Mobile Games Playbook

Join us as we explore the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in mobile game design, advertising, and revenue generation. In this episode, we thoroughly examine the mobile gaming landscape, focusing on the constantly evolving dynamics of advertising and revenue with industry experts Kenneth Wong, Senior Director of Ads Revenue at Scopely, and Yimin Gu, Director of Performance Marketing at Scopely. We'll discuss the constantly evolving dynamics of advertising and revenue, as well as the transformative impact of AI and user acquisition strategies. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and check out our websites, https://liftoff.io/ and https://gamerefinery.com/, for more information on game development topics. Thank you for listening, Mobile Games Playbook

Welcome to the 50th episode of the Mobile Games Playbook podcast! We're thrilled to have reached this milestone; thank you to all the listeners who’ve been a part of this amazing journey. In this special edition, we’re taking a deep dive into the dynamic world of mobile gaming in China. We’ll discover what makes China an unrivalled hub for mobile gaming as we delve into the fascinating phenomenon of popular mobile games. We’ll also uncover the profound impact of government regulations on the industry, spanning from game approvals and content restrictions to censorship. We’ll also predict how China’s gaming landscape will evolve over the next five years—considering the game-changing role of technology, shifting player preferences, and ever-evolving industry trends. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and check out our websites, https://liftoff.io/ and https://gamerefinery.com/, for more information on game development topics. Thank you for listening, Mobile Games Playbook

Join us as we explore the exciting world of Final Fantasy. In this episode, we'll uncover the legacy of this iconic franchise within the JRPG genre and its transformative impact on the world of mobile games. From its inception to its latest mobile adaptations, we'll discuss Final Fantasy's remarkable evolution and ability to captivate a new generation of gamers. We’ll look into how Final Fantasy's success in mobile gaming is tied to its monetization strategies and what truly sets Final Fantasy games apart, from their captivating stories and immersive gameplay to their stunning visuals. Beyond the technical aspects, we'll examine the immense impact of the Final Fantasy brand on both the gaming world and popular culture. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and check out our websites, https://liftoff.io/ and https://gamerefinery.com/, for more information on game development topics. Thank you for listening, Mobile Games Playbook

Join us as we unravel the exciting details of the latest addition to the Pokémon universe: Pokémon Sleep. This innovative app has taken the concept of gamification to a whole new level by transforming how we approach sleep. Are there benefits to merging gaming with sleep? Find out how Pokémon Sleep stacks up against other sleep-related apps. We'll delve into the unique features that make Pokémon Sleep a standout experience and explore how it integrates into the broader Pokémon ecosystem. But that's not all; we’ll discuss if there could be plans to extend its reach beyond sleep and venture into the realm of promoting other healthy habits. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and check out our websites, https://liftoff.io/ and https://gamerefinery.com/, for more information on game development topics. Thank you for listening, Mobile Games Playbook

This episode delves into the dynamic and diverse world of women in gaming. Karen Chen, Account Executive at Liftoff, and Paula Neves, Senior Product Manager at Zynga, join us to spotlight women's challenges and discuss their unique perspectives on the industry. Despite the proliferation of mobile games aimed at women, there remains a concern for more representation of women in various job roles within the gaming world. We will explore the reasons behind this disparity and examine how women gamers often find themselves confined to certain gaming genres, perpetuating limiting stereotypes. We will also tackle the pervasive issue of online harassment and its impact on the gaming experiences of women. We also celebrate the strides made by the gaming industry to address these issues and promote inclusivity. Discover the emerging initiatives, programs, and opportunities to bridge the gender gap and create a more diverse and welcoming gaming landscape for everyone. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and check out our websites, https://liftoff.io/ and https://gamerefinery.com/, for more information on game development topics. Thank you for listening, Mobile Games Playbook

In this episode, we will be delving into the latest trends in LiveOps and how game studios are utilizing live events to increase player engagement and revenue. Expert analysts from GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company, will discuss their new Live Events Tracker tool, which enables game developers to stay ahead of the competition by comparing and analyzing live events across various games and genres. In the wake of Apple's groundbreaking App Tracking Transparency framework, it has become more important than ever for game developers to retain their players and find new ways to generate income. Join us as we unravel the remarkable advantages of leveraging live events to captivate players, designing successful events and how to use analytics to enhance your LiveOps strategy effectively. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and check out our websites, https://liftoff.io/ and https://gamerefinery.com/, for more information on LiveOps and other game development topics. Thank you for listening, Mobile Games Playbook

Say farewell to The Mobile GameDev Playbook, as we introduce the new and improved Mobile Games Playbook, brought to you by Liftoff. Investing in young talent is crucial for the growth and development of the game development industry because it brings fresh perspectives, new ideas, and diverse backgrounds to the industry, which is vital to safeguard the future of game development. Join us as we delve deeper into why nurturing and investing in young people is essential and how it can benefit the industry in the long run. In this episode, we talk to Yahsir Qureshi, the VP and Head of Studio at Sandsoft Games and Chief Game Analyst at GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company, Teemu Palomäki. We look at Sandsoft’s "Press Start" program, a six-month initiative that addresses the skills gap in the game development industry. We examine the selection process for young developers and the resources they receive during the program and explore the expectations and outcomes of the program. Remember to subscribe, leave a review, and check out our websites https://liftoff.io/ and www.gamerefinery.com! Thank you for listening, Mobile Games Playbook

Is there room for others to succeed in a market dominated by so few companies? Join us as we explore the current state of the mobile shooter market, the top games dominating the market, their market shares, and the different types of shooters available. You won't want to miss our overview of games like CoD: Warzone Mobile, Arena Breakout, Undawn Vitality, Division Mobile, Destiny Mobile, and Valorant. We'll also explore the recent game cancellations from EA, including Apex and Battlefield, and examine, amongst others, the intensity of live-ops for the top shooters, content cadence, and possible entry barriers for new companies. Looking to the future, we'll delve into where the market is headed and whether there is room for new shooters and subgenres to emerge and take the market share. Check out this episode to learn about the challenges that mobile game developers face when trying to develop shooters. We talk to the Chief Game Analysts at GameRefinery, a Liftoff company, Wilhelm Voutilainen and Erno Kiiski, who provide us with a comprehensive analysis of the state of the mobile shooter market and tell us what we can expect in the months and years to come. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and visit us at www.gamerefinery.com! Thanks for listening, The Mobile GameDev Playbook

Why have some of the biggest names in the industry pivoted away from gacha-based monetization systems? Join us as we explore the response from players to these changes in popular games like Brawl Stars, Mario Kart, Diablo Immortal, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Overwatch, Marvel Snap, and Arena Breakout. We'll examine how these changes have affected players' progression and gameplay experience and take a closer look at the impact these changes have had on the mobile gaming industry. Learn about the challenges facing mobile game developers when it comes to removing gachas and changing progression systems, as well as the future of monetization in mobile gaming. We talk to the Chief Game Analysts at GameRefinery, a Liftoff company, Wilhelm Voutilainen, Teemu Palomäki, and Kalle Heikkinen. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and visit us at www.gamerefinery.com! Thanks for listening, The Mobile GameDev Playbook

What makes Marvel Snap such a hit? In this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, we review Marvel Snaps’ success, key features, and the first major update. We also discuss the game’s monetization, thoughts on its future and the overall CCG genre. Joined by Joel Julkunen, Head of Analytics and Chief Game Analyst, Erno Kiiski, from GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company. You can find The Mobile GameDev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. Please subscribe and leave a review! Thanks for listening, The Mobile GameDev Playbook

What trends and features to look forward to in 2023! In this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, we’re joined by Wilhelm Voutilainen and Teemu Palomäki, Chief Game Analysts from GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company, to discuss key trends in 2023. We discuss upcoming releases, potential new genres, and exciting trends. We also cover shooter games, predictions for monetization changes, events trends, and what will happen with blockchain games in 2023. You can find The Mobile GameDev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. Please subscribe and leave a review! Thanks for listening, The Mobile GameDev Playbook

Examining the merge genre and EverMerge. In this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, we’re joined by Sergey Neskin, the CEO & co-founder of Neskin Games, and Chief Game Analyst Kalle Heikkinen from GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company, to discuss the hit mobile game EverMerge: Merge 3 Puzzle. We cover what inspired the game, the growth of the merge genre and how it’s evolved, interesting trends, and predictions for the future of merge games. We also look at some standout releases, the trends in gameplay events and features, as well as trends in monetization. You can find The Mobile GameDev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. Please subscribe and leave a review! Thanks for listening, The Mobile GameDev Playbook

What were the hottest mobile game design trends in 2022? In this episode, we look back at 2022 and reflect on the biggest trends that happened in mobile games. Joining us are our resident experts and Chief Game Analysts from GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company, Kalle Heikkinen and Erno Kiiski. We examine some standout releases, trends in gameplay events and features as well as trends in monetization. You can now find The Mobile GameDev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. Please subscribe and leave a review! Thanks for listening, The Mobile GameDev Playbook

How can brands get their IPs into mobile games? In this episode, we discuss the complexities and processes of how brands and licenses can get their IPs into mobile games. Joining us from Layer Licensing is CEO and Founder, Rachit Moti, and from Tilting Point is Chief Business Officer, Asi Burak, as well as resident expert from GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company, Chief Game Analyst Kalle Heikkinen. We examine the challenges encountered in licensing, interesting trends and collaborations, how games make money from IPs, and what Layer aims to change. You can now find The Mobile GameDev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. Please subscribe and leave a review! Thanks for listening, The Mobile GameDev Playbook

In this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, we look at how monetization features have evolved from 2020 till now. Joining us from GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company, are Chief Game Analysts Erno Kiiski and Wilhelm Voutilainen. We explore innovation in battle passes, IAP mechanics, external web stores, and what monetization may look like in the future for mobile games like Cookie Run: Kingdom, Call of Duty Mobile, and Royal Match. You can now find The Mobile GameDev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. Please subscribe and leave a review! Thanks for listening, The Mobile GameDev Playbook

In this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, Mike Taramykin, the founder of HypGames, and Chief Game Analyst Teemu Palomäki from GameRefinery, a Liftoff company, join our host Jon Jordan to discuss the celebrity partnerships in mobile games. We delve into the strategy behind celebrity partnerships and analyze mobile collaboration trends this year while sharing heartwarming anecdotes of working with stars including Tiger Woods, Steve Carell, Amy Poehler, and Tina Fey. You can now find The Mobile GameDev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. Please subscribe and leave a review! Thanks for listening, The Mobile GameDev Playbook

In this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, we’re joined by GameRefinery, a Liftoff company, analysts Erno Kiiski and Sonja Skoglund, who will be discussing seasonal events in mobile games. We will cover noteworthy events, interesting trends, and what these events may look like in the future for the three major markets - the USA, Japan, and China. You can now find The Mobile GameDev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. Please subscribe and leave a review! Thanks for listening, The Mobile GameDev Playbook

In this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, Teis Mikkelsen, the founder of Multiscription, and senior market analyst Kalle Heikkinen from GameRefinery, a Liftoff company, joins our host Jon Jordan to discuss the topic of subscriptions in mobile gaming. We will cover the exciting trends in mobile game subscriptions, their mechanisms, the Unleashd service, and what the future may look like for this increasingly common trend. You can now find The Mobile GameDev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. Please subscribe and leave a review! Thanks for listening, The Mobile GameDev Playbook

In this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, Bob Slinn, Head of Business Development at FunPlus, and game analyst Milka Paunonen from GameRefinery, a Liftoff company, joins our host Jon Jordan to discuss State of Survival’s well-deserved wins in the most recent Mobile GameDev Awards! We will discuss the development and inspiration behind State of Survival, the recent trends in the 4x strategy genre, its wins in the categories of ‘Biggest Evolver’ and ‘Best Use of IP in a Collaboration Event’, and what the future holds for the game. You can now find The Mobile GameDev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. Please subscribe and leave a review! Thanks for listening, The Mobile GameDev Playbook

In this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, we’re joined by GameRefinery, a Liftoff company analysts Erno Kiiski and Kalle Heikkinen for a special episode looking at the games that won at the Mobile GameDev Awards. The Mobile GameDev Awards are an annual set of awards by GameRefinery to recognize and celebrate innovation and excellence in mobile games. We will cover what made these games and studios win their respective categories, what aspects GameRefinery examines within a game, and what the future may look like for these games. Some examples include Apex Legends Mobile winning The ‘Most Promising Soft Launch Game’. Several games, such as State of Survival won ‘Biggest Evolver’. Beatstar, along with a few other games, was voted as ‘Best Newcomer’. You can now find The Mobile GameDev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. Please subscribe and leave a review! Thanks for listening, The Mobile GameDev Playbook