Deconstructor of Fun

The Deconstructor of Fun Newsletter: https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe Klang Games out of Berlin has raised 77M over 6 funding rounds from reputable investors like Supercell, LVP, North Zone, and Makers Fund.  The company was established in 2013, 11 years ago. They haven’t shipped the game they have been raising against. So they can’t have any scalable objective data to show they are he...

In this week's show, the crew dives into Voodoo's acquisition of BeReal and the Sandbox's 20M convertible note. With all the events taking place the crew discusses Xbox Showcase, Ubisoft Forward, and the Summer Game Fest. With Phil out and Miska in Spain, this is the first Nordic-free episode in a year. hosts: Jennifer Donahoe, Laura Taranto, Erick Kress, and Mishka Katkoff sponsors: X...

Gerard Miles (www.linkedin.com/in/gerard-miles) is a veteran executive headhunter, who shares his extensive 15-year journey with a special focus on the gaming industry over the past decade.  We explore Gerard’s founding of Mission One (www.missionone.io), a company dedicated to sourcing top-tier executives globally, and delve into the significance of executive search in a rapidly expanding industr...

Join the industry's spiciest newsletter: https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe With Mishka gobbling birthday whey cakes, the crew looks at Squad Busters’ week 1 returns, and it’s not pretty. The specter of Boom Beach is starting to cast its shadow. Meanwhile, Phil talks about Destiny 2 stumbling in its last hoorah, while Laura talks about Stumble Guys standing straight. Jen gives the 41...

Join us for an insider tour of Voodoo’s HQ and uncover the journey to hybrid casual success with Voodoo’s Gabriel Rivaud, VP of Gaming. Gabriel Rivaud: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-rivaud-21210744/ Michail Katkoff https://www.linkedin.com/in/michailkatkoff/ Sign up for our weekly newsletter. You won't regret it! https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe

Squad Busters is released and we have more thoughts about it. Ubisoft's XDefiant hits 1M unique users, bringing Phil immense joy. Crew debates who does Fall Guys better than Fall Guys? Stumble Guys...? We'll also warm you up for the upcoming Summer Games Fest on June 7. signup to our masterful weekly newsletter:https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe The hosts: Jen Donahoe, Eric Kress...

Phillip Black, Michail Katkoff, and guest analyst Matthew Emery deconstruct Supercell's 6th billion Dollar franchise just before it is launched to the global audience. To read the full deconstruction, go to: https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/blog/2024/5/26/squad-busters-supercell-hits-the-apex-or-spins-off-track

Anime corrections, baseless speculation about Applovin, Take-Two earnings, and the GTA 6 launch date window. We speculate on the reason for Squad Busters’ massive 40M pre-registrations. Phil can’t wait to talk xDefiant. Mishka cosplays Jen and covers ad creative.  All that and more on today’s TWIG your hosts: Jen Donahoe, Eric Kress, Phillip Black and Michail Katkoff

Join seasoned UA and marketing consultant Matej Lančaric as he shares his decade-long journey from being an employee to running a global user acquisition consulting business. Discover his transition to solopreneurship, client management tips, and leveraging AI tools. Gain insights on balancing work, creativity, and family life alongside the importance of genuine passion and unique goal-setting app...

The big topic of the episode is Netflix which struck a partnership with Roblox. What does this mean to Netflix Games? Hear our hypothesis. The crew has BIG debates about Eurovision, and Tencent's role is Supercell's turnaround as well as anime. Your hosts: Jen Donahoe, Michail Katkoff, Phillip Black, and Eric Kress Segments: 00.00 Shill & Banter 09:20 News & HOT takes 44:23 Netflix...

In this episode of the Deconstructor of Fun podcast, host Mishka Katkoff engages with Ben Porter, NewZoo's Director of Consulting, to delve into the profound shifts within the gaming industry reflected in NewZoo's latest report.  They explore a variety of pressing topics such as the industry trends post-COVID-19, console market dynamics, opportunities for game developers, the impact of AI...

Players prevail with Helldivers 2 vs Sony PSN, Nintendo announces Switch 2 is coming before the end of Q125, Unity gets a new boss, Squadbusters racks up the pre-registrations, and Turkish Spyke Games goes to the Moon (Active). Hosts: Eric Kress, Jen Donahoe, Laura Taranto & Phillip Black

Listen and watch (there are visuals!) as industry veterans Jen Donahoe, Laura Taranto and special guest Ken Landen deep dive into 'Legend of Mushroom,' the idle action mobile game that's taken players (and revenue) by storm. We'll break down the game's mechanics, exploring what made this game into the success it is today. Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the realm...

Recently hitting the milestone of 30 years working in game design, Spry Fox Chief Creative Officer Daniel Cook has long been a leading voice in the game industry. To celebrate his long and distinguished career-spanning games like Realm of the Mad God, Triple Town, Alphabear, and Cozy Grove. MIA host Ethan Levy returns to the mic to talk to Dan about his many lessons and accomplishments. Most impor...

The prodigal son, Ethan Levy, makes his return to the podcast as the team discusses Newzoo’s latest PC and Console data as well as Liftoff’s 2024 Casual Gaming Apps Report. Hold tight for your weekly dose of news!  Hosts: Jen Donahoe, Laura Taranto, Phillip Black & Ethan Levy

Andrew Rose, the Chief Product Officer of Voldex, shares his journey and experiences in the Roblox game development space. Voldex, a company that acquires and scales Roblox games, has seen success by applying traditional free-to-play game development strategies in the unique ecosystem of Roblox.  --- Join our newsletter: https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe Game industry professional? Join...

Get ready for your weekly dose of unfiltered game industry news. In this episode, the crew discusses Supercell's and Dream's latest titles. We also talk about the history and future of celebrity collaborations within games. Your hosts: Jen Donahoe, Eric Kress, Laura Taranto & Phillip Black our partners: AppsFlyer, Xsolla, Heroic Labs & Data.ai

Product Deep Dives looks at Playrix's Township to deconstruct how this game went from a farming sim to a multi-billion dollar success. Join Laura Taranto and Jen Donahoe as they reap what this game has to offer! Make sure to watch with video, as we have data and insights you won't want to miss.

In today’s mature mobile gaming market, the importance of building a brand, storytelling, and creating distinct brand identities is crucial for success.  This podcast delves into the journey of revitalizing Futureplay’s Merge Gardens through an emphasis on strategic IP creation, branding improvements, and effective storytelling.  Guest: Martin Mohr, CCO @ Bond Creative Agency Links: The case of Me...

Who are BIG gaming funds good for? Are the AAA game studios going to extinct? And why is Fallout such a damn good show? This and many more questions were mulled by the TWIG crew.  Oh, and Eric Kress is back. That means that the profanities are flying once again.  Your hosts: Eric Kress, Michail Katkoff, Jen Donahoe, and Phillip Black. Our partners: Xsolla, AppsFlyer, Heroic Labs, and Sensor Tower.

Dive into the world of Istanbul's venture capital scene with Laton Venture's Görkem Türk. Together we explore essential topics like investment strategies prioritizing founding teams' quality, the evolving role of culture in startups, and future trends in gaming such as AI and socialization-focused experiences. Don't miss out on industry insights. Sign up for our newsletter! www.dec...

What is the impact of privacy updates on ad revenue and user acquisition strategies?  In this episode, Google’s Ross Brockman and Kwalee’s John Wright discuss the need for adaptation, innovation, and the importance of leveraging first-party data for customized user experiences.  The conversation reflects a balance between acknowledging challenges and maintaining optimism for growth and evolution i...

Buckle up kids because this episode has barely any profanity. Kress is MIA while the team talks about Brawl Stars' Baby Shark collaboration and the state of the gaming market. Phil geeks out on inflation, Mishka talks about interest rates, Jen discusses toy lines and Laura is put on the spot to cover the latest layoffs news.

Eric Kress sits down with Matt Wyble, COO of Second Dinner, to talk about Marvel Snap and what's next for Second Dinner. What does a studio do with $100M in the bank? The two spend some time talking about the state of Blizzard and the state of the industry.

The rowdy crew is back at it talking about Lilith's decision to skip soft launch, Embracer's selling of Gear Box, and the New York Times move into gaming. We also talk about Discord's ad business. Because when in doubt do advertising. Hosts: Michail Katkoff, Jen Donahoe, Eric Kress and Phillip Black