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
Oct 23, 2023 • 55min
How to Deal With Negative Feedback a conversation with Sophie Vo of Rise and Play
In this podcast, Sophie Vo, a former colleague with 15 years of experience in the games industry, discusses how to deal with negative feedback. They also explore topics such as self-esteem, self-awareness, and self-reflection. The speakers share their experiences with negative feedback and bullying on social media, as well as the importance of self-evaluation and accepting the possibility of truth in feedback. They also touch on finding fulfillment in work, trust and communication in a founding team, and the value of having a coach or mentor for support.
Oct 20, 2023 • 1h 4min
Untapped India Mobile Opportunity
Discussion on the growing opportunity for mobile games in India, including revenue projections and player statistics. Insights on player segmentation and market segmentation in India. Exploration of the impact of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) on game developers and the Real Money Gaming (RMG) industry. The significance of language localization, with a focus on Hindi. Maximizing ROI by focusing on Hindi in the Indian market. Insights on India's potential as a gaming market and its readiness to pay for games.
Oct 19, 2023 • 1h 6min
TWIG #254 Unity and Activision CEO Fantasy Draft
The podcast covers topics such as Monster Hunter's positive numbers, arguing over Warcraft Rumble's design, setting up fantasy drafts for new CEOs of Activision and Unity, and reasons why Disney won't buy EA.
Oct 13, 2023 • 44min
AR Gaming revived by the Meta Quest 3?
Asad J Malik, CEO of Jaru AR, discusses the potential of AR gaming on mobile devices after the release of Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro. They explore creating immersive experiences, challenges in AR game development, user experience capabilities, and the importance of cross-platform gaming.
Oct 12, 2023 • 53min
TWIG #253 John Riccitiello's Legacy / EA post FIFA in Numbers
Former CEO of Unity, John Riccitiello's legacy is discussed, along with EA's performance post FIFA. They deconstruct TakeTwo's mobile game, Top Troops and the negative impact of the FIFA World Cup license on the brand's perception among Gen Z consumers. Battle Legion's mechanics and audience appeal are also analyzed.
Oct 9, 2023 • 1h 13min
The Art of Hiring and Getting Hired with Jordan Mazer, Head of Talent at a16z Games
Jordan Mazer, Head of Talent at a16z Games, shares insights on optimal interview processes, assessing skills, building a recruitment process from scratch, qualities of a good interview process, hiring enjoyable managers, and hiring for company culture.
Oct 5, 2023 • 53min
TWIG #252 Unity's CEO Finally Speak Out while Epic Lays Off 900
John Riccotello, CEO of Unity, discusses Epic's layoffs, Netflix's Love is Blind, Fortnite's price increases, and the importance of Unreal Engine. The hosts criticize the CEO's management, analyze interactive fiction games on Netflix, and explore the impact of layoffs in the gaming industry.
Oct 2, 2023 • 55min
REPRESENTATION IN GAMES and Game Award shows
Robin Gray, founder of Gayming Magazine and creator of the Gayming Awards, discusses the importance of representation and inclusivity in the game industry. They explore strategies for promoting diversity, highlight the benefits of catering to the LGBTQ community, and discuss the upcoming game award show that aims to bring the global games industry closer.
Sep 28, 2023 • 1h 4min
TWIG #251 If we were running Unity, we'd...
In this podcast, the hosts discuss various topics including the gaming industry news, Unity's new subscription model, monetizing hidden object games on Netflix, renegotiating deals with Unity, payment processing and marketing competitive intelligence tools for game developers, Unity's potential pivot towards user-generated content and platform building, and the challenges faced by big tech companies in the gaming industry.
Sep 26, 2023 • 34min
SPEEDRUN with a16z's Josh Lu and Andrew Lee
Josh Lu and Andrew Lee discuss SPEEDRUN, a program for game startups that offers funding, workspace, mentorship, and networking opportunities. They talk about the financial aspects, joining a community, the application process, and the involvement of renowned speakers in coaching and building relationships.
