Deconstructor of Fun

On his 55th visit to beyond the Wall (aka. Finland) Peter Levin of Griffin Gaming Partners delves into the influence of Finland's gaming scene, the global success of companies like Supercell, and the legacy of titles such as Angry Birds and Habbo Hotel.  We discuss the impact of technology, transmedia trends, and how non-endemic players like Netflix are entering the gaming space. The conversation...

In this episode of TWIG (This Week in Games), the team dives into recent gaming industry news, starting with Google’s Play and Xbox announcements, followed by the Game Freak data breach and Xbox developments. 'They discuss Supercell’s mysterious Project Rise, the rumored Destiny Rising mobile game, and blockchain gaming with Off the Grid. The episode also highlights Azra Games’ Project Legends, sp...

Michail Katkoff sits down with Javier Ferreira, Co-CEO of Scopely, to explore the success behind Scopely's hit game Monopoly Go, which has generated over $3 billion in lifetime revenue. Javier shares insights into Scopely's acquisition by Savvy, the impact of solid partnerships, and Scopely's future ambitions with original IPs. Learn about effective game development, strategic risk-taking, and the...

The TWIG team unpacks the latest developments in Ubisoft’s internal drama. They also dive into the troubled launch of Squadbusters and explore whether toxic positivity is a growing issue in game development. Plus, get the latest on the Epic vs. Google legal battle and the controversies surrounding Roblox . Tune in for sharp analysis and thoughtful discussion on all things gaming! 02:02 Event Highl...

Saudi Arabia has a bold vision - to transform itself into a global gaming hub by 2030.  With insights from Savvy Games Group CEO Brian Ward and Gerard Miles, co-CEO of executive headhunting company Mission One, we delve into the Kingdom's strategic efforts to build a robust gaming ecosystem in the Middle East.  Discover the opportunities and challenges of navigating business in Saudi Arabia, and l...

Jen Donahoe, Eric Kress, Phillip Black, and Mishka Katkoff discuss the impact of California's new digital ownership law, highlights from the Tokyo Game Show, and the record-breaking numbers on Steam. They also delve into Ubisoft's delays, Behavior Interactive's acquisitions, and Meta's new AR glasses, concluding with a look at Genshin Impact's impressive revenue and market influence. Takeaways * M...

Host Jen Donahoe is joined by a panel of emerging game industry professionals—Pedro Bravo (Lead PM Monopoly Go at Scopely), Vlada Kumova (Game Producer at GameFam), and Lara Burić (Game Designer at Hutch). The discussion centers around the challenges and barriers faced by the next generation of game developers as they enter the industry, the difficulties of securing opportunities, and the ongoing...

Kress bites back at Cupcake listeners, while Adam thinks a Space Marine live service is as dead as the Necrons. Phil thinks MoPoGo is groundbreaking, but no one is surfing the waves yet. Laura tells us the real origin story, and Jen has her best Italian accent. 00:00 Intro 01:49 Shills 02:46 AI in Gaming 07:16 EA Strategy 09:28 Adam & Laura: Origins 18:32 Industry Trends and Predictions 31:28...

Mishka Katkoff chats with Sebastian Forsström, Head of Paradox ARC, to explore the world of indie game publishing at Paradox Interactive. Sebastian provides an overview of Paradox Interactive and dives into the role of Paradox ARC, a division dedicated to helping indie developers. They discuss how Paradox evaluates and develops games, the importance of sustained user engagement, and effective mark...

The crew gets together to talk about the past and the future of This Week in Game show in this special 300th episode. But it wouldn’t be a TWIG without a bit of news. Kress gets triggered by EA’s AI + UGC + Apps presentation. And we all wonder what happened to Spectre Divide - a highly anticipated shooter from a top team that seems to have missed its mark.

In this episode of the terrific trio: Jen Donahoe, Laura Taranto, and Adam Telfer dive into product strategy and market insights, highlighting how developers are differentiating themselves in a saturated market. The three also discuss Apple’s September event, analyze the PlayStation 5 Pro, analyze Sony’s broader strategy, and look at Roblox’s ambitious goals for expansion and its push to lead in u...

Join host Jen Donahoe for an in-depth discussion on venture capital funding in the gaming industry with experts from Transcend Fund, Sisu Game Ventures, and PlayVentures. The panel covers key topics including how VCs work, investment processes, team equity structures, board dynamics, and the unique challenges and opportunities within different gaming platforms. Learn what gaming VCs are looking fo...

Phillip phones it in from Taipei as the team covers the launch of Spectre Divide , Crypto Czar's last hurrah Supercell's potential IPO. Eric Kress dives into Ubisoft’s mismanagement and its effect on company valuation while Adam compares key data insights from NewZoo and Circana. Mishka and Jen talk about influencer marketing trends and shooter game futures. hosts: Jen Donahoe, Eric Kress,...

Sign up for the industry's most insightful weekly newsletter!https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe Ever fancied yourself becoming a VP of a large publisher managing multiple cross-platform teams across several countries? Tune in to the episode and figure out if this is a job for you! Dimo Dimov, Vice President of Live Games at Gameloft, shares his 17-year impressive career journey at Ga...

The crew is one down as Eric Kress, Jen Donahoe, and Mishka Katkoff hop in to knock one off on the road for #300. In this episode, Mishka gives his takeaways from Gamescom. We discuss a conspiracy theory on why Steam is allowed in China and talk about Wukong and Supercell's new CFO. Most importantly, this episode settles the case about Tim Hortons for good. BIG UP for our supporters! Heroic La...

Order your cup of Tim Hortons super hot for this first all-Canadian episode! The lost-and-found podcast host Adam Telfer delves into the state of the industry with Newzoo's Devan Brennan. Topics covered include market trends, forecasts for mobile gaming and the PC market, console performance, and the challenges faced by new free-to-play live service games. The two also explore the optimism sur...

Fresh from another Tim Hortons ribbon cutting in Dubai, Adam Telfer returns to the cast. He’s packing heat, laying down hot takes on The Finals, Once Human, and the colossal capital required to ship single-player games. Meanwhile, Eric drops a margin call on Riot’s transmedia move while Jen rallies in defense. Phil thinks everyone is missing the real Wukong takeaway with a mysterious winner. The g...

Get the latest dose of game industry news shaken, not stirred. In this episode, Eric Kress, Jen Donahoe, and Laura Taranto debate the merits of VR, discuss Zynga's match-three strategies, and evaluate market trends in the mobile gaming sector. Plus, the crew takes a look at the dreadful reception of the Borderlands movie and the ongoing challenges in launching successful game franchises. To ca...

In this episode, Dennis Fong, CEO and co-founder of GGWP, discusses his remarkable journey from being the world's first professional gamer to a successful serial entrepreneur. He shares insights from founding and selling four companies, emphasizing the importance of open conversations and the tough realities of making pivots and layoffs. Dennis also reflects on his motivations, and the challen...

In this episode, Jen Donahoe, Laura Taranto, Phillip Black, and Mishka Katkoff dive into the unexpected closure of Game Informer. The conversation then shifts to financial matters, with insights on the stock market and breakdowns of quarterly earnings reports. We examine the latest on the Microsoft & Activision deal, VC funding trends, and web-based game distribution. The podcast continues wit...

We assembled an Avengers-style team of Consumer Insights leaders from publishers and Vendors Blizzard, Riot, Zynga, and Beta Hat to dig into how Consumer Insights can help Devs and Marketers make and market successful games. The team digs into how each company approaches CI, uncovers trends around older and younger gamers, and gives tips for teams looking for financing or greenlight. The session i...

Jen and Phil close the book on licensing…or do they…while Eric closes the book on the 500 World of Warcraft gear score. Laura looks at Scopley’s new global forgotten franchise, and the team examines mounting Twitch losses. Eric makes 10 x new faces in the episode.

Subscribe to our weekly insights-filled newsletter: https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe In this episode, we’re focusing on the impact of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and antitrust policies on game monetization. Our guest, Archie Stonehill, Chief Product Officer at Stash, is providing insights into how the DMA is changing the landscape for app stores and game developers. From sideloading...

After dropping mice nuts somewhere on the Blizzard campus, Eric returns to remind Matthew Ball of his crypto advocacy. Jen raises the banner for games as toy brand extensions and enrolls in Joost’s class. Phil is ready to be The Second Descendant and reports on Rainbow Seige’s new marketplace. 

Pete Hawley (former executive at 100 Thieves, EA, Zynga, Lionhead, Sony, Telltale, and Mythical Games) and Alexander Seropian (founder of Bungie, Industrial Toys, Wideload, and Look North Games) unpack their experiences with the Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) platform, discussing marketing strategies, player engagement, technical limitations, and opportunities.  00:00 Introduction to Heroic Lab...