UNBOXING: Play and Profit for the Gaming Curious
Laine Nooney, Joost van Dreunen
Joost crunches data. Laine rummages in archives. Together on UNBOXING, these two NYU professors unlock the secrets of the games business they share with their students and cover the games news for insiders and newbies alike. A weekly podcast for anyone curious about why games matter in today's economy, dropping every Friday. Logo by Moira Zhang, theeverdrift.cargo.site
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 7, 2023 • 46min
The Sega data dump explained. Niantic layoffs are a mixed reality. And a preview of the coming summer semester
We're back with season 3. Laine puts the 272 pages of confidential Sega documents in their proper historical context. Joost explains what the layoffs at Pokémon Go maker Niantic mean for the next iteration of augmented reality. We also briefly discuss the ABK/MSFT courtroom drama and mourn the erosion of social media.
Jun 5, 2023 • 1h 5min
Apple's new headset, NVIDIA's trillion dollar kingdom, Zelda but while high, and Embracer got shoved but by whom
Laine and Joost stay on the hype train with Zelda's new drop even if it is taking over their lives. We discuss Wall Street's new favorite trillion dollar tech firm, NVIDIA, and how well it fares with tech cycles. And finally, we speculate on who ditched Embracer, costing it $2 billion, right before earnings.
May 21, 2023 • 1h 4min
Europe hearts the Activision deal, Tears of the Kingdom, and the worst list of the best video games ever
What happens now that the EU approved the Activision deal. The new Zelda game is out and woo boy. And Laine and Joost dissect GQ’s list of the greatest video games ever.
Apr 28, 2023 • 1h 10min
UK watchdog blocks Microsoft's plans, and SEGA finds out about unions
Joost and Laine discuss if Microsoft's takeover bid of Activision is dead after the CMA decided to block the deal. SEGA embraces a worker's union, but what is the impact on the industry?
Apr 21, 2023 • 1h 4min
Sega buys Rovio, Mario fetches $700M at box office, and demographic deep dive.
Sega offers to acquire Angry Birds maker Rovio for $776 million. Laine and Joost dissect demographic data on Hogwarts Legacy players. And, why does everyone seem surprised the Mario movie made $700 million at the box office?
Apr 8, 2023 • 1h 3min
Recap of SXSW and GDC 2023, the Saudis buy Scopely, and what's next for The Last of Us
Joost is back from the road and shares his impressions from SXSW and GDC. Our first audience call-in question has Laine filleting the nuances around the TLoU's adaptation. And we discuss the Saudi Arabian road to video game world domination.
Mar 3, 2023 • 1h 5min
Sony's new media empire, GamePass expansionism, and the true Hogwarts legacy
Laine is slowly emerging from old men media YouTube to secure themselves long-term academic stability. Joost explains how Sony is moving away from trying to invent another walkman and becoming a media firm. And we have our final say on the Hogwarts legacy. This week closes with a double load of pwns and owns.
Feb 17, 2023 • 1h 14min
Roblox's earnings, live service games versus the economy, and GDC's misstatement of the industry
We reach the end of this earnings season with Roblox, AppLovin, and NEXON. Laine and Joost take a closer look at how live services games are managing with a tougher economy. And they take a fine tooth comb to GDC's recently released report on the state of the gaming industry.
Feb 10, 2023 • 57min
The issue with Harry, Take-Two's "big miss", and recent moves in anti-trust
Take-Two Interactive and Activision Blizzard reported earnings, but doing well and acting right aren't the same thing. Anti-trust regulators in Europe and the UK released their latest objections to Microsoft's acquisition plans. And Laine and Joost navigate the controversy around the latest Harry Potter video game release.
Feb 4, 2023 • 1h 13min
Playtika's bid for Rovio, The Last of Us breaks HBO, and the impact of generative AI
Our second season starts with a review of earnings for Electronic Arts, Sony, and Hasbro. Laine and Joost delve into Playtika's $800 million offer to acquire Rovio, the maker of Angry Birds, and question whether artificial intelligence threatens their careers or if it's just a mediocre assistant. The episode concludes with an impression of HBO's The Last of Us and a reaction to the news of games journalists getting laid off.
