Deconstructor of Fun

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.com 00:00 Introduction and Background 04:52 Fat Cats vs. Hungry Cats 22:05 Evaluating Game Development Teams 24:36 Investment Principles in Startup Life 26:31 The Shift from AAA to AA Games 33:25 The Demand for Shorter Games 39:45 The Challenges of Subscription Gaming 49:04 The Future of Game Pass and Subscription Models 53:35 The State of Subscription Services 55:50 Live Services vs. Premium Games 66:20 The Future of Portable Gaming

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 Highlights 04:24 Meta Horizon Worlds and Game Development Insights 05:25 Podcast and Blog Updates 07:00 Dreams TV Campaign Analysis 09:32 Finn Game Awards Controversy 13:36 Epic Games vs. Apple: A Legal Battle 21:45 Supercell's Transmedia Ventures 29:03 Supercell's AI Initiatives 29:55 AI's Impact on the Workplace 30:34 ChatGPT in Game Development 32:00 The Future of AI in Gaming 41:23 Solitaire Market Shake-Up 45:15 Take-Two's Financial Overview 53:41 Roblox's New In-Game Shopping 01:00:57 Conclusion and Outro

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 Experience 13:21 Regional Trends in Bot Usage 14:57 The Future of Bots in Gaming 20:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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 Sets 12:20 Engagement and User Experience in Apps 18:17 The Future of Gaming and Consumer Apps 31:07 The Evolution of Game Marketing Strategies 37:04 Cultural Differences Between Game and App Industries 56:41 Career Transitioning: From Gaming to Broader App Ecosystem 01:03:47 The Future of Gaming Professionals in Diverse Sectors

The team reacts to this year’s World Video Game Hall of Fame inductees and unpacks Triple Dot’s surprising acquisition of AppLovin’s mobile games business—what does it signal for the midcore M&A market? With public gaming companies hitting all-time highs, we discuss whether this is a sustainable trend or a short-term sugar high. Supercell’s major Squadbusters revamp gets the DoF treatment, and we debate Nintendo’s cautious forecasts in light of its market position. Rounding things out, we analyze Microsoft’s strategic shifts post-console wars and what the completed Activision deal actually changes for the ecosystem. Packed episode. Big takes. No filler. 02:43 Hobby Updates and Banter 05:06 Dream Games TV Campaign Analysis 06:40 Interview with Mike Quigley 07:29 Prize Picks and Predictive Markets 17:37 World Video Game Hall of Fame Inductees 20:38 Triple Dot Acquires AppLovin's Mobile Game Business 30:03 Publicly Traded Gaming Companies at All-Time Highs 36:03 Supercell & Squadbusters Revamp 50:48 Nintendo's Conservative Forecast 54:16 Microsoft's Strategic Shift and Console Market Impact 56:58 The Activision Deal and Its Implications 01:02:23 Conclusion and Wrap-Up