Journal

Just started playing 'Chum Chum' by Big Fish Games—a super cute match-3 blast game! 🎉 One thing that stood out to me is their approach to the main screen design. They have a lot of content visibly locked behind level progression, which isn’t unusual, but the sheer amount is impressive. 📈 This layout gives players plenty of goals to work toward and adds a strong sense of progression, especially valuable for Day 1 retention. It’s a great way to keep players motivated to come back, curious to unlock the next feature or challenge. Anyone else noticing this approach in more games lately?App Store: https://lnkd.in/d2aCquigGoogle Play: https://lnkd.in/dzcNyD9n

The wildest ad I saw in the Hexa Sort 😆

In 5 pages, I evaluated Supersonic in 2024.7 Super insightful, data backed take aways: If you ever played a runner hyper casual game,Chances of that being a Supersonic game is HIGH.And, they like those odds. Because,In terms of 2024 publishing,They kept that strategy. Here are my personal insights:✦ In terms of new users, they get high tier countries.✦ Their Flagships are still runner games.✦ Runner Games + High Tier Countries =Succesful ad monetization..✦ These two things probably failed:1- A ‘’Mid-Core’’ attempt(s),2- Many puzzle games in logic sub-genre focus,Because Supersonic is used to see high Play Timeson runners that generates revenue on Ads.✦ They are probably sharing a high amount of same players on their top games, (ad channels)✦ Low number of attempt on new games can mean:1- Workin on something ‘’big’’ on a different genre,2- Testing different UA platforms,3- Using […]

I managed studios for 25 years. From Blizzard Korea to Huuuge Games.Operations can quickly fall apart..- Admin- Hiring- Training- Delegating - Management- Company growthIF you are not careful.As a CEO you have to manage all of them.On top of picking up the kids and tying your shoes.It is a lot.Here's what I learned about inefficient operations:1/ Lost moneyWhen operations are off track, resources bleed.I've seen medium studios lose $100k+ monthly.Due to bottlenecks and poor processes.2/ Slow decisionsEvery delayed decision = missed opportunityAt Gameloft, we scaled from 1 to 150 people.Quick decisions were our edge.3/ Team burnoutBad operations create chaos.Your best people get frustrated.They leave. (very common)5/ Growth ceilingYou can't scale what's broken.Fix operations first.Then aim for growth.The solution?1) Simplify 1st.2) Delegate FULL ownershipYou can do this through a fractional CEO or Full-time CXO.What is important is that you are not […]

Capybara GO - the new sensation by Habby making 🤑 $800k/day in revenue still without the US! This is going to be bigger than Survivor.io 👇 Habby did it again! Changing the whole mobile gaming landscape with the recent launch of Capybara GO! The game features a unique blend of gameplay mechanics that encourage passive play. The future of mobile gaming is here. Passive play, you heard it first on two & a half gamers.Most importantly, Capybara GO draws inspiration from various successful titles in the mobile gaming industry and putting them together piece by piece into perfect compatibility. A Very important insight: this game is basically a slot machine dressed up as an RPG. Is positioned as a social casino RPG, blending elements of both genres. Addictive and sticky gameplay? Hmm, where did we see that? Capybara GO creatives […]

Balancing something in a Game is Hard! To get it right, you’re expected to: ↳ Have a master’s degree in math ↳ Complete challenging courses ↳ Memorize endless formulas ↳ Be an Excel expertBut here’s the thing — it’s actually much simpler than it sounds: ↳You don’t need to cram math ↳ You need to understand itLet’s break down this idea using a basic, popular feature: the Wheel of Fortune Specifically, we’ll explore Variance and Volatility and see how they impact the player experience

📉 Overcoming Stagnation in Mobile Games: Moving Beyond ROAS & Funnel-Driven Strategies 📉 Many live-operated mobile games are struggling as post-IDFA realities set in. With dwindling engagement and rising churn, games that once thrived on high ROAS and funnel-driven tactics are stalling. To reignite growth, it’s time to shift from squeezing monetization to building genuine engagement. 🧠 1. Focus on Psychology & Physiology for Long-Term GrowthToday’s players, especially Gen Z and Gen Alpha, value authentic gameplay that prioritizes connection over competition. On top of them, older generations might have just consumed already, or not resonated with, some of your content -- therefore, it's time to re-think your strategies.-> Use PNS-Led Design: Move away from “fight or flight” triggers, which lead to fatigue. For example, invest in a gameplay that fosters social bonds, creating moments and spaces where players can connect.-> […]

Mobile Games Heatmap for 2024 Here’s a detailed analysis of the genres' performance this year:🟥 𝗥𝗣𝗚𝘀: $𝟭𝟱.𝟯𝗕 (-𝟭𝟮.𝟱%)↳ Top apps of the genre: https://lnkd.in/eTZdHNNs• Action RPG/MMORPG: $6.0B (-15.3%) • Team Battlers: $4.8B (-14.6%) • Idle RPG: $2.1B (+16.3%) • Puzzle RPG: $1.2B (-21.9%) • Other RPGs: $1.2B (-15.6%) 🟩 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆: $𝟵.𝟰𝗕 (+𝟯.𝟱%)↳ Top apps: https://lnkd.in/eGrYsVai• 4X Strategy: $6.6B (+1.5%)• Real-Time Strategy (RTS): $1.3B (+7.4%)• Tactics: $905M (+23.4%)• Card Battler: $545M (-8.7%)🟩 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗼: $𝟴.𝟴𝗕 (+𝟭𝟮%)Top apps: https://lnkd.in/eHWj_VBa• Slots: $3.6B (-6.2%)• Casual Casino: $2.8B (+82%)• Casino Card Games: $937M (+0%)• Bingo: $475M (-6.3%)• Other Casino: $900M (-3.5%)🟩 𝗣𝘂𝘇𝘇𝗹𝗲: $𝟴.𝟱𝗕 (+𝟭𝟮.𝟴%)Top apps: https://lnkd.in/eXuTZuc6• Match-3: $5.3B (+4.6%)• Merge: $1.1B (+55.4%)• Match-2: $550M (+1.6%)• Other Puzzle Games: $863M (+14.7%)• 3D Match: $297M (+46%)🟩 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: $𝟯.𝟴𝗕 (+𝟰.𝟯%)Top apps: https://lnkd.in/ex_P_EsA• Sandbox: $1.4B (+19.9%)• Farming: $1.1B (-0.5%)• Life Sim: $192M (-12.0%)• Fashion: $186M (-13%)• Other Simulations: $912M (+2.4%)🟩 […]

On November 1, 2012, I joined Wargaming. This is how I stay relevant in the gaming industry after 12 years at ONE company.(My 12 tips to control your career game)Before you jump out... NО, I don’t want to be in one place for 12 years. For me, it's about what this enables and how to act:Ready to dive in? Here we go.1. Use Humor2. Build Network3. Foster Optimism4. Embrace Risk-Taking5. Acknowledge Setbacks6. Enhance Personal Branding7. Continuous Learning8. Develop Adaptivity9. Seek Mentorship10. Showcase Work11. Attend Events12. Track TrendsAnything else, Sergei? ✋I like to wake up on Saturday and dream.I like to visualize Friday evening’s results. I like to eat ice cream with espresso.Hope this help!Please repost! ♻️ Appreciate it.I really want to help many thrive in gaming for a fulfilling, positive and real life.And with that → positive, real results.Thank you […]