Indie Game International

Vince Quarles is the CEO and Creative Director at DVNC Tech . They are developing a game called Monochrome RPG , a puntastic black-and-white RPG inspired by 1920s cartoons. It is in Early Access on Steam but will be coming to other platforms in the future. I played the game on PC and really enjoyed it. Everything about the development of this game is unique. In this episode we will discuss how  yo...

Annie and Lukas are the developers of A Little To The Left , an upcoming cozy puzzle game about tidying up. Max Inferno is thier development studio, based in Nova Scotia. A Little To The Left is slated for a Q3 2022 release, but you can play the demo right now. Max Inferno and A Little To The Left were called out by previous IGI guests Isaac and Virgilio Cortez of Hyper Three Studio. In this episo...

David Fazzio is the Lead Developer/Founder at Studio 46 , and the developer of The Companion (2021). The Companion is a story-driven exploration game and it is available on PC. This is David's second time as a guest on IGI.  In this episode we will discuss porting The Companion to Switch, acquiring a publisher, open world level design, working in Unreal 5, and we ponder the question: If all your T...

Aubrey Serr is the founder and lead developer at 12 East Games . Aubrey was previously on the show to discuss 12 East's 2017 game Trackless . Today we are discussing the games Receiver and Receiver II , developed by Wolfire Games. Aubrey provided art and writing for Receiver and its sequel, as a part of Wolfire. Receiver is a hyper-realistic gun simulator FPS game. In this epsiode we will discuss...

Nakul Verma is the Director and Founder at Playbae Games. We are discussing Playbae's first commercial release, 2021's In My Shadow . I played In My Shadow on Steam, but it is also available on Switch, iOS, Xbox, and Playstation. In My Shadow is a puzzle/platformer with shadow manipulation at its core. I really enjoyed my time with the game so I recommend it highly. In this episode we will discuss...

Philippe Wyart is a composer. He composed the music for Firegirl: Hack 'n Splash Rescue , a 2D roguelite platformer from 2021, which has some of my favorite videogame music ever made. I was honored to speak to Philippe about this music. Firegirl is available on PC and soon on consoles. Firegirl's lead artist, Gabe Miller, and another artist who worked on the game, Aubrey Serr, were both previously...

Jasmine Cooper is a composer for video games. We are discussing The Amber Throne and Mixolumia in this episode, two games for which she provided original music. I've played both games on Steam and I enjoyed them very much.  In this episode we will discuss JRPGs, advice for finishing a game, the importance of composer/developer communication, the importance of self-awareness, the challenges of free...

Eduardo Ortiz Frau was a freelance sound designer for indie games until he recently started his own games studio, Groove Box Games. Ed was called out by past guest Andrew Rohrmann, aka scntfc. Andy and Ed worked together on Afterparty, from Night School. We are discussing many games, including EVERYTHING , Afterparty , and Groove Box Games' upcoming first game. Check out Eduardo on the web at edso...

Sam Barham is the Creative Director and Emily Latta is the Community Manager at Balancing Monkey Games . We are discussing Before We Leave from 2020 which is available on PC, Xbox, and soon on Playstation. Before We Leave is a city builder/resource management game set in space and on different planets. I played it on Steam and very much enjoyed the game. I recommend it highly.  In this episode we...

Tom Hardwidge is the Co-Founder of Tall Story Games . He is currently developing a 2D point-and-click adventure game called Lucy Dreaming , slated for a Q3 2022 release. The demo is available on Steam and it is a lot of fun. Tom became a game developer less than 2 years ago and Lucy Dreaming is his biggest release yet. In this episode we will discuss formulating a consistent elevator pitch for you...

Josh "Cheese" Bush has been a game developer for nearly three decades. Today we are discussing his game Hive Time , from 2019. Hive Time was initially created for a game jam, but was released as a more robust and polished game later. Hive Time is a pay-what-you-want game available on Cheese's itch.io page: cheeseness.itch.io In this episode we will discuss the resource management genre, researchin...

Cécile Richard is a graphic designer, zine maker, and game designer based in Melbourne. She was called out by past guest Maik Gross, developer of One Simple Observation. Maik specifically called Cécile out for Under A Star Called Sun , but she has created many games which are available on her itch.io page: haraiva.itch.io . I have played at least 6 games by Cécile and they are incredibly thoughtfu...

This is Shotgun Anaconda's second time on the show. Previously, we discussed Velocity Noodle , but today we are discussing his earlier game, Baby Redemption . Baby Redemption is a 2D twin stick shooter. I enjoyed the game very much. It is available on PC. In this episode we will discuss sound design, menu design, the two months following the release of your biggest game, and...Elden Ring. This epi...

Jonny Botcherby develops games under the name MoonsPod and we are discussing his latest game, Lonely Rover , from 2021. Lonely Rover is a top-down 2D exploration/survival game in which you assume the role of a lonely robot rover on an empty planet. It was made for the GoGodot Jame 2 game jam. You can play the game on the MoonsPod itch.io page . MoonsPod is also doing work now with past guest Witch...

Esben Kjær Ravn is the Founder and CEO of Kong Orange , a devlopment studio based in Denmark. We are discussing Felix The Reaper (2019), a shadow manipulation puzzle game, as well as Kong Orange's upcoming game, Vokabulantis, a 2D stop motion side scroller. Felix The Reaper is super fun and funny and you can get it on PC, Switch, Xbox, and Playstation, and mobile.  In this episode we will discuss...

Mate Magyar is the developer of Knife To Meet You , a knife throwing simulator currently in early access. You can get the game on Steam and on mobile devices. The game is hilarious and the physics-based gameplay is a joy to experiment with.  In this episode we will discuss physics-based games, early access, finding a programmer for your game idea, social media and marketing, the challenges of teac...

David Fazzio is the Lead Developer and Owner at Studio 46 and the developer of The Companion (2021). In The Companion, you take on the role of a wolf/dog in a narrative exploration game. You can get the game on PC and soon on Switch. You can also wishlist David's new and upcoming game The Majestic . In this episode we will discuss what is a solo developer?, creating a good UI, environment design,...

Melanie Burgmer is the developer of Memorabilia , a first person narrative and exploration game. Mel is also the Community Manager for Game Dev Unlocked , as well as a translator for games. You can find her games on her website or on her itch.io page . In this episode we will discuss online game dev school, leaving a corporate job to work for yourself on game dev, scope control, using the GameMake...

James Smart is a game developer from the UK. He learned how to make games through the online game development program, Game Dev Unlocked . We are talking about his game Island of the Lost , released in 2021 on Steam. Island of the Lost is a first-person exploration game with tons of collectibles and secrets to uncover. The environments, especially, are quite beautiful.  In this episode we will dis...

Kim Belair is the CEO of Sweet Baby Inc , a Narrative Development Studio working in indie games as well as AAA. Sweet Baby Inc was established in 2018 after Kim spent 5 years at Ubisoft. She was one of the writers for the game Sable, which we are discussing today. Sable is available on Xbox and PC.  In this episode we will discuss what is a narrative development company?, why Kim left AAA, the maj...

Rafael Bordoni is the developer of Charge Kid, To Shed New Light, and From The Core. Today we are discussing From The Core, a game jam game which can be found on Rafael's itch.io page . From The Core is a 2D Metroidvania without powerups, and created under the theme "Moon Shot." Rafael has been featured previously on IGI and will be featured again.  In this episode we will discuss breaking traditi...

Alx Preston is the Founder of Heart Machine , developer of Hyper Light Drifter (2016) and Solar Ash (2021). Alx was called out by Matthew Pusti, aka Makeup And Vanity Set. We are here to discuss Solar Ash, which is available on Playstation and PC.  In this episode we will discuss transitioning from 2D to 3D, building a game in Unreal, existing between AAA and indie, what does a commercially succes...

Matthew Pusti, aka Makeup And Vanity Set, is a composer of podcasts, films, video games, and more. I interviewed the developer of Trackless which was scored by MAVS, so I reached out to the compser for an interview. I have been a fan of his since I first heard his work in the Atlanta Monster podcast. MAVS has also scored Overpass and Bouncy Smash, both of which I played and enjoyed very much. This...

Welcome to another video game score composer week here at IGI! First up is Josie Brechner who was called out by past guest Andrew Rohrmann, aka scntfc. Josie has provided sound and music to many indie games including Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King, Extreme Meatpunks Forever, Fit For A King, and Mixolumia. I have personally played Mixolumia and Fit For A King and I enjoyed both very much.  In thi...

We are discussing Shotgun Anaconda's new game, Velocity Noodle , released on January 21, 2022. Velocity Noodle is a challenging 2D precision platforming game about delivering noodles in a neon, futuristic city. You can get it on PC. It is an extremely fun game. It was highly anticipated by me and it does not disappoint. In this episode we will discuss making a difficult game, challenges with play...