Video Games Real Talk

To kick off Season 3 of VGRT, our host, Alexander Fernandez, discusses the world of M&A with Michael Metzger, partner at Drake Star Partners, a global media and tech investment bank.

This episode is full of insider information about M&A, earnout, exits, metaverse, and so much more. This one is especially for the start-ups, up and comers, and studios looking for guidance about these major decisions they are facing.

What you will learn:

1. Insight about a $200 billion game industry.


2. What does recent M&A activity mean to studios?


3. What is an "earnout"?


4. Is there a breaking point with M&A ?


5. How The Metaverse will impact tech money.
   And much more!

Michael Metzger is a Partner at Drake Star Partners (www.drakestar.com), a global media / tech investment bank with 100 professionals across the U.S., Europe and Asia. He advises companies on M&A and growth stage financings and leads the firm’s gaming and digital media practice.

Follow Michael on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelmmetzger

Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/VG_RealTalk

Follow Alexander on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/starveup

About Us:

Video Games Real Talk is hosted by Alexander Fernandez and Stefan Baier, games industry entrepreneurs and co-founders of Streamline Media Group. Their 20-year history of developing and supporting entertainment and enterprise video games for some of the world's best-loved franchises and brands give your hosts a wealth of experience.

Each episode shares insights from inside the industry. We cover multiple disciplines, perspectives, and expertise from across the world. You can expect candid conversations and access to insider information, trends, and forecasts from leaders and innovators in their field.

Visit our website:
https://videogamesrealtalk.com/

Interactive live events were a hit during the depths of the pandemic and it looks like they're here to stay. To understand what massive interactive live events (MILEs) are and learn how it was inevitable in the trajectory of gaming, listen as our host, Alexander Fernandez, speaks with this week's guest, Jacob Navok about the fascinating aspect of gaming and interactive content.

Jacob Navok is co-founder and CEO of Genvid Technologies, the leader in interactive streaming technology. Prior to founding Genvid, Jacob led worldwide business development and strategy at Square Enix Holdings, reporting to the CEO. He also built their cloud gaming division, Shinra Technologies, where he met many of his Genvid colleagues.

Topics Discussed:

1. Jacob's journey from Square Enix to Genvid


2. What is MILEs?


3. What TRULY is the metaverse?


4. And is Play-to-earn a ponzi scheme?

And much more!

Jacob's Twitter:
https://twitter.com/jnavok

Genvid's Twitter:
https://twitter.com/genvidtech

Visit our website:
https://videogamesrealtalk.com/

Follow Us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/VG_RealTalk

Follow Alexander on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/starveup

About Us:

Video Games Real Talk is hosted by Alexander Fernandez and Stefan Baier, games industry entrepreneurs and co-founders of Streamline Media Group. Their 20-year history of developing and supporting entertainment and enterprise video games for some of the world's best-loved franchises and brands give your hosts a wealth of experience.

Each episode shares insights from inside the industry. We cover multiple disciplines, perspectives, and expertise from across the world. You can expect candid conversations and access to insider information, trends, and forecasts from leaders and innovators in their field.

In this episode, Alexander sits down with Michael Green, a portfolio manager and chief strategist at Simplify, a new generation of options-based investment strategies built for the specific outcomes advisors demand. Michael has been a student of markets and market structure, for nearly 30 years. This conversation is a disparate compelling take on cryptocurrency, one you don't hear too often.

Topics Discussed:

1. The contrarian argument about cryptocurrency


2. Code is law--What does that mean, and is this dangerous?


3. Why should we understand economics?


4. The most fundamental asset; people

And much more!

Michael's LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-green-9a15142/

Visit our website:
https://videogamesrealtalk.com/

Follow Us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/VG_RealTalk

Follow Alexander on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/starveup

About Us:

Video Games Real Talk is hosted by Alexander Fernandez and Stefan Baier, games industry entrepreneurs and co-founders of Streamline Media Group. Their 20-year history of developing and supporting entertainment and enterprise video games for some of the world's best-loved franchises and brands give your hosts a wealth of experience.

Each episode shares insights from inside the industry. We cover multiple disciplines, perspectives, and expertise from across the world. You can expect candid conversations and access to insider information, trends, and forecasts from leaders and innovators in their field.

In this episode, Alexander interviews Kevin Reilly. He is a transactional attorney with over 15 years of experience advising clients in the video game industry.

For the past 9 years, Kevin has served as lead counsel for Sony PlayStation’s Global Third Party Relations, Third Party Productions, Developer Technology Group and Partner Marketing Alliance teams.

Topics Discussed:

1. What does a video game attorney do?


2. From pushing a mail cart to dream job


3. Why should entrepreneurs learn legal and communication skills


4. Advice to developers in the video game industry

And much more!

Kevin’s LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevingreilly

Books/ links Kevin mentioned:
https://www.amazon.com/Business-Legal-Primer-Game-Development/dp/1584504927

Mastering the Game: Business and Legal Issues for Video Game Developers:
https://www.wipo.int/publications/en/details.jsp?id=3233

Visit our website:
https://videogamesrealtalk.com/

Follow Us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/VG_RealTalk

Follow Alexander on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/starveup

About Us:

Video Games Real Talk is hosted by Alexander Fernandez and Stefan Baier, games industry entrepreneurs and co-founders of Streamline Media Group. Their 20-year history of developing and supporting entertainment and enterprise video games for some of the world's best-loved franchises and brands give your hosts a wealth of experience.

Each episode shares insights from inside the industry. We cover multiple disciplines, perspectives, and expertise from across the world. You can expect candid conversations and access to insider information, trends, and forecasts from leaders and innovators in their field.

With emerging digital environments in the metaverse, play-to-earn is spearheading new blockchain based economies. To get a better understanding of this paradigm we are lucky to have Gabby Dizon, co-founder of Yield Guild to talk about his journey and take a deep dive into the world of play-to-earn.

Gabriel Dizon is a startup entrepreneur and a 15-year veteran of the game industry in Southeast Asia. He is a founding member and former president of the Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP) and former coordinator of the IGDA Manila chapter, the co-founder of Yield Guild Games, a play-to-earn gaming guild, the co-founder and CEO of Altitude Games and chairman of Alto.io. These days, he is most excited about the various applications of blockchain for the game industry.

Topics discussed:

1. The radical idea of NFTs and play-to-earn


2. Exploitation of passion economics


3. The Philippines and play-to-earn


4. What is play-to-earn


5. The future of play-to-earn
   And much more!

Follow Gabby and Yield Guild Games on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/gabusch
https://twitter.com/YieldGuild

Visit our website:
https://videogamesrealtalk.com/

Join our community!
https://www.streamline-mediagroup.com...

Follow Us on:
Spotify - https://hubs.li/H0YZHXr0
Twitter - https://twitter.com/VG_RealTalk

Joanie Kraut is the CEO of Women in Games International (WIGI), a nonprofit organization with a mission to cultivate resources to advance economic equality and diversity in the global games industry. For over fifteen years, Joanie has operated in the tech, served as an advisor and consultant for smaller studios, startups, and nonprofits in the gaming space. She is dedicated to eliminating barriers and increasing access and opportunities for all. This week Alexander had the pleasure of hearing about her journey and learning how we can support inclusion and diversity in the video games industry.

Topics discussed:

1.What is Women in Games International (WIGI)?

1. Creating a glass ceiling and breaking through it


2. How to be confrontational


3. Actionable allyship workshop

And much more!

To Donate and to subscribe to the WIGI newsletter visit the Women In Games International Website:

https://www.getwigi.com/

Listen to the WIGI podcast on Twitch or Spotify
https://www.twitch.tv/getwigi
https://spoti.fi/30Hq0cI

Visit our website:
https://videogamesrealtalk.com/

Join our community!
https://www.streamline-mediagroup.com...

Follow Us on:
Spotify - https://hubs.li/H0YZHXr0
Twitter - https://twitter.com/VG_RealTalk

Project management is more than checking items off a list and delegating tasks. It’s about leading a team with emotional intelligence. Sapna Sudhakaran, Head Of Production at All Pixels by Streamline Studios, dives into her career path and shares valuable insight for anyone in project management and those who want to get into the video games industry.

Topics discussed:

1. Adjusting in a new environment


2. Emotional intelligence


3. Tips for an aspiring project manager


4. From project manager to head of production


5. Managing projects during a pandemic

And much more!

Visit our website:
https://videogamesrealtalk.com/

Join our community!
https://www.streamline-mediagroup.com...

Follow Us on:
Spotify - https://hubs.li/H0YZHXr0
Twitter - https://twitter.com/VG_RealTalk

About Us:

Video Games Real Talk is hosted by Alexander Fernandez and Stefan Baier, games industry entrepreneurs and co-founders of Streamline Media Group. Their 20-year history of developing and supporting entertainment and enterprise video games for some of the world's best-loved franchises and brands give your hosts a wealth of experience. Experience and knowledge they want to share.

Each episode shares insights from inside the industry. We cover multiple disciplines, perspectives, and expertise from across the world. You can expect candid conversations and access to insider information, trends, and forecasts from leaders and innovators in their field.

Find out more about Streamline Media Group:

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This week, we’re revisiting an interview our host, Alexander Fernandez, did with the Hypegeek podcast. Hypegeek is a show that discusses the culture where gaming, fashion, and music meet. In this episode, they talk about the creation of the Balenciaga video game, what it takes to get into the gaming industry, and the future of the metaverse.

Topics discussed:
The Balenciaga video game
What if you stopped saying what if?
An entrepreneur's journey
Metaverse predictions and challenges

And much more!

Listen to the Hypegeek Podcast: https://anchor.fm/hypegeek
Follow Hypegeek on Twitter: https://twitter.com/hypegeekpod

Follow Alexander on Twitter: https://twitter.com/starveup
Watch Alexander’s YouTube channel Starveup: https://www.youtube.com/c/starveup

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/StreamlineMediaGroup
Follow Video Games Real Talk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/VG_RealTalk
Video Games Real Talk website: https://videogamesrealtalk.com/

In this week's episode, Alexander sits down with public relations powerhouse, Ronjini Joshua. Ronjini is the founder of The Silver Telegram, a boutique PR firm focused on startups and crowdfunding campaigns. Join Alexander and Ronjini as they dive into a conversation about public relations, the future, and the metaverse.

Topics Discussed:

1. Ronjini’s career path from tech boom to video games


2. Second life - the first metaverse


3. Public relations and the pandemic


4. The future of brands in the metaverse

And much more!

Ronjini’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronjinim/
Follow Ronjini on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ronjini

The Silver Telegram:
http://www.thesilvertelegram.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/thesilvertelegram

Follow Alexander on Twitter: https://twitter.com/starveup
Watch Alexander’s YouTube channel Starveup: https://www.youtube.com/c/starveup

Follow Video Games Real Talk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/VG_RealTalk
Video Games Real Talk website: https://videogamesrealtalk.com/

In this week's episode, we’re revisiting The Interview with Luis Guzman and Casper Martinez! Alexander Fernandez, the host of Video Games Real Talk, was a guest on The Luis Guzman and Casper Show to talk about the launch of Bake ‘n Switch, Latino’s in the game development and technology world, and a very special guest drops in!

Topics Discussed:

1. Projects Alexander’s company  has worked on.


2. The launch of Bake ‘n Switch for Nintendo Switch.


3. How we can get more Latino’s in the game industry.


4. Alexander’s YouTube channel, Starveup.


5. A special guest makes an appearance.
   And much more!

Listen to The Luis Guzman and Casper Martinez Show: https://www.theluisandcaspershow.com/podcast
Visit The Luis Guzman and Casper Martinez website: https://www.theluisandcaspershow.com/

Follow Alexander on Twitter: https://twitter.com/starveup
Watch Alexander’s YouTube channel Starveup: https://www.youtube.com/c/starveup

Follow Video Games Real Talk on Twitter: https://twitter.com/VG_RealTalk
Video Games Real Talk website: https://videogamesrealtalk.com/