Hey there! Welcome to Games & Names podcast, a place where we casually chat about the gaming industry with a hint of magic.

In this episode, we're talking about keeping mobile games successful in the long run. How to be on top for a decade or even more? What is the secret sauce of adopting and staying the same altogether? How to work with IPs like Disney and National Geographic? And how to maintain a performing game for years with LiveOps? Together with Dmitry Bobrov, CEO of ZiMAD who has been managing the company for more than 10 years, we're discussing these and much more!

Episode's crew: ⁠Stan Minasov, Dmitry Bobrov

Don't forget to subscribe, like, and share this episode with your friends, colleagues, friends, and pets. Especially pets!

In this episode, we talk about:

- how to keep your game successful for 10 years or more;

- how to partner with giant IPs like Disney, Marvel or NatGeo - and make it beneficial for everyone;

- what’s the secret of maintaining LiveOps for a decade;

- should you adapt to the industry trends or set them yourself;

- how to increase your chances of success when launching a new game

We also share a bunch of game recommendations! Stay tuned for the next episodes. Good luck and have fun :)

YouTube (if you want to see us!): https://youtu.be/xHLyXJZIZQI

Please share feedback and comments - [email protected]

Hey there! Welcome to Games & Names podcast, a place where we casually chat about the gaming industry with a hint of magic.

In this episode, we're talking about LiveOps and how to cook it the best way. How to run a successful LiveOps? What are the main challenges and pitfalls you should be aware of? What to do, when players know your game better than you do? And what is the secret sauce of maintaining a performing game for years? Together with Vikas Menon, executive producer with almost 12 years of experience at Zynga, we're discussing the ins and outs of LiveOps!

Episode's crew: ⁠Stan Minasov, Vikas Menon

Don't forget to subscribe, like, and share this episode with your friends, colleagues, friends, and pets. Especially pets!

In this episode, we talk about:

• why LiveOps in 2024 is more important than ever (spoiler - because it's extremely difficult to launch a new game!);
• what is LiveOps and how to define it;
• how LiveOps approaches evolved along the industry evolution;
• what is Zynga approach to running LiveOps;
• how to boost game's performance through competitors' LiveOps analysis;
• main challenges and pitfalls when operating a successful title;

We also share a bunch of game recommendations with fresh releases of this year! Stay tuned for the next episodes. Good luck and have fun :)

YouTube (if you want to see us!): https://youtu.be/TDJbikbzK6c

Please share feedback and comments - [email protected]

Hey there! Welcome to Games & Names podcast, a place where we casually chat about the gaming industry with a hint of magic.

In the last episode of this season, we're summing up the year and looking back at what happened to the industry in 2023. How did the year unfold, especially compared to turbulent 2022? What were the main trends and shocking news? How did both companies and investors feel themselves?

Together with Anton Gorodetsky, Head of Industry Relations at My.Games, and Dmitriy Byshonkov, Senior Business Development Manager at My.Games, we're reviewing the year's highlights!

Episode's crew: ⁠Stan Minasov, Jesse Kroon, Anton Gorodetsky, Dmitriy Byshonkov

Don't forget to subscribe, like, and share this episode with your friends, colleagues, friends, and pets. Especially pets!

In this episode, we talk about:

• what are the main trends of 2023;
• why mobile game industry decline continues;
• the terrifying success rate of casual games - less than 0,5%! - and what it means for investors;
• industry layoffs, the obvious elephant in the room, and how to treat it;
• the main takeaways, both for developers and investors.

We also share a bunch of game recommendations with fresh releases of this year! Stay tuned for the next episodes. Good luck and have fun :)

YouTube (if you want to see us!): https://youtu.be/twomdE_zREY

Please share feedback and comments - [email protected]

Hey there! Welcome to Games & Names podcast, a place where we casually chat about the gaming industry with a hint of magic.

In the seventh episode, we discuss the topic that is often omitted but raises a lot of questions – legal issues in gamedev. Can game mechanics be patented? Is it possible to sue over a copycat of your game? Why do companies sometimes sue not only the developers but also stores like the AppStore and Google Play? Tune in to know more!

Episode's crew: ⁠Stan Minasov, Jesse Kroon, Alina Davletshina, Alexandra Kurdyumova

Don't forget to subscribe, like, and share this episode with your friends, colleagues, friends, and pets. Especially pets!

In this episode, we talk about:

• what to do when your game was completely copied;
• can you protect a hypercasual mechanic;
• is it possible to patent a game idea and how it should be done;
• what necessary legal steps should a fresh gaming company do;
• who are patent trolls and why big corporations fear them;
• Nintendo has 8,000+ patents and thousands of lawyers - what for?

We also share a bunch of game recommendations based on... choices! Stay tuned for the next episodes. Good luck and have fun :)

YouTube (if you want to see us!): https://youtu.be/jUpU-HiRFD4 Please share feedback and comments - [email protected]

Hey there! Welcome to Games & Names podcast, a place where we casually chat about the gaming industry with a hint of magic.

In the sixth episode, we discuss the hottest talk of the town - AI tools in game development. How can they be used? What are the limitations one should consider? How to boost your marketing and ASO with AI? Together with Thomas Kriebernegg, founder of AppRadar, we answer that and much more in this episode!

Episode's crew: ⁠Stan Minasov⁠, ⁠Jesse Kroon⁠, ⁠Thomas Kriebernegg⁠

Don't forget to subscribe, like, and share this episode with your friends, colleagues, friends, and pets. Especially pets!

In this episode, we talk about:

• how to boost your ASO with AI and why ChatGPT is your tool-to-go;
• how to use ChatGPT to analyze TikTok trends and come up with game ideas;
• why AI should be approached as an assistant and not as a solution;
• what are the limitations of AI-based tools;
• tips and tricks for better prompt engineering;

We also share a bunch of game recommendations based on the AI! Stay tuned for the next episodes. Good luck and have fun :)

YouTube (if you want to see us!): https://youtu.be/H6LRIUX3j2U

Please share feedback and comments - [email protected]

Hey there! Welcome to the Games & Names podcast, a place where we casually chat about the gaming industry with a hint of magic.

In the fifth episode, we talk not with one but two guests — Nikita Tolokonnikov, Product Director at Tripledot, and Vicent Boned Riera, Data Analyst at Supercell. Why do big companies struggle with creating new hits? Is it easier for a big company or a small studio to make the next big thing? What can we define as a hit, to start with? And what do you need to create one? That and much more we try to answer in this episode!

Episode's crew: ⁠Stan Minasov, Jesse Kroon, Nikita Tolokonnikov, Vicent Boned Riera

Don't forget to subscribe, like, and share this episode with your friends, colleagues, friends, and pets. Especially pets!

In this episode, we talk about:

- why big companies struggle with creating new hits;- how already successful games and high standards damage game production and creativity;

- the definition of a 'hit' and how these criteria changed in Supercell along the way;

- what are the crucial things for a game to be successful and why risk aversion stands in the way of it;

- why it's almost impossible to emulate a small studio's benefits in a big corporation;

- why Clash Mini and Floodrush (already discontinued) unlikely will become the next Supercell hit

We also share a bunch of game recommendations that we loved recently, including the magnificent Disco Elysium! Stay tuned for the next episodes. Good luck and have fun :)

YouTube (if you want to see us!): https://youtu.be/DqLpbtT4XbU

Please share feedback and comments - [email protected]

• what it takes to make a merge game and why company size doesn’t really matter;
• how Merge Inn was made in 2 weeks and why animal characters were a risky bet;
• 3 approaches to launching a new game in the casual (and merge!) market;
• why Merge Mansion ended up so successful (UA team and data) and how economy PhDs can always find a job in gamedev;
• how to treat live-ops mini-games as hyper casual from a market perspective;
• what is the main problem of merge games right now and how social features help to solve it;
• how Original Games succeeded a hybrid monetization and came to 50/50 split

Hey there! Welcome to Games & Names podcast, a place where we casually chat about the gaming industry with a hint of magic. In the third episode, we talk with the head of publishing at Voodoo, Thibault de Vésinne-Larüe, about hybrid games and Voodoo's pivot to it. What are they? Why is there so much talk about them? What is the recipe for creating a successful hybrid game? And why Voodoo decided to go full-on in that direction? Tune in to know more!Episode's crew: Stan Minasov, Jesse Kroon, Thibault de Vésinne-LarüeDon't forget to subscribe, like, and share this episode with your friends, colleagues, friends, and pets. Especially pets!In this episode, we talk about:- what are hybrid games and how they are different from hyper casual; - what’s with all the hybrid fever going on; - how to pivot an existing game to a hybrid system;- how Voodoo is making more than 100$ million dollars on hybrid games;- what metrics to look for when searching for successful core gameplay;- how Voodoo was changed throughout its history and is changing now;- what are the main risks for Voodoo’s future as a company and businessWe also share a bunch of game recommendations that we loved recently and discuss how Hideo Kojima is a genius after all these years! Stay tuned for the next episodes. Good luck and have fun :)Also, check this episode on YouTube to see us:https://youtu.be/bo3o7Bx5yNEPlease share feedback and comments - [email protected]

Hey there! Welcome to Games & Names podcast, a place where we casually chat about the gaming industry with a hint of magic. In the second episode, we introduce our favorite co-host, Jesse Kroon, and talk about mobile game clones. What are they? Why are they made? What are the most common mistakes? And what is the recipe for a successful clone, if there can be one? Tune in to know more!

Episode's crew: ⁠⁠Stan Minasov⁠, ⁠Jesse Kroon⁠

Don't forget to subscribe, like, and share this episode with your friends, colleagues, friends, and pets. Especially pets!

In this episode, we talk about:

- what are the main approaches to cloning mobile games;- how can we set apart ‘dishonest copying’ and ‘inspiration’;

- is it as simple to make a clone game as it seems (spoiler — not at all!);

- what are the mistakes developers make when copying successful games;

- how to understand what the players lack in already existing games;

- what is the recipe for a successful clone;

- which game cloned not just one but TWO core gameplays at the same time

We also share a bunch of game recommendations that we loved recently and discuss what is the most successful mobile clone of The Legend of Zelda! Stay tuned for the next episodes. Good luck and have fun :)

YouTube (if you want to see us!): https://youtu.be/pXqGdM_RpSU

Please share feedback and comments - [email protected]

Hey there! Welcome to Games & Names podcast, a place where we casually chat about gaming industry with a hint of magic. For the first episode, we've teamed up with Niko Partners to explore mobile game genres set to beat the industry decline – both on Western and Eastern markets. What are they? How to track them? And how to use them to your advantage? Tune in to know more!

Episode's crew: ⁠Stan Minasov⁠, ⁠Daniel Ahmad⁠, ⁠Kirill Vaganov⁠

Don't forget to subscribe, like, and share this episode with your friends, colleagues, friends, and pets. Especially pets!

In this episode, we talk about:

- which mobile genres have been growing (doubling even!) despite the overall industry decline;

- what are the main trends both for Western and Eastern game markets – and what it means for developers;

- who is the next possible 'match-3' leviathan genre contender;

- how Habby created a whole niche of its own and what is so different about Survivor.io! clones;

- who is the main competitor of Hypercasual genre (surprising spoiler – it's an app, not a game!);

- why you crucially need a strong IP to enter Core games market nowadays;

- the perfect storm that has happened to mobile shooters;

We also share a bunch of game recommendations that we loved recently and discuss a bit about why old-school Resident Evil is so different from modern games! Stay tuned for the next episodes. Good luck and have fun :)

YouTube (if you want to see us!): https://youtu.be/VyjHV2exfLQ

Please share feedback and comments - [email protected]