Deconstructor of Fun

Supercell seeks third brand extensions for its Clash franchise after the massive success of Clans and Royale. Clash Mini ventures into perhaps the most unattractive genre on mobile known as Autochess. The genre is plagued by low installs, poor monetization, and a graveyard of games from top publishers. Can Supercell breakthrough or was this just another good try? All above discussed by the powerful Hadrian Semroud and Javier Barnes Links: Send us Questions and Feedback Deconstructor of Fun Newsletter Deconstructor of Fun Slack Group Host: Mishka Katkoff Sponsors: Google, ironSource, Appsflyer, PlayerWon, Xsolla --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

Links: Take-Two Interactive to acquire social game developer Zynga in $12.7 billion deal Send us Questions and Feedback Deconstructor of Fun Newsletter Deconstructor of Fun Slack Group Hosts: Mishka Katkoff, Eric Kress, Adam Telfer and Eric Seufert Sponsors: Google, ironSource, Appsflyer, PlayerWon, Xsolla --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

In this episode also: mobile publishers open up blockchain divisions, new SPAC from ex-Sony exec, Madden passes away and both Erics catch the COVID. Links: Send us Questions and Feedback Deconstructor of Fun Newsletter Deconstructor of Fun Slack Group Hosts: Mishka Katkoff, Eric Kress, Adam Telfer and Eric Seufert Sponsors: ironSource, Appsflyer, PlayerWon, Xsolla Image: Newzoo --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

In the final episode of the year the crew discusses most impactful news of the past year, biggest winners and losers as well as who made the most skeptical moves. Happy holidays y'all! Links: Send us Questions and Feedback Deconstructor of Fun Newsletter Deconstructor of Fun Slack Group Hosts: Mishka Katkoff, Eric Kress, Adam Telfer and Eric Seufert Sponsors: ironSource, Appsflyer, Beamable, Betahat, Xsolla Image: Epic --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

None of us is a born leader. And while some of us become good leaders over time, it tends, in my experience, to  happen after lots of trials and tribulation. But what if you had someone coaching you? Doubling your XP and making you level up twice as fast. In this episode, Niklas Herriger, who founded Gondola (acquired by Tilting Point), coaches startup CEOs, CTOs, co-founders, tech leads, executives, and investors both in the US and Europe. We discuss how a great leader can multiply their team. How to track progress as a leader. The fallacy of reverting to micromanagement. And the best way of leading games organizations as well as skills required to do so. Links: Send us Questions and Feedback Deconstructor of Fun Newsletter Deconstructor of Fun Slack Group Host: Mishka Katkoff Sponsors: Facebook Gaming, ironSource, Appsflyer, Beamable, Xsolla --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

Articles: Ubisoft Quartz, a Blockchain-Powered NFT Cosmetics System Blockchain is only a game changer if players are stakeholders How To Be A Great Games Company CEO! Apple legal filing indicates it intends to collect commission regardless of whether developers use IAP or a competing payments platform Links: Send us Questions and Feedback Deconstructor of Fun Newsletter Deconstructor of Fun Slack Group Hosts: Mishka Katkoff, Eric Kress, Adam Telfer and Eric Seufert Sponsors: ironSource, Appsflyer, Beamable, Betahat, Xsolla Image: Ubisoft --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

Mike Schmid, who today runs Business Development at Rec Room, used to head Business Development for Games at Apple. In this episode we discuss Epic Games, Privacy Marketing, Netflix foray into gaming and the state of mobile games. Enjoy! Links: Send us Questions and Feedback Deconstructor of Fun Newsletter Deconstructor of Fun Slack Group Host: Mishka Katkoff Sponsors: Facebook Gaming, ironSource, Appsflyer, Beamable, Xsolla image: IGN --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

Articles: Executive behind Facebook-backed Novi crypto wallet to leave company Star Citizen has now raised over $400M Supercell sponsors Mr. Beast's Squid Game remake Links: Send us Questions and Feedback Deconstructor of Fun Newsletter Deconstructor of Fun Slack Group Hosts: Mishka Katkoff, Eric Kress, Adam Telfer and Eric Seufert Sponsors: ironSource, Appsflyer, Beamable, Betahat, Xsolla Image: Independent --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

While there’s a well-defined path to make your organization more appealing to a more diverse group of applicants, there’s not that much information on how to make the diverse organization run smoothly. That’s why we decided to record this podcast. To talk openly and freely about women in games with women in games. Empathy is the secret ingredient of an inclusive studio. And there’s no better way to build empathy than listening. BIG thanks to Anette Staloy (CMO Dirtybit and Co-founder of Women in Games Norway), Tiffany Keller (Director of Product for Subway Surfers), and Juliette Dupré (former head of talent at Tilting Point, current VP of people and culture at PlayerWON) for joining the podcast. Disclaimer: all views in this podcast are personal and not representing those of a guest's company. Links: Send us Questions and Feedback Deconstructor of Fun Newsletter Deconstructor of Fun Slack Group Host: Mishka Katkoff Sponsors: Facebook Gaming, ironSource, Appsflyer, Beamable, Xsolla image: IGN --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

Articles: Moon Active valuation surges to $5 billion on back of $300 million Insight funding Esports - a marketing investment? Gaming Giant King Names Fernanda Romano as Chief Marketing Officer for Candy Crush Links: Send us Questions and Feedback Deconstructor of Fun Newsletter Deconstructor of Fun Slack Group Hosts: Mishka Katkoff, Eric Kress, Adam Telfer and Eric Seufert Sponsors: ironSource, Appsflyer, Beamable, Betahat, Xsolla Image: Adweek --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

Pokemon Unite had a strong start. After initial Nintendo Switch launch, the game bursted onto mobile with 30M installs in the first week. Yet the installs quickly dwindled and the revenue dropped. It seems that after a roaring start the game quickly faded. This deconstruction explores the details why a game destined for success missed its mark. Links: Send us Questions and Feedback Deconstructor of Fun Newsletter Deconstructor of Fun Slack Group Hosts: Hadrian Semroud Javier Barnes. Mishka Katkoff Sponsors: Facebook Gaming, ironSource, Appsflyer, Beamable, Xsolla --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

The best monthly blockchain report: Promo code: NAAVIKDOF Articles: Deconstructing Axie Infinity Report: Activision Blizzard CEO knew about misconduct at the company for years Roblox Analyst Day recap Links: Send us Questions and Feedback Deconstructor of Fun Newsletter Deconstructor of Fun Slack Group Hosts: Mishka Katkoff, Eric Kress, Adam Telfer and Eric Seufert Sponsors: Facebook Gaming, ironSource, Appsflyer, Beamable, Betahat, Xsolla Image: Cointelegraph --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

You have a decision to make: Jump on the blockchain gaming bandwagon or continue to roll your eyes from the sidelines. To make your decision a more calculated one, Michail Katkoff from Deconstructor of Fun sat down with Ethan Levy aka. The Crypto Kid and recorded a Crypto Gaming for Dummies episode on the Deconstructor of Fun podcast and YouTube channel. Some of the topics covered: What does blockchain mean in the context of gaming and how is it applied? Why do you need blockchain in games? Couldn’t existing tools and tech do the same? Why is there so much hype around something that has so few players? Why aren’t pay-to-earn developers being called out for misleading numbers? What are some of the leading blockchain platforms for games? Are crypto-enabled games with openly traded assets also affected by macro swings in the crypto markets? What tech stack is out there to build your own marketplace, tokens, and mint NFTs? Are there any best practices to follow when making a play-to-earn? Links: Send us Questions and Feedback Deconstructor of Fun Newsletter Deconstructor of Fun Slack Group Host: Mishka Katkoff Sponsors: Facebook Gaming, ironSource, Appsflyer, Beamable, Xsolla --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

Articles: Baseless NFT hype hits a crescendo Zynga hires a VP of blockchain gaming Links: Send us Questions and Feedback Deconstructor of Fun Newsletter Deconstructor of Fun Slack Group Hosts: Mishka Katkoff, Eric Kress, Adam Telfer and Eric Seufert Sponsors: Facebook Gaming, ironSource, Appsflyer, Beamable, Betahat, Xsolla Image: Cointelegraph --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

Hiring is the most difficult and crucial part of building up a studio. What makes it easier is having a great employer brand. With a big name like Supercell, Activision or EA you’re more likely to attract great employees and retain your current ones. Your job ads produce an abundance of applicants, which in turn reduce your recruitment costs. And as you get those great hires in, they will refer their coworkers allowing you to scale up faster. But how do you build an employer brand that can compete for employees against the established talent magnets in the market? I had the privilege to reconnect with Joe Nickolls, who recently founded Timbre Games in Vancouver. Setting up a AAA studio in one of the most talent hungry gaming clusters in the World is not something you do without carefully strategizing how will you be able to attract talent. In our conversation Joe discusses his very unique approach to building an employer brand that can stand out from the magnificent gaming companies in the city. Links: Joe Nickolls Timbre Games Send us Questions and Feedback Deconstructor of Fun Newsletter Deconstructor of Fun Slack Group Host: Mishka Katkoff Sponsors: Facebook Gaming, ironSource, Appsflyer, Beamable, Xsolla --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

Topics covered: New World — Amazon’s Rollercoaster Hit Social media company Snap falls as much as 23% after a blow to its Q3 earnings from Apple privacy changes and supply-chain disruption 5 Reasons Why I Became Bullish on Blockchain Gaming Links: Send us Questions and Feedback Deconstructor of Fun Newsletter Deconstructor of Fun Slack Group Hosts: Mishka Katkoff, Eric Kress, Adam Telfer and Eric Seufert Sponsors: Facebook Gaming, ironSource, Appsflyer, Beamable, Betahat, Xsolla Image: AppLovin --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

Topics covered: New World — Amazon’s Rollercoaster Hit Social media company Snap falls as much as 23% after a blow to its Q3 earnings from Apple privacy changes and supply-chain disruption 5 Reasons Why I Became Bullish on Blockchain Gaming Links: Send us Questions and Feedback Deconstructor of Fun Newsletter Deconstructor of Fun Slack Group Hosts: Mishka Katkoff, Eric Kress, Adam Telfer and Eric Seufert Sponsors: Facebook Gaming, ironSource, Appsflyer, Beamable, Betahat, Xsolla Image: helpmykidlearn.ie --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

While we all know of Playrix, we also know very little about the company. There are almost no English-speaking articles on how they make games or what is their organizational structure. I don’t remember ever reading about their culture nor hearing about their future plans. The company prospers behind an iron curtain. And if you don’t speak Russian, you’d likely be clueless, until now… I had the privilege to sit down with Maxim Kirilenko, Playrix’ Chief Business Development Officer, and ask all the questions that I wanted about the company. We talk about: Playrix 17 year journey to date and their aspirations to one day beat Tencent on mobile How the company is organized around clusters of excellence located far away from each other the infamous war between Homescapes and AppLovin’s Matchington Mansion Playrix’ M&A strategy saw investments in the likes of Nexters and Vizor, which both grew into unicorns a company culture that is transforming from purely Russian to more of a hybrid Topics above and more in the first-ever English-speaking podcast with a member of the Playrix leadership team from the link below. Links: Send us Questions and Feedback Deconstructor of Fun Newsletter Deconstructor of Fun Slack Group Host: Mishka Katkoff Sponsors: Facebook Gaming, ironSource, Appsflyer, Beamable,  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

Topics covered: Steam Bans and Epic Allows NFTs Kixeye shareholders sue Stillfront for $30M over earnout dispute AppLovin SDK Re-Routed Apple’s SKAdNetwork Postbacks To Itself Ironsource will buy mobile ad and app monetization firm Tapjoy for $400M Unity reveals Ad Mediation and Bidding coming to its Dashboard Links: Send us Questions and Feedback Deconstructor of Fun Newsletter Deconstructor of Fun Slack Group Hosts: Mishka Katkoff, Eric Kress, Adam Telfer and Eric Seufert Sponsors: Facebook Gaming, ironSource, Appsflyer, Beamable, Betahat Image: makeuseof.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

Topics covered: How to be a Great Product Manager (by Joe Kim and Brett Nowak) EA promotes Laura Miele to COO, making her one of the most powerful women in gaming NFTs, Ultima Online, and player-run game economies (by Eric Seufert) Links: Send us Questions and Feedback Deconstructor of Fun Newsletter Deconstructor of Fun Slack Group Hosts: Mishka Katkoff, Eric Kress, Adam Telfer and Eric Seufert Sponsors: Facebook Gaming, ironSource, Appsflyer, Beamable, Betahat Image: paxful.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support