TWIG #340 Scopely Goes to War, Roblox Gambles on IP and Turkey Rises
Upcoming events:Whiskey Tasting: https://event.appsflyer.com/gamescom2025/AFHeroic Party: https://lu.ma/tjkk5r8kThe crew kicks things off by breaking down Roblox’s bold new IP licensing platform—will it unlock the next Pokémon or just spin up another corporate side quest?Then it’s off to Turkey for a pulse check on one of mobile gaming’s fastest-evolving markets, followed by a surprise breakout story from France that’s punching way above its weight class.We rewind the clock on Kixeye to understand how Kingdom Maker clawed its way back into the spotlight—just in time to shift focus to the real battlefield: user acquisition.Moon Active and Scopely are locked in an all-out UA war, with budgets big enough to fund a small nation. Add some industry espionage, a sprinkle of aggressive cloning, and you’ve got a market where only the paranoid survive.Oh, and yes—we’re still trying to decide if Monopoly Go is actual genius or just Coin Master in a tuxedo.02:56 Podcast News27:16 Roblox's New IP Licensing Platform36:08 Turkish Mobile Game Market Insights44:11 French Mobile Game Developer's Success49:49 Kingdom Maker and Kixeye's History58:42 Moon Active vs. Scopely: The UA War59:21 Industry Espionage and Market Competition01:01:16 Monopoly Go and Coin Master Strategies01:05:53 Final Thoughts on Market Strategies
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296. Secrets Behind Monopoly Go’s Record-Breaking Launch with Ben Webley, CMO of Scopely
At MAU Vegas, Jen Donahoe sits down with Ben Webley, CMO of Scopely, to unpack the strategies behind Monopoly GO!’s meteoric rise. From player psychology to brand IP, virality loops to UA muscle—this conversation breaks down what really drove the biggest mobile game launch of the decade. If you’re in gaming and not taking notes on this one, you’re already behind.
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295. Pakistan’s Unexpected Rise in Gaming with Saad Hameed, CEO of Game District
Game District CEO Saad Hameed joins Michail Katkoff to tell the untold story of Pakistan’s booming gaming industry. From bootstrapped studios to billion-download success, we dive into the rise of Lahore as a serious global player, why Pakistan could be the next Turkey or Vietnam, and what’s holding the ecosystem back from its breakout moment. This is the episode you didn’t know you needed.Connect with Saad: www.linkedin.com/in/saadhameedkh00:00 Introduction to Game District and Saad Hameed02:47 The Structure and Philosophy of Game District05:41 The Rise of Gaming Studios in Pakistan08:46 Challenges and Opportunities in the Pakistani Gaming Ecosystem11:30 The Role of Education and Talent Development14:19 Venture Capital and Funding Challenges17:22 Monetization Strategies and Market Focus20:11 Live Operations and Competitive Landscape30:36 Competitive Advantages of Pakistan's Gaming Ecosystem32:58 Bottlenecks and Growth Drivers in Pakistan's Gaming Industry40:56 Work Culture and Entrepreneurial Mindset in Pakistan45:45 Pakistan's Unique Strengths in the Gaming Market52:57 Pathways to Breakout Success for Pakistan's Gaming Industry
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TWIG #339 Merge Games, Gen Z Spending Patterns, and the Shift inside Studio Cultures
We kick things off with a no-holds-barred Supercell rant before diving into the hottest industry stories—from Xbox Game Pass profitability to Apple’s latest regulatory headache in the EU. We break down Supercell’s shifting strategy, IPO rumors, and what it all signals for the wider market.The crew also explores Gen Z’s changing spending habits, mobile monetization trends, and why Merge games might be due for a second wind. Plus: Mecha Break’s breakout moment, studio culture shifts, and where smart money is going in games right now.Heroic Gamescom Party > https://lu.ma/tjkk5r8kChapters:01:57 Supercell Rant06:03 Xbox Game Pass Profitability Debate10:21 Apple EU Regulations and Tier System13:31 Supercell's Strategy and IPO Speculations21:11 Gen Z's Changing Spending Habits24:40 Disposable Income and App Spending Trends26:40 Gen Z Gaming Preferences28:51 Investment and Industry News28:59 Company Culture38:19 Merge Genre Insights42:57 The Rise of Mecha Break43:58 Monetization Strategies in Gaming53:07 Conclusion and Next Week's Topics
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294. Product Managing Game Studio Culture with Seth Sivak (ex-World of Warcraft Boston Studio Head)
Mishka Katkoff interviews Seth Sivak as they discuss startup culture, leadership, company values, product market fit, cultural onboarding, adaptive culture, game industry, entrepreneurship, team dynamics, and management. They discuss the importance of company culture, how it can be shaped and influenced, and the challenges of maintaining a healthy culture as a startup scales. Seth shares insights on cultural onboarding, the adaptability of culture, and the lessons learned from his experiences in the gaming industry. The conversation emphasizes the need for leaders to be intentional about culture and to regularly assess its impact on team dynamics and overall success.Seth's newsletter: https://sethsivak.substack.com/02:44Navigating Layoffs and Founding Proletariat05:10The Importance of Culture in Startups07:39Defining and Measuring Culture11:38The Role of Leadership in Shaping Culture14:21Cultural Tools and Their Impact18:47Iterating on Culture as a Product21:16Conclusion and Key Takeaways26:52Navigating Work-Life Balance in Startups29:43Cultural Recognition and Team Dynamics34:03Defining Good vs. Bad Company Culture38:10The Challenges of Setting Cultural Boundaries42:25Navigating Social Issues and Company Culture46:51Onboarding and Cultural Integration in Growing Teams49:40Cultural Onboarding and Integration51:30The Art of Copying Culture53:48Learning from Successful Cultures58:01Adaptive Culture vs. Rigid Culture01:07:03Evolving Beliefs About Culture01:08:03The Meaning Behind Proletariat's Name
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
Listen to Deconstructor of Fun, The Confidence Coach: Building Self-Esteem and Self-Belief and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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