Deconstructor of Fun

This week, the hosts unveil the Golden Twig Awards, celebrating the best and most questionable moves in gaming. Highlights include EA's Saudi deal being crowned Talk of the Year and an uproar over the most embarrassing predictions. They dive into Xbox’s struggles and label Mind's Eye as the most disappointing game. Tim Sweeney's bold legal tactics shine as the most brilliant move, while the Limping Donkey Award strikes a humorous note with VC blunders. The discussion also touches on Roblox's evolving advertising landscape and its market challenges.

The hosts dive into their off-air relationships, revealing how their dynamics play out behind the scenes. They discuss personal wins and setbacks, including heartwarming stories about family milestones and health challenges. Insights about generational trends, like Gen Alpha's exposure to gambling, spark rich conversation. Predictions for the industry and impactful lessons learned from career missteps are shared openly. Each host expresses hopes and dreams for 2026, painting a picture of personal aspirations and professional growth.

In this episode, Joe Burridge, Head of Talent at Play Ventures, and Miki Blasko, Head of Talent at Deconstructor of Fun, delve into the strategic importance of hiring in startups. They discuss how founders often underestimate the effort required and the importance of selling roles to attract top talent. The duo explores the tension between culture and competence, revealing what defines a successful hire. They also highlight the red flags of hiring from big corporations and the need for structured processes to avoid costly mistakes in talent acquisition.

Rocky and Mickey dish out uncensored opinions on the gaming world, calling hypercasual games "mindless slop" and predicting a decline for Fortnite. They reveal what's hot among their peers, like the Clash Royale craze during carpool, while labeling Steal a Brain Rot a disaster. Their insights into Roblox habits and indie games give a refreshing perspective on social gaming. Intriguingly, they also share their exposure to betting ads, showcasing how sports media saturation affects their views. Get ready for some wild predictions about the future of gaming!

The hosts dive deep into whether Die Hard qualifies as a Christmas shooter. They analyze Call of Duty's rare admission of a launch failure and the implications behind its shift to avoid back-to-back sub-franchises. Discussion heats up over Valorant Mobile's explosive growth in China while Western shooters struggle. There's a critical look at the delayed release of Marathon and its fiscal strategies. Finally, they confront Marvel Rivals' performance, suggesting it's a ceiling rather than a failure, emphasizing the need for innovation in the saturated hero-shooter genre.

Hosts pay tribute to industry titan Vince Zampella before diving into bold predictions. They foresee GTA 6 leading global sales, while discussing rising contenders like Enemo and Arknights. The episode explores China's mobile gaming dominance and the West's struggles. Insights on VC investments reveal risks of overcapitalization, with skepticism toward the FIFA and Netflix collaboration. Warnings emerge about a coming AI funding reset, alongside varying predictions for player growth in gaming realms. A dynamic session filled with future insights!

Sean "Clown" Crahan, co-founder of Slipknot and a creative force in music and game development, dives deep into his journey from heavy metal to game design. He shares the emotional origins of his Minecraft realm, Vern Earth, rooted in personal grief. Clown discusses the importance of empathy in gaming, player well-being, and how creator-led studios are reshaping the industry. With tales of collaboration and respect for community values, he emphasizes that great games, like great bands, are built on authenticity and meaningful connections.

Voting for the Golden TWIGs is live! The hosts dive into Mishka's enlightening trip to the Middle East and share industry insights from recent events. They discuss the eyebrow-raising privatization of EA and debate Roblox's soaring user growth. Expect major disappointments in gaming with titles like Mind's Eye and Splitgate 2 under fire. From Ubisoft's governance woes to brilliant moves by companies like Scopely, the conversation is packed with sharp critiques and unexpected highlights in the gaming world.

Simon Hade, co-founder of Space Ape Games and later a key player at Duolingo, shares his journey through the gaming industry and beyond. He dives into the challenges of fundraising and the importance of cohesive teams at Playfish and Space Ape. Simon discusses the lean LiveOps philosophy that attracted Supercell and the complexities of music game licensing at NextBeat. He contrasts the intrinsic motivations behind learning apps versus games while revealing the relentless optimization culture at Duolingo. His insights highlight the emotional costs of being a founder and the importance of curiosity in staying driven.

Josh Chandley, performance marketing executive and president/COO of Wild Card Games, dives into the intricate world of user acquisition financing. He exposes the hidden pitfalls of cohort funding, pointing out its dangerously high effective interest rates. The conversation also touches on the surprising success of a $200 kids' console that outperformed the PS5, and the implications of Call of Duty's apology tour for its yearly release cycle. Plus, insights on AppLovin's rise against Google in Android e-commerce ads reframe the future of user acquisition.