Episode 6: Marija Ilić: Scaling Gaming Startups Globally, TwoDesperados Founder, Startup Mentorship

In this episode, we have one of the most prominent executives, founders, and advisor in the gaming industry - Marija Ilic. She is a mentor at Google for Startups Accelerator, previously co-founded TwoDesperadors gaming company, and President of the board at the Serbian Gaming Association. She discusses the challenges of product development in gaming, the 60-30-10 rule for game design and explains the significance of creating a vertical slice for testing. She delves into the complexities of self-publishing in the gaming industry, the importance of user retention and analytics, and the value of user feedback in improving game design. Finally, she discusses the important role of mentorship in supporting founder and startup growth. Takeaways- The 60-30-10 rule for game development.- Creating a vertical slice is essential for testing.- Emotional detachment is important as a founder for decision-making.- Understanding user behavior is key in gaming.- User retention is crucial for the success of a game.- User feedback is essential for understanding player behavior.- The first indicator of a founder's potential is their coachability.- Failing fast is better than seeking textbook answers.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Maria Ilic and Her Journey03:01 Transition from Service-Based to Product-Based Business06:05 The Challenges of Game Development09:07 The Importance of Metrics in Gaming12:08 Going All In: The Decision to Focus on Gaming14:58 The 60-30-10 Rule in Game Development17:57 Building a Vertical Slice for Game Testing21:03 Self-Publishing in the Gaming Industry28:54 Going to Market: The Self-Publishing Journey34:16 Understanding User Retention and Analytics42:13 The Importance of User Feedback44:34 Advising Founders: Insights from Experience51:24 Rapid Fire: Key Decisions in Entrepreneurship