Our guest this episode is Doron Nir, CEO, and co-founder of StreamElements. With over a decade of experience in the games’ world, Doron brings together his expertise in digital game design, software development, and teaching in the development of StreamElements. It’s pretty clear that a new generation of celebrities has risen from the world of game streaming and live content creation, but achieving this level of success doesn’t come without intensive work. The title “content creator” co...
Our guest this episode is Siena Nahl, head of Gaming and Esports Partnerships at Tumblr. The platform has grown into a robust and diverse social network for art, entertainment, and, perhaps most notably, fandom. As an ecosystem of microblogs, Tumblr offers users the opportunity to develop close-knit communities around the games, characters, and stories they love--and Siena’s role at Tumblr places her right at the forefront.Siena works alongside esports competitors, voice actors, indie g...
As the director of strategic business development at Sansar, Sam Distaso has scaled the platform into the premier social VR live events company. With Twofivesix’s help, he also identified, negotiated, and executed industry-first partnerships with leading EDM record label, Monstercat.We spoke to him about the challenges of social VR, the potential of the technology, and targeting the elusive gamer audience.Like what you see? Subscribe to our newsletter and podcast.Here are highlights from the ...
Berkly Foster is the creative director at ModiFace, a technology company recently acquired by L’Oréal Group that focuses on augmented reality and artificial intelligence technologies. For close to a decade she has been at the forefront of the beauty tech industry, leading the design of AR and AI innovations for industry-leading beauty brands. Her work has been recognized by the Clio Awards and featured by Apple. She is an expert UX/UI and has a passion for the convergence of design, beauty, a...
Not all gamers are esports fans, but it’s worth paying attention to this particular segment of gaming fandom. Here are just a few reasons why:– 2019 was a milestone year for global esports. The global esports economy surpassed $1 billion this past year, a year-over-year growth of +26.7%, notes Newzoo’s 2019 Global Esports Market Report.– The total esports audience is staggering. Comprised of both esports enthusiasts and occasional viewers, the esports audience currently totals 454 million and...
As an agency that works exclusively in the gaming industry, we always get asked about how companies should connect with an audience who loves games. With an average of 25 video games being released a day, new services being added every year, and 2.2 million streamers on Twitch, the world of gaming is always expanding, making marketing in those spaces often overwhelming.We scoured the internet to find a good primer on what marketing in gaming looks like, but we couldn’t find one. So we decided...
In our year in review, we speak to Sarah E. Needleman, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal who writes about the video game industry. Over the last few months, she has covered everything from Google Stadia to KFC’s dating sim. Needleman has been at the paper since 2001, and prior to her current beat, she covered small business and careers.Like what you see? Subscribe to our newsletter and podcast.Needleman joined the Twofivesix: Gaming and Marketing Podcast to talk about 2019’s major moment...
Juan Vaca, Netflix’s first narrative designer, gives us his thoughts on why interactive content is taking off lately. He also details how his gaming background influences his storytelling, why he thinks of his audience as players instead of viewers, and what exactly goes into making an interactive movie or TV show at Netflix.Want to hear more from us? Sign up for our newsletter.This episode was hosted by Jamin Warren. Music was provided by Lusine.Twofivesix is a strategic consultancy that hel...
When people talk about games, video games usually get all the attention. But tabletop games shouldn’t be ignored, especially since Kickstarter game projects have brought in one billion dollars with tabletop games making up 69 percent of pledges. We speak to Luke Crane, Head of Games at Kickstarter, to discuss the appeal of tabletop gaming and the popularity of Kickstarter board games.Want to hear more from us? Sign up for our newsletter.This episode was hosted by Jamin Warren. Music was provi...
Virtual influencers like Lil Miquela are here, and brands are betting big on them. We speak to Peter Rojas, co-founder of Gizmodo and Engadget and an investor in synthetic reality at Betaworks Ventures, about these virtual characters and the future of how we engage with them.Want to hear more from us? Sign up for our newsletter.This episode was hosted by Jamin Warren. Music was provided by Lusine.Twofivesix is a strategic consultancy that helps brands engage with gamers. Founder and CEO Jamin...
Gamers aren’t exactly known for their style, but our guests, Rachel Feinberg and Breanne Harrison-Pollock, are looking to change that. They co-founded the esports and gaming apparel company Ateyo, the first company to offer technically designed apparel that is custom-built for gaming.Want to hear more from us? Sign up for our newsletter.This episode was hosted by Jamin Warren. Music was provided by Lusine.Twofivesix is a strategic consultancy that helps brands engage with gamers. Founder and ...
As the co-founder of Reddit and Initialized Capital, Alexis Ohanian has lots of thoughts on online communities. In this interview, he goes into how he started programming thanks to games, connections made through social media, and the changing definition of who gamers are.Want to hear more from us? Sign up for our newsletter.This episode was hosted by Jamin Warren. Music was provided by Lusine.Twofivesix is a strategic consultancy that helps brands engage with gamers. Founder and CEO Jamin Wa...
Did you know The New York Times makes games? Our first guest is Sam Von Ehren, a game designer at The New York Times. We speak with him about why The New York Times makes games, how his game fits in with the rest of The Times’ news coverage, common misconceptions about what a New York Times game looks like, and who he’s trying to reach.Want to hear more from us? Sign up for our newsletter.This episode was hosted by Jamin Warren. Music was provided by Lusine.Twofivesix is a strategic consultan...
Introducing Twofivesix: Gaming and Marketing, a new podcast from Twofivesix. Available wherever you get your podcasts.Want to hear more from us? Sign up for our newsletter.This episode was hosted by Jamin Warren. Music was provided by Lusine.Twofivesix is a strategic consultancy that helps brands engage with gamers. Founder and CEO Jamin Warren speaks to experts at the intersection of games and marketing about how video games and other forms of interactive entertainment are more relevant than...
What does it really take to build a sustainable community around experimental games? In this essential conversation, we sit down with Bria Davis, Community Director at Young Horses, to explore the intricate dynamics of gaming communities and what art-forward creators need to know before diving in. Bria brings a unique perspective to community building, having worked her way from Discord moderator to leading community strategy for some of gaming's most innovative studios. Her journey through p...
We're shining the spotlight on Chris Norris, the exec from Electronic Arts who's dialing up the positive play in gaming communities. Chris is the Senior Director of Player Connection at EA.We had a great conversation, treading the path of evolution of social interactions in video games - from the cozy comfort of couch co-op play to making friends in the far reaches of the globe. We also explored how game makers developers can inspire better behavior in players and debunk the widespread belief...
When marketers think of in-game advertising, they jump to big-budget executions like building a universe in Roblox. But overlooking performance marketing in-games is a big mistake.I spoke to Simon Spaull, CRO and Co-Founder of in-game advertising company GADSME, about:how in-game advertising developedwhy many in-game advertising algorithms punish non-gaming brandshow to capture the right KPIswhat to tell your media agency/buyerThis episode was hosted by Jamin Warren. Music was provided by Lus...
From Travis Scott to Marvel's Avengers, Fortnite has built a macrocosm of events containing some of the biggest names in entertainment today. Its continued development beyond a 1 vs. 99 shooter game into a destination for IP crossover has media analysts speculating: can Fortnite build the Metaverse?This episode, CEO Jamin Warren speaks with content strategist Paolo Yumol and junior audience strategist Lyn Rafil to discuss the Metaverse, the extent to which Fortnite's brand partnerships build ...
We spoke with Rebecca, Director of Digital Product Management at Ad Council, about the inherent potential of technology, games, and digital media for creating social change; the differences between traditional marketing and PSA development; and how Guild Wars 2 proved to be the perfect place to Seize the Awkward.This episode was hosted by Jamin Warren. Music was provided by Lusine.Twofivesix is a strategic consultancy that helps brands engage with gamers. Founder and CEO Jamin Warren speaks t...
This episode, Twofivesix CEO Jamin Warren spoke with content strategist Paolo Yumol and junior audience strategist Lyn Rafil to discuss how YouTube fits into the larger online media ecosystem, why people actually watch gaming on YouTube, and the hurdles that brands face when trying to break into the space.This episode was hosted by Jamin Warren. Music was provided by Lusine.Twofivesix is a strategic consultancy that helps brands engage with gamers. Founder and CEO Jamin Warren speaks to exper...