The Hybridcasual Playbook

In this episode of the Deconstructor of Fun podcast, Mishka Katkoff interviews Vincent Fevrier, CMO of Tap Nation, discussing the evolution of hybrid casual games and the unique position of French publishers in the gaming industry.

They explore Tap Nation's growth from a startup to a mid-size publisher, the challenges of transitioning from hypercasual to hybrid casual, and the importance of user acquisition and marketing strategies.

The conversation also delves into acquisition strategies, building internal capabilities for live operations, and the future outlook for the gaming industry.

Chapters

00:00 The Rise of Hypercasual Gaming in France

02:52 Tap Nation's Evolution: From Hypercasual to Hybrid Casual

06:04 Navigating Challenges in a Post-COVID Gaming Landscape

08:54 Marketing Strategies: LTV vs. CAC in Hybrid Casual

12:04 Acquisition Strategies: Building a Portfolio of Games

14:56 Operational Changes: Adapting to Hybrid Casual Dynamics

17:51 Building Internal Capabilities for Game Development

21:00 The Future of Tap Nation: Diversifying Game Types

24:07 Competing in a Crowded Market: Finding Unique Assets

32:25 The Competitive Landscape of Game Publishing

35:11 Building Relationships in the Gaming Industry

39:11 Navigating Acquisitions and Partnerships

44:17 The Evolution of Tapnation and Its Strategies

50:43 Industry Outlook: Challenges and Opportunities

keywords

hypercasual, hybrid casual, gaming industry, Tap Nation, ad tech, game development, user acquisition, monetization strategies, French gaming market, game publishing, game publishing, acquisitions, industry trends, mobile gaming, Tapnation, partnerships, user acquisition, market growth, gaming industry, competitive landscape

Michail Katkoff and Gerard Miles dive into the nuances of executive headhunting, exploring the role of headhunters, pathways to the C-suite, and the significance of personal branding and mentorship in career growth. They share insights on how candidates can position themselves for leadership roles and embrace strategic thinking to thrive in a competitive hiring landscape.

The discussion also highlights common mistakes in the executive search process, the importance of empathy in interviews, and the value of building genuine relationships. They address the challenges and advantages of international relocation, as well as the growing role of AI in hiring, stressing the need for candidates to be prepared and deeply engaged throughout the process.

00:00 Introduction to Executive Headhunting

01:00 Understanding the Role of an Executive Headhunter

10:41 Navigating the C-Suite: Pathways to Leadership

20:36 Building Your Personal Brand for Executive Roles

27:32 The Importance of Mentorship in Career Growth

37:59 Common Mistakes in Executive Search

44:40 Empathy in the Interview Process

51:40 Building Relationships in Recruitment

57:38 Challenges and Benefits of International Relocation

01:10:48 The Rise of AI in Executive Hiring

keywords: executive headhunting, C-suite, leadership, personal brand, mentorship, career growth, talent acquisition, strategic thinking, networking, hiring process, executive search, interview preparation, candidate experience, recruitment process, international relocation, AI in hiring, empathy in interviews, building relationships, hiring mistakes, talent acquisition

No agenda? No problem! Ethan returns from UEFN dormancy to break some exciting news. Jen sells a BMW, while Eric tries to sell a Roblox correction. The Puzzle Queen herself ascends to browbeat Royale Kingdom into better KPIs, and Phil shares pictures of his cat in a banana. 

01:17 Holiday Reflections and Family Updates
03:03 Good News, Bad News
04:01 Parenting Challenges and Teenage Years
06:23 Podcast Banter and Personal Stories
08:29 Cat Updates and Car Stories
12:50 Seattle Winter and Personal Updates
14:22 Startup Exit and GameFam
15:09 Roblox and UEFN Discussion
29:03 The Evolution of Fortnite's Algorithm
29:17 Challenges with Limited Analytics
30:27 Licensed Content and Revenue Sharing
31:45 The Future of Survival Crafting Games
33:21 Comparing Royal Kingdom and Royal Match
35:13 Analyzing Game Revenue Trends
37:06 Predictions for 2025 Gaming Trends
39:22 Golden Twig Awards Recap
53:21 Handheld Gaming Innovations
55:25 Holiday Wishes and Final Thoughts

In this episode, David Nelson co-Founder of Magnetic and a true maverick of our industry, dives deep into the nuances of mobile gaming innovation.

David discusses his journey through King, including the formation and successes of the experimentation group. As the industry transforms, he explains the importance of understanding your audience, the pitfalls of following trends blindly, and the necessity of building a strong company strategy. David also offers insights on how to navigate organizational changes and cultivate a culture of constructive conflict.

Finally, get a sneak peek into what Magnetic is working on and its approach to creating the next big hit in mobile gaming.

01:03 David Nelson's Background and Identity

04:38 Career at King and Experimentation Group

06:18 Starting a New Company and Investor Insights

09:44 Importance of Honest Feedback and Alignment

11:59 Challenges and Strategies in Game Development

24:31 The Role of Conflict in Meetings

33:07 The Debate Over Small Games

34:04 Testing and Proving Concepts

38:04 Framework for High-Impact Tests

40:35 Challenges of Creative Work

43:33 Experimentation Group Achievements

49:59 Navigating Corporate Culture

55:58 Building Trust and Social Capital

01:03:46 Advice for Driving Change

01:12:21 Insights on Mobile Game Industry

01:35:23 Final Thoughts and Reflections

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