Deconstructor of Fun
Deconstructor of Fun
Deconstructor of Fun podcast is created by games professionals for games professionals. We explore the business side of the games industry with the goal of bringing listeners content that is relevant, insightful, and entertaining on a weekly basis.
Hosts:
Michail Katkoff @mkatkoff www.linkedin.com/in/michailkatkoff/
Eric Kress @ekress
www.linkedin.com/in/erickress/
Laura Taranto @laurataranto www.linkedin.com/in/laurataranto/
Phillip Black @econosopher www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-black-economist/
Jen Donahoe @Jen_Donahoe www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdonahoe
Hosts:
Michail Katkoff @mkatkoff www.linkedin.com/in/michailkatkoff/
Eric Kress @ekress
www.linkedin.com/in/erickress/
Laura Taranto @laurataranto www.linkedin.com/in/laurataranto/
Phillip Black @econosopher www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-black-economist/
Jen Donahoe @Jen_Donahoe www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdonahoe
Episodes
Mentioned books
4 snips
Nov 24, 2023 • 1h 13min
TWIG #259 Monopoly Go's Winning Formula
Monopoly Go has crossed $1B in revenue in just 7 months. They also talk about Esports, Web3, and the challenges of turning League of Legends into a profitable venture.
Nov 20, 2023 • 1h 6min
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WEB3 GAMING DREAM???
The podcast explores what happened to the Web3 gaming dream and the challenges faced by the industry. It discusses marketing strategies and tactics used in the Web3 gaming bubble, the integration of Web3 components in a collectible card battling game, and the negative effects of in-game token models. The hosts also reflect on the hype around the metaverse and express relief about the removal of non-genuine actors in the gaming industry.
Nov 16, 2023 • 1h 10min
TWIG #258 Grouchy Kress Alert 🚨
The podcast covers various topics including grouchiness, behavioral economics, Call of Duty's decline, console developers backtracking from Games-as-a-Service model, and Zynga's Match Factory breakdown.
11 snips
Nov 13, 2023 • 1h 16min
7 x GAME INDUSTRY TRUTHS with CHRIS HEWISH, PRESIDENT of XSOLLA
Chris Hewish, President of Xsolla, discusses macroeconomics, challenges in console gaming, behavioral economics, Unity's success, transmedia, generative AI, and the new Solo Mall platform.
Nov 9, 2023 • 1h 5min
TWIG #257 Undercover at Blizzcon 🦹
The podcast covers a range of topics including hygiene at Blizzcon, the departure of PlayStation CEO, Brawl Stars' new announcement, and the death of Omega Strikers. They also discuss Tencent selling asset, potential game release speculations, changes at PlayStation and Supercell, monetization drivers, the future of shooter games, opinions on game pricing and marketing, and the potential impact of real-time payments on game monetization.
Nov 6, 2023 • 1h 21min
Chris Petrovic Teaches Acquiring Great Gaming Companies
Learn from Chris Petrovic, former Zynga Head of Corporate Strategy, about the reasons behind M&A in the gaming industry, the challenges and reasons for failed deals, current M&A trends, and the importance of cultural fit, human connection, and reputation in acquisitions.
Nov 2, 2023 • 1h 1min
TWIG #256 "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH VIDEO GAMES?"
This podcast discusses potential replacements for the CEO of Activision and the layoffs in the industry despite record-breaking sales. They also talk about games like Mario Wonder, Supercell's Mo.Co and Wonder Blast from Good Game Studios.
Oct 30, 2023 • 1h 10min
DIARY OF A (retired) CEO
Remarkable woman CEO in the gaming industry, Carol Miu, discusses gender disparities in the CEO role, maintaining work-life balance, industry evolution, and her reflections on her career. Highlights include challenges of being a female CEO, managing expectations and transparency, striking the balance as a leader, and the evolution of the gaming industry. Plus, insights on balancing work and family life and the journey to becoming a CEO in the game industry.
Oct 27, 2023 • 48min
How to Get Press, Tips from Mobilegamer.biz
Neil Long, founder and editor of mobilegamer.biz, shares tips on how game companies can approach game media to get press. They discuss covering controversies in the gaming industry, the impact of Netflix hiring, crafting tailored outreach for press coverage, improving user experience with press, and differences between websites and gaming events.
Oct 26, 2023 • 60min
TWIG 255: "F You Unity, We're not Paying!"
Discussions include the potential growth of mobile gaming in India, Unity's controversial runtime fee policy, the elimination of player-to-player trading in games, and the untapped potential of co-op shooters in the market.
