
two & a half gamers
This is a no BS gaming podcast. We share insights, knowledge and fun gossip relating to the topics of User Acquisition, Game Design and Ad monetisation. You will find here actionable insights in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. A safe space where we mimic the honesty of a 4am conference discussion. Enjoy & let us know your feedback!
Latest episodes

Sep 5, 2024 • 44min
Impulse Brain Training games: A hyper scaling app masquerading as a brain training
Impulse is a brain training app with significant revenue and download growth. The app offers a combination of hypercasual games and cognitive training programs to improve IQ, memory, and cognitive abilities. It uses clever monetization strategies, including subscription plans and discounts, to encourage users to upgrade to premium. The app's ad monetization is heavily segmented, with different ad experiences based on the user's usage and payment status. The app also includes prompts that resemble the official Google Play UI to encourage users to make in-app purchases. The conversation explores a popular brain training app's monetization strategies and user acquisition tactics. The app uses interstitial ads and in-app purchases to generate revenue, targeting older female users on Facebook.
This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.
Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric
Youtube: https://youtu.be/yfI-rZNCi0M
Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2o1689ww5-6xo82AVLQQI~IwHKvtps8Q
Agenda
00:00 Epic Intro
02:05 Impulse's Impressive Revenue and Downloads
04:04 Impulse as a Gaming Juggernaut in Brain Training
07:52 Clever Monetization Strategies in Impulse
09:35 Segmented Ad Monetization in Impulse
13:28 Innovative Ad Mechanics in Impulse
21:07 Monetization Strategies and User Acquisition Tactics
23:42 Combining Hypercasual Gameplay with Fake Psychological Tests
26:26 Improving User Engagement with Progression Elements and Visual Indicators
29:30 Targeting Older Female Users on Facebook
---------------------------------------
Matej Lancaric
User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant
https://lancaric.me
Felix Braberg
Ad monetization consultant
https://www.felixbraberg.com
Jakub Remiar
Game design consultant
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar
---------------------------------------
Takeaways
The app combines hypercasual games and cognitive training programs to improve cognitive abilities.
Impulse uses clever monetization strategies, including subscription plans and discounts, to encourage users to upgrade to premium.
The app's ad monetization is heavily segmented, with different ad experiences based on the user's usage and payment status.
The app includes prompts that resemble the official Google Play UI to encourage users to make in-app purchases. The app uses interstitial ads and in-app purchases to monetize its user base.
The app targets older female users on Facebook.
The app's creatives combine hypercasual gameplay with fake psychological tests.
Adding more progression elements and visual indicators of IQ growth could improve user engagement.
---------------------------------------
Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!
Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!
Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me
---------------------------------------
If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej Lancaric
Latest article - https://open.substack.com/pub/lancaric/p/match-3d-ua-playbook-real-data-inside?r=7qqaf&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Do you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
Felix Latest Article -
https://www.felixbraberg.com/post/the-end-of-gam-and-admob-placement-refreshes

Sep 2, 2024 • 1h 12min
Office cat Idle Tycoon Live Review: $125k/day revenue with 80k/day spend = nice profit w/ Seok Kang
Seok Kang, a seasoned game designer and user acquisition expert, joins a lively panel to discuss the phenomenal success of the game Office Cat. They dive into the rise of cat-themed games, exploring low costs per install and unique game mechanics. The conversation spotlights clever ad placements and how to balance in-app purchases with user experience. They also tackle retention challenges and innovative monetization strategies, providing insights for developers navigating the gaming industry.

Aug 27, 2024 • 1h 6min
Lucky Defense Success: Will it conquer the West? A New Tower Defense hitting the charts
This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.
Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric
Youtube: https://youtu.be/ssViN7_K9CY
Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2o1689ww5-6xo82AVLQQI~IwHKvtps8Q
Agenda
00:00 Epic intro
02:23 Overview of Lucky Defense's Success
06:01 Comparison to Other Tower Defense Games
09:27 Gameplay and Mechanics of Lucky Defense
17:11 The Importance of Luck and Unit Upgrades
18:00 Artifacts and the Gacha System
20:08 Challenges and Complexity of the Game
21:54 Breaking the Rules: Mythic's Unique Gacha Mechanics
23:24 The Frustrations of Randomness in Mythic
29:23 Exploring the Dungeon: Cooperative Gameplay in Mythic
35:43 Balancing Issues and Unit Reliance in Mythic
38:08 Improving Mythic: Adding Variety and Strategy
41:19 Introduction to the ad placements and monetization strategy of Random Dice: PvP Defense
43:23 Challenges with ad placements in the game
46:46 Issues with after-level ad boost placement
49:45 The lack of suitable creatives for the Western audience
01:00:20 Predictions for the game's future and the possibility of a Western release
---------------------------------------
Matej Lancaric
User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant
https://lancaric.me
Felix Braberg
Ad monetization consultant
https://www.felixbraberg.com
Jakub Remiar
Game design consultant
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar
---------------------------------------
Takeaways
Lucky Defense is a popular game in South Korea with unique mechanics and a strong emphasis on luck.
Players should focus on specific units, such as the Bandit and Shock Troop, and upgrade them strategically.
Artifacts play a crucial role in gameplay, with the Safe Box and Money Gun being the most important.
The game's gacha system is challenging and requires players to collect shared shards to upgrade mythic units.
The game's complexity and lack of accessibility may limit its appeal to Western audiences. Mythic breaks the main gacha rules by allowing direct purchase of units through hard currency.
The game's gacha system is highly random and can be frustrating for players.
The difficulty levels and cooperative gameplay in the Dungeon mode add complexity to the game.
The game's balancing issues and reliance on specific units for success are major drawbacks.
Improvements could be made by designing units and monsters with different strategies and adding more variety to the gameplay. The ad placements in Random Dice: PvP Defense are not well explained and lack notification buttons, which hinders their effectiveness.
The game lacks diverse and engaging creatives for advertising.
Improvements such as adding notification buttons and better-explaining ad units could increase ad revenue.
The hosts predict that the game's success may decline over time and suggest the possibility of a Western release.
---------------------------------------
Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!
Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!
Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me
---------------------------------------
If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej Lancaric
Latest article - https://open.substack.com/pub/lancaric/p/match-3d-ua-playbook-real-data-inside?r=7qqaf&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Aug 22, 2024 • 60min
2.5 gamers x Live AM(F)A #5 - Ask Me Anything with Filippo De Rose
This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers live AMA session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.
Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Filippo De Rose, Matej Lancaric
https://www.linkedin.com/in/filippoderose
Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2o1689ww5-6xo82AVLQQI~IwHKvtps8Q
Agenda:
00:00 Epic intro and Secret Guest Introduction
03:01 Transitioning from Gaming to Non-Gaming Apps
06:05 Improving Day One Retention in Games
12:07 Revenue Potential of Find-the-Difference Games
17:32 User Acquisition Strategies for Indie Developers
23:26 Recommended Resources for Game Mechanic Design and UI/UX
34:44 Starting a Blog and Sharing Knowledge
35:25 The Impact of Market Timing on Product Metrics
36:01 Landscape vs. Portrait Mode in Games
41:47 Optimizing Mobile Apps that are Actually Websites
43:43 Recommended Publishers for Casual Hybrid Games
56:41 Forecasting Campaign Targets
---------------------------------------
Matej Lancaric
User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant
https://lancaric.me
Felix Braberg
Ad monetization consultant
https://www.felixbraberg.com
Jakub Remiar
Game design consultant
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar
---------------------------------------
Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!
Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!
Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me
---------------------------------------
If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej Lancaric
Latest article - https://open.substack.com/pub/lancaric/p/stay-ahead-in-ua-for-2024-my-top?r=7qqaf&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_medium=web&showWelcome=true
Do you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
Felix Latest Article -
https://www.felixbraberg.com/post/the-end-of-gam-and-admob-placement-refreshes

Aug 19, 2024 • 41min
Squad Busters *BIG NEW* update: No more Pay to Win. No gacha, no money!
This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session #. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.
Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric
Youtube: https://youtu.be/zXUkwYwHamg
Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2o1689ww5-6xo82AVLQQI~IwHKvtps8Q
Agenda
00:00 Epic Introand Overview of the Update
01:35 Impact on Monetization and Player Base
06:24 Removal of Megas and Introduction of New Characters and Skins
10:36 Gameplay Experiences and Balance Changes
15:22 Exploring the New Game Modes
21:22 Exploring the Recent Updates and Changes in the Game
22:14 The Intriguing Mechanics of Chicken and Gem Pass
23:27 Strategically Using Chest Multipliers for Better Rewards
29:08 Improving PvP Gameplay and Rewards
32:10 Enhancing the Metagame Mechanics for a Better Experience
34:29 Join the Slack Channel and Stay Updated with the Podcast
---------------------------------------
Matej Lancaric
User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant
https://lancaric.me
Felix Braberg
Ad monetization consultant
https://www.felixbraberg.com
Jakub Remiar
Game design consultant
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar
---------------------------------------
Takeaways
The recent update to Squadbusters has brought significant changes to the game's monetization and gameplay.
The decline in daily active users and low retention rate are concerning for the game's long-term success.
Megas have been removed from the game, and players have received skins and coins as compensation.
The update introduced new characters, skins, and game modes, providing players with more content to explore.
The hosts share their gameplay experiences and discuss the balance changes in the update. The recent updates in the game have brought significant changes, such as the chicken mechanic and gem pass.
The chest multipliers have been modified, allowing players to strategically use them for better rewards.
The hosts discuss the PvP gameplay and suggest improvements, such as changing the rewards for killing other players.
They highlight the importance of metagame mechanics and suggest adding new functionality to enhance the gameplay experience.
---------------------------------------
Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!
Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!
Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me
---------------------------------------
If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej Lancaric
Latest article - https://open.substack.com/pub/lancaric/p/match-3d-ua-playbook-real-data-inside?r=7qqaf&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Do you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
Felix Latest Article -
https://www.felixbraberg.com/post/the-end-of-gam-and-admob-placement-refreshes

Aug 15, 2024 • 48min
Idle Outpost Zombie Apocalypse Review: (down)scaling?
Jakub Remiar, a game design consultant, joins the discussion to dive into the dynamics of idle games, particularly 'Idle Outpost.' The guests explore the challenges of scaling within the game, highlighting its unique mechanics in a zombie apocalypse setting. They emphasize the power of storytelling in enhancing player engagement and ad performance. There's a humorous take on user retention struggles, alongside an urgent call for more creative concepts in the genre. Insightful comparisons with other idle games round out a lively debate.

Aug 12, 2024 • 47min
Creative trends in mobile games - July 2024
This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.
Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric
Youtube: https://youtu.be/yBym7yuDi5A
Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2o1689ww5-6xo82AVLQQI~IwHKvtps8Q
Agenda
00:00 Epic intro and Discussion on Mobile Gaming Podcast
01:18 Creative Trends for July
05:15 Analyzing Hustle Castle
08:57 Exploring Kingdom Guard
09:53 The Rise of Survivor IO
10:23 Analyzing Whiteout Survival
11:33 The Use of Rivers, Fences, and Tracks in Mobile Game Creatives
14:16 The Wild West of Copyright Infringement in Mobile Gaming
18:33 The Importance of Creating New Creatives for Different UA Channels
20:22 Analyzing Idle Outpost
22:59 Analyzing Township
23:15 The Use of Playables in Mobile Game Creatives
00:37 Near-Death Experiences and Tension in Creatives
10:23 Pushing Objects Off the Screen
20:13 Expanding Gates in Game Mechanics
27:27 Importance of High-Quality Visuals and Sound
31:57 Popular Games Showcasing Creative Trends
38:25 Clash of Clans' 12th Anniversary Celebration
---------------------------------------
Matej Lancaric
User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant
https://lancaric.me
Felix Braberg
Ad monetization consultant
https://www.felixbraberg.com
Jakub Remiar
Game design consultant
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar
---------------------------------------
Takeaways
Fear, tension, and near-death experiences are effective creative strategies in mobile gaming.
Creating new creatives is crucial for different UA channels, such as TikTok and Facebook.
Rivers, fences, and tracks are common elements used in mobile gaming creatives.
Playables play a significant role in driving engagement.
The conversation provides insights into the creative trends and strategies in mobile gaming for July. Near-death experiences and tension-inducing mechanics are popular in casual mobile game creatives.
Pushing objects off the screen is a common game mechanic used in creatives.
Expanding gates in game mechanics is a trend observed in casual mobile games.
High-quality visuals and sound are essential for engaging creatives.
Popular games like Brawl Stars, Royal Match, and Block Blast showcase these creative trends.
---------------------------------------
Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!
Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!
Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me
---------------------------------------
If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej Lancaric
Latest article - https://open.substack.com/pub/lancaric/p/match-3d-ua-playbook-real-data-inside?r=7qqaf&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Do you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
Felix Latest Article -
https://www.felixbraberg.com/post/the-end-of-gam-and-admob-placement-refreshes

Aug 8, 2024 • 1h 7min
Inside Stormgate with Tim Morten: In-Depth Live Review & Gameplay with Insights
This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session #. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.
Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric
Special guest: Tim Morten
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-morten/
Stormgate
https://playstormgate.com/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2012510/Stormgate/
Youtube: https://youtu.be/pVaQS942xI0
Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2o1689ww5-6xo82AVLQQI~IwHKvtps8Q
Agenda
00:00 Epic intro
01:30 Introduction to Storm Gate
09:26 The Free-to-Play Model and Content Differences
14:07 The Business Model and Inspiration from StarCraft II
18:26 The Power of Custom Maps and the Editor
23:02 Ongoing Campaign Content Updates
25:24 Improving the Game and Listening to Feedback
31:57 Observing Recent Game Launches
35:10 The Evolution of Stormgate
44:47 Maintaining Independence
50:18 Support from Investors and the Community
01:00:12 Future Updates
01:03:11 Creating a Long-lasting Game
---------------------------------------
Matej Lancaric
User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant
https://lancaric.me
Felix Braberg
Ad monetization consultant
https://www.felixbraberg.com
Jakub Remiar
Game design consultant
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar
---------------------------------------
Takeaways
Frost Giant Studios is developing Storm Gate, a new PC real-time strategy game that follows the gameplay heritage specific to Blizzard RTS.
The game has different modes, including campaign, cooperative, and competitive, and Frost Giant Studios aims to avoid pay-to-win mechanics and grind.
Players can try the game for free and then purchase additional content if they choose.
The studio plans to release new campaign content regularly and is committed to listening to player feedback and improving the game. Stormgate is an evolving game that blends elements from Warcraft and Starcraft to appeal to a broad audience.
The team behind Stormgate is committed to maintaining their independence and creating the best game possible.
The game has received support from investors and the community through crowdfunding campaigns.
Future updates for Stormgate include new co-op maps, more heroes, seasonal events, a map editor, and a learning tool system.
The goal is to create a game that players enjoy and continue to purchase, similar to the longevity of Blizzard games.
---------------------------------------
Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!
Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!
Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me
---------------------------------------
If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej Lancaric
Latest article - https://lancaric.substack.com/p/how-to-market-a-merge-game-top3-ua
Do you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
Felix Latest Article -
https://www.felixbraberg.com/post/the-end-of-gam-and-admob-placement-refreshes

Aug 5, 2024 • 48min
How to create high performing AI statics? Top 6 Ad placement inspiration in last 30days
This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.
Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric
Youtube: https://youtu.be/jHiBI7HRv0M
Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2ftcc85es-CesThaafn9k0BIFSVAV8FQ
Agenda
00:00 Epic intro
06:03 RoomSorts by GamingCat
08:33 Traffic Escape
12:22 Pizza Ready by Supercent
15:24 Hexa Sword by Lion Studios
19:32 App Open Rewarded Interstitial Ads in Hexasaur
25:09 The Brilliance of App Open-Rewarded Interstitial Ads
27:06 Using AI-Generated Images for Creative Inspiration
32:20 The Power of Static Images in Facebook Advertising
38:41 The Importance of Regular Creative Refreshes
---------------------------------------
Matej Lancaric
User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant
https://lancaric.me
Felix Braberg
Ad monetization consultant
https://www.felixbraberg.com
Jakub Remiar
Game design consultant
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar
---------------------------------------
Takeaways
Different mobile games use various ad placements to monetize their apps
Rewarded ad placements can be strategically placed to enhance the gameplay experience
Banner ads can be conveniently located near core gameplay mechanics to increase click-through rates
App open interstitials can generate revenue from users who show intent to play the game
The effectiveness of ad placements depends on the number of sessions and session time App open rewarded interstitial ads can significantly increase ad impressions and revenue
The game Hexasaur uses a clever implementation of app open rewarded interstitial ads to maximize ad exposure
AI-generated images from the Mid-Journey library can provide creative inspiration for ad campaigns
Static images are currently outperforming videos in Facebook advertising
Regular creative refreshes, including the use of static images, are crucial for maintaining ad performance
---------------------------------------
Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!
Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!
Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me
---------------------------------------
If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej Lancaric
Latest article - https://open.substack.com/pub/lancaric/p/how-to-market-a-merge-game-top3-ua?r=7qqaf&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Do you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
Felix Latest Article -
https://www.felixbraberg.com/post/the-end-of-gam-and-admob-placement-refreshes

Aug 1, 2024 • 39min
Softlaunch Sonar #5: More Whiteout survival-like games coming!
Jakub Remia, a seasoned expert in user acquisition and game design, joins the lively discussion. They dive into the innovative merging of genres, especially whimsical survival games set in treacherous whiteout conditions. The team humorously evaluates various titles like 'Dark and Darker Mobile' and the evolution of room-based puzzles. They also highlight the dominance of Chinese developers in the casual market, shedding light on emerging trends and strategic insights in mobile gaming.