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 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.
Sep 21, 2023 • 51min
TWIG #250 XBOX SAID WHAT???
The podcast discusses Unity drama, leaked XBOX emails, and key takeaways from the Roblox conference. They also talk about Unity's market share and revenue, potential design changes for Xbox, challenges with Game Pass, payment solutions for game developers, and leaked documents revealing game app costs and content gaps. They analyze the impact of removing stock-based compensation for a specific company.
Sep 19, 2023 • 1h 11min
AI GAMING REVOLUTION: Shaping the Future of Play with Pieter Kooyman
Pieter Kooyman, CEO and Founder of Half Moon Studios, explores the impact of AI on the gaming industry, including the benefits of using Heroic Labs in game development and the consequences of hiring specialists. He also discusses the AI's implications for organizational culture, the use of AI in writing, and the challenges of transforming organizations in the gaming industry.
Sep 14, 2023 • 55min
TWiG #249 Epic Unity Talk
In this podcast, the hosts discuss Unity's new pricing model and the controversy surrounding it. They also talk about the challenges faced by Epic in finding skilled developers for their Unreal engine. Additionally, they address the difficulties of accurately tracking app installs and revenue in the gaming industry, as well as the lack of innovation in AAA video games.
Sep 12, 2023 • 1h 17min
NAVIGATING GAMING MARKET: TRENDS, TRIUMPHS & TROUBLES with Tom Wijman, Newzoo'a Lead Analyst
Tom Wijman, Newzoo's Lead Analyst, discusses the trends in gaming, including the growth of console gaming, the impact of life services, and the challenges in the console gaming market. They also explore the differences between console and PC games, the macroeconomic factors affecting the industry, the role of AI in game development, and the effectiveness of transmedia in gaming.
