Shows
Mobile Games PlaybookEpisode 67: Relearning the Rules - Player Motivations and Understanding Audiences with Carlos SalvadoJoin GameRefinery’s Brendan Fraher and industry veteran Carlos Salvado for another episode of the Mobile Games Playbook. With 15 years of experience across mobile, PC, and console, Carlos shares his expertise on why the industry demands continuous adaptation, touching on new business models, emerging tech, and AI integration.This episode tackles the major challenges facing developers today, including the rise of web stores and the strategic use of live events, as well as how player motivations and audience understanding can lead to mobile success.Remember to subscribe, leave a review, and check out our websites, ht...
2025-12-1643 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 64: Introducing AppRefinery - A New Playbook for Consumer AppsThis episode of the Mobile Games Playbook explores Liftoff’s new AppRefinery platform. Building on the success of GameRefinery, AppRefinery offers deep insights into the strategies driving engagement across over 20 consumer app verticals. We've just launched a brand new listener survey, and your feedback is invaluable in helping us make The Mobile Games Playbook even better. We want to know what you enjoy, what you'd like to hear more of, and how we can continue to bring you the most insightful content. Head to the following link to share your thoughts and be entered into a draw to...
2025-08-1430 min
Deconstructor of Fun265. How do Playtika and Wooga nail their Live Ops strategies?How do Playtika and Wooga nail their Live Ops strategies? What does GameRefinery say you’re missing?
In this episode, Nadav Moshes (Product & Market Insights Lead at Playtika), Maxime Graux (Head of Product Management at Wooga), and Erno Kiiski (Chief Game Analyst at GameRefinery) sit down with our very own Jen Donahoe to dissect the art and science of Live Ops.
From mobile to PC/console gaming, we break down the latest trends driving social, engagement, and monetization events. Discover how understanding player motivations is the key to creating better events and why a holistic ev...
2025-01-271h 07Mobile Games PlaybookEpisode 61: Looking Forward - What we expect to dominate mobile gaming in 2025This episode of the Mobile Games Playbook peers into the crystal ball to forecast the mobile gaming landscape of 2025 with GameRefinery’s experts, Kalle Heikkinen, Senior Chief Market Analyst, and Wilhelm Voutilainen, Chief Game Analyst.We'll delve into how we expect monetization models such as DTC and subscriptions to evolve, the continued growth of LiveOps, and the upcoming genres/games we expect to be taking over the charts in 2025. Join us as we discuss the trends poised to shape the future of mobile gaming. This episode will provide valuable insights for developers and players alike, offering a gl...
2025-01-0943 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 60: Mobile Gaming in 2024 - Exploring the top trends that dominated the yearThis episode of the Mobile Games Playbook dives into the mobile landscape of 2024 with GameRefinery’s experts, Erno Kiiski, Chief Game Analyst, and Teemu Palomaki, Chief Game Analyst. They’ll explore the trends that have shaped 2024 in mobile games, analyzing how midcore genres like 4X and CCGs are adapting to wider audiences and the rise of hybrid casual games before delving into the growth of trending features, including live events, overarching currencies, and loss aversion mechanics.Join us as we break down the biggest trends of the year in this essential guide to understanding 2024 in mobile games and...
2024-12-1746 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 56: Beyond the Hype - Building a Winning UA Strategy for Your Mobile GameJoin us as we break down the best ways to build a winning User Acquisition (UA) strategy for your mobile game.This episode of the Mobile Games Playbook is about all things UA. In the crowded mobile gaming market, cutting through the noise and figuring out how to acquire users can be challenging.Join our expert guests, Kentaro Sugiara, Senior Performance Marketing Manager at Rovio, and Christie Crable, Head of Activations at GameRefinery, who will share actionable insights and proven techniques to help you develop a successful user acquisition (UA) strategy. Whether you're a seasoned...
2024-08-0827 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 57: Mobile Gaming in 2024: A Mid-Year Deep DiveJoin us as we discuss the first half of 2024 and examine the trends dominating the mobile landscape so far.This episode of the Mobile Games Playbook is a mid-year deep dive. From Supercell’s comeback with Squad Busters to the emergence of hybrid casual and other core gameplay types, there are lots of lessons to learn from 2024 mobile trends. Join our expert guests, Kalle Heikkinen, Chief Game Analyst, and Erno Kiiski, also a Chief Game Analyst at GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company, who bring their extensive knowledge and experience to share insights into what these trends mea...
2024-07-1839 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 56: Beyond the Hype - Building a Winning UA Strategy for Your Mobile GameJoin us as we break down the best ways to build a winning User Acquisition (UA) strategy for your mobile game.This episode of the Mobile Games Playbook is about all things UA. In the crowded mobile gaming market, cutting through the noise and figuring out how to acquire users can be challenging.Join our expert guests, Kentaro Sugiara, Senior Performance Marketing Manager at Rovio, and Christie Crable, Head of Activations at GameRefinery, who will share actionable insights and proven techniques to help you develop a successful user acquisition (UA...
2024-06-2727 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 55: From Niche to Global - Top Tips to Cracking the Lucrative Japanese Mobile MarketJoin us as we explore the ever-evolving Japanese mobile market.In this episode, we set our sights on the lucrative world of Japanese mobile games. We’ll dive into player preferences, effective monetization strategies, and the cultural nuances that influence this thriving market.Join industry experts Teemu Palomäki, Chief Games Analyst, and Sonja Skoglund, Games Analyst at GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company, as they discuss actionable insights to help you navigate the unique opportunities and challenges that the Japanese mobile scene presents.Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a revie...
2024-05-0931 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 54: Unlocking LiveOps Success - Lessons from Mobile GameDev Award WinnersDiscover the strategies that drive award-winning LiveOps! In this episode, we analyze the Mobile GameDev Award winners, revealing their secrets to boosting engagement and revenue.Join host Jon Jordan and GameRefinery experts Erno Kiiski, Kalle Heikkinen, and Jiri Saarinen as they break down the essential components of successful LiveOps. Learn how to master collaborations, competitions, seasonal events, minigames, and compelling narratives.Get actionable insights to level up your own LiveOps strategy, whether you're an indie developer or an established studio. Discover the key metrics that matter and tailor your events to maximize impact....
2024-04-0443 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 53: Predicting the biggest mobile game trends in 2024Join us as we explore the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in mobile game design for 2024. In this episode, we’re looking at the most prominent trends to shape the mobile games landscape for the year ahead. We’ll dive into the anticipation surrounding upcoming game releases and explore key trends poised to dominate the industry.Join industry experts Wilhelm Voutilainen, Sr. Chief Game Analyst, and Kalle Heikkinen, Chief Game Analyst at GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company, as they delve into the exciting mobile game releases of the year.Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a...
2024-01-1137 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 52: Exploring the top five trends that dominated 2023Join us as we explore the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in mobile game design.As 2023 comes to a close, we’ll uncover the latest trends dominating mobile games and driving changes within the industry in this episode. We’ll explore the innovative ways games differentiate themselves in the market and elevate player engagement. And reflect on the standout moments in the mobile gaming industry in 2023. Join industry experts Teemu Palomäki, Chief Game Analyst, and Inka Reinola, Game Analyst at GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company, as they reflect on the industry’s standout moments and challeng...
2023-12-1433 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 46: Unveiling the top 3 mobile game studio secrets for engaging live eventsIn this episode, we will be delving into the latest trends in LiveOps and how game studios are utilizing live events to increase player engagement and revenue. Expert analysts from GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company, will discuss their new Live Events Tracker tool, which enables game developers to stay ahead of the competition by comparing and analyzing live events across various games and genres. In the wake of Apple's groundbreaking App Tracking Transparency framework, it has become more important than ever for game developers to retain their players and...
2023-05-2526 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 45: From student to game developer - How investing in young talent can transform the industrySay farewell to The Mobile GameDev Playbook, as we introduce the new and improved Mobile Games Playbook, brought to you by Liftoff. Investing in young talent is crucial for the growth and development of the game development industry because it brings fresh perspectives, new ideas, and diverse backgrounds to the industry, which is vital to safeguard the future of game development. Join us as we delve deeper into why nurturing and investing in young people is essential and how it can benefit the industry in the long run.In this episode, we ta...
2023-05-1226 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 44: Locked and loaded: An expert review of the mobile shooter marketIs there room for others to succeed in a market dominated by so few companies?Join us as we explore the current state of the mobile shooter market, the top games dominating the market, their market shares, and the different types of shooters available.You won't want to miss our overview of games like CoD: Warzone Mobile, Arena Breakout, Undawn Vitality, Division Mobile, Destiny Mobile, and Valorant. We'll also explore the recent game cancellations from EA, including Apex and Battlefield, and examine, amongst others, the intensity of live-ops for the top shooters, content...
2023-03-2236 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 43: How to make money if you're ditching lootboxesWhy have some of the biggest names in the industry pivoted away from gacha-based monetization systems?Join us as we explore the response from players to these changes in popular games like Brawl Stars, Mario Kart, Diablo Immortal, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Overwatch, Marvel Snap, and Arena Breakout. We'll examine how these changes have affected players' progression and gameplay experience and take a closer look at the impact these changes have had on the mobile gaming industry. Learn about the challenges facing mobile game developers when it comes to removing...
2023-02-1637 min
A Spark Of Awareness63. The State Of Mental Health At Work - with Sophie and SongyaAccording to studies in the US and Europe in 2021, 1 out of 5 of your employees are experiencing a diagnosable mental illness, 53% are saying that their work or work environment negatively impacts their mental health.While it is an uncomfortable topic for company leaders, we cannot ignore the fact that it is happening on a global scale. What can we do about it and where is the line to draw between an employer and employees? In this episode, we tackle with Songya Why mental health issues happen and creep into the workplace. Impactful and durable c...
2023-02-1438 min
A Spark Of Awareness62. Building Games Portfolio At Netflix - with Leanne LoombeNetflix has been in the spotlight since it announced its game platform. How do you approach building a portfolio of games for an entertainment platform? What are the skills required as a Publisher vs a Developer? How do you select the game developers who will be the best partners from the point of view of a publisher?Leanne Loombe has extensive career developing and publishing games over the past 18 years, working on iconic franchises such as Magic the Gathering, Need for Speed, and League of Legends. She is currently heading up External Games at Netflix and...
2023-02-0736 min
A Spark Of Awareness61. DEI Is A Process, Not A Feature - with Laura and SophieDEI has been a buzzword over the past few years. It has been overused as an employer branding strategy or an attempt to correct inequality in the workplace. But implementing a DEI department, DEI initiatives or training won't resolve the root of the inequality gap. Durable changes start at the company's core (and top): Why do you exist? What is your mission and why caring about DEI will support your mission and values? Only then, you can identify where DEI must be implemented as part of your processes, to reflect the culture and mission you support. W...
2023-01-3133 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 42: Marvelling at Marvel SnapWhat makes Marvel Snap such a hit?In this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, we review Marvel Snaps’ success, key features, and the first major update. We also discuss the game’s monetization, thoughts on its future and the overall CCG genre.Joined by Joel Julkunen, Head of Analytics and Chief Game Analyst, Erno Kiiski, from GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company. You can find The Mobile GameDev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. Please subscribe and leave a review!Thanks f...
2023-01-2534 min
A Spark Of Awareness60. Am I In Burnout? - with Joakim and SophieWe meet again in this episode with Joakim Achrén, founder of Elite Game Developers, to break the myth of the stressful busy entrepreneur, and that it is actually not good for you. Why is this so hard to talk openly about mental burnout among entrepreneurs and leaders? Why are we holding on that image of control? What's happening under the surface, and what are the long-term consequences in the long run of suppressing negative emotions? We'll address in this episode:- The definition of burnout. What are the signs? Joakim and I wi...
2023-01-2435 min
A Spark Of Awareness59. How to Plan and Nurture Your Career in Games - with Sophie and MishkaIn this new segment of Rise and Play, I sit down with my business partner Miska Katkoff, CEO at Savage Games, and the founder of Deconstructor of Fun. In those episodes, we will be sparring thoughts with Miska, reflecting on our leadership work at Savage. Full video of the talk: https://youtu.be/HwlPik-s8kkKicking off this segment, we tackle in this episode "How to plan your next career moves?" How do I approach my career and nurture my Zone of Genius How did I make the decision to...
2023-01-1757 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 41: The top eight mobile game monetization trends in 2023What trends and features to look forward to in 2023!In this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, we’re joined by Wilhelm Voutilainen and Teemu Palomäki, Chief Game Analysts from GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company, to discuss key trends in 2023. We discuss upcoming releases, potential new genres, and exciting trends.We also cover shooter games, predictions for monetization changes, events trends, and what will happen with blockchain games in 2023.You can find The Mobile GameDev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtub...
2023-01-1147 min
A Spark Of Awareness58. Forging My Own Path - with Marie MejerwallMarie Mejerwall has an extensive career in gaming and design. She started in esports in 2001 and in game development in 2008 and has been involved in both ever since. During her career, she worked at studios such as Ubisoft, Warner Bros, Eidos, and Capcom and climbed to become a game director.Today, she is an advisor to game studios, publishers, and esports companies, and a popular host and event speaker. Marie shares her journey of building her own path in gaming, from engineering, to game design, to game direction, leading teams to building her own business. We t...
2023-01-1036 min
A Spark Of Awareness57. Design Your Life Playbook - with Tom HammondPerfect timing for this episode, ending the year with reflection thoughts and taking a step back on your life vision! In this episode, we discuss with Tom Hammond (serial entrepreneur in games) a few exercises to help you gain clarity on your life vision: Why do you work, what do you live for? What are your priorities in life (when you are not working)? How are you building a company that will outlive you? Here are a few tools we are sharing in this episode: value and life vision examination every 6 months, priorities and plans in t...
2022-12-2744 min
A Spark Of Awareness56. Change Management In A Startup - with Isabelle HenriquesIsabelle Henriques has an impressive track record in games: 15 years of experience in management, operations, strategy, and production in the gaming industry. She is Brazilian and has a diverse background in gaming, previously acting as Studio Director and Lead Producer at Maxis and Electronic Arts, and has worked on multiple AAA blockbuster franchises including The Sims, Call of Duty, and Madden.With solid experience in large AAA companies, Isabelle took a new journey as the co-CEO and COO of Klang Games, one of the best-funded gaming start-ups in Europe and is also acting as the Executive...
2022-12-2041 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 40: Merging to the top - The development of EverMergeExamining the merge genre and EverMerge.In this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, we’re joined by Sergey Neskin, the CEO & co-founder of Neskin Games, and Chief Game Analyst Kalle Heikkinen from GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company, to discuss the hit mobile game EverMerge: Merge 3 Puzzle.We cover what inspired the game, the growth of the merge genre and how it’s evolved, interesting trends, and predictions for the future of merge games.We also look at some standout releases, the trends in gameplay even...
2022-12-1531 min
A Spark Of Awareness55. Setting New Standards For AAA Studios - with Forest Swartout-LargeForest Swartout-Large is the co-founder & COO at Twin Suns Corp, a new fully remote, global video game studio developing action games for console and PC, leveraging existing IPs. Previously, Forest worked on Tomb Raider, Inside, and Hitman, and most recently shipped Hitman III as the Executive Producer. With their new company, Forest aims to make AAA game development more ethical, inclusive, and sustainable. In this episode, learn from Forest how to build large AAA teams who embrace remote work from the start, with no crunch. What are the processes to make such a remote team of 50+ people collaborate well, w...
2022-12-1330 min
A Spark Of Awareness54. Leading With A Coaching Mindset - with Aaron Smith and Ben CarcichShould the leader of today be a coach? That's what we cover in this episode with Aaron and Ben, ex-leaders at Riot Games. They are now running a consultancy organization called Valarin to grow holistic leaders across companies and our industry because better leaders make better games. Sharing the same mission as Rise and Play, that's how the three of us met in this episode. We are going back to the basics to remind the mission of a "Leader" vs a "Manager". How a Leader differs from a Manager, and why being a Leader requires different skills such as i...
2022-12-0646 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 39: Top seven game design trends - 2022 in reviewWhat were the hottest mobile game design trends in 2022? In this episode, we look back at 2022 and reflect on the biggest trends that happened in mobile games. Joining us are our resident experts and Chief Game Analysts from GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company, Kalle Heikkinen and Erno Kiiski.We examine some standout releases, trends in gameplay events and features as well as trends in monetization. You can now find The Mobile GameDev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. Please subscribe and l...
2022-12-0141 min
A Spark Of Awareness53. How To Start A Podcast In Games - with Lauren KayeJoin us for a special and meta episode on... how to make podcasts! Have you ever considered starting your own podcast, and why should you consider a podcast to create content? That's what we are deconstructing with Lauren Kaye, the founder and host of the podcast She Plays Games. I was so happy to connect with another female podcaster in games, as we are very rare! Learn what you should consider before you create content (on youtube, on a podcast, or any media platform). Learn about our processes on how we design our content, source our guests, and edit...
2022-11-2937 min
A Spark Of Awareness52. Running Your 1:1s In A Modern Workplace - with Marko KecmanMarko Kecman was my ex Studio co-Lead at Voodoo. During our collaboration time at Voodoo, we spent long hours of thoughtful conversations to rethink how we could make our 1:1s meetings meaningful and impactful. It started with a simple question: What are the 1:1s for? Is it for us (as a manager), or for the people to grow? The format highly depends on what the goal is. We are sharing in this episode actionables on how to run your 1:1s when the primary goal is to develop your people: how to develop their self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and reflection skills...
2022-11-2244 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 38: License to Game - Licensing and IPs in mobile gamesHow can brands get their IPs into mobile games?In this episode, we discuss the complexities and processes of how brands and licenses can get their IPs into mobile games. Joining us from Layer Licensing is CEO and Founder, Rachit Moti, and from Tilting Point is Chief Business Officer, Asi Burak, as well as resident expert from GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company, Chief Game Analyst Kalle Heikkinen.We examine the challenges encountered in licensing, interesting trends and collaborations, how games make money from IPs, and what Layer aims to change.
2022-11-1731 min
A Spark Of Awareness51. Empowering The Storytellers Of The World - with Julia PalatovskaJulia Palatovska is the co-founder and CEO of Dorian, a new creator platform that enables anyone to turn fiction into games and make money out of them! With Dorian, Julia's team is democratizing how digital stories are created (no-code platform), empowering storytellers from all around the world to tell the stories that deserve to be told. Julia shares her journey as an entrepreneur, from Ukraine to the Silicon Valley, leveraging her prior experience as a venture partner at LVP. Julia also gives advice on how to fundraise and pitch, who to hire for an early-stage startup, and why it...
2022-11-1533 min
A Spark Of Awareness50. Building A Kinder World - with Lauren ClinnickLauren Clinnick is the CEO and co-founder at Lumi Interactive, an Australian, female-founded mobile game studio focused on games that make the world a kinder place. With a focus on social connection and well-being, their latest plant-focused title Kinder World is in development for iOS and Android for a global release in late 2022. Lauren shares her journey, failures, and learning building the game company. She shares how she approaches game development as a marketer exploring platforms like Tik Tok, leveraging the community of the game, getting a deep understanding of the audience, and understanding subculture trends. She shares their...
2022-11-0846 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 37: What’s new in how games make moneyIn this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, we look at how monetization features have evolved from 2020 till now. Joining us from GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company, are Chief Game Analysts Erno Kiiski and Wilhelm Voutilainen.We explore innovation in battle passes, IAP mechanics, external web stores, and what monetization may look like in the future for mobile games like Cookie Run: Kingdom, Call of Duty Mobile, and Royal Match.You can now find The Mobile GameDev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. Please subscribe and...
2022-11-0257 min
A Spark Of Awareness49. Evolving The Sims With Distributed Teams - with Catharina Lavers MalletWho hasn't played The Sims when they were young? The Sims has been part of our lives over the past 20 years and has evolved with our times as we evolved as a society. Join my conversation with Catharina Lavers-Mallet, VP/GM of The Sims & Maxis at EA. We talk about team culture, distributed teams at scale, and the evolution of The Sims franchise. Prior to EA, Catharina also acted as General Manager and Head of Studio at King. She built and scaled their London games studios and played a key operational and product leadership role in t...
2022-11-0142 min
A Spark Of Awareness48. How Do We Design A Workplace For Leaders As Mothers? - with Emily Yim and Betty LapeyreThis is our first episode format with 2 guests, addressing the misunderstood and unspoken topics of motherhood and leadership. Betty and Emily share their personal journey as former Executives in big companies (Google, EA, Glu mobile), and what led them to build their own businesses once they became mothers. You will get insights into what is really happening when your employee goes through the experience of parenting, especially as a mother, and why many workplaces today are not adequate anymore for mothers who want to keep growing in their careers. How could we design a better work e...
2022-10-2533 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 36: Celebrity collaborations in mobile games with HypGamesIn this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, Mike Taramykin, the founder of HypGames, and Chief Game Analyst Teemu Palomäki from GameRefinery, a Liftoff company, join our host Jon Jordan to discuss the celebrity partnerships in mobile games.We delve into the strategy behind celebrity partnerships and analyze mobile collaboration trends this year while sharing heartwarming anecdotes of working with stars including Tiger Woods, Steve Carell, Amy Poehler, and Tina Fey.You can now find The Mobile GameDev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. Pl...
2022-10-1937 min
A Spark Of Awareness47. Re-Prioritize Your Personal Life And Work - with Vanessa RouhaniVanessa Rouhani hasn't started her career in games or business. Still, she climbed the career ladders step-by-step thanks to her curiosity, and constant drive to learn and grow, which led her to become the SVP of Publishing and Product Marketing at Jam City. Vanessa shares how she is leading her marketing team at Jam City, focusing on people first while driving results. She also shares openly her vision of an inclusive workplace where mothers in executive roles can professionally thrive while keeping clear personal boundaries. Vanessa advocates how it is important to prioritize your personal life while having ambition...
2022-10-1836 min
A Spark Of Awareness46. Building The Next Casual Hit At Rovio - with Julie BeaugrandJulie Beaugrand, former VP North Americas Studios at Gameloft and Head of Studio of Toronto, shares her journey building a new game studio at Rovio on a mission to crack the next casual hit game. From her 6 years running a successful large studio in Toronto, operating the hit game Disney Magic Kingdom, she took those learnings to build her new dream team. Take away from this episode how to start your new studio when you are embedded in a company, who to hire as new talents, who to bring with you from previous teams, how to build your network...
2022-10-1142 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 35: April Fools, Christmas, and Golden Week - discussing seasonal events in 2022In this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, we’re joined by GameRefinery, a Liftoff company, analysts Erno Kiiski and Sonja Skoglund, who will be discussing seasonal events in mobile games. We will cover noteworthy events, interesting trends, and what these events may look like in the future for the three major markets - the USA, Japan, and China. You can now find The Mobile GameDev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. Please subscribe and leave a review!Thanks for lis...
2022-10-0628 min
A Spark Of Awareness45. Invest In Your Financial Literacy - with Marcela BarreraTake away from this episode how to think differently about money as an instrument to fulfill your life vision. Do you work for money or is money working for you?I am debunking the key misconceptions about money and personal finances with Marcela Barrera, the founder of Investors Abroad and financial coach. Are you diversifying your portfolio of assets? Have you started to invest? Do you know the difference between a liability and an asset? Why is there a knowledge gap in finances for women, and what can we do about it? That's what we will...
2022-10-0439 min
A Spark Of Awareness44. How To Approach Racism - with Jennifer LufauHear Jennifer Lufau's insights on how you can effectively repair racial inequality in your organization, and be part of the change too.Jennifer shares her journey as a young player, not finding representation of herself in games, and what motivated her to later fund the non-profit organization Afrogameuses. Jennifer experienced racism playing online games. She could have remained a silent victim among many others. Instead, she decided to fight against racism and sexism in games and build a supportive community for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People Of Color) who stream, play, and make games. Additionally, Jennifer w...
2022-09-2742 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 34: Gaming mobilescriptions with MultiscriptionIn this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, Teis Mikkelsen, the founder of Multiscription, and senior market analyst Kalle Heikkinen from GameRefinery, a Liftoff company, joins our host Jon Jordan to discuss the topic of subscriptions in mobile gaming.We will cover the exciting trends in mobile game subscriptions, their mechanisms, the Unleashd service, and what the future may look like for this increasingly common trend. You can now find The Mobile GameDev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. Please subscribe and leave a revi...
2022-09-2132 min
A Spark Of Awareness43. Re-Examining Your Life Script - with Tamara Rose MoralesIn this new season, I am kicking off a series of episodes in the format of coaching discussions, with experts on leadership and self-development themes. Today, I am sitting down with Tamara Rose, the Founder of Berlin Boss Babes, and a High-Potential and Leadership Coach for women.Berlin Boss Babes' mission is focused on accelerating female advancement across career, business, and money. Prior to becoming a coach, Tamara was a top executive with 10+ years of experience in corporates and start-ups as a talent consultant.In this episode, we tackle one o...
2022-09-2047 min
A Spark Of Awareness42. Making Games With Impact At Ustwo Games - with Maria SayansI am kicking off a new season for Rise and Play with our special guest Maria Sayans, the CEO at Ustwo Games.Maria has been helping games companies succeed in the digital space, build great brands, launch games and engage players for nearly two decades. She spent 14 years at EA building online functions and on marketing leadership roles for franchises like Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Dead Space, Star Wars, Mirror’s Edge and Battlefield. In 2015 she joined CCP Games, the Icelandic developer of EVE Online, as their Chief Customer Officer. Since she joined Ustwo games, she ha...
2022-09-1338 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 33: How State of Survival: Zombie War became an award-winning gameIn this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, Bob Slinn, Head of Business Development at FunPlus, and game analyst Milka Paunonen from GameRefinery, a Liftoff company, joins our host Jon Jordan to discuss State of Survival’s well-deserved wins in the most recent Mobile GameDev Awards!We will discuss the development and inspiration behind State of Survival, the recent trends in the 4x strategy genre, its wins in the categories of ‘Biggest Evolver’ and ‘Best Use of IP in a Collaboration Event’, and what the future holds for the game.You can now find The Mobile Gam...
2022-09-0728 min
A Spark Of Awareness41. Lead Your Company As A Sports Team, Not As A Family - with Valerie AlfimovaThis episode is all about how to build a culture attractive for A-players dedicated to achieving big goals. You don’t want to miss it!I am talking to Valerie Alfimova who is the CRO at Appodeal Stack, a mobile AdTech and gaming group of companies. Appodeal Stacks’s mission is to enable creators to start and scale successful mobile app businesses. Valerie is a global sales and marketing executive with more than ten years of experience leading media, mobile AdTech, and gaming ventures. Over the last five years, Valerie has been instrumental in dr...
2022-09-0635 min
Mobile Heroes UncensoredNothing is impossible in mobile games, with GameRefinery’s Joel JulkunenCan you make better games by understanding player psychology? By knowing what people’s primary (and secondary) motivations are in mobile games? According to GameRefinery’s Joel Julkunen, absolutely. And understanding these motivations has led, he says, to multiple hit games over the past few years.
In this Mobile Heroes Uncensored we chat with Julkunen. He’s played over 500 games, and that’s a core part of his work, believe it or not. From that and a huge amount of data from thousands of games, he’s found 12 key player motivations that determine what kinds of games we like an...
2022-08-2626 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 32: The Mobile Gamedev Awards: What makes an award-winning mobile gameIn this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, we’re joined by GameRefinery, a Liftoff company analysts Erno Kiiski and Kalle Heikkinen for a special episode looking at the games that won at the Mobile GameDev Awards. The Mobile GameDev Awards are an annual set of awards by GameRefinery to recognize and celebrate innovation and excellence in mobile games. We will cover what made these games and studios win their respective categories, what aspects GameRefinery examines within a game, and what the future may look like for these games. Some examples include Apex Legends Mobile winning The ‘Most...
2022-08-2435 min
GameMakersWill Dislyte Be Lilith's Next Big Mobile Gaming Hit?Get the data and read the more in-depth take here: https://gamemakers.substack.com/p/will-dislyte-be-liliths-next-big
We talk about Lilith Games' latest mobile game: Dislyte. It's a "team battle" (game sub-genre) based mobile game that started strong but has recently slowed down. What are the chances of success?
We bring on two experts who recently covered Dislyte
#1. Harshal Karvande, Lead Game Designer at Rovio & Naavik Pro Contributor who wrote a deconstruction report on Dislyte and
#2. Teemu Palomaki, Chief Game Analyst at GameRefinery who recently hosted a webinar on Dislyte.
Fina...
2022-08-2454 min
A Spark Of Awareness40. Never Stop Reinventing Yourself - with Bakyt AidaralievaBakyt Aidaralieva is a product management and player experience executive with 9+ years of experience supporting players, leading teams and building tools in companies like Supercell, EA, PlayRaven and Rovio in the Finnish Games Industry. Among the hit mobile games Bakyt has worked with are Hay Day, Clash of Clans, Boom Beach and Simcity Build It. She has built player support and community functions in two startups, the latest company being PlayRaven which was acquired by Rovio Entertainment, the creator of the Angry Birds brand. Bakyt is driven by learning new things, taking risks, and learning from f...
2022-08-2235 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 31: Crafting a charming farming game: The story of Sunrise Village’s developmentIn this episode of the Mobile Gamedev Playbook, Thi Detert, Senior Lead Game Designer at InnoGames, and Product Owner, Alison Simpson talk about the development journey of Sunrise Village with GameRefinery, a Liftoff company analyst Teemu Palomäki and our host, Jon Jordan.We will cover the challenges (and solutions) encountered along the way from soft launch to global launch; the solutions that allowed the design team to build everything from components developed by the dev team; what inspired the game; and what the future might have in store for InnoGames.
2022-08-1031 min
A Spark Of Awareness39. Why We Need More Women As Investors - with Salone SehgalSalone Sehgal is the world's first female General Partner of a games and interactive VC fund. She co-founded Lumikai Fund, India's first early-stage interactive media and gaming VC, anchored by the world's largest games and media conglomerates. She has 15+ years of experience as a global games & new media investor, games entrepreneur, and former M&A banker. Previously, she was Principal at London Venture Partners (LVP), Europe's pioneering seed-stage gaming VC (with a track record of backing 40 companies delivering $14Bn in shareholder value).My conversation with Salone is very insightful and debunks misconceptions about venture partners, investing...
2022-08-0940 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 30: Diablo Immortal or Diablo Immoral? Discussing the monetization controversy behind Blizzard’s latest mobile gameIn this special episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, our host Jon Jordan discusses the popular but controversial game Diablo Immortal with Erno Kiiski and Wilhelm Voutilainen, Chief Game Analysts at GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company.We discuss the franchise's background, what separates Diablo Immortal from its predecessors, the player experience, the monetization controversies surrounding the game, and whether they are justified.You can now find The Mobile Game Dev Playbook on GameRefinery's Youtube channel.Please subscribe and leave a review!Thanks for listening, The Mobile GameDev Playbook
2022-07-2039 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 29: Fishing for knowledge: designing realistic life simulation games for mobileIn this episode of the Mobile Gamedev Playbook, Kirill Petruk, Lead Producer at Ten Square Games, talks about the development of Fishing Clash: Sports Games and other realistic life simulation games with GameRefinery, a Liftoff company analyst Teemu Palomäki and our host, Jon Jordan.We discuss the inspiration behind Fishing Clash, the realistic gameplay it provides, the social elements, and the collaborations it has had.You can now find The Mobile Game Dev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. Please subscribe and leave a review!Thanks for listening, ...
2022-07-0632 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 28: How to create a winning in-game economy with MachinationsIn this episode of the Mobile Gamedev Playbook, we’re looking at the tools available on the market to build a thriving free-to-play game economy. Our host, Jon Jordan, is joined by GameRefinery’s Erno Kiiski, Machinations CEO & Co-Founder, Mihai Gheza and Sales Director of Machinations, Matthew Morris.We’ll learn how the Machinations tool designs and balances game economies, forecasts player progression across gameplay, and how it’s used in classrooms worldwide to teach game economy design.You can now find The Mobile Game Dev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. Please subscribe a...
2022-03-2836 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 27: Kingdom Rush: What makes a successful game franchise? With Ironhide GamesIn this episode of the Mobile Gamedev Playbook, Ariel Coppes, Lead Game Engineer at Ironhide Games, talks about the success of the Kingdom Rush franchise with GameRefinery by Vungle analyst Erno Kiiski and our host, Jon Jordan.We delve into making games for the premium market, releasing games cross-platform, stepping into F2P games, and the highs and lows that come with developing a franchise of successful mobile games.You can now find The Mobile Game Dev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel.Please subscribe and leave a review!Thanks for li...
2022-02-2332 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 26: Raid: Shadow Legends - Creating a mobile powerhouse with PlariumIn this episode of the Mobile Gamedev Playbook, host Jon Jordan and GameRefinery by Vungle analysts Erno Kiiski and Altti Fromholdt join Vice President of Creative at Plarium, Nick Day. Together they give an inside look into the development process behind Raid: Shadow Legends and how it became one of the best known mobile games in the world and enjoyed by millions of players. Nick spills the tea on influencer marketing tactics, retention strategies, and the art direction behind Raid: Shadow Legends. GameRefinery analysts discuss the market as a whole, meta elements in mobile games, and their o...
2022-02-0742 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 25: How to create a winning shooter game with Nitro GamesIn this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, we sit down with Finnish mobile game developer Nitro Games to discuss how to design, monetise and market your mobile shooter for success.Jon Jordan is joined by GameRefinery by Vungle’s Erno Kiiski and Product Marketing Director at Nitro Games, Jukka Hilvonen, to discuss the popularity boom in mobile shooters, how to succeed in a genre dominated by massive studios, as well as getting some juicy insights into Nitro Games upcoming release Nerf: Battle Arena. You can now find The Mobile Game Dev Playbook on GameRefinery’s You...
2022-01-2637 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 24: What will 2022 bring to mobile games?In this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, we look at what 2022 might have in store for the mobile game industry across the US, China and Japan. Host Jon Jordan is joined by GameRefinery by Vungle’s chief game analyst, Kalle Heikkinen, to discuss upcoming trends and changes in mobile games in 2022, as well as anticipated releases throughout the forthcoming year.You can now find The Mobile Game Dev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel.Please subscribe and leave a review!Thanks for listening, The Mobile GameDev Playbook
2022-01-1324 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 23: 2021 Retrospective with the GameRefinery AnalystsAs we wrap up the end of the year, this episode of The Mobile Gamedev Playbook looks back at what 2021 brought to the mobile gaming industry in the US, China and Japan. We delve into the key trends to come out of this year, including the rise of renovation mechanics, collaboration events and popular IPs. Host Jon Jordan is joined by GameRefinery by Vungle’s analysts, Teemu Palomäki and Wilhelm Voutilainen, who together take us through this year’s most successful games and even a few unfortunate failures. You can now find The Mobile Game De...
2021-12-1646 min
Mobile Heroes UncensoredMobile gaming trends for 2022: live ops, mashups, NFTs, social, battle passesHow do you win in the most competitive space ever: mobile gaming? Well, you track 250 different features and components of games and see which ones tend to influence success.
In this episode of Mobile Heroes Uncensored, Peggy & John chat with GameRefinery’s head of analytics Joel Julkunen. He’s not just a gearhead: he’s the former archery champ of the Finnish Air Force.
More importantly, he’s constantly tracking all the variables that go into mobile gaming success. And, of course, sharing that with us in MHU. We chat NFTs (hate ‘em? love ‘em?), we chat genr...
2021-12-0830 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 22: Why diverse teams make better mobile games with HiDefIn this episode of The Mobile Gamedev Playbook, we’re looking at diversity in the mobile games industry and how having a culturally and ethnically diverse team helps build better mobile games. Co-founder and Head of Analytics at GameRefinery, Joel Julkunen, shares his expertise on player motivations and expanding your player base by adding features that cater to wider audiences. He is joined by the HiDef team, Anthony Castoro, Jen Donahoe, and basketball legend Rick Fox. Together they discuss their individual experiences of being a minority in the games industry and how diversity and representation are central to H...
2021-11-0747 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 21: Concerts, collabs and KFC: The wonderful world of seasonal events in mobile gamesIn this episode, GameRefinery looks at the craziest events this year, from Genshin Impacts’ collab with KFC to Roblox Lil Nas X digital concert.GameRefinery Analysts Kalle Heikkinen and Wilhelm Voutilainen join host Jon Jordan to discuss the wonderful world of mobile game events, including the mechanics behind LiveOps and utilising the same framework for multiple events, the benefits of collaborating with non-gaming brands and the importance of seasonal events to the success of mobile games. You can now find The Mobile Game Dev Playbook also on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. Please subscribe and le...
2021-10-1136 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 20: The toxic content dilemma “Can AI help moderate in-game chat?” with Utopia AnalyticsIn this episode of The Mobile Gamedev Playbook, we're looking at the use of AI moderation in social gaming. GameRefinery analyst and podcast regular Kalle Heikkinen joins host Jon Jordan to kick off the podcast with all things social, including the emergence of social hangout areas and the rise of social features in mobile games. While social features create endless opportunities for games to succeed (look at Roblox!), there is also a toxic content dilemma that comes with gamers being able to communicate with one another freely. CEO and Co-Founder of Utopia Analytics, Dr Mari-Sanna Pa...
2021-09-2830 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 19: The metaverse & mobile gaming with RP1In this episode of The Mobile Gamedev Playbook, we’re exploring all things metaverse. The idea of the metaverse has caught on across the tech industry over the last decade, with tech giants seemingly in a race to make it a reality.CEO and co-founder of RP1, Sean Mann, joins host Jon Jordan to discuss how close the metaverse is to becoming a reality, what it might look like, how it’ll affect mobile gaming and how RP1 has created a proprietary technology that provides a foundational layer upon which the metaverse can be built. You c...
2021-08-1729 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 18: What has happened in the mobile games industry so far? With GameRefinery by Vungle’s AnalystsAs we wrap up the first half of 2021, in this episode of The Mobile Gamedev Playbook, we have asked our analysts to spell out what have been the biggest mobile trends and games of the year so far! GameRefinery by Vungle's own Erno Kiiski, Wilhelm Voutilainen, and Kalle Heikkinen join host Jon Jordan to discuss how hybrid game mechanics and particular market trends have rocketed new games to the top of the download charts across the USA, China and Japan, as well as which games we should be keeping an eye on. You can now fi...
2021-07-1842 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 17: Designing Your Audience for Mobile Games with Richard BartleWe are a bit starstruck in this episode of The Movile GameDev Playbook, with guest Richard Bartle! Listen in to learn more about best practices for audience design, taxonomies of players and how they can help developers design better, more engaging mobile games. Richard joins the podcast to discuss his impressive career, including how he created the Multi-User Dungeon - or simply MUDs - the forebearer of the multiplayer online role-playing genre and how he developed the Bartle Taxonomy Player Types. Head of Analytics at GameRefinery by Vungle, Joel Julkunen, also joins the conversation to di...
2021-06-2939 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 16: How to use creative strategy to build successful mobile game ads with Vungle and RovioIn this episode of The Mobile GameDev Playbook, we’re discussing how to use creative strategy to build better mobile ads. We look into what creative strategy is, how it’s implemented and what might change for user acquisition in the post-IDFA world.Vungle joins our podcast for the first time since acquiring GameRefinery earlier in the year - bringing all its mobile advertising expertise. Angry Birds developer Rovio also joins in the chat to discuss all things creative. Dive deep into the topic with host Jon Jordan, Vungles’ Global...
2021-05-3140 min
Les Coulisses Du Jeu#9 Ristretto Studios - Du hyper casual court et bonAu programme de cet épisode de LCDJ :Les news : Early Access Unreal Engine 5 vidéo : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1ZnM7CH-v4&ab_channel=UnrealEngine Handicap et jeux vidéo : lancement de l'étude quantitative B2B : https://www.afjv.com/news/10593_handicap-et-jeux-video-lancement-de-l-etude-quantitative-b2b.htm GameIntel par GameAnalytics: https://gameanalytics.com/gameintel/ GameRefinery : https://www.gamerefinery.com/Liens : Notre sponsor : Million Lords - Un des meilleurs MMORTS sur mobile ! https://millionlords.com/ Invité : Yoan Joncheret de la société Ristretto Studios : https://www.ristretto-studios.com/Infos : Animé par Anton...
2021-05-2851 min
Les Coulisses Du Jeu#9 Ristretto Studios - Du hyper casual court et bonAu programme de cet épisode de LCDJ :Les news : Early Access Unreal Engine 5 vidéo : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1ZnM7CH-v4&ab_channel=UnrealEngine Handicap et jeux vidéo : lancement de l'étude quantitative B2B : https://www.afjv.com/news/10593_handicap-et-jeux-video-lancement-de-l-etude-quantitative-b2b.htm GameIntel par GameAnalytics: https://gameanalytics.com/gameintel/ GameRefinery : https://www.gamerefinery.com/Liens : Notre sponsor : Million Lords - Un des meilleurs MMORTS sur mobile ! https://millionlords.com/ Invité : Yoan Joncheret de la société Ristretto Studios : https://www.ristretto-studios.com/Infos : Animé par Anton...
2021-05-2851 min
The Kolibri Games PodcastKolibri Games Podcast - Mobile Market 2021 with Aysu Yildiz from GameRefinery by VungleThis episode we chat with Aysu Yildiz, Head of EMEA Growth at GameRefinery by Vungle about Social 2.0, hybridisation, genre mashups and super powers.
It's a great and informative listen, so don't miss it.
2021-05-1729 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 15: Tools, tips, and tricks to design winning mobile games with PickFu & MojiworksIn this episode of The Mobile GameDev Playbook, we’re discussing how to utilize player insight to help build better games. We look into the tips, tools, and techniques game developers can use to understand what their players want so that they’ll keep coming back for more.Market-research platform PickFu joins this episode to discuss how game developers have collected user feedback using their service, along with mobile game studio Mojiworks, which uses data-led design in their game development process. Dive deep into the topic with host Jon Jordan, GameRefinery’s Chief Game Analyst Erno Ki...
2021-04-1535 min
Growth Masterminds: mobile growth podcastAdtech upheaval: why Digital Turbine bought Fyber, and what's happening in the ecosystemWhat is happening in the mobile adtech ecosystem?
Is it the rise of platforms? The need for size to fight the heavyweight contenders of mobile advertising? Consolidation to accumulate and stockpile more first-party data in an era of increasingly scarce second and third party information? Or just a need to acquire revenue on the path to going public?
Whatever it is, we are seeing a massive acceleration in mergers and acquisitions in the mobile marketing and adtech ecosystems. Applovin bought Adjust, Vungle bought GameRefinery, Verve bought Nexstar. District M and Sharethrough. Magnite (formerly Rubicon) bought...
2021-04-0218 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 14: Maximise ROI on Ad Monetization With Kolibri GamesIn this episode of The Mobile GameDev Playbook we discuss the common struggles game developers face when monetizing their games and provide some top tips to ensure optimal ROI on mobile gaming ad monetization. We also take a deep dive into the current mobile app monetization strategy and how it might change post IDFA. Will high IAP monetization games survive the change? Kolibri Games brings their expertise to the panel today, as a games publisher, with their most notable mobile titles including “Idle Miner Tycoon” and “Idle Factory Tycoon”, with the former reaching over 100 million downloads worldwide...
2021-03-2337 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 13: Mobile GameDev Awards 2021 Winners - What is their secret? Featuring Luna LabsEpisode 13 brings you insight into the winners and finalists of GameRefinery’s very first Mobile GameDev Awards in 2021. These new annual awards aim to reward design and innovation in the mobile game industry by developers in the US, China and Japan. In this episode, GameRefinery’s analysts and partner judge from Luna Labs discuss a few of the award categories and what made the winners stand out from the competition - what is their secret?Award categories discussed include Innovation and Excellence in Core Gameplay, Best Evolver, and Best in-game Event. Host Jon Jordan is joine...
2021-03-1043 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 12: What’s in store in 2021 for the mobile gaming industry?In this first podcast of 2021, The Mobile GameDev Playbook unveils what might be in store for the new year and the mobile gaming industry - it’s a fully packed episode! We discuss how the pandemic’s development might affect industry growth in 2021 and how gaming habits might evolve in the post-COVID era. We also explore future potential trends for the Match 3 genre, the expansion of the casual gaming market in China, as well as the recent increase of mobile game collabs. Host Jon Jordan is joined by GameRefinery's Chief Analysts Kalle Heikkinen, Erno Kiiski and Wilhelm Vouti...
2021-01-1843 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 11: 2020 Retrospective with the GameRefinery AnalystsAs the end of the year approaches, this episode of the MobileGameDev Playbook will take a look back at what 2020 has had to offer the mobile gaming industry. We’ll delve into the key trends to come out of this eventful year, including the rise of social mechanics, changes to location-based AR games to fit COVID lockdown restrictions, as well as some of the secrets behind Genshin Impact’s success. To wrap the year up, we’ll also do some forward-thinking about what might be in store for the industry in 2021.Host Jon Jordan is joined by GameRe...
2020-12-0144 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 10: Game Economy Design and Monetization with The Mobile Game DoctorIn the latest episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, we examine what it takes to design a profitable game economy. We uncover the best monetisation strategies for mobile game developers, as well as how to plan and execute these strategies to boost a free-to-play mobile game’s potential revenue. From the planning of in-game economic structures to applying an enticing value exchange for players, this episode covers all the bases for developers looking to maximise their game’s chances of financial success. We’re joined by game design consultancy Mobile Game Doctor that specialises in bringing...
2020-11-0239 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 9: IDFA and the future of the Mobile Gaming Ad Industry, featuring AdColonyApple shocked the mobile advertising world this summer when it gave a two months’ notice of a seismic change in how mobile advertising campaigns would be targeted, measured and evaluated with the arrival of iOS14 and IDFA changes. Luckily, with these changes now likely taking place in early 2021 instead, mobile game developers and advertisers have some more time to plan accordingly and explore new ways to build their acquisition and attribution strategies. But what is IDFA? What do the upcoming changes really mean? And most importantly, what marketing and tracking technologies will be available for the mobile games industry in...
2020-10-0636 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 8: Social Games: What are the social must-have features that help create global hits? Featuring Teatime GamesSocial Games are the hot topic for Episode 8 of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, where we delve into understanding what the must-have features that help create global hits are. We are joined by the expertise of Teatime Games who will share the lessons learnt from their amazing success with mobile game 'QuizUp', which has now accumulated over 100 million downloads. As well as talking about feature-level specifics, Teatime Games uncovers how they reached the top of the US App Charts in only two weeks with 2 million users, as well as their recent success with their brand new game, Trivia R...
2020-09-0335 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 7: Getting to Grips with the RPG Genre with Facebook GamingDrawing from insights gained from Facebook and GameRefinery's brand new report on mobile gaming genres, this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook delves into the popular RPG Genre. Titled 'Genre and great games - Understanding Audiences and Designing Better Mobile Games', the report provides valuable genre-level insight across mobile games in the US, UK, South Korea and Japan. With a specific eye on RPG’s, the podcast takes an in-depth look at genre fulfilment, community, monetisation and ad preferences for RPG’s. We’re joined by Facebook Gaming to explore the differences and similarities in RPG design across the four ma...
2020-08-1833 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 6: Understanding Player Motivations and Archetypes with Rovio and Fundamentally GamesEpisode 6 of The Mobile GameDev Playbook looks at player archetypes and motivations and how these essential insights are being factored into game development. The podcast explores how game designers develop insight into their player types, as well as some of the most recent developments in player types and motivation metrics. Podcast guests are Rovio and Fundamentally Games, help provide further insight into their own experiences and what they’ve learnt when it comes to designing games for specific audiences. Host Jon Jordan is joined by GameRefinery's Chief Analyst Joel Julkunen as well as Kieran O'Leary, Director of Gro...
2020-06-1833 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 5: COVID-19's Mobile Gaming Boom with GameAnalyticsJoin us for Episode 5 of The Mobile GameDev Playbook as we focus the Coronavirus pandemic, how it has impacted developers and how they’ve adapted their games during the last few difficult months. The podcast also examines how the virus has generally affected the mobile gaming industry. We’re also joined by GameAnalytics who unearth some fascinating insights around insights traffic rates, age-specific genre engagement, in-app spending levels, and more. Host Jon Jordan is joined by GameRefinery's Chief Analyst Joel Julkunen as well as Iona Hreninciuc, CEO of GameAnalytics. GameAnalytics is an analytics tool for games used by in...
2020-05-2235 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 4: How to Create Chart-Topping Casual Games with PeopleFunEpisode 4 of the Mobile GameDev Playbook takes on casual gaming. Joined by PeopleFun, we are taking a close look at the well-known free-to-play favourite, WordScapes. We delve into understanding what makes this mobile game so successful and what are the lessons learnt from generating over 5000 levels. What's more, we will also discuss how they managed to scale up their content and what their overall business strategy is from a mobile game development perspective.Host Jon Jordan is joined by GameRefinery's Chief Analyst Joel Julkunen along with special guest Carol Miu, VP of Product & Analytics at US developer...
2020-05-1128 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 3: The lowdown on Licensed IPs with LudiaIn this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, we take a look into the challenges faced by game developers when working with licensed IP. With a specific focus on design and feature consideration, we also discuss how licenses have affected mobile game sales in different countries, such as the US and China.Host Jon Jordan is joined by regular guest, GameRefinery's Chief Analyst Joel Julkunen along with special guests Rosemarie Sarno and Stephen Wark, Community specialist and Lead Game Designer at mobile developer Ludia. Ludia has published several titles around well-known IP including Jurassic Park, Teenage Mutant...
2020-04-0135 min
App Marketing by App Masters777: What Games Have The Most Potential with Joel JulkunenComing up today's guest is the Co-Founder and Head of Game Analysis at GameRefinery, a company specialized in predictive and prescriptive analytics in the mobile game industry. This episode is all about mobile games where you will discover which games have the most potential, what are the hottest monetization trends (spoiler alert it's Battle Pass) and what features bring your games' most value in different markets.
Joel Julkunen is the Head of Game Analysis, Co-Founder at GameRefinery.
2020-03-3151 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 2: Perfect World talks Chinese GamesWelcome to episode 2 of the Mobile GameDev Playbook. In this episode, we delve into the Chinese mobile game market, what some of the latest game feature trends are as well as what makes Chinese mobile players tick. This month, host Jon Jordan is joined by regular guest, GameRefinery’s Chief Analyst Joel Julkunen along with special guests Georges Dry and Dean Zhao from Chinese game publisher and developer Perfect World. Thanks for listening!
2020-03-0538 minMobile Games PlaybookEpisode 1: 2019 Gaming Retrospective and 2020 predictions!Welcome to the Mobile GameDev Playbook! In this first episode, we review the main game development trends in 2019 and what to expect in 2020! Host Jon Jordan is joined by Chief Game Analyst at GameRefinery Joel Julkunen, and a special guest from Square Enix, Albert Custodio Martinez, to provide insights into what makes a good mobile game.
2020-02-1035 min
Game Consultant - The No 1 Games Podcast -Topics like China, GameBizCon, GameRefinery, Big Karma Games and more!Changed the format a bit, not just one topic per episode, but address things that I feel that are relevant for & about the gaming industry. GameBizCon with Dirk Schmitt had a conference this week, a jury selected a top 10. Realy nice talking to people via video calls, but also the panels were realy great. Of course my panel was awesome, jokie-joke, but seriously all panels had great gaming people involved and they shared their vision, epxerience and thoughts. And you know, it was great cause you could sit at your desk and be part of it!
2020-02-0122 min
Thrum.gg: Discover Games, Music and Videos Instantly in WhatsAppTopics like China, GameBizCon, GameRefinery, Big Karma Games and more!Changed the format a bit, not just one topic per episode, but address things that I feel that are relevant for & about the gaming industry.
GameBizCon with Dirk Schmitt had a conference this week, a jury selected a top 10. Realy nice talking to people via video calls, but also the panels were realy great. Of course my panel was awesome, jokie-joke, but seriously all panels had great gaming people involved and they shared their vision, epxerience and thoughts. And you know, it was great cause you could sit at your desk and be part of it!
2020-02-0122 min
Game ConsultantTopics like China, GameBizCon, GameRefinery, Big Karma Games and more!Changed the format a bit, not just one topic per episode, but address things that I feel that are relevant for & about the gaming industry. GameBizCon with Dirk Schmitt had a conference this week, a jury selected a top 10. Realy nice talking to people via video calls, but also the panels were realy great. Of course my panel was awesome, jokie-joke, but seriously all panels had great gaming people involved and they shared their vision, epxerience and thoughts. And you know, it was great cause you could sit at your desk and be part of it!Also with D...
2020-02-0122 min
Deconstructor of Fun#13 Super Scale With No Strings Attached with Ivan TrancikWelcome to the final episode of our Mobile Publisher Series. In each of the episode we sat down with the CEO of top mobile publisher and discussed how they approach publishing, what is their company’s strategy, how do they work with developers and how do they see the future of publishing on mobile.
In case you missed the previous episode:
Mobile Publishing #1: Deconstructing Scopely's path to $1B with Scopely’s Javier Ferreira (Co-CEO)
Mobile Publishing #2: Behind Tilting Point's $132M War Chest with President Samir El Agili
Mobile Publishing #3: Former Publishing CEO Spil...
2019-08-261h 46
Deconstructor of Fun#12 Former Publishing CEO Spills the Beans with Klaas KerstingWelcome to the third episode of our Mobile Publisher Series. In each of the episode we sat down with the CEO of top mobile publisher and discussed how they approach publishing, what is their company’s strategy, how do they work with developers and how do they see the future of publishing on mobile.
In case you missed the previous episode:
Mobile Publishing #1: Deconstructing Scopely's path to $1B with Scopely’s Javier Ferreira (Co-CEO)
Mobile Publishing #2: Behind Tilting Point's $132M War Chest with President Samir El Agili
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Shout out to ou...
2019-08-181h 00
Deconstructor of Fun#11 Behind Tilting Point's $132M War Chest with President Samir El AgiliWelcome to the second episode of our Mobile Publisher Series. In each of the episode we sat down with the CEO of top mobile publisher and discussed how they approach publishing, what is their company’s strategy, how do they work with developers and how do they see the future of publishing on mobile.
If you missed our last episode with Scopley’s Co-CEO Javier Ferreira, I encourage you listen to it after this episode.
In this episode we had a pleasure to talk to Tilting Point’s President and CPO, Samir El Agili. We talked a...
2019-08-121h 13