IndieGameBusiness®

In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we’re joined by Darren Williams, Founder & CEO of MinMax Game Consulting, to explore a question every developer should ask: why do some great games fail to find an audience? Using Bayonetta as a case study, Darren breaks down the lessons indie developers can learn from games that were critically acclaimed but struggled to achieve commercial success. We dis...

Join us for an IndieGameBusiness Fireside Chat with Guy Blomberg from Games Industry Gathering. In this conversation, we’ll discuss building communities within the games industry, creating meaningful networking opportunities, and the evolving challenges facing developers and industry professionals today. Guy shares insights from organizing and growing Games Industry Gathering, along with lessons l...

In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we’re joined by Rob Carroll, CEO of Roll Craft, to break down what it really takes to start an indie game studio from the ground up. Rob walks through the key decisions founders need to make early, including choosing the right company structure, deciding whether to go solo or bring on co-founders, and where to form your company. He also shares the story behind...

In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we’re joined by Mercedes Boberg, Sales Manager at Pragma and Firstlook, to break down how indie developers should approach working with creators from day one. Mercedes shares why thinking about creators early, before launch, is critical and explains the difference between paid creator campaigns and organic creator growth. We’ll talk about what actually makes c...

Join Patrick Sweeney for “Working with Publishers: Lessons Learned from 3,000 Agreements” Publishing deals can be complex, and small misunderstandings can lead to big problems. Drawing from experience across thousands of agreements, Patrick breaks down common myths, recurring pitfalls, and what developers often overlook when entering partnerships. This session offers clear guidance on how to appro...

Join Katherine Vildoso for “Building International Networks: Ambassador & Partnership Strategies” Expanding beyond local reach can be one of the biggest hurdles for growing organizations. Katherine shares how to build and scale an international network, drawing from her experience launching and formalizing an association within a year. This session covers how to develop a strong ambassador pro...

Join Eline Muijres for “Your Publisher Is Still Judging You: How Trust Is Built, Lost, and Repaired in a Publishing Relationship” Signing a publishing deal isn’t the finish line, it’s the start of a long-term relationship. Eline draws from her experience as a Publisher Producer to explain how trust is built, tested, and sometimes broken throughout development. Using real-world examples, this sessi...

Join Jay Powell for “Finding the Right Publishing Partner for Your Game” Not every publisher will be the right match for your project, your goals, or your team. Jay breaks down what publishers actually bring to the table, how to evaluate potential partners, and the warning signs developers often miss. This session covers the key questions to ask before signing an agreement and how to find a publis...

Join Dmitry Martirosyan for “Publisher Relationships – What it Gives and What it Takes?” Working with publishers is a craft that goes far beyond signing a deal. Dmitry explores what it really takes to build and maintain strong publisher relationships in an industry shaped by shifting audiences, evolving technology, and constant market changes. This session breaks down the skills, awareness, and ad...

Starting a studio without industry experience can feel overwhelming, but it’s more common than you think. Alina walks through what it takes to build a game studio from the ground up and keep it running over time. As a follow-up to her 2022 session, she expands on the realities of managing a studio long-term, covering early decisions, ongoing challenges, and what founders need to stay on track as t...

Join Mark and INDIE as they discuss the talks and insights shared during the May Deep Dive focused on building strong publishing partnerships. This post-event session will break down key presentations, highlight important takeaways from speakers, and explore what those lessons mean for indie developers. They’ll cover what was said about finding the right publishing partners, common mistakes develo...

Securing interest from a partner or investor is only the first step. Chelsea explains how corporate due diligence works in the U.S. and why some studios lose deals during the background review process. By walking through how investigators evaluate risk, this session reveals what reviewers look for in your company records, public presence, and business materials. You’ll leave with a clearer underst...

Join Meg Clarke for “I Love You But Your Pitch Sucks” – A tough title, but an honest one. Meg breaks down the common mistakes developers make when approaching investors, from unclear messaging to misaligned expectations. With direct feedback and real-world perspective, this session highlights what holds pitches back and how to improve them without losing your creative vision. Expect candid insight...

Join us for a special IndieGameBusiness Fireside Chat with Ash Cason, Ian Wright, and April Stallings from Make-A-Wish. This conversation will focus on what’s happening with Make-A-Wish this year and how the video game industry is playing a powerful role in helping grant life changing wishes. Ian Wright, Lead Manager of Gaming Fundraising, and April Stallings, Charitable Gaming Program Manager, wi...

In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we’re joined by Eleni Sagredos, Advertising Operations Strategist and growth marketing consultant who has worked with companies like Epic Games and Meta/Oculus. Eleni shares what growth marketing really means for game teams and how to focus on what actually drives results instead of chasing vanity metrics. We dive into the marketing levers that truly move the...

In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we’re joined by Alexandre Amancio , Head of Studio at Studio Ellipsis, for a wide ranging conversation about the current state of the games industry and where it is headed next. Alex shares his perspective on why the future of game development may lie with smaller, more focused teams and how creative constraints can actually lead to better and more original ga...

In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we’re joined by Romy Halfweeg, Business Development Manager at Poki, to break down how indie developers can succeed in the growing world of web gaming. Romy shares an overview of the browser gaming space, how it has evolved, and where Poki fits today with a catalog of over 1600 games. Drawing from her experience as a former indie developer, she explains how th...

In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we’re joined by Mike Straw, Executive Editor at Insider Gaming, to talk about the current state of games media and how the industry is being viewed from the inside. Mike shares insight into the evolving landscape of games journalism, how major companies view gamers today, and whether true innovation is still happening across the industry. We also discuss how c...

In this special Fireside Chat, Jay Powell and Mario Kroll sit down with longtime industry leader Larry Kuperman for a heartfelt farewell and reflection on an incredible 25 year career in games. The conversation begins with the two people who have meant the most in Larry’s professional journey, Jay and Mario, before looking back at a legacy that spans more than 30 games and decades of service to th...

In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we’re joined by Jo from JoGameDev, the developer behind the tactical spell crafting roguelike Spellmasons. The game has sold over 60,000 copies on Steam and recently crossed 1,000 reviews. Jo shares the honest story behind the game’s journey. After early sales stagnated during the first two years, Jo reignited interest through focused marketing efforts that dr...

In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we’re joined by Junae Benne, Marketing Journalist at Benne Media Solutions, to talk about why community is the foundation of successful indie game marketing. Junae breaks down how to build a community from the ground up, how community directly impacts visibility and sales, and why many struggling indie games overlook this critical piece. We’ll also discuss how...

Welcome to a new IndieGameBusiness segment: Fireside Chat. In this episode, Jay Powell sits down with Heather Chandler for a candid conversation about one of the biggest silent killers in game development: lack of production. Too many teams focus only on “make the game” without building a real plan for how it gets finished, marketed, funded, and sustained. Jay and Heather break down what bad produ...

This talk focuses on the most common mistakes teams make when building a pitch and how to avoid them. Based on real experiences reviewing and producing game projects, it explores why many pitches fail to communicate their true potential, not because the ideas are bad, but because they are poorly framed, unfocused, or disconnected from business and production realities.

Join Jay and Ivan for an inside look at what publishers and investors really look for in a pitch deck. Drawing on their experience reviewing countless submissions, they’ll break down the key elements that make a deck stand out and what may cause them to be overlooked. Walk away with practical insights to help your pitch rise above a crowded field.

Pitch decks shouldn’t feel like homework, they should feel like gameplay. In this session, I break down how indie developers can Gamify their pitch decks and design decks that engage, guide, and convert investors, publishers, and partners using game design thinking. Drawing from real indie pitching lessons, failed pitches, and successful iterations, I’ll show how to structure your deck like a play...