Deconstructor of Fun

Deconstructor of Fun
  • 4.5 (89)
  • VIDEO GAMES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
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/jenniferdonahoe

  1. TWIG #320 Unity’s Fate, Fake Ads, Loot Boxes & GTA’s UGC Revolution

    2 DAYS AGO

    TWIG #320 Unity’s Fate, Fake Ads, Loot Boxes & GTA’s UGC Revolution

    With Miska back jet-set life, Eric is HOT about the newest RNG platform, while Phil wants to revisit Niantic’s $9B valuation and go shopping in the Epic Game Store. Jen explodes a new angle on Vector, but Eric isn’t buying the geometry. The crew fights the first war on Last War’s Fake Ads: get real or get rich? To meet the Crew, check out our event in the weekly newsletter:https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe 01:19 Star Wars 03:36 Shilling and Advice 06:48 Niantic's Valuation and Exit 08:48 PrizePix and Gambling 11:44 Hasbro Digital's Success 16:04 Epic Game Store Analysis 23:03 GTA and UGC Potential 29:14 Steam Deck's Impact on the PC Market 30:17 Unity's Earnings & Vector 44:00 Warner Bros Studio Closures 45:50 Love and Deep Space: A Unique RPG 48:18 Last War Survival's Success 50:09 Fake Ads 57:33 Overwatch Loot Boxes Return?? 58:45 Conclusion and Sign-Off

    1 hr
  2. 271. Gaming in the Middle East: Inside Abu Dhabi’s Big Bet on Games

    6 DAYS AGO

    271. Gaming in the Middle East: Inside Abu Dhabi’s Big Bet on Games

    Marcos Muller, Director of Abu Dhabi talks about how the city is building a world-class gaming ecosystem from the ground up. From talent development to job creation and community engagement, Abu Dhabi Gaming is making big moves to attract studios, support developers, and put the region on the global gaming map. Marcos shares insights on the incentives for game studios, and the growth of the gaming economy in the UAE, and even breaks down some misconceptions about life in Abu Dhabi. If you’re a game dev, investor, or just curious about emerging gaming hubs, this episode is a must-listen! connect with Marcos: www.linkedin.com/in/mmhabig/ Chapters: 00:00 – Intro & Welcome Marcos Muller 02:15 – Why Abu Dhabi is Investing in Gaming 06:30 – Building a Sustainable Gaming Ecosystem 12:45 – The Role of Incubators, Accelerators & Studios 18:20 – Financial Incentives & Support for Game Companies 23:40 – Addressing the Talent Gap: Visas, Universities & Local Growth 30:10 – What Makes Abu Dhabi Attractive for Game Developers? 37:55 – Busting Myths About Living & Working in Abu Dhabi 45:20 – Abu Dhabi’s Long-Term Vision for Gaming 50:05 – Final Thoughts & Advice for Game Developers

    1h 3m

  3. FEB 21

    TWIG #319 Scopely 💰 Niantic, Marvel Rivals Drama, and Xbox in Downfall?

    Our IRL events. Signup via the newsletter: https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe Scopely and Niantic are making moves, but can they actually change the game? NetEase unloads Marvel Rivals US studio—a political or an efficiency move? Plus, SMicrosoft’s console strategy looks shakier than ever, and we break down what the future of console gaming really looks like. And just when you thought it was over, King pulls another card from its sleeve. 🚀🎮 03:55 - GDC Shills 11:03 - Scopely & Niantic 20:10 - Jam City & Ludia AR Market 21:43 - Marvel Rivals & Netease 31:13 - Sony Earnings 32:06 - Microsoft's Console Struggles 38:00 - The Future of Console Gaming 50:54 - Return of King

    53 min
  4. 270. Why This CEO Moved His Gaming Studio from London to Abu Dhabi

    FEB 20

    270. Why This CEO Moved His Gaming Studio from London to Abu Dhabi

    🔗 Connect with Boris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boris-kalmykov-7ba38065/ We chat with Boris Kalnikov, CEO & Co-founder of Hype Masters, about relocating his gaming studio from London to Abu Dhabi. Boris shares his journey with World War Armies, the challenges of remote work, and why he chose Abu Dhabi as his new home. We dive into Abu Dhabi’s rise as a gaming hub, its government incentives, and the realities of running a studio in the region—from tax benefits to hiring talent and lifestyle changes. Whether you’re a developer, founder, or just curious about gaming in the Middle East, this episode has key insights you won’t want to miss. Timestamps: ⏳ [00:00] Why Boris left London for Abu Dhabi 🏗️ [06:00] Building a gaming studio in a new ecosystem 💰 [20:00] What incentives and funding opportunities are available? ⚖️ [27:00] Abu Dhabi vs. London: Cost of living, taxes & hiring 🎮 [40:00] The future of gaming in Abu Dhabi 💬 the DoF Community: www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe 🎧 Subscribe: www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe

    47 min
  5. TWIG #318 Supercell’s Records, Unity’s Chaos & AppLovin’s Fire Sale

    FEB 16

    TWIG #318 Supercell’s Records, Unity’s Chaos & AppLovin’s Fire Sale

    ALL upcoming events in our newsletter: https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe Supercell had a monster year with €2.8B in revenue, proving that bigger live ops teams and aggressive marketing can still drive growth—but let’s be real, Squad Busters flopped hard despite the hype. Meanwhile, Unity continues its slow-motion train wreck, losing key talent and scrambling to fix its ad tech, while AppLovin is absolutely crushing it, with stock up 700% thanks to AI-powered ads. Now, in a power move, AppLovin is dumping its entire games portfolio for $900M—so who’s buying? Scopely? Zynga? Playtika? Drop your bets in the comments. 🚀🎮 01:29 Shills07:25 Dream and Venture Capital10:27 Battlefield and Shooter Games14:23 Minecraft Studio Leadership Changes20:39 Supercell's Record Year25:57 Live Ops and Monetization Changes26:52 Squad Busters' Marketing Missteps31:35 Spark Labs's Bootcamp Vibes37:44 Unity's Struggles and Layoffs41:45 AppLovin's Strategic Shift

    50 min

  6. FEB 12

    269. The Ultra Positive Gaming Market Report: Sensor Tower's State of Mobile 2025

    State of Mobile 2025 Report: https://bit.ly/42T04bXJoin us in this episode as Jonathan Briskman from Sensor Towers and Michail Katkoff explore the overall health of the mobile market, Jonathan highlights strong growth metrics despite a mature landscape. He sheds light on the booming in-app purchase revenue and time spent on devices, while also discussing intriguing trends such as digital fatigue and the rise of hybrid apps. We also touch on the global success stories in mobile gaming, focusing on new hit games and the strategic importance of localization for cracking difficult markets like Japan and South Korea. 01:03 Mobile Market Trends and Metrics 05:33 Mobile Gaming Analysis 07:50 Challenges and Regional Factors 15:50 Success Stories and Strategies 25:57 Non-Gaming App Revenue Growth 35:03 Innovative AI Features in Apps 35:29 Gamification and User Engagement 36:36 Duolingo: A Game or Learning Tool? 38:14 Blurring Lines Between Games and Non-Games 38:25 Short Drama Apps: A Growing Trend 40:45 Global Mobile Usage Trends 42:26 Digital Fatigue and Market Shifts 49:40 Localization Strategies for Global Success 53:56 Emerging Markets and Growth Opportunities 56:46 Tapping into User-Generated Content Platforms 01:00:06 Key Takeaways from the State of Mobile Report

    1h 7m
  7. 268. Wilfrid Obeng on How to Scale a $100M Startup and Choosing Abu Dhabi over Silicon Valley

    FEB 10

    268. Wilfrid Obeng on How to Scale a $100M Startup and Choosing Abu Dhabi over Silicon Valley

    Wilfrid Obeng’s journey from Goldman Sachs and Google to gaming startup CTO is anything but typical. In this episode, he breaks down how AudioMob is redefining in-game ads with audio, why they chose Abu Dhabi over Silicon Valley to scale their engineering team, and what it takes to transition from corporate structure to startup chaos. We dig into leadership lessons, hiring strategies, and the future of ad monetization—all from someone who’s been in the trenches. If you’re scaling a startup or rethinking monetization, this episode is a must-listen. 🎧🔥 www.linkedin.com/in/wilfridobeng 00:00 Wilfrid Obeng and AudioMob 04:51 From Goldman Sachs to Startup CTO 07:24 The Importance of Mentorship 13:40 Creating a Performance Culture 24:52 Life in Abu Dhabi: Work and Play 28:47 Hiring and Leadership in a Diverse Team 35:03 The Reality of Startups 37:10 Competing for Talent in Startups 39:05 Leadership Evolution and Challenges 42:07 The Importance of Company Culture 56:44 Living and Working in Abu Dhabi 01:05:01 Future Plans and Personal Growth

    1h 9m
  8. TWIG #317: Big Dream, Bigger Battlefield, and the Biggest Roblox M&A deal EVER

    FEB 7

    TWIG #317: Big Dream, Bigger Battlefield, and the Biggest Roblox M&A deal EVER

    signup to our newsletter and join our on-site events: https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe With Jen at a meditation retreat in California and Miska fully embracing his jet-set life, Eric reminds us just how wrong Matthew Ball got it. Adam reveals the Multiversus thesis and argues that Battlefield has room to grab dormant fans and grow the market. Phil spews Battlefield tears and worries about Roblox’s value destruction. They conclude by debating the AI integration in-games: flop or tbd?

    55 min
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4.5
out of 5
89 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 @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/jenniferdonahoe

Information

  • Creator
    Deconstructor of Fun
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    627
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Deconstructor of Fun
  • Show Website
    Deconstructor of Fun

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