Joseph Kim, the CEO of Lila Games, takes listeners on a journey through his remarkable career in the gaming industry, spanning over two decades of experience at major companies and entrepreneurial ventures.
Kim begins by sharing his background in electrical engineering and computer science, followed by his early forays into startups and management consulting. He then delves into his transition to the gaming world, including his involvement in the early days of social and mobile gaming, as well as his role in the successful launch of King of Avalon at FunPlus.
As the conversation progresses, Kim provides a candid account of the challenges he faced in establishing Lila Games, his latest venture focused on developing shooter games in India. He emphasizes the importance of a relentless work ethic, brutal honesty, and a strong company culture, sharing his company’s values and the significance of aligning employees with the organization’s operating principles.
Kim also offers valuable insights into the current state of the gaming industry, addressing the impact of Apple’s deprecation of IDFA on user acquisition strategies and the potential implications for various game genres. He shares his perspectives on the rise of Web3 gaming and the viability of emerging platforms like UEFN and Unreal Engine for game development.
Furthermore, Kim delves into the competitive landscape and strategic considerations for companies in the ever-evolving gaming market, drawing parallels to industry giants like Ubisoft and Embracer Group. He explores the question of synergies and the ideal size for companies, as well as the challenges of operational efficiency in an increasingly competitive global market.
Throughout the conversation, Kim’s passion for the gaming industry and his commitment to creating meaningful experiences shine through. He emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, curiosity, and staying on top of industry trends, which he achieves through his prolific content creation, including his popular GameMakers podcast and newsletter.
What is Building the Open Metaverse?
The metaverse is an open and immersive network for gaming, social engagement, and enterprise collaboration, enabled by a breadth of technology that includes game engines, AR wearables, real-world scans, and VR. On Building the Open Metaverse, hosts Patrick Cozzi and Marc Petit invite a broad range of technical experts to share their insights on how the community is building the metaverse together.
