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GameMakers

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May 15, 2023 • 1h 7min

Diversity in a Changing World | Sarah Thomson Shares Her Experience

Sarah Thomson is a long-time games industry veteran, having had an extremely successful career in business development at companies like IUGO, Gree, Sony (PlayStation), Google, and most recently at Bad Robot Games. We discuss her experience and thoughts on female diversity in the gaming industry. Get ready for a real discussion where we try to address topics more meaningfully. OUTLINE: 0:00 Intro 1:30 How should women be treated in the workplace, if differently from men? 6:45 JK's experience with diversity in India 9:41 Male-to-male vs. male-to-female engagement 14:50 Importance of being open on both sides | Focus on intent, understand emotions 27:30 How to give feedback when bias occurs? 31:17 Risks of giving feedback and retaliation? 36:50 Why is the games industry so male-dominated? 41:14 Benefits of different perspectives and female diversity 48:45 How to encourage diversity? 53:23 Diversity in startups vs. large organizations | Is JK copping out on diversity? 59:37 Is diversity vs. efficiency a false trade-off? The impact of macroeconomy on diversity 1:05:36 Contacting Sarah/final message from Sarah 👇 EPISODE LINKS: • Sarah Thomson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahthomson/ • Iron Galaxy Studios: https://irongalaxystudios.com/ • Bad Robot Games: https://www.badrobotgames.com/ SUBSCRIBE TO GAMEMAKERS: - Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/34hfOtv - Spotify Podcast: https://spoti.fi/3Cpyq7i - Newsletter: https://gamemakers.substack.com/ - Don't miss an episode on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GameMakersStudio 😃 —CONNECT WITH ME! — • MY INSTAGRAM → @jokim1 • TWITTER → @jokim1 • LINKEDIN → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jokim/ — POPULAR CONTENT — 🤑 Economy of the Metaverse with Tim Sweeney https://youtu.be/h6ClJxjuRvw ℹ️ How to Build the Amazon of Game Companies https://youtu.be/bkd2TOpKt4I 🔮 Gaming Trends | A Look Ahead at 2021 https://youtu.be/NejFzHtpiZI 🖥️ The Future of PC Gaming https://youtu.be/_QT7O3Wxi2s 🔴 Games Industry M&A https://youtu.be/65nyPk6WNrs 🔴 Netcode for Multiplayer Games https://youtu.be/tHq3PzmjhLw 🔴 IDFA Deprecation Product Impact https://youtu.be/Ojec4wGKpso 🔴 Trip Hawkins on the New High Score https://youtu.be/5egTSQ6AiRA 🔴 LiveOps F2P Best Practices https://youtu.be/tmzqqnYbjNY
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Apr 2, 2023 • 7min

JK Vlog #7: Adversity, Focus on Can Do!

I'm back after a few months. Here are some recent thoughts on dealing with adversity that has come up this year. I really thought 2023 was gonna be easy! Lol. FORTUNATELY, I'm still struggling with challenges which is making me a better person. As my wife recently told me: "Don't focus on what we can't do or can't have, let's focus on what we can do." LFG everybody. Hope you're all killing it!
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Mar 27, 2023 • 46min

Hypernova: Facing Adversity and Building the GTA for India!

Mayur Bhimjiyani is the CEO and co-founder of Hypernova, an India-based F2P games studio building a GTA-like game focusing on the Indian market. Mayur speaks about his background, the history behind Hypernova, and why they are building Mayanagari, a game Mayur hopes to become as successful as GTA. OUTLINE: 0:00 Intro 1:02 Why do so many Indian game devs call Hypernova the most exciting game studio in India? 4:45 Why build Mayanagari - the GTA for India? 16:33 The history behind Hypernova 22:07 Mayanagari stage and launch plans 26:10 Mayanagari monetization model 33:30 The evolution of the India games industry- RPGs 35:38 New game dev vs. liveops in India (Zynga vs. Hypernova) 40:07 Positive areas and areas of improvement for new game dev in India 44:30 What do you look forward to from India game dev market? 45:20 How to contact Mayur or find out more about Mayanagari?
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Mar 21, 2023 • 25min

Sequoia Capital India on Investing in Indian Gaming Market

OUTLINE: 0:00 Sequoia Capital India introduction 0:49 Intro to Shailesh Lakhani and Prachi Pawar 3:29 Type of investments and founders they seek 4:36 Surge pre-Series A program 5:30 Specific opportunities and trends in India 9:04 Gaming opportunity in India 13:51 Specific gaming investment opportunities they seek 14:59 Why did Sequoia India invest in Lila Games? 16:30 Current investment environment, macro factors 19:19 Advice to founders based on current trends 21:10 Outlook on Web3 22:51 Advice to founders who would pitch Sequoia India SUBSCRIBE TO GAMEMAKERS: - Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/34hfOtv - Spotify Podcast: https://spoti.fi/3Cpyq7i - Newsletter: https://gamemakers.substack.com/ - Don't miss an episode on Youtube:    / gamemakersstudio   👇 EPISODE LINKS: - Sequoia Capital India Website: https://www.sequoiacap.com/india/ - Shailesh Lakhani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shailesh-... - Prachi Pawar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prachi-pa...
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Mar 17, 2023 • 44min

F2P Game Startups: Keep Going or Tap Out? ft. Michael Martinez (CEO of FunCraft)

OUTLINE: 0:00 Intro  0:33 The "brutal" game dev environment   2:11 Current market environment vs. before  3:50 More about Funcraft and the business situation  8:15 Funcraft's biggest challenge  9:40 How do you determine what game to make?  11:52 Biggest lessons and challenges of startups vs. big companies to achieve success  14:54 Challenge of new game dev from big companies  17:20 Lessons for mobile gaming startups in current market environment  19:50 Focus vs. "don't bet the farm"  22:12 Keep going or do you tap out? When to pivot or quit?  26:55 The benefit of just being alive  28:20 Current primary challenges  31:45 Thoughts around selling your company   34:10 Advice to new entrepreneurs in F2P gaming  36:30 Thoughts on current marketing challenges  39:40 Future trends and opportunities  41:50 Final thoughts on state of market and overall market outlook  43:05 How to reach Michael 👇 EPISODE LINKS: - Michael Martinez, CEO of Funcraft: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinezmichaelj/ - FunCraft: https://www.funcraft.com/ SUBSCRIBE TO GAMEMAKERS: - Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/34hfOtv - Spotify Podcast: https://spoti.fi/3Cpyq7i - Newsletter: https://gamemakers.substack.com/ - Don't miss an episode on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GameMakersStudio
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Feb 18, 2023 • 1h 29min

Debate: Is Blizzard Stack Ranking Evil?

OUTLINE: 0:00 Bloomberg article on stack ranking at Blizzard 1:01 Introduct to speakers: Matthew Kanterman, Drew Levin, and Brett Nowak 1:48 High level thoughts on stack ranking as a practice 5:33 Stack ranking poll results - Majority are against 7:30 JK hypothetical situations to use stack ranking 25:40 Character vs. cruelty in stack ranking during recruiting 36:30 Management rationale behind stack ranking 39:27 Should the Blizzard manager have been fired? 47:10 Stack ranking ties to capability of management layer 50:45 Stack ranking for performance evaluation 1:07:10 Why employees should get close to company value creation to avoid layoffs 1:08:40 JK's crazy stack ranking performance evaluation idea - investing virtual $ in co-workers 1:26:40 Final thoughts on getting canceled 👇 EPISODE LINKS: - Matthew's reference to The Office Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wqQXu13tLA - Matthew Kanterman, Director of Research at Roundhill Investments: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-kanterman-cfa-b6345133/ - Drew Levin, Director of Product at Riot Games: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drew-levin-7a225626/ - Brett Nowak, CEO at Liquid & Grit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-nowak-8920675/ SUBSCRIBE TO GAMEMAKERS: - Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/34hfOtv - Spotify Podcast: https://spoti.fi/3Cpyq7i - Newsletter: https://gamemakers.substack.com/ - Don't miss an episode on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GameMakersStudio 😃 —CONNECT WITH ME! — • MY INSTAGRAM → @jokim1 • TWITTER → @jokim1 • LINKEDIN → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jokim/ — POPULAR CONTENT — 🤑 Economy of the Metaverse with Tim Sweeney https://youtu.be/h6ClJxjuRvw ℹ️ How to Build the Amazon of Game Companies https://youtu.be/bkd2TOpKt4I 🔮 Gaming Trends | A Look Ahead at 2021 https://youtu.be/NejFzHtpiZI 🖥️ The Future of PC Gaming https://youtu.be/_QT7O3Wxi2s 🔴 Games Industry M&A https://youtu.be/65nyPk6WNrs 🔴 Netcode for Multiplayer Games https://youtu.be/tHq3PzmjhLw 🔴 IDFA Deprecation Product Impact https://youtu.be/Ojec4wGKpso 🔴 Trip Hawkins on the New High Score https://youtu.be/5egTSQ6AiRA 🔴 LiveOps F2P Best Practices https://youtu.be/tmzqqnYbjNY
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Feb 16, 2023 • 30min

Mobile Shooters: What's Next After Battle Royale? ft. Jordan Phang/Naavik (FREE REPORT!)

OUTLINE: 0:00 Intro  0:50 Jordan Phang self intro  1:35 Mobile shooter game market size  2:53 Competitive concentration in mobile shooter and Asia  4:25 Success in China  5:40 US market and games to watch out for  6:50 Adapting games for specific markets like Japan and China  8:25 Naavik's shooter taxonomy and problems with classification  12:52 Explanation of extraction shooter sub-genre  14:15 Current extraction shooter games: Lost Light, Arena Breakout  15:22 The thesis behind extraction shooter as the next big subgenre in mobile shooters  17:18 Monetization of shooter games  21:50 The future mobile shooter games to watch out for  23:38 Warzone Mobile  24:38 Players looking for something new  27:00 Problems with Apex Legends Mobile (we recorded this in Jan 2023, before the shutdown announcement)  28:15 Outlook for 2023: Get excited! 👇 EPISODE LINKS: - Get the free Naavik Pro report on Mobile Shooters here: https://naavik.co/deep-dives/genre-report-shooter-preview?rq=mobile%20shooters - Jordan Phang: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-phang-8137b710/
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Jan 22, 2023 • 57min

Breaking the Meta in The Game of Life! with Moritz Baier-Lentz (Lightspeed Venture Partners)

Moritz Baier-Lentz is a partner at Lightspeed Gaming, heading up their gaming investment practice. Today we discuss viewing life as a game and how to optimize your own goals towards life by thinking about life as a game and how to break the meta. You won't want to miss this unique and interesting discussion, so check it out! SUBSCRIBE TO GAMEMAKERS: - Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/34hfOtv - Spotify Podcast: https://spoti.fi/3Cpyq7i - Newsletter: https://gamemakers.substack.com/ - Don't miss an episode on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GameMakersStudio OUTLINE: 0:00 Introduction, the concept of life as a meta game 1:16 Explanation of "meta" and viewing life as a game 6:32 Moritz's background, career history 12:15 What are current metas for success in life? Breaking the meta 15:26 Breaking conventional wisdom, play as experimentation: work vs. play 23:00 Cross-combining different skills or industries to build a new meta 29:20 Approaching life as quest objectives, Moritz's framework for life 34:00 Details on Moritz's life framework 37:10 Examples of interesting life initiatives from Moritz, achievement by discipline 41:55 Using being "extreme" to accomplish goals, how to stand out 45:34 JK's weird dating example 46:45 How does someone pursue extremism? 52:30 The next chapter at Lightspeed Gaming for Moritz 55:55 What will become of Moritz's LA gaming parties? 👇 EPISODE LINKS: - Moritz Baier-Lentz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moritzbaierlentz/ 😃 —CONNECT WITH ME! — • MY INSTAGRAM → @jokim1 • TWITTER → @jokim1 • LINKEDIN → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jokim/ — POPULAR CONTENT — 🤑 Economy of the Metaverse with Tim Sweeney https://youtu.be/h6ClJxjuRvw ℹ️ How to Build the Amazon of Game Companies https://youtu.be/bkd2TOpKt4I 🔮 Gaming Trends | A Look Ahead at 2021 https://youtu.be/NejFzHtpiZI 🖥️ The Future of PC Gaming https://youtu.be/_QT7O3Wxi2s 🔴 Games Industry M&A https://youtu.be/65nyPk6WNrs 🔴 Netcode for Multiplayer Games https://youtu.be/tHq3PzmjhLw 🔴 IDFA Deprecation Product Impact https://youtu.be/Ojec4wGKpso 🔴 Trip Hawkins on the New High Score https://youtu.be/5egTSQ6AiRA 🔴 LiveOps F2P Best Practices https://youtu.be/tmzqqnYbjNY
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Nov 26, 2022 • 2min

Grateful for Opportunity | JK Vlog #6

Happy Thanksgiving!  I'm in India this year and had a Mexican burrito bowl in the office by myself. Lol. As I sat in the office late at night, I recorded another cringe and weird video for my kids. Too many people undervalue opportunity! I just wanted to let you know that I'm grateful this Thanksgiving for the opportunity to try to build something meaningful. It's not looking good right now, but that's what entrepreneurship is all about: how do we take a low-probability scenario and turn it into a high-probability outcome?  LFG!
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Nov 11, 2022 • 49min

Future of eSports ft. Ilaria Caputo (EA), Hugo Tristao (Newzoo), & Matt Kanterman (Ball Metaverse)

We deep dive on eSports. Current market and growth projections, what kinds of games do well, business model, structure, prize pools, key trends, geographic differences, and more! Join us with our esteemed group of speakers: Ilaria Caputo (EA), Matthew Kanterman (Ball Metaverse Research Partners), and Hugo Tristao (Newzoo). Speaker links below. 👇 EPISODE LINKS: Ilaria Caputo, https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilaria-caputo/ Matthew Kanterman, https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-kanterman-cfa-b6345133/ Hugo Tristao, https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristaohugo/

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