TWIG #333: Apple's Stand Up Comedy, Fortnite Mobile's Tea Leaves, and a Mystery Success
With Michail out, and definitely not living a jetset life, Jen, Eric, Adam, and Phil huddle around the WWDC campfire to tell tales of Game Center. There’s a big change to Battlefield that threatens the franchise, while Delta Force rises as a threat to the East. Split Gate 2? Not so much. Jen defends Apple, marketing, and transmedia, all in one, while Adam claims a Marvel Rival bet and claps for the French. Eric certainly isn’t clapping for Game Pass and Doom, while Phil tries to Grow a Garden.02:19 Rumors and Updates in the Gaming Industry03:13 AI Kick-Off07:32 TV Campaigns and Marketing Strategies10:45 Off the Record Event and Industry Networking16:54 Apple's 30% Fee and Game Center 2.025:10 Ubisoft's Legal Troubles and Workplace Culture27:10 Jade Raymond's Career Moves28:26 Breaking News: EA Shuts Down Black Panther Game31:19 Expedition 33: A Small Team's Big Success33:24 Doom the Dark Age: Game Pass Impact34:57 Game Pass Debate: Success or Failure?43:18 Splitgate 2: Struggling to Gain Traction46:26 Fortnite iOS Relaunch: Lukewarm?51:40 Battlefield 659:44 Roblox's Grow a Garden
--------
1:03:35
287. Fat Cats, Steaming Decks, all GaaS and no Subscriptions with Rhys Elliott of Alinea Analytics
Michail Katkoff and Rhys Elliott break down the widening gap between legacy studios bogged down by process and fresh teams building with urgency. From the slow death of bloated AAA games to the shaky economics of Game Pass, they explore why shorter, more creative games are winning hearts—and why team quality now matters more than genre. Plus: why subscription models are struggling, and how devices like Switch 2 and Steam Deck might reshape portable play.Rhys Elliotwww.linkedin.com/in/rhyselliott/Alinea Analyticswww.alineaanalytics.com00:00 Introduction and Background04:52 Fat Cats vs. Hungry Cats22:05 Evaluating Game Development Teams24:36 Investment Principles in Startup Life26:31 The Shift from AAA to AA Games33:25 The Demand for Shorter Games39:45 The Challenges of Subscription Gaming49:04 The Future of Game Pass and Subscription Models53:35 The State of Subscription Services55:50 Live Services vs. Premium Games66:20 The Future of Portable Gaming
--------
1:18:45
TWIG #332 Finland’s Game Industry Woes, Supercell's Transmedia Moves and Roblox's Commercialization
The BIG stories: 1. Finland’s game awards controversy (yes, it’s messier than you think)2. Epic’s endless courtroom war with Apple 3. Supercell’s dual bet on transmedia and AI. The team also breaks down the implications of ChatGPT infiltrating development workflows, the battle brewing in the Solitaire segment, and what Roblox’s new in-game shopping means for UGC economies. Add in Take-Two’s financials and some spicy predictions on AI’s workplace takeover—and you’ve got a packed episode that hits strategy, creativity, and the future of the industry in one fatality-worthy sequence.02:29 Industry News Highlights04:24 Meta Horizon Worlds and Game Development Insights05:25 Podcast and Blog Updates07:00 Dreams TV Campaign Analysis09:32 Finn Game Awards Controversy13:36 Epic Games vs. Apple: A Legal Battle21:45 Supercell's Transmedia Ventures29:03 Supercell's AI Initiatives29:55 AI's Impact on the Workplace30:34 ChatGPT in Game Development32:00 The Future of AI in Gaming41:23 Solitaire Market Shake-Up45:15 Take-Two's Financial Overview53:41 Roblox's New In-Game Shopping01:00:57 Conclusion and Outro
--------
1:02:23
286. Bots in Gaming: The Good, The Bad, and The Future with GGWP's George Ng
We are joined by George Ng, co-founder and CTO of GGWP, to dive deep into the world of bots in gaming. We explore the differences between game-created bots and player-created bots, the cat-and-mouse game of detecting and preventing bots, and regional differences in bot usage. We also look ahead at the evolving landscape of bots in gaming and discuss strategies that studios can adopt to stay ahead. 01:09 The Impact of Bots on Player Experience13:21 Regional Trends in Bot Usage14:57 The Future of Bots in Gaming20:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
--------
24:27
285. What Gaming Taught Them—And Why App Companies Are Hiring Them Fast with Mission One's Gerard Miles
Why are seasoned PMs, growth leads, and designers ditching games for fintech, wellness, or even dating apps? What do these companies see in game industry vets—and what blind spots do they have?In this episode, Mishka Katkoff talks with executive headhunter Gerard Miles about one of the most underreported shifts in tech: gaming talent is migrating to the app world. 03:14 Understanding Talent Migration and Skill Sets12:20 Engagement and User Experience in Apps18:17 The Future of Gaming and Consumer Apps31:07 The Evolution of Game Marketing Strategies37:04 Cultural Differences Between Game and App Industries56:41 Career Transitioning: From Gaming to Broader App Ecosystem 01:03:47 The Future of Gaming Professionals in Diverse Sectors
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
Canada - english