Sebastian Park believes user-generated content (UGC) will drive the next frontier in gaming. He’s betting on this belief with the new startup he cofounded, Infinite Canvas: a user-generated content publisher. Let’s use the McKinsey SCR (situation-complication-resolution) framework to characterize his thesis on UGC gaming. Or at least my interpretation of his … [Read more...] about Why User-Generated Content is the Future of Games
Entertainment IP in Games | Learn from the Best!
Hold up! How did Epic get Batman shooting guns in Fortnite?What are some of the biggest mistakes licensees make with big IP?What do typical IP deal structures look like?What are some crazy horror stories of IP gone wrong?How do you even get a big IP deal? Do you want the answers to these questions, plus a lot more, and war stories from some of the most experienced and … [Read more...] about Entertainment IP in Games | Learn from the Best!
The Path to Mastery: How to Become a Kensei (剣聖)
There was a time I wondered: “What do I ultimately want to do with my life?” Does having an easy job, a nice family, and a big house define a life well lived? Is that success? There was a time when two roads diverged in my career, and I considered: “Should I choose the path of difficulty or comfort.” Many of you may be making a similar decision in your own life. Should … [Read more...] about The Path to Mastery: How to Become a Kensei (剣聖)
Game Industry M&A in 2022
Is Game Industry M&A in 2022 in Trouble? Last year, I believed that the nature of game industry consolidation was at the cusp of significant change. Two posts that addressed some of the significant changes occurring: The Warning | Game Companies Face Structural Transition in 2021Four Growth Paradigms: Zynga, Applovin, Skillz, and Jam City Part 1 and Part … [Read more...] about Game Industry M&A in 2022
Creating Highly Performant Mobile Ads | The Ad Concept Model
In the new world since post-Apple IDFA deprecation, mobile marketing has become more difficult than ever. According to Consumer Acquisition, a leading marketing services company, consider the following key issues: Margin Loss: IDFA deprecation has created a -30% margin compression for many game studios against their game revenue.Loss of Lookalike Audiences: With … [Read more...] about Creating Highly Performant Mobile Ads | The Ad Concept Model
Philosophy #12: On Employee Motivation
It was 3 AM in a taxi on a dusty road coming from the Bangalore airport. I was traveling with my co-founder Paul Leydon, and it was the first time we’d been to this city which will soon become our company’s headquarters. Suddenly, he asked me the following question: Do you want to go skiing? Strange question to open with at the time, I thought. But the conversation … [Read more...] about Philosophy #12: On Employee Motivation
Market Intelligence Firm(s) Under Investigation by SEC | Dominos!
Last year, I wrote about the SEC action being enforced at that time against App Annie for the use of material, non-public information aka “MNPI”: Click the image above to read the post. I highly recommend you read it to understand the nuances and potential implications of what happened. BREAKING NEWS: As foreshadowed in that post from last year, I’m hearing that one … [Read more...] about Market Intelligence Firm(s) Under Investigation by SEC | Dominos!
Philosophy #11: 2021 Key Trends and Lessons Learned
To All: I’m sure you’re all sick 🤮 of yet another 2021 recap. I am too. But you’re gonna want to check out this one. Because I’m dope, and I think about dope shit. On January 1st, your Philosophy bros Brett Nowak and I discussed what we believe were some of the biggest trends and lessons learned from last year. 1. Rise of Personal Brands (and everyone now … [Read more...] about Philosophy #11: 2021 Key Trends and Lessons Learned
GameMakers 2021 Game Awards Results
To All, We had a really fun time talking about the best and worst of F2P games in 2021. There are definitely a lot of really great riffs you definitely don’t want to miss so check it out! The Best Burp of 2022 Let’s begin with what may wind up to be the best burp award for 2022 on a podcast: GameMakers Drunk Awards for 2021 Our awards crew: Javier Barnes, … [Read more...] about GameMakers 2021 Game Awards Results
Philosophy #10: How To Recruit Like A Pro
Recruiting can literally be the difference between success and failure for a gaming company. Peter Thiel has remarked that a critical question he often asks start-up founders to determine whether they will ultimately succeed or not, is the following question: Why will the 20th employee at your company join your company rather than Google (or some other industry relevant … [Read more...] about Philosophy #10: How To Recruit Like A Pro
Philosophy #9: Bill Walsh | Don’t Make Enemies!
How do you deal with enemies in your life and workplace? Today, we discuss the philosophy and specific nuances behind making friends vs. enemies. Bill Walsh, the hall of fame NFL football coach, has a number of really incredible leadership and management lessons from his book “The Score Takes Care of Itself: My Philosophy of Leadership.” In his book, Walsh makes a … [Read more...] about Philosophy #9: Bill Walsh | Don’t Make Enemies!
What Makes A Great Tech Leader or CTO!
We live in a complicated world with new innovations, technologies, processes, and best practices emerging every day. As technology has become a core driver for sustainable competitive advantage, the CTO and tech leadership at companies have become increasingly critical for success. The technology leadership role, in particular, requires additional challenges relative to … [Read more...] about What Makes A Great Tech Leader or CTO!
How To Be A Great Games Company CEO!
Now this, I thought, was a rare opportunity for wisdom. I looked into the faces of 6 game studio CEOs staring back at me on Zoom. All very successful. All incredibly smart and capable. And then I asked my question: What should the responsibilities for a games studio CEO be? While I received some very similar responses, I was surprised by some of the very different … [Read more...] about How To Be A Great Games Company CEO!
Philosophy #8: How to Make Difficult Decisions
How do you make difficult decisions? In the context of the gaming industry some of these kinds of decisions could include: What genre to enter with a new gameShould we launch a new game? Expand? Or just invest in our current games?What bold beat to create?Should we kill a game with mediocre KPIs?Who to hire or fire? On a personal level, very common decisions could … [Read more...] about Philosophy #8: How to Make Difficult Decisions
Philosophy #3: 0 to 1 vs. 1 to N Product Management
Looks like our first episode of “Philosophy Friday” was a hit and thanks to everyone for all of the great comments and DMs! Based on feedback, seems like many want more product management content and so we decided to expound a bit on the Peter Thiel concept of “Zero to One” vs. “1 to N” applied to game development and the product management function in this context. For … [Read more...] about Philosophy #3: 0 to 1 vs. 1 to N Product Management