Indie Game Guildhall

Join us as we converse with passionate members of the IGA community. Gain valuable insights into the evolving landscape of game development, discover effective strategies for continuous improvement, and be inspired by the diverse experiences that shape the careers of these creative individuals. Whether you're a seasoned developer or a newcomer to the gaming scene, this episode offers a compelling...

In this episode, we talk to Jordan Davenport, a AAA game designer at EA, who has been making games for both indie and professional markets. Jordan shares his journey from creating his first game, S.O.N, which he self-published on PlayStation and won an Epic Games grant for $25,000, to working at Lost Boys Interactive and EA. We discuss the challenges of game development and his advice for aspiring...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Kiri Reeve, a young British games artist who has overcome physical challenges to pursue her passion. Kiri left her home country at the age of 21 to broaden her horizons and secure diverse work opportunities. With a First Class Honors Bachelor of Arts in Computer Games Art, she has already worked on the well-known title, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum. Tune...

Dive into the dynamic world of game design with our latest podcast episode featuring Nathan Kellman, a seasoned Level Designer at Lost Boys Interactive with over 2+ years of experience in the gaming industry. Nathan shares his insights into the intricate process of designing levels for renowned titles like Diablo IV, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the creative challenges and triumphs in the...

In this episode, we have the pleasure of talking to Graham Smith, a talented game artist who has worked on several game studios worldwide. He recently worked on the environments for the highly anticipated release, Poly Bridge 3. Graham is now leading a small startup that is dedicated to creating a 3D co-op hack-and-slash dungeon crawler game, reminiscent of the beloved Zelda series. Join us as we...

Kelly Baptista is a dynamic force in the gaming industry, boasting a rich background of six years in crafting immersive experiences. Starting in the physical realm, Kelly seamlessly transitioned into the digital sphere, specializing in augmented reality and mobile gaming. Having lent her talents to powerhouse companies like Niantic, where she contributed to an intriguing unannounced project, Kelly...

In this episode, we're joined by Bret Black, a daring innovator who traded his software engineering career for the realm of full-time game development. His brainchild, Wizard Cats Tank Battle, started as a one-person venture and has blossomed into a six-member team spanning three different countries. Bret's remarkable journey has yielded an impressive portfolio of five games, demonstrating the inc...

Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of game development with our special guest, Gabriel Cornish, a seasoned industry veteran with over a decade of experience. Having contributed to over 100 games and prototypes, including mega-hits like Harry Potter Hogwarts Mystery and Panda Pop, Gabriel's expertise is unmatched. He's on a mission to share his insights on turning creative concepts into...

Join us as we candidly address industry layoffs, shedding light on the human stories behind the headlines. We celebrate the unsung heroes, exploring the pivotal role of producers in shaping the games we love. And for those nostalgic for shared gaming experiences, we'll unearth the gems of couch co-op gaming, igniting a sense of camaraderie and nostalgia. Tune in for insightful discussions, heartfe...

In this episode, we are thrilled to host the immensely talented Pat Naoum, hailing from the vibrant city of Sydney, Australia. Pat's artistic odyssey, from a Creative Arts Bachelor to honing skills at AFTRS Film School, culminated in a captivating foray into game design. With unwavering dedication, seven years were spent mastering the intricacies of coding, hand-painting assets, and securing a pre...

Get ready for an exhilarating new episode featuring Andy, the dynamic Chief Product Officer and co-founder of eargym, a groundbreaking hearing care platform revolutionizing the way we approach auditory health. With a decade-long career in DJ-ing, Andy brings a unique perspective to the table, having personally navigated the challenges of hearing loss. His extensive background in digital production...

Discover the inspiring journey of Boba Studios, a women-owned indie game studio in Baltimore, MD, dedicated to representing underserved players. Their mission drives talks and workshops at the Enoch Pratt Free Library and a Game Design Badge Workshop for the Girl Scouts of America. With accolades like winning the 2018 UP/Start Competition and leadership roles in the International Game Developers A...

Get ready to be captivated by Enaree Kirkorian, a dynamic multimedia artist hailing from the vibrant streets of Queens, NY. As the visionary behind Superpose Press, Kirkorian takes art to new heights, embracing a culture hacking approach that pushes boundaries and challenges norms. Drawing inspiration from their own transnational queer and immigrant identity, Kirkorian's projects encompass a wide...

Join us for an amazing episode of the Indie Game Lunch Hour where we talk with Paul Quinones about Connecting Communities Through Games. Paul Quinones is a Game Developer that has years of industry experience spanning from Game Testing to Unity Engineering. Paul recently worked on Hyper Bimbo Beats, the IGA Level 3 Pitch Night winner, and Romancing Jan Broadsheets. He is also working on The Experi...

Join us for a wonderful episode of the Indie Game Lunch Hour where we talk with Shalin Shodhan about careers for people that don't fit in boxes. Shalin has been in games and film for 20 years. He has worked on 6 pixar films from Toy Story 3 to Finding Dory, and at Electronic arts he worked on the game Spore. He is currently running a studio in India called Masala Games who are making Detective Dot...

Join us for an inspiring episode of the Indie Game Lunch Hour where we talked with Keisha Howard about understanding the future of working in games. Keisha Howard, founder of Sugar Gamers, serves as a bridge linking under-resourced communities with major tech and game companies. Through thoughtfully crafted gaming programs and alliances with industry leaders, she has illuminated pathways for commu...

Join us for another amazing episode of the Indie Game Lunch Hour where we talked with Alex Kozachenko about approachable organic marketing for indie games. Alex Kozachenko is the CEO of HyperBeard, the largest mobile game developer and publisher in Mexico with over 200M downloads on Apple AppStore and Google Play Store with great games like Campfire Cat Cafe, Adorable Home & Pocket Love! Hyper...

Join us for an incredibly inspiring episode of the Indie Game Lunch Hour where we talked with Ryan Douglas, the co-founder of Deepwell, on how games can positively affect our mental health. A noted expert and innovator in the fields of mental health, artificial intelligence, and surgical robotics, Ryan has been on the frontline of major paradigm shifts in healthcare for nearly 20 years. He is the...

Join us for an empowering episode on Interviewing, Resumes, Portfolios, and All Else Career Building, as we dive deep into the essential skills and strategies to boost your professional journey. Whether you're a seasoned job seeker or just starting out, this podcast episode provides valuable insights, tips, and expert advice to help you thrive in today's competitive job market. Tune in and take yo...

Join us for an exciting episode as we welcome Rick Williams, a talented Unity Game Developer with experience in programming, producing, designing, and 3D artistry. With over 2 years in the industry, Rick and his close-knit team are on the verge of releasing their first commercial indie game, "The Sand Knight," with a mission to deliver players experiences worth having. Discover the challenges and...

This week's guest is the remarkable Katie Boyd. As the former Co-Head of Trust & Safety Operations for a live-streaming social app, Katie shares her invaluable insights on building and leading a department from the ground up, managing product safety, shaping policies, and scaling a diverse global team of over 140 professionals across 25+ countries. Join us as we explore the challenges, triumph...

Get ready for an exciting podcast episode featuring Tana Tanoi, the brilliant Technical Designer behind indie hits like Mini Metro and Mini Motorways from Dinosaur Polo Club! Tana's passion lies in creating approachable yet complex simulations that captivate players of all levels. We'll dive into his award-nominated game, Tana's S.H.A.P.E., a mind-bending physics puzzle that will leave you craving...

In this episode, we are thrilled to have Tony Li, a seasoned veteran in the industry, join us as our esteemed guest. Tony, the mastermind behind Wild Domain Games and the game development tools division Pixel Crushers, brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise as a gameplay & AI programmer and tools developer. With a track record of success and renowned creations like the Dialogue System for...

Get ready for an exhilarating episode of our podcast as we sit down with the dynamic duo behind Coin Crew Games, Wyatt Bushnell and Mike Salyh! These visionary founders started off designing mind-bending arcade games and escape rooms, but when the pandemic struck, they pivoted swiftly to create their first console and PC masterpiece, Escape Academy. Since its launch just under a year ago, Escape A...

Join us as we dive into the fascinating world of Lexie Rooks, an eccentric Level Designer who made her way into Night School Studio (Netflix). With an impressive background in crafting narrative mobile hits like Choices: Stories You Play and Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Lexie fearlessly embraces the realms of weirdness and wonder, infusing her work with humor. Join us as we explore how she is r...