Deconstructor of Fun

Deconstructor of Fun
  • 4.4 (101)
  • VIDEO GAMES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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 www.linkedin.com/in/michailkatkoff/ Eric Kress www.linkedin.com/in/erickress/ Phillip Black www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-black-economist/ Jen Donahoe www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdonahoe

  1. 12 x TWIG Predictions: The Numbers Don't Lie!

    18H AGO

    12 x TWIG Predictions: The Numbers Don't Lie!

    Steam PC flops, Xbox layoffs return, Sony’s handheld dominates, investors flee games for apps, Roblox sees a $100M exit, China beats Turkey, PC indie rises, mobile teams pivot to apps. 01:01 Tribute to Vince Zampella08:03 Biggest Game of the Year Predictions08:09 GTA 6 and Its Impact11:42 Other Major Game Predictions14:13 Industry Macro Trends18:50 VC Investments and Gaming26:11 FIFA and Netflix Collaboration32:51 China's Dominance in Mobile Gaming38:52 Epic Games and the Future of Gaming43:08 Predictions for the Gaming Industry53:25 The AI Bubble and Its Implications56:50 Final Thoughts and Holiday Wishes

    59 min
  2. 316. Slipknot's Clown: Building Games Like You Build a Band

    3D AGO

    316. Slipknot's Clown: Building Games Like You Build a Band

    In this Deep Dive, Jen drops into the pit with Sean “Clown” Crahan — co-founder of Slipknot, lifelong gamer, and unapologetic creative chaos agent. We go from masks to Minecraft, breaking down the origin story of VERNEARTH, why creator-led studios are having their moment, and how the things metal has always understood, culture, empathy, friction, and community, are now becoming core pillars of modern game development. This isn’t a celebrity side quest. It’s a conversation about world-building, trust, and why great games (and great bands) are built by people who actually give a sh*t. Headphones on. Controllers ready.  00:40 Meet Sean Clown Rahan: From Music to Game Development 01:24 The Origin of VERNEARTH0 7:22 Sean's Journey in Gaming and Modding 16:54 Collaborations and Creative Challenges 25:16 Empathy and Respect in Digital Spaces 33:05 The Future of Creator-Led Studios 39:17 Failures and Collaborations in the Gaming Industry 42:55 The Inspiration Behind VERNEARTH 49:11 The Role of Culture in Gaming and Music 01:00:32 The Intersection of Metal and Gaming Cultures

    1h 9m
  3. TWIG #362 The Golden TWIGs 2025 Show

    DEC 18

    TWIG #362 The Golden TWIGs 2025 Show

    Brace yourself. Golden TWIG voting is open! https://forms.gle/b4HFZkaeczN41BsBA This isn’t a participation-trophy awards show. Nor some thinly veiled promotion of paid sponsors. Golden TWIG is the industry mirror we all pretend not to look into. Vote now and help us separate the gold from the garbage. 00:00 Welcome 00:24 Golden Twig Award Nominations00:58 Mishka of Arabia02:43 Upcoming Events and Shills03:48 Podcast Highlights and Industry Insights20:31 Correction of the Year24:53 Most Damage Received31:06 Most Disappointing Game of 202533:07 Disappointing Game Releases34:41 Split Gate 2: A Major Letdown36:21 Underrated Games of the Year39:46 Ubisoft's Surprising Hits44:10 Skeptical Moves in the Gaming Industry49:29 Brilliant Moves in Gaming01:01:04 Limping Donkeys: Gaming's Biggest Failures01:06:01 Golden Twig Nominations Wrap-Up

    1h 7m
  4. 315. From Space Ape to Duolingo via Supercell with Simon Hade

    DEC 15

    315. From Space Ape to Duolingo via Supercell with Simon Hade

    What actually happens after the hit games, the acquisitions, and the “success”? In this episode, Simon Hade, co-founder of Space Ape Games, walks through the uncomfortable middle of game company building: from Playfish → Space Ape → Supercell → NextBeat → Duolingo. This isn’t a victory lap. It’s a post-mortem on genre mastery vs. exploration, lean LiveOps, why copying the Supercell playbook breaks most studios, and why Simon ultimately left games to help build Duolingo’s music and learning products. 00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene 00:43 The Birth of Space Ape 03:26 Fundraising Challenges and Successes 07:48 Innovations and Strategic Moves 13:27 Lean LiveOps Philosophy 16:51 Supercell Acquisition and Cultural Shifts 18:50 Reflections and Lessons Learned 38:59 Spinning Outta Supercell 40:26 Exploring Duolingo Partnership 44:37 Relentless Optimization at Duolingo 49:13 Transitioning to Duolingo 55:42 The Price of Being a Founder 01:03:05 Reflections on Success and Future

    1h 10m
  5. TWIG #361 WB Games’ Fate, CoD’s Apology Tour & the UA Financing Trap

    DEC 11

    TWIG #361 WB Games’ Fate, CoD’s Apology Tour & the UA Financing Trap

    FNaF 2 crushes box office expectations, proving (again) that game IP owns Hollywood. We break down Matthew Ball’s take on the EA/PIF deal, why 93% ownership signals a sports-media empire play, not an LBO, and why the press got the story wrong. Then: the Nex Playground, a $200 kids’ console that quietly outsold PS5 in November. Is this the next underserved frontier in family gaming? We also tear into UA financing schemes masquerading as “cohort funding.” Spoiler: the effective interest rates rhyme with credit-card debt, and studios have died using them. Call of Duty launches an apology tour for Black Ops 7 and vows to stop annualized crunch. We assess the odds. And we close with AppLovin beating Google on Android e-commerce ads, inside Google’s own OS. A massive signal for the future of UA as e-comm competition starts eating the gaming pie.

    1h 3m
  6. 314. Hard Truths About Co-Founders, Capital, and Competition with Appcharge's Founders Roei and Maor

    DEC 9

    314. Hard Truths About Co-Founders, Capital, and Competition with Appcharge's Founders Roei and Maor

    The dynamics of co-founder relationships, featuring Appcharge co-founders Roei Barassi and Maor Sason. They share insights on building a robust team, the significance of mentorship, and the importance of celebrating success. Learn about the challenges and strategies of scaling a company, raising capital, and maintaining a strong culture across global offices. Whether you're a first-time founder or a seasoned entrepreneur, this episode is packed with invaluable lessons on leadership, teamwork, and innovation.00:00 The Importance of Co-Founder Relationships02:56 Handling Conflicts with Respect09:39 Balancing Personal Life and Startup Demands24:40 Raising Funds and Building Momentum31:57 Navigating Early Rejections and Negotiations32:28 Turning Nos into Yeses33:25 The Importance of Positive Mindset34:52 Hidden Risks of Too Much Capital35:44 What Founders Should Avoid Between Rounds38:52 The Evolution of Web Stores41:56 App Charge's Unique Value Proposition51:32 Building a Global Team53:40 Scaling and Maintaining Company Culture57:45 Leadership Challenges in Rapid Growth01:01:58 Final Advice for Founders01:05:15 Conclusion and Farewell

    1h 7m
  7. TWIG #360 The Story of Two Steam Games, Where Winds Meet & The 4X Shake-Up

    DEC 4

    TWIG #360 The Story of Two Steam Games, Where Winds Meet & The 4X Shake-Up

    This week in games, the money moves got messy: Dream Games recalibrates everyone's ambitions while the Saudi shopping spree continues. We take a look at Where Winds Meet and what it really says about China’s next wave of global ambitions, and ask the uncomfortable question: how are indie studios actually surviving right now? Finally, we zoom out to the battlefield of 4X strategy, the genre’s current health, the growing wave of female players, and whether a fresh face like Tile Survive can rewrite the rules. 00:00 Welcome 00:22 Introduction and Shills 04:26 Dream Games Budget Correction 14:06 Bite Dance's Mobile Investments 19:22 Arc Games Independence 20:52 Where Winds Meet: A New Chinese Game 29:17 The South Korea Deal and Blizzard's Business Model 31:21 Success and Challenges of Indie Game Studios 33:38 VC Investments in Gaming: A Tough Landscape 36:12 PlayerUnknown Productions and Their New Game 47:37 The State of 4X Strategy Games 51:24 The Rise of Female Gamers in 4X Strategy 55:48 Tile Survive: A New Contender in 4X Strategy 59:56 Conclusion and Future Topics

    1h 1m
  8. 313. The Complete Guide to Gaming's Fastest-Growing UA Channel

    DEC 1

    313. The Complete Guide to Gaming's Fastest-Growing UA Channel

    Loyalty platforms have evolved from sideline UA channels to commanding 25-50% of major studios' media budgets. In this deep dive, VYBS founder Ido Raz breaks down everything game developers need to know about loyalty apps—from the basics to advanced strategies for maximizing player quality and LTV. We cover the biggest misconceptions about incentivized traffic, why casual games benefit the most, and how to avoid the common mistakes that kill campaigns. Plus, Ido shares the single most overlooked KPI that changes how you evaluate traffic quality. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction 02:39 How Loyalty Apps Differ from Offerwalls 03:33 Business Model: From CPI to ROAS Optimization 05:28 Can Loyalty Be a Primary UA Channel? 11:25 Best Genres for Loyalty Platforms 12:29 The Magic Myth: Why Loyalty Requires Specialization 13:45 Are Loyalty Users Different from Traditional Players 17:20 When Should Studios Start Using Loyalty Apps? 18:54 The Cash Flow Advantage: 4 Months vs 2 Years 21:00 Timeline to Success: 1 Week to 7 Weeks 22:35 Patience vs Pressure: Learning Cycles 26:30 Using Loyalty to Amplify Live Events 27:53 Common Mistakes Studios Make 29:52 The Unrealistic KPI Problem 34:58 Loyalty vs App Store Competition 36:07 AI's Impact on Loyalty Platforms 40:36 Best Way to Spot Low-Quality Users 44:46 What's Next for VYBS?

    43 min
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4.4
out of 5
101 Ratings

About

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 www.linkedin.com/in/michailkatkoff/ Eric Kress www.linkedin.com/in/erickress/ Phillip Black www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-black-economist/ Jen Donahoe www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdonahoe

Information

  • Creator
    Deconstructor of Fun
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    737
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Deconstructor of Fun
  • Show Website
    Deconstructor of Fun

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