Read on Twitter
A thread on my most-read essays of 2020 and my thoughts 3-11 months later.
Thank you everyone for the reads, feedback, support, follows, notes, edits, gripes, responses, more!
Thank you everyone for the reads, feedback, support, follows, notes, edits, gripes, responses, more!
#1: 7 Reasons Why Video Gaming Will Take Over (Jan)
https://www.matthewball.vc/all/7reasonsgaming
Never written an essay I felt a greater need to keep updating. Gaming is such an amazing medium.
This essay is also the one “most pulled forward” by COVID.
(I later came to regret the audio analogy)
https://www.matthewball.vc/all/7reasonsgaming
Never written an essay I felt a greater need to keep updating. Gaming is such an amazing medium.
This essay is also the one “most pulled forward” by COVID.
(I later came to regret the audio analogy)
#2: Audio’s Opportunity and Who Will Capture It (Oct)
https://www.matthewball.vc/all/audiotech
Just amazed by the reception here. We talk constantly about the "streaming wars", but it turns out there's incredible demand for the "audio wars"
Gaming essay led me to massively rethink 'aged' audio.
https://www.matthewball.vc/all/audiotech
Just amazed by the reception here. We talk constantly about the "streaming wars", but it turns out there's incredible demand for the "audio wars"
Gaming essay led me to massively rethink 'aged' audio.
#3: The Metaverse: What It Is, Where to Find it, Who Will Build It, and Fortnite (Jan)
https://www.matthewball.vc/all/themetaverse
Never expected this esoteric, technical and inchoate theme to become such a mainstream idea, buzzword, and hit.
(Have made so many 2020 friends through this piece.)
https://www.matthewball.vc/all/themetaverse
Never expected this esoteric, technical and inchoate theme to become such a mainstream idea, buzzword, and hit.
(Have made so many 2020 friends through this piece.)
#4: The Epic Games Primer (May)
https://www.matthewball.vc/all/epicgamesprimermaster
What an incredible company.
Lede highlighted the ostensible gap between Epic's $17B valuation and the $1-2T tech giants it should be compared against.
Epic spent all of 2020 proving why.
Incredible company
With @JNavok
https://www.matthewball.vc/all/epicgamesprimermaster
What an incredible company.
Lede highlighted the ostensible gap between Epic's $17B valuation and the $1-2T tech giants it should be compared against.
Epic spent all of 2020 proving why.
Incredible company
With @JNavok
#5: Nintendo, Disney, and Cultural Determinism (July)
https://www.matthewball.vc/all/onnintendo
Should have been more clear that I'm not bearish on or dissatisfied with Nintendo. It's an *incredible* co.
But really happy with piece. Culture is so hard to write about and I think I got it right.
https://www.matthewball.vc/all/onnintendo
Should have been more clear that I'm not bearish on or dissatisfied with Nintendo. It's an *incredible* co.
But really happy with piece. Culture is so hard to write about and I think I got it right.
#6: Esports and the Dangers of Serving at the Pleasure of a King
https://www.matthewball.vc/all/esportsrisks
COVID-19 was a boon for everything gaming. Except esports. Many teams received lifelines from publishers to survive, others divested entirely.
Still hopeful, but COVID-19 was a truthteller
https://www.matthewball.vc/all/esportsrisks
COVID-19 was a boon for everything gaming. Except esports. Many teams received lifelines from publishers to survive, others divested entirely.
Still hopeful, but COVID-19 was a truthteller
#7: Digital Theme Park Platforms: The Most Important Media Businesses of the Future
https://www.matthewball.vc/all/digitalthemeparkplatforms
The incredible surge of Roblox + Fortnite in COVID has proved this thesis, but this is the essay I'm most proud of in 2020. And it's really about the power of hugs.
https://www.matthewball.vc/all/digitalthemeparkplatforms
The incredible surge of Roblox + Fortnite in COVID has proved this thesis, but this is the essay I'm most proud of in 2020. And it's really about the power of hugs.
#8: The Impacts of COVID-19 on (1) Theaters/Film; (2) Gaming and our Virtual Lives; and (3) Pay-TV and OTT Video
https://www.matthewball.vc/covid-impacts
I published this March 29th and have spent the remaining 268 days wishing I'd levered to the teeth investing on the recommendations
https://www.matthewball.vc/covid-impacts
I published this March 29th and have spent the remaining 268 days wishing I'd levered to the teeth investing on the recommendations
#9: Cloud Gaming: Why It Matters And The Games It Will Create (May)
https://www.matthewball.vc/all/cloudmiles
Never learned more writing an essay than in this one (h/t to co-author/expert @JNavok).
Incredibly proud of portfolio company @GenvidTech, which is pioneering the space w/ @RivalPeak
https://www.matthewball.vc/all/cloudmiles
Never learned more writing an essay than in this one (h/t to co-author/expert @JNavok).
Incredibly proud of portfolio company @GenvidTech, which is pioneering the space w/ @RivalPeak
#10: Content, Cars, and Comparisons in the "Streaming Wars"
https://www.matthewball.vc/all/contentcarscomparisons
Argued that Disney's original content spend was several times more efficient than Netflix's (HBO's is too).
Disney+ analyst day drilled this home
As did Netflix's 2020 reorg, lack of hits
https://www.matthewball.vc/all/contentcarscomparisons
Argued that Disney's original content spend was several times more efficient than Netflix's (HBO's is too).
Disney+ analyst day drilled this home
As did Netflix's 2020 reorg, lack of hits
Can't publicly thank everyone who made these essays great (assure you, they're FAR from being just me). But huge thanks to @jonathanglick @CtotheJones @patrick_oshag @gadyepstein @juliey4 @JNavok @tweettal @NotJackDavis @PaulRehrig @Tocelot @JNavok @loudmouthjulia @eugenewei
My Christmas pipeline
My favorite Rosie photo of the year.
Last week
After back-to-back calls that meant I didn't give her dinner on time.
Last week
After back-to-back calls that meant I didn't give her dinner on time.
2020 new follow recommendations (unordered): @juliey4 @alice__LG @pinchedforgrowf @peterrojas @Post_Market @web @mattdusekwho @nkjemisin @eric_seufert @CathieDWood
Three most affecting books of 2020
- Marvel Comics: The Untold Story by @seanhowe
- Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson
- V.C.: An American History by Tom Nicholson
- Marvel Comics: The Untold Story by @seanhowe
- Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson
- V.C.: An American History by Tom Nicholson
