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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 @mkatkoff www.linkedin.com/in/michailkatkoff/ Eric Kress @ekress www.linkedin.com/in/erickress/ Laura Taranto @laurataranto www.linkedin.com/in/laurataranto/ Phillip Black @econosopher

leisure video games

All Episodes

01:13:59

304. The Founder’s Dilemma: Equity vs. User...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/09/08

Mishka Katkoff sits down with Pranav Singhvi (General Catalyst, Customer Value Fund) and Joe Wadakethalakal (PVX Partners) to unpack the rise of UA financing, a new capital instrument that lets gaming and app companies scale user acquisition without giving up massive chunks of equity.We break down:1. Why traditional VC or debt financing is often a poor fit for customer acquisition.2. The origins of UA financing and why treating cohorts as “assets” changes the game.3. The differences between PVX

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01:07:52

TWIG #347 Call of Duty Movie, De-Monetization of...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/09/05

This week, we cover Google’s latest courtroom headaches, the evolution of KPIs in gaming analytics, and the incoming Call of Duty live-action movie. We unpack Rec Room’s layoffs, compare Roblox vs Rec Room head-to-head, and dig into Microsoft’s IP bets from Perfect Dark to Halo. Plus, we debate Star Wars: The Old Republic, break down Roblox’s latest monetization trends, and ask what the rise of real-money gaming in India means for the global market.00:00 Introduction and Hosts’ Banter02:38 Upcoming

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01:13:52

303. Why Scandinavia Makes You So Happy? And Why We...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/09/01

Phillip Black and Michail Katkoff break down why they left the Nordics, trading modesty-maxxing for Mediterranean chaos and a bit more sun. The two dive into the quiet conservatism baked into Scandinavian life, the erosion of hunger that comes with too much comfort, and the calculus behind moving to Cyprus and Greece. 00:00 The Conservative Psyop of Scandinavia04:31 Cultural Reflections and Personal Experiences in Sweden09:07 Transitioning to Cyprus: Opportunities and Challenges13:37 Understanding

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01:05:41

TWIG #346: EU Wants to Ban Free-to-Play, Supercell...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/08/28

TWIG crew dives into Gamescom chaos, funding trends, and post-Ibiza IV drips. From Supercell’s leadership addition, to IP-powered collabs (Raid x TMNT) and the EU’s regulatory squeeze on F2P, this episode cuts through the noise with sharp insights, hard takes, and a few too-real laughs.02:07 Gamescom Highlights and Industry News02:50 PlayStation Portal and American Football06:45 DOF Talent Network and Scopely Controversy10:39 EU Regulation Impact on Free-to-Play Games14:43 Gamescom Vibes and Funding

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01:24:02

302. Call of Duty vs Battlefield: Ex-DICE, Bungie &...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/08/27

This one’s for the shooter heads. Host Phil Black (ex-DICE) is joined by Chris Sides (ex-Bungie) and longtime strategist Chris Anjos (ex-Activision) to dig into the decade-long arms race between Battlefield and Call of Duty. The muzzles are off.Chapters:02:01 Meet the Experts03:54 Historical Context: Battlefield and Call of Duty Sales13:04 Battlefield’s Comeback: Beta Impressions16:06 Gameplay Mechanics: Evolution and Innovations32:21 Progression Systems: Challenges and Solutions43:31 Core Gameplay

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00:59:06

301. Duolingo, Tinder, DraftKings: How Top Apps Have...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/08/25

We dive into Duolingo’s ruthless gamification, how BeReal is evolving beyond its viral gimmick, why Tinder is betting big on live events, the surprising social features inside DraftKings, and the stickiness of Crypto.com’s engagement loops. Each case study is a window into how apps are blurring the line between entertainment, habit, and monetization.Guest: Kalle Heikkinen, Lead Analyst at App Refinerywww.linkedin.com/in/kalleheikkinen/Chapters:[00:00] App Refinery [05:30] Duolingo's Gamification

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01:05:31

TWIG #345 Clash Royale’s BIG Comeback and LEGO’s...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/08/22

This week on TWIG, the crew covers everything from corn in Minecraft to streak psychology in the New York Times’ latest game, Pips. We kick things off with Gamescom highlights, fresh updates from Ethan and Laura. From there, we dig into why streaks are such a powerful mechanic. We also debate Supercell’s unexpected Clash Royale comeback, before wrapping with a look at what Nintendo has in store with the Switch 2.00:00 Introduction and Opening Banter03:06 Episode Summary and Upcoming Topics03:47

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01:03:24

300. First-Ever Interview with Head of LEGO Digital...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/08/18

Why is LEGO doubling down on digital? In his first-ever interview as the founding president of LEGO Digital Play, industry veteran Aaron Loeb (Electronic Arts, FoxNext, Kabam) reveals the bold vision behind LEGO’s new company. From “forever games” like Roblox and Minecraft to building trust with kids and families, Aaron breaks down why now is the right time for LEGO to level up in gaming — and how his journey from Broadway to the boardroom shaped the company’s next chapter.02:00 Meet Aaron Loeb: A

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01:02:43

TWIG #344 Battlefield’s Big Comeback, AppLovin’s...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/08/14

We kick things off with “midlife Kress-ises” before diving into the headlines you can’t ignore: Tencent’s latest controversy, AppLovin’s monster quarter, and Blizzard’s leadership shuffle.From Storm Gate’s rough launch runway to the brutal math of market fit, we unpack why good games still fail. We break down Duolingo’s surprise move into music games, and why Playtika’s doubling down on direct-to-consumer could be the smartest—or riskiest—bet they’ve made yet.Then it’s guns out for Battlefield’s

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01:15:05

299. The Hiring Shift No One’s Talking About with an...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/08/11

Full-time execs are out, and fractional leaders are in? In today’s episode, we break down the growing trend of founders building companies like modular tech stacks, swapping in CMOs, Product leads, and other execs *only* when they’re needed.But here’s the catch: done right, fractional hires can supercharge growth. Done wrong, they can kill momentum before you even hit scale. I’m joined by executive headhunter Miklos Blasko to unpack when fractional actually works, when it backfires, and the hiring

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01:04:49

TWIG #343: Match Villains' Monster Raise, the Sydney...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/08/07

This week, the TWIG crew goes full galaxy brain. We kick things off with the real effects of celebrity cringe marketing. Then it’s onto the real news: Probably Monsters' search for $220M ROI, Match Villains' monster raise, Lilith's search for growth, and Roblox's unstoppable growth. 00:00 Introduction and Host Introductions02:46 Episode Overview and Key Topics03:32 Celebrity Gaming League and Brand Marketing04:56 Sydney Sweeney and American Eagle Partnership05:54 Review Bombing and

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00:51:35

298. Segmentation Is Dead. Long Live Personalization!

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/08/04

In this episode, we unpack how today’s biggest mobile publishers are ditching segmentation in favor of experimentation at scale, what Apple’s privacy-first approach means to running LTV-focused live ops, and why personalization is no longer a “nice to have” but a competitive weapon.Who better to answer the questions than the founding team of Metica, Phil Mohr, Puli Liyanagama, and Justin Stolzenberg?These aren’t your average startup bros. We’re talking about the same crew that built Comify (acquired

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01:07:22

TWIG #342 Scopely Meltdown, Crazy Anime Story and One...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/07/31

Hola! Greetings from Spain. Mishka here, tanned, confused by dinner hours, and tragically absent from today’s pod. But fear not, Eric questions the rise of private equity in games and reports back from an anime convention while giving Andrew Wilson a new mobile crown. Phil wants a recount on a couple of Scopley acquisitions, while Jen channels Kate Hudson into top-of-funnel awareness. Gundam demands attention while the crew debates scaling the Drive to Survive treatment of One Piece.00:00

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01:27:35

297. Mobile Marketing in 2025: What Still Works (and...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/07/28

In this Deconstructor of Fun podcast, Mishka Katkoff sits down with three of the sharpest minds in growth: Josh Chandley (Wildcard Games), Warren Woodward (Uptick), and Paul Bowen (StreamElements) to dissect the state of user acquisition in 2025.STATE OF CREATIVES Report: https://tinyurl.com/393d9rumChapters: 02:00 Is UA Dead or Just Evolved?07:00 The Real Impact of IDFA Deprecation13:00 Time Spent vs Installs: The New Market Reality18:00 AppLovin: Apex Predator of Ad Tech27:00 Attribution Fraud and

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00:50:30

TWIG #341 Ubisoft Tries “Succession” while...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/07/25

Miska’s usual jetset life hits a snag when he misses Kress’ Subnotica correction. Adam calls in from his cottage to lay down the law on Merge history, while Phil gushes over $500m in capital deployment. Eric details Ubisoft’s reality TV show attempt at Succession, and Jen delivers the 411 on Apple’s hypercasual attempt. The group pours one out for a very special Candy Crush anniversary.01:58 Gaming News Highlights02:42 Personal Updates05:33 Remembering the Mario Lopez Candy Crush Show07:52

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01:18:16

296. From Crying Alone in Bangalore to Panic Attacks...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/07/21

From crying alone in Bangalore to panic attacks at Gamescom, this is a brutally real look at what it actually costs to chase a vision. Mishka Katkoff (Deconstructor of Fun) and Joseph Kim (Lila Games) reunite for the rawest, most honest founder-to-founder conversation you’ll hear this year. They dive deep into the sacrifices, suffering, and stress of building companies from scratch, away from the LinkedIn highlight reels.5:00 – Suffering vs. Sacrifice: Is Work Just Avoidance?10:45 – Why Founders

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01:13:56

TWIG #340 Scopely Goes to War, Roblox Gambles on IP...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/07/17

Upcoming events:Whiskey Tasting: https://event.appsflyer.com/gamescom2025/AFHeroic Party: https://lu.ma/tjkk5r8kThe crew kicks things off by breaking down Roblox’s bold new IP licensing platform—will it unlock the next Pokémon or just spin up another corporate side quest?Then it’s off to Turkey for a pulse check on one of mobile gaming’s fastest-evolving markets, followed by a surprise breakout story from France that’s punching way above its weight class.We rewind the clock on Kixeye to understand

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00:10:35

296. Secrets Behind Monopoly Go’s Record-Breaking...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/07/15

At MAU Vegas, Jen Donahoe sits down with Ben Webley, CMO of Scopely, to unpack the strategies behind Monopoly GO!’s meteoric rise. From player psychology to brand IP, virality loops to UA muscle—this conversation breaks down what really drove the biggest mobile game launch of the decade. If you’re in gaming and not taking notes on this one, you’re already behind.

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01:04:43

295. Pakistan’s Unexpected Rise in Gaming with Saad...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/07/14

Game District CEO Saad Hameed joins Michail Katkoff to tell the untold story of Pakistan’s booming gaming industry. From bootstrapped studios to billion-download success, we dive into the rise of Lahore as a serious global player, why Pakistan could be the next Turkey or Vietnam, and what’s holding the ecosystem back from its breakout moment. This is the episode you didn’t know you needed.Connect with Saad: www.linkedin.com/in/saadhameedkh00:00 Introduction to Game District and Saad Hameed02:47 The

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00:53:58

TWIG #339 Merge Games, Gen Z Spending Patterns, and...

Deconstructor of Fun ·

2025/07/11

We kick things off with a no-holds-barred Supercell rant before diving into the hottest industry stories—from Xbox Game Pass profitability to Apple’s latest regulatory headache in the EU. We break down Supercell’s shifting strategy, IPO rumors, and what it all signals for the wider market.The crew also explores Gen Z’s changing spending habits, mobile monetization trends, and why Merge games might be due for a second wind. Plus: Mecha Break’s breakout moment, studio culture shifts, and where smart

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194 results

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