Games Growth with Upptic (Upptic)
Explore every episode of Games Growth with Upptic
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
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| 29 Mar 2022 | GDC – James O'Claire (Bubbleye) / Justin Woodward (Media Indie Exchange) | 00:20:40 | |
We're doing something a little different for the next couple of weeks... Instead of our usual weekly podcast, we're conducting quick interviews with movers and shakers during GDC – all from the comfort of the Stardust Lounge! We'll be posting interviews in batches of two daily – Monday-Friday – until we've posted them all. Be sure to check back here daily for the latest batch of interviews. Major thanks to Stardust for hosting us and giving us the opportunity to do this! | |||
| 08 Sep 2022 | UA, Data Privacy, Prediction with Cloé Dana (Tempr) | 00:50:07 | |
Our guest this week is Cloé Dana, Co-Founder and CEO of Tempr. Tempr uses AI-powered tools to empower marketers in their UA optimization and maximize their returns. In this week’s podcast we take a dive into the world of automated predictive analytics and how it can shape UA strategy. Cloé answers all our questions regarding the technical aspects of automated predictive analytics and what marketers can expect to get out of them. We also dive into the changing data privacy landscape and ongoing issues with attribution efficacy. Plus, we discuss the latest Ethereum news, dive into how Apple's privacy changes have boosted its Search Ads product, and share skepticism regarding Netflix's upcoming ad platform. SOURCES & MORE: JOIN OUR UPCOMING WEB3 GAMES GROWTH WEBINAR: | |||
| 01 Dec 2022 | Web3 Gaming in the Crypto Downturn (Darewise) | 00:57:11 | |
This podcast is brought to you through a partnership with Animoca Brands. Animoca Brands is one of the world's leading mobile game developers and publishers . They are on the frontlines of Web3, investing heavily in a vast portfolio of Web3 projects. Benjamin Charbit, CEO at Darewise, joins us in our virtual recording studio. Darewise is the developer of web3 game Life Beyond – a metaverse experience, built with Unreal Engine and blockchain, where players can build, trade, and own assets on a mysterious alien world. Benjamin talks about what makes Life Beyond different from other games – and how web3 technology has made that difference possible. We also dive into what it means to be a part of the Animoca Brands family and what opportunities might be on the horizon for game developers under their umbrella. Benjamin doesn't shy away from talking about the downturn in the crypto space either – and how that has impacted Darewise and web3 game development. He provides some parting advice to game developers who are considering building web3 games in the current market. SOURCES & MORE: https://upptic.com/web3-gaming-in-the-crypto-downturn-darewise-app-talk-with-upptic/ | |||
| 23 Mar 2023 | Polygon & Upptic: Onboarding the next generation to web3 | 00:35:29 | |
Urvit Goel, the VP, Head of Global Business Development at Polygon Labs, sits down with Warren and Xander to talk about onboarding web3 gamers, the current state of web3 games, the Crypto Winter, and Polygon's new partnership with Upptic – which will bring Upptic's world-class growth services to select web3 game developers on the Polygon blockchain. | |||
| 28 Mar 2022 | GDC – Nick Lulofs (Mappa) / Mickey Maher (Dapper Labs) | 00:29:58 | |
We're doing something a little different for the next couple of weeks... Instead of our usual weekly podcast, we're conducting quick interviews with movers and shakers during GDC – all from the comfort of the Stardust Lounge! We'll be posting interviews in batches of two daily – Monday-Friday – until we've posted them all. Be sure to check back here daily for the latest batch of interviews. Major thanks to Stardust for hosting us and giving us the opportunity to do this! | |||
| 12 Jul 2024 | Polkadot INCINERATES $40M on race car, jet sponsorships | 00:12:00 | |
Polkadot's eye-popping marketing spend holds key lessons for web3 game developers. Learn what went wrong and how you can avoid the same mistakes! CHAPTERS
Get more web3 marketing insights at www.upptic.com! | |||
| 25 May 2023 | Influencer Marketing and UGC Strategies (Gamesight & Lucky Axolotl) | 00:39:17 | |
"We think it's the most important channel. We think it's the most authentic channel," Emilee Helm says of influencer marketing. She heads up influencer marketing at Gamesight – which focuses on performance marketing for PC, console, and web3 games. Emilee joins our podcast this week alongside Bradley Kincaid, the Co-Founder of Lucky Axolotl – a creative studio focused on influencer marketing and UGC. Bradley shares several insights on UGC and influencers – including how to best utilize CTV as part of a marketing strategy. The two share their thoughts and expertise on a variety of related topics as well, including creative trends, KPIs and measurement, how to work with influencers, and the application of AI tools. Watch the full podcast now to learn more! Contact this episode's guests.
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| 28 Jan 2022 | Web3 and the Future of Gaming with Sebastian Borget, Gabby Dizon, Atif Khan and Cedrick Gamelin | 01:00:21 | |
Beyond buzzwords, Web3 brings the dawn of a new era in gaming. We are currently witnessing the first meaningful and mass market implementations of blockchain technology in games. What happens as free to play and play to earn economies also converge? Who are the winners and losers of this next era? We dig into these topics and more with leading founders and visionaries from the blockchain gaming space.
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| 08 Nov 2024 | Trump's Win: DOOM or BOOM for gaming? | 00:29:21 | |
Dive into the potential impact of Trump’s second presidency on gaming. Upptic CGO Warren Woodward and Upptic Marketing Director Xander Agosta highlight anticipated trends in mainstream gaming, possible boons to web3 and crypto, evolving regulatory positions on AI, and likely changes (or the lack thereof) in advertising! CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introduction and Disclaimer 02:20 – Likely Policy Stances & Macro Impacts 09:20 – PC, Console, Mobile Games Impact 13:12 – Web3, AI, Autonomous Vehicles Impact 23:10 – Growth Marketing & Ad Tech Impact 26:30 – The Future in a Nutshell 28:24 – Closing #Trump #Gaming #Marketing #Web3 #AI #Tech #Economy | |||
| 14 Apr 2022 | Game Economies & Ponzi Crypto with Ramin Shokrizade (Arrivant) | 01:09:58 | |
Our guest this week is Ramin Shokrizade, Founder at Arrivant. Arrivant is a game development studio focused on creating massively social games with player-to-player Play-to-Earn economies that meet the core needs of gamers – empowerment and connection – using scientific principles. They're currently working on their first PC and mobile game: StarGarden – a team-based, auto-chess battler with RPG mechanics. In this week’s podcast we take a dive into game economies and ponzi crypto – digging into the details of why so many early Web3 gaming economies have collapsed, what the traits of sustainable and scalable Web3 game economies are, and how Web3 evolves game economies. Plus, we discuss the latest news from Epic Games, Meta, China, and more. Guest: Ramin Shokrizade Industry Insights App of the Week | |||
| 13 Apr 2023 | Creatives in Retargeting and User Acquisition (Adikteev) | 00:34:39 | |
Retargeting is a beast of its own, requiring different strategies and creatives than normal user acquisition campaigns. We sit down with Adikteev COO Kate Lovejoy and Upptic Creative Director Ava Savitsky to discuss retargeting at large, the similarities and differences between UA and retargeting, useful tools, and future trends. FULL EPISODE SUMMARY | |||
| 15 Apr 2021 | Post-IDFA Incrementality with Brian Krebs | 00:56:30 | |
This week we're joined by Brian Krebs, CEO of MetricWorks. We go on deep dive into incrementality in the mobile marketing context and how it can be used as an alternative or to supplement traditional last-touch attribution. We also discuss how it is more reliable, but less certain then last-touch attribution and how the MetricWorks' product, Polaris, offers a top-down measurement alternative for the post-IDFA era. Also, Epic Games is making epic bets on the metaverse, and is hypercasual gaming in decline? Editor Note: We had some latency issues during this episode. While we did have a passionate discussion, we were not speaking over each to the extent we are in the recording. Learn more about how to grow your mobile app at upptic.com Guest: References: iOS 14 – The Catalyst For The Evolution of Measurement App of the Week: | |||
| 12 Jul 2024 | Epic Games TRIUMPHS over Apple in EU | 00:03:22 | |
Get ready for a new era in mobile game distribution! Apple has approved the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union. With lower fees and less competition, the Epic Games Store looks to be a lucrative option for game developers. Can Epic shake Apple's near-monopoly? CHAPTERS
Get more game distribution insights at www.upptic.com! #EpicGames #Apple #iOS #GameDev #TechNews #AppStores #GameDistribution #MobileGame | |||
| 21 Jul 2022 | Web3: The Next Hot Thing? Or Simply Hot Air? | 01:00:27 | |
This week, in lieu of a podcast, Warren took part in a Web3 panel hosted by Singular. Joining him were The Sandbox Head of Performance Anya Shapina, Mythical Games VP Growth Marketing Daniel Lopez, and Appvertiser Founder Hagop Hagopian. Moderating was Forbes Senior Contributor John Koetsier – who brought a dose of humor and didn't spare probing questions to get more out of the panelists when needed. Among the main topics covered were...
...alongside other Web3 hot-button issues. If you didn't catch it live, be sure to listen on-demand now using the YouTube video or Anchor audio above! | |||
| 16 Mar 2023 | The Metaverse after the Crypto Bust (Polygon Labs, XP Foundry) | 00:40:42 | |
The 2022 crypto crash brought much of web3 gaming to a halt. How is the industry faring now? Rian Rabinowitz of Polygon Labs and Melty Tantiwanich of XP Foundry join Warren and Xander for a roundtable on the topic. We take a hard look at the web3 landscape, lessons learned amid the crypto crash, and how things might change in the near future. If you're in the web3 gaming space, it's an episode you'll want to pay close attention to! | |||
| 06 Apr 2023 | Creative, Data Modeling, TikTok, & AI (RocketShip HQ) | 00:48:10 | |
Measurement is broken, but that doesn't mean performance is. That's among the lessons from this episode's podcast guest: Shamanth Rao, Founder and CEO of boutique growth marketing firm RocketShip HQ. Take a deep dive into creatives and data as we discuss the latest trends, useful tools, and effective strategies for the evolving mobile landscape. See full episode summary here. | |||
| 23 Feb 2024 | The Web2.5 Mullet: Mainstreaming web3 with AppsFlyer and Spindl | 00:34:56 | |
Explore the intersection of measurement and growth marketing for web2 and web3 gaming. Learn about the challenges of measuring on-chain and off-chain events. Opportunities and limitations on the supply side of web3 advertising are explored, with a focus on the lack of web3-native ad networks. Joining us are Adam Smart, Director of Product – Gaming at AppsFlyer, and Antonio Garcia-Martinez, the Founder of Spindl. We dive into the partnership between AppsFlyer and Spindl which provides a full suite of analytics and attribution solutions for web3. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the completeness of the user journey and the challenges of cross-platform integration. The conversation explores the growth and potential of web3 gaming, particularly in the PC and console space. It discusses the need for more quality games and the emergence of user acquisition on PC and console. Guests and hosts also share their predictions for the future of web3 gaming, highlighting the merging of two worlds and the potential for a killer web3 app. Additionally, they discuss the potential impact of web3 on mobile gaming and the need for innovation in the industry. TAKEAWAYS
CHAPTERS
MORE GAMES MARKETING INSIGHTS AT WWW.UPPTIC.COM. | |||
| 07 May 2021 | Branding & Event Marketing with Louis Tanguay | 00:46:41 | |
Our Guest this week is Louis Tanguay, Founder and Managing Director of App Growth Summit. App Growth Summit is a mobile app conference and content publisher for app growth professionals. | |||
| 23 Dec 2021 | 2021 Year in Review with Lauren Dignam from SensorTower | 01:21:30 | |
Before we dive into this week's podcast, don't forget to register for our upcoming webinar – "Web3 and the Future of Gaming" – taking place January 27! You can register for the webinar here. Our guest this week is Lauren Dignam, VP of Account Management at Sensor Tower. Sensor Tower equips mobile app publishers and marketers with the data and insights they need to master the mobile app ecosystem. They offer multiple different kinds of intelligence: app, store, ad, usage, and consumer – in addition to other services. (Full disclosure: Upptic is a Sensor Tower customer!) In this week's podcast we take a dive into the data and trends of 2021. And there is a LOT. We discuss what categories of apps have seen significant growth, what trends are likely here to stay at this point, the share of voice among marketing channels (and how iOS 14.5+ have impacted that share), some key creative trends from 2021, iOS 15 custom pages, ASO A/B testing, and the current state of ad monetization SDKs. You can view slides associated with this discussion in our blog post! Plus, we discuss Consumer Acquisition's, well, acquisition by Brainlabs and Rec Room raising $145M (shout out to last week's guest, Rec Room Head of BD Mike Schmid – if you haven't heard that podcast yet, you can catch it here). Guest: Lauren Dignam Industry Insights Brainlabs acquires Social Ad Creative Studio Consumer Acquisition App of the Week | |||
| 29 Jul 2022 | State of Games Marketing (UA Roundtable) | 00:56:04 | |
This week a couple of members from our UA team, Kevin and Ian, join us for a special roundtable focused on the state of games marketing. Starting off with some high-level conversion on the mobile ad industry and Web3 games marketing, we then dive into some of the most interesting tactics and channels they currently see. Conversation turns to client portfolios and channel buckets, before heading into ATT and how SKAN is working for them at the moment. Plus, we discuss the latest news on tech earnings and games spending (hint: it's not good) – as well as the latest from Netflix, Tesla, and Minecraft. Industry Insights App of the Week | |||
| 07 Jun 2024 | Marketing Trends Unleashed: Singular Q1 2024 report | 00:27:20 | |
Dive into the latest marketing trends for mobile apps and games. Games Growth with Upptic breaks down Singular’s quarterly report for Q1 2024 – shedding light on significant shifts and developments in the industry. Explore mobile phone penetration, ATT opt-in rates, CPI trends, ad network trends, ad spend by platform, and how high-value spenders discover games and react to ads. It’s a must-watch episode if you want to stay up-to-date on mobile marketing! Chapters
Get more games and marketing insights at www.upptic.com. | |||
| 01 Oct 2021 | Economics of UA Funding with Mark Loranger | 00:59:57 | |
Our guest this week is Mark Loranger, Co-Founder and CEO of Braavo Capital. Braavo Capital provides revenue-based financing options and analytics software to mobile app and game developers. This week we discuss the user acquisition funding ecosystem and different ways developers can approach funding their companies' growth. We talk about the pros and cons of different funding models, break down some risks to consider when fundraising, and provide ways to frame your analysis when deciding whether your company is ready to raise capital. Plus, Facebook finally acknowledges how some of the iOS ecosystem changes will impact their profits, modeled attribution is set to become the default for Google Ads, Facebook pauses work on Instagram Kids amid backlash, and Netflix acquires its first game studio. Guest: Mark Loranger Industry Insights Navigating Change and Improving Performance and Measurement App of the Week | |||
| 08 Apr 2022 | Business Evolution & Innovation with David Bluhm (Plunk) | 01:18:13 | |
Our guest this week is David Bluhm, Co-Founder & President at Plunk. Plunk helps homeowners increase their home value by providing analytics-driven project insights and access to verified contractors. In this week’s podcast we take a dive into innovation – including what it means to create a new business category and the challenges of being first in the space. We also dig into David's long history of entrepreneurship – particularly gaming – and his thoughts on Web3 and the gaming industry today. Plus, we discuss a ton of news – from Axie Infinity to E3 to the latest (and not-so-great) mobile trends. Guest: David Bluhm Industry Insights App of the Week | |||
| 19 Jul 2024 | Valve's insane profits, Xbox Game Pass price hike, Axie's growth playbook | 00:27:03 | |
In this episode: Shocking leaks reveal Valve's staggering revenue per employee, Axie's new Web3 growth playbook is dissected, and Xbox Game Pass changes spark a discussion on its value proposition and long-term viability. CHAPTERS 00:00 – Opening and summary 00:58 – Valve’s INSANE profits leaked 07:51 – Axie’s growth playbook REVEALED 21:30 – Xbox Game Pass costs HOW MUCH? 26:16 – Closing and sponsor plug Axie's growth playbook: https://x.com/Jihoz_Axie/status/1813340640433807795 Our podcast with Apeiron: https://upptic.com/web2-5-gaming-with-apeiron-frank-cheng-games-growth-with-upptic/ Get more games industry insights at www.upptic.com! | |||
| 03 Nov 2022 | Web3 Indie Game Development (EtherOrcs) | 01:07:05 | |
Our guests this week are poof and b33f of EtherOrcs. EtherOrcs is the world's first 100% on-chain NFT game. In EtherOrcs, Orcs and their allies go on raids, pillage villages, explore the unknown, and more. Through the course of the game, players can earn better gear and more NFTs through strategic gameplay built on the Ethereum blockchain. In this week’s podcast we dive into the world of web3 indie game development – including EtherOrcs unconventional path to market and what the creators would do differently if they had a second go at things. Poof and b33f chime in with their thoughts on the current web3 game economy and share their insights on different web3 game fundraising models. They also dive into why EtherOrcs has shunned mainstream gamers in favor of going after native web3 gamers. Plus, we discuss the latest news from Apple – including the release of SKAdNetwork 4.0, a change to App Store policy on social media post boosts, and a change in Apple's policy around NFTs. Additionally, we discuss Reddit's continuing submersion into NFTs and how it's impacting the overall marketplace. SOURCES & MORE: https://upptic.com/web3-indie-game-development-etherorcs-app-talk-with-upptic/ | |||
| 24 Nov 2023 | Are we in a crypto bull market? | 00:22:01 | |
Last month, we asked "Is the web3 gaming dream dead?" The answer to that question was a resounding "no, but..." This month seems to have proven our roundtable correct – as crypto markets surge, breathing new life into the web3 games space. We sit down with Upptic's Web3 Growth Lead Sherif (aka Chr0nicle) and web3 consultant Dan Casale. Sherif is also the founder of Nucleus and is Neo Tokyo's Community Lead. Dan is a serial entrepreneur with several startups focused on gaming, esports, and events under his belt. He has been knee-deep in the web3 space for over two years – with a focus on NFTs, go-t0-market strategies, creator social token management, and web3 creatives. Learn how the crypto markets have moved recently, its impact on web3 gaming, and what it means for game projects going forward. Along the way, get tactical insights from the work Upptic has been doing in the web3 gaming space! GET MORE FROM UPPTIC: https://upptic.com/are-we-in-a-crypto-bull-market-games-growth-with-upptic/ #web3 #gaming #crypto #finance #gamesindustry #investment | |||
| 27 Sep 2022 | Axie Infinity: From Web3 to Mass Adoption with Quinn Campbell (Sky Mavis) | 00:49:16 | |
Our guest this week is Quinn Campbell, VP of Growth at Sky Mavis. Sky Mavis is the creator of Axie Infinity – the world's most popular Web3 game by DAU. In addition to Axie Infinity, Sky Mavis also hosts a marketplace to buy and sell in-game assets, a wallet for digital items and currencies, and Mavis Hub, a launchpad for promising blockchain games. In this week’s podcast we talk to Quinn about Sky Mavis' approach to bringing Axie Infinity to the mainstream F2P audience. We drill down into the original drivers of growth for Axie Infinity, issues with the original game economy, how the game has evolved and what the next generation of Web3 games need to be prepared for, applying mainstream gaming playbooks to Axie Infinity, working with "necessary evils" such as mainstream app stores, the term "free-to-own", and persisting Web3 stigmas. We also discuss the White House's first ever framework for crypto and AppLovin's new blockchain project, Vessel. SOURCES & MORE: https://upptic.com/axie-infinitys-path-from-web3-to-mass-adoption-with-quinn-campbell-sky-mavis-app-talk-with-upptic/ JOIN OUR WEB3 WEBINAR: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1416618928232/WN_nq5y952aSiO0BMmTeKK9dQ | |||
| 13 Dec 2024 | FAILPROOF Your Game with a Soft Launch | 00:10:04 | |
In a landscape where only the best survive, success isn’t luck — it’s strategy. In this episode of Games Growth with Upptic, learn how to strategically execute a game soft launch so your gaming studio can thrive! CHAPTERS 00:00 - Opening 00:31 - Soft Launch Overview 02:41 - Tech Test 04:47 - Retention Test 07:32 - Monetization Test 09:37 - Closing #GameDev #GameMarketing #Gaming | |||
| 15 Nov 2024 | How Creative POWERS Today’s Games Growth | 00:38:02 | |
The games industry is dynamic, demanding a constant evolution of creative strategies to keep up with players' expectations. In this episode of Games Growth with Upptic, Upptic CGO Warren Woodward hosts a roundtable with Upptic's creative team to discuss the trends and insights shaping the creative side of games marketing today. Featuring Creative Director Ava Savitsky, Motion Graphics Designer Kade Witten, and Art Director Rachael Herb-Neterer, dive deep into what’s working, what’s fading, and how creative teams can keep pushing the boundaries. CHAPTERS 00:00 – Opening 01:10 – Creative Trends 10:22 – UGC Best Practices 14:37 – AI in Creative Production 19:57 – Importance of Cross-Team Collaboration 29:21 – Balancing Performance & Creativity 34:59 – Future Trends & Final Thoughts 37:03 – Closing #Creatives #Creative #Advertising #Marketing #Ads #UGC #ContentCreator | |||
| 02 Jul 2024 | Web stores for gaming – with Appcharge | 00:28:18 | |
Discover why over 65% of top-grossing games now boast a web store, how the digital landscape has shifted since the launch of the iPhone in 2007, and how web store economics could reshape game monetization. Alongside Appcharge CMO Gil Tov-Ly, we dive into the different user journeys between app stores and web stores, uncover where web stores fit in the gaming ecosystem, and reveal the hidden revenue you're missing out on if you don't have a web store yourself yet. CHAPTERS
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| 03 Mar 2022 | Animoca Brands & Web3 with Robby Yung | 00:57:58 | |
Our guest this week is Robby Yung, CEO at Animoca Brands. Animoca Brands is a leader in digital entertainment, blockchain, and gamification – and has one of the most diverse Web3 focused portfolios around, with more than 150 investments in NFT-related companies and decentralized projects aiming to build the open metaverse. In this week’s podcast we take a dive into Animoca Brands' approach to Web 3 – diving into their philosophy on Web3 gaming, investments on Web3 infrastructure, and predictions around when Web3 will reach mainstream adoption and how it will intertwine with traditional gaming economies. Plus, we discuss how tech companies are responding to the situation in Ukraine – from Google dropping RT from its news features to Twitter reducing the visibility of tweets from Russian state media – and the report that 50% of Valve's Bitcoin payments were fraudulent. Guest: Robby Yung Industry Insights App of the Week | |||
| 09 Aug 2024 | Can Godot dethrone Unity, X screws advertisers, RIP GameInformer | 00:19:15 | |
🎮 From Marvel Snap's bold bet on Godot to X's controversial lawsuit against advertisers, we've got all the key insights you need to stay ahead in games and marketing. Plus, RIP GameInformer – end of an era for gaming mags! Don't miss out, watch now! ✨ CHAPTERS 00:00 – Opening segment 01:11 – Can Godot DETHRONE Unity? 08:11 – X, Elon SCREW Advertisers 15:03 – Farewell, GameInformer 🪦 18:30 – Closing segment Get more gaming insights at www.upptic.com! | |||
| 17 Feb 2022 | App Store Optimization with Maggie Ngai | 00:56:43 | |
Our guest this week is Maggie Ngai, ASO Lead at Phiture. Phiture equips product and marketing teams with the skills and knowledge they need to grow apps – as well as providing growth management services. In this week’s podcast we take a dive into App Store Optimization (ASO) – from the basics of what ASO is to the details on ASO components, processes, and strategies. We also talk about Apple's A/B testing tool and learn more about Phiture's ethos. Plus, we discuss some metaverse news from Disney and JPMorgan – and Snapchat's new initiative allowing creators to make money by putting ads in their stories. Guest: Maggie Ngai Industry Insights App of the Week | |||
| 30 Jan 2024 | How the best spend their digital marketing dollars (with Gamesight) | 00:44:35 | |
Delve deep into the evolving landscape of the PC and console gaming industry – and learn how to best spend your digital marketing dollars – with our guests from Gamesight: CEO Adam Lieb and Solutions & Support Team Lead Christian Thomas. Gamesight is a Seattle-based venture-backed startup that has been instrumental in helping game developers understand and grow their fanbase through community, marketing, and analytics integration and insights. The episode starts with a comprehensive overview of the current state of the PC and console games industry, highlighting its dynamics, challenges, and opportunities. The core of the conversation revolves around Gamesight’s “2023 Games Industry Digital Marketing Spend Analysis” report. Our guests dissect the findings – including things like the pros and cons of premium and freemium pay models. They elaborate on how budgets for PC and console games have fluctuated over the past year, the factors influencing these changes, and the effectiveness of various marketing channels. The conversation takes an intriguing turn as they compare influencer campaigns to traditional marketing approaches, offering game marketers valuable insights into different strategies. Wrapping up, Adam and Christian forecast the key trends for PC and console gaming in 2024. They discuss the anticipated developments and how they might impact players and developers alike. If you’re a PC or console game developer or marketer, this episode is an invaluable resource – so listen now! Get more from Upptic at upptic.com. | |||
| 22 Nov 2024 | Taking Web3 Games MAINSTREAM (ft. Adjust, Immutable, Eyeball Games) | 00:45:34 | |
The gaming industry is undergoing a transformative shift as Web3 technologies begin to integrate with traditional gaming experiences. In this episode of Games Growth with Upptic, we are republishing a recent webinar Upptic did in partnership with Adjust – which brought together leading voices in the field, including Adjust Partnerships Manager Ben Bowen, Eyeball Games' Marketing Head Francois Daoud, Immutable Marketing Lead Stefano Cantù, and Upptic's own CGO, Warren Woodward. Together with these experts, explore how Web3 gaming is evolving, its challenges, and its potential. Many thanks to Adjust for allowing us to republish this webinar! CHAPTERS 00:00 – Opening 01:45 – Guest introductions 06:51 – Why care about Web3? 11:43 – UA at the intersection of mobile and Web3 20:01 – Marketing in Web3-native ecosystems 26:05 – Measurement in hybrid ecosystems 32:52 – How do you fight fraud in Web3 gaming? 37:23 – Advice for Web3 devs and Web3-curious 45:12 – Closing #Web3 #Gaming #Marketing #Attribution #UserAcquisition | |||
| 22 Sep 2021 | Regulation and Ethics of Competitive App Intelligence with Jonathan Kay | 00:54:16 | |
Our Guest this week is Jonathan Kay, Co-Founder, and CEO of Apptopia. Apptopia is a real-time competitive intelligence tool that provides actionable insights into mobile industry data. This week we discuss the ethics of competitive app intelligence in the context of the recent SEC enforcement actions against App Annie. We dive deep into the allegations, discuss the tactics App Annie allegedly used to manipulate their data modeling, and talk about what it takes to build predictive models in a way that respects the privacy of individual companies. We also discuss the tension of regulation against innovation, and how it can be an important lever to level the playing field. Plus, a U.S judge orders Apple to ease their App Store rules, and Stillfront acquires Jawaker for $205 million dollars. Guest: Jonathan Kay Industry Insights App Annie and co-founder charged with securities fraud, will pay $10M+ settlement - TechCrunch App of the Week | |||
| 14 Jul 2022 | Game Development Past & Present with Ismail Maiyegun (Big Wolf) | 01:00:13 | |
Our guest this week is Ismail Maiyegun, Co-Founder and CEO at Big Wolf Games. Big Wolf Games is a game developer, publisher, and live operator. Their leadership team has over 40 years of combined experience in making AAA titles and operating free-to-play games. Big Wolf Games also works extensively with intellectual property (IP). In this week’s podcast we take a dive into game development throughout the years. Ismail details his history in games and how the industry has changed over time – including the recent impact of remote work. He also shares his insights on the advantages and disadvantages of working with IP holders – and the power of IP in games. Web3 also takes the stage as he discusses the future of the industry. Plus, we discuss the breaking news around Unity's merger with ironSource – along with news on GameStop's NFT marketplace launch and the Nothing Phone. Guest: Ismail Maiyegun Industry Insights App of the Week | |||
| 16 Dec 2021 | Platforms and the Evolution of the Metaverse with Mike Schmid | 00:53:21 | |
Our guest this week is Mike Schmid, Head of BD at Rec Room and former head of Games BD at Apple. Rec Room is a platform for building and playing games together. In Rec Room you can explore player-created rooms, or share something of your own, across devices ranging from phones to VR headsets. In this week's podcast we take a dive into what makes Rec Room so innovative – including the power of voice and the convergence of different maturing technologies. We also talk about the metaverse, marketplaces, the viability of blockchain in different applications, the increasing trend of remote work, and what makes a 50% pay cut worth it. Plus, we discuss the news that Google Play titles are coming to Windows devices. We talk about Apple's silence on controversial ad-measurement techniques being used by some businesses. And we dig into some of the controversies surrounding Roblox. Guest: Mike Schmid Industry Insights Google Play Games app coming to Windows in 2022 App of the Week | |||
| 29 Sep 2022 | Web3 Marketing Measurement with Antonio Garcia-Martinez (Spindl) | 00:54:07 | |
Our guest this week is Antonio Garcia-Martinez, New York Times bestselling author of Chaos Monkeys and Founder of Spindl. Spindl is creating attribution solutions for the Web3 space. They offer easy integration, Web2 and Web3 funnels, and meaningful analytics on ROI, CAC, retention, and more in an actual dashboard. In this week’s podcast we talk to Antonio about the obstacles in measuring marketing performance in Web3 and how developing Web3 attribution will impact marketers and consumers. We also take a step back to discuss the differences between Web2 and Web3 – not just technologically, but from an ethical and human perspective – and the implications of striving for a Web3 digital marketing system that's similar to what we know in Web2. We also discuss the latest news about Robinhood, podcast ad fraud, and Walmart's metaverse – as well as the "not-news" regarding Apple's supposedly changed policy on NFTs (hint: nothing has changed). SOURCES & MORE: https://upptic.com/web3-marketing-measurement-with-antonio-garcia-martinez-spindl-app-talk-with-upptic REGISTER FOR OUR WEB3 WEBINAR: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1416618928232/WN_nq5y952aSiO0BMmTeKK9dQ | |||
| 18 Oct 2024 | Off the Grid: Web3 Goes Mainstream! | 00:35:44 | |
In this emergency edition of Games Growth with Upptic, we dive into the explosive success of Off the Grid – a new third-person shooter from Gunzilla Games that’s shaking up gaming. Is this finally Web3 gaming’s breakout moment? We break down its growth strategy, game economy, and more to find out! CHAPTERS 00:00 – Opening segment 00:44 – What is Off The Grid? 03:03 – Why is Off The Grid successful? 08:52 – Off the Grid’s growth strategy 16:54 – Off the Grid’s game economy 25:38 – What does this mean for web3? 34:31 – Closing segment Get more web3 gaming insights at upptic.com! #Web3 #Gaming #OffTheGrid #GameDev #Marketing #Crypto #Blockchain | |||
| 24 Nov 2022 | Big Gaming Earnings | 00:46:01 | |
Warren and Xander discuss the latest earning reports for several major games industry companies. It's, thankfully, not as painful as their Big Tech earnings analysis a couple weeks ago. One thing that shines through all the data is that mobile games are still the king of gaming revenue. We also ruminate on the ongoing saga with FTX. The ripple effects FTX's collapse continue to reverberate through the web3 space – with Star Atlas and web3 game developers seeing impacts. Finally, we close with a good ol' fashioned "App of the Week" segment. SOURCES & MORE: https://upptic.com/big-gaming-earnings-app-talk-with-upptic/ | |||
| 20 Aug 2021 | UA Across Gaming Genres with Margarita Vasilevskaya | 01:05:10 | |
Our Guest this week is Margartia Vasilevskaya, a mobile gaming user acquisition expert. Margarita's background in games marketing is vast, spanning from social casino to hard and midcore strategy games. This week we discuss universal truths of UA buying across game genres. We talk about the importance of platform and creative diversity, and that fitting algorithms to player segments can be as important as fitting creative. We dive deep into how an app’s monetization model can inform your user acquisition strategy and geo-mix. Plus, MOLOCO raises $150M Series C, Embracer Group acquires 3 developers, and Mountaintop raises $30M Series A. Guest: Margarita Vasilevskaya References MOLOCO raises $150M Series C led by Tiger Global at a $1.5B valuation Embracer Groups gets more than 200 game devs as it ads 3 more acquisitions Mountaintop raises $30M Series A App Of The Week | |||
| 12 Jul 2024 | YouTube's new ATT prompt UNLOCKS iOS UA | 00:04:00 | |
BIG NEWS FOR GAME MARKETERS! YouTube is rolling out Apple's ATT prompt! Get all the details, plus insights on how this move can boost your ad strategies and ROI! CHAPTERS
Get more game marketing insights at www.upptic.com! #GameMarketing #YouTube #Advertising #Marketing #Gaming #ATT #Apple #iOS | |||
| 18 Jun 2024 | Apple Ads: Goodbye SKAN, hello AAK! | 00:11:26 | |
AdAttributionKit brings new features and functionality to ad attribution – and is set to replace SKAN in coming years. Here's what marketers should know. Chapters
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| 08 Dec 2023 | GTA & AI break the internet… Again! | 00:37:10 | |
The world has been inundated with AI news recently. We highlight some of the latest news – from places like Pika, Gemini, and Oolo – and dissect what’s real and what’s hot air. Joining the podcast is Upptic Creative Lead Josh Chakka – who has a strong background in games and marketing, previously working for companies like Electronic Arts and Machine Zone. Josh shares his insights on what AI tools are actually worth a damn in the current marketing landscape, what’s come up lacking, and what keeps him excited about AI in general. Additionally, get some business analysis on Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) and its game developer, Rockstar Games. See more at https://upptic.com/gta-ai-break-the-internet-again-games-growth-update-with-upptic/ | |||
| 15 Oct 2021 | Consolidation, New Products and Intrigue in Mobile Advertising | 00:28:26 | |
No guest this week, but news was comin in so hot we did an episode anyway! ironSource acquires TapJoy cementing themselves as a leader in offerwall traffic, InMobi buys Appsummer, AppLovin’s Max Ads SDK (allegedly) overrides developers iOS 15 endpoints syphoning data for themselves, and Unity unveils it’s ad mediation platform! Industry Insights | |||
| 09 Oct 2021 | iOS 15 Endless Evolution of App Marketing with Gadi Eliashiv, Yevgeny Peres, & Aykut Karaalioglu | 01:18:25 | |
This week we have a special episode where we partnered with multiple industry expert panelists to discuss the iOS 15 update from all different perspectives in an extremely informative webinar. We dig into the features and restrictions that are coming online and we touch on various topics including the data we are starting to see on the iOS 15 update, the implication of raw postbacks for the SKAdNetwork coming available, and key takeaways on how to adapt in the new iOS 15 ecosystems.
Plus, MoPub announces it is being acquired by AppLovin, outage shakes Facebook, and some key points from Facebook whistleblower’s testimonies on Capitol Hill.
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| 20 Jan 2022 | Performance Marketing for Web3 Games with Anya Shapina | 00:59:08 | |
Before we dive into this week’s podcast, don’t forget to register for our upcoming webinar – “Web3 and the Future of Gaming” – taking place January 27! You can register for the webinar here. Our guest this week is Anya Shapina, Head of Performance at The Sandbox. The Sandbox is a virtual metaverse where players build, own, and monetize their virtual experiences. They empower artists, creators, and players to unleash their creativity and build the platform they've always wanted. In this week’s podcast we take a dive into performance marketing for blockchain and play-to-earn. Discussion includes KPIs and differences between traditional mobile and blockchain game marketers (and what the former can learn from the latter). We also talk about what the "metaverse" is to The Sandbox and the potential future of the Web3 gaming industry. Plus, we discuss the huge news that Microsoft plans to acquire Activision Blizzard – as well as touch on Animoca Brands' recent valuation and Apple's clarification on alternative payments. Guest: Anya Shapina Industry Insights | |||
| 01 Jun 2023 | Web3 Growth Tactics (Big Time Studios) | 00:45:28 | |
Michael Migliero, CMO of Big Time Studios, joins the podcast to share his insights on growing web3 games. Big Time Studios is the company behind Big Time – “a free-to-play, multiplayer action RPG game that combines fast-action combat and adventure through time and space.” Learn about content funnels for Meta, TikTok, and other platforms and how Big Time utilizes NFT mints in conjunction with other revenue sources to monetize users more sustainably. Also hear some surprising stats on game adoption by web3 native gamers vs. traditional gamers – and how Big Time is approaching marketing a web3 game in a post-crypto crash world. Finally, get insights on ad strategies, analytics, and game economies – as well as some predictions on what will come down the line! LINKS AND MORE: https://upptic.com/web3-growth-tactics-big-time-studios-games-growth-with-upptic/ | |||
| 21 May 2021 | Product Spotlight: Upptic Automated App Store Optimization | 00:28:24 | |
In this special bonus episode we discuss the Upptic ASO platform, why app store optimization is important, why we felt building an automated ASO tool was a product worth pursuing and give some hints about the future of the Upptic platform.
Learn more and get in touch at upptic.com!
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| 13 Sep 2024 | Growth Marketing & The Game Lifecycle (ft. Sanlo) | 00:43:38 | |
Upptic CGO Warren Woodward and Sanlo CEO Olya Caliujnaia dish on the hottest industry topics! Dive into: 💡growth marketing trends 💡soft launch strategies 💡cross-platform gaming, and 💡how AI is shaping the future of UA! CHAPTERS 00:00 – Opening segment 00:48 – Story Mode introduction 01:58 – About Warren and Upptic 12:26 – Game launch strategies 21:56 – Marketing strategies at scale 28:01 – Cross-platform gaming trend 32:27 – Lessons from different platforms 36:58 – The role of AI and future trends 38:48 – Talent in growth marketing 41:58 – Closing thoughts Watch our webinar on-demand here! #GamesIndustry #Gaming #Advertising #Marketing #GrowthHacks | |||
| 30 Aug 2024 | Telegram founder arrested, Perplexity takes on Google, advertising shrinks | 00:27:07 | |
Telegram founder Pavel Durov's arrest has potentially big implications for game marketing, Perplexity AI positions itself to take on Google (can it live up to its promises?), and Mintegral's latest report has some bad news for game advertisers – and key trends to take advantage of. Get more gaming insights at www.upptic.com! #Telegram #PavelDurov #Perplexity #AI #Gaming #Marketing | |||
| 16 Jun 2022 | Community Building with Thomas Hopkins (Perfect Storm) | 01:13:25 | |
Our guest this week is Thomas Hopkins, COO at Perfect Storm Studios. Perfect Storm Studios is a games studio founded by industry veterans working to build the next generation of games. They're currently working on a title that will incorporate great design, community involvement, and player rewards. In this week’s podcast we take a dive into community building. Thomas Hopkins is well-versed in community building with past ventures at Masterclass, Superpeer, and beyond. Learn more about the key components and best practices for building and managing a community as a business growth lever. Plus, we discuss the latest news on SKAN, cloud gaming, market conditions, and Upptic partner Axie Infinity. Guest: Thomas Hopkins Industry Insights App of the Week | |||
| 09 Apr 2021 | Building Better Growth Teams with Conrad McGee-Stocks | 00:51:24 | |
This week we discuss games and growth teams with Conrad McGee-Stocks, Director of Growth at Uken Games. We dive into how increasingly important analytics is to user acquisition, the nuances of developing and marketing for a narrative casual games and how to structure your growth team. Also, ATT enforcement by Apple is only a “few weeks away” and AppLovin IPOs targets a $30 billion valuation. Learn more about how to grow your mobile app at upptic.com Guest: References: Tim Cook’s Sway Interview with the NY Times AppLovin to offer 25 million shares in its IPO valuing the company at $30 billion Supercell is making three new Clash of Clans games to further expand its fantasy universe | |||
| 11 Sep 2024 | Web3 games that are doing it RIGHT! (ICYMI) | 00:07:34 | |
Game marketing experts break down the web3 games (and blockchain) that are rewriting the playbook for web3 gaming and seeing impressive results. Get to know the Ronin Network, Fable Borne, King of Destiny, Off The Grid, Pirate Nation, and Parallel! #Web3 #Gaming #Marketing #GameDev | |||
| 22 Dec 2023 | 2023 Games Growth Awards – Games Growth with Upptic | 00:39:57 | |
Hosts Warren Woodward and Xander Agosta, alongside special guest Mike Schmid, VP of Growth at Backbone, delve into the 2023 Upptic Games Growth Awards. This episode breaks down the highlights from multiple award categories, starting with the "Narrative of the Year." Here, the trio explores the creative potential of AI in game-building, economic uncertainty, and the shift toward sustainability in gaming experiences – emphasizing the importance of customer experience and retention. Moving on to the "Mobile Game of the Year" category, Mike shares his thoughts on games like GTA Vice City (Netflix Edition) and Monopoly Go – with Xander touching on the latter game's slot mechanics. Xander also joins Warren in declaring a certain Blizzard title as "Mobile Game of the Year" as well. The discussion heats up as everyone shares their picks for "Marketing Trend of the Year" – exploring generative AI, creator content, and the revival of old IPs, while shedding light on how these are shaping the games and marketing industries. For "Underdog of the Year" we take a dive into Epic Games' journey through both the games industry and legal battles, before deciding which game wins "Overall Game of the Year" – spoiler alert, one of them is an unexpected fishing game. Click "play" now for a deep dive into the innovative trends and standout games that shaped 2023's games and marketing spaces. MORE FROM UPPTIC: https://upptic.com/2023-upptic-games-growth-awards-games-growth-with-upptic/ | |||
| 15 Dec 2023 | Epic vs. Google, ESRB vs. web3, bad news at E3 & Hasbro | 00:23:45 | |
Google and Epic have their day in court – and it goes differently then some might have expected. With two different rulings regarding Apple and Google's practices, what does it mean for the industry? In web3 news, the ESRB slaps an Adults Only rating – usually reserved for sexually explicit content or ultraviolence – onto web3 game "Gods Unchained" for its potential to... generate real-world value for players? What does this precedence mean now for the web3 space – and for the ESRB? In games industry news, E3 has its final bow – and there are many nostalgic feelings and reactions to be had. Meanwhile, Hasbro generates some... less friendly feelings with the news of its latest round of layoffs – and may have a bit of a leadership problem. Certainly, some of its decisions are worth questioning. Listen now to get the full scoop. Talk soon! Get more from Upptic here: https://upptic.com/epic-vs-google-esrb-vs-web3-bad-news-at-e3-hasbro-games-growth-update-with-upptic/ | |||
| 10 Nov 2023 | How has UA evolved in 2023? | 00:34:44 | |
Earlier this year, we asked, is UA dead? The answer then was a definitive "no." However, with 2023 largely in the rearview mirror, it's a good time to look and see how user acquisition has evolved over the course of the year – and where things might be heading next. Magda Zaręba and Rob Garfinkle join us in the studio to give their insights on gaming UA. Magda has spent nearly a decade in the marketing industry and is one of our own UA Managers here at Upptic – helping clients grow their apps. Rob is a mobile growth expert with a decade of experience in user acquisition. Together, they share their insights on the ads landscape, social media, privacy-focused attribution solutions, non-mobile marketing tactics, creative trends, and future predictions. If you're in games marketing, be sure to take a listen! SEE MORE FROM UPPTIC HERE: https://upptic.com/how-has-ua-evolved-in-2023-games-growth-with-upptic | |||
| 19 Jun 2023 | New Frontiers in Marketing Attribution (AppsFlyer, Gamesight, Spindl) | 01:06:23 | |
Game marketing attribution is evolving. Not only does the established mobile segment continue to evolve due to privacy changes and new technologies, but PC and console gaming is having an attribution renaissance, and the nascent web3 segment continues to evolve toward attribution infrastructure and mindsets. We explore these new frontiers with AppsFlyer Director of Product for Gaming Adam Smart, Gamesight CEO Adam Lieb, and Spindl Founder Antonio Garcia-Martinez. They share their insights on their respective segments of the games industry – AppsFlyer on mobile, Gamesight on PC and console, and Spindl on web3. Together we take a look at the evolution of data ecosystems, the current state of these segments and their similarities and differences, and the unique challenges each segment faces when it comes to game marketing attribution and analytics. | |||
| 19 Apr 2024 | Gaming in India: What drives games growth (with BharatGG) | 00:39:16 | |
Explore the importance and unique aspects of India as a gaming market. Joining us is Shloak "Spidey" Pacheriwala – the Founder of BharatGG, an Indian games guild. Spidey challenges misconceptions about the market and discusses the opportunities in India. Learn about the demographics of Indian gamers, monetization differences between iOS and Android, the lack of local Indian game developers, the challenges of web3 gaming in India, and the role of gaming guilds in bridging the gap. Plus, get insights on Indian trends and what the next several years are likely to have in store for the Indian market. Takeaways
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| 21 Aug 2024 | ICYMI: Deadlock – Valve's WORST kept secret | 00:07:22 | |
A new MOBA-shooter hybrid game is taking Steam by storm – and it seems to have Valve's fingerprints all over it. Learn all there is to know about Deadlock! | |||
| 04 May 2023 | Growth Stacks for Game Marketers (Phiture) | 00:45:51 | |
Phiture Partner and Co-Founder Andy Carvell wrote the book on mobile growth stacks. Literally. In this episode, Andy gives us the history of how the Mobile Growth Stack came about and walks us through its components piece by piece. We take a walk through data and analytics – which Andy notes may never have been as transparent or accurate as people wanted to believe, even before new issues complicated matters. Andy also shares his insights on engagement, retention, and monetization. Xander and Warren also take some time to compare and contrast Phiture's approach to user acquisition, creative, and ASO with Upptic's approach (wherein Andy amusingly points out how brands' protectiveness over their app store icons can be detrimental to ASO efforts). At the end of the day, both companies produce great results, even while using sometimes differing methodologies and philosophies to drive success. | |||
| 25 Aug 2022 | Building Great Teams & Cultures with Derrick Morton (FlowPlay) | 00:55:05 | |
Our guest this week is Derrick Morton, CEO of FlowPlay. FlowPlay creates community-focused digital worlds – including Casino World, Vegas World, Live Game Night, and ourWorld, that can be enjoyed by anyone of any age anywhere in the world. They were also rated one of Washington's best workplaces in 2021 by the Puget Sound Business Journal. In this week’s podcast we take a dive into how to build great teams and work cultures. Derrick details what sets FlowPlay apart that makes it such a great place to work, how to grow a team effectively, ways to deal with conflict, and what aspiring team leaders should do. Plus, we discuss Embracer Group's acquisition of Lord of the Rings game, movie, and book rights, Animoca's continuing crypto strategy, and FTX's revenue report. SOURCES & MORE: https://upptic.com/building-great-teams-cultures-with-derrick-morton-flowplay-app-talk-with-upptic/ | |||
| 25 Oct 2024 | Mobile performance marketing tactics REVEALED (ft. GameMakers) | 00:57:51 | |
Looking for key, actionable takeaways on data modeling and optimization, the latest user acquisition channels and tactics, how to build a growth team, shifting marketing towards efficiency, and what UA trends to watch out for in 2025? Then watch this NOW! Many thanks to Joseph Kim of the GameMakers podcast for having Upptic CGO Warren Woodward on the show and allowing us to republish this episode on our own channels! CHAPTERS 00:00 – Opening segment 00:42 – Episode summary 02:18 – State of performance marketing 12:49 – Impact of IDFA deprecation 14:35 – The future of fingerprinting 17:20 – Data modeling & optimization 25:21 – Channels & tactics for 2025 31:50 – How to build a growth team 40:50 – How to align different teams 45:37 – Blockbuster scaling & organic uplift 52:36 – What to watch out for in 2025 57:14 – Closing segment #UserAcquisition #MobileGaming #Marketing | |||
| 17 Nov 2022 | Digital Asset Ownership with Vessel by AppLovin | 00:54:15 | |
Our guest this week is Rafael Vivas – one of the original members of AppLovin and now heading up its new app Vessel as the GM of New Initiatives. AppLovin is a mobile app growth service provider with a suite of software solutions for monetization, user acquisition, ad campaigns, and creatives. Vessel is AppLovin's monetization marketplace for digital items on mobile games and apps, which is currently available in both Apple's App Store and Android's Google Play. In this week's podcast we dive deep into crypto, NFTs, and web3 gaming – starting with why AppLovin has created a digital marketplace in the first place and why it views NFTs as an evolution of digital item ownership. We also discuss how NFTs have been misrepresented and misused so far in crypto and web3 – and what the best use cases are for them. Of course, the goings-on with FTX are also discussed – how by focusing on digital items, rather than crypto, Vessel can focus on cost-effectiveness and ease of use, instead of market movements. Finally, we close with questions on where market opportunities lie and what developers looking to get into web3 should know about the technology and space. If you're involved with web3 or digital monetization, it's an episode you don't want to miss! | |||
| 22 Mar 2024 | Psych data for gaming optimization (with GameTree) | 00:33:38 | |
Everyone knows that data is king when it comes to gaming and marketing. But what are the best ways to get, analyze, and utilize this data? John Uke, Founder of GameTree, explains how the company captures user data to find highly compatible matches for gamers, and how this data can be leveraged for user acquisition, retention, and personalization. TAKEAWAYS
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| 10 Nov 2022 | Big Tech Earnings | 00:46:29 | |
In this week's podcast, Warren and Xander discuss the latest Big Tech earning reports for Q3 and Q4 2022. It's a painful podcast – but an important one. We start off with some surprising news from the crypto space: Binance's imminent acquisition of FTX – the news of which has led the crypto space to basically melt down... again. We then cover the one relatively bright spot in the industry right now: The completion of the Unity-ironSource merger. Lots of new opportunities await for both for the merged company and its many clients. After that, we shift focus to the meat of the podcast – the Big Tech earnings. Facebook revenue is down, Alphabet sees little growth, Snap sees a huge increase in its quarterly losses, and Apple is seeing relatively flat quarterly income. On top of this are additional news of hiring freezes or layoffs from Facebook, Alphabet, Apple, Amazon, and Twitter. It's definitely a rough time to be in tech, mobile games, or marketing. But there is still hope that as companies take a more deliberate analysis-driven approach to decision-making and profitability, that fortunes will change for the industry at large – including those who are facing layoffs and have recently been laid off. If you're looking for work, please check out our job listings to see if we can help. SOURCES & MORE: https://upptic.com/big-tech-earnings-app-talk-with-upptic/ | |||
| 28 Mar 2022 | GDC – Corey Wright (Honeyland) / Lorenzo Wang (Loric Foods) | 00:22:58 | |
We're doing something a little different for the next couple of weeks... Instead of our usual weekly podcast, we're conducting quick interviews with movers and shakers during GDC – all from the comfort of the Stardust Lounge! We'll be posting interviews in batches of two daily – Monday-Friday – until we've posted them all. Be sure to check back here daily for the latest batch of interviews. Major thanks to Stardust for hosting us and giving us the opportunity to do this! Interview 1 Guest (starts at 0:37): Corey Wright from Honeyland | |||
| 19 Dec 2022 | 2022 State of Games Growth: Gaming's New Era | 00:12:00 | |
As we close out season 4 of App Talk with Upptic, we ask ourselves: Are we entering a new era of gaming? To help answer this question, we look back at the ups and downs of the last several years and chart out a potential path forward for 2023 and beyond. Upptic CGO Warren Woodward guides us as we, first, look at why 2022 has been such a transformative year, pointing to privacy changes, worsening macroeconomic conditions, gaming's first revenue contraction, and the growth of web3 technology and products. We then identify what defined the previous eras of Premium and Free-To-Play gaming. With this in mind, we look back at the last several years of revenue and investment in web3, mobile, PC, and console – and how these trends might tell us what is on the horizon. We also dive deep into the transformative factors of 2022. With all the evidence laid out, we make the case that the industry is entering a new era of gaming – one that will include web3 technology, smaller developers, crowdfunding, and the use of multiple devices with cross-platform play. We end with some tips to help game developers and marketers big and small adapt to what's coming in the years ahead. We look forward to working alongside you all as we build this new era of gaming together. See you all in 2023! FULL VIDEO WITH SLIDE DECK: https://upptic.com/2022-state-of-games-growth-app-talk-with-upptic/ | |||
| 20 Sep 2024 | Unity kills runtime fee, layoffs persist, Fed rate cut gaming impact | 00:32:34 | |
Amid ongoing games industry layoffs, Unity just killed their runtime fee and the Federal Reserve has cut interest rates. What does this mean for game developers and game marketers? Stay ahead with our latest insights on the gaming industry's biggest changes! CHAPTERS 00:00 – Opening segment 01:24 – Unity KILLS runtime fee 09:45 – Layoffs SPOOK games industry 20:53 – Will rate cuts PUMP UP gaming? 31:35 – Closing segment Watch our webinar on-demand here! #Gaming #GameIndustry #Unity #RateCut #FedReserve | |||
| 21 Jul 2023 | The Evolution of Ad Monetization in Games (Felix Braberg) | 00:30:46 | |
Whether it's Google's move away from placements, new CMP requirements, or changes in ad quality, ad monetization continues to evolve. We sit down with mobile ad monetization expert and 2.5 Gamers podcast host Felix Braberg to learn the history of ad monetization, current growth hacks, and what's coming down the line. Get insights on the "beauty of ads," differences between waterfall and header bidding, the rise of rewarded video, SKAN's impact on ad monetization, how quickly growth hacks come and go, and much more! | |||
| 02 Feb 2024 | Microsoft gains, Apple changes, D&D rumors, layoffs impact games industry | 00:20:55 | |
Palworld continues to soar and Microsoft sees a big revenue boost – partly due to the impact of the Activision Blizzard acquisition, but the games industry continues to see layoffs. Meanwhile, the Apple vs. Epic saga adds a new twist over Apple’s new app store policy. Plus, there are rumors of Hasbro selling the Dungeons and Dragons brand to Tencent. Learn what all of this means for game developers and marketers in our Games Growth podcast. Takeaways
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| 14 Sep 2023 | VC Funding & Its Impact on Gaming's Present & Future (a16z Games, Storygrounds) | 00:44:15 | |
VC investments have long been a key funding resource for fledgling startups – including indie game studios and companies promising innovative solutions for the games industry. How much of an impact has VC funding had on the games industry, though? Are VC investors directing the trajectory of the space with their money – either directly or indirectly? We sit down with a16z Games Partner Josh Lu and Storygrounds Co-Founder and CEO Andrew Green to discuss VC funding's impact on gaming. a16z Games is part of the Andreessen Horowitz venture capital firm – focused specifically on games. Josh, who has been in the games industry for more than a decade at places like Blizzard Entertainment and Zynga, is a program lead for the firm's SPEEDRUN accelerator program. Storygrounds is a platform that lets you build webcomics together. Andrew not only heads up the work at Storygrounds as its Co-Founder and CEO, but is also an angel investor and advisor with a rich history in the games industry. Together, with these two games funding experts, dive into the current state of the industry, developments such as the crypto crash and Apple's VR headset, technological advancements, investor-founder relationships, and the future of the gaming industry as well as how VC funding will impact it.' Learn more and follow our guests online here: https://upptic.com/vc-funding-its-impact-on-gamings-present-future-a16z-games-storygrounds-games-growth-with-upptic/ | |||
| 05 Oct 2023 | Is the web3 gaming dream dead? | 00:43:35 | |
In 2022, investment surged in web3 gaming – taking nearly half of all gaming investment in terms of dollars and raw numbers. However, for all of that investment, there was a lot of speculation, but not a lot of games. With the crypto crash, web3 gaming has gone through a downturn – with layoffs, panic, and uncertainty surrounding the sector. In this podcast roundtable, Upptic's Ian Brent and Sherif join hosts Xander Agosta and Warren Woodward in discussing what went wrong with web3 gaming, but also what went right, and where things are heading now. Learn about emerging web3 native marketing tactics that are effective, go-to-market strategies of newer web3 games vs. older ones, and how web3 game developers must pivot between web3 native audiences to mainstream gaming audiences as they scale. With the removal of so many bad actors and speculation, there may be hope for web3 games yet. | |||
| 21 Sep 2023 | Cracking Games Growth: Revealing the Upptic Playbook | 00:51:28 | |
The games industry is in a transitory state and many factors are making it difficult for effective games growth. Data is fragmented and attribution methodology is incomplete. Creative workflows can be messy and digital assets are often all over the place. These issues make it hard to understand what is and isn't working. Amid this volatile climate, Upptic has been growing its games portfolio to its most profitable ever. In this recorded webinar, learn how our team tackles data, creatives, and user acquisition for each stage of growth: Development, soft launch, and scaled growth. Get insights on overarching strategy, data analysis, creative trends, UA best practices, and much more. And if you need help scaling your game, be sure to reach out to us! | |||
| 30 Mar 2022 | GDC – Tobias Batton (Ex Populus) / Hustlepedia (Crypto Banter) | 00:21:05 | |
We're doing something a little different for the next couple of weeks... Instead of our usual weekly podcast, we're conducting quick interviews with movers and shakers during GDC – all from the comfort of the Stardust Lounge! We'll be posting interviews in batches of two daily – Monday-Friday – until we've posted them all. Be sure to check back here daily for the latest batch of interviews. Major thanks to Stardust for hosting us and giving us the opportunity to do this! | |||
| 10 Mar 2022 | Cross Promotion with Cameron Thom | 00:57:31 | |
Our guest this week is Cameron Thom, Cross-Promotion Lead at Adikteev. Adikteev runs the world's smartest cross-promotion stack and helps app publishers increase retention, reacquire churned users, and drive incremental revenue. In this week’s podcast we take a dive into cross-promotion – including the components of effective cross-promotion campaigns. We also talk about how the privacy landscape has changed, GAID, Web3, and consolidation in the games industry. And we get to know more about Adikteev! Plus, we discuss the latest crypto news – from Coinbase blocking access 25,000 Russian wallets to the Biden Administration's new approach toward digital assets. We also talk about the latest strategic moves from streaming platforms Disney+ and Netflix. Guest: Cameron Thom Industry Insights App of the Week | |||
| 06 Dec 2024 | Report from Manila: On the ground at the GAM3 Awards | 00:12:22 | |
The GAM3 Awards in Manila marked a milestone for Web3 gaming, held live for the first time during the YGG Play Summit. Organized by GAM3S and Yield Guild Games (YGG), the event celebrated innovation, community, and player engagement while showcasing Southeast Asia’s leadership in the space. Upptic’s Jerry Singer and Mateo Arias share their impressions from this groundbreaking event. Don’t miss their insights! CHAPTERS 00:00 – Opening 01:35 – About the GAM3 Awards 02:30 – Event Vibe & Appearance 05:27 – Notable Games & Awards 07:53 – Web3 Insights & Trends 11:11 – Key Takeaways 11:37 – Closing #Web3 #Web3Gaming #Gaming | |||
| 27 Sep 2024 | The Lean Growth Playbook ft. Candywriter & Random Logic Games | 00:44:27 | |
Discover the game-changing lean growth strategies game studios are using to skyrocket their games to the top of the charts with lean teams and AI tools. Growth marketing experts from Candywriter and Random Logic Games join Upptic to share the strategies and tools they are using to increase their marketing output while reducing costs. CHAPTERS 00:00 – Opening segment 01:53 – The gaming landscape 05:00 – Staying efficient and profitable 08:36 – Disruptive technologies in gaming 12:02 – How big is your growth team? 14:15 – Building effective lean growth teams 17:33 – Specialized vs. broad skillsets 22:00 – Necessary skills for growth teams 23:29 – Tools and innovation for efficiency 30:10 – Adapting workflows to new tools 33:05 – Transition to Q&A 33:13 – Q: What % of revenue should go to growth? 36:02 – Q: How important are influencers in growth? 38:52 – Q: What are retention evaluation strategies? 41:16 – Q: How do you introduce game mechanics? 42:12 – Closing segment Get more games growth insights and support at upptic.com! #Gaming #Marketing #Advertising #GameDev #GameIndustry #UserAcquisition #Creatives #DataAnalytics | |||
| 24 Feb 2023 | Is user acquisition dead? (Matej Lancaric) | 00:39:44 | |
Sit down with Matej Lancaric and get the answer to the question on everyone's mind: Is user acquisition dead? Matej is a UA consultant with 10+ years of experience. He has global launched 32 games in the last 4 years, produces the "Brutally Honest" UA newsletter, and is also the host of the no-bullshit gaming podcast “Two & A Half Gamers.” We chat with Matej about the current state of attribution and privacy, whether SKAN is even worth using, surprisingly effective UA tactics and channels, and the impact of regulators on marketing. | |||
| 01 Mar 2024 | Tech Turbulence: Bitcoin vs. NFTs, Layoffs and IPOs | 00:27:57 | |
In this episode, delve into the latest news in the crypto space – including the rise of Bitcoin, its impact on NFTs, and the war for creator compensation. Then, explore the recent layoffs and project cancellations at major tech and gaming companies – highlighting the changing landscape of these industries. Understand what the cancellation of the Apple Car represents in the larger scheme of things. Finally, learn about Reddit's upcoming IPO and how it is finally starting to utilize its powerful user groups in a new deal with Google – which sets an important precedent regarding AI and training data. Plus, get an invite to a couple of the hottest GDC happy hours! TAKEAWAYS
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| 01 Sep 2022 | FTC Lawsuit, Questionable Advertising Products, and Layoffs | 00:39:43 | |
We don't have a guest this week, but we make up for it by taking a deep dive into a bunch of industry stories. First, we touch on the news that the FTC is suing Kochava for selling sensitive location data. We read the fine print on their website and muse about how the case might go. No matter what happens though, it doesn't cast the industry in a good light. In more legal news, we talk about the growing likelihood of the Department of Justice (DOJ) bringing an antitrust suit against Apple. The DOJ has been investigating Apple since 2019 over allegations that it abused it's market power to stifle competition. We dive into their anticompetitive practices. Moving onto financial news, we talk about Gabe Leydon's foray into Web3 with Limit Break – which has $200M in funding to build a blockchain game. Leydon was pioneer at Machine Zone with F2P games and it will be interesting to see what he does at in Web3 with Limit Break. (Gabe, if you're reading this, come onto our show!) We then cover the latest news from Snap – wherein they're laying off 20% of their staff and restructuring their business around community growth, revenue growth, and augmented reality. It's not surprising as layoffs have been happening across the industry. It still hurts to see though. Next we discuss Netflix's ad tier – which will include limited targeting and no third-party measurement. It sounds rather opaque, to say the least. Finally, we wrap up with the news that Sony is acquiring Savage Game Studios, which has no commercial products yet, and discuss the larger strategy Sony seems to be executing. SOURCES & MORE: https://upptic.com/ftc-lawsuit-questionable-advertising-products-and-layoffs-app-talk-with-upptic/ | |||
| 28 Sep 2023 | WTF is Biopsychosocial Gaming? (Solsten) | 00:47:24 | |
In science, biopsychosocial factors are physical, psychological, and social factors that impact an individual. What does this have to do with gaming? Joe Schaeppi, Founder and CEO of Solsten, connects the dots in this episode. Joe has a background in both psychology and gaming – starting out as a psychotherapist before moving into gaming as the Sr. Manager of User Experience at Big Fish Games. At Solsten, Joe and his colleagues are building an AI-powered platform to better understand individuals – pioneering the use of video games for cognitive assessment and working with companies to create healthier and livelier experiences for gamers. Listen on to learn how better understanding your users can lead to better outcomes in game development and marketing. SEE MORE AND FOLLOW JOE ONLINE. | |||
| 10 Aug 2023 | Building Games with Your Audience (BattleFly) | 00:31:43 | |
Ensuring your game resonates with its audience is key to growth and success. It's easier if you're building games with the gamers who want to play it. BattleFly is a DAO (decentralized autonomous organization) creating the BattleFly game alongside its players. Ben, BattleFly's founder, joins us in the studio to talk about the different iterations of BattleFly and how the DAO has engaged with its players to create a game that everyone enjoys. Learn how web3 has helped enable more collaboration with more stakeholders, how BattleFly fosters player collaboration and leans on them for insights, the evolution of BattleFly from an NFT collection into a full-fledged game, and the art of creating inclusive spaces. If you're a web3 game developer or community manager, you should give this episode a listen right away! | |||
| 28 May 2021 | Mobile Advertising in the ATT Aftermath with Atif Khan | 00:54:01 | |
Our guest this week is Atif Khan, Ex-Facebook & Angel Investor via Range Funds Syndicate. Atif has over a decade of experience in the mobile ads industry, he helped build Facebook’s gaming business from the ground up, and, as an investor, has his finger on pulse on many industry trends. In this episode we dissect the mobile ads industry’s macro trends specifically interrogating the role of entrenched incumbent and their challengers. We get an insider’s view of how Facebook’s business will evolve in the face of ATT, and we discuss how other industry behemoths (and challengers) are poised for the years to come. Also, consolidation in the industry continues with Jam City acquiring Ludia and going public via SPAC, Vungle acquires Tresensa, and Apple quietly decreases SKAN privacy thresholds. Guest: Reference: App of the Week: | |||
| 29 Mar 2024 | Sensor Tower’s shocking acquisition (plus, illegal monopolies and failed business strategies) | 00:22:16 | |
Sensor Tower's recent acquisition has come as a bit of a shock to many in the industry – not in the least because many thought Data.ai was the company with more purchasing power. Learn what this acquisition means for the industry and how it will likely impact you. Additionally, dive into Apple's new legal fight against the United States and see why Embracer's divestment of Gearbox to Take-Two Interactive highlights the shortcomings of the "federated states" business model. TAKEAWAYS
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| 22 Apr 2021 | Future of Mobile Attribution with Eran Friedman | 00:50:40 | |
Our guest this week is Eran Friedman, CTO of Singular who leads us on a whirlwind summary of all things iOS 14.5, ATT and SKAN. We deep dive into what exactly the AppTransparency Framework (ATT) and SKAdNetwork (SKAN) frameworks are, and how they are changing the mobile marketing ecosystem. We talk about opt-in rates for user tracking, privacy threshold granularity and discuss various configurations of SKAN conversion models. We also touch on the role of mixed media modeling, and how predictive LTV is becoming increasingly important for understanding campaign success and as a lever for granular optimization. Learn more about how to grow your mobile app at upptic.com Guest: References: ATT Enforcement starts April 26th – Apple App of the Week: | |||
| 07 Dec 2024 | Why AppLovin stock is up 900%! | 00:21:07 | |
Why is AppLovin stock up 900%?! Once a niche player in ad tech, it’s now the talk of the tech industry. Here’s a look at its history, explosive growth, and potential next moves. CHAPTERS 00:00 – Opening 00:37 – 2024's Hottest Company 03:15 – History of AppLovin 07:18 – AppLovin's Recent Success 09:18 – AppLovin's Big Differentiator 10:55 – Adjust Layoffs & Elonification 12:46 – Ad Tech Financial Wordplay 15:13 – Potential Acquisitions 20:19 – Closing #Advertising #Tech #AdTech | |||
| 06 Oct 2022 | AppLovin & NFTs, Gaming Goodbyes, Overwatch 2, App Store Declines | 00:43:54 | |
In this week's episode, Xander and Warren really dive into the nitty-gritty of current events. First, we discuss AppLovin's new Vessel app – a marketplace where mobile game developers can integrate NFTs into games to drive engagement and revenue. This sits at the intersection of three huge areas of focus for us: Web3, mobile games, and performance marketing. It's exciting news – and also interesting in the fact that AppLovin has managed to work within Apple's strict policies to bring an NFT marketplace into the App Store. Next we discuss Google's announcement that Stadia will be shutting down in January. The cloud-gaming service has struggled to gain traction, but the company believes the technology will be useful in other areas of its business – such as with industry partners, YouTube, Google Play, etc. Google will be refunding all Stadia hardware, games, and add-ons purchased through Stadia's store. In another gaming goodbye, Playtika is shuttering Best Fiends maker Seriously – supposedly over discord and clashes between the studio and its parent company on aggressive monetization, budgeting, and other issues. Leaks regarding the fallout seem to heavily favor Seriously, which likely indicates they came from sources within the studio. An article from Mobilegamer.biz promises that a new studio will "rise from the ashes" in coming months. Shifting to incoming games, we highlight the release of Overwatch 2 and it's interesting pivot into a completely live-services model. The game is also doing away with loot boxes in favor of a new in-game shop that uses in-game currency. It's been a long time coming, but that's not surprising given everything Blizzard has been through in the last few years. Finally, we end on the news that App Store net revenue declined 5% year-over-year for the month of September – a record low for the store. The news was highlighted by Stephanie Link and retweeted by Eric Seufert, who noted that "ATT wreaked havoc on the mobile gaming market, which comprises the vast majority of App Store revenues. The growth of Apple's ad platform, substantial as it has been, was not sufficient to offset that loss within the broader Services category." SOURCES & MORE: https://upptic.com/applovin-nfts-gaming-goodbyes-overwatch-2-app-store-declines-app-talk-with-upptic/ REGISTER FOR OUR WEB3 GAMES GROWTH WEBINAR: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1416618928232/WN_nq5y952aSiO0BMmTeKK9dQ | |||
| 17 May 2024 | Web2.5 gaming with Apeiron’s Frank Cheng | 00:38:04 | |
Unpack the explosive 525% growth of Apeiron and learn about its evolution from a web2 to web3 game. Watch now for an insight-packed episode on engaging game loops and mechanics, distribution challenges and solutions, and scaling games growth! TAKEAWAYS
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| 17 Feb 2023 | 2023 Games Growth Trends & Predictions | 00:45:41 | |
Welcome back to season 5 of "App Talk with Upptic" – or, rather, "Games Growth with Upptic"! We kick off season 5 by talking about this rebrand before diving into several different topics with a couple of our own colleagues – Upptic Creative Director Ava Savitsky and Upptic Sr. Web3 Growth Manager Ian Brent. Together, we discuss the state of games growth (which has seen some rough waters), user acquisition trends, creative insights, analytics learnings, and web3 takeaways. We end with some wildly speculative predictions. Think any will come true? | |||
| 31 Aug 2023 | The Potent Power of Creator-Driven UGC (Viraaal) | 00:36:13 | |
UGC, or user-generated content, is a big buzzword these days. Amid the buzz, Viraaal has created a UGC platform where content creators can quickly find campaigns, shoot videos, and get paid. Founded and helmed by CEO Alexei Chemenda, a veteran of start-ups, Viraaal seeks to revolutionize the world of UGC agencies. Alexei shares his insights on the differences between influencer marketing and UGC marketing, how these segments of marketing are evolving, the pros and cons of working with content creators to generate UGC, and how to build a content creator-driven marketing strategy. If you're looking to add UGC to your marketing playbook, be sure to take a listen now! Learn more and follow our guests online here: https://upptic.com/the-potent-power-of-creator-driven-ugc-viraaal-games-growth-with-upptic/ | |||
| 07 Mar 2024 | Scaling Web3 in 2024: Making the gamer the hero (with Honeyland) | 00:40:39 | |
Learn how game developers are merging the best of web2 and web3 to create games that are fun and engaging in both traditional and innovative ways. Explore token utility within a game's economy – as well as the role of tokens in Web3 games more broadly. Understand how VC funding can impact game design and token utility. Get insights on the role of DAOs – and whether they make sense for a business organization at all. Learn about how to utilize web2 growth strategies and target web2 audiences – and why pure web3 games simply can't grow the way that web2 games can. Joining us is Corey Wright, CEO of Honeyland. A lifelong entrepreneur, he launched his first business in college – nearly 20 years ago – and has launched, scaled, and sold more than a half dozen businesses since. In 2021 Corey launched Hexagon Studios, a web3 gaming studio. Their first title, Honeyland, is in major app stores and is one of the top mobile games on Solana. Takeaways
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| 12 Apr 2022 | Web3 Gaming with Tilting Point & Stardust | 00:41:43 | |
Our guests this week are Samir Agili, Co-CEO and President at Tilting Point, and Canaan Linder, Founder & CEO at Stardust. Tilting Point helps game developers grow their games into successes with their unique "progressive publishing" approach to partnerships. Stardust allows game developers to easily create and implement NFTs in their games. In this week’s podcast we take a dive into Tilting Point's and Stardust's new partnership – from how they're collaborating to the strategic importance of the partnership for each company. We also dive into the macro trends that Tilting Point is seeing which is driving them to invest in Web3 games, Stardust's take on innovative Web3-enabled game design, IP in games, and much more! Guests: Samir Agili and Canaan Linder | |||
| 23 Jun 2022 | Web3 Growth Playbook with Justin "Jkey" Vogel (Safary) | 00:59:25 | |
Our guest this week is Justin "Jkey" Vogel, Co-Creator of Safary. Safary is the world's first Web3 growth community with a mission to build the first Web3 growth playbook by connecting top growth professionals and defining what growth looks like in Web3. In this week’s podcast we discuss what this playbook will include. Learn about the foundational challenges that Web3 apps face, growth levers native to Web3, distinct tools Web3 marketers have, and examples of projects that are executing effective Web3 growth strategies. Plus, we discuss the latest news on Diablo Immortal, metaverse projections, and the latest hubbub around Embracer. Guest: Justin Vogel / Jkey Industry Insights | |||
| 20 Oct 2022 | Web3 Game Publishing with Bozena Rezab (Gamee) | 00:56:26 | |
This week's podcast is brought to you through a partnership with Animoca Brands. Animoca Brands is one of the world's leading mobile game developers and publishers . They are on the frontlines of Web3, investing heavily in a vast portfolio of Web3 projects. Our guest this week is Bozena Rezab, Co-Founder and CEO of Gamee. Gamee is an engaging play-and-earn mobile gaming platform that rewards players for skill and effort. It is powered by the GMEE token – which enables access, action, and governance of the platform. Gamee products include the Arc8 games hub and G-Bots NFTs. In this week’s podcast we focus on Gamee's launchpad app Arc8 – a web3 app available in mobile app stores. Was ask Bozena about what they had to do in order to ensure they're complaint on mobile platforms and how they've navigated being a web3 app on mobile devices. We dive further into engagement and business models and how working with web3 changes publishing strategies and player onboarding. Plus, we discuss the latest DappRader report as told from two different sources, take a look at Bain's analysis of the games industry, and converse about Limit Break's upcoming $6.5M Super Bowl ad. SOURCES & MORE: https://upptic.com/web3-game-publishing-with-bozena-rezab-gamee-app-talk-with-upptic/ | |||
| 16 Sep 2022 | AAA Blockchain Game Development with Benjamin Lee (Blowfish Studios) | 01:02:59 | |
This week's podcast is brought to you through a partnership with Animoca Brands. Animoca Brands is one of the world's leading mobile game developers and publishers . They are on the frontlines of Web3, investing heavily in a vast portfolio of Web3 projects. Our guest this week is Benjamin Lee, Co-Founder of Blowfish Studios. Blowfish Studios is part of the Animoca Brands family and builds AAA games for mobile, PC, VR, console, and, coming soon, Web3 with Phantom Galaxies. In this week’s podcast we focus on building a AAA game for the blockchain. Benjamin talks to us about the development of Phantom Galaxies, why Blowfish decided to make it on the blockchain, how they are tackling marketing for Web3 and mainstream audiences, and more. Plus, we discuss the Ethereum's smooth rollout to proof-of-stake, Animoca's latest round of fundraising, Zynga's acquisition of Storemaven, and Starbucks incorporation of Web3 in its rewards program. SOURCES & MORE: https://upptic.com/aaa-blockchain-game-development-with-benjamin-lee-blowfish-app-talk-with-upptic/ REGISTER FOR OUR WEB3 GAMES GROWTH WEBINAR: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1416618928232/WN_nq5y952aSiO0BMmTeKK9dQ | |||
| 30 Jul 2021 | The Era of Mega-Publishers with Andrew Green | 00:56:26 | |
Our Guest this week is Andrew Green, Group SVP of Operation and Growth at Stillfront Group. Stillfront is one of the preeminent mobile game publishers consisting of 20 studios across Europe, North America, and MENA. This week we discuss the trend of mega-publishers in mobile gaming. We describe the advantages gained by joining a number of developers under one roof and discuss how to operationalize a large game portfolio effectively. We weigh the pros and cons of a “city-state” vs. command economy model for large publishing organizations and describe how ultimately it’s critical for developers to feel autonomy and ownership over their projects to find outsized success. Plus, Netflix is breaking into gaming, Jam City cancels its SPAC, Apple warns of slowing growth, and Polygon Studio set up a $100M crypto gaming fund. Guest: Andrew Green References:
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| 26 Mar 2021 | Growth at Scale with Malachi Rose | 00:46:18 | |
This week on App Talk with Upptic, Malachi Rose joins us for a deep dive on how to run a growth marketing operation at scale. We discuss how accurate measurement, structured creative development, and rigorous and constant testing are key to maintaining a competitive edge, and we share some stories about growth campaigns that fabulously failed. In industry focus we discuss IPOs and M&A and in the ad tech spaces (Robinhood, Fyber, Digital Turbine, ironSource and AppLovin). Learn more about how to grow your mobile app at upptic.com Guest: References: Digital Turbine agrees to buy Fyber ironSource investor presentation App of the Week: | |||
| 07 Sep 2024 | Is web3 gaming COOKED? | 00:44:34 | |
Dissect the current challenges and failures of web3 gaming – and how your team can learn and benefit from them! Plus, see how teams like those at Ronin Network, Pirate Nation, Star Atlas, and Parallel are writing the playbook for successful web3 games. CHAPTERS 00:00 – Opening segment 00:35 – Is web3 gaming COOKED? 30:19 – Web3 games that are doing it RIGHT! 43:40 – Closing segment Get more games industry insights at www.upptic.com. #Gaming #Web3 | |||