Game development process of designing the content and rules of a game
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OpenAI launches an app store inside ChatGPT, AI demand explodes RAM prices by 200%, Valve kills the cheapest Steam Deck, and Netflix keeps pushing deeper into gaming. This week's news shows how AI is now directly reshaping gaming platforms, hardware economics, and distribution.What we cover:• OpenAI's new GPT App Directory• Monetization and games inside ChatGPT• Why AI demand broke the RAM market• Why consoles and Steam Deck prices are rising• Micron exiting consumer memory• Netflix acquires Ready Player Me• Warner Bros deal still unresolved• Tencent vs Sony settlement• Game Awards viewership growth• Cozy PC hits inspiring mobile• League of Legends roadmap• EA acquisition moves forwardGet our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricPodcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters0:00 — OpenAI turns ChatGPT into a platform01:15 — Apps, monetization & why this matters for games02:40 — AI demand breaks the RAM market03:55 — Why gaming hardware pays the price05:05 — Steam Deck price jump explained06:10 — Netflix doubles down on gaming & avatars07:15 — Industry quick hits (Tencent, Game Awards, cozy games)08:30 — What this means for gaming in 202609:10 — Final takeaway---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
I had the grand opportunity to cover the 50th Aniversary of the Toronto International Film Festival. With animation being one of my favourite topics in the world, I am grateful that I was able to join this epic conversation and now share it with you. :) DIALOGUES: Creative Visions in Animated Feature Films is a specific TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) event/panel where acclaimed directors like Domee Shi (Pixar's Elio), Mamoru Hosoda (Belle, Summer Wars), and Momoko Seto (Dandelion's Odyssey) discuss balancing artistic vision with studio realities, creative authorship, and the future of bold animation, showcasing diverse global perspectives. This dialogue offers insights into the challenges and triumphs of making visionary animated features, featuring both indie and major studio voices. From intimate, auteur-driven projects to collaborations with major studios, discover how directors Domee Shi (Elio), Momoko Seto (Dandelion's Odyssey), Mamoru Hosoda (Scarlet), and Kid Koala (Space Cadet) balance artistic integrity with industry realities, and what it takes to make animated films that captivate audiences and spark global imaginations. Join us for a candid conversation about creative authorship, industry pressures, and the evolving space for bold, visionary animation. Domee Shi began as a story intern at Pixar Animation Studios in 2011 and was soon hired as a story artist on the Academy Award–winning Inside Out. She went on to work on The Good Dinosaur, Incredibles 2, and Toy Story 4. In 2015, she was greenlit to write and direct Bao, which won the Oscar for Best Animated Short. She made her feature directorial debut with 2022's Oscar-nominated Turning Red and most recently co-directed Elio, released June 2025. Born in Chongqing, China, and raised in Toronto, Shi now lives in Oakland, California. Momoko Seto was born in Tokyo and lives in Paris. She studied at Le Fresnoy - National Studio of Contemporary Arts. Her short film series Planet includes Planet Z (11) and Planet Sigma (15). The winner of the FIPRESCI Award at Cannes Critics' Week, Dandelion's Odyssey (25) is her feature film debut. Mamoru Hosoda was born in Toyama, Japan. He has worked on numerous animated series and directed the features One Piece: Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island (05), The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (06), Summer Wars (09), Wolf Children (12), The Boy and the Beast (15) which played at the Festival, Mirai (18), and Belle (21). Scarlet (25) is his latest film. Kid Koala (Eric San) is a Montreal-based DJ, composer, and graphic novelist. He directed Space Cadet, his first animated feature based on his graphic novel, which premiered at the Berlinale and will have its North American Premiere at TIFF 50. Known for genre-defying albums and live shows, he has also scored acclaimed films, series, and video games. Moderator Theresa Scandiffio is the Associate Dean of Animation and Game Design at Sheridan College. Prior to joining Sheridan, Scandiffio led archival and curatorial projects at museums, festivals, and universities in Toronto, Chicago, and Orlando. From 2010–2020, Scandiffio was a member of the programming team that launched the Toronto International Film Festival's year-round home, TIFF Lightbox, where she led the Learning, Heritage, and Community Outreach divisions. Scandiffio served as an Ontario delegate for the 2015 Governor General Canadian Leadership Conference and was a 2017 Civic Action DiverseCity Fellow. She received her PhD in Cinema and Media studies from the University of Chicago. Key Participants & Films Mentioned: Domee Shi: Elio (Pixar) Momoko Seto: Dandelion's Odyssey (Indie/Artistic) Mamoru Hosoda: Scarlet (Japan's Studio Chizu) Kid Koala: Space Cadet (Independent) Themes Explored: Creative Authorship vs. Industry: How directors maintain their unique style within large production environments. Industry Pressures: Navigating financial and commercial demands in animation. Evolving Landscape: The growing space for unique, visionary animation. Global Perspectives: Highlighting both auteur-driven projects and major studio collaborations. Stay connected with me here: https://www.instagram.com/shesallovertheplacepodcast
In this Christmas Special episode, we review 136 AI-generated mobile game creatives and break down the real state of AI in UA. Fake people are now nearly indistinguishable from real UGC, art styles can be swapped instantly, and “good enough” quality is all that matters. This is not future talk — this is what's scaling right now.What you'll learn• Why fake UGC finally crossed the uncanny line• How to spot AI (and why players don't)• Why “good enough” beats perfect• How consistent AI characters are built• Why waifus are everywhere• How one prompt becomes 10+ creatives• Why creative laziness is increasing• Why King Shot remains the benchmark• Why AI creatives will dominate 2026Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricPodcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg00:00 — Christmas AI Creative Trends intro03:00 — “Good enough” AI and upscaling basics06:30 — Fake UGC: why players can't tell anymore10:00 — Spotting AI: physics, lighting, overlap14:00 — Consistent characters & real AI pipelines18:00 — King Shot's AI leap & “no ads” messaging23:00 — Waifu domination & style iteration29:30 — Volume, laziness & stitched creatives34:00 — 136 creatives later: what actually matters38:00 — Final takeaway & 2026 prediction---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
In this Steam Scanner episode, Jakub breaks down the most wishlisted games on Steam right now and explains why wishlist data is one of the strongest early indicators of future hits. From co-op horror and cozy games to chore sims and Survivor-style IP plays, this episode is about spotting demand before charts do.What you'll learn• Why Steam wishlists predict success• How Donut County inspired Hole.io• Why co-op horror keeps exploding• Which games are perfect for mobile translation• Why chore sims scale so well• Why cozy games never die• How art style impacts CPI• Which Steam hits should not go mobileKey takeawaySteam isn't just a PC platform; it's the best early warning system for future mobile hits.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricJoin our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — Why Steam wishlists matter02:10 — Donut County → Hole.io: why wishlists predict hits05:00 — Co-op horror wishlist explosion08:10 — Chore sims as perfect mobile candidates11:20 — Cozy games & long-tail demand14:10 — Art style, CPI & visual signals16:40 — Warhammer Survivors & IP leverage18:40 — What should (and shouldn't) go mobile20:20 — Final takeaways & predictions---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
In this episode, we break down why modern mobile UA is no longer won by great ideas, but by systems that can ship hundreds or thousands of creatives every month. With real data, real examples, and hard truths, this is a deep dive into the creative arms race dominating mobile games.What you'll learn• Why creative velocity beats creative talent• Why “new creatives in last 30 days” predicts scale• How games produce 23,000 creatives per month• How Meta allocates traffic to new uploads• Why testing frameworks break at scale• Why CEOs underinvest in creative production• How one hit creative can change everything• Why UA financing matters more than everKey takeawayIf you can't ship fast, you can't win, no matter how good your ideas are.Improve your creatives: https://payhip.com/b/tu4nkGet our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricSpecial guest: Ridzki Syahputera/https://www.linkedin.com/in/ridzkisyahputera/Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg00:00 — Why creative talent no longer wins04:10 — The real bottleneck: creative velocity08:10 — Meta's algorithm & why new creatives get boosted12:40 — How games ship 23,000 creatives per month18:30 — Why testing frameworks fail at scale23:55 — Data proof: revenue vs creative volume29:45 — Why CEOs don't understand creative costs34:20 — The myth of Pareto creatives38:10 — Financing the creative arms race41:20 — Final takeaway---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
This week in mobile gaming and entertainment:Unity risks another developer revolt with a new Enterprise fee, Warner Bros rejects a $108B Paramount bid in favor of Netflix, and Sensor Tower data shows casino, 4X and Solitaire hybrids dominating both revenue and downloads.What we cover:• Unity's new Enterprise Minimum Commitment Program• Why developers are calling it “blackmail”• How much Unity may charge top studios ($250k–$2M/year)• Netflix vs Paramount: who controls Warner Bros• Why streaming platforms now dictate entertainment power• US vs Global IAP revenue differences• Why 4X dominates globally• Why Solitaire & hybrid mashups are exploding in downloads• DAU charts that reveal ad-monetization giantsGet our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricJoin our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — Unity Enterprise fee backlash03:30 — Unity's broken incentives05:20 — Netflix vs Paramount for Warner Bros07:30 — US revenue weather09:00 — Global trends & DAU growth---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
This episode is a pure creative trend reality check for November 2025.The big truth that runs through the entire discussion:Players don't care. Platforms don't care. Only performance matters.Across dozens of examples, the episode shows how AI, trend theft, playable abuse, fake ads, and extreme creative volume have become the default winning strategy.Key themes:King Shot is no longer a game - it's a creative genreAI-generated creatives are now indistinguishable from real UGCCreative success = copying what's scaling right nowPlayables no longer need to match gameplay - they need to match trendsCentury Games-level volume is becoming the new minimum barEthics, originality, and “gameplay match” arguments are effectively deadThis episode is less about what's trending and more about why the rules changed.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricPodcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg00:00 — Intro, Christmas chaos & why nobody cares04:00 — Golden Goblins & King Shot becoming a genre09:00 — AI creatives reach “can't tell anymore” level14:30 — JigSolitaire & Solitaire playables hijacking UA19:30 — Fake ads, gross hooks & emotional manipulation25:30 — Century Games creative volume insanity31:30 — The real meta: steal fast, iterate faster, ship more---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
Fancy setting us a gaming challenge? Get in touch here!In the final episode before Christmas we tackle a stealthy challenge that promises to redefine the stealth game genre.... but no one will ever know as it's so stealthy! Thanks for listening and please leave us a review and subscribe if you enjoyed it. It really helps us out. Also please get in touch with us at @gamingblendpod or thegamingblenderpod@gmail.com with your ideas for new games and challenges.Keep blending!
Send us a textI remember being a young roleplayer diving into my first rpg's. Character creation was similar in most of the games on the market. Make a very basic character, adventure with them, kill monsters, find treasure, gain experience points, gain levels, get more skills, rinse, repeat. Back in the day we would memorize the XP charts so we would know when our characters would level up.Those old TTRPG's were bad enough, but when computer programmers took their favorite table top games and ported them into the computer world the character advancement concept of “leveling up” started to look like heroine dealers giving their junkie friends the first taste for free.Over the years character advancement has been closely tied to the leveling up concept, but I've noticed something interesting as I've become an older and more mature gamer.I don't care about leveling up.It's not the character advancement I'm looking for. I think I first became aware of the anti-leveling up faction when I first started playing Traveller all of those years ago. In Traveller you create a seasoned, experienced character. After character creation nothing really changes. And then there was Call of Cthulhu a game in which your character is more likely to get worse as you play and not better.Funny enough, those are my two favorite roleplaying games.In this episode Christina, and I are going to talk about character advancement. The traditional methods and why it was innovative and important at the time and the current ideas of character advancement and how they have changed over the years.First let's start with the Doc.Christina, what are you personal thoughts on character advancement, before we get into all the scientific nitty gritty?Kick to Christina
In this episode of Two & a Half Gamers, Felix, Jakub, Jim Payne and Dan Sack go deep on the future of mobile ad monetization. From MoPub to MAX to CloudX, this conversation explains why mediation is outdated, why publishers are trapped in black boxes, and how AI-driven supply-side tools can finally put control back in publishers' hands.What you'll learn• Why classic mobile mediation is a legacy workaround• How mobile ads differ fundamentally from desktop advertising• Why publishers can't see or trust most auctions today• What “monetization as code” actually means• How AI agents can automate pricing & floor optimization• Why fair, inspectable auctions matter• Why retention-focused publishers are underserved• Who CloudX is built for (and who it's not)https://www.cloudx.io/Special guests:Jim Payne https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpayne/Dan Sack https://www.linkedin.com/in/dansack/Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricPodcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — Why mobile mediation is broken08:20 — Publisher-first philosophy16:55 — AI agents & monetization as code24:10 — Auction transparency & trust33:30 — Who wins in the next era---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
In dieser Folge sprechen Christina und Florian über Tormented Souls 2, Angeline Era, Slots & Daggers und Skate Story.
In episode 130 of Game Design Unboxed, we chat with game designer Joe Hout about his fairytale-themed trick-taking game, 3 Chapters, accessibility in gaming, and his design journey. Joe shares how his path into game design began by tweaking games he loved and then took off after completing a passion-project game he self-published via Kickstarter. […]
En 2009, en même temps que le film culte, sortait James Cameron's Avatar : The Game, une adaptation ambitieuse qui essayait de reproduire l'expérience de la franchise Avatar sur PS3, Xbox 360 et PC. Un titre rempli de bonnes idées mais qui, malheureusement, ne les exploite pas complètement. On débriefe cela avec vous ! » SOMMAIRE (00:00:00) Introduction (00:06:23) James Cameron avant Avatar (00:20:30) La saga Avatar (00:44:09) Développement du jeu (00:55:14) Structure scénaristique (01:05:09) Campagne des Humains (01:17:52) Campagne des Na'vi (01:26:44) Game Design (01:36:41) Direction Artistique (01:38:34) Musique (01:40:01) Conclusion
JigSolitaire might be the most deceptive (and brilliant) ad-monetized puzzle game of 2025.Zero solitaire.Full jigsaw.11M downloads.2.3M DAU.$0 IAP.$130k–$150k/day in ads.We break down how Gaming Cat pulled it off.What you'll learn• Why this “Solitaire” game contains no solitaire• How the jigsaw core is polished enough to scale• Why auto-fuse, auto-switch & level pacing matter• How banners + interstitials = $100k/day• Why the game's UA is pure bait-and-switch genius• Why the lack of creatives is shocking• Why AppLovin upload-only is printing money• How this scales in 2025's ad econGet our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricPodcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-3bckldvr8-8PXvzciMWdheOzED9hq0SAChapters00:00 — JigSolitaire intro03:00 — Gameplay & fusing05:40 — Monetization09:40 — Daily challenge & albums15:00 — UA, creatives & scaling---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
This is my fourth and final episode talking about 30 big design evolutions since I started working at Wizards of the Coast in October 1995. This is based on a three-part series I did in my Making Magic column.
There are a lot of costs you can pay other than mana. In this episode, I talk about different types of resources in Magic.
This week's episode breaks down the biggest global entertainment + gaming business stories: Netflix vs Paramount fighting over Warner Bros, Disney investing $1B into OpenAI, Duolingo partnering with Genshin, Pokémon TCG's $1B year, Activision slowing CoD, Merge Mayor's real AI use cases, Rockstar layoffs, Meta abandoning the Metaverse, and Google bringing Gemini to ads.What you'll learn• Why Warner Bros could reshape streaming power• Why Paramount's hostile $108B bid might win• Why Netflix still has no gaming strategy• Why Disney opening 200 IPs to OpenAI is historic• Duolingo's shift from learning → gamified reward engine• Pokémon TCG's billion-dollar year• Why CoD is slowing down releases• How Merge Mayor actually uses AI the right way• Rockstar's union conflict• Meta's $70B metaverse collapse• Google Gemini for ads (2026)Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shopThis is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricPodcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — WB bidding war04:20 — Disney × OpenAI08:10 — Duolingo + Pokémon TCG12:45 — Activision + AI17:30 — Rockstar layoffs, Meta cuts, Google ads---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
In today's episode we talk about Giving Magic a Flare. How can you make magic more meaningful in your game? What does the added description offer to your game? How can magical flare improve the narrative experience? We give you our thoughts and answer all these questions and more in today's episode.Leave us an email for feedback, questions, or thoughts at levelupyourgamingpodcast@gmail.comor Follow us on Facebook and engage with us at https://www.facebook.com/LevelUpYourGamingPlease leave us a review or a five star rating wherever you get your podcast.
Sunday City looks like GTA… but it's actually one of the most brilliant social casino reveals of 2025.In this episode, we break down how Kefir built a perfect illusion onboarding, why the casino core is so polished, why the LiveOps/meta is shockingly advanced, and what the studio must fix (creatives!) to scale into the next Top Tycoon-level monster.What you'll learn• Why the GTA illusion onboarding is top-3 of the year• How Sunday City hides → reveals → embraces its casino core• Why this is Social Casino 3.0, not a clone• LiveOps structure: yoga, cruise ship, treasure digging, Wheel of Wonders• Why albums, star upgrades, and idle chips matter• What Kefir got right — and wrong — about creatives• Why they need 2× the creative output to compete with Chinese giants
Episode 362 where we talk with Returning Special Guest WilhelmShakespeare about Rockstar’s Union Firings, Mainframe Computers, AI slowing coders down, A revisit of the Nintendo Summoning Patent, and more! Join the conversation with us LIVE every Monday on twitch.tv/2nerdsinapod at 9pm CST. Viewer questions/business inquiries can be sent to 2nerdsinapodcast@gmail.com Follow us on twitter @2NerdsInAPod […]
Send us a textWelcome to You Heard it Here Last where we talk about news, you've already heard.We have a little D&D announcement coming out of Wizards of the Coast that I'm actually kind of interested in.https://www.enworld.org/threads/wizards-of-the-coast-re-registers-dark-sun-with-uspto.716113/Wizards of the Coast recently filed an application to register Dark Sun in the US, a sign that D&D could be bringing back the campaign setting in the near future. That's the opening sentence to the article about the move on EN world. The article goes on to point out that the trademark on Dark Suns lapsed a year ago and that this might be basic paperwork, but I'm kinda holding out hope.Dark Sun was an original campaign world set on a post-apocalyptic desert planet and in my opinion the only interesting setting D&D has ever had. It was dark, gritty, and at the time of it's release in 1991 genre-bending. It was also a little controversial at the time and I think it would be even more so today. The setting had slavery, genocide, and leaned into racial themes such as the “muls” a half human half dwarf created for forced labor. I'm not sure those would fly today.Chirstina, this seems like a setting just dripping with ethical issues and your our ethical expert…thoughts?[Kick to Christina]Next on our list is a cultural mile marker. One of those things that can really tell you where you are at in the great timeline. If you doubted that roleplaying had become a common hobby then this is the final piece of information you have been waiting for to change your mind.https://www.enworld.org/threads/review-of-how-to-dungeon-master-parenting.716272/This new book, designed for expecting families breaks down parenting in a way that gamers will understand. Move over Dr. Spock, we have How to Dungeon Master Parenting. While I haven't read the book, the article on EN World is enough to sell me on it.Christina, from a cultural standpoint, how important is a book like this that mergers our favorite hobby with raising kids?[Kick to Christina]And there you have it, all the news that you've already heard.
Marketability tests don't work the way most studios think. CTR ≠ CPI. Clickers ≠ players.In this episode, Matej tears down the biggest misconceptions about testing ideas, shows why personas don't matter in 2025, and walks step-by-step through the exact CPI test setup he uses for real market validation.What you'll learn• Why CTR tests are misleading and often pointless• How CPI tests simulate the real user funnel• Why personas are outdated and concepts rule everything• When to use APK vs landing page• How to set up Meta campaigns correctly• Why estimated CPI is usually 1.5–2× off the real CPI• What to do when there's no clear winner• How to interpret CPI results properlyKey takeawayIf you're not running CPI tests, you're not testing. Everything else is noise.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricPodcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — Why marketability tests are dead03:40 — Personas vs concepts06:10 — CTR tests are misleading08:20 — CPI tests: real install flow15:50 — Live Meta setup---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
This episode, Keepers Dave and Bridgett interview Gregory Geiger to discuss accessibility in game design. Recent Gaming – Patreon Plug & Update If you would like to support the podcast and engage with other backers, please consider backing. So yes – please back us on Patreon! To back us you can click the button on the sidebar of our website, mu-podcast.com or head over to Patreon directly at www.patreon.com/mup! Thank you to everyone who backed us and contributed to our longevity. We're so thankful for all of you. Who we regularly see on… The Discord Plug Our MUP Discord and we are all there! We invite all of our listeners to come and enjoy the community of horror gaming and cute pet pics. Link in the show notes: MU Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/vNjEv9D And thank you to our editor Nate for editing this episode. Bridgett's Pet Pick Shout Out The Pet Pic channel is a community onto itself. On this channel, we post our beloved pets, fosters, pets of family members, and even wildlife shouting “go pods.” These animals, these pets, are members of our collective community. So when we lose a member of this community, one of our precious pets, we often grieve as a community. I've seen the recent pet loss guys. I just want you, and everyone who has ever lost, and will someday lose a pet to know, we're here for you. We're here for each other. Main Topic Links and stuff GregoryGeiger.com TryingToDoBetter.com https://papress.com/products/extra-bold https://www.bispublishers.com/type-tricks-user-design.html https://www.uxdesigninstitute.com/blog/accessible_design-inclusive_design/
This episode, Keepers Dave and Bridgett interview Gregory Geiger to discuss accessibility in game design. Recent Gaming – Patreon Plug & Update If you would like to support the podcast and engage with other backers, please consider backing. So yes – please back us on Patreon! To back us you can click the button on the sidebar of our website, mu-podcast.com or head over to Patreon directly at www.patreon.com/mup! Thank you to everyone who backed us and contributed to our longevity. We're so thankful for all of you. Who we regularly see on… The Discord Plug Our MUP Discord and we are all there! We invite all of our listeners to come and enjoy the community of horror gaming and cute pet pics. Link in the show notes: MU Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/vNjEv9D And thank you to our editor Nate for editing this episode. Bridgett's Pet Pick Shout Out The Pet Pic channel is a community onto itself. On this channel, we post our beloved pets, fosters, pets of family members, and even wildlife shouting “go pods.” These animals, these pets, are members of our collective community. So when we lose a member of this community, one of our precious pets, we often grieve as a community. I've seen the recent pet loss guys. I just want you, and everyone who has ever lost, and will someday lose a pet to know, we're here for you. We're here for each other. Main Topic Links and stuff GregoryGeiger.com TryingToDoBetter.com https://papress.com/products/extra-bold https://www.bispublishers.com/type-tricks-user-design.html https://www.uxdesigninstitute.com/blog/accessible_design-inclusive_design/
In this ultra-special episode, Chip Thurston (FastSpring) returns to break down the current reality of D2C - what's allowed today, what's changing, and why publishers need to act immediately.We unpack the Epic–Google settlement, the new fee structure, what's enforceable (and what probably isn't), and why Japan's new regulation on December 18 will reshape global payments.What you'll learn• Why iOS and Android steering IS legal right now• Why publishers shouldn't wait for “final clarity”• How to use D2C purchase data to optimize UA• How attribution to webshops actually works• The truth about Google's 20% vs 9% fee categories• Why the judge is skeptical of the Google–Epic settlement• How social steering, landing pages, and Discord avoid fees• Why Japan's new law will supercharge D2C• The strategic window publishers must seize NOWKey takeawayThe publishers who act NOW - not when rules are “final” will own the highest-value customers for years.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricChip Thurston: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thurstonchip/Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg00:00 — The real state of D2C: iOS + Android steering is live now06:30 — Why publishers hesitate, and why that's a huge mistake09:40 — The business value of D2C: data, UA optimization, retention13:20 — Epic–Google settlement explained: timelines, confusion, loopholes26:00 — The future: fees, global laws, Japan, and why the window won't last---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
This is part three of a four-part series talking about 30 big design evolutions since I started working at Wizards of the Coast in October 1995. This is based on a three-part series I did in my Making Magic column.
In this episode, I talk about how the color pie has evolved over the last three decades.
Felix covers this week's biggest gaming business headlines: Saudi Arabia's PIF slowing investments, King Shot surpassing $542M in revenue, AppLovin gaining ground on iOS, remarketing spikes, and Sensor Tower's November revenue & DAU charts.What you'll learn• Why PIF's cash slowdown could freeze gaming M&A• King Shot hits $542M in 9 months + $4.1M best day• Apple Ads losing share to AppLovin• Android still ruled by Google Ads• Remarketing up 20% YoY as CPIs climb• Top revenue games (Last War, Monopoly GO, Royal Match…)• Top DAU apps (Roblox, Free Fire, Block Blast…)Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricPodcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — PIF slows investments → gaming M&A winter03:00 — King Shot hits $542M → 4X meta dominance06:10 — AppsFlyer Index: AppLovin rises, remarketing up 20%08:50 — Monthly revenue rankings (Last War, Monopoly GO, King Shot…)10:20 — DAU rankings + final takeaways---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
In this special episode, we sit down with Supersonic to break down Unravel Master - the puzzle/hybrid hit using streak mechanics, x-ray boosts, early difficulty personalization, and an innovative hybrid casual game. We cover design, monetization, UA, creatives, AI usage, and how Supersonic built a category-leading title with 1000+ creatives.What you'll learn• How the X-ray streak mechanic works (and why it converts so well)• Why Chinese puzzle design uses early difficulty spikes• How Supersonic balanced hybrid monetization toward IAP• Why revive screens were intentionally not ad-driven• How 1000 creatives → pig characters → ASMR → AI weaving boosted UA• Why interstitials are avoided early and tested later• How hybrid-casual studios build teams + workflows• The pressure of clones and how to stay ahead with theme timingKey takeawayUnravel Master succeeds because it blends the best of hypercasual CPI instincts with deep puzzle design, early monetization pressure points, and industrial-grade creative iteration.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricSpecial guests: Paz Shabtaihttps://www.linkedin.com/in/paz-shabtai-59588b76/David Wanghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/david-wang-38579a88/Contact Supersonic:https://supersonic.com/submit-your-game/Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — Unravel Master overview & Supersonic intro04:20 — X-Ray Streak mechanic & difficulty personalization10:10 — Monetization strategy: IAP-first hybrid + boosters18:00 — UA & Creatives: pig magic, AI, ASMR & 1000 creatives26:10 — Global scaling, clones, meta debates & final insights---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
Send us a textIn 2023 I was already neck deep into my Kickstarter obsession when I saw an advertisement for a brand new OSR style roleplaying game called Shadowdark. It was the creation of Kelsey Dionne and it looked very cool. The book was large and black with silver script and silver artwork of what I thought was a beholder.I immediately backed it. But to be fair I was immediately backing a lot of things back then. When I turned on my YouTubes I got blasted with a social media blitz unlike any I had seen before. All of the TTRPG sites that covered anything even remotely different than D&D were all over this game. The superlatives seemed to match the online excitement and soon it had garnered 1.4 million dollars on Kickstarter.I couldn't wait to get the book. But while I was reading the .pdf and waiting for the hardback to arrive I had the chance to watch Kelsey Dionne herself walk backers through her creation process of the ranger class. I also got to see a number of interviews with her regarding the product. Again, I just kept getting more and more excited.When the book finally came it sat on my bookshelf. Now don't be sad for the game, that's what tends to happen to most of the stuff I grab off of Kickstarter. But, it was on a short list of games to be played.Finally, my Masks of Nyrlethotep came to a shuddering, bumbling halt and I wanted something fast, easy, and different as a palette cleanser. Enter Shadowdark. I quickly brushed up on the rules and set the date for my group. This was about the same time that the Glass Cannon Podcast announced they were going to be using Shadowdark as the rules for their next big live play. Yep, stoked again.We dove head first into Shadowdark.And it was … Ok … I guess.Not the resounding plug you thought I was going to give.If you are fans of the game, stick around because we are diving deeper than that. There are some really good things about this game. Some really bad things about this game. And a lot of mehh things about this game. In this episode Mike, Christina, and I are going to walk you through all of that and give you our honest review of the game.
Roguelites have dominated mobile and Steam for three years — Survivor IO, Vampire Survivors, Habi's new games, and a wave of Steam hits. But the genre is hitting a wall: every run resets too much, and long-term progression is stuck in 2018.In this solo episode, Jakub breaks down the next evolution of the roguelite genre: the imprint system — a mechanic where each run becomes a permanent resource.What you'll learn• Why traditional roguelites suffer from harsh resets• How Uma Musume solved the progression problem with “run → character” imprints• How Chaos Zero Nightmare created a more accessible imprint system• Why deckbuilders (Slay the Spire-style) handle imprints perfectly• Why MegaBong, Bonk roguelites, and Ball X-Pit are missing the key feature• How imprint systems increase retention, investment, and buildcraft• Why the next Western roguelite hit will use this mechanic• Why Habi, Supercell, and 4X devs will adopt it in 2026Key takeawayThe future of roguelites is simple: your best run should never die — it should become your next strongest asset.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricPodcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — The core problem with roguelites (resets ruin progression)03:10 — Uma Musume: the first full-feature imprint system08:20 — Chaos Zero Nightmare: the streamlined imprint evolution13:10 — Steam roguelites (MegaBong, Ball X-Pit): deep innovation but missing imprint save18:00 — The future: imprint systems will redefine mobile roguelites---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
In this festive episode 129 of Game Design Unboxed, we chat with sister duo Anya and Irina Kagan – game designers and the founders of Gifts Galore – about their Hanukkah-themed party game, Gelt Galore. They talk about how magical childhood traditions inspired them as adults to bring new energy to holiday gatherings and how a […]
Ball X-Pit is one of the most creative roguelite hits on Steam - a blend of Arkanoid, Vampire Survivors, and base-building meta that delivers insane depth. In this episode, we dive into the full gameplay loop, the fission/fusion/evolution system, the “two games in one” base mechanic, and why this could be a massive mobile hit if executed properly.What you'll learn• How Ball X-Pit sold 367k units & $4.4M in under a week• Why its roguelite mechanics go deeper than Balatro/MegaBong• How fission → evolution → fusion creates multi-layer combos• The innovative base-building/harvesting system• Why it's trending on Steam, TikTok, Reddit, and Twitch• Why this will definitely come to mobile• Why Devolver publishing matters for reach & discoveryKey takeawayBall X-Pit proves that roguelites can still innovate - especially when they merge physics, skill, and deep buildcraft with a completely new meta layer.Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop--------------------------------------PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.- Scale fast- Keep your shares- Drawdown only as needed- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors---------------------------------------For an ever-growing number of game developers, this means that now is the perfect time to invest in monetizing direct-to-consumer at scale.Our sponsor FastSpring:Has delivered D2C at scale for over 20 yearsThey power top mobile publishers around the worldLaunch a new webstore, replace an existing D2C vendor, or add a redundant D2C vendor at fastspring.gg.---------------------------------------This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let's not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej LancaricPodcast: Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 — What is Ball X-Pit & why it's trending04:20 — Roguelite design: fission, fusion, evolution mechanics10:56 — Combat depth: balls, builds, synergies, boss fights17:56 — The base-building metagame (the real innovation)26:50 — Why this could work on mobile + final thoughts---------------------------------------Matej LancaricUser Acquisition & Creatives Consultanthttps://lancaric.meFelix BrabergAd monetization consultanthttps://www.felixbraberg.comJakub RemiarGame design consultanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar---------------------------------------Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me---------------------------------------If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej LancaricDo you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai
In this podcast, I sit down with Melissa DeTora, the leader of the Casual Play Design team, to talk about Commander design.
This podcast is part two of a four-part series talking about the 30 big design evolutions since I started working at Wizards of the Coast in October 1995. This is based on a three-part series I did in my Making Magic column.
Fancy setting us a gaming challenge? Get in touch here!This week we're back with a metroidvania style hitman mashup game. A nice and fun one particularly if you're into cowboys! Thanks for listening and please leave us a review and subscribe if you enjoyed it. It really helps us out. Also please get in touch with us at @gamingblendpod or thegamingblenderpod@gmail.com with your ideas for new games and challenges.Keep blending!
Demo of using hinge joints in unity for doors and pinball flippers. Links and Notes Source code – https://github.com/levidsmith/KnoxGameDesign/tree/master/hinge_joint Joints in Unity – https://docs.unity3d.com/6000.2/Documentation/Manual/Joints.html Hinge Joint component in Unity – https://docs.unity3d.com/6000.0/Documentation/Manual/class-HingeJoint.html Podcast theme music – Ride by Pocketmaster
Concerns about Roblox, screentime, and gaming habits. In this episode of The Secure Family Podcast, Andy discusses the crucial topic of online safety for families, focusing on the vulnerabilities presented by modern video games. Guest Scott Novis, founder of GameTruck and veteran video game developer, shares his insights into the evolution of gaming, the risks of free-to-play models, and strategies for managing screen time effectively. Scott emphasizes the psychology behind game design, the importance of purchasing games, and the need to play offline to ensure kids' safety. He also covers how to choose appropriate games for children based on their developmental stages and the dangers posed by platforms like Roblox. For more from Scot Novis: https://www.gametruckparty.com/ Take control of your data with DeleteMe. Because they sponsor the podcast you can get 20% off a privacy plan from DeleteMe with promo code: DAD. Connect
Loren Weng is one of the sharpest minds in modern rogue-like design, known for redefining how systems, mechanics, and progression shape a player's experience. From leading the spellcasting and combat systems in Harry Potter: Wizards Unite to pushing new boundaries in game design, Loren brings a master-level perspective on what it takes to evolve an entire genre. This episode is a deep dive into how the best designers think, innovate, and stay ahead of the curve.Learn more about usJoin the next episode of the Indie Game Lunch Hour LIVE every Wednesday at 12pm EST on our Discord channel to answer your own burning questions and be immortalized in the recordings.
Send us a textWelcome to You Heard it Here Last where we talk about news, you've already heard.Let's start with my favorite Vin Diagram. Roleplayers and Cat Owners. It's a perfect circle. And to prove it we are going to start with the King of Crits, 2025 Dice Advent Calendar.https://dnddice.com/products/dice-advent-calendar-2025?variant=46949401395426&country=US¤cy=USD&utm_source=chatgpt.comThe dice are cute as hell and if you or someone you know is into advent calendar's then this is perfect.Mike, what do you think about the King of Crits 2025 Dice Advent Calendar.[Kick to Mike]Christina, you love dice are you in on this one?[Kick to Christina]The King of Crits isn't the only dice advent calendar on the market this year.https://diceenvy.com/products/advent-calendar?currency=USD&variant=47074082324723&stkn=1f01dd7311e3&utm_source=chatgpt.comDice Envy has gotten into the game with their 2025 dice advent calendar. The twist on this one is you get to decide if you want the Nice version with Santa and all the traditional happiness that comes with that or the Naughty version based on Krampas with the darker side of Christmas dice. They also have an option to let the Christmas goblin decide which one you get when you order, which I think is pretty cool.Christina, the more dice the merry I assume, but which one of this do you like better? And I'm not Christmas shopping, pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.[Kick to Christina]Mike, I'm going to assume you like the cat dice, but which one is it for you?[Kick to Mike]Next up we have the Glass Staff Player Journal.https://forgedgaming.com/products/glassstaff-player-journal?variant=47958671098087&country=US¤cy=USD&utm_source=chatgpt.comI love these player journals. They are faux leather bound with gold foil and premium paper. They look great and inside they have almost 200 pages to keep track of your character. From pages with all of the little boxes for character stuff to open pages to write about your adventures. The only problem for me is that they all seem to be made for D&D5e and since I don't play that…oh well.Finally, how about a little fantasy glass ware. Nobody can have enough glass ware and if you settling down with your friends after storming the duke's castle and sharing some of your favorite adult beverage then you need something cool to put it in.https://www.fantasyglassworks.com/Fantasy Glass Works can pretty much custom make whatever you want from beer mugs to coffee cups and most things in between. And they are family owned out of Rockford Illinois so that's a bonus. I think I would get a Tankard Beer Mug with the Sigil from our Conan Campaign.Mike, how about this as a Christmas gift?[Kick to Mike]Christina, any favorites?[Kick to Christina]And there you have it, all the news, you've already heard.
In today's episode we talk about The Importance Of Having More Than One GM. Wy is it beneficial to having more than one gm in your group? How can you foster a second GM? We give you our thoughts and answer all these questions and more in today's episode.Leave us an email for feedback, questions, or thoughts at levelupyourgamingpodcast@gmail.comor Follow us on Facebook and engage with us at https://www.facebook.com/LevelUpYourGamingPlease leave us a review or a five star rating wherever you get your podcast.
What happens when autobattlers fail to monetize? We pull Arto Huhta into the cast and chat about Telegram's pseudo-WeChat ambitions. Eric releases a distrack on Game Designer's obsessed social spaces, and Phil wants more blood from psychologists' nonsensical F2P "choice overload." Chris enleashes a model-meets-UGC experiment: a three-algorithm simulation that shows how recommendation systems distort consumer welfare and creator inequality. We discuss: How Arto sees the split between economy design, product management, and classical economics (hint: it's not what you think) Pets as permanent progression, and the design logic behind Nonstop Knight's monetization turnaround Why creator inequality explodes under bad reinforcement A brewing debate on regulation that is just getting started... Chapters 00:00 Journey to London: A Game Developer's Path 00:49 The Role of Economy Design in Gaming 01:20 From Academia to Game Development: Bridging the Gap 03:16 Experimentation in Game Design: Lessons Learned 05:22 The Intersection of Game Design and Economics 10:07 Understanding Game Development Roles 11:00 Monetization Strategies in Game Design 11:55 The Evolution of Publishing Models 12:42 Transitioning to Web 3: New Challenges 13:54 The Economics of Game Spending 18:27 Introduction to Game Economist Cast 19:06 Current Gaming Trends and Preferences 20:51 Game Modes and Player Engagement 22:03 The Future of Game Monetization 27:33 The Social Hub Experiment in Fighting Games 28:26 Street Fighter VI and Social Interaction 30:28 The Rise of HTML5 Games on Platforms 32:37 The Trend of Casual Games in Tech Companies 34:42 Telegram Games: A New Frontier 37:21 Challenges in Game Discovery on Telegram 38:52 User Engagement and Retention in Web3 Gaming 39:43 Consumer Welfare and Content Creation Dynamics 43:04 The Impact of Algorithms on User Experience 49:31 Heterogeneous Goods and Their Effects on Engagement 57:35 The Impact of Algorithms on Content Quality 59:04 Understanding Algorithmic Risks and User Retention 01:00:16 Exploring Algorithm Design in Gaming Platforms 01:01:54 The Role of User Choice in Content Discovery 01:04:29 The Future of Pricing Strategies in Free-to-Play Games 01:08:10 The Debate on Standardization and Market Forces Chapters (00:00:00) - The Cost of Free Speech(00:00:49) - Game of Connors Cast(00:01:16) - Meet Free-To-Play Designer Phil Rubin(00:02:43) - The Art of Being a Game Economist(00:03:59) - How to Get Out of Your Job(00:05:22) - Are You More of an Economist or a Designer?(00:07:51) - Candy Crush: Experimentation and Optimization(00:10:07) - Ex-Monetization Manager at King Publishing(00:12:30) - Have We Overreacted to Free-To-Play?(00:15:17) - Half-Off and the Price(00:18:27) - How To Make a Slop slideshow(00:18:56) - What Have You Been Playing?(00:20:35) - Clash Royale: The Future of Content(00:23:55) - How To Play Hearthstone With Re-rolling(00:25:59) - 2K XO: A Hardcore Fighting Game(00:29:37) - Fortnite vs. Monster Hunter: The Social Hub(00:30:29) - Are We Ready for Content in the Future?(00:34:24) - Facebook vs Instagram: What's The Difference?(00:34:57) - Telegram's plans for games(00:36:22) - How Telegram Could Make Games More Profitable(00:43:15) - The Probability of Encountering a Good(00:44:28) - Anatomy of Facebook's algorithm(00:49:53) - The Gini coefficient of content creators profit(00:54:30) - Measuring the social network's heterogeneous goods(00:58:58) - The Mix of Algorithms and Churn(01:01:07) - Do Algorithm Designers Care About Producer GENIE?(01:01:55) - What Should Roblox Do About Popularity?(01:03:51) - Too Much Choice in Online Content(01:05:56) - Is There Choice Overload in Mobile Games?(01:06:49) - What about discounts on hard currency purchases?(01:07:46) - Free-To-Play: Quantity Based Discounts(01:11:11) - USB 2.0: Standardization(01:12:11) - Roblox: Arto on UGC(01:13:27) - GIM economist cast episode 44
In this podcast, I talk all about the design of the fourth set in the Lorwyn-Shadowmoor block, Eventide.
This podcast is part one of a four-part series talking about the 30 biggest design evolutions since I started working at Wizards of the Coast in October 1995. This is based on a three-part series I did in my Making Magic column.
Matt Dalio, founder and CEO of Endless Studios, joins host Mike Palmer to explore the profound connection between games, technology, and workforce development. Matt, who grew up with an early global perspective—including a transformative year in China at age 11—brings his philanthropic drive to the world of scalable tech solutions . We dive into how Matt's company, Endless, initially focused on providing computers in emerging markets, realized that skills are what truly pay the bills. A simple math game, Tux Math, engaged students in a way traditional instruction could not, with classrooms full of kids shouting multiplication tables . The even bigger revelation? Many top tech entrepreneurs, including Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, started by hacking their games . Matt asserts that the goal is to transform kids from consumers to creators. We discuss how game creation, using tools like Unity and GitHub, develops five core, high-value disciplines: coding, design, digital art, management (product/project), and marketing/business analysis . These skills translate directly into a modern, AI-augmented workforce, where the ability to architect and validate production software is crucial. Key Takeaways: From Consumption to Creation: We need to move young people from passively using smartphones (consumption devices) to actively creating with devices that have a keyboard and mouse (creation devices), fostering a "lean forward" mindset . The Power of Hacking and Games: Learning starts when it becomes more fun to hack your games than to play them, leading to the development of deep, technical understanding. Five Core Disciplines: Game design is a launchpad for learning highly employable, durable skills in coding, design, digital art, management, and go-to-market business analysis . A New Model for Learning: The future of education involves immersing students in real projects on collaborative platforms like GitHub, replicating the workforce environment to teach mindsets like autonomy, agency, and teamwork . AI and the Future Developer: AI is a powerful tool, but it demands new skills: prompt engineering, chaining agent tools, and knowing how to architect, read, and debug production-level code to avoid technical "slop" and security issues. Why You Should Listen: The gap between traditional education and the demands of the AI-driven workforce is wider than ever. You'll hear Matt's global perspective on the rising number of high school students choosing not to pursue costly college degrees and the hunger for education in emerging markets. We discuss how the allure of video games—where the average kid spends 10,000 hours by graduation—can be channeled into productive, skills-building creation time . Matt shares an example of a Peruvian student who used his new skills to build a video game for rural communities to preserve their local language, illustrating the real-world, positive impact of this new educational approach . Listen to understand the model that could prepare the next generation to be "superhumans empowered by AI" . If you liked this conversation, be sure to like, follow, and share Trending in Ed wherever you get your podcasts. Ray Dalio's books referenced in the conversation: Principles: Life and Work and How Countries Go Broke: The Big Cycle Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:57 Matt Dalio's Early Life and Influences 02:58 Journey into Technology and Philanthropy 04:07 The Power of Games in Education 06:39 Skills vs. Mindsets in the Workforce 11:10 Preparing for the Future Workforce 13:58 Global Challenges and the Future of Jobs 15:51 The Declining Value of Education 17:01 Global Perspectives on Education 18:52 The Power of Community and Mentorship 20:47 Learning Through Game Development 24:50 AI and the Future of Work 28:47 Encouraging a Maker's Mindset 31:29 Concluding Thoughts and Takeaways
In episode 128 of Game Design Unboxed, we chat with game designer (publisher, art director, illustrator, and more!) Ammon Anderson about Twinkle, Twinkle, a game born from his lifelong fascination with space. We discuss the origin of the game's gorgeous translucent acrylic tiles, its “out of this world” space themes and expansions, and the new scoring […]
In this podcast, I sit down with Lead Set Designer Chris Mooney to talk about the design of Magic: The Gathering® | Avatar: The Last Airbender™.
In this podcast, I talk about the design of every card with Mox or Lotus in the name designed as a spiritual successor to Limited Edition (Alpha)'s Moxen and Black Lotus.
This podcast is all about how to start a podcast of your own.
This episode talks about why it's good for R&D to design around a format you play.
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