Josh Arteca

I hear a lot of frustrations with AI in the job market. This is a spot where you won't have to deal with AI.

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California’s efforts to jumpstart the entertainment economy are showing early signs of success, as the CA Film Commission saw a 400% spike in applications for tax credits in July. https://lnkd.in/gKTEpb_T

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I'm happy to welcome Adam Orth, Charlotte Cook, and Cisco Maldonado to our Midwest Games team. As we grow the business and global opportunities to help game publishing and dev teams succeed, adding even more experienced leadership expands our capabilities in many exciting ways. Ben explains the details well in his post below, but as a final point I'll just say it is great to have this momentum and extra horsepower heading into GDC. Can't wait to talk with folks there about the opportunities that may come from partnership!

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Slot Player Life Official Press Release 3/3/2026 After many months of operating in stealth mode, we are officially pleased to announce our presence to the world. We have the world's FIRST digital lifestyle platform for slot machine players. Duane R. Chapman Andy Shaw Mike Leuchtenberg Saul Ramirez Islas Slot Player Life #slotplayerlife #casino #slotmachine #gambling

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The recent news about Wildlight Entertainment confirming layoffs following a "troubled launch" is a sombre reminder of the risks involved in headcount planning. When a studio ramps up for launch, there is immense pressure to hire permanent staff to get the game out the door. But if the launch window softens, or if the game enters a maintenance phase faster than expected, that high headcount becomes a liability. This creates a cycle of "hire-and-fire" that damages employer branding and morale. For the next four quarters, we are advising clients to look closely at "Contingent Search" for production spikes. By utilising contract roles for the final push, you protect your core full-time team. It allows you to scale up capacity without overextending your long-term operational costs. It is not just about saving money; it is about protecting the people you have already committed to.

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For the first time ever, consumers have spent more in non-gaming apps than in games.  This is a remarkable shift in the app economy.  In 2025, IAP revenue from non-game apps surpassed that from games. Key takeaways:   - Consumers shelled out approximately $85 billion in apps last year.   - This is a colossal 21% yoy increase, and nearly 3x the amount spent just five years ago.   - Generative AI has played a significant role in driving this growth, but it's not the only factor.   - Almost all app genres reported positive IAP revenue growth, indicating a robust monetization landscape that is expanding beyond traditional gaming.  What does this mean for marketers?   - It is a wake up call to rethink your strategies.   - Non-gaming applications are not just add ons, they are pivotal to revenue growth.  As we continue to navigate this evolving space, the possibilities for tapping into this market are immense.  Lets talk about how you are planning to leverage this momentum and ensure your app is part of the non-gaming success story!  

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Last month, I had the chance to meet and chat with two fellow marketers in the gaming industry to discuss what we believe is shaping the future of marketing. We talked about AI, the value of being bold, and the growing importance of emotional intelligence in the present, and future, of our sector. A special thanks to Melanie Lindsey for organizing such a lovely and insightful conversation. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did.

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Sharing some gratitude today. In 2023, we launched a fellowship / early career mentorship program to guide college students from an Asian background at University of California, Berkeley to find careers on the creative side of the entertainment industry. The aim was simple, there's never going to be enough producers or executives on the creative side to bring all the worthy stories that exist to life, so we need more people who have the capacity and passion to get involved. Hollywood has many gatekeepers by design, but collectively we can enter those gates together. With the institutional resources of Berkeley Center for New Media, donation of Sam Kwok, mentorship leadership from Lacy Lew Nguyen Wright, Laura Reddy of Range Media Partners, Jonder Ho and Joanne Lee, this program continues into it's fourth year. If there are current students at Cal in my network or you know one who is interested in careers in entertainment, please share this.

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