Naavik Gaming Podcast

What is Sega's strategy for Rovio? What do the earnings reports for Playtika and Stillfront say about their acquisition methods and growth? Can TreesPlease build a profitable game around planting real life trees? How can Microsoft compete with Sony's recent console success? Join us for all the latest games business news with Abhimanyu Kumar, Tammy Levy, David Kaye, and host Devin Becker.Also, a big thanks to data.ai for supporting all of Naavik's mobile data needs. If your team requires a market and competitive intelligence tool for tracking the mobile games industry, monitoring KPIs, and spotting opportunities across games, check out data.ai's robust platform.If you would like us to discuss any other gaming-related topics, reach out at podcast@naavik.co. We’d love to hear your feedback! And as always, if you like the episode, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!Go premium with Naavik Pro to access an ever-growing library of deep exclusive research including free-to-play and blockchain game deconstructions, and market analysis. Use the promo code METACAST to save 10%.TLDListen?: Episode summaryWatch the episode: YouTube video Join the discussion: Naavik DiscordRead more: Naavik DigestWatch more: YouTube channelGo premium: Naavik ProFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

 Q: Where does an 800-pound ape get its game on? A: Anywhere it wants to. Having launched some of the biggest NFT collections (including of course Bored Ape Yacht Club), acquired some of the biggest NFT collections (including CryptoPunks and Meebits), raised $450 million from a16z and broken all kinds of web3 records since inception, Yuga is ready to get its game on. It now wants to show the world what web3 gaming can really be, having hired some of the biggest names from Epic Games, Activision Blizzard and Scopely, among others, to senior leadership roles. Your host, Niko Vuori, speaks with Spencer Tucker, Chief Gaming Officer at Yuga Labs, about Yuga’s gaming ambitions, what “the metaverse” means to Yuga, how passionate the Bored Ape community really is and how to crowdsource growth through networking externalities with zero UA spend. Oh, and Jimmy the Monkey with the key stuck up you-know-where in Dookey Dash makes a reappearance as well. Yuga Labs: https://yuga.com Naavik Dookey Dash deconstruct: https://naavik.co/podcast/deconstructing-bayc-dookey-dash If you would like us to discuss any other blockchain gaming-related topics, do reach out at metacast@naavik.co. We’d love to hear your general thoughts and feedback too! And as always, if you like the episode, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!TLDListen?: Episode summaryWatch the episode: YouTube video Join the discussion: Naavik DiscordRead more: Naavik DigestWatch more: YouTube channelGo premium: Naavik ProFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Gabe.

Holly Liu is the co-founder of Kabam and now managing partner and co-founder of PKO, a collective investing in tech and entertainment. Phylicia Koh is a partner at Play Ventures, a games VC with ~$250M AUM. Today we learn how these two phenomenal games people founded funds, exited companies, and ascended to partner as well as a definitional layout of the structure of the investing world. Furthermore we shade this all under the fundamental reality that venture capital is still very much a “boys club” and the games industry deeply struggles to ensure gender equality across a variety of dimensions. And as always, if you like the episode, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!TLDListen?: Episode summaryWatch the episode: YouTube video Join the discussion: Naavik DiscordRead more: Naavik DigestWatch more: YouTube channelGo premium: Naavik ProFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Gabe.

In this episode, we discuss Microsoft's acquisition challenges, Apple's win against Epic, and the impact of record-breaking successes in the Mario Bros movie and MiHoYo's latest mobile game. We also explore how Mythical's latest mobile game is expanding the audience for web3 and the effect of ever-expanding game development costs on the industry. Join us for all the latest games business news with Aaron Bush, Anil Das-Gupta, Jonathan Anastas, and host Devin Becker.Also, a big thanks to data.ai for supporting all of Naavik's mobile data needs. If your team requires a market and competitive intelligence tool for tracking the mobile games industry, monitoring KPIs, and spotting opportunities across games, check out data.ai's robust platform.If you would like us to discuss any other gaming-related topics, reach out at podcast@naavik.co. We’d love to hear your feedback! And as always, if you like the episode, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!Go premium with Naavik Pro to access an ever-growing library of deep exclusive research including free-to-play and blockchain game deconstructions, and market analysis. Use the promo code METACAST to save 10%.TLDListen?: Episode summaryWatch the episode: YouTube video Join the discussion: Naavik DiscordRead more: Naavik DigestWatch more: YouTube channelGo premium: Naavik ProFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

 Interoperability between game ecosystems and economies has been held up as a possibility that is opened up by decentralized protocols, blockchain technologies and web3 - but until now, it has mostly been a pipedream rather than a reality. But now two web3 companies, metaverse avatar developer Ready Player Me and open-world shooter developer Faraway Games, have partnered up to deliver on the promise of interoperable game worlds. Your host, Niko Vuori, chats with Alex Paley, Founder & CEO of Faraway Games and Timmu Toke, Founder & CEO of Ready Player Me, about interoperability, closed vs open game ecosystems and the promise of web3. Faraway Games: https://faraway.com/ Ready Player Me: https://readyplayer.me/ Partnership announcement: https://blog.readyplayer.me/working-with-faraway-to-enable-industry-first-two-way-interoperability/ If you would like us to discuss any other blockchain gaming-related topics, do reach out at metacast@naavik.co. We’d love to hear your general thoughts and feedback too! And as always, if you like the episode, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!TLDListen?: Episode summaryWatch the episode: YouTube video Join the discussion: Naavik DiscordRead more: Naavik DigestWatch more: YouTube channelGo premium: Naavik ProFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Gabe.

Jane Chung Hoffaker is an Emmy winning executive producer for League of Legends’ Arcane Series that’s now embarking on a new adventure: building a board game startup called Incredible Dream Studios. We’re throwing it back to the days of yore, discussing what makes a good board game, what’s easier and harder in development vs. video games, whether AAA underutilizes board games in franchising and expanding their IP, and some of the business model impacts of running a COGS intensive business. Tune in to learn about what Incredible Dream is building and their strategy of starting with a physical IP, Jane’s take on the Wizards of the Coast OGL kerfuffle, and more!And as always, if you like the episode, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!TLDListen?: Episode summaryWatch the episode: YouTube video Join the discussion: Naavik DiscordRead more: Naavik DigestWatch more: YouTube channelGo premium: Naavik ProFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Gabe.

Sega swoops in to acquire Rovio, but are they the right buyer? Niantic announced more licensed games, but will these reach Pokemon Go levels? We dig into what Netflix’s latest hire says about its ambition, and what exactly is going on in web3 now that things are quieter. Dive into the latest games business news with Aaron Bush, Matt Dion, David Amor and your host Devin Becker.Also, a big thanks to data.ai for supporting all of Naavik's mobile data needs. If your team requires a market and competitive intelligence tool for tracking the mobile games industry, monitoring KPIs, and spotting opportunities across games, check out data.ai's robust platform.If you would like us to discuss any other gaming-related topics, reach out at podcast@naavik.co. We’d love to hear your feedback! And as always, if you like the episode, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!Go premium with Naavik Pro to access an ever-growing library of deep exclusive research including free-to-play and blockchain game deconstructions, and market analysis. Use the promo code METACAST to save 10%.TLDListen?: Episode summaryWatch the episode: YouTube video Join the discussion: Naavik DiscordRead more: Naavik DigestWatch more: YouTube channelGo premium: Naavik ProFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

Today’s episode is an interview with Sebastian Park, an ex-esports executive who is now co-founder of Infinite Canvas (creating and acquiring UGC games) and a venture partner at BITKRAFT. We dive into the trifecta of Sebastian’s background: esports, UGC games, and venture capital. Why are so many esports teams crumbling, and where’s the industry going next? What are Sebastian’s early impressions of the Unreal Editor for Fortnite? And how is the explosion in venture capital both good and bad? Tune in to find out.To learn more, make sure to visit Infinite Canvas’ website. You can also find Sebastian on LinkedIn.As always, if you like the episode, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!Go premium with Naavik Pro to access an ever-growing library of deep exclusive research including free-to-play and blockchain game deconstructions, and market analysis. Check out the link to request a demo. TLDListen?: Episode summaryWatch the episode: YouTube channelJoin the discussion: Naavik DiscordFree newsletter: Naavik DigestGo premium: Naavik ProFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

What does the Mario movie mean for games? What is Dream Games follow-up to Royal Match? Where does Phillip La go after Sky Mavis? Was the Scopely acquisition a good deal? What does Sony’s cloud hires say about its strategy? What crazy thing has AI done now? Dive into the latest games business news with Aaron Bush, Anil Das-Gupta, Tammy Levy and your host Devin Becker.00:00 - Start01:43 - The Super Mario Bros Movie goes super09:05 - Dream Games has a new game22:42 - Phillip La leaves Sky Mavis28:36 - Scopely acquisition by Savvy43:35 - Sony’s cloud chasing54:54 - New AI surprises01:08:16 - OutroIf you would like us to discuss any other gaming-related topics, reach out at podcast@naavik.co. We’d love to hear your feedback!Also, a big thanks to data.ai for supporting all of Naavik's mobile data needs. If your team requires a market and competitive intelligence tool for tracking the mobile games industry, monitoring KPIs, and spotting opportunities across games, check out data.ai's robust platform. And as always, if you like the episode, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!Go premium with Naavik Pro to access an ever-growing library of deep exclusive research including free-to-play and blockchain game deconstructions, and market analysis. Use the promo code METACAST to save 10%.TLDListen?: Episode summaryWatch the episode: YouTube video Join the discussion: Naavik DiscordRead more: Naavik DigestWatch more: YouTube channelGo premium: Naavik ProFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

What does it take to grow a YouTube gaming channel? In this week’s episode, your host, Alexandra, sits down with Aaron Zheng, a professional VGC Pokemon player and the founder YouTube channel Cyberton VGC. Beyond running a channel that has amassed over 50M views and uploads videos daily, Aaron himself is the winner of 5 Regional Championships and 2 National Championships and shoutcasts for Pokemon International tournaments. We explore what it takes to grow a YouTube channel, what role YouTube plays in monetization and tooling for content creators, and how video content creation can affect one’s personal life. PLUS, we learn a ton about the Pro Pokemon scene! Check out Aaron’s channel here before diving into the episode. And as always, if you like the episode, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!TLDListen?: Episode summaryWatch the episode: YouTube video Join the discussion: Naavik DiscordRead more: Naavik DigestWatch more: YouTube channelGo premium: Naavik ProFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Gabe.