Naavik Gaming Podcast

Explore the pivotal role of content creators in gaming with Justin Sacks, CEO of Nexus, and Bryan Herren, Director of Partnerships for Off Brand. They discuss working with diverse content creators, the evolving esports landscape, and challenges and opportunities in building around creators for Nexus and Off Brand.

Modding has long been a force of innovation and creativity in the games industry, but the emergence of cross-platform, premium mods is set to take modding to another level. Thanks to platforms like Overwolf’s CurseForge, studios and publishers can now enable all sorts of creators — even other professional studios — to build on top of their games and get rewarded for doing so. This new technical and economic unlock is poised to take UGC gaming to even higher heights and is a compelling growth opportunity for the entire industry.To best discuss this trend, host and Naavik co-founder Aaron Bush is joined by Uri Marchand, CEO of Overwolf, Jeremy Stieglitz, Co-Founder of Studio Wildcard, and Patrick Moran, Founder and COO of Look North World. Look North World, a young UGC-focused publisher and studio, is building a premium DLC on top of Studio Wildcard’s popular ARK: Survival Ascended, which is all enabled thanks to Overwolf’s CurseForge platform. The crew discusses how to operationalize premium mods, why the economics can be compelling, what cross-platform enablement unlocks, and big predictions for the future.We’d also like to thank Nexus for making this episode possible! Nexus’s creator program in-a-box makes it easy for game devs to build and manage a world-class creator program, driving significant growth in conversion, ARPPU, retention, and LTV. To learn more, go to http://nexus.gg/naavikIf 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.

The New York Times is one of the world’s most recognized newspapers and has been in circulation since 1851. With 10 million subscribers, the Times has a huge audience and an even larger cultural impact. But the Gray Lady isn’t content to just rest on her laurels and focus on news - other verticals in which the Times operates are product reviews (The Wirecutter), sports (through their 2022 acquisition of The Athletic), cooking, and, of course, games. In addition to their home-grown casual titles, the Times famously acquired viral sensation Wordle in early 2022 and since then has launched hit games Connections and most recently Strands (in beta).To learn more about the Times’ games strategy, your host Niko Vuori talks with Jonathan Knight, Head of Games at The New York Times. New York Times Games: https://www.nytimes.com/subscription/games. You can find Jonathan Knight on LinkedIn.We’d also 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/.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.

Christoffer Holmgard and Nathan Martz discuss the future of AI in quality assurance for game development, sharing insights on players as a service, functional load testing, and collaboration between humans and AI agents. They highlight the evolution of QA testing, successful partnerships with studios, and the potential of AI to revolutionize game development processes.

Yuga Labs introduces a sequel to Dookie Dash with new features, partnership with Faraway Games, and IP acquisition. The episode delves into Yuga's strategy, learnings from Dookie Dash, and the transition of Yuga's Chief Gaming Officer to Faraway. Explore the evolution of Faraway Games, gaming partnerships, multi-genre game development strategies, game metrics analysis, community building in Web3 gaming, and early success in the industry.

Maria Park, Head of Corporate Development at Krafton, discusses the company's growth strategy post-PUBG success, including extending the brand to new games, platforms, and regions, kickstarting new IPs, and partnering with emerging developers. They explore lessons learned in going multiplatform, scaling up creativity, managing investments, and leveraging emerging technologies like UGC and AI.

Exploring the lucrative world of Roblox with experienced developers, discussing game design strategies, navigating competition and collaboration, and the importance of uniqueness in thriving on the platform. Delving into the transformative impact of Roblox on creators' careers and their reflections on achievements, showcasing the keys to success and perseverance in game development.

Tim Morten and Cara LaForge from Frost Giant Studios discuss the success of their Kickstarter campaign for Stormgate ($2.4M, 2280% over target) and crowd equity on StartEngine. They share insights on campaign planning, marketing strategies, Founder's pack design, and lessons learned. Exploring the differences between crowd equity and crowdfunding, dos and donts of Kickstarter, and the importance of transparency and strategic planning for game launches.

Former Magic the Gathering: Arena Design Director and key figure behind Guild of Guardians, Chris Clay, discusses the evolution of the highly anticipated web3 game, Guild of Guardians. Topics include game pivots, lessons learned from Gods Unchained, new blockchain technology, and early metrics leading up to the global release on May 15th. Dive into the art and science of game development, integration of NFTs, and post-launch plans for Guild of Guardians.

Ben Cousens, Chief Strategy Officer of ZBD, and Paul West, Founder of Fumb Games, discuss the integration of Bitcoin rewards in gaming to enhance player retention and engagement. They explore the effectiveness of financial incentives in player acquisition, cost-efficiency for developers, and the potential for alternative rewards like NFTs. The conversation delves into managing fluctuating Bitcoin prices, player segmentation, and the evolving landscape of gaming incentives.