Ok, we know this episode should be called Something Fun on the Toilet with MK, but we're chose to keep it classy. Our guest this week is Michail Katkoff, a veteran of Zynga, Supercell, and Rovio, partner in Play Ventures, and founder of Deconstructor of Fun. In all of these different roles he's developed a unique understanding of our industry from different perspectives. We discuss product management, insane mobile profits and the ecosystem necessary to support game studios.
00:00 – Introduction: Alex and Aaron introduce Mishka, highlighting his diverse roles in the gaming industry. 02:00 – First Steps: Mishka talks about his first role in the industry at Digital Chocolate and his encounters with Trip Hawkins. 05:45 – Cultural Differences in Gaming: Mishka reflects on the differences between the Finnish and Californian working cultures. 08:30 – Early Influences: Growing up in the Soviet Union, Mishka shares how Pong and Sega sparked his passion for gaming. 10:50 – From Business to Games: Mishka recounts how he left the corporate world to pursue his dream in the gaming industry. 14:00 – Product Management Explained: Mishka breaks down the role of a Product Manager in gaming and how he helped shape game monetization. 16:30 – Crazy Discoveries in Player Data: Mishka reveals insights from analyzing player behavior and the surprising findings about in-game sales. 22:00 – Ethics in Monetization: A candid conversation about the moral questions surrounding microtransactions and the 'whale' phenomenon. 29:00 – Building the Finnish Gaming Scene: Mishka explains how Nokia and the Finnish education system helped create a gaming ecosystem. 36:00 – Challenges for Indie Developers: Discussion on the current challenges small studios face in breaking into the mobile gaming market. 40:30 – Favorite Games: Mishka shares his love for grand strategy and historical games, and his mobile game preferences. 45:00 – Deconstructor of Fun: How Mishka started Deconstructor of Fun and grew it into a leading platform for industry insights. 50:00 – Launching a Studio: Mishka talks about starting a game studio and its eventual acquisition by Sony.
This episode is perfect for anyone interested in the gaming industry, product management, or how mobile gaming has evolved over the years!
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