Naavik Gaming Podcast

Crystin Cox, Head of Publishing at ArenaNet and a 20-year veteran in the gaming industry, shares invaluable insights on live-ops and player engagement. She discusses her journey from film to gaming and the evolution of monetization strategies, emphasizing player satisfaction. The conversation delves into the transformation of publishing from physical to digital, navigating funding options, and the critical role of player feedback. Crystin highlights how cultural differences shape gaming experiences and the continuous shift in player tastes.

David Taylor, Founder of Creator Games and UGC consultant, joins the discussion about the future of user-generated content in gaming. They delve into the evolution of platforms like Roblox and Fortnite, analyzing brand integrations and startling income disparities among creators. With age demographics shifting and older players joining the mix, the conversation speculates on new contenders emerging in the scene. Additionally, they explore how AI might redefine creation and the strategic choices companies make to foster a thriving UGC ecosystem.

In this episode, host, Alexandra Takei, Director at Ruckus Games, dives into the intersection of brand marketing, live streaming, and culturally relevant branded experiences. Joined by Wiktoria Wójcik, co-founder of InStreamly, the conversation explores how brands can integrate into live streaming platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Kick. InStreamly connects brands with thousands of streamers, facilitating authentic collaborations through technology that allows for large-scale, interactive campaigns. Wójcik shares insights on bridging the gap between brand safety and engaging streamers, as well as the power of parasocial relationships in gaming. They discuss case studies with big brands like Cheetos and Danone, showcasing how live streaming is reshaping marketing strategies, from contextual gameplay to driving brand affinity. It's a must-listen for anyone interested in the evolving world of influencer marketing or those interested in partnering with a contextual marketing agency in the United States. We’d like to thank Lightspeed Venture Partners for making this episode possible! With its dedicated gaming practice, "Lightspeed Gaming," the firm is investing from over $7B in early- and growth-stage capital — the by far largest fund focused on gaming and interactive technology. If you’re interested in learning more, go to https://gaming.lsvp.com/.We’d also like to thank nSure.ai! As a proven industry leader, nSure.ai provides scalable payment fraud prevention that’s not just effective but tailored specifically to your needs. To learn more, visit https://www.nsure.ai/contactIf you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at podcast@naavik.co. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

In this episode, host Sam Distaso dives into the cutting edge of VR game development with Devin Reimer (founder and CEO of AstroBeam) and Ed Saxton (CPO of Schell Games). From the early startup days of VR to the evolution of mixed reality, Devin and Ed share how their studios use first-principles thinking to craft unique experiences. We explore how hit games like Job Simulator and Among Us VR came to life and how these teams operate in a young, constantly evolving market.We also unpack big questions facing the VR space: Will the use of generative AI lead to more fun? What will improvements to voice and hand tracking unlock? What actually goes into making smart NPCs work? Will smell-o-vision ever work? If you're curious about the future of immersive games, this one's packed with stories, laughs, and insights from two of the industry's most thoughtful builders.We’d also like to thank Neon – a merchant of record with customizable webshops optimized for conversion – for making this episode possible! Neon is trusted by some of the biggest names in gaming and can help you sell direct without the typical overhead. To learn more, visit https://www.neonpay.com/?utm_source=naavik If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at podcast@naavik.co.Who’s On:Guest - Devin Reimer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinreimer/ Guest - Ed Saxton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edsaxton/ Host - Sam Distaso: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samdistaso/ Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

For the first time in Naavik’s history, we’re excited to bring a live audience show experience to air! At GDC, host, Alexandra Takei, Director at Ruckus Games, sat down with Nick Popovich, CEO and Founder of Monomi Park, in San Francisco for a conversation centered around “doing it all yourself” in the indie games market — no external funding, crowd financing, or publishing support. In 2014, Nick and his co-founder decided to start a studio and launch Slime Rancher in 2016. They sold 10M units over the following decade, grew from 2 to 45 people, launched a second game into early access, and have begun working on an entirely new IP. Today’s conversation explores how Monomi Park thinks about studio culture, growth, crunch, and innovation — plus how to get players to notice your game, buy it, and play it repeatedly. This episode also includes our first ever live audience Q&A and is a must-listen for any founder looking to make it independently. We’d also like to thank AWS for Games for making this episode possible. AWS for Games aligns purpose-built game development capabilities — including AWS services like Amazon GameLift as well as solutions from AWS Partners — to help game developers build, run, and grow their games. For more information, visit https://aws.amazon.com/gametech/If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at podcast@naavik.co. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

In this engaging discussion, Justin Stolzenberg, co-founder of Metica and veteran of King and Apple, dives into the future of gaming analytics. He shares insights on how Metica is leveraging AI to deliver personalized experiences, moving beyond mere data collection to actionable insights. The conversation touches on the evolving landscape of personalization in gaming and the critical role of AI in enhancing user engagement. Justin also talks about the challenges faced in the saturated analytics market and shares exciting upcoming initiatives in the industry.

Kyu Lee, Chief Business Development Officer at Com2Us and Partner at CRIT Ventures, discusses the company's impressive evolution from Gamevil to a mobile gaming giant, best known for Summoners War. He shares insights on their strategic focus on licensing Western IPs, particularly in sports, and the rising importance of blockchain in gaming. Kyu also explores the unique challenges of expanding into global markets, the untapped potential of Korean content, and future innovations set to reshape gaming trends. A fascinating dive into the industry's dynamic landscape!

In this episode, host Niko Vuori speaks with Jeff Zirlin, co-founder of Sky Mavis and the play-to-earn OG, Axie Infinity, about the significant developments in the web3 gaming space, particularly the transition of the Ronin blockchain to a permissionless model.They discuss Jeff's background and journey into web3, the origin story and wild ride of Axie Infinity, the evolution of the Ronin blockchain, the introduction of the Ronin Developer Console, and the impressive growth metrics of the Ronin ecosystem. The conversation touches on the current state of the Axie Infinity economy and the future of third-party gaming projects on the Ronin chain. We also explore the balance between quality and openness in game development, the incentives for developers, and the potential for future growth as more games launch on the Ronin network.We’d also like to thank TikTok for making this episode possible. In a dynamic gaming market where a majority of games fail within three years, TikTok has become a critical partner in helping games achieve long-term player retention and substantial revenue growth. Learn more: https://bit.ly/LiveOpsProgramNAVPodcast If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at podcast@naavik.co. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

In this engaging discussion, Anand Agarawala, Founder and CEO of Spatial, shares his journey from AR collaboration to creating the top-earning VR game, Animal Company. He reveals how to pivot effectively as a founder and tackle competition from Roblox. Anand discusses the importance of community engagement and unique monetization strategies in VR gaming. He also dives into the significance of affordable gaming hardware and the evolving dynamics between developers and players in the VR landscape, all while exploring the future of user-generated content.

Jacob Rapoport, CEO of Evil Plan, and Nico Vereecke, strategy expert at the same company, dive into the revolutionary world of AI-powered unscripted fantasy entertainment. They discuss how AI can solve the content shortage in the industry by enabling dynamic, community-influenced storytelling. The duo highlights the shift towards interactive narratives, where audience participation shapes plots in unpredictable ways. They also touch on the exciting intersection of technology and gaming, redefining how stories are created and experienced.