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Ivan Krechňák

Ivan Krechňák

CEO/CO-Founder
Ivan Krechňák, CEO of PowerPlay Studio, originally worked as an internal medicine doctor but has been active in the gaming industry since 2003. His specialization lies in game design and player psychology. PowerPlay Studio has released 20 games to date, played by over 23 million players worldwide. The most well-known titles include *Athletics Mania* and *Post Apo Tycoon*. The games are developed by an international team of over 80 people. PowerPlay Studio is actively involved in promoting sports and supports talented athletes such as Ján Volko, Zuzana Rehák-Štefečeková, and Matej Beňuš. The company has also collaborated with major brands like the Tour de France and the International Biathlon Union. In 2014, PowerPlay Studio received the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 in Central Europe award as the fastest-growing tech company in Slovakia.

Talks & sessions

Beyond Tutorials - How Players Develop Competitive Gaming Skills and What can we do to Support them?

Players usually have a strong aspiration to improve their gaming skills, a desire which has been further reinforced by the increase of multiplayer games and the rise of competitive gaming. Learning to play can be guided by the game itself (e.g., via tutorials) but can also be largely self-regulated with players setting their own performance goals and by the social ecosystems surrounding games. However, self-regulated learning can be influenced by self-efficacy beliefs. This panel discusses different strategies players follow to improve their skills as well as high-level characteristics of how learning and self-efficacy manifests in different competitive genres. These can serve as useful guideposts for those interested in implementing teaching practices, systems, and tools for learning to play in- and outside of competitive games.

Behind the Scenes: How PowerPlay Studio Created the Official Tour de France Mobile Game

Connecting Brands with the Gaming Industry in Practice
A brief summary of the current crisis in the gaming industry. Brand marketing as a major opportunity for game studios. Our journey to connect games with brands — the challenges we faced and the successes we achieved.