Game Economist Cast

Send us a textEconomist Dr.Peter G. Klein joins the cast to discuss Why Managers Matter: The Perils of the Bossless Company. We debate Valve's organizational structure, the evidence for manager economic impact, and Sweden's success. Read more about Dr.Klein here and find his book below:https://hankamer.baylor.edu/person/peter-g-klein-0https://www.amazon.com/Why-Managers-Matter-Bossless-Company/dp/1541751043/15:37 Why Managers Matter22:29 CEOs35:22 Valve

Send us a textPhil and Chris return from Asia, and it's gachupon from here in-out. Eric talks vertical progression in single player games, while Chris actually agree on the future of web 2.5. The economics of unions weigh heavily: within or between professions? The crew finally makes it to THE KING PAPER; Eric and Chris make surprising revalation.Quantity discounts on a virtual good: The results of a massive pricing experiment at King Digital Entertainment

In this engaging discussion, Eric, an expert in economic modeling for game development decisions, teams up with Phil, who champions a block-grant style incentive alignment. Chris returns with insights on Marvel Snap’s new social casino mechanics. They dive into player frustrations with card collection systems and compare the beta performance of sci-fi and steampunk games. Plus, the conversation touches on profit-sharing models in the gaming industry, new matchmaking insights, and how temporary game modes can enhance player engagement. Tune in for a blend of economics and gaming!

Send us a textCan a stick of butter keep you sober during high-stakes diplomatic meetings? Eric is sure to tell us. Chris provides a compelling theory for the death of mods, while Phil undergoes a Supercell detox after analyzing Squad Buster's launch. The crew gets back in touch with their microeconomic selves and looks at one of the most interesting explanations for the gender pay gap.ONE COHORT AT A TIME: A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON THE DECLINING GENDER PAY GAP

Send us a textPlay to earn hits Steam, and the crew is here to dissect the phenomenon. Why now, and why bananas? Phil is back into the economics of social casinos, while Chris develops a progression model for Darts. Eric and Phil debate the externalities of bots, while Chris solves for equilibrium. 

The crew debates the best game economy of all time, explores the impact of cryptocurrency and web 3 tech, discusses Bellatro's unique gameplay, touches on skill-based matchmaking in X Defiant, and analyzes monetization strategies in shooter games like SquadBusters.

Send us a textPhil gets Eric pilled into a trio of roguelikes, where we prime the pump for Squad Buster's eventual shake-up of the genre. Chris ran another NFT sale and lived to tell about it. We Snap our fingers for Eric's take on Snap's doubling cube mechanic. Should all ranked systems use it? Should the bet limit expand to infinity? We conclude with a discussion of Eurovision's political economy.https://ericguan.substack.com/https://chriseconomics.substack.com/

Send us a textDr. Sam Rosen of Temple University finally unleashes the Veblen Goods model for which every Game Economist yearns. We discuss:Why don't sold-out artists raise ticket prices?Why do NFT projects go boom or bust?Should auction-based goods mask demand for their products?What types of Pokémon are optimal for collecting in Go?Dr.Rosen's paper, co-authored with Dr.Anthony Lee Zhang & Sebeom Oh, is out now!

Send us a textEric reminds us that The Wizard of Oz is a heated monetarism debate, while Chris goes six layers deep on enforcing royalties. Phil thinks Warzone Mobile is a good executive Powerpoint math muddled with poor execution, but good economics secured him Taylor Swift tickets. Subscribe to Chris' Substack and Eric's SubstackLimit Break's New ERC standard

Experts discuss the economics of the video game job market, frustrations in big gaming companies, persona and personalization in transportation, and web3 UGC games. They touch on topics like utility in shared spaces, listing hotels on Airbnb, job searching post GDC 2024, Monopoly Go's success, player personas in gaming, web three technology trends, indie game innovation, and the intersection of gaming with venture capitalism.