Deconstructor of Fun

Upcoming events: Whiskey Tasting: https://event.appsflyer.com/gamescom2025/AF Heroic Party: https://lu.ma/tjkk5r8k The 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 News 27:16 Roblox's New IP Licensing Platform 36:08 Turkish Mobile Game Market Insights 44:11 French Mobile Game Developer's Success 49:49 Kingdom Maker and Kixeye's History 58:42 Moon Active vs. Scopely: The UA War 59:21 Industry Espionage and Market Competition 01:01:16 Monopoly Go and Coin Master Strategies 01:05:53 Final Thoughts on Market Strategies

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.

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/saadhameedkh 00:00 Introduction to Game District and Saad Hameed 02:47 The Structure and Philosophy of Game District 05:41 The Rise of Gaming Studios in Pakistan 08:46 Challenges and Opportunities in the Pakistani Gaming Ecosystem 11:30 The Role of Education and Talent Development 14:19 Venture Capital and Funding Challenges 17:22 Monetization Strategies and Market Focus 20:11 Live Operations and Competitive Landscape 30:36 Competitive Advantages of Pakistan's Gaming Ecosystem 32:58 Bottlenecks and Growth Drivers in Pakistan's Gaming Industry 40:56 Work Culture and Entrepreneurial Mindset in Pakistan 45:45 Pakistan's Unique Strengths in the Gaming Market 52:57 Pathways to Breakout Success for Pakistan's Gaming Industry

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/tjkk5r8k Chapters: 01:57 Supercell Rant 06:03 Xbox Game Pass Profitability Debate 10:21 Apple EU Regulations and Tier System 13:31 Supercell's Strategy and IPO Speculations 21:11 Gen Z's Changing Spending Habits 24:40 Disposable Income and App Spending Trends 26:40 Gen Z Gaming Preferences 28:51 Investment and Industry News 28:59 Company Culture38:19 Merge Genre Insights 42:57 The Rise of Mecha Break 43:58 Monetization Strategies in Gaming 53:07 Conclusion and Next Week's Topics

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 Proletariat 05:10The Importance of Culture in Startups 07:39Defining and Measuring Culture 11:38The Role of Leadership in Shaping Culture 14:21Cultural Tools and Their Impact 18:47Iterating on Culture as a Product 21:16Conclusion and Key Takeaways 26:52Navigating Work-Life Balance in Startups 29:43Cultural Recognition and Team Dynamics 34:03Defining Good vs. Bad Company Culture 38:10The Challenges of Setting Cultural Boundaries 42:25Navigating Social Issues and Company Culture 46:51Onboarding and Cultural Integration in Growing Teams 49:40Cultural Onboarding and Integration 51:30The Art of Copying Culture 53:48Learning from Successful Cultures 58:01Adaptive Culture vs. Rigid Culture 01:07:03Evolving Beliefs About Culture 01:08:03The Meaning Behind Proletariat's Name