Story Mode by Sanlo

Sanlo Technologies
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Story Mode is a weekly podcasts featuring exclusive insights into the gaming industry. Join Sanlo CEO, Olya Caliujnaia, as she delves into the compelling narratives of the most influential and innovative executives who are shaping the world of video games. Each episode is a deep dive into the experiences that have defined the careers of our guests. We explore their beginnings, the challenges they've faced, the industry's evolution, and the game-changing decisions that have led to major milestones in the gaming world.

  1. 21 DE JAN.

    Applying eCommerce Strategies to D2C in Gaming with Chris Faught from Neon

    On this episode of Story Mode with Sanlo, Olya speaks with Chris Faught, Founder and CEO of Neon, about the lessons to be learned from the eCommerce and FinTech industries and how those insights can be applied to gaming. They touch on a wide range of topics, including: • The world of BNPL (Buy now, pay later) and Affirm's origin story. • The obsession that successful eCommerce businesses have with optimizing the checkout experience. • How game developers partnership with the app stores is similar to merchants and Amazon in the early 2000s. • The opportunity around going D2C in gaming and the benefits of that model. • How owning direct customer relationships decreases the burden on distribution and UA in the future. • How D2C can unlock better data-driven learning and personalization. • The importance of consumer trust when handling D2C payments. • When it makes sense for any given game/studio to have their own D2C channel(s). • VCs are now asking startups about their D2C strategy in the pitch process. • The opportunity associated with regional app stores and what could change the long-tail model in gaming. • How studios should decide to build or partner when it comes to D2C and web shop tech and operations? About Chris Chris is CEO of Neon, which he founded in 2022 to help game developers build direct-to-consumer (D2C) strategies and tools to create lasting brands. Before founding Neon, Chris gained extensive experience in eCommerce, fintech, and strategy roles. He worked at Apple on the strategy for Apple Pay, Apple Card, and Apple Pay Later. At Affirm, he held leadership positions in commercial strategy, contributing to the company’s growth from Series B through its IPO. Chris also played a key role in launching the fintech company ONE, backed by Walmart and Ribbit Capital. Earlier in his career, he worked at Facebook and Booz & Company, gaining expertise in go-to-market strategy and corporate development.

    47min

  2. 7 DE JAN.

    Cracking the Chinese Gaming Market: Insights from Ilya Gutov of Meridian Play

    On this episode of Story Mode with Sanlo, Olya speaks with Ilya Gutov, CEO of Meridian Play, about the key strategies, best practices, and common pitfalls for developers looking to bring their games to China and other markets in Asia. They touch on a wide range of topics, including: • Ilya’s journey from broader tech and manufacturing into gaming and how his time at MY.GAMES and MGVC prepared him for his work at Meridian Play. • The challenges around finding accurate data for mobile games in China. • The detailed market research process that Meridian Play uses when looking to bring a mobile game to China. • The popularity of specific mobile games in China (4X strategy, shooters, MMOs, and SLGs). • The PC game landscape in China and the popularity of Steam. • The challenges you face when bringing a new mobile game to China, including regulations, high expectations from Chinese players, fragmented Android app store landscape (300+ app stores), and inability to use a soft launch strategy. • The appeal of the Chinese game market including the huge volume of players, deep monetization opportunities, and mobile-first culture. • The casual mobile game market in China. • The operational process and timeline required to bring your game to China and the best types of Chinese publishers to work with. • The importance of having a clear plan for monetization optimization and game changes required to meet Chinese regulatory guidelines, before signing a deal to publish. • The importance of developing relationships with your partners in China and Ilya’s recommendation to always meet in person before signing a publishing deal. About Ilya As the head of Meridian Play, Ilya helps developers and publishers expand their games into new markets like China. He brings over a decade of experience navigating the gaming markets in China and APAC. He started his career at Tinno Mobile Corp., and went on to lead APAC Business Development for 4+ years at MY.GAMES & MY.GAMES Venture Capital.

    41min

  3. 11/12/2024

    Investing in the Future of Games and Entertainment with Teppei Tsutsui, GFR Fund

    On this episode of Story Mode with Sanlo, Olya speaks with Teppei Tsutsui, General Partner at GFR Fund, about the VC, investment, and M&A outlook in 2025 and beyond. Teppei gives insights and advice to those looking to raise capital in gaming or who are interested in learning more about what VCs are looking for in the gaming sector. They touch on a wide range of topics, including: An overview of GFR’s investment strategy and some examples from their diverse portfolio The intersection of Entertainment & AI Investing in emerging platforms like Discord and Telegram The importance of founder-market fit in GFR’s investment strategy The big opportunities Teppei sees across streaming, anime, and virtual characters. Their focus on Gen Z through digital content. And much more. About Teppei Teppei has spent the past decade investing in the future of gaming, entertainment, and consumer technology. As General Partner at GFR Fund, he’s been instrumental in supporting companies like VRChat, Hiber, Freedom Games, and Omeda Studios, helping them shape the way we play, connect, and create. With his background spanning venture capital, corporate strategy, and even game development, Teppei brings a unique perspective to the evolving gaming landscape.

    43min

  4. 26/11/2024

    From Mobile to Multiplatform: Expanding to proven and experimental channels with Nikita Korzhavin from Nekki

    From Mobile to Multiplatform: Expanding to proven and experimental channels with Nikita Korzhavin from Nekki On this episode of Story Mode with Sanlo, Olya speaks with Nikita Korzhavin, Chief Business Development Officer at Nekki, about their shift from a mobile-only business to a multi-platform approach and the lessons they’ve learned. They touch on a wide range of insightful topics, including: • An overview of Nekki’s current game projects across mobile, PC, Console, and emerging platforms like Telegram. • The importance of their Shadow Fight IP franchise and how they’ve been able to build a strong following of loyal mobile gamers. • Why Nekki decided to build a brand new title for their platform expansion to PC/Console and Telegram, opposed to porting existing games. • The power of developing games in a specific niche with an existing engaged audience. • Why Nekki is experimenting with building games specifically for Telegram. • How Nekki views audiences across platforms and how audience trends and insights impact their decisions. • The opportunities for mobile games on alternative app stores outside Apple and Google, especially in China. • Why Nekki pivoted from developing their new title Fight Me for web3 to Telegram, and the regulatory issues around web3 and NFTs. About Nikita Nikita has been with Nekki for over seven years, playing a pivotal role in shaping their global business strategy. Nekki, as many of you may know, is the publisher behind the hit midcore game series Shadow Fight and other popular titles like Vector, which have collectively reached over 1 billion installs. Nekki is branching into the Console & PC market with their upcoming project - Spine. As Chief Business Development Officer, Nikita is responsible for everything from forging partnerships with major industry players to driving Nekki’s expansion efforts into new platforms.

    42min

  5. 12/11/2024

    Evolving UA for Games: Navigating Privacy, Automation, and New Channels with Saikala Sultanova

    On this episode of Story Mode with Sanlo, Olya speaks with Saikala Sultanova, a seasoned growth marketing executive with over a decade of experience in gaming. They dive into today’s growth marketing landscape, what has changed the most in UA over the years, and how to navigate the current ecosystem to drive results. They touch on a wide range of insightful topics, including: • An overview of the UA Society and some updates on their upcoming events. • The biggest differences in UA (today versus 10 years ago), including evolution of marketing mix, privacy changes, improved automation, better creatives and the emergence of machine learning. • How to approach building a growth marketing team for a gaming studio/publisher and which roles are most crucial. • The emergence of new platforms like AppLovin that have cracked ROI-positive marketing across iOS regardless of privacy challenges. • The stagnant growth of mobile gaming revenue and how that is impacting growth marketing and where marketers are experimenting. • The role of rewarded play platforms and why they are becoming more prevalent nowadays. • The new opportunities associated with 1st-party data and advertising platforms built on top of that data. • The role of influencers in game growth marketing, the role they play in the marketing mix, and why they are becoming more popular with marketers. • Tools and approaches that help developers understand product market fit and player insights. • The importance of qualitative research to identify the reasons why marketing is working or not working. • How UA approach differs based on the game and genre. • The common mistakes and blind spots across UA and growth marketing. • The importance of a single source of truth for marketing ROI data and clean, structured data analysis. • Saikala’s recommendation for how teams with small budgets should approach UA. • What Saikala is looking forward to in the near-future, including new methods for tracking and measuring marketing performance, the surge of hybrid casual games, the expansion of real-money gaming, and web shops. • The need for more mature and polished AI tools for UA marketers. • How game UA strategies can be applied to non-gaming apps and the power of gamification for consumer apps. About Saikala Saikala’s career spans leadership roles at top-tier companies like Ubisoft, Product Madness, Space Ape Games, and Miniclip, where she honed her expertise in user acquisition, mobile advertising, and growth strategy. Most recently, she served as SVP of Marketing at Ace Games, helping drive their vision of creating globally beloved mobile games.

    34min

  6. 06/11/2024

    Building and Selling: Lessons from Kongregate’s Journey in M&A and Team Building with Emily Greer

    On this episode of Story Mode with Sanlo, where we talk to executives about the video game industry, Olya chats with Emily Greer, Venture Partner at 1Up Ventures, about the lessons she learned building and operating Kongregate for a decade; and how that experience impacts how we sees the future playing out. Olya and Emily touch on a range of interesting topics, including: • Emily’s path into games and how she became a founder in gaming. • Learnings from the world of ecommerce that Emily brought to F2P gaming and how retail LTV prediction methods proved to be very effective in gaming. • Emily’s explanation of the evolution of Kongerate and why they expanded from a web browser game marketplace to a mobile F2P publisher. • M&A key learnings from Emily’s experience of selling Kongregate (twice) and acquiring five companies. • Tips for building a team for your startup or company, depending on your size and goals. • The balance between product and team and which is more important when predicting success. • Emily’s thoughts on the biggest inflection points in the gaming industry. • Why it’s highly unlikely that any change in gaming will eclipse the impact of the launch of the smartphone. • How Emily views the hype around VR/AR, E-sports, and gaming subscriptions models. • Why Emily believes there’s still room for growth in F2P mobile games using the emergence of the merge genre as an example. • Regions and markets that Emily sees as being the most exciting emerging opportunities in gaming. About Emily Emily is a veteran of the gaming industry and a trailblazer for women in leadership roles. She’s best known as the Co-Founder and former CEO of Kongregate, where she oversaw its transformation into a powerhouse in mobile game publishing. After leaving Kongregate, Emily founded Double Loop Games, a mobile games studio. Most recently, she’s transitioned into a venture partner role at 1Up Ventures, while also advising and investing in various game startups.

    57min

  7. 16/10/2024

    Building scalable live service video games with Eden Chen, CEO of Pragma

    On this episode of Story Mode with Sanlo, where we talk to executives about the video game industry, we chat with Eden Chen, Co-founder & CEO of Pragma, about building scalable live services games and the challenges and opportunities in that space. Olya and Eden touch on a range of interesting topics, including: • How Eden’s experience as a professional gamer inspired him to build Pragma. • The opportunities in the market that Eden and his team are tackling. • The criteria games studios use to decide what back-end infra they build in-house versus what they license from tech platforms like Pragma • Why Pragma focused on building a flexible engine opposed to a one-size-fits-all approach. • The market opportunities and total addressable markets for servicing mobile studios or PC/Console studios. • How Eden defines cross-platform and the evolution of cross-platform discovery and gameplay. • A checklist of what factors a studio should think through as they look to expand into cross-platform to define what tech and features they need. • How back-end solution needs differ depending on the type of game. • The biggest catalysts for cross-platform development and the role played by Epic Games and Fortnite. • The different era of gaming that is being led by GenZ players and their lack of loyalty to specific devices or platforms. • The role of analytics in deciding if and how to expand to multiple platforms. • The growing trend of mobile games expanding to PC and Console. About Eden Eden is the Founder and CEO of Pragma—a fully scalable and extensible backend engine that powers live service games. Eden and his team of engineering leaders—who previously built the platforms behind some of the largest games like League of Legends, Valorant, and Destiny 2—are focused on helping studios build successful live service games. Before Pragma, Eden co-founded Fishermen Labs, an AR and VR development studio that became one of the fastest-growing companies in Los Angeles. In addition to his work at Pragma, Eden has an impressive portfolio as an investor and advisor, backing game studios like Frost Giant, Mountaintop, and Lightforge Games.

    40min

  8. 09/09/2024

    Growth marketing for different game lifecycle phases with Warren Woodward from Upptic

    In this episode of Story Mode, where we talk to executives about the video game industry, we chat with Warren Woodward, Co-founder & Co-Founder & Chief Growth Officer at Upptic. We tap into Warren’s extensive experience in the growth marketing space to learn all about the different phases of a game launch and the most crucial steps in each phase. Olya and Warren discuss a wide range of topics, including: • The different stages of mobile game launches and how to approach each one. • The learning tracks that should be conducted during soft launch (technical, retention, and monetization). • Why Upptic recommends a dumbed-down ad network mix for soft launch and why that’s the key to obtain clean data for an initial test. • Upptic’s typical scope and their approach for bolt-on marketing and UA for video games. • The key learnings mobile gaming can learn from PC and web3, and vice versa. • Why cross-platform is becoming the new norm and the prevalence of PC games branching into mobile. • The impact of AI on the role of growth marketers and the ways they work in gaming. • The paramount importance of data and measurement, and why some types of games and teams miss the mark there. About Warren Warren Woodward co-founded Upptic in 2019, where he has spearheaded full-stack growth marketing initiatives for leading games. With over a decade of experience in user acquisition and digital marketing, Warren has held key roles at companies like Nexon, Blastworks, and Wargaming, where he successfully launched and scaled multiple top-performing mobile games. I’m really excited to ask some questions and learn from Warren’s extensive background in growth and UA.

    43min
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Sobre

Story Mode is a weekly podcasts featuring exclusive insights into the gaming industry. Join Sanlo CEO, Olya Caliujnaia, as she delves into the compelling narratives of the most influential and innovative executives who are shaping the world of video games. Each episode is a deep dive into the experiences that have defined the careers of our guests. We explore their beginnings, the challenges they've faced, the industry's evolution, and the game-changing decisions that have led to major milestones in the gaming world.

Informações

  • Criado por
    Sanlo Technologies
  • Anos de atividade
    2023 - 2025
  • Episódios
    38
  • Copyright
    © Sanlo Technologies 2023
  • Site do podcast
    Story Mode by Sanlo