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Deconstructor of Fun

Deconstructor of Fun

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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-econo ...
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Cup Of Justice

Luna Shark

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We all want to drink from the same Cup of Justice... and it starts with learning about our legal system. With tales from the newsroom and the courtroom, co-hosts Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland invite you to gain knowledge, insight, and tools to hold public agencies and officials accountable. Beginning as bonus episodes to the Murdaugh Murders Podcast with analysis of the trials of Alex Murdaugh and co-conspirators, Cup of Justice launched as its own show in January of 2023 and debu ...
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In this deep dive discussion, Adam Telfer, Chris Sides, Phillip Black, and Davan Brannan explore the current state of the PC and console shooter genre, analyzing player engagement trends, the impact of COVID-19, and the struggles of new game entrants in a saturated market. They discuss the decline in player numbers for popular titles, the challenge…
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Arguably the most fun newsletter for games industry professionals: www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe --- This episode of This Week in Games covers major shifts in gaming, as Netflix shutting down its AAA studio, TikTok’s LiveOps program, and the rise of influencer marketing and Supercell’s all-hands-on-deck approach to save Squad Busters. The ep…
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Investigative journalists Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland — talk about Mandy’s wild encounter with an Uber driver who was a law enforcement officer in Marion, Kansas, and who … didn’t think the police raid on The Marion County Record and the related death of its editor’s 90-year-old mother were problematic or illegal? Good thing, …
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On his 55th visit to beyond the Wall (aka. Finland) Peter Levin of Griffin Gaming Partners delves into the influence of Finland's gaming scene, the global success of companies like Supercell, and the legacy of titles such as Angry Birds and Habbo Hotel. We discuss the impact of technology, transmedia trends, and how non-endemic players like Netflix…
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In this episode of TWIG (This Week in Games), the team dives into recent gaming industry news, starting with Google’s Play and Xbox announcements, followed by the Game Freak data breach and Xbox developments. 'They discuss Supercell’s mysterious Project Rise, the rumored Destiny Rising mobile game, and blockchain gaming with Off the Grid. The episo…
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On our 101st Cup of Justice podcast episode we tackle how the insurance and legal systems are rigged against consumers in the wake of disaster, how this benefits certain parties (like insurance companies and lawyers), and how the Murdaugh family and their associates exploited these systems for their gain. Specifically, the case of Hampton County, S…
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Michail Katkoff sits down with Javier Ferreira, Co-CEO of Scopely, to explore the success behind Scopely's hit game Monopoly Go, which has generated over $3 billion in lifetime revenue. Javier shares insights into Scopely's acquisition by Savvy, the impact of solid partnerships, and Scopely's future ambitions with original IPs. Learn about effectiv…
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The TWIG team unpacks the latest developments in Ubisoft’s internal drama. They also dive into the troubled launch of Squadbusters and explore whether toxic positivity is a growing issue in game development. Plus, get the latest on the Epic vs. Google legal battle and the controversies surrounding Roblox. Tune in for sharp analysis and thoughtful d…
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Saudi Arabia has a bold vision - to transform itself into a global gaming hub by 2030. With insights from Savvy Games Group CEO Brian Ward and Gerard Miles, co-CEO of executive headhunting company Mission One, we delve into the Kingdom's strategic efforts to build a robust gaming ecosystem in the Middle East. Discover the opportunities and challeng…
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Jen Donahoe, Eric Kress, Phillip Black, and Mishka Katkoff discuss the impact of California's new digital ownership law, highlights from the Tokyo Game Show, and the record-breaking numbers on Steam. They also delve into Ubisoft's delays, Behavior Interactive's acquisitions, and Meta's new AR glasses, concluding with a look at Genshin Impact's impr…
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It’s Cups Up for the 100th time with investigative journalists Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and of the True Sunlight Podcast and everyone’s favorite attorney Eric Bland, who helped bring justice in the Alex Murdaugh saga. To celebrate this special occasion, Mandy, Liz and Eric got together for a live broadcast of this 100th recording to talk about the…
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Host Jen Donahoe is joined by a panel of emerging game industry professionals—Pedro Bravo (Lead PM Monopoly Go at Scopely), Vlada Kumova (Game Producer at GameFam), and Lara Burić (Game Designer at Hutch). The discussion centers around the challenges and barriers faced by the next generation of game developers as they enter the industry, the diffic…
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Kress bites back at Cupcake listeners, while Adam thinks a Space Marine live service is as dead as the Necrons. Phil thinks MoPoGo is groundbreaking, but no one is surfing the waves yet. Laura tells us the real origin story, and Jen has her best Italian accent. 00:00 Intro 01:49 Shills 02:46 AI in Gaming 07:16 EA Strategy 09:28 Adam & Laura: Origin…
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Cup of Justice Co-hosts Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland — have returned to their respective studios for the latest episode of Cup of Justice in which there was A LOT to talk about. Over the past few weeks there have been several court filings, including in Alex Murdaugh’s murder conviction appeal. Dick Harpootlian suddenly has love for mor…
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Paul Bergrin is a hotshot criminal defense attorney in Newark, New Jersey. Seemingly unstoppable and with unorthodox methods, he’s built a reputation for getting his clients off the hook. But as Paul's legend grows, so do the suspicions swirling around him. When FBI Agent Shawn Brokos starts investigating a major drug ring, she makes a shocking dis…
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Mishka Katkoff chats with Sebastian Forsström, Head of Paradox ARC, to explore the world of indie game publishing at Paradox Interactive. Sebastian provides an overview of Paradox Interactive and dives into the role of Paradox ARC, a division dedicated to helping indie developers. They discuss how Paradox evaluates and develops games, the importanc…
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The crew gets together to talk about the past and the future of This Week in Game show in this special 300th episode. But it wouldn’t be a TWIG without a bit of news. Kress gets triggered by EA’s AI + UGC + Apps presentation. And we all wonder what happened to Spectre Divide - a highly anticipated shooter from a top team that seems to have missed i…
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In this powerful and vulnerable conversation, chart-topping podcasters Tiffany Reese, Mandy Matney, and Liz Farrell open up about the personal and professional obstacles they've faced in creating impactful, victim-centered content. From dealing with online harassment and imposter syndrome, to the ethical dilemmas of amplifying survivors' stories, t…
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In this episode of the terrific trio: Jen Donahoe, Laura Taranto, and Adam Telfer dive into product strategy and market insights, highlighting how developers are differentiating themselves in a saturated market. The three also discuss Apple’s September event, analyze the PlayStation 5 Pro, analyze Sony’s broader strategy, and look at Roblox’s ambit…
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Investigative journalist Mandy Matney starts today's episode by sharing more on the newly announced Hulu series "untitled Murdaugh murders," starring Patricia Arquette, focusing on elevating female voices and corruption in South Carolina. So hooray for Hollywood! Then, Journalist Eric Meyer joins Mandy Matney and attorney Eric Bland to discuss the …
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Join host Jen Donahoe for an in-depth discussion on venture capital funding in the gaming industry with experts from Transcend Fund, Sisu Game Ventures, and PlayVentures. The panel covers key topics including how VCs work, investment processes, team equity structures, board dynamics, and the unique challenges and opportunities within different gami…
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Phillip phones it in from Taipei as the team covers the launch of Spectre Divide, Crypto Czar's last hurrah Supercell's potential IPO. Eric Kress dives into Ubisoft’s mismanagement and its effect on company valuation while Adam compares key data insights from NewZoo and Circana. Mishka and Jen talk about influencer marketing trends and shooter game…
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Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell and attorney Eric Bland — have been thoroughly entertained by the latest phase of Alex Murdaugh’s over-the-top efforts to get his murder conviction reversed. Last week the public FINALLY got to meet the Egg Lady Juror (Myra Crosby) and her sidekick Juror Z (aka Juror 630, Mandy Pearce). Both wo…
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Sign up for the industry's most insightful weekly newsletter!https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe Ever fancied yourself becoming a VP of a large publisher managing multiple cross-platform teams across several countries? Tune in to the episode and figure out if this is a job for you! Dimo Dimov, Vice President of Live Games at Gameloft, shar…
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The crew is one down as Eric Kress, Jen Donahoe, and Mishka Katkoff hop in to knock one off on the road for #300. In this episode, Mishka gives his takeaways from Gamescom. We discuss a conspiracy theory on why Steam is allowed in China and talk about Wukong and Supercell's new CFO. Most importantly, this episode settles the case about Tim Hortons …
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Investigative reporters Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell sat down with South Carolina Senator Katrina Shealy who — in 2012 — was elected to the all-male Senate. Yes, it was all-male. And yes, it was 2012... For years, Sen. Shealy was either ignored by her colleagues or straight-up bullied and harassed — even evoking the infamous “Women are a lesser cut…
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Order your cup of Tim Hortons super hot for this first all-Canadian episode! The lost-and-found podcast host Adam Telfer delves into the state of the industry with Newzoo's Devan Brennan.Topics covered include market trends, forecasts for mobile gaming and the PC market, console performance, and the challenges faced by new free-to-play live service…
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Fresh from another Tim Hortons ribbon cutting in Dubai, Adam Telfer returns to the cast. He’s packing heat, laying down hot takes on The Finals, Once Human, and the colossal capital required to ship single-player games. Meanwhile, Eric drops a margin call on Riot’s transmedia move while Jen rallies in defense. Phil thinks everyone is missing the re…
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Today, Cup of Justice Co-Hosts Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland — take a look at the South Carolina Supreme Court’s decision to hear Alex Murdaugh’s appeal in his quest for a new murder trial. The headlines say this is a BIG DEAL and a major win for Alex, but is that true? What does it mean that the Supreme Court is allowing him the opportu…
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Get the latest dose of game industry news shaken, not stirred. In this episode, Eric Kress, Jen Donahoe, and Laura Taranto debate the merits of VR, discuss Zynga's match-three strategies, and evaluate market trends in the mobile gaming sector. Plus, the crew takes a look at the dreadful reception of the Borderlands movie and the ongoing challenges …
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On today's 93rd Cup of Justice episode, investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell — and everyone’s favorite attorney Eric Bland — discuss the federal government’s response to Alex Murdaugh’s effort to appeal his 40-year sentence in the financial crimes. It seems like all the T’s were crossed and all the I’s dotted in Alex’s sentencing …
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In this episode, Dennis Fong, CEO and co-founder of GGWP, discusses his remarkable journey from being the world's first professional gamer to a successful serial entrepreneur. He shares insights from founding and selling four companies, emphasizing the importance of open conversations and the tough realities of making pivots and layoffs. Dennis als…
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In this episode, Jen Donahoe, Laura Taranto, Phillip Black, and Mishka Katkoff dive into the unexpected closure of Game Informer. The conversation then shifts to financial matters, with insights on the stock market and breakdowns of quarterly earnings reports. We examine the latest on the Microsoft & Activision deal, VC funding trends, and web-base…
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Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell — and everyone’s favorite attorney Eric Bland — give a recap of last week’s strange press conference after Myrtle Beach Pastor JP Miller settled with Mica Francis’ family in their ongoing disputes in Family and Probate courts. Eric breaks down what the family might have given up in agreeing to …
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We assembled an Avengers-style team of Consumer Insights leaders from publishers and Vendors Blizzard, Riot, Zynga, and Beta Hat to dig into how Consumer Insights can help Devs and Marketers make and market successful games. The team digs into how each company approaches CI, uncovers trends around older and younger gamers, and gives tips for teams …
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Jen and Phil close the book on licensing…or do they…while Eric closes the book on the 500 World of Warcraft gear score. Laura looks at Scopley’s new global forgotten franchise, and the team examines mounting Twitch losses. Eric makes 10 x new faces in the episode. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/…
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On today's 91st COJ episode, Mandy and Liz sat down with Karl Stoller, whose daughter Dallas died in 2021 while awaiting justice in her 2018 sexual assault. Since her death, Dallas’ accused rapist Bowen Turner has remained in the headlines, not only for the two other rapes he’s been accused of, but for the stunning failures perpetrated by the prose…
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Subscribe to our weekly insights-filled newsletter:https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribeIn this episode, we’re focusing on the impact of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and antitrust policies on game monetization. Our guest, Archie Stonehill, Chief Product Officer at Stash, is providing insights into how the DMA is changing the landscape for a…
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After dropping mice nuts somewhere on the Blizzard campus, Eric returns to remind Matthew Ball of his crypto advocacy. Jen raises the banner for games as toy brand extensions and enrolls in Joost’s class. Phil is ready to be The Second Descendant and reports on Rainbow Seige’s new marketplace. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.co…
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Pete Hawley (former executive at 100 Thieves, EA, Zynga, Lionhead, Sony, Telltale, and Mythical Games) and Alexander Seropian (founder of Bungie, Industrial Toys, Wideload, and Look North Games) unpack their experiences with the Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) platform, discussing marketing strategies, player engagement, technical limitations, an…
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Cup of Justice co-hosts Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland — are still reeling from JP Miller’s utterly bizarre interview on Ashleigh Banfield’s show on NewsNation late Friday night. Pastor JP appears to be on some sort of public relations tour, claiming that his lawyer told him it would help with his future defamation cases. But so far? It’s…
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The one newsletter to rule them all - not really, but it is good:https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe The prodigal pair of Jen and Eric return from trotting around L.A. in the Jade Inferno mobile, while Laura laments the lack of Disco Ball. Phil stacks the chips on Zenless Zone Zero’s role in MiHoYo’s portfolio. Jen gives us the 411 on Disn…
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Last week marked the ninth anniversary of Stephen Smith’s death. Cup of Justice co-hosts Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland — talk about Mandy and Liz’s latest reporting in the case and the biggest mystery that exists in the original investigation. Also on the show, Mandy is dismissed from the frivolous defamation case filed against her by a …
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Join the industry's leading weekly newsletter: www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe This episode is perfect for those interested in game development while managing significant brand collaborations. Join our host Mishka Katkoff as we delve into game development and IP licensing with Peter Hansen-Chambers, co-CEO of Hutch. Peter shares his journey to…
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Join us for a Whiskey Tasting at Gamescom: https://event.appsflyer.com/gamescomwwwtasting/DOF The Californians are out and it’s two-and-a half-Europeans running the show! Instead of talking about the ongoing European Football Championship or the election results in France and the UK, the trio will dive into Nintendo’s AI avoidance, hybridcasual puz…
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Join host Mishka Katkoff on the Deconstructor of Fun podcast as he talks with Solsten founders Joe Schaeppi and Bastian Bergmann. They discuss the latest gaming industry trends, the importance of change management, and the critical role of audience resonance. Learn how AI enhances studio efficiency, the value of a measured approach, and how Solsten…
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So much news, and so little time! The crew discusses the acquisition of Singularity 6 and how it's one of the first superfunded star-studded studios that burned all the capital raised only to be acquired at a micenut valuation. We discuss Netflix Games' latest spin on how all is great despite the head of games leaving the organization and replaceme…
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Cup of Justice co-hosts Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell and Eric Bland — listened to Dick Harpootlian’s (ridiculously long) farewell speech in the South Carolina Senate and needless to say, they have some thoughts on it. Especially when it comes to Dick’s tone-deaf defense of his own behavior defending Alex Murdaugh. Also on the show, several lawmakers a…
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Industry's leading newsletter: www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribe Join host Michail Katkoff on the Deconstructor of Fun podcast as he delves into the remarkable career journey of Kieran Donovan, founder of k-ID. Explore how Kieran transitioned from a screenwriter to a lawyer and then to a successful startup founder, raising $51 million in just 9 …
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With Miska discovering the true meaning of Tinto Verano, the crew convenes to celebrate Eric’s promotion to senior consultant. Meanwhile, Jen reminds us that Rocket League isn’t a real football game, and Eric finally finds a VC investment with scale. Phil stares down Fortnite numbers while Laura reminds us Switch is the train that keeps chugging. P…
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