H1 2024 recap
Here I share the highlights on what's been happening on EGD during the first half of 2024.
First, I have some news regarding the EGD templates.
In 2019, I started sharing useful startup templates, including a cap table modeling tool, NDA templates, board meeting minutes, and more. Many have asked for the templates that have gone offline.
I put everything together into a Google Drive folder, which you can access here. These files are view only, so you must make your own copies before using them.
Most read pieces
During the first half of 2024, these pieces were the most read on Elite Game Developers.
Gaming Startups in Finland: From Boom to Bust?
As a Finnish game developer and startup investor, I'm very concerned about the Finnish games industry. In this piece, I discuss three reasons gaming startups have nearly vanished in Finland and what key elements that once made Finland a powerhouse in the gaming industry are missing.
At F4 Fund, we have supported several founders who transitioned from gaming to developing consumer apps, utilizing their unique skills. In this piece, I discuss what gamification could look like and the prospects for a new gamification 2.0 model to emerge.
Why Voodoo's Model Doesn't Fit Indie PC Gaming
This whole article started from a set of WhatsApp messages in which a friend of mine asked why the indie PC gaming space doesn't have a Voodoo-like company launching games quickly to see what works. In this piece, I share my thoughts on this nuanced topic.
Books I recommend
So far, I've read 18 books in 2024, and here are my top three picks for great summer reading: two nonfiction books and one fiction book.
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder (on Amazon)
What an exciting story I never knew existed! If you like historical stories with lots of detail about people going to the unknown and defying death for months, this is definitely worth reading.
Poor Charlie's Almanack (on Amazon)
I read PCA for the first time in 2019, but it feels like this year, I have accumulated so much more knowledge over the years that I could relate to what Charlie Munger is talking about in so many of the speeches covered in this book. Now available on Kindle, it's a must-read for people who want to get better at thinking about everything in life.
Up Down Up (on Amazon)
I dedicated an entire post to Kim Nordström's phenomenal games business book. Through countless interviews, Kim surfaces insights on managing game companies that haven't been shared. One quote from the book still comes to me from time to time, "There are artists, and there are entertainers. Artists paint for themselves; they care less about what others really think about their art. Entertainers are the opposite. They want to walk into a crowded stadium that is sold out. That's what they look for, an area to entertain!" — Jon Earner, Co-founder and CEO, of Space Ape Games.
Articles worth reading
I collect online articles, Tweets, and LinkedIn posts on a daily basis. I store them with Readwise, which I've previously discussed on Elite Game Developers. Here are my favorite picks from the past six months:
Is Supercell Super Back? UA Lessons We Can Learn
In this article, Matej Lancaric brilliantly combines all the reasons why Supercell has seen a massive revival in 2024, with Brawl Stars becoming the leading game, the Clash games becoming even better, and the global launch of Squad Basters. Also, as a recent bonus, Matej has been building a company, and he chatted with Miska about his journey as a solo entrepreneur on the DoF podcast.
The secret to Duolingo's growth
Duolingo continues on a growth trajectory. This recent piece in Lenny's newsletter highlights how Duolingo's team experiments to boost user retention and engagement and prioritizes copying proven mechanics before innovating and adding their unique twist. This piece offers valuable insights for any software developer building on an existing user base and wanting growth.
On the Competitiveness of UGC Games Platforms
This has been my favorite piece of 2024 so far. The topic tells a lot: it talks about how UGC platforms emerge, how some develop a user base, and how they grow these user bases with the involvement of UGC, creators, and the symbiosis of the platform and the small nascent businesses that start forming on top of these platforms. It's such a great read; I highly recommend it.
Final words
That's it. I hope you have a great rest of the summer. I'm taking a month's break from writing; see you again in mid-August!
‘The Wager’ is fantastic.
Thanks for the other recommendations. I will give Up Down Up a try.
Given your interests in gamification, I think you'd dig reading The Status Game by Will Storr, if you haven't already.