Episodios

  • Full Steam Ahead: How Steam trends influence Mobile games?
    May 22 2025
    We go “Full Steam Ahead” with a special guest, Adam Telfer, unpacking how Steam hits influence mobile game development in 2025: from Dreamdale-ified Palworld clones to digging simulators, idle RPG mashups, and more.The crew explores:Why some Steam-inspired mobile games (like Repo Online) hit 10M+ downloads and $1.3M in adsWhy others (like Lilith's Palworld clone) flop despite a powerful IP remixWhich genres (like Plinko roguelites and digging sims) are best suited for mobileThe risks of literal copy-paste ports — and what actually works insteadThe role of TikTok trends, Steam reviews, and organic play patterns in predicting successWhy execution, not inspiration, is the differentiatorIf you're scouting Steam hits for mobile adaptation, this episode is your blueprint for what works and what crashes.🚂 What happens when mobile devs copy Steam hits too literally?And why do some weird first-person digging games make $1M, while others crash after launch?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---------------------------------------Vibe. Vibe is the leading Streaming TV ad platform for small and medium-sized businesses looking for actionable advertising campaign performance.https://www.vibe.co/---------------------------------------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: Adam TelferYoutube: https://youtu.be/wrbKxB97lJEJoin our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction04:01 Steam Games and Mobile Adaptations08:46 Case Study: Power World and Dreamdale11:45 Exploring Game Mechanics and User Experience14:40 Potential Mobile Game Adaptations17:40 Trends in Mobile Gaming and Copycat Games20:57 Navigating Game Development Challenges24:15 Analyzing Successful Game Mechanics27:07 Exploring Innovative Game Concepts30:20 Adapting Games for Mobile Platforms33:49 Evaluating Game Trends and Market Dynamics37:21 Understanding User Engagement and Monetization Strategies43:13 Exploring Complex Gameplay Mechanics44:58 The Future of Life Simulation Games46:29 Innovations in Game Design and AI Integration47:53 Speed and Physics in Gaming49:09 The Evolution of Idle Games55:32 The Rise of Unique Game Concepts57:03 Advice for Aspiring Game Developers---------------------------------------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 Lancaric
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    1 h y 3 m
  • Applovin MAX mediation: Step-by-Step Walkthrough for beginners by Felix Braberg
    May 21 2025
    In this solo 2.5 Gamers Monologue, Felix walks you through a full setup and strategy guide for AppLovin MAX mediation, from the basics to advanced performance optimization.Whether you're new to MAX or want to stop leaving revenue on the table, this video covers:How to set up ad units correctlyWhich networks to start with in 2025How to manage fill rates, waterfall placements, and API syncingWhat to monitor daily (like ad ARPDAU, viewer rates, and impressions per DAU)Real-world benchmarks for rewarded, interstitial, and banner formatsWhat advanced reporting still matters now that placements are being deprecatedThis is your complete starter guide to Applovin MAX.Using AppLovin MAX for ad monetization?This video is your complete, updated walkthrough — from setup to optimization — based on years of real-world experience.Felix breaks down:✅ How to set up ad units without overcomplicating things✅ Which networks to prioritize for rewarded, interstitial, and banner✅ How to connect APIs for accurate reporting (and avoid surprise payout gaps)✅ What to track daily: ad ARPDAU, viewer rates, and revenue trends✅ How to run clean A/B tests on bidders and placement floors✅ What to look for in advanced reports before placements go awayIf you're building any ad-monetized game or app, this is the baseline you need.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---------------------------------------Vibe. Vibe is the leading Streaming TV ad platform for small and medium-sized businesses looking for actionable advertising campaign performance.https://www.vibe.co/---------------------------------------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 Lancaric⁠Youtube: https://youtu.be/LtEJuyad7dYJoin our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipgChapters00:00 Introduction to Max Mediation02:05 Understanding Max Mediation's Market Position05:37 Getting Started with Max Mediation09:24 Setting Up Ad Units and Networks12:46 Analyzing Performance Data18:16 A/B Testing Strategies20:36 Advanced Reporting Techniques24:14 Conclusion and Next Steps---------------------------------------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
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    25 m
  • 🧩 Word Search Explorer Review: $168K/Day From Ads Alone. No IAPs Needed
    May 19 2025

    How do you build a mobile game that does $168K/day in ad revenue… with no fail states, no IAP pressure, and a monetization wall that doesn’t even kick in until level 24?


    You study Word Search Explorer, the latest word game from the Lands of Jail studio (PlaySimple/MTG), and a masterclass in calm, deliberate ad monetization.


    In this episode, we break down the ad placement strategy, retention metrics, and soft pacing systems that power one of the most deceptively profitable games on the App Store in 2025.


    🧠 What if you could make $56M/year with a game that doesn’t push a single IAP until after level 24?


    Word Search Explorer is doing just that — blending ultra-calm crossword mechanics with a surgical ad monetization strategy that’s pure efficiency.


    How this game delays monetization but still retains like a champion


    Why rewarded ads on store exit might be the best placement we’ve seen


    The power of fake difficulty and soft urgency pacing


    Why sessions are long, sticky, and filled with natural ad gaps


    How PlaySimple (owned by MTG) has perfected the casual word game formula


    The value of no fail states, no IAP hard stops, and deep passive flow


    What other casual games can learn from this patient, profitable model


    📈 This is the quiet money machine no one is talking about.


    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

    ---------------------------------------

    Vibe. Vibe is the leading Streaming TV ad platform for small and medium-sized businesses looking for actionable advertising campaign performance.

    https://www.vibe.co/

    ---------------------------------------

    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 Lancaric⁠

    Youtube: https://youtu.be/_PmjvYai0XY


    Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg


    Chapters


    00:00 Introduction to Word Games

    04:02 The Popularity of Word Games

    07:02 Market Dynamics and Revenue Models

    10:03 Game Mechanics and User Engagement

    13:03 Monetization Strategies in Word Games

    16:00 Future Trends and Innovations in Word Games

    20:25 Monetization Strategies in Word Games

    23:23 Ad Revenue Insights and Game Performance

    27:52 Retention vs. Monetization: A Balancing Act

    31:16 Creative Strategies and User Engagement

    40:32 Final Thoughts and Ratings

    ---------------------------------------

    Matej Lancaric

    User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant

    ⁠https://lancaric.me

    Felix Braberg

    Ad monetization consultant

    ⁠https://www.felixbraberg.com

    Jakub Remiar

    Game design consultant

    ⁠https://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 Lancaric

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    45 m
  • ⚠️ The Industry’s Dirty Little Secrets: Confessions from the UA Underground
    May 15 2025

    🎙️ This might be the most dangerous podcast episode we’ve ever released.

    An anonymous insider, voice-modulated for protection, joins us to expose the truth about mobile UA, ad network manipulation, and how millions are spent with zero payback logic. With voice modulation in place, our guest “Dr. Doom” reveals what happens behind the dashboards, network sales decks, and investor slides.


    You’ll hear :


    Dream Games' $50M brand campaign: brilliant market takeover or the dumbest ROI play of 2025?


    Why are most UA managers glorified spreadsheet jockeys, and why can’t founders tell the difference?


    The smoke-and-mirrors of cohort data, fake growth stories, and shady LTV curve manipulation.


    Chinese game studios' 300-person creative teams, outworking and outspending the West with terrifying efficiency.


    Rewarded traffic, fake installs, App Store gaming, everything still happens. We pretend it doesn’t.


    Ad network manipulation — how early numbers are fluffed, forecasts are gamed, and management eats it up.


    This episode is a gloves-off, bullshit-free reality check. No brand-safe talking points. Just raw, uncomfortable truth from someone who’s spent millions and seen the industry from every dirty angle.


    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

    ---------------------------------------

    Vibe. Vibe is the leading Streaming TV ad platform for small and medium-sized businesses looking for actionable advertising campaign performance.

    https://www.vibe.co/

    ---------------------------------------

    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: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej Lancaric, Joseph Kim

    Special guest: Dr. Doom (anonymous gaming industry legend)

    Youtube: https://youtu.be/1Rb3L6gBK9E


    Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg


    Chapters


    00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

    04:57 The Overrated Studios in Mobile Gaming

    06:40 Analyzing Dream Games' Strategy

    12:39 Understanding User Acquisition Challenges

    18:44 The Role of UA Managers and Internal Metrics

    25:46 Understanding User Acquisition Campaigns

    28:16 The Evolution of User Acquisition Strategies

    30:15 The Importance of Community in User Acquisition

    31:56 Creative Teams and Competitive Advantage

    33:09 The Role of Chinese Studios in the Market

    37:57 Challenges for Western Developers in Forex Games

    42:00 The Impact of AI on Creative Processes

    45:22 The Viability of Bot Downloads Today

    ---------------------------------------

    Matej Lancaric

    User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant

    ⁠https://lancaric.me

    Felix Braberg

    Ad monetization consultant

    ⁠https://www.felixbraberg.com

    Jakub Remiar

    Game design consultant

    ⁠https://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 Lancaric

    Más Menos
    48 m
  • 📊 Is 24-Month Payback the New Normal? Real ROAS Benchmarks Revealed!
    May 14 2025

    Want real ROAS benchmarks from 300+ games and $200 M+ in spend?

    This episode of 2.5 Gamers goes deep with ZJ from PVX Partners, who brings an insane dataset from UA financing across puzzle, casual, strategy, and 4X games.


    We cover what’s really happening in 2025:

    📉 Payback windows stretching to 12–24 months

    📈 Ad revenue up 15%, but not fast enough to catch CAC inflation

    🧠 M1 ROAS is the best early predictor of long-term success

    🔥 Payer retention is dropping, and revenue is clustering around whales


    🧠 What You’ll Learn:

    What’s a good M1 ROAS? (40% = 6-month payback, less than 25% = 12+ months)


    Why puzzle games are surprisingly strong in M2/M6 payer retention


    How hybrid monetization is now the norm, even in 4X and RPGs


    Real ROAS curves by genre, by cohort, and by channel


    Channel dominance: AppLovin still leads spend, but Google/Unity outperform in ROAS (really?)


    Why most UA teams underestimate revenue concentration risks

    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

    ---------------------------------------

    Vibe. Vibe is the leading Streaming TV ad platform for small and medium-sized businesses looking for actionable advertising campaign performance.

    https://www.vibe.co/

    ---------------------------------------

    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: Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric⁠

    Special guest: Zhen Jie (ZJ) Sim

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/zhenjiesim/


    Youtube: https://youtu.be/Kh8JkeXCH54


    Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg


    Chapters


    00:00 Introduction to PVX Partners and the Gaming Industry

    03:19 Analyzing ROAS Benchmarks and Trends

    06:31 User Acquisition Costs and Market Dynamics

    12:10 Monetization Strategies and Trends

    13:44 Payback Periods and Profitability Insights

    17:38 Retention Metrics and Revenue Concentration Risks

    22:30 Predictive Analysis and Future Trends

    24:46 Introduction to Lambda and ROAS Projections

    27:00 Funding Eligibility and Cohort Scoring

    28:25 Spending Trends in Casual Gaming Channels

    30:44 Attribution Challenges in Marketing

    34:30 Benchmarking Performance Across Channels

    36:51 Insights on Casual Puzzle Games Performance

    40:37 Future of Game Marketing and Community Support

    ---------------------------------------

    Matej Lancaric

    User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant

    ⁠https://lancaric.me

    Felix Braberg

    Ad monetization consultant

    ⁠https://www.felixbraberg.com

    ---------------------------------------

    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 Lancaric

    Do you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai


    #ROAS #MobileGames #UserAcquisition #GameMonetization #PuzzleGames #PVXPartners #PaybackPeriod #HybridMonetization #2.5Gamers #GameBenchmarks #MobileMarketing #AdSpend #GameGrowth #RevenueRetention

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    43 m
  • 🎭 Drama Pops Review: Why short drama could be the future of Mobile Entertainment?
    May 12 2025

    We talk with the Drama Pops team from Codeway — one of Turkey’s top mobile app publishers — about how they scaled a short drama app from scratch into one of the most promising products in the entertainment app space.

    www.codeway.co

    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.deepvision.shortdrama&hl=en


    🧠 What You’ll Learn:


    Why they chose to avoid ad breaks during cliffhangers (and how it helps retention)


    The economics of short-form drama production (yes, it's cheaper in Turkey than LA)


    The role of VIP subs, daily tickets, and ad slots in monetization


    How they approach hit creation, series testing, and expanding to global demographics


    The challenge of staying fresh in a sea of apps chasing the same TikTok tropes


    Why interactive content and AI may define the next wave of short drama apps


    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

    ---------------------------------------

    Vibe. Vibe is the leading Streaming TV ad platform for small and medium-sized businesses looking for actionable advertising campaign performance.

    https://www.vibe.co/

    ---------------------------------------

    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 Lancaric⁠

    Special guests: Sefa & Burkay

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/sefakoca/

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/burkay-cagilti/

    Podcast:


    Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg


    Chapters


    00:00 Introduction to Drama Pops and Codeway

    05:34 Overview of Codeway's Success and Growth

    07:15 Exploring the Short Drama Market

    10:25 The Journey of Creating Drama Pops

    11:59 Content Strategy and Launching the App

    13:23 User Experience and App Features

    18:32 Monetization Strategies and Ad Integration

    28:58 Content Production and Originality

    30:10 Trends and Audience Engagement in Content Creation

    32:39 Exploring Interactive Storytelling

    36:11 Monetization Strategies in Interactive Content

    37:20 The Impact of Hit Content on User Acquisition

    39:51 The Short Drama Industry Landscape

    42:00 User Acquisition and Content Decisions

    44:22 The Role of AI in Content Creation

    47:42 Playable Ads and User Engagement

    49:23 Long-Form Content in User Acquisition

    52:21 Expanding User Acquisition Channels

    54:52 The Future of Short Dramas and Audience Engagement


    ---------------------------------------

    Matej Lancaric

    User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant

    ⁠https://lancaric.me

    Felix Braberg

    Ad monetization consultant

    ⁠https://www.felixbraberg.com

    Jakub Remiar

    Game design consultant

    ⁠https://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 Lancaric

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    1 h y 2 m
  • 💥 The latest WTF ads pushing the creative envelope: Creative Trends You’ll Regret Missing April 2025
    May 8 2025

    In this episode, the 2.5 Gamers crew — Matej, Felix, and Jakub — dissect the top mobile ad creative trends spotted across platforms in April 2025.


    From AI-generated hooks dominating 5-second ad intros, to IP-mirroring creatives, TikTok-style POV playables, and Freezing Families never going away — this is a masterclass in what’s hot (and not) in mobile game UA right now.


    You’ll see:

    ⚙️ The rise of AI-generated 5-second hooks — and how top studios use them

    👑 Royal Kingdom going full Hollywood with celebs and social-first video

    🔄 Playable ad chaos: POVs, vacuuming goblins, and "Freezing Shakira" memes

    📉 Games with declining revenue but surging DAU — what’s behind it?


    If you work in UA, game marketing, or mobile design, this is your creative radar check.


    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

    ---------------------------------------

    Vibe. Vibe is the leading Streaming TV ad platform for small and medium-sized businesses looking for actionable advertising campaign performance.

    https://www.vibe.co/

    ---------------------------------------

    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 Lancaric⁠

    Podcast:


    Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg


    Chapters


    00:00 Introduction and Public Service Announcement

    04:08 Exploring Creative Trends in Gaming

    06:59 AI in Game Creatives

    10:06 Analyzing Successful Game Strategies

    13:05 The Role of Creatives in User Acquisition

    16:09 Current Trends in Game Development

    19:07 Deep Dive into Royal Kingdom's Success

    23:10 User Acquisition and Video Content

    26:09 The Role of AI in Creative Development

    29:08 Game Mechanics and User Engagement

    32:10 Trends in Mobile Gaming and User Acquisition

    36:27 Exploring Royal Match and Game Mechanics

    38:55 Analyzing User Engagement and Revenue Trends

    39:30 AI in Game Development and Animation

    40:55 Creative Strategies in Game Marketing

    41:41 The Role of AI in Creative Processes

    43:59 AI's Impact on Visual Design and Branding

    45:47 The Evolution of Game Ads and User Experience

    47:56 Innovative Concepts in Game Creatives

    52:01 Future Trends in Game Marketing and AI Integration


    ---------------------------------------

    Matej Lancaric

    User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant

    ⁠https://lancaric.me

    Felix Braberg

    Ad monetization consultant

    ⁠https://www.felixbraberg.com

    Jakub Remiar

    Game design consultant

    ⁠https://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 Lancaric

    Do you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai

    Más Menos
    54 m
  • 🧠 The Ultimate Gacha System Breakdown: What Every Game Designer Should Know by Jakub Remiar
    May 7 2025

    Ever wonder why some gacha systems print money, while others crash in weeks?


    In this special solo deep-dive, Jakub from 2.5 Gamers breaks down everything you need to know about gacha system design, from token economies to deck-building, duplicate handling, meta shifts, and the subtle art of collection drivers.


    If you're building a game with gacha mechanics — or just want to understand why Genshin, AFK Arena, and Clash Royale all work so differently — this episode is essential viewing.


    What You’ll Learn:

    The 3 core gacha models: Solid Token, Shard, and Merge Gacha

    Why deck size and collection drivers are make-or-break

    The truth behind duplicate value, token pacing, and gacha depth

    How games like Monster Strike, Puzzle & Dragons, and Survivor.io manage their meta and scale content

    The trade-offs between luck, grind, and progression friction

    Why Asia and the West design gacha systems so differently

    This is a GDC-level masterclass packed into one podcast.



    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

    ---------------------------------------

    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 Lancaric⁠

    Podcast:


    Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg


    Chapters


    00:00 Introduction to Gacha Systems

    02:21 Understanding Gacha and Loot Boxes

    04:10 Core Components of Gacha Systems

    15:17 Exploring Solid Token Gacha

    27:39 Understanding Shard Token Gacha

    40:53 Exploring Merge Token Gacha

    48:21 Future of Gacha Systems


    ---------------------------------------

    Matej Lancaric

    User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant

    ⁠https://lancaric.me

    Felix Braberg

    Ad monetization consultant

    ⁠https://www.felixbraberg.com

    Jakub Remiar

    Game design consultant

    ⁠https://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 Lancaric

    Do you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matej AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai


    Más Menos
    52 m
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