1. Games Alchemy Introduction
Games Alchemy Substack, by Antti Kananen, is all about Games Product Management, Product(s), Game Design, Economy Design, Monetization Design, Production Management, Marketability, and Leadership.
After over a decade in the games industry, as an Entrepreneur, Games Executive and Product Leader, with focus on free-to-play (F2P) mobile games and specialization in Products and Product Management, I’ve decided to start sharing my knowledge, insights and analyses here on Substack — with a goal of introducing advanced industry topics as well as ‘unorthodox’ means, methods, tools and insights for everyone (from newcomers to games industry veterans; who all can benefit of what I’ll be writing and sharing here over the time) curious about the industry and the topics I’ll be writing about.
One of the reasons also for me to put out this Substack is also around the fact that there aren’t much advanced sources for information over what I'll be sharing — so, I'm hoping my contributions will support those currently in need for such knowledge what I'll be focusing into, and that my blog here would spark others over time to write about their advanced knowledge and insights.
What also really drives me doing this is contributing my ideas and insights for the industry so that it keeps growing and people will start approaching games also from e.g., unique selling points and innovation perspective more boldly. For our industry, it's very common that everything goes in cycles — from platforms to game market segments to game genres, which is okay; yet, this is something we need to over time to break more for pushing innovation and growth for the industry, which also will compound to things such as new jobs and opportunities to people here vs. what we're facing now industry-wide.
Disclaimer for Readers: All opinions are my own, and my analyses and insights are constructive with good intentions. It’s advised that whatever I’ll be sharing, the applications of such knowledge, means, methods, tools and insights shall be used with everyone’s own best judgement, and each person and/or entity using and/or exploiting anything I’m sharing here, shall use everything in their sole responsibility (and be accountable themselves on the usage of what I’ve shared) without me being accountable and/or responsible for any outcomes. Readers are also welcome to challenge my opinions, as I'm always open to iterate my learnings and insights as the case becomes valid for such.
Topics the Games Alchemy Substack will be Focusing into:
These will be the main topics and areas I’ll be focusing into:
Games Product Management / Product(s);
Game Design, incl. Systems Design, Economy Design, and Monetization Design (with emphasis on F2P);
Marketing, Marketability, and Go-to-Market;
Games Production Management; and
Management, and Leadership.
Other related topics, areas, and disciplines in game development will get covered, as there is an interconnection between them with the topics I’ll be covering. Emphasis for the topics can be most on F2P Mobile Games, but the context and insights are relevant for anyone working (or curious about) over PC, Console, Web and other types of games.
My Substack will be, to some extend, a living system where I might occasionally link topics I write together, which means I'll be updating old ones occasionally to make connections between them and new topics; as these connections form over time. So, my Substack here, will be a living system / a living playbook to follow — which ensures my articles won’t lose their freshness after one read, and that they work as a guideline for many explorations in the industry for you, and me.
Personal Introduction
I’m a games executive, entrepreneur, and product leader with over a decade of experience in F2P Mobile Games development — with also some background and know-how over PC, Console and VR games development and publishing.
I’ve been involved in the full life-cycle of developing and releasing several games (seen both: commercial failures and successful games), from early idea stage to Live Ops, based on own and external IPs (incl. e.g., a Hollywood IP, and several known game IPs). I have worked from hybrid casual games to casual games and midcore games — incl. genres such as Arcade, Runner, Action, Simulation, Tycoon, Puzzle, Casual, Strategy, Tactical, RPG, and MMORPG.
In terms of running own businesses in games, I’ve been involved in the full life-cycle of it — from starting your own games startup to exiting it, as well as migrating your own studio within a larger corporation after an acquisition. On top of those I’ve been involved in, in some rare cases, in running down a studio for commercial reasons (yes, this can happen — and it’s business, which is something the industry knows for sure in 2024). Beyond my entrepreneurial experiences and explorations, I’ve worked for larger corporations and organizations in various seats (e.g., General Manager, and VP of Product) — as well as consulted few startups as a product consultant (focusing on e.g., product management, game design, monetization design, economy design, business, and such).
Additionally, I've invested as an angel investor in roughly 20 businesses in games, incl. multiple studios, D2C platform, and an ad tech. company. I'm also working as an Advisor for couple companies on the side.
I describe myself as a product person, with understanding and execution capability over the ‘whole funnel’ — from marketability to game design to product to monetization and live ops; with specialization on product / product management, which for me includes game design, commercial, business and leadership practices and understanding in the same package on top of product / product management items. At the time of writing this article, I'm having lots of curiosity over psychology, physiology, economics behavior, social mechanics, and systems design — and how to apply them more, and more, into game development and product management.
Fitting this all into a decade definitely says I’ve been on continuous learning and know-how development loop throughout my career — and, given my learnings, I’m happy to contribute my knowledge and insights for the industry, throughout which I’m hoping people to experience great adventures in the industry.
Work Opportunities
For any work opportunities, please reach me via my LinkedIn or drop me a message through other channels. I’m always interested in exploring different work opportunities for working over exciting mobile, PC, and/or console games (from indie games to AAA), incl. F2P, hybrid monetization, and other models.
I have rare world perception combining product, game design, monetization, economy and commercialization means together — with solid leadership skills and track record behind. If this interests you, I’m always happy to chat.
I believe the best games we haven’t seen are yet to be discovered, for which I have lots of right ingredients to offer. Curious to learn more? Let’s chat.
Where to Find More?
For finding more about me and what I’m sharing elsewhere, you can find more from:
My LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anttikananen/
My LinkedIn feed: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anttikananen/recent-activity/all/
Thank you for reading, and brace yourself! I hope you'll enjoy of what you'll be finding here now and in the future.