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PODCAST

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 www.linkedin.com/in/michailkatkoff/ Eric Kress www.linkedin.com/in/erickress/ Phillip Black www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-black-economist/ Jen Donahoe www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdonahoe

leisure video games

All Episodes

00:48:43

275. Beyond User Acquisition: How to Win with...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/03/24

Marion Balinoff and Sara Guerola share data-driven strategies for maximizing influencer marketing in gaming. As CPIs rise and privacy regulations evolve, influencer marketing is becoming a key performance channel. Marion and Sara break down budget calculations, track organic uplift, and analyze campaign performance while highlighting tactics like QR codes, giveaways, and custom in-game assets to boost conversions. Whether you’re testing with smaller creators or scaling with top-tier influencers,

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00:56:59

TWIG #322 Farmville, Pokemon Go, and Female Gamers

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/03/14

Mishka wrestles with the implications of AppLovin’s Triple Dot acquisition, while Scopely’s latest move has everyone questioning the future of Pokémon Go. Eric breaks down the latest insights from the Turkish gaming industry, while Jen dissects the Midia Research gamer segmentation report. Phil revisits the hypercasual ad playbook, while Subway Surfers just keeps running. Plus, a final look at GDC announcements, the mobile vs. console showdown, and what it all means for the industry.The

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00:47:39

274. Skillz CEO Andrew Paradise on the $75M...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/03/12

www.skillz.com/developeraccelerator/We dive deep into the world of real-money skill-based gaming and the exciting new Developer Accelerator launched by Skills Inc. Our special guest, Andrew Paradise, CEO and co-founder of Skillz, sheds light on the potential and market opportunity within this rapidly growing industry, discussing what types of games and studios Skillz is looking to support. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:19 Skill-Based Mobile Games Accelerator04:09 Monetization and Market

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01:31:26

273. How Türkiye Became the New Capital of Mobile...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/03/10

The world-class panel of Turkish founders and investors with Mehmet Ecevit (ex-CEO and co-founder of Gram Games), Batuhan Celebi (CEO and co-founder of Grand Games), and Görkem Turk (founder of Laton Ventures) shares their thoughts on what makes the Turkish gaming ecosystem unique, the importance of data-driven design, and how to maintain company culture while scaling.THE HYBRIDCASUAL PLAYBOOK: https://metahybridcasualplaybook.splashthat.com/Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Welcoming

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00:47:44

TWIG #321 AppLovin’s SHOCK Acquirer, Supercell's New...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/03/07

Eric tries his best to make sense of the AppLovin deal, while Monster Hunter Wilds has never made more sense. Laura covers Supercell’s Lonely Island play, Boat Game, while Jen defends Disney IP as it STEPs it up in Japan. Phil wants a recount of Guitar Hero’s demise, while Activision announces another entry in the franchise.The Deconstructor of Fun Newsletter:www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribeContinue the conversation on our Slack channel:www.deconstructoroffun.com/slack00:00 Introduction and

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00:57:18

272. From Prototypes to Hits: Inside Rollic’s...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/03/03

“The way we survive is built on being creative every day” We sit down with Burak Vardal, CEO and co-founder of Rollic, to explore how the company skyrocketed in just a couple of years from a Turkish startup to one of the most successful mobile game publishers in the world.Burak shares insights on: The early days of Rollic and its quick acquisition by Zynga for $168M How they consistently launch hit mobile games The shift from hyper-casual to hybrid-casual and how it changed their business

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01:00:01

TWIG #320 Unity’s Fate, Fake Ads, Loot Boxes & GTA’s...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/02/28

To meet the Crew, check out our event in the weekly newsletter:https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribeThis week we examine Niantic’s valuation and potential exit, questioning whether AR gaming has hit its ceiling. We also break down Unity’s latest earnings, examining where the company is headed post-restructuring. Meanwhile, PrizePix blurs the lines between gaming and gambling, raising concerns about the future of real money mechanics.On the platform side, we analyze Hasbro Digital’s unexpected

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01:03:26

271. Gaming in the Middle East: Inside Abu Dhabi’s...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/02/24

Marcos Muller, Director of Abu Dhabi talks about how the city is building a world-class gaming ecosystem from the ground up. From talent development to job creation and community engagement, Abu Dhabi Gaming is making big moves to attract studios, support developers, and put the region on the global gaming map. Marcos shares insights on the incentives for game studios, and the growth of the gaming economy in the UAE, and even breaks down some misconceptions about life in Abu Dhabi. If you’re a game

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00:53:00

TWIG #319 Scopely 💰 Niantic, Marvel Rivals Drama, and...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/02/21

Our IRL events. Signup via the newsletter:https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribeScopely and Niantic are making moves, but can they actually change the game? NetEase unloads Marvel Rivals US studio—a political or an efficiency move? Plus, SMicrosoft’s console strategy looks shakier than ever, and we break down what the future of console gaming really looks like. And just when you thought it was over, King pulls another card from its sleeve. 🚀🎮03:55 - GDC Shills11:03 - Scopely &

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00:47:07

270. Why This CEO Moved His Gaming Studio from London...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/02/20

🔗 Connect with Boris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boris-kalmykov-7ba38065/We chat with Boris Kalnikov, CEO & Co-founder of Hype Masters, about relocating his gaming studio from London to Abu Dhabi. Boris shares his journey with World War Armies, the challenges of remote work, and why he chose Abu Dhabi as his new home.We dive into Abu Dhabi’s rise as a gaming hub, its government incentives, and the realities of running a studio in the region—from tax benefits to hiring talent and lifestyle

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00:49:35

TWIG #318 Supercell’s Records, Unity’s Chaos &...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/02/16

ALL upcoming events in our newsletter:https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribeSupercell had a monster year with €2.8B in revenue, proving that bigger live ops teams and aggressive marketing can still drive growth—but let’s be real, Squad Busters flopped hard despite the hype. Meanwhile, Unity continues its slow-motion train wreck, losing key talent and scrambling to fix its ad tech, while AppLovin is absolutely crushing it, with stock up 700% thanks to AI-powered ads. Now, in a power move,

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01:06:42

269. The Ultra Positive Gaming Market Report: Sensor...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/02/12

State of Mobile 2025 Report:https://bit.ly/42T04bXJoin us in this episode as Jonathan Briskman from Sensor Towers and Michail Katkoff explore the overall health of the mobile market.Jonathan highlights strong growth metrics despite a mature landscape and sheds light on the booming in-app purchase revenue and time spent on devices, while also discussing intriguing trends such as digital fatigue and the rise of hybrid apps.Jonathan sheds light on the booming in-app purchase revenue and time spent on

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01:08:30

268. Wilfrid Obeng on How to Scale a $100M Startup...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/02/10

Wilfrid Obeng’s journey from Goldman Sachs and Google to gaming startup CTO is anything but typical.In this episode, he breaks down how AudioMob is redefining in-game ads with audio, why they chose Abu Dhabi over Silicon Valley to scale their engineering team, and what it takes to transition from corporate structure to startup chaos. We dig into leadership lessons, hiring strategies, and the future of ad monetization—all from someone who’s been in the trenches. If you’re scaling a startup or

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00:54:50

TWIG #317: Big Dream, Bigger Battlefield, and the...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/02/07

signup to our newsletter and join our on-site events:https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe With Jen at a meditation retreat in California and Miska fully embracing his jet-set life, Eric reminds us just how wrong Matthew Ball got it. Adam reveals the Multiversus thesis and argues that Battlefield has room to grab dormant fans and grow the market. Phil spews Battlefield tears and worries about Roblox’s value destruction. They conclude by debating the AI integration in-games: flop or tbd?

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00:52:08

267. Helldivers 2, Warframe, First Descendant, and...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/02/03

This episode features insights from top industry professionals on player engagement, revenue models, and the challenges faced by new releases like Helldivers 2, First Descendant, and Once Human. Dive into in-depth discussions on successful PvE models, key strategies for game success, and the future of game monetization. Join Adam Telfer and a panel of experts as they explore the latest trends in PvE shooters and the evolving tools needed for effective LiveOps. Brought to you by Heroic Labs,

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00:58:06

TWIG #316 Metaverse Myths, Ubisoft’s Struggles and...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/01/30

We start off with Kress coming after Matthew Ball and his take on the Metaverse and end the episode with Jen making the last stance for brand marketers. In between the team breaks down the FTC’s latest settlement on loot boxes and what it means for the industry. Deep dive into Ubisoft's sea of worries and discuss Habby’s latest launch hurdles. 00:00 Intros01:40 Shills02:50 GDC Announcements and Sponsors06:35 Corrections and Apologies08:09 Matthew Ball and the Metaverse Debate19:20 Loot Boxes

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00:54:23

266. Money, Markets & Disruptive Trends – Xsolla’s...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/01/29

Xsolla State of Play report: https://xsolla.com/newsroom/xsolla-autumn-2024-report Mobile gaming is bigger than ever, with the industry set to hit $98.7 billion in 2024. But where is that growth coming from? In this episode, we sit down with Xsolla’s Chris Hewish to break down the key trends shaping the global market—from Asia’s dominance to the rise of emerging regions like Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. We also dig into how player demographics are shifting and what it means for game

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01:07:12

265. How do Playtika and Wooga nail their Live Ops...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/01/27

How do Playtika and Wooga nail their Live Ops strategies? What does GameRefinery say you’re missing?In this episode, Nadav Moshes (Product & Market Insights Lead at Playtika), Maxime Graux (Head of Product Management at Wooga), and Erno Kiiski (Chief Game Analyst at GameRefinery) sit down with our very own Jen Donahoe to dissect the art and science of Live Ops. From mobile to PC/console gaming, we break down the latest trends driving social, engagement, and monetization events. Discover how

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01:12:51

TWIG #315 TikTok Ban and Matthew Ball's State of the...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/01/24

TikTok’s gaming experiment closures and Marvel Snap’s China operations highlight the challenges of scaling global hits. Netflix’s games strategy is dissected, alongside surprising trends like the resurgence of Solitaire, which seems to be tapping into the nostalgia economy.The discussion turns heavier as the team unpacks sweeping workforce cuts at Huuuge Games and the growing dominance of Chinese game developers on the global stage. Bonfire Studios’ new game announcement and Matthew Ball’s analysis

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01:05:31

264. Breaking Barriers: The Journey of a Next-Gen...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/01/20

Jen Donahoe sits down with Alexandra Takei, a rising star who’s making waves in the gaming industry. They dive into what it takes to bridge the gap between business and creativity in gaming, the hard-earned lessons from startups, and how proactive collaboration can drive innovation. Alexandra discusses empathy and mentorship's critical role in her career and shares advice for those navigating the fast-paced gaming ecosystem. 01:04 About Alex Takei03:43 Early Career and Entry into Gaming10:30

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216 results

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