CEO and co-founder of PvX Partners (www.pvxpartners.com), Joe Wadakethalakal shares his unique journey from India to Indonesia and beyond. Key takeaways from our chat with Joe Wadakethalakal: **Resilience matters**: Entrepreneurship is brutal—Joe’s journey shows how surviving failures and tough times builds long-term success. **Market size over Network**: Starting in large, scalable markets (U.S., India, China) beats hustling in smaller ones. Lesson learned the hard way. **Smart fundraising wins**: Raising capital isn’t just about money—it’s about unlocking talent, momentum, and strategic growth. Just don’t overdo it! Chapters: 00:00 Intro 05:53 Banking and Private Equity Experience 12:28 Challenges and Lessons Learned 18:53 Joining MPL and Strategic Growth 49:20 The Importance of Capital in Startups 54:10 Leaving MPL and Starting PVX 01:00:48 PVX's Unique Approach to UA Financing 01:19:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

CAST YOUR VOTE! https://forms.gle/BfBn6H123S2D1QdY9 Brace yourself for the most candid awards show in gaming! Join us as we dissect the highs and lows of 2024, dishing out Golden TWIGs for the year’s most memorable moments. From epic fails to surprising triumphs, we’re covering it all: Company Carnage: Who took the biggest hits? Gaming Letdowns: Which hyped title fell flat? Layoff Lowlights: The most brutal workforce cuts Oops, We Did It Again: Our most embarrassing predictions Get ready for unvarnished opinions, heated debates, and a no-holds-barred look at the gaming industry’s rollercoaster year. Don’t miss this annual tradition where you separate the gold from the garbage!

Vincent Février, CMO of TapNation, discusses the exciting evolution of hybrid casual games, highlighting the unique position of French publishers. He shares insights on transitioning from hyper-casual to hybrid casual gaming and the challenges faced in a post-COVID landscape. The conversation dives into user acquisition strategies, building internal capabilities for game development, and the future prospects for TapNation, including diversification of game types. Février also emphasizes the importance of marketing strategies in navigating a crowded gaming market.

Gerard Miles, Co-CEO of Mission One and an expert in executive headhunting within the games and interactive media sectors, shares valuable insights on navigating career trajectories toward the C-suite. He discusses the importance of personal branding and mentorship, as well as common pitfalls in the executive search process. Gerard emphasizes empathy during interviews and the significance of building genuine relationships. The conversation also addresses the challenges of international relocation and the rising influence of AI in hiring practices.

In this lively holiday special, Ethan Levy, VP of game design at GameFam and a UEFN startup founder, shares insights on fostering creativity in gaming. The hosts dive into parenting challenges and laugh over personal stories, including a BMW sale and a cat in a banana. They discuss the tricky landscape of indie game development, the evolution of Fortnite's algorithms, and revenue sharing in gaming. Predictions for the future of survival crafting games and gaming trends in 2025 add an intriguing touch, making for a vibrant conversation.

David Nelson, co-founder of Magnetic and former leader at King, shares his insights on mobile gaming innovation. He reflects on his journey with the experimentation group, emphasizing the need for deep audience understanding over blind trend-following. Nelson discusses the importance of honest feedback, navigating corporate culture, and the power of constructive conflict in fostering innovation. He also reveals how Magnetic is approaching the next big hit in gaming, focusing on originality in a saturated market.

Dive into Nordic rivalries with lively banter and cultural quirks. Explore the struggles of Squad Busters as it attempts a comeback amidst declining numbers. Learn about Netflix Games facing unexpected challenges, raising questions about its future in gaming. Finally, unpack the highlights and snubs from the Game Awards, revealing deeper insights into the industry's trends and community debates. Join the hosts as they navigate through chaos, competition, and creativity in the gaming world!

Cameron Stewart, Group Vice President at SciPlay, sheds light on the booming social casino market and strategies for growth. He emphasizes the importance of personalizing user experiences over mere innovation. Discover insights into effective monetization, retention metrics, and the significance of team collaboration in game development. Cameron also discusses the challenges of returning to office culture and the strategic value of acquisitions in a competitive landscape. Tune in for a deep dive into the future of gaming with practical takeaways!

With Miska set on another jet, Q5 launches in earnest with Marvel Rivals, Delta Force, Path of Exile 2, Infinity Nikki, and Girlsfront Line 2. Oh my, oh my. Kress gives his full review of Infinity Nikki’s costumes, while Jen pulls “Franchise” Beetlejuice. How can Marvel Rivals cross-promote in every Marvel game?  Adam pours cold water retention down the acquisition’s back while Phil tries to light the Chinese game industry fire while wearing a tight desert camouflage shirt (?). 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview00:56 Meet the Hosts01:33 Secret Level Screening Review06:13 Game Exec Supper Club Announcement07:47 Industry News and Corrections09:55 Investment and M&A Updates12:36 New Game Releases and Performance34:43 Mastery Issues in the Game35:11 Unique Selling Points and Differentiation35:46 Honeymoon Phase and Meta Development36:56 Onboarding and Mastery Curve39:22 Marvel Cross-Promotions and IP Management44:32 Path of Exile 2: Strategy and Success53:59 Delta Force: A Battlefield Clone58:12 Fortnite's New Tactical Shooter01:00:59 Infinity Nikki: A Unique Pivot01:07:36 Concluding Thoughts and Future Discussions

Mishka Kaktoff is joined by Steve Lockwood from TikTok and Roy Yanai from AppsFlyer, who share their extensive insights on evolving attribution techniques, overcoming challenges in the privacy landscape, and future-proofing measurement strategies.  This episode is packed with valuable information that can help improve your campaign performance, game design, and overall marketing outcomes.  Chapters: 00:00 Understanding Mobile Marketing Attribution 01:11 Guest Introductions 04:11 Evolution of Attribution 07:40 Challenges in Attribution 08:59 TikTok's Role in Attribution 12:12 Debate on Last Click Attribution 18:02 Incremental Testing and Media Mix Modeling 31:29 Questioning the Truth in Marketing 32:35 The Evolution of Attribution Methods 33:28 Advertiser Perspectives on Ad Networks 35:07 The Importance of Views in Advertising 36:57 TikTok's Unique Role in Advertising 42:44 Future-Proofing Measurement Strategies 45:28 The Role of Privacy in Measurement 56:06 Success Stories in Attribution 01:01:57 Future Trends in Measurement 01:08:38 Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts