Deconstructor of Fun

Eric Kress, Jen Donahoe, Philip Black, and Laura Taranto discuss the implications of the Epic v. Apple case, the freedom for developers to push iOS players into web shops, and the potential impact on the gaming industry. They also dive into the success of Palworld, explore the decline of Embark, and give advice on transitioning to PC and console gaming in the post-IDFA era.

SciPlay, a gaming company, has sustained growth despite privacy changes and economic challenges by implementing operational changes and prioritizing customer relationship management. They discuss the importance of standardized base features and game differentiation, as well as consistent progression features in game design. Strategies for growth include cost-cutting measures, enhancing ad tech infrastructure, personalizing user experiences, and investing in their own platform. Additionally, they share insights on the cost of losing a payer and the impact of an acquisition. SciPlay also highlights their new hiring strategy and expresses concern for their team in Israel.

The podcast discusses the Monopoly Go drama and the profitability claims of Scopely's blockbuster. They also delve into the sudden alliance between NetEase and Activision and Tencent's launch of another mobile MOBA. Furthermore, they explore the state of mobile gaming and analyze the challenges of launching games in Southeast Asia. The episode concludes with an analysis of the global gaming market and the impact of webshops on the mobile gaming industry.

Elena Grigorian, newly appointed CEO of MyGames, discusses the challenges and strategies of her first 100 days as a CEO. Topics covered include team management, work-life balance, intercompany knowledge sharing, portfolio strategy, expansion into Asian territories, and the importance of mass adoption and user onboarding.

Unity and Twitch experience layoffs, Clash Mini struggles, and Netflix's gaming strategy sparks confusion and concern.

Marketing expert Eric Seufert discusses predictions for mobile marketing, Microsoft's potential future plans for a standalone mobile gaming app network and search ads, regulatory challenges for a Unity-Microsoft partnership, the impact of the DMA Act on game monetization in the EU, analyzing game revenue and trends, and the challenges faced by lockdown mobile gaming studios in fundraising.

Chinese game regulations and their impact on the industry, Insomniac leak insights, Sony's approach to live service games and acquiring Bungie, challenges of monetization and expanding the demo.

Discover the winners and losers in the gaming industry in our unique awards show. We discuss disappointing games, layoffs, and inaccurate takes. Explore the challenges of designing high production value games and the importance of standing out. Hear our thoughts on Zynga's poor performance and Embracer's flawed strategy. Get recommendations for favorite small games and learn about engaging narratives. Dive into the world of progression RPGs and collection mechanics in mobile games. Evaluate popular games and join our community for more gaming insights!

Guest Felix Braberg, ad monetization expert, discusses the impact of privacy changes on ad monetization, practical ways for games to double their ad revenue, and the efficacy of different ad formats. They also talk about the changes brought by Apple, Amazon, and Google to the ad monetization ecosystem.

The podcast covers the rise of real-time payments, alternative payments, web shops, and the upcoming EU DMA. They discuss the importance of real-time payments in various industries, maximizing revenue from web shops, managing forums on web shops, and the potential impact of sideloading in iOS. They also explore the potential impact of sideloading on the Apple ecosystem and legal disputes surrounding the DMA.