IndieGameBusiness®

Today, our special guest is Edward Moore and we will be speaking about all things User Experience! Some of the topics we will cover today are: * What is UX and why is it important for indie games * General UX, localization, and certification consideration to get on digital storefronts worldwide (console and PC) * Guerilla UX Research methods for indie game devs on a budget * Accessibility in Game...

Today we have the developer of Backpack Hero, Jasper Cole! Backpack Hero SMASHED their $20k goal on Kickstarter and raised $200k +! We are going to be discussing Kickstarter, of course, and a few other things including. Backpack Hero Kickstarter and Early Development Inventory Management in Games Gamejams and releasing free games on Itch Backpack Hero Early Access starting August 15th To learn mor...

Today on Indie Game Business we are discussing early access versus simultaneous release for video games with Brian Etheridge from Tripwire Presents! Our topic list is:      When does early access NOT make sense?      Discussing early access with potential publishers first.     Early access as a tool for pitching your game  ...

Today we are talking with Jacques Benchetrit from Zordix and we will be learning about key debt terms, the M&A process in general, valuations in the press vs in actuality (i.e. how earnouts inflate headlines), the devil in the details of deal terms, and, the fundraising process. Connect with Jacques on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbenchetrit/ https://zordix.com/ To learn more about...

In this episode, we are speaking with Christopher Kellner from Astragon Entertainment about pitching your indie game. A few of the talking points we will cover are: - various aspects of pitching  - pitching starts way earlier than you think - pitching doesn't end with signing a contract - a prototype is not a prototype and a demo video is not a demo video and much more! We answer questions li...

New technology advances, coupled with evolving dynamics around building and managing teams around the globe, have quickly changed the scope of work in our industry: What skills are required to stay ahead of the curve? How can we build and optimize teams working remotely from many locations worldwide? How do we create more transparent, supportive, and mission-driven projects and companies that sati...

How Ingrid began making games, why she believes in narrative-driven game design, how the war in Ukraine impacted their work. https://twitter.com/MatrixWolfGames https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingrid-wolf-b5130744/ https://www.facebook.com/IngridWolfGames

In this fireside chat with Nika Nour we will get you prepped for all the year's upcoming live events. This will cover everything from networking to safety to researching companies and requesting meetings. #gamedevelopment #indiedevelopment #videogames #mobilegames #indiegames

A discussion about the realities of games marketing and discovery in 2022 covering PR, social media, advertising and influencers. The discussion will provide an insightful look at the current state of marketing your game and provide tips, ideas and things to consider for your marketing campaign. #gamedevelopment #indiedevelopment #videogames #mobilegames #indiegames

In the last 20 years, I have noticed that the indie-industry sorely lacks leadership in structuring departments, department flow, and general organization. My goal for each attendee is to be able to walk out of the meeting knowing the fundamentals of the ebb and flow of each department and how to acquire talent. We will review and discuss how an effective and efficient production pipeline should l...

There is so much advice about what you should be doing to make and promote your indie game on Steam. It is exhausting. In this super detailed and actionable talk I will tell you exactly what 3 things you should be doing to get your game seen and give it the best chance to be purchased after launch. No more fluff. No more time consuming busy work that does nothing. Let's do this! My dream is that a...

Targeted offers, incentives, and cash back rewards are a core marketing strategy for credit card companies, product brands, and retailers for customer acquisition and retention. In this session find out why consumers love it, why companies offer it and how it could make you more money. This roundtable session will include the CEO of a company introducing loyalty and cash back rewards into the gami...

As indie developers, leveraging the power of different social media sources represents a great way to reach a large pool of potential supporters for your game. TikTok has become a massive and influential way to get the word out, but there is a lot of mystery on how it works and how to maximize on your content. Come chat about the benefits of the platform and discuss how you could use this platform...

You may think big-name (and big-budget) when you first hear the word influencer, but there’s a massive network of creators who are eager to showcase your game to their community. This panel will discuss the techniques we’ve developed to discover, work with, and measure influencer impact on game sales. #gamedevelopment #indiedevelopment #videogames #mobilegames #indiegames

We sit down with some of the best indie publishers in the world to discuss your questions about scouting, publishing, pitching and more! Bring your questions and we'll answer them live! #gamedevelopment #indiedevelopment #videogames #mobilegames #indiegames

With almost a decade in games journalism AND game development, I can tell you exactly what the press are looking for, and give insights into how indie game coverage works. There are no magic, one-size-fits-all solutions to the problem of how to get coverage for your small game, but you can increase your chances of coverage significantly if you play your cards right. I can help you figure out what...

An all-out AMA to get any questions you have about game production, project planning, budget estimation, and more. #gamedevelopment #indiedevelopment #videogames #mobilegames #indiegames

This talk will go over the development and release of “Rain on Your Parade,” a multi-platform game where you play as a cute cloud and ruin everyone’s day.  The main takeaways for attendees would be a detailed and specific example of developing and self-publishing a multi-platform indie game, full of useful statistics, tips, and pitfalls to avoid. #gamedevelopment #indiedevelopment #videogames...

One of the most important factors in scaling games is understanding the LTV cycle. For short LTV games like hyper casual, scaling games is typically financed by publishers and the breakeven periods can be just a few days. But for long LTV games, such as merge or social casino a different strategy is required. Scaling these games can require significant capital and it's really important to understa...

Success (and sometimes failure) always brings GROWTH. Which generally is painful. This session delves into common pitfalls, mistakes and screwups any games company experiencing growth will face and maybe a few tips on how to avoid them. Inevitably your games company will experience growth - either in headcount, projects or within its people. Hopefully it'll be born out of success. But you'll find...

The session will break down the do's and don'ts of applying for  Megagrants from Epic. Learn the best practices and most common mistakes  made by indie developers as they seek funding.    #gamedevelopment #indiedevelopment #videogames #mobilegames #indiegames

Outsourcing is very accepted in big studios, but indie and mid-sized  studios are usually skeptical. This session will show indies and  mid-sized studios how to effectively outsource part of their projects to  cut production cost while keeping a strong grip over assets' quality  and project's management.    #gamedevelopment #indiedevelopment #videogames #mobilega...

Define what you do best and become the exclusive provider to grow personal & business relationship Capitol. This session will help people recognize what value to bring to specific situations to have a higher percentage rate of success. The takeaway is how do you apply this in your everyday life beyond just the business room, for daily successful achievements toward your respective goals. &nbsp...

On today's show, we talk with Joseph Lieberman (twitter.com/antlionAudio) from Antlion Audio about the evolving video game business scene and how to adapt. We will cover a brief history of indie games & VGSmart (2003 - 2016; direct sales, casual games, Steam), 2016-Present: Antlion Audio, and how indie developers can use hardware partnerships, Diversification over the consolidation of PR, smal...

We brought together reps from some of the best indie publishers in the business and this is your chance to ask your questions directly. Join us for enlightening conversation and a bit of fun as well. Zhenghua Yang Founder, Executive Director Serenity Forge Zhenghua Yang (Z) is the founder of Serenity Forge, a value-driven video game development and publishing company in Boulder, CO. Having built h...