Deconstructor of Fun

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

In this engaging discussion, Kim Nordström, a gaming industry veteran and CEO of PlayerUnknown Productions, shares his journey from releasing his first game in 1995 to leading innovative teams. He dives deep into his book 'Up, Down, Up,' exploring the significance of company culture and psychological safety in fostering creativity. Nordström highlights the critical transition between growth and maturity phases, reflecting on leadership principles and the challenges of sustaining innovation in established companies. His insights are shaped by interviews with top industry leaders, providing a treasure trove of wisdom.

Explore the buzz around a potential new PlayStation Portable and Elon Musk's ambitious AI game studio. The discussion touches on the fallout from Ubisoft's studio closures and the ongoing success of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Mobile gaming gets a spotlight with big launches like Archero 2 and Capybara Go. Lastly, dive into a showdown between Marvel Rivals and Delta Force, along with insights on the challenges new MOBAs face in gaining traction in a competitive landscape.

Sergei Vasiuk, LiveOps Director at Wargaming and author of 'Running a Successful Live Service Game,' shares his expertise in game development. He discusses the evolution of gaming models, emphasizing the importance of data-driven development and community engagement. Sergei provides insights on navigating player retention amidst saturated markets, balancing monetization with a positive player experience, and the value of local community managers. Tune in for actionable strategies and predictions about the future of LiveOps in gaming!

Daniel Tchernahovsky, VP of Business Development at AppLovin, shares his journey in the mobile gaming landscape. He discusses the rapid growth of mobile gaming and the shift towards hybrid monetization strategies. Tchernahovsky emphasizes the crucial role of automation and AI in transforming user acquisition efforts. He also highlights the importance of aligning marketing and product teams to optimize user engagement, and how effective metrics can guide successful monetization. Finally, he addresses the evolving dynamics of the app market amidst recent industry challenges.

Happy Thanksgaming! This week, the Deconstructor of Fun crew kicks things off with a recap of the buzzing Slush event before diving into a deep analysis of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. From there, we tackle Ubisoft’s heated return-to-office controversy and explore Hasbro’s massive $150 million investment in gaming. The latter half of the episode delves into Royal Kingdom’s prolonged soft launch strategy and wrap up with a discussion on FIFA’s latest collaboration with Mythical Games. Can they rival EA FC? Tune in for insights, reflections, and a glimpse into what lies ahead in the evolving gaming landscape! 00:00 Happy Thanksgaming! 02:54 Slush Event Recap 08:26 Heroic Labs Updates 17:37 Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Analysis 29:49 Ubisoft's Return to Office Controversy 36:54 Hasbro's $150 Million Investment in Gaming 41:03 Mattel vs. Hasbro: A Tale of Two Toy Giants 45:48 The Interconnectedness of Toys and Gaming 54:47 Game District's Acquisition of Gleam Games 55:49 AppCharge Raises $26 Million for Gaming Apps 56:36 Royal Kingdom's Market Strategy 01:10:47 Mythical Games' New Arcade Football Game 01:15:44 Wrapping Up: Reflections and Future Prospects