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Game Economist Cast

Game Economist Cast

By: Phillip Black
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What does the new wave of open economies mean for monetization? Will negative externalities overcome cosmetics economies in the long run? What exactly does a game economist do?

Game Economist Cast is a roundtable discussion of the latest developments in mobile, HD, and crypto games through a bunch of people figuring it out using the economic tool kit.

© 2025 Game Economist Consulting
Economics Politics & Government Science Fiction
Episodes
  • E42: Vertical Progression Is Gaming's Sex & Finally A Web3 Hope
    Sep 1 2025

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    Forget the endless autopsies on why Web3 gaming flatlined, @Chris gets past the clichés and gets into the real pathology: a misdiagnosis of what “play-to-earn” was ever good for.

    • @Eric & @Phil on vertical progression is the most important retention driver for several specific reasons
    • The “market for lemons” problem in developer <> publisher relations: why developers can banbooze publishers

    Sub to Eric and Chris' Substack here:

    • https://substack.com/@ericguan
    • https://substack.com/@chriseconomics

    00:00 Introduction and Free Trials in Drug Dealing
    00:28 Economics of Drug Dealing
    02:11 Personal Experiences and Data Collection
    03:24 Car Dealerships and Market Monopolies
    04:57 Gaming Industry Insights: Clash Royale
    19:08 Battlefield 6: Gameplay and Strategy
    27:11 Rollerblading Adventures
    28:36 Rollerblading Economics
    30:16 Web3 Gaming Struggles
    34:54 Understanding Play-to-Earn Mechanics
    43:42 The Market for Lemons
    52:24 Conflicting Data on Gen Z Spending
    56:51 The Importance of Reliable Economic Data
    01:05:43 Conclusion and Future Topics

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • E41: Karl Marx as a 5* Character & Ukrainian Drone Economy Design
    Aug 4 2025

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    Eric covers the economy and the system’s design of Ukraine’s Drone squadron. What does economy balancing look like in the face of war? Phil can’t stop gushing about Heroes of History, but there's one economy design piece holding it up. The crew descends into a John Maynard Keynes debate as a 4* or 5* character. Chris covers the economic impact of the UK’s new obligation for internet providers, potentially transforming UGC as we know it.

    https://ericguan.substack.com/p/ukraine-gamified-drone-warfare


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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • E40: The Best Web3 Arguments (w/Yat Siu, Cofounder of Animoca Brands)
    Jun 16 2025

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    Yat Siu, Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Animoca Brands, steps cast to defend Web3 against @Eric and @Phil’s vigorous skepticism. @Chris just want to know why gamers don’t get it. Is Web2 fundamentally incapable of grasping the promise of open markets? What is and should be promised to token holders?

    We discuss:

    • Laying down Web3’s steelman case
    • Why the West still doesn't get Web3 like the East
    • Examining the original token sin, where did it all go wrong?
    • Do digital property rights actually hold back economic growth?
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    1 hr and 10 mins
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