies

27:21 Creative Performance Reports

30:40 Influencer Integration in Games

32:56 Effective Campaign Strategies

34:45 Deep Integration Benefits

38:11 Creative and Contract Tips

42:57 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Mishka wrestles with the implications of AppLovin’s Triple Dot acquisition, while Scopely’s latest move has everyone questioning the future of Pokémon Go. Eric breaks down the latest insights from the Turkish gaming industry, while Jen dissects the Midia Research gamer segmentation report. Phil revisits the hypercasual ad playbook, while Subway Surfers just keeps running. Plus, a final look at GDC announcements, the mobile vs. console showdown, and what it all means for the industry.

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04:24 Turkish Gaming Industry Insights
06:20 GDC Event Announcements
09:16 Triple Dot and AppLovin Acquisition Analysis
22:58 Midia Research Gamer Segmentation Report
30:10 Social Elements in Gaming
30:35 Mobile vs Console
31:13 Farmville, Monopoly Go, and Female Gamers
33:41 Subway Surfers
34:23 The Hypercasual Ad Strategy
41:12 Scopely's Acquisition of Niantic Games
44:04 The Future of Pokemon Go
53:50 Scopely's Strategy

www.skillz.com/developeraccelerator/

We dive deep into the world of real-money skill-based gaming and the exciting new Developer Accelerator launched by Skills Inc.

Our special guest, Andrew Paradise, CEO and co-founder of Skillz, sheds light on the potential and market opportunity within this rapidly growing industry, discussing what types of games and studios Skillz is looking to support.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:19 Skill-Based Mobile Games Accelerator

04:09 Monetization and Market Strategy

13:32 Retention and Engagement Metrics

22:07 Skill-Based Gaming Market Insights

25:36 Understanding Sweepstakes and Skill-Based Gaming

26:17 Skill-Based Gaming Prizes and Competitions

28:06 Future of Skill Gaming

30:32 Expanding Game Genres and Market Reach

32:57 Skill-Based Gaming on Different Platforms

33:36 Addressing Bot Concerns in Skill Gaming

37:43 Insights from the Startup Journey

43:14 Challenges and Benefits of Going Public

45:52 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The world-class panel of Turkish founders and investors with Mehmet Ecevit (ex-CEO and co-founder of Gram Games), Batuhan Celebi (CEO and co-founder of Grand Games), and Görkem Turk (founder of Laton Ventures) shares their thoughts on what makes the Turkish gaming ecosystem unique, the importance of data-driven design, and how to maintain company culture while scaling.

THE HYBRIDCASUAL PLAYBOOK: https://metahybridcasualplaybook.splashthat.com/

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Welcoming Guests

00:30 Success Stories and Achievements

03:31 Challenges and Strategies in Game Development

09:14 Company Culture and Hiring Practices

17:47 Scaling Companies and Future Prospects

21:14 Insights on the Turkish Gaming Ecosystem

31:07 Balancing Creativity and Data-Driven Decisions

44:46 Balancing Internal and External Motivations

45:56 Early Days and Scaling Merge Dragons

47:25 The Impact of External Validation

49:29 Cultural Differences in Handling Failure

53:20 Challenges in the Turkish Gaming Industry

01:07:32 The Importance of Mentorship and Partnerships

01:24:22 Future of the Turkish Gaming Ecosystem

01:30:43 Conclusion and Community Engagement