Deconstructor of Fun

After Kress released the rockets at large VCs last week the crew gets back into heated venture capital discussions exploring the complexities of VC investments in gaming and the shifting landscape of game development and funding. The conversation also touches on the potential leadership changes at EA, the implications of recent acquisitions in the gaming industry, and the performance of companies like Roblox. The discussion highlights the strategic moves by companies like MTG and Take-Two, as well as the challenges and opportunities in the current market landscape. Hosts: Eric Kress, Jen Donahoe, Phillip Black, Jen Donahoe Content: 01:30 Mishka's Banter and Shills 06:41 Corrections and Clarifications 10:22 VC Investments in Gaming 22:04 Crunchyroll and Meta Updates 24:59 EA and Disney Rumors 27:20 Wall Street's Favorite CEOs 30:18 MTG's Strategic Acquisitions 31:46 Plarium's Surprising Valuation 37:51 Take-Two's Divestments and Chartboost Sale 43:51 Roblox's Impressive Growth 49:55 Dream's New Puzzle RPG 56:00 Conclusion and Upcoming Topics Keywords: game industry, venture capital, Crunchyroll, mobile gaming, EA leadership, gaming news, game funding, gaming trends, gaming investments, acquisitions, MTG, Plarium, Take-Two, Roblox, --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

Jen Donahoe, Laura Taranto, and Eric Kress live from GamesForum San Francisco. 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 01:29 Panelist Intros 05:53 First Topic: Unfiltered Growth and Monetization 12:50 Incentivized Advertising: Past and Present 17:59 Challenges and Future of Incentivized Ads 27:27 Expanding Beyond Gaming: Brand Collaborations 32:15 Exploring Roblox's Integration with Shopify 32:52 The Shift in Game Design and Monetization 35:29 Surviving in 2025 36:12 Mobile and Console Gaming's Existential Crisis 37:55 Opportunities and Challenges in Mobile Gaming 39:00 The Role of Small Studios in the Gaming Market 44:11 Netflix's Foray into Gaming 50:57 Challenges in Game Discovery and Engagement 59:42 The Future of Gaming and AI in Marketing 01:00:05 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

Eric roleplays as his Old Man Yells at Cloud Halloween costume, sparing no expense at Netflix’s strange announcement and an ugly breakdown of modern venture capital. Laura tells us if Pokemon’s new mobile game looks more like Go or Masters, while Jen gives a eulogy for Space Ape. Phil raves at Call of Duties monster success and asks Nadella to release the Game Pass tapes. 00:26 Nintendo Switch Earnings Analysis 16:31 Netflix's Interactive Titles and Generative AI 20:49 Supercell Acquires SpaceApe 23:02 Dragon Age and Call of Duty Updates 31:51 Pokemon TCG Mobile: First Impressions 38:50 The Role of VC in Gaming Startups 42:09 Investment Trends and Success Stories 45:22 VC Firm Challenges + The Future of VCs in Gaming --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

In this episode of Deconstructor of Fun, we dive into the shifting landscape of influencer marketing in the gaming industry, focusing on the emergence and impact of creator programs. Our guests: Patrick "Chief Pat" Carney (Tribe Gaming), Scott Walker (Ninja Kiwi), and Justin Sacks (Nexus.gg) — industry experts and key voices in creator marketing—explore the evolving roles of influencers and creators, moving from short-term campaigns to deeper, sustained partnerships that drive community engagement and revenue. We discuss how companies like Supercell have pioneered successful creator programs and examine the role of platforms in supporting these initiatives. We also address the challenges developers face in managing creator programs, particularly for smaller studios, and how user-generated content (UGC) is reshaping the gaming experience. Tune in to learn how creator programs are transforming marketing, community building, and even game development itself. Host: Jen Donahoe Chapters: 04:36 Defining Creator Programs 06:47 Creator Program Benefits 11:52 Supercell's Creator Program 20:09 Building a Creator Platform 21:44 Implementation 26:08 Challenges in Developer-Marketer Collaboration 26:45 Web2 Play-to-Earn Concept 28:52 Impact on Small Developers 30:38 Revenue and Engagement Metrics 34:04 Nexus and Creator Programs 36:06 Supercell's Creator Program Evolution 38:18 Brawl Stars and Community Management 40:57 Administrative Challenges in Creator Programs 43:45 UGC and Future Developers Keywords: influencer marketing, creator programs, gaming, Supercell, Nexus.gg, community engagement, mobile games, revenue share, content creators, game development, game development, content creators, revenue sharing, player engagement, user-generated content, mobile games, creator programs, game marketing, community building, game monetization --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support