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Deconstructor of Fun

Deconstructor of Fun

By 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 www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-black-economist/
Jen Donahoe @Jen_Donahoe www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferd

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Currently playing episode

The Intricacies of Venture Capital Investments with Joakim Achren, F4 Fund

Deconstructor of FunMar 15, 2024

00:00
01:21:18
The Intricacies of Venture Capital Investments with Joakim Achren, F4 Fund

The Intricacies of Venture Capital Investments with Joakim Achren, F4 Fund

Get on board with one of the best newsletters in the business: https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe Joakim is a seasoned entrepreneur (Next Games) turned venture capitalist (F4 Fund). In this conversation Joakim provides valuable insights into the intricacies of venture capital investments, emphasizing the importance of innovation, adaptability, and strategic planning for startups aiming to thrive in the competitive gaming industry. F4 Fund https://f4.fund Joakim’s book, Long Term Game: How To Build A Video Games Company https://www.amazon.com/Long-Term-Game-Build-Company/dp/952942874X

Mar 15, 202401:21:18
TWIG #273 Istanbul Recap, Embracer sells Saber, Epic's on iOS in EU
Mar 14, 202457:05
Industry Turmoil and Opportunities Ahead with Goldman Sachs and Lightspeed Venture Partners

Industry Turmoil and Opportunities Ahead with Goldman Sachs and Lightspeed Venture Partners

DoF Newsletter: https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe Hemal Thaker https://www.linkedin.com/in/thakerhemal/ Moritz Baier-Lentz https://www.linkedin.com/in/moritzbaierlentz/ In this eye-opening podcast, industry insiders Hemal and Moritz provide candid insights into the current state of the gaming industry, discussing market challenges, the impact of layoffs, the dynamics of venture capital and publisher models, the potential of Web 3, the role of AI, and predictions for the future. From navigating downturns to seizing emerging opportunities, this conversation offers valuable advice for founders and executives alike, shedding light on the realities of the gaming landscape while inspiring optimism for the road ahead.

Mar 11, 202401:28:40
Crucial Remote Work Strategies with Andy Duthie, Executive Producer at My.Games

Crucial Remote Work Strategies with Andy Duthie, Executive Producer at My.Games

Join our newsletter: www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe

Andy Duthie, Executive Producer of a soaring title HAWKED, joins the podcast to peel back the curtain on remote team management and offer his playbook on how to make remote work work and projects of all sizes and scopes. 

Andy Duthie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyduthie/

Mar 04, 202401:27:43
TWIG #272 Is Apple Arcade Rotten? Unity's new transparency
Feb 29, 202401:09:48
Insights from Building (& Exiting) Three Companies with Paul Gouge, Founder of Fourth Star

Insights from Building (& Exiting) Three Companies with Paul Gouge, Founder of Fourth Star

Join us in Istanbul:

https://adsonair.withgoogle.com/events/think-games-istanbul-2024

Paul Gouge is one of the best founders in the industry. He has built three companies over the past two decades. These companies have not only made fantastic games but have also been acquired four times, with Playdemic, being bought first by Warner Brothers and then by EA under Paul’s leadership.

In this episode, Paul talks about his fourth company, Fourth Star. And how that is the culmination of all his learnings to date. 

Feb 26, 202401:24:19
TWIG #271 F*wad ads, Xbox nothing news, Eggcellent puns for Eggy Party
Feb 22, 202401:13:24
How GGP & GDC support under-estimated groups and throws the best GDC parties

How GGP & GDC support under-estimated groups and throws the best GDC parties

Join Jen Donahoe TWIG co-host and Strategic Marketing Consultant at Beta Hat and JadeInferno and Gordon Bellemy, CEO of GGP (Gay Gaming Professionals), to hear how GGP supports underrepresented or, better phrased, under-estimated groups in the game industry.


GDC2024 features a number of events that everyone can benefit from. Come join us!


Find all the event information at GGPs LinkedIn page events section


March 20, 3:30pm GDC - LGBTQ+ Executive and Entrepreneurship and Allies Roundtable moderated by Jen Donahoe


March 20, 7:30 GGP Networking Event at DNA lounge right next foor to the Zero Proof board game night at Buzzworks


March 21, 5:40 PM GDC Breaking Boundaries Roundtable





Feb 20, 202443:48
The Inner Works of a Game Publisher with John Wright, Kwalee’s Publishing Head

The Inner Works of a Game Publisher with John Wright, Kwalee’s Publishing Head

Join us in Istanbul:

https://adsonair.withgoogle.com/events/think-games-istanbul-2024


John Wright, VP of publishing at Kwalee joins the podcast to discuss publishing in 2024. The thing is, publishing on mobile is experiencing a bit of a renaissance. This is due to all the ever-restricting privacy changes and the decrease in available capital smaller companies were using to scale their games. 

Feb 19, 202401:13:53
TWIG #270 The BIG Supercell Talk

TWIG #270 The BIG Supercell Talk

event links: GDC Marketing Brunch /GDC Tech Brunch

When Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen drops his annual blog post, the gaming folks around the world rush to read it. The TWIG crew is no different. Though we might be a tad mod critical…

In this episode, we also discuss Disney’s investment in Epic. What are the implications of this deal? Why does Epic need this money? And what is Epic's future?

This episode is brought to you by Eric Kress, Jen Donahoe, Philip Black and Mishka Katkoff. 

Feb 15, 202401:02:54
Product Deep Dive: Whiteout Survival's $400M Loot

Product Deep Dive: Whiteout Survival's $400M Loot

Join Jen Donahoe and Laura Taranto in a cozy yet banter-filled deconstruction of Century Games' Whiteout Survival. You'll feel like you’re stepping into a meeting with product and marketing, figuring out how to make and market the next great game as we deconstruct winners. Have a game you want to see on Product Deep Dives? Contact us at info@deconstructoroffun.com Intro 00:00 - 05:08 Century Games Key Takeaways 05:08 - 06:57 Key Takeaway 1 06:57 Key Takeaway 2 09:19 Key Takeaway 3 11:08 Key Takeaway 4 14:38 Key Takeaway 5 17:12 Data.ai Review 21:49 Century Games Company Review 25:50 Whiteout Survival Predecessors 27:10 Whiteout Survival Decon 33:46 Summary 58:00

Feb 12, 202401:00:56
TWIG #269 The Tremendous Yet Troubled State of Gaming
Feb 08, 202401:07:59
The Four Things a Founder Should Never Do, by Anton Krasnyy, former founder and CEO of Murka

The Four Things a Founder Should Never Do, by Anton Krasnyy, former founder and CEO of Murka

Join us in Istanbul!

www.deconstructoroffun.com/istanbul


“Never trust experts nor believe in business friendships. Never allow others to change your vision. And never underpay yourself.” Those are the 4 critical nevers that Anton Krasnyy once wrote on LinkedIn.


Anton is a former founder, CEO, and Chairman of Murka, a social casino company originally from Ukraine acquired by Blackstone in 2019.


Despite the strong words, I’ve always found Anton to be very empathetic. That’s why I wanted him to come on the podcast and talk in detail about the four critical never and show his real personality, which may come off the wrong way in a written form. 

Feb 05, 202401:09:50
TWIG #268 Apple is "Hot Garbage" and Blizzard has a brand new boss...
Feb 01, 202401:02:15
PC and Console Gaming Predictions with Newzoo's Tom Wijman

PC and Console Gaming Predictions with Newzoo's Tom Wijman

Newzoo's Lead Analyst, Tom Wijman, returns on the podcast to discuss gaming market predictions for consoles and PCs.

You can access the full Newzoo report here:

https://newzoo.com/games-market-reports-forecasts

And check our previous episode here:

www.deconstructoroffun.com/blog/2023/11/2/console-gamings-triple-threat

Jan 29, 202401:12:36
TWIG #267 Apple vs. Epic / Palworld vs. Pokemon

TWIG #267 Apple vs. Epic / Palworld vs. Pokemon

Sign up to Istanbul Gaming Summit


By deciding not to hear the appeal of the Epic v. Apple case, the injection against Apple's anti-steering rules stands. This means that developers are now free to push US iOS players into web shops. But what doest that mean for the industry? And if this conversation doesn’t tickle your toes, the crew talks Palworld. A real Pokemon killer. 


The doom and gloom of this episode is brought to you by Eric Kress, Jen Donahoe, Philip Black and Laura Taranto. 

Jan 25, 202401:00:48
6 x Operative Changes That Kept SciPlay Growing Despite the Market Headwinds
Jan 21, 202401:02:36
TWIG #266 The State of Mobile and Monopoly Go’s anti-Profitability Claims

TWIG #266 The State of Mobile and Monopoly Go’s anti-Profitability Claims

Istanbul Gaming Summit pre-signup:

https://rsvp.withgoogle.com/events/think-games-istanbul-i-google-x-deconstructor-of-fun

The squad dips their spoons into the Monopoly Go drama by giving their take on the profitability of Scopely’s blockbuster. We discuss the real reason why NetEase and Activision have suddenly kissed and made up. Scratch our heads as to why Tencent is launching yet another mobile MOBA and dive deep into the state of mobile. 

The doom and gloom of this episode is brought to you by Eric Kress, Jen Donahoe, Philip Black, and Michail Katkoff. 

Jan 18, 202401:06:49
Elena Grigorian, CEO of MyGames - My First 100 Days as a CEO

Elena Grigorian, CEO of MyGames - My First 100 Days as a CEO

stanbul Gaming Summit https://rsvp.withgoogle.com/events/think-games-istanbul-i-google-x-deconstructor-of-fun Elena Grigorian joins the podcast after recently taking over as the CEO of MyGames. In this podcast, we cover both business and personal topics starting with what a new CEO should accomplish in their first 100 days in the position and ending with the challenges of balancing work and life in leadership positions. segments: Intro: (0:00) The role of a CEO role: (5:25) Work-life Balance: (11:56) MyGames SWOT: (16:52) Leadership Team: (21:54) Intercompany Knowledge Sharing: (24:05) Portfolio Strategy: (28:53) Organization Structure: (33:21) Expansion: (41:59) Market Predictions: (47:52)

Jan 15, 202459:05
TWIG #265 Unity continues to lay off while Netflix drops $1,000M on games

TWIG #265 Unity continues to lay off while Netflix drops $1,000M on games

2024 starts where 2023 ended - and that means layoffs. Unity slashes 1,800 jobs while Twitch fires every third person in the latest layoff rounds at these companies.

In this episode, we announce the Golden Twig "winners", discuss Clash Mini, and continue to scratch our heads about Netflix Games.

Thanks to the show's sponsors: Xsolla, AppsFlyer, Data.ai, and Heroic Labs!

Jan 11, 202401:09:53
Marketing Predictions 2024 with Eric Seufert

Marketing Predictions 2024 with Eric Seufert

Eric Seufert is a one-of-a-kind marketing expert. He has headed marketing at Rovio, Wooga, and N3TWORK. He has built Mobile Dev Memo into the leading site for marketing professionals. He became a venture capitalist after founding Heracles Capital.


In this podcast, Eric Seufert returns back to the podcast to discuss predictions for mobile marketing. A must-listen for all of us!


sign-up to our PGC event: https://event.appsflyer.com/appsflyerandheroiclabs

Jan 10, 202401:11:31
TWIG #264 New China Regulations, Market Predictions and Sony Leaks
Jan 04, 202401:07:31
TWIG #263 The DoF Game Industry Awards
Dec 21, 202301:10:11
AD APOCALYPSE 2024 with Felix Braberg, Ad Monetization Consultant

AD APOCALYPSE 2024 with Felix Braberg, Ad Monetization Consultant

In-app ads are either important or crucial depending on the genre of games you’re making. In this episode, I’m joined by Felix Braberg, a true ad monetization expert. Together we discuss the effect of privacy changes on ad monetization, practical ways for games to double their ad revenue, the efficacy of different ad formats, and the changes onset by Apple, Amazon, and Google to the whole ad monetization ecosystem. connect with Felix (www.felixbraberg.com)

Dec 20, 202301:10:46
The State of Play from Real-Time Payments to Web Shops

The State of Play from Real-Time Payments to Web Shops

Host Jen Donahoe sits down with Xsolla's Interim CEO and President, Chris Hewish, to get the juicy facts from Xsolla's State of Play Report. The insights apply to all platforms and regions, so be sure to listen in.

They cover 4 key topics:

- The rise of real-time payments

- Alternative Payments

- Web shops with new data from the top 100 companies

- The upcoming EU DMA and side-loading in iOS 17.2 beta

For more information about the State of Play report visit the Xsolla Blog here

Dec 15, 202342:54
TWIG #262 GOOGLE V. EPIC WON'T SAVE US 🧑‍⚖️ 📵

TWIG #262 GOOGLE V. EPIC WON'T SAVE US 🧑‍⚖️ 📵

With Miska downing soju faster than meat off a KBBQ grill, Eric and Jen lay down the law on Monopoly Go's UA numbers. Laura celebrates Apple's end-of-year awards, while Phil tells developers to hide yo' kids, hide yo' wife; Fortnite is coming for your genre. The crew talks about Epic's court victory that produced Tim Sweney's only natural smile to date.

Dec 14, 202301:03:15
Mobile Gaming Market in 2024 with Lexi Sydow of Data.ai

Mobile Gaming Market in 2024 with Lexi Sydow of Data.ai

Want to catch your Data.ai 2024 predictions in a TWIG-like format? We got you covered! Jen DonahoeMichail KatkoffBrett Nowak and Eric Kress hosted by Lexi Sydow, deconstructed the gaming market while planting several jabs at each others' predictions.Topics discussed:

  1. Are we seeing gaming bottom out, or is the market on the up?
  2. Which areas in gaming are growing and why?
  3. What are today’s top engagement and monetization features?
Dec 11, 202301:00:37
"Zero" Cost Acquisition Tactics

"Zero" Cost Acquisition Tactics

How do you acquire your very first players without a marketing budget? What guerrilla marketing tactics work for games, and how can you execute them creatively?


Host,
Jen Donahoe asks Julie Bonnecarrère and Pavel Afanasiev, co-founders of Northern Lights Entertainment (NLE), about their journey to soft launching on mobile under extreme budget constraints.


NLE is developing Nebulae (https://nebulae.world/) - a 4x strategy MMO for mobile & PC, where politics is a core gameplay component, and where players collectively control numerous political regimes - in space!

Dec 08, 202301:03:08
TWIG #261 Reacting to GTA VI 🚗 🔫
Dec 07, 202301:03:43
TWIG #260 Get the F out of here! State of Mobile
Nov 30, 202301:00:22
Product Marketing Management in Games with Jesse Lempiäinen, Founder/CEO of Geeklab

Product Marketing Management in Games with Jesse Lempiäinen, Founder/CEO of Geeklab

What is the role of Product Marketing Managers (PMMs) in gaming? The discussion emphasizes two key aspects that PMMs enable: Firstly, facilitating the identification of product-market fit early in the development phase, thereby preventing costly pivots after the game's launch Secondly, they allow Product Managers and Game Directors to concentrate on enhancing key performance indicators (KPIs) and team efficiency by serving as the primary liaison between the game team and internal/external marketing and user research teams. The episode delves into questions about what to expect from a PMM, how to identify a good one, the evolving nature of their role post-privacy changes, and optimal placement within a company's organizational structure. Jesse Lempiäinen, the CEO and Founder of Geeklab, a platform for efficiently testing product/market fit, provides insights and answers to these inquiries.

Nov 27, 202333:42
TWIG #259 Monopoly Go's Winning Formula

TWIG #259 Monopoly Go's Winning Formula

We have a full house and lots of topics to cover! The talk of the week is Scopely's Monopoly Go crossing $1B in revenue in just 7 months. We have a Esports smackdown and we also talk a bit about Web3 to keep things spicy.

Kudos to our sponsors: Heroic Labs, Xsolla, AppsFlyer, and Data.ai

Nov 24, 202301:12:41
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WEB3 GAMING DREAM???

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WEB3 GAMING DREAM???

In the heyday of 2022, there was an unprecedented surge in investment in Web3 games, capturing nearly half of all investment in both dollars and raw numbers. However, the excitement and speculation didn't translate into quality games, resulting in numerous failures within the industry. Warren Woodward, CCO and co-founder of Upptic, a leading growth agency for games, joins the podcast to explain what happened to the Web3 gaming dream and what the future entails.

Nov 20, 202301:05:42
TWIG #258 Grouchy Kress Alert 🚨

TWIG #258 Grouchy Kress Alert 🚨

Kress embraces grouchiness and brings the fire to today's podcast. Phil gets triggered by behavioural economics delivering an epic rant. Mishka weakly defends his “China” point and Jen talks about the latest Call of Duty that got drowned by the worst score in the history of the franchise. 


The crew discusses why console developers are backtracking from the Games-as-a-Service model and announces the Deconstructor of Fun Gaming Awards. The episode is capped by Zynga’s Match Factory breakdown.

Nov 16, 202301:10:10
7 x GAME INDUSTRY TRUTHS with CHRIS HEWISH, PRESIDENT of XSOLLA

7 x GAME INDUSTRY TRUTHS with CHRIS HEWISH, PRESIDENT of XSOLLA

In the latest podcast, Mishka delves into an all-encompassing discussion with Chris Hewish, President and interim CEO of Xsolla. Chris boasts an impressive gaming career that spans iconic companies like Skydance, Survios, DreamWorks, and includes a substantial 13-year stint at Activision.

Topics discussed:

  1. Macroeconomics vs. Game Investments
  2. Console Gaming: Challenges & Opportunities
  3. Behavioral Economics
  4. Unity’s Odyssey
  5. Transmedia
  6. Generative AI and Creative Workflows
  7. Bonus…
Nov 13, 202301:15:54
TWIG #257 Undercover at Blizzcon 🦹

TWIG #257 Undercover at Blizzcon 🦹

With Miska resuming his jet-set life, Jen reviews hygiene at Blizzcon, while Kress tells us his opinion on the unexpected departure of PlayStation CEO and reminds us of the difference between Trekkies and fans. Laura and Phil go deep on Brawl Stars' new announcement - it's due or die. Phil can't understand The Finals, and neither can Eric. Omega Strikers is dead, and the team performs an autopsy.


BIG ups to our sponsors AppsFlyer, Heroic Labs, Data.ai and Xsolla!

Nov 09, 202301:05:16
Chris Petrovic Teaches Acquiring Great Gaming Companies

Chris Petrovic Teaches Acquiring Great Gaming Companies

Are you ready for the Merger & Acquisition Masterclass? Learn from Chris Petrovic, former Zynga Head of Corporate Strategy, why game companies venture into M&A, what are the biggest challenges and reasons leading to failed deals, current M&A trends, and more.


Nov 06, 202301:20:44
TWIG #256 "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH VIDEO GAMES?"

TWIG #256 "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH VIDEO GAMES?"

As Microsoft reorgs Xbox leadership, we debate who could be the perfect person to replace Bobby Kotick as the CEO of Activision. We also discuss why our industry has all the layoffs in the middle of breaking sales records. And we also talk about games: Mario Wonder, Supercell's Mo.Co and Wonder Blast from Good Game Studios.

shoutout to our world-class spornsors: AppsFlyer, Xsolla, Heroic Labs, and Data.ai

Nov 02, 202301:00:45
DIARY OF A (retired) CEO

DIARY OF A (retired) CEO

In this episode, we explore the unique challenges and successes of a remarkable woman CEO in the gaming industry.

Our guest, Carol Miu, has shattered glass ceilings and achieved incredible milestones throughout her career. We'll dive deep into her journey, discussing gender disparities in the CEO role, her most memorable achievements in maintaining work-life balance, industry evolution, and her reflections on her career. Y

ou won't want to miss this inspiring conversation with a trailblazing leader in the gaming world. Stay tuned for valuable insights and advice!

Oct 30, 202301:09:55
How to Get Press, Tips from Mobilegamer.biz

How to Get Press, Tips from Mobilegamer.biz

How do game companies get press for their new games, big company moments, or new hires? We ask Neil Long, founder and editor of Mobilegamer.biz, for tips and tricks on how to approach game media to get press.


Neil Long is the founder and editor of mobilegamer.biz, a new site for the mobile games business. He started out in games industry journalism almost 20 years ago, and before launching mobilegamer.biz he spent seven years at Apple as an App Store games editor, working out of the London office. 





Oct 27, 202348:02
TWIG 255: "F You Unity, We're not Paying!"

TWIG 255: "F You Unity, We're not Paying!"

The non-sick trifecta of Kress, Phil, and Jen hold down the fort. Kress pushed back on the India opportunity, arguing it's only for the top-of-the-top games. The gang revisits the Unity runtime fee news with new insights and quotes reported by Mobilegamer.biz. Shameless speculation ensues about Microsoft's declining success with Game Pass, meaning they might want to cancel it. What happened to Payday3? Trading was canceled in Rocket League.

All this and the top game industry news of the week. 

Oct 26, 202359:43
How to Deal With Negative Feedback a conversation with Sophie Vo of Rise and Play

How to Deal With Negative Feedback a conversation with Sophie Vo of Rise and Play

How to deal with negative feedback? And the importance of self-esteem, self-awareness, self-reflection, and self-evaluation. 

In today’s Episode joined by my friend and former colleague, Sophie Vo. Sophie comes with 15 years of experience in the games industry working at companies like Gameloft, Wooga, Rovio, Voodoo, and Savage Game Studios.

Sophie is perhaps best known for her Rise & Play podcast and newsletter, which focuses on leadership challenges in the gaming industry.


Oct 23, 202355:11
Untapped India Mobile Opportunity

Untapped India Mobile Opportunity

According to Niko Partners, the India games market is projected to generate almost $900M in 2023 with almost ½ a billion players.  That's growth of 21% YOY from 2022 for revenue and 12% for the number of players. Probably the most interesting stat is that 97% of India’s gamers play on smartphones.


To dig in, we got the platform experts to come and highlight the various opportunities, from overall revenue to implementing new payment methods, sub-dollar price point IAP, exclusive products, and marketing tips.


We welcome Vinay Charaniya and Ash Dixit from the Google Play Partnerships team focused on India and SEA. Both of them consult gaming developers, helping them grow their games on the Google Play Platform. 


For developers who want to reach out to get more info on scaling their games for India (or other emerging markets), we have this simple form to fill out, and the Google Play Partnership team will reach out. Or, need India localization tips? Check out Ash's Medium article.

Oct 20, 202301:03:57
TWIG #254 Unity and Activision CEO Fantasy Draft

TWIG #254 Unity and Activision CEO Fantasy Draft

Laura and Phil deep dive into Monster Hunter's early positive numbers in Japan before arguing over Warcraft Rumble's design and art choice. Jen and Kress put the Activision and Microsoft merger to rest while setting up their fantasy drafts for new CEOs of Activision, post-Bobby Kotick's departure at the end of 2023, and Unity, post-John Riccitiello's departures. Finally, the team reviews all the reasons why Disney shouldn't, can't, and won't buy EA.

Oct 19, 202301:06:23
AR Gaming revived by the Meta Quest 3?

AR Gaming revived by the Meta Quest 3?

Is there an opportunity for AR gaming on mobile after all the attention coming to AR from the Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro?

Here to unpack that topic is Asad J Malik, CEO of Jaru AR.

Asad is an augmented reality pioneer whose critically acclaimed narrative storytelling projects positioned him as a visionary in the space before completing his undergraduate degree. He has directed next-generation AR experiences featuring icons like Serena Williams and Lil Nas X and runs the AR company Jadu, launching a first-of-its-kind multiplayer augmented reality fighting game for mobile.

Check our Jadu Fight in AR

Available on iOS and Android

Oct 13, 202344:19
TWIG #253 John Riccitiello's Legacy / EA post FIFA in Numbers
Oct 12, 202352:43
The Art of Hiring and Getting Hired with Jordan Mazer, Head of Talent at a16z Games

The Art of Hiring and Getting Hired with Jordan Mazer, Head of Talent at a16z Games

Needless to say, the games industry is going through a rough patch after a decade of booming growth. That is why this episode, with a16z’s Jordan Mazer, is very relevant both for companies and individuals. 
Jordan has unrivaled experience scaling high-performing teams at Amazon, Scopely, and Riot. He has interviewed thousands, if not tens of thousands professionals, Jordan shares invaluable insights and best practices for companies and individuals. 

Oct 09, 202301:12:32
TWIG #252 Unity's CEO Finally Speak Out while Epic Lays Off 900

TWIG #252 Unity's CEO Finally Speak Out while Epic Lays Off 900

Join us in Tel Aviv > LINK

The fabulous four discuss Epic's massive layoffs, Netflix's Love is Blind, Fortnite's price increases, and Unity CEO, John Riccotello's

Hosts: Jen Donahue, Laura Taranto, Eric Kress and Philip Black

Thanks to our world-class sponsors: AppsFlyer, Heroic Labs, Data.ai and Xsolla


Oct 05, 202352:41
REPRESENTATION IN GAMES and Game Award shows

REPRESENTATION IN GAMES and Game Award shows

Co-host of TWIG, Jen Donahoe, kicks off her one-on-one deep dive series of podcasts designed to give listeners actionable tips from experts in the game industry across marketing, publishing, media, and more.

First up, Robin Gray from Gray Media, founder of Gayming Magazine, the world's only LGBTQ video game magazine, and creator of the Gayming Awards, coming April 2024.

They discuss the benefits of and tips for authentically showcasing representation in your games.


Oct 02, 202355:07
TWIG #251 If we were running Unity, we'd...

TWIG #251 If we were running Unity, we'd...

Join us in Tel Aviv > SIGNUP

We have the full crew back in the house Together we analyze the latest turns in the Unity saga and most importantly (or least importantly) tell what we'd do should we be running the company. We also debate the role of Big Tech in the game industry's future.

Sep 28, 202301:03:40