Game Wise: The IGEA Educates Podcast

This is yet another episode in our series highlighting Australian success stories, aimed at inspiring the next generation of game makers.  In this episode, Jens speaks with Jay Topping, Co-Founder and Creative Director of WeForge Studios, about the journey behind the co-op horror game Macabre . Starting as a lockdown project between friends with no prior games industry experience, WeForge graduall...

In this special episode of Game Wise, Jens sits down with Peter Xi, Partner at RSM specialising in R&D Tax and Government Incentives, and Roisin Arkwright, National Tax Technical Director at RSM, to unpack what the latest Federal Budget means for Australian game studios. Together, they explore the proposed changes to the R&D Tax Incentive, including the shift toward “high-intensity” R&...

We’ve released another episode in our series highlighting Australian success stories, aimed at inspiring the next generation of game makers. There’s no such thing as overnight success, so how did they do it, and what are their superpowers? In this episode, Jens sits down with Dineth Abeynayake, Founder and Product Lead at Foxie Games, to unpack the journey behind building one of Australia’s most s...

This is another episode in our series highlighting Australian success stories, aimed at inspiring the next generation of game makers. There’s no such thing as overnight success, so how did they do it, and what are their superpowers?  In this episode, Jens talks to the team behind Unpacking , one of Australia’s most celebrated indie successes. Wren Brier and Tim Dawson share how a simple real-life...

This episode is the first in a series on Australian success stories. There’s no such thing as overnight success, so how did they do it, and what are their superpowers? We start this series with the makers of one of Australia’s best-known games: Massive Monster’s Cult of the Lamb . In the episode, Jens sits down with Creative Director Julian Wilton to explore the long road behind the game, from ear...

In this episode of Game Wise, Jens is joined by Peer Schneider , Executive Vice President at IGN Entertainment , to unpack insights from IGN’s Gaming Trends Report .   The conversation explores how games are increasingly functioning as long-term platforms and cultural spaces , rather than one-off releases, and what that shift means for development, marketing, and audience expectations. Jens and Pe...

In this episode of Gamewise , Jens is joined by Video Game Insights' Vic Bessey for a data-driven look back at 2025 and what it tells us about where the games industry is heading. Drawing on VG Insights’ latest datasets and reports, the conversation explores global game sales and spending trends , the growing dominance of Steam , and the mounting challenge of visibility and discoverability in...

In this episode, Jens is joined by Dr Jeff Brand and IGEA CEO, Ron Curry, to unpack the latest Australia Plays report , now marking 20 years of tracking how the nation plays. Together, they explore what the data reveals about modern Australia: games as an intergenerational pastime, the rise of female players to 51%, and the powerful role games play in connection, wellbeing, and digital literacy. ...

In this episode, Jens and Andy speak with Scott Reismanis (Mod.io) and Monty Martin (Space Cadet Studios) about the explosive growth of user-generated content (UGC) in games. They unpack how platforms like Roblox, Fortnite, and mod.io's tools have turned players into creators, why UGC is now driving engagement, revenue and game longevity, and what this shift means for studios, publishers and...

In this episode of Game Wise , Jens and Andy sit down with Chris Wright (Fellow Traveller) and Tomas Rossel (Spawn Ventures) to explore what publishers and venture capitalists look for in game developers. Chris shares insights on the publishing side — from why niche focus matters to how early signals like wishlists and social buzz shape decisions. Tomas explains the VC perspective, highlighting th...

In this episode, hosts Jens and his co-host Andy chat with Manea Castet , Head of Studio at Gameloft Brisbane , and Joe Donoghue , CEO & Co-founder of The Three Thousands , about what makes Australian game development unique. Together they reflect on the country’s vibrant indie scene, world-class creativity, and the “can-do” culture that drives fun, engaging games. They also dive into the chal...

In this episode, Jens and his co-host Andy chat to Emmanuel “Manu” Rosier, Director of Market Intelligence at Newzoo, to unpack the latest trends from Newzoo’s PC and Console Gaming Report. From the stickiness of legacy titles to the discoverability challenges facing new games, Manu offers a data-rich yet accessible look at what’s shaping player behaviour, market saturation, and platform dynamics...

In this podcast, Jens from IGEA and his co-host, Andy from GameGlass, dive into the world of game marketing. They explore the critical role of marketing in the games industry, featuring insights from industry experts Kate Hall (PlayIndies), Michal Napora (32-33), and Jonny Roses (PlaySide Studios). Discover how to navigate the challenges of marketing for both large studios and indie developers. Le...