Unpredictable Hits

Unpredictable Hits is a series of sharp, fun, and brutally honest conversations with the people shaping the future of mobile gaming in the AI era.In this episode, we sit down with Shaun Rutland, ex-PlayStation and founder of Hutch, to explore how the playbook for building a studio is shifting, and what it takes to do it with clarity and speed.From Royal Mail to PlayStation to Hutch, Shaun’s career moved across roles, platforms, and company sizes — all the way to building his own AI-first studio today. It’s a look at how experience, adaptability, and timing shape the way modern game studios are built.We dive into:(00:00) Intro: AI, Mobile Games, and the Unfiltered Truth(01:17) Shaun's Path: Postman, PlayStation, and Hutch's Origin(08:22) Crucial Lesson: Why You Must Ship the Game(15:25) The Danger of Hyper-Growth & Team Alignment(28:25) AI-First Studio: Why Now is the Best Time to Build(34:29) AI's Biggest Impact: Why It's Not Just Art Assets(45:50) Competitive Edge: Distribution Trumps Execution(50:10) Early Marketing Hire: Finding the Science-Driven Marketer(57:15) Founder Advice: Community, Focus, and Giving BackCheck other episodes: https://www.sett.ai/podcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sett-ai/posts/?feedView=all

Unpredictable Hits is a series of sharp, fun, and brutally honest conversations with the people shaping the future of mobile gaming in the era of AI.In this episode, we sit down with Zeynep Tasoz Cataner, Senior Marketing Creative Director at Zynga, to talk about the tension between speed, data, and authenticity in mobile gaming. She shares what it takes to build creative teams that move fast without losing their edge, and why AI won’t replace artists, but will raise the bar for them.We dive into:(00:00) Intro(01:31) From Brand Entrepreneur to Zynga’s Creative Lead(05:00) The Crisis of Authenticity in an AI World(07:50) Balancing Scale, Authenticity, and Retention with Authentic Ads(15:38) The "Deconstruction" Method: How to Find Your Next Hero Creative(28:22) The Secret to Ending UA vs. Creative Team Tension(31:36) What is a "Data-Driven Artist"?(39:38) Launching New Games: Creative Strategy for Soft Launch(45:10) Advice for Creative Leaders and EntrepreneursCheck other episodes: https://www.sett.ai/podcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sett-ai/

Akin Babayigit, co-founder of Tripledot Studios and expert in mobile gaming, shares his fascinating journey from Turkey to building one of Europe's fastest-growing game companies. He discusses the vital role of risk and resilience in entrepreneurship and the challenges faced during Tripledot's inception. Akin also offers insights into the competitive landscape of mobile gaming, emphasizing the rise of Turkish and Chinese studios. Plus, he reveals how AI can redefine game development and shares crucial advice for aspiring founders to act now and stay committed.

What happens when AI collides with mobile gaming? This is Unpredictable Hits, a series of sharp, fun, and brutally honest conversations with the people shaping what’s next. We’re here to find out what’s actually happening and where it's all headed, straight from the source.Each episode, Amit, Co-Founder & CEO of Sett, teams up with brilliant guests to talk shop and ask the hard questions.Join us as we explore the weird, the brilliant, and the broken sides of AI in gaming and try to make sense of it all.