Mobile Mavens

Our panel of experts drawn from all sectors of the mobile gaming industry

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Cracking the code: Will Apple's promo code push for IAPs help or hinder developers? MOBILE MAVENS Jun 2nd, 2014

Cracking the code: Will Apple's promo code push for IAPs help or hinder developers?

Our experts give their take

Alexey Sazonov CEO Panzerdog
Eli Hodapp VP of business development GameClub
Jared Steffes Co-founder Muxy
John Ozimek Co-founder Big Games Machine

John is co-founder of PR and marketing company Big Ideas Machine. Also an all-round nice guy...

Oscar Clark Chief Strategy Officer Fundamentally Games

Oscar Clark has been a pioneer in online, mobile, and console social games services since 1998. He is also author of the book, Games As A Service – How Free To Play Design Can Make Better Games.

Will Luton Founder/CPO Village Studio Games Village Studio

Recent articles

Is the proliferation of in-game currencies confusing players? MONETIZER MAVENS May 22nd, 2014

Is the proliferation of in-game currencies confusing players?

Introducing a new panel of experts

Ben Cousins Vice President, Studios FRVR

Ben is a 15-year veteran of the games industry - he's worked as a senior executive, studio head, project lead, creative director and game designer at companies like DeNA, EA, Sony and Lionhead.

He started working on traditional games, but has been focussed on the free-to-play business model since 2006 - an extremely long time by western standards. During that time He's worked on a total of ten separate free-to-play games across five different platforms reaching over 50 million users.

Ethan Levy Monetization design consultant, writer of FamousAspect.com
Giordano Contestabile VP, Product Management and Revenue Tilting Point
Justin Stolzenberg Director, Product & Monetization Flaregames
Mark Robinson CEO DeltaDNA

With over 15 years’ data mining experience, Mark co-founded deltaDNA, formerly GamesAnalytics, to unlock big data to drive player understanding, introducing the concept of Player Relationship Management to build better games.

Michail Katkoff Founder of DeconstructorofFun.com
Mikkel Celinder Owner, AppCrimes.com
Nintendo's gay gaffe: Has Tomodachi Life damaged the big N's reputation? MOBILE MAVENS May 20th, 2014

Nintendo's gay gaffe: Has Tomodachi Life damaged the big N's reputation?

Our Mavens talk Mario's PR fumble

Dave Castelnuovo Owner Bolt Creative
John Ozimek Co-founder Big Games Machine

John is co-founder of PR and marketing company Big Ideas Machine. Also an all-round nice guy...

Oscar Clark Chief Strategy Officer Fundamentally Games

Oscar Clark has been a pioneer in online, mobile, and console social games services since 1998. He is also author of the book, Games As A Service – How Free To Play Design Can Make Better Games.

Scott Foe Chief Product Officer Ignited Artists
Firing blanks: Is there any hope for the FPS on mobile? MOBILE MAVENS May 5th, 2014

Firing blanks: Is there any hope for the FPS on mobile?

Our Mavens debate

Andreas Vahsen CEO / CCO / Game Economist MachineWorks Northwest
Dave Castelnuovo Owner Bolt Creative
Harry Holmwood CEO Marvelous Europe

A games programmer before joining Sony’s early PlayStation team in 1994, he then founded developer Pure Entertainment, which IPO’d and launched a free-to-play online gaming service way back in 1999.

He was also a director of pioneering motion gaming startup In2Games, which was sold to a US group in 2008.

Along the way, he’s been a corporate VP, troubleshooter, and non-exec to a variety of companies and investors in and around the games sector.

Harry was European CEO of Marvelous AQL, a Japanese developer and publisher of social, mobile and console games, known for console games like No More Heroes and Harvest Moon, but now highly successful in the free-to-play mobile and web space in Japan and Asia.

Harry is CEO of Magicave.

John Ozimek Co-founder Big Games Machine

John is co-founder of PR and marketing company Big Ideas Machine. Also an all-round nice guy...

Jon Hare Owner Tower Studios
Oscar Clark Chief Strategy Officer Fundamentally Games

Oscar Clark has been a pioneer in online, mobile, and console social games services since 1998. He is also author of the book, Games As A Service – How Free To Play Design Can Make Better Games.

Scott Foe Chief Product Officer Ignited Artists
Wilhelm Taht Executive Vice President, Games Rovio
Would Oculus have caught Facebook's eye without the Kickstarter kick? MOBILE MAVENS Apr 28th, 2014

Would Oculus have caught Facebook's eye without the Kickstarter kick?

And should backers get a refund?

Dave Castelnuovo Owner Bolt Creative
David MacQueen Executive Director Strategy Analytics
Harry Holmwood CEO Marvelous Europe

A games programmer before joining Sony’s early PlayStation team in 1994, he then founded developer Pure Entertainment, which IPO’d and launched a free-to-play online gaming service way back in 1999.

He was also a director of pioneering motion gaming startup In2Games, which was sold to a US group in 2008.

Along the way, he’s been a corporate VP, troubleshooter, and non-exec to a variety of companies and investors in and around the games sector.

Harry was European CEO of Marvelous AQL, a Japanese developer and publisher of social, mobile and console games, known for console games like No More Heroes and Harvest Moon, but now highly successful in the free-to-play mobile and web space in Japan and Asia.

Harry is CEO of Magicave.

Jani Kahrama Founder Secret Exit
Jas Purewal Lawyer & Partner Purewal & Partners
John Ozimek Co-founder Big Games Machine

John is co-founder of PR and marketing company Big Ideas Machine. Also an all-round nice guy...

Oscar Clark Chief Strategy Officer Fundamentally Games

Oscar Clark has been a pioneer in online, mobile, and console social games services since 1998. He is also author of the book, Games As A Service – How Free To Play Design Can Make Better Games.

Scott Foe Chief Product Officer Ignited Artists
Thomas Nielsen Osao Games
Gay people in games: Industry experts call on devs to "share stories of diversity" MOBILE MAVENS Apr 15th, 2014

Gay people in games: Industry experts call on devs to "share stories of diversity"

Our Mavens give their take on this week's burning issue

David MacQueen Executive Director Strategy Analytics
Jared Steffes Co-founder Muxy
John Ozimek Co-founder Big Games Machine

John is co-founder of PR and marketing company Big Ideas Machine. Also an all-round nice guy...

Oscar Clark Chief Strategy Officer Fundamentally Games

Oscar Clark has been a pioneer in online, mobile, and console social games services since 1998. He is also author of the book, Games As A Service – How Free To Play Design Can Make Better Games.

Tracy Alan Developer Relations
Will Luton Founder/CPO Village Studio Games Village Studio
Will Amazon's Kindle Fire TV set the mobile games world alight? MOBILE MAVENS Apr 8th, 2014

Will Amazon's Kindle Fire TV set the mobile games world alight?

Or is it smoke and mirrors?

Christopher Kassulke CEO HandyGames
Harry Holmwood CEO Marvelous Europe

A games programmer before joining Sony’s early PlayStation team in 1994, he then founded developer Pure Entertainment, which IPO’d and launched a free-to-play online gaming service way back in 1999.

He was also a director of pioneering motion gaming startup In2Games, which was sold to a US group in 2008.

Along the way, he’s been a corporate VP, troubleshooter, and non-exec to a variety of companies and investors in and around the games sector.

Harry was European CEO of Marvelous AQL, a Japanese developer and publisher of social, mobile and console games, known for console games like No More Heroes and Harvest Moon, but now highly successful in the free-to-play mobile and web space in Japan and Asia.

Harry is CEO of Magicave.

Jared Steffes Co-founder Muxy
Oscar Clark Chief Strategy Officer Fundamentally Games

Oscar Clark has been a pioneer in online, mobile, and console social games services since 1998. He is also author of the book, Games As A Service – How Free To Play Design Can Make Better Games.

Thomas Nielsen Osao Games
If Oculus is the future of Virtual Reality, then why didn't Google buy it? Apr 1st, 2014

If Oculus is the future of Virtual Reality, then why didn't Google buy it?

Our Mavens talk Facebook's very real recent acquisition

Andreas Vahsen CEO / CCO / Game Economist MachineWorks Northwest
Christopher Kassulke CEO HandyGames
Dave Castelnuovo Owner Bolt Creative
Harry Holmwood CEO Marvelous Europe

A games programmer before joining Sony’s early PlayStation team in 1994, he then founded developer Pure Entertainment, which IPO’d and launched a free-to-play online gaming service way back in 1999.

He was also a director of pioneering motion gaming startup In2Games, which was sold to a US group in 2008.

Along the way, he’s been a corporate VP, troubleshooter, and non-exec to a variety of companies and investors in and around the games sector.

Harry was European CEO of Marvelous AQL, a Japanese developer and publisher of social, mobile and console games, known for console games like No More Heroes and Harvest Moon, but now highly successful in the free-to-play mobile and web space in Japan and Asia.

Harry is CEO of Magicave.

John Ozimek Co-founder Big Games Machine

John is co-founder of PR and marketing company Big Ideas Machine. Also an all-round nice guy...

Sandy Duncan CEO YoYo Games

Under Sandy’s leadership, YoYo Games has built an active GameMaker community 250,000-members strong while building partnerships with Amazon, Intel, Microsoft, and Valve that have helped it achieve 200 percent YOY growth in 2012.

Sandy’s previous experience includes a 17-year stint at Microsoft.

Will Luton Founder/CPO Village Studio Games Village Studio
What themes will dominate at GDC 2014? MOSCONE STATE OF MIND Mar 14th, 2014

What themes will dominate at GDC 2014?

Our Mavens lay out their expectations

Jared Steffes Co-founder Muxy
Oscar Clark Chief Strategy Officer Fundamentally Games

Oscar Clark has been a pioneer in online, mobile, and console social games services since 1998. He is also author of the book, Games As A Service – How Free To Play Design Can Make Better Games.

Sandy Duncan CEO YoYo Games

Under Sandy’s leadership, YoYo Games has built an active GameMaker community 250,000-members strong while building partnerships with Amazon, Intel, Microsoft, and Valve that have helped it achieve 200 percent YOY growth in 2012.

Sandy’s previous experience includes a 17-year stint at Microsoft.

Thomas Nielsen Osao Games
Will Luton Founder/CPO Village Studio Games Village Studio
How can developers deliver the next Flappy Bird? (And should they even try?) Feb 10th, 2014

How can developers deliver the next Flappy Bird? (And should they even try?)

Our Mobile Gaming Mavens give their take

Dan Gray Chief Creative Officer Ustwo games
Dave Castelnuovo Owner Bolt Creative
Harry Holmwood CEO Marvelous Europe

A games programmer before joining Sony’s early PlayStation team in 1994, he then founded developer Pure Entertainment, which IPO’d and launched a free-to-play online gaming service way back in 1999.

He was also a director of pioneering motion gaming startup In2Games, which was sold to a US group in 2008.

Along the way, he’s been a corporate VP, troubleshooter, and non-exec to a variety of companies and investors in and around the games sector.

Harry was European CEO of Marvelous AQL, a Japanese developer and publisher of social, mobile and console games, known for console games like No More Heroes and Harvest Moon, but now highly successful in the free-to-play mobile and web space in Japan and Asia.

Harry is CEO of Magicave.

Jared Steffes Co-founder Muxy
John Griffin CMO GameSparks
John Ozimek Co-founder Big Games Machine

John is co-founder of PR and marketing company Big Ideas Machine. Also an all-round nice guy...

Oscar Clark Chief Strategy Officer Fundamentally Games

Oscar Clark has been a pioneer in online, mobile, and console social games services since 1998. He is also author of the book, Games As A Service – How Free To Play Design Can Make Better Games.

Paul Farley CEO / Founder Firestoke Games

Since founding Tag Games in 2006 Paul has built the studio from humble beginnings to become one of the most respected and successful mobile and handheld developers in Europe.

He began a long, and some might say, distinguished, games industry career at legendary developer DMA Design, playing a key role in the development of the GTA series

Paul Virapen CEO WearGa

A veteran of the games industry with over 15 years experience, Paul has previously held roles as Head of Games at The Walt Disney Company, and CEO of Big Pixel Studios.

He is currently the CEO and co-founder of WearGa, a London based startup focused 100% on games designed for smartwatch.

Scott Foe Chief Product Officer Ignited Artists
Thomas Nielsen Osao Games
Vladimir Funtikov Co-Founder Creative Mobile
Wilhelm Taht Executive Vice President, Games Rovio
Will Luton Founder/CPO Village Studio Games Village Studio
Will Apple's next big innovation wipe away the memory of iPhone 5C? Mobile Gaming Mavens Feb 5th, 2014

Will Apple's next big innovation wipe away the memory of iPhone 5C?

Our Mobile Gaming Mavens on getting things back on track

Harry Holmwood CEO Marvelous Europe

A games programmer before joining Sony’s early PlayStation team in 1994, he then founded developer Pure Entertainment, which IPO’d and launched a free-to-play online gaming service way back in 1999.

He was also a director of pioneering motion gaming startup In2Games, which was sold to a US group in 2008.

Along the way, he’s been a corporate VP, troubleshooter, and non-exec to a variety of companies and investors in and around the games sector.

Harry was European CEO of Marvelous AQL, a Japanese developer and publisher of social, mobile and console games, known for console games like No More Heroes and Harvest Moon, but now highly successful in the free-to-play mobile and web space in Japan and Asia.

Harry is CEO of Magicave.

John Griffin CMO GameSparks
John Ozimek Co-founder Big Games Machine

John is co-founder of PR and marketing company Big Ideas Machine. Also an all-round nice guy...

Oscar Clark Chief Strategy Officer Fundamentally Games

Oscar Clark has been a pioneer in online, mobile, and console social games services since 1998. He is also author of the book, Games As A Service – How Free To Play Design Can Make Better Games.

Wilhelm Taht Executive Vice President, Games Rovio
If you're thinking of taking on China, be prepared to 'suffer' The Lure of Asia Jan 28th, 2014

If you're thinking of taking on China, be prepared to 'suffer'

Our Mavens on the lure of Asia

Chris Hanage General Manager (Europe)
Christopher Kassulke CEO HandyGames
Joony Koo Head of Business Development Block Crafters
Kyu Lee President (Gamevil USA) Gamevil

Kyu has been at GAMEVIL since the beginning in 2000 and has constantly played a key role in the evolution of Korean mobile gaming, continuously introducing innovation to the world.

Kyu graduated from Seoul National University with a BS in Physics and is currently on the board of advisory at GDC Mobile.

2014: The year when studios 'stop trying to be the next Supercell' The Year Ahead Jan 15th, 2014

2014: The year when studios 'stop trying to be the next Supercell'

Our Mobile Gaming Mavens on the year ahead

Adam Telfer Consultant MobileFreeToPlay

Adam has been in the mobile game industry since 2007, creating games independently. He's since grown into a full 50+ person studio manager.

Recently he's taken a position at Wooga in Berlin to sharpen his design skills and work with the world's best to create amazing, well-crafted products onto the mobile marketplace.

Andreas Vahsen CEO / CCO / Game Economist MachineWorks Northwest
Harry Holmwood CEO Marvelous Europe

A games programmer before joining Sony’s early PlayStation team in 1994, he then founded developer Pure Entertainment, which IPO’d and launched a free-to-play online gaming service way back in 1999.

He was also a director of pioneering motion gaming startup In2Games, which was sold to a US group in 2008.

Along the way, he’s been a corporate VP, troubleshooter, and non-exec to a variety of companies and investors in and around the games sector.

Harry was European CEO of Marvelous AQL, a Japanese developer and publisher of social, mobile and console games, known for console games like No More Heroes and Harvest Moon, but now highly successful in the free-to-play mobile and web space in Japan and Asia.

Harry is CEO of Magicave.

Jared Steffes Co-founder Muxy
John Griffin CMO GameSparks
John Ozimek Co-founder Big Games Machine

John is co-founder of PR and marketing company Big Ideas Machine. Also an all-round nice guy...

Jon Hare Owner Tower Studios
Oli Christie CEO Neon Play
Oscar Clark Chief Strategy Officer Fundamentally Games

Oscar Clark has been a pioneer in online, mobile, and console social games services since 1998. He is also author of the book, Games As A Service – How Free To Play Design Can Make Better Games.

Will Luton Founder/CPO Village Studio Games Village Studio
Mobile Gaming Mavens discuss whether the games industry is inherently sexist? Dec 18th, 2013

Mobile Gaming Mavens discuss whether the games industry is inherently sexist?

And not treating them as silly, hysterical women...

Adam Green Managing Director / Owner Assyria Game Studios

Adam is an indie developer who works on own-IP and work-for-hire, both inside and outside the games industry. He formerly ran iOS promotion service Daily App Dream, before going on to sell the business in November 2012.

Christopher Kassulke CEO HandyGames
Dave Castelnuovo Owner Bolt Creative
John Ozimek Co-founder Big Games Machine

John is co-founder of PR and marketing company Big Ideas Machine. Also an all-round nice guy...

Sarah Thomson Account Executive - F2P and Mobile Sony Computer Entertainment
Scott Foe Chief Product Officer Ignited Artists
Will Luton Founder/CPO Village Studio Games Village Studio
Discovery debate: Is it Apple and Google's job to help good games get spotted? Dec 2nd, 2013

Discovery debate: Is it Apple and Google's job to help good games get spotted?

Our Mobile Gaming Mavens discuss

Alex Bubb Head of Partner Management and Marketing Microsoft Mobile

An innovative and passionate senior marketing leader with a track record over 16 years driving propositions and brand development client-side for leading companies including Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Electronic Arts, T-Mobile, Sony, and Canon.

Alexey Sazonov CEO Panzerdog
Charles Chapman Director / Owner First Touch Games
Dan Gray Chief Creative Officer Ustwo games
Harry Holmwood CEO Marvelous Europe

A games programmer before joining Sony’s early PlayStation team in 1994, he then founded developer Pure Entertainment, which IPO’d and launched a free-to-play online gaming service way back in 1999.

He was also a director of pioneering motion gaming startup In2Games, which was sold to a US group in 2008.

Along the way, he’s been a corporate VP, troubleshooter, and non-exec to a variety of companies and investors in and around the games sector.

Harry was European CEO of Marvelous AQL, a Japanese developer and publisher of social, mobile and console games, known for console games like No More Heroes and Harvest Moon, but now highly successful in the free-to-play mobile and web space in Japan and Asia.

Harry is CEO of Magicave.

Oscar Clark Chief Strategy Officer Fundamentally Games

Oscar Clark has been a pioneer in online, mobile, and console social games services since 1998. He is also author of the book, Games As A Service – How Free To Play Design Can Make Better Games.

Will Luton Founder/CPO Village Studio Games Village Studio
Is it worth developers sacrificing their freedom to foster funding? Nov 26th, 2013

Is it worth developers sacrificing their freedom to foster funding?

Our Mobile Gaming Mavens on the art of investment

Harry Holmwood CEO Marvelous Europe

A games programmer before joining Sony’s early PlayStation team in 1994, he then founded developer Pure Entertainment, which IPO’d and launched a free-to-play online gaming service way back in 1999.

He was also a director of pioneering motion gaming startup In2Games, which was sold to a US group in 2008.

Along the way, he’s been a corporate VP, troubleshooter, and non-exec to a variety of companies and investors in and around the games sector.

Harry was European CEO of Marvelous AQL, a Japanese developer and publisher of social, mobile and console games, known for console games like No More Heroes and Harvest Moon, but now highly successful in the free-to-play mobile and web space in Japan and Asia.

Harry is CEO of Magicave.

Jared Steffes Co-founder Muxy
John Ozimek Co-founder Big Games Machine

John is co-founder of PR and marketing company Big Ideas Machine. Also an all-round nice guy...

Jon Hare Owner Tower Studios
Oscar Clark Chief Strategy Officer Fundamentally Games

Oscar Clark has been a pioneer in online, mobile, and console social games services since 1998. He is also author of the book, Games As A Service – How Free To Play Design Can Make Better Games.

Paul Virapen CEO WearGa

A veteran of the games industry with over 15 years experience, Paul has previously held roles as Head of Games at The Walt Disney Company, and CEO of Big Pixel Studios.

He is currently the CEO and co-founder of WearGa, a London based startup focused 100% on games designed for smartwatch.

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