Deconstructor of Fun

Happy Thanksgaming! This week, the Deconstructor of Fun crew kicks things off with a recap of the buzzing Slush event before diving into a deep analysis of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. From there, we tackle Ubisoft’s heated return-to-office controversy and explore Hasbro’s massive $150 million investment in gaming. The latter half of the episode delves into Royal Kingdom’s prolonged soft launch strategy and wrap up with a discussion on FIFA’s latest collaboration with Mythical Games. Can they rival EA FC? Tune in for insights, reflections, and a glimpse into what lies ahead in the evolving gaming landscape! 00:00 Happy Thanksgaming! 02:54 Slush Event Recap 08:26 Heroic Labs Updates 17:37 Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Analysis 29:49 Ubisoft's Return to Office Controversy 36:54 Hasbro's $150 Million Investment in Gaming 41:03 Mattel vs. Hasbro: A Tale of Two Toy Giants 45:48 The Interconnectedness of Toys and Gaming 54:47 Game District's Acquisition of Gleam Games 55:49 AppCharge Raises $26 Million for Gaming Apps 56:36 Royal Kingdom's Market Strategy 01:10:47 Mythical Games' New Arcade Football Game 01:15:44 Wrapping Up: Reflections and Future Prospects --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

Phillip Black sits down with Leo Yao, General Manager of Timi Studio Group’s J3 studio, for an exclusive look at the making of Call of Duty Mobile and the upcoming Delta Force. Discover how Timi shocked Activision with a two-month Nuketown demo, the secrets behind COD Mobile’s record-breaking live ops, and why Delta Force pivots to tackle Battlefield. Insights: The surprising dominance of Crossfire in China over global FPS franchises. The East vs. West FPS divide—tactical vs. arcade gameplay. Delta Force’s PC-first pivot, cross-platform ambitions, and bi-monthly content updates. Timi’s roots in humility and adaptability for live-service success. Chapters: 00:53 Leo Yao and Timmy's Studio Group 02:31 Call of Duty Mobile: Development and Success 05:21 Challenges and Strategies in the Mobile FPS Market 09:23 Team Structure and Company Culture at Timmy 14:14 Cross-Platform Gaming and Future Trends 18:10 Chinese PC Shooter Market Insights 21:21 PC vs Mobile: A Developer's Perspective 23:38 Delta Force: Fitting into the FPS Landscape 25:49 Live Service and Content Updates 28:23 Monetization Strategies for Delta Force 30:14 The Rise of Extraction Shooters 36:54 Why Delta Force? The Strategy for IP's Revival 38:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

As Kress’ World of Warcraft account turns 20, we blow out the candles and reflect on a surprising reason behind EA’s disastrous AI investor presentation. Jen delivers a valiant defense of Monopoly Go’s new TV campaign, while Phil reviews the early returns of Pokémon TCG Pocket. Big in Japan, as they say? The group wraps up with what might be the year’s final Embracer hazing session, absolving themselves of any remaining crimes. chapters: 01:19 Birthday Wishes for WoW and Half-Life 2 04:48 EA Tries to Soothe AI Worries 10:03 Game Industry Awards and Nominations 14:47 AAA Devs and Startups 19:04 PlayVentures' New Gaming Fund 21:24 Miniclip Acquires EasyBrain 28:32 X Rioters and Supervive 31:15 Capybara Go and Archero 2 32:02 Pokemon TCG Pocket Success 38:47 Marvel Snap and Sinister Loot Boxes 41:15 New Monopoly Go Campaign --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

Join us on the Deconstructor of Fun Podcast as we delve into LiveOps strategies for Q5 with esteemed guests Sezer Degirmenbasi, head of EMEA for mobile gaming at TikTok, and John Wright, head of publishing at Kwalee. In this episode, you’ll discover what Q5 is and why it's crucial for game marketers and learn detailed strategies for leveraging TikTok's LiveOps tools to extend your game's lifecycle, increase user engagement, and maximize revenue 00:00 Introduction 00:56 Understanding Q5: The Invisible Quarter 06:10 LiveOps Strategies and Definitions 11:27 TikTok's Role in LiveOps Success 16:24 TikTok's LiveOps Program Explained 21:56 Creative Strategies for LiveOps 27:55 The Need for Differentiation 29:34 Reviving Older Games with TikTok 36:56 Success Metrics for LiveOps Campaigns 46:54 Final Thoughts and Advice for Developers 51:02 Culturalization in LiveOps 54:35 Conclusion and Community Engagement --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support