Compute and the Metaverse
The role of compute in the Metaverse. Part IV of ‘THE METAVERSE PRIMER’
Virtual Platforms and the Metaverse
The role of virtual platforms in the Metaverse. Part V of ‘THE METAVERSE PRIMER’
Interchange Tools + Standards and the Metaverse
The role of interchange tools + standards in the Metaverse. Part VI of ‘THE METAVERSE PRIMER’
Payments, Payment Rails, and Blockchains, and the Metaverse
The role of payments, payment rails, and blockchains in the Metaverse. Part VII of ‘THE METAVERSE PRIMER’
Content, Services, and Asset Businesses in the Metaverse
The role of content, services, and asset businesses in the Metaverse. Part VIII of ‘THE METAVERSE PRIMER’
Evolving User + Business Behaviors and the Metaverse
The role of evolving user + business behaviors in the Metaverse. Part IX of ‘THE METAVERSE PRIMER’
Interview with Emmy Magazine
Can Netflix still grow, COVID's impact on competitive dynamics, Roku's gatekeeper power, Amazon+MGM & Disco Warner Bros, vMVPDs, Quibi, and more
What Is an Entertainment Company in 2021 and Why Does the Answer Matter?
Why is every media company now an “every media” company? What is it that audiences truly want? And what’s the most important goal for a franchise or IP?
Podcast: “Tomorrow with Rovio” - The Metaverse and More
“It’s hard to talk about gaming in 2021 and not come across references to the Metaverse. Fortnite, Roblox and Minecraft can all lay claim to be building it (in their own way) with many others trying to get in on the action. Who will be the first to successfully build The Metaverse is a question ripe for discussion and few have spent more time thinking about it than Matthew Ball.”
Apple, Its Control Over the iPhone, and The Internet
An essay on platforms, power, prosperity, principles, and profits.
My Blog for ‘The Economist’: The Marvel Cinematic Universe arrives on TV with “WandaVision”
After a decade of dominance at the box office, the franchise turns its attention to the small screen
My Blog for ‘The Economist’: The Best Television Series of 2020
These excellent shows made the long evenings and weekends in isolation tolerable
How Technology Shapes Content and Business Models (Or Audio’s Opportunity and Who Will Capture It)
The content, business models, and health of every media category is driven by technology. And audio technology has never been so diverse and dynamic. After decades of struggles, audio is ready to grow, not just replace.
My Blog for ‘The Economist’: Despite a changed television landscape, the Emmys had a familiar feel
With a clutch of awards for “Succession” and “Watchmen”, HBO reigned supreme
My Blog for ‘The Economist’: Gamers are logging millions of hours a day on Roblox
The platform, popular with tweens, allows developers to cash in on its success
Invest Like the Best Podcast: The Metaverse, Future of Media + Movies, IP + Immersion
Patrick and I went deep into topics including the Metaverse (its technical challenges, opportunities, and philosophy), IP and the role of business model and technical innovation in storytelling, the Unreal Engine, Cloud Gaming, Fortnite as a competitor to Spotify, and more.
Nintendo, Disney, and Cultural Determinism
An essay on what Nintendo does and doesn’t want to be, why, and what this means for its future
The Epic Games Primer: Parts I-VI Directory
A walk through of one of the most important, but least understood companies of the future.
Epic Games Primer (Pt VI): Epic's Philosophy and Unprecedented Aspirations
How does one explain Epic’s strategy? What is the Epic Games Flywheel looking to achieve? Why is Epic spending billions to launch new businesses that remove or reduce all the value in that category - and without shifting the remainder to Epic’s own pockets?
Epic Games Primer (Pt V): Fortnite & How It Built the Epic Flywheel
Walk through of one of the most important, but least understood companies of the future. Part 5 focuses on Fortnite, its creative ethos, and how it built Epic’s flywheel