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two & a half gamers
two & a half gamers episodes
- 💥 Creative THEFT era has begun. Direct 1:1 stolen ads perform 4-5x better. Would you run them?
This month’s creative trends episode exposes the real state of mobile UA:
We’ve officially entered the Era of Creative Theft 2.0 - not “heavily inspired,” but direct 1:1 stolen ads, chopped end cards, mirrored clips, watermarks still visible… and nobody cares because they convert 4-5× better.
Three mega-trends emerge:
1) The “Stolen but Performing” Era
• Social casino, idle, 4X… everyone is lifting creatives from other genres.
• Teams aren’t even recreating the concept - they’re copying the whole video, trimming it, mirroring it, or leaving the watermark.
• Networks don’t police it, platforms don’t care, and small studios can’t compete with the CPI gap.
2) The Golden Age of ASMR / Wood / Cleaning Satisfiers
• The “Idle Lumber” effect: anything with chopping, slicing, scrubbing, wood, logs, dust → crushing low CPI.
3) The King Shot → Royal Kingdom → Everyone Else Pipeline
• King Shot’s onboarding + mass battle + RTS-style transitions have reshaped the entire industry’s ads.
• Royal Kingdom straight-up used the formula for a match-3 playable.
• 4X games (Last War, Last Z, Total Battle) are adopting the mass-battle → puzzle fusion.
Key takeaway
The best-performing creatives aren’t the most original - they’re the most optimized. The industry now rewards speed, iteration, theft-based inspiration, and cross-genre pattern-breaking above everything else.
Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop
--------------------------------------
PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.
Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/
They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.
- Scale fast
- Keep your shares
- Drawdown only as needed
- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you
+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors
---------------------------------------
For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.
Our sponsor FastSpring:
Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 years
They power top mobile publishers around the world
Launch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.
---------------------------------------
This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.
Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric
Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg
Chapters
00:00 — Hook: The “Creative Theft Era” has arrived
01:30 — Missing a month & why trends feel different now
03:10 — ASMR cleaning & wood: why the motif is everywhere
05:20 — Exposed: 1:1 stolen creatives (no end cards, mirrored, trimmed)
08:40 — Why theft works: CPI vs LTV beats morals
11:50 — The ecosystem problem: no creative police, no consequences
14:30 — New industry rule: cross-genre stealing = normal
17:40 — King Shot → Royal Kingdom → Everyone copy
30:10 — The future: watermark creatives, mirror hacks, and AI hooks
43:00 — Wrap-up: where the creative meta goes next
---------------------------------------
Matej Lancaric
User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant
https://lancaric.me
Felix Braberg
Ad monetization consultant
https://www.felixbraberg.com
Jakub Remiar
Game design consultant
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar
Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!
Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!
Please share feedback and comments - [email protected]
45 min - Supercell's New "BOAT GAME" - First Impressions. Cool Idea or Dead on Arrival?
We break down Supercell’s new twin-stick “boat game” (second alpha): a PvE → PvPvE loop where we farm island quests, haul up to three chests on a fast boat, and can flip a “go bad” switch to steal other players’ chests - triggering bounties and protections for non-PK players (revenge respawns).
What works
Fast, readable boating and clear risk/reward moments when we carry 2–3 chests.
A theft moment (“go bad”) that can create highlight-reel clips for UA if tuned right.
What doesn’t (yet)
Flat progression (gear score + light passives/chips) limits long-term goals.
Ultra-light economy and shaky matchmaking make the loop feel aimless/punishing.
Audience fit feels unclear (Gen-Z, Fortnite-lite vibe vs. strategy/4X loyalists).
Market lens
Supercell’s portfolio still leans on legacy hits; competitors with genre focus + aggressive UA (e.g., strategy/4X) scale more reliably.
Without deeper economies, UA-product co-design, and a clearer genre thesis, this boat may never scale past alpha.
Key takeaway
Depth beats novelty. We need deeper economy + UA-ready moments or this won’t sail beyond alpha.
Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop
--------------------------------------
PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.
Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/
They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.
- Scale fast
- Keep your shares
- Drawdown only as needed
- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you
+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors
---------------------------------------
For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.
Our sponsor FastSpring:
Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 years
They power top mobile publishers around the world
Launch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.
---------------------------------------
This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.
Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric
Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg
Chapters
00:00 Why this alpha matters
01:10 Core loop—quests → 3 chests → extract
05:00 Twin-stick feel & aiming on mobile
07:40 Progression—gear score, passives, chips
10:50 “Go bad” theft, bounties, anti-grief
15:30 Matchmaking & PvE→PvPvE tension
19:10 Economy depth vs. moment-to-moment fun
24:20 Portfolio & market reality checks
30:30 UA-product integration: what creatives need
36:30 What would actually ship (templates & seasons)
43:00 Verdict & 2025 predictions
---------------------------------------
Matej Lancaric
User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant
https://lancaric.me
Felix Braberg
Ad monetization consultant
https://www.felixbraberg.com
Jakub Remiar
Game design consultant
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar
---------------------------------------
Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!
Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!
Please share feedback and comments - [email protected]
---------------------------------------
If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej Lancaric
46 min - Why are sticker albums taking over? From Royal Match to Mid-Core by Jakub Remiar
Today, Jakub Remiar breaks down the Scopely-style “sticker album” collectible mechanic—popularized at scale by Monopoly Go (global April 2023)—and why it’s sweeping casual and now encroaching on mid-core. Hallmarks: time-limited albums, gacha booster packs, duplicate sinks → premium packs, and peer trading that drives massive social engagement (e.g., official trading groups). It adds perceived depth to shallow economies (soft currency + energy) without adding gameplay complexity, resets cleanly by season, and monetizes whales via “double bottom” albums (a second, higher-reward album with ~50% more rewards and exclusive cosmetics). Implementations span Royal Match (135 cards/≈60 days), Travel Town (162), Monopoly Go (~200), and mid-core experiments like Whiteout Survival and Acecraft (smaller sets, licensed collabs).
The open questions: optimal card counts, season length, and how mid-core will standardize the pattern.
What you’ll learn
How the Scopely/Monopoly Go sticker album works: time-limited albums, gacha packs, duplicate exchanges, trading, seasonal resets, and whale “double albums.”
Why this mechanic adds depth to shallow economies and boosts engagement, retention, and monetization—with examples from Royal Match, Travel Town, Monopoly Go and mid-core tests (Whiteout Survival, Acecraft).
Practical knobs: card counts (≈135–200), season length (30–60 days), guaranteed-missing pack, and social/trading ops.
Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop
--------------------------------------
PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.
Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/
They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.
- Scale fast
- Keep your shares
- Drawdown only as needed
- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you
+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors
Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg
Chapters
00:00 — Cold open & why albums exploded
01:20 — The template: pages, rarities, grand prize, timebox
03:45 — Rewards & pressure: limited window, page bonuses, grand prize
06:10 — Gacha everywhere: pack sources & duplicate sink design
08:30 — Social engine: trading loops (in-clan & community)
10:20 — Seasonal resets & cosmetics: depth without UX bloat
12:10 — “Double/Grand Album” for whales (~50% more rewards)
14:00 — Case studies: Monopoly GO, Royal Match, Travel Town
17:00 — Mid-core spillover: Whiteout Survival, Acecraft experiments
19:00 — Tuning knobs: card counts (≈135–200), 30–60 day seasons, guarantees
20:30 — Actionable checklist & pitfalls
---------------------------------------
Matej Lancaric
User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant
https://lancaric.me
Felix Braberg
Ad monetization consultant
https://www.felixbraberg.com
Jakub Remiar
Game design consultant
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar
---------------------------------------
Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!
Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!
Please share feedback and comments - [email protected]
---------------------------------------
If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej Lancaric
Do you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
21 min - Legend of Elements Review: Legend of Mushroom 2.0, but 3D. Did it work?
Legend of Elements is a 3D idle RPG from the LoM lineage. Core fantasy is “numbers go up,” delivered via auto-progress + layered upgrades, then monetized through stacked gachas and step offers.
Ads exist but are effectively a decoy; there isn’t even a “remove ads” pack.
UA is ~98% Google (YouTube + AdWords) with AI/UGC and “fake gameplay” motifs.
Systems & sinks (what actually drives playtime/spend)
• Two gachas: character (spirits) and skill, with very low SSR rates; also ad-summon entries (“2 free summons for an ad”).
• “Online chest”: ~5x/day random gacha ticks, granted every ~5 minutes online.
• 3–4 battle passes active during launch window; heavy event stack and daily quests.
• Notification-baiting tactic: tiny “free” rewards (e.g., 5 soft-currency) inside every shop/offer to create badge-clearing behavior and force shop opens.
Monetization architecture (how money happens)
• Ads are a decoy to lift IAP; no VIP/no-ads pack to sell the removal.
• Primary pay drivers: gachas + step offers (offer ladders surfaced early/often).
• Panel consensus: at ~$100K/day IAP scale, there’s little incentive to optimize ads.
UA mix & creatives (why it scales on Google)
• ~98% of impressions from YouTube + AdWords; almost nothing elsewhere.
• Creative pillars: AI faces/VO, UGC narratives, meme remakes, Genshin/Diablo-style “fake gameplay.”
• Uses creator placements (e.g., known Supercell YouTubers featured as ad talent).
Servers & competitive pressure (why shard)
• Thousands of small shards opened continuously; servers “die,” then merge, resetting the race.
• Keep leaderboards small so winning feels plausible; too many whales per shard depresses motivation.
Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop
--------------------------------------
PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.
Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/
They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.
- Scale fast
- Keep your shares
- Drawdown only as needed
- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you
+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors
For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.
Our sponsor FastSpring:
Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 years
They power top mobile publishers around the world
Launch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.
With Playablemaker, you can finally create playable and interactive ads
NO-CODE + ON-BUDGET + LIGHTNING FAST
https://playablemaker.com/25gamers
This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.
Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric
Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg
00:00 intro
00:48 Positioning & lineage
04:40 Core loop & systems
10:10 Monetization architecture
14:40 Live-ops cadence
18:00 UA strategy (98% Google)
33:30 Creatives that convert
41:20 Verdict & KPI checklist
Matej Lancaric
User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant
https://lancaric.me
Felix Braberg
Ad monetization consultant
https://www.felixbraberg.com
Jakub Remiar
Game design consultant
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar
Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!
Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!
Please share feedback and comments - [email protected]
45 min - Chaos Zero Nightmare Review: 20 Systems in 7 Minutes & players love It
Chaos Zero Nightmare is the spiciest deck-builder gacha of 2025! Lovecraft vibes, anime polish, Slay-the-Spire runs, Honkai-style meta, and launch numbers that slap: ~$500K/day, peak ~$800K/day, ~$8M in 2 weeks.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
Core loop: deck thinning, evolving cards, run sequencing
Meta design: pity/duplicates, banner cadence, progression layers
Why community is more than broad UA (Discord ≈50k, Reddit ≈120k)
Creative strategy for high-LTV audiences (what to show, what to skip)
Monetization & live-ops beats that actually move revenue
KEY TAKEAWAY
For hardcore, high-LTV audiences, authentic, system-forward storytelling + community momentum beats shortcut UA tactics. Frame content around runs, banners, and boss mastery moments; use paid to amplify the community, not replace it.
Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop
--------------------------------------
PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.
Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/
They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.
- Scale fast
- Keep your shares
- Drawdown only as needed
- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you
+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors
---------------------------------------
For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.
Our sponsor FastSpring:
Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 years
They power top mobile publishers around the world
Launch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.
---------------------------------------
This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.
Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric
Podcast:
Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg
CHAPTERS
00:00 — Cold open: “How much money?”
03:31 — What is CZN? Tone, horror-anime polish
03:43 — Design DNA: Slay the Spire / Darkest Dungeon / Honkai / “save data”
09:36 — Core loop & tactics: combos, turn order, auto-off for bosses
20:23 — Company context & positioning
22:20 — Revenue reality: ~$500K/day → ~$800K/day; ~$8M in two weeks
26:08 — UA vs Community: closed betas, brand-safe creatives, Discord/Reddit
---------------------------------------
Matej Lancaric
User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant
https://lancaric.me
Felix Braberg
Ad monetization consultant
https://www.felixbraberg.com
Jakub Remiar
Game design consultant
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar
---------------------------------------
Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!
Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!
Please share feedback and comments - [email protected]
---------------------------------------
If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej Lancaric
Do you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
33 min - 💰 8 Tips to Boost Your Q4 Ad Revenue by Felix Braberg
In this Two & a Half Gamers special, Felix Braberg breaks down how to maximize ad monetization during Black Friday weekend - the new “Q5” for mobile games.
🔥 What you’ll learn:
Why Q5 is gone (and how Black Friday replaced it)
How to tweak cooldowns, refresh rates, and ad logic
The perfect bid floor strategy for banners, interstitials, and rewarded ads
Why CMP setup and app-ads.txt files matter more than ever
The secret timing for refreshing network placements
💬 Quote:
“You don’t pray for CPMs, you prepare for them.”
Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop
--------------------------------------
PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.
Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/
They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.
- Scale fast
- Keep your shares
- Drawdown only as needed
- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you
+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors
---------------------------------------
For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.
Our sponsor FastSpring:
Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 years
They power top mobile publishers around the world
Launch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.
---------------------------------------
This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.
Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric
Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg
---------------------------------------
Matej Lancaric
User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant
https://lancaric.me
Felix Braberg
Ad monetization consultant
https://www.felixbraberg.com
Jakub Remiar
Game design consultant
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar
---------------------------------------
Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!
Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!
Please share feedback and comments - [email protected]
---------------------------------------
If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej Lancaric
Do you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
21 min - Monopoly Bingo Review: The most underrated genre in mobile gaming
Monopoly Bingo: How Hasbro turned nostalgia Into Revenue
Today, we dig into Monopoly Bingo - the latest Hasbro IP game climbing the charts.
🔥 We cover:
How Tripledot scaled Bingo to $70K/day
Why 60% of revenue comes from U.S. players
Facebook UA strategies for older demos
Collectible album systems and retention loops
Why Bingo still drives $400M/year globally
Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop
--------------------------------------
PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.
Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/
They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.
- Scale fast
- Keep your shares
- Drawdown only as needed
- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you
+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors
---------------------------------------
For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.
Our sponsor FastSpring:
Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 years
They power top mobile publishers around the world
Launch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.
---------------------------------------
This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.
Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric
Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg
00:00 – Intro
02:45 – What is Monopoly Bingo?
05:20 – Hasbro x Tripledot Ecosystem
08:15 – Bingo as a $400M Category
11:40 – Core Gameplay Breakdown
15:10 – LiveOps & Event Design
18:50 – Monetization Deep Dive
23:05 – UA Strategy: Facebook Is Still King
26:40 – Creative Strategy Breakdown
31:00 – IP Constraints & Limitations
34:30 – Performance Data Recap
37:50 – Hasbro’s Strategy Beyond Monopoly
---------------------------------------
Matej Lancaric
User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant
https://lancaric.me
Felix Braberg
Ad monetization consultant
https://www.felixbraberg.com
Jakub Remiar
Game design consultant
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar
---------------------------------------
Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!
Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!
Please share feedback and comments - [email protected]
---------------------------------------
If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej Lancaric
Do you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
39 min - 🧠 Sudoku Master Review: The 6,000-Ad War Between Hungry Studio & Miniclip
In this episode, we play Sudoku Master - the latest “numbers” hit from the makers of Block Blast.
They uncover how Hungry Studio uses 6,000 creatives, constant A/B testing, and ruthless ad optimization to dominate one of the oldest mobile genres.
🔥 What you’ll learn:
How Sudoku Master scales with 600K DAU & 50K/day ad revenue
The hidden “Sudoku War” between Miniclip and Hungry Studio
How A/B testing + creative velocity win evergreen genres
Why Hungry runs 10× more creatives than Miniclip
💬 Quote:
“Imagine testing 6,000 variations of boredom and winning.”
Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop
--------------------------------------
PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.
Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/
They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.
- Scale fast
- Keep your shares
- Drawdown only as needed
- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you
+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors
---------------------------------------
For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.
Our sponsor FastSpring:
Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 years
They power top mobile publishers around the world
Launch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.
---------------------------------------
This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.
Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric
Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg
---------------------------------------
Matej Lancaric
User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant
https://lancaric.me
Felix Braberg
Ad monetization consultant
https://www.felixbraberg.com
Jakub Remiar
Game design consultant
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar
---------------------------------------
Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!
Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!
Please share feedback and comments - [email protected]
---------------------------------------
If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej Lancaric
Do you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
36 min - Creative optimisation 101
In this solo episode, Matej Lančarič dives into the new era of creative optimization — where AI tagging, unified dashboards, and ROAS-based insights replace manual testing and spreadsheet chaos.Everyone can create ads with AI, but the REAL BOTTLENECK is knowing which ones actually work. AppsFlyer’s Creative Optimization tool analyzes millions of real-world insights to reveal what drives performance - so you can scale winners, cut wasted spend, and make smarter creative decisions.Check it out: https://www.appsflyer.com/products/creative-optimization/?utm_source=influencer&afc_source=influencer&utm_medium=referral&afc_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Marvelsnap_creative&afc_campaign=Marvelsnap_creative&utm_content=matej&afc_content=matej&utm_term=YouTube&afc_term=YouTube🔥 Topics Covered:How to unify creatives from Meta, TikTok, Google & AppLovinDetecting ad fatigue before performance tanksUnderstanding creative DNA with AI taggingROAS-based creative decisions (quality over quantity)Streamlining collaboration between UA & creative teams💬 Quote:“In UA, data is your superpower and this dashboard is your ultimate power-up.”Everyone can create ads with AI, but the REAL BOTTLENECK is knowing which ones actually work. AppsFlyer’s Creative Optimization tool analyzes millions of real-world insights to reveal what drives performance - so you can scale winners, cut wasted spend, and make smarter creative decisions.Check it out: https://www.appsflyer.com/products/creative-optimization/?utm_source=influencer&afc_source=influencer&utm_medium=referral&afc_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Marvelsnap_creative&afc_campaign=Marvelsnap_creative&utm_content=matej&afc_content=matej&utm_term=YouTube&afc_term=YouTubeGet our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Matej LancaricJoin our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.me---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - [email protected] you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej Lancaric
23 min - 🐶 X-Clash: The Fake UA funnel & Fake Ads Masterclass. How to 10x your revenues?
What happens when a Chinese studio perfects fake funnels? You get X-Clash - a 4X strategy game disguised as 5 different mini games.
🎯 We break down:
How Save the Dog became a billion-dollar hook
The evolution from X Hero → Hero Clash → X-Clash
Why 9,000 fake creatives outperform any real gameplay ad
How 4X onboarding became an interactive meme
Why the U.S. audience still buys into fake ads
💬 Quote:
“They took every fake trend from the past three years and glued it into one working monster.”
Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop
--------------------------------------
PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.
Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/
They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.
- Scale fast
- Keep your shares
- Drawdown only as needed
- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you
+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors
---------------------------------------
For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.
Our sponsor FastSpring:
Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 years
They power top mobile publishers around the world
Launch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.
---------------------------------------
This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.
Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric
Podcast:
Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Context of Gaming Trends
02:52 The Rise of Hero Clash and Fake Ads
05:41 Analyzing Revenue Trends and Game Strategies
08:48 The Launch of X-Clash and Its Potential
11:47 Gameplay Mechanics and User Engagement
14:45 The Role of Mini-Games in Player Retention
20:44 Final Thoughts on Game Development Trends
25:08 Exploring the Latest 4X Game Mechanics
29:47 Player Dynamics and New Server Strategies
32:16 Creative Marketing Strategies in Mobile Gaming
34:43 Revenue Trends and User Acquisition in Gaming
39:38 The Evolution of Game Creatives and User Engagement
---------------------------------------
Matej Lancaric
User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant
https://lancaric.me
Felix Braberg
Ad monetization consultant
https://www.felixbraberg.com
Jakub Remiar
Game design consultant
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar
---------------------------------------
Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!
Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!
Please share feedback and comments - [email protected]
---------------------------------------
If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej Lancaric
Do you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
46 min
About two & a half gamers
From the publisher's feed
This is a no BS gaming podcast. We share insights, knowledge and fun gossip relating to the topics of User Acquisition, Game Design and Ad monetisation. You will find here actionable insights in a fun…
and relaxed atmosphere. A safe space where we mimic the honesty of a 4am conference discussion. Enjoy & let us know your feedback!
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