Pocket Gamer Connects Digital has returned once again, set to bring together some of the finest voices in the games industry and beyond.
PGC Digital #4 takes place on November 9th - 13th. To give you a taste of what to expect, we'll regularly be publishing interviews with the speakers at the show.
The conference spans across five days and will feature a broad selection of tracks, talks and speakers, as well as various fringe events and a new and improved meeting system. For more details on PGC Digital and to book a ticket, head to the website.
Today's spotlight is on David Pich, head of business development at Funorama. Pich will be heading to PGC Digital #4 to present a talk titled 'Ads as a tool for retention', where he will share his expertise on utilising ads to retain users in mobile titles.
Tell us a bit about your company?
We’re a mobile game development and publishing company with over 10 years of accumulated experience in the mobile gaming industry. A creative and UA powerhouse, research-oriented, and data-driven decision-making team.
From our data-driven creatives and user-acquisition mantle to monetisation’s secret sauce, we’re your one-stop-shop partner to ensure you generate the revenue your next mobile game deserves.
What does your role entail?
As Head of Business Development, I'm always exploring new growth points for the company, and manage companies publishing funnel.
Why did you want to work in the games industry?
I wanted to work in the gaming industry ever since I started playing PC strategy games: from Diablo to Age of Empires. I always looked for an ecosystem that can combine my key characteristics and games.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to get into it?
Learn a lot - There are plenty of free and good sources to learn from the bests - podcast, online webinars, knowledgebase, etc. networking, meetups and webinars - gaming companies always looking for talent, so stay alert.
What are your thoughts on the industry in the last 12 months?
Two major issues had and will continue to impact the gaming industry: COVID-19 has drastically increased user playtime which, with good monetisation, will positively impact hyper-casual ad-revenue.
On the other hand, it will be interesting to see how UA strategy will change with the new iOS 14 privacy update, which made IDFA irrelevant, as in-game advertising makes up a majority of revenues and targeted ads.
What major trends do you predict in the next 12 months?
Consolidation in the gaming industry, e.g. Zynga Bought Rollic, Peak, Small Giant games and more. Aristocrat bought Plarium, Big fish, Playtika with Seriously, Wooga, Etc
How has the games industry changed since you first started?
The gaming industry is ever-evolving, people across the world are now spending more time than ever playing games, and more significantly, they’re also engaging with advertising more, this trend has played to the strengths of hyper-casual’s monetisation model.
Which part of the Connects event are you most looking forward to and why?
I’m looking forward to connecting with other colleagues and developers, see what insights we can share and which creative, crazy new game development is coming out (that we can be a part of).
Want more?
The full conference schedule is now live, featuring 16 tracks and over 200 expert speakers. You can also check out our other track rundowns and coverage of previous Pocket Gamer Connects conferences ahead of the event itself.
Register for Pocket Gamer Connects Digital #4 today!
