Deconstructor of Fun

Join us for a Whiskey Tasting at Gamescom:

https://event.appsflyer.com/gamescomwwwtasting/DOF 

The Californians are out and it’s two-and-a half-Europeans running the show! Instead of talking about the ongoing European Football Championship or the election results in France and the UK, the trio will dive into Nintendo’s AI avoidance, hybridcasual puzzle games, and Squad Busters. We will also address what Netflix told us and debate 4-day work weeks…

Hosts: Laura Taranto, Phillip Black, Mishka Katkoff

Join host Mishka Katkoff on the Deconstructor of Fun podcast as he talks with Solsten founders Joe Schaeppi and Bastian Bergmann. They discuss the latest gaming industry trends, the importance of change management, and the critical role of audience resonance. Learn how AI enhances studio efficiency, the value of a measured approach, and how Solsten uses psychological data to improve user experiences, along with insights from unique data sets.

00:00 Introduction

01:08 Market Overview and Challenges

06:44 Attention and Engagement in Gaming

12:29 Marketing and Brand Positioning

32:05 The Role of IP in Gaming

39:39 Fail Fast Mythology

44:36 Web3 Gaming Revolution

46:19 Marketing and Game Development Synergy

49:41 The Lean Startup Method in Gaming

57:52 AI and Efficiency in Game Development

01:20:30 New Revenue Models in Gaming

01:23:53 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

So much news, and so little time!

The crew discusses the acquisition of Singularity 6 and how it's one of the first superfunded star-studded studios that burned all the capital raised only to be acquired at a micenut valuation.

We discuss Netflix Games' latest spin on how all is great despite the head of games leaving the organization and replacement still to be announced.

And we cap the episode off with Amazon Games' strategy debate.

your hosts: Jen Donahoe, Eric Kress, Phillip Black and Michail Katkoff

Industry's leading newsletter: www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe

Join host Michail Katkoff on the Deconstructor of Fun podcast as he delves into the remarkable career journey of Kieran Donovan, founder of k-ID. Explore how Kieran transitioned from a screenwriter to a lawyer and then to a successful startup founder, raising $51 million in just 9 months.

With Miska discovering the true meaning of Tinto Verano, the crew convenes to celebrate Eric’s promotion to senior consultant. Meanwhile, Jen reminds us that Rocket League isn’t a real football game, and Eric finally finds a VC investment with scale. Phil stares down Fortnite numbers while Laura reminds us Switch is the train that keeps chugging. Plus, anime girl horse racing.

00:00 Intro
03:05 Shills
08:39 Apple's Legal Troubles with the EUDMA
12:52 FIFA and Rocket League Partnership
15:01 Investments and M&A
26:47 Executive Departures and Speculations
33:22 Tango Closure Mystery
34:21 Dungeon Fighter's Mobile Success
36:10 New Games
47:46 Nintendo Direct Highlights
57:32 Epic's Mobile Strategy and Fortnite's Future

Sensor Tower State of Gaming 2024

Data.ai Mobile App Market Forecast 2030

www.data.ai/en/go/mobile-app-market-forecast/

Don't miss out on this in-depth discussion — subscribe to the Deconstructor of Fun Podcast and newsletter for more expert insights.

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In this episode, Lexi Sydow, Director of Corporate Marketing and Insights at Sensor Tower, unleashes her mobile gaming market insights. She covers significant trends in mobile gaming and marketing, app vs game dynamics, ad spending on TikTok and YouTube, regional differences, IP collaborations, and the future of subscription gaming. Gain valuable insights on market normalization post-COVID and ATT changes, and learn about the trajectory of apps surpassing gaming revenues.

00:00 Introduction

02:58 Mobile Gaming Market Trends

07:26 Regional Differences in Mobile Gaming

11:23 Impact of ATT and Post-COVID Market

21:38 Subscription Gaming: Netflix and Apple Arcade

25:48 Top Games and Publishers

28:56 Marketing Trends in Mobile Gaming

31:01 UGC Ads and Community Engagement

31:21 Monopoly Go's Strategic Community Targeting

34:53 The Power of Social Media Platforms in Gaming Ads

36:27 The Rise of IP and Brand Integration in Games

39:41 Transmedia Trends 

44:11 Apps vs. Games

58:42 Marketing Predictions 

01:04:50 Final Thoughts

They say a week without TWIG is like a beach without sand. Well, it seems like there's sand in Squad Busters' growth engine. The game had the most bombastic launch of any Supercell game and is now experiencing the fastest fall as well. The crew analyzes early numbers and potential reasons behind the rapid decline.

We also talk about Netflix Games, which seems to have ended its honeymoon period and is now having a come-to-Jesus moment after big investments and not-so-big returns.

your hosts: Mishka Katkoff, Eric Kress, Jen Donahoe and Phillip Black

The Deconstructor of Fun Newsletter:

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Klang Games out of Berlin has raised 77M over 6 funding rounds from reputable investors like Supercell, LVP, North Zone, and Makers Fund. 

The company was established in 2013, 11 years ago. They haven’t shipped the game they have been raising against. So they can’t have any scalable objective data to show they are heading in the right direction. 

And despite all of this, they are somehow able to raise consecutive rounds of tens of millions. Year after year! 

In this episode, we got Klang co-founders talking about their journey thus far and me trying to figure out how in the hell they are able to get funded for their never-ending story. 

Huge thanks to co-founders Mundi Vondi and Odder Magnusson for coming on the podcast. I wish their game, when or if it eventually comes out, much success. 

Trigger warning: if you’re a founder struggling to raise funding despite doing every little thing that VCs requested and showing promising early KPIs, this podcast may enrage you.

In this week's show, the crew dives into Voodoo's acquisition of BeReal and the Sandbox's 20M convertible note. With all the events taking place the crew discusses Xbox Showcase, Ubisoft Forward, and the Summer Game Fest.

With Phil out and Miska in Spain, this is the first Nordic-free episode in a year.

hosts: Jennifer Donahoe, Laura Taranto, Erick Kress, and Mishka Katkoff

sponsors: Xsolla, Heroic Labs, AppsFlyer and Sensor Tower

Gerard Miles (www.linkedin.com/in/gerard-miles) is a veteran executive headhunter, who shares his extensive 15-year journey with a special focus on the gaming industry over the past decade. 

We explore Gerard’s founding of Mission One (www.missionone.io), a company dedicated to sourcing top-tier executives globally, and delve into the significance of executive search in a rapidly expanding industry. 

Gain valuable insights into the complexities of hiring gaming executives, cultural integration, and the exclusive value of knowing both the industry and its people. 

Discover the challenges of headhunting for key roles, the importance of leadership, communication, and strategic understanding, and how to build long-term relationships in this high-stakes world. 

We also tackle diversity, cultural fit, and common hiring pitfalls, offering practical advice for professionals aiming to navigate executive careers in the dynamic gaming sector.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview

02:31 Gerard's Journey into Gaming Recruitment

06:16 Executive Search Process

13:52 Challenges in Attracting Top Talent

29:50 Qualities of Exceptional Executives

45:31 Understanding Client Culture

46:39 Soft Signals in Candidate Assessment

51:13 The Importance of Diversity in Hiring

58:16 Common Mistakes Executives Make

01:02:07 Community Questions: Industry Insights

01:07:17 How to Get Noticed by Headhunters

01:10:07 Red Flags in Executive Hires

01:13:24 Big vs. Small Companies: Executive Hiring