Naavik Gaming Podcast

Two Forbes 30 under 30 game developers, Emily Pitcher and Karla Reyes, discuss narrative innovation and socially conscious storytelling in games. They emphasize the importance of representation, innovative storytelling mechanics, and the limited innovation in business models. The conversation highlights the power of games for storytelling and social change, led by developers like Emily and Karla who are committed to building studios with uniquely qualified developers.

Nyan Heroes is a team-based hero shooter featuring small cats piloting giant mechs. The studio was founded in Singapore in 2021 and is staffed by industry veterans from hit franchises like Marvel’s Avengers, Destiny, and Halo. Combining web3 and web2 elements, the game aspires to competitive gameplay and has already secured partnerships with top names in the esports space. The game also has garnered impressive reviews and early stats. Nyan Heroes is a top 5 most wishlisted game on the Epic Games Store, a top 16 most played game on the Epic Games Store during its recent alpha demo, and boasts over 1.3 million registered users, 80% of whom are web3 Solana natives. In this episode, your host, Niko Vuori, speaks with Nyan Heroes Creative Director & CEO, Max Fu, about the game, how he intends to compete in esports, and how he’s thinking about balancing web2 and web3 elements. Max also unpacks his love for cats and how the Nyan Heroes felines can form the foundation for a major new IP.Check out Nyan Heroes online and in the Epic Games Store. You can find Max Fu on LinkedIn.We’d also like to thank Nefta for making this episode possible. Nefta has created an advertising network that pays game publishers higher eCPMs on their iOS opt-out users and drives better results for advertisers. Learn more about how Nefta can boost your results at http://nefta.io/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.

Serial entrepreneur and general partner of F4 Fund, David Kaye, shares insights on why most game studios aren't fit for venture capital, how early-stage teams can gain a competitive edge, and the underrated aspects F4 looks for in its portfolio. The discussion covers distribution strategies, the state of gaming venture capital, and the importance of unique advantages for gaming founders to succeed.

Learn about the rise of UGC content in Fortnite, with insights from key figures in Fortnite Creative. Explore the challenges in tool development, creating engaging content through mini-games, and driving player engagement with social media platforms. Discover the future aspirations and entrepreneurial challenges in game development.

Head of Global Gaming at TikTok Assaf Sagy, Head of Global Gaming Marketing at TikTok Rema Vasan, and Director at Ruckus Games Alexandra Takei discuss the impact TikTok has on consumer behavior and the essential elements of its value proposition for game developers, including discovery, cultural relevance, and performance. They share success stories on the platform, emphasize the power of TikTok in the gaming industry, and provide insights into how developers can create successful games through content, community-building, and culture promotion.

Solomon-Ruiz Lichter, Senior Director of Global Gaming at CleverTap, discusses the future of gaming technology with a focus on personalized offers, player segmentation, and the importance of live ops. The conversation delves into AI and machine learning's potential to revolutionize player interactions, strategies for engaging non-spenders, and the impact of user-generated content on the gaming landscape.

Discussing the future of gaming platforms and technologies, including the impact of AI and changes in the economy. Exploring the evolution of UEFN, challenges in game development, Discord's role as a gaming hub, and the use of generative tools like Genii. Also touching on evolving trends in esports, the importance of diverse reading, and the liberal arts of business and game development.

Guild of Guardians, Immutable’s second major game after Gods Unchained, is one of the most anticipated web3 games of 2024. The game recently pivoted from a real-time RPG to an auto-battler, and is set for a May 15th global release. Guild of Guardians is one of the first games on Immutable’s new ZK-EVM blockchain, which Naavik covered in the January 24, 2024 episode of the podcast with Immutable founder, Robbie Ferguson. In the second half of the episode your host, Niko Vuori, and Naavik’s own web3 analyst, Devin Becker, spend some time reflecting on the state of web3 gaming now that a fresh crypto bull run is well underway. What does that mean for web3 games? Has the industry learned any lessons from the 2021-2022 rise and fall? Or is it all just tulip mania all over again? Check out Devin’s piece on Guild of Guardians at https://naavik.co/digest-updating-web3-2024/ and Niko’s interview with Immutable founder Robbie Ferguson at https://naavik.co/immutables-web3-roadmap-for-2024.We’d also like to thank Nefta for making this episode possible. Nefta has created an advertising network that pays game publishers higher eCPMs on their iOS opt-out users and drives better results for advertisers. Learn more about how Nefta can boost your results at http://nefta.io/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.

This podcast delves into the unique atmosphere of GDC, Sensor Tower's acquisition of data.ai, Epic Games' announcements including a mobile Epic Store, the US v. Apple lawsuit, and a survey predicting a downturn in mobile spending by high-value users

Xiang Shen, CTO of Century Games, discusses how the company found success on Roblox with hits like Whiteout Survival. They delve into the challenges of UGC games, experimenting on new platforms, advantages of data access and AB testing, building trust with existing games, innovative features, art style influence, IP development, and exploring new horizons in user-generated content.