Indie Game Movement

While it was a bit challenging to make this decision, Mustapha and I are taking a short hiatus to focus our efforts on other projects we have going on for the end of the year.In light of that, we briefly discuss the importance of taking time for yourself to tackle your own projects and even to unplug a bit, plans we have for the other year, and when you can expect us to be back in full force again!

When it comes to building a team for your indie game studio, people usually focus on the work needed to finish the project. While that’s important, knowing and understanding how to build a healthy team from the beginning is essential to greater productivity and a healthy work culture. Thankfully Nicolas Hafner of ShinMera shares his experience and methods he uses to build an effective team that promotes active communication and a clear vision so they can work seamlessly together.

Gamifying your marketing is one of many ways to increase engagement for your audience, but people usually don’t think about how this can be done using different products.That’s why today we have Shawn French of HyperKinetic Studios to discuss how he took their game and adapted it to a comic, providing two stand alone products that organically cross-promote each other, creating a super value packed experience for both players and readers.

Knowing the right actions to take can be a little daunting when it comes to promoting your game on Steam prior to launch. There’s a lot of different paths to take, and not all are created equal making this a challenge for any dev. Thankfully, Bruno Laverny of Ishtar Games shows how his team navigated these questions through coming up with a simple plan and breaking things down so they could meet their goals and crush their steam marketing.

Quitting your job to go full-time dev can be a well...frightening thought. There’s a lot to consider but most importantly, is it the right move to make, and what’s the best way to go about making that commitment?Thankfully our guest Bruno Bonbardi has gone through this process twice and shares his reasons, how prepared he was and other considerations to be mindful of when you’re ready to quit your job and go full-time dev!

When you start sharing your game with the world, everything you do from then on deals with messaging. While you may have a good idea of what your studio and game are, sometimes how you convey that to others isn’t in the clearest or concise way.That’s why Mustapha and I are here to help discuss how important it is to clarify your messaging and some tips on ways you can do that, so when you start promoting your game, people have a clear idea of exactly what to expect from you.

We have discussed numerous times on the show that understanding player behavior and your audience is so important when it comes to marketing your game, but one thing we don’t think about much is how people react when money is involved. Understanding how price can change how people act can be a very daunting challenge, but knowing a little bit more of how it plays in someone’s decision to purchase your game can make a huge difference.

Finding a musician to compose your game music can be a task in itself, but understanding the process and communicating your vision can be more challenging than any dev would expect.That’s why we have Dakota Suave with us today, to share his insights to help us navigate the music composition process so you can have something you love and your audience wants!

Making any type of investment in your indie game is a big decision, especially when considering paid advertising. While there can be some risk involved with ads, there’s also a lot that can be gained, even outside of the results you get from running your campaign.That’s why today I’m going to discuss the right way to approach ads and how doing so will help you with all of your marketing efforts.

Out of all the different ways that games can get attention, the method that has stood the longest has been events. While major events like E3 started with different intentions compared to today, it’s a telling sign how the event landscape has shifted for numerous reasons, but one being the continued growth of indie games.In light of this, Mustapha and I talk about the impact major events have had but more importantly ways to view and approach them as an opportunity to stand out.

If there is one common dream that most indie devs share, it’s probably to be able to make indie games full time. But with such a goal there lies great challenges and what may seem like a daunting objective. Thankfully, Thomas Brush of Atmos games shares his journey and experience on how he achieved this very goal while providing insight and tips on how to gain the confidence and freedom that every indie dev is looking for.

Some people may think that marketing to cultural audiences only involves partnerships and localizing your game. But to really cater and serve that audience, it starts with having a core understanding and how to best represent those people. That’s why today Osama Dorias shares his experiences and understanding of global gaming culture and how applying empathy and taking certain approaches can create numerous opportunities while better serving your audience.

Since the show’s inception, Indie Game Movement has come a long way. What started out as a means to offer clear insight around topics that needed further attention has developed into a platform that supports and educates a thriving community.In today’s episode, we share our experience so far, what the progress was like and how we have decided to take that and make things more fun and helpful in a special announcement!

So I can’t think of how many times we have discussed or at least mentioned the importance of knowing your audience, but never took the time to really dig deep and explain what exactly that entails or how to really know what is going on in your ideal player’s head. So that’s why Mustapha and I wanted to dive deep in this conversation to explain the reasoning behind this, what the process entails, and ultimately determine where exactly you can find your ideal player.

Creating a funnel isn’t necessarily a huge challenge, but creating one that isn’t mindful of your player’s journey will likely not provide you the results or the community you’re looking for. That’s why today we have Ziv Raviv of Daily Cookie to share his expertise on how to build an email list and develop effective email marketing strategies designed to have players take action and stay engaged, wherever you are in the development process.

Depending on your goals and resources, sometimes your best bet is getting a publisher. After initial talks, once you receive an offer there can be a lot of unknowns especially when it comes to fully understanding how certain agreements can dictate your future.That's why today we have Tim Bender of Hooded Horse Games to share what to look out for and how to approach negotiations so you can be prepared and get the most out of your publishing agreement.

Trying to create awareness for your game is always an uphill battle for indie devs, especially when it comes to identifying your audience and how to approach them. But even when you figure those steps out, it’s a challenge to determine the best ways to build upon and improve those efforts.  That’s why we’ve invited Joe Winters, creator of Song of Iron to share his insights on his process.

Supergiant Games has been praised for having a consistent and quality signature across their vast array of games. From the initial concept to communication and gameplay, we want to discuss their standard of quality, and how the ideas behind some of these games grow to become a completely immersive experience.

In a previous episode, Mustapha and I shared our own insight into the importance of future planning but we wanted to dive further into this theme from the perspective of an established developer.So in future planning part two, Chevy Ray of Happy Ray Games, the developer of Ikenfelll shares what it’s like being a smaller dev, the importance of maintaining a clear vision and how having the right collaborative team can make an impact on your project’s final result.

We’ve finally made it to 2021 and I thought it would be fun to switch things up for this episode to share some resources and strategies we’ve used that have really helped us see things in a different light and help us with projects and all facets of life.The goal of this episode is to share some examples, experiences, and resources that can help motivate you and provide a newfound source of energy to help you grow and gain better results with your projects and beyond.

Hindsight is always 20/20, but knowing how to look at things and apply your learnings is more important than just acknowledging them, especially when it comes to crowdfunding campaigns.That’s why in today’s episode we meet again with Mikhail of Mythallica Incorporated in part 2 of episode 137 - How to Execute a “Killah” Crowdfunding Campaign to get further insight on how to approach and apply learnings, maximize their impact, and that you should always expect….the unexpected.

Not going to lie, it’s been a difficult year, but despite the turbulence and uncertainty that has impacted the industry, Mustapha and I can confidently say that Indie Games as a whole has taken this as an opportunity to shine brighter and be a beacon of hope in our creative medium.With that said, we wanted to celebrate this by putting together an end of the year special by reflecting on this year’s events and how they bring us closer as an industry and community.

When it comes to devs supporting the indie dev community, sometimes people can feel that doing so can be counter-intuitive and be viewed as a way to support your competition.In today’s episode, our guest Chris Zukowski of Howtomarketyourgame gives their reasons why this couldn’t be further from the truth by providing great examples of how devs have leveraged their community to gain valuable insight and create powerful opportunities that they wouldn’t have been able to do alone.

You’ve finally made it! Though you worked long and hard on your game it doesn’t mean you should stop your marketing efforts.Thankfully, Tanya X Short of Kitfox Games has been in this scenario multiple times with their own titles in addition to titles they’ve published, providing valuable insight not only why you should continue to market your released games but also ways to maintain that marketing momentum.

For most indie devs working on a game, it’s probably safe to say that their number one priority is focusing on the game. But while it’s good to be driven to complete tasks it’s also important to dedicate some of that time to reflect and plan ahead.That’s why today Mustapha and I discuss the importance of evaluation, projection and execution so you can be better positioned to not only hit your goals but potentially exceed them and be ready for anything that gets thrown in your way.

Preparation and execution are everything when it comes to running an effective crowdfunding campaign, but very rarely do we ever get the opportunity to have a first-hand account from someone who is right in the heat of the moment.Thankfully, Mikhail Sebastian of Mythallica Inc is willing to share everything with us in a two-part episode, starting with the planning process right to the moment during the middle of it all. Giving us a fresh take on what it takes to execute a “killa” crowdfunding campa

One area in indie games that can sometimes be overlooked is the business development side of the industry. Building and maintaining relationships is essential but sometimes it can also be a challenge.That’s why in today’s episode David Logan of Akupara Games shares not only the importance of building and maintaining those relationships but also methods on how to be impactful and stand out to others, giving you a great advantage.Support us on Patreon!

When making your game, sometimes it can be difficult to focus on anything else. But if your plan is to release your game, then you also need to focus on your business values and how those can carry over to the gaming community and beyond.That’s why our guests today, brother team Khalil and Ahmed from Decoy Games talk about how their focus of developing core values and serving others was a means that led to the success of their first game and able to lead various communities.

When indie devs decide that they want to make games, in most cases when thinking about publishing, it’s along the lines of partnering with one. However, there’s a trend going on where many developers are becoming publishers. For some that may consider this, transitioning into this role can seem daunting despite the opportunities it can provide.That’s why Neal Lorenza, shares his process, and reasoning for making this transition and why for some, the benefits can be rewarding on various levels.

Since the pandemic has forced many to rely on digital events and other online formats in a lot of ways the indie game industry was already there. While some new trends have emerged, it still goes to show that knowing how to stand out in this digital landscape is extremely important.That’s why Chris Wulf of Those Awesome Guys is going to share his experience and insight on how to navigate this landscape, and what you always need to do to stand out to others.

Finding ways to provide value to communities can be a challenge, especially when your attention and focus is more around the development of your game or studio. While this is important, looking outward and providing value to other communities can provide valuable insight and opportunities you never thought possible.Today, Mustapha and I will be discussing different types of communities that devs can help enrich while building the integrity and authority of their brand.

Whenever you market or promote your game, it can become a little weird. Putting yourself out there and calling attention to your game can come off self-serving. Feeling this way is normal, but you should never let it hinder you from getting the word out about your game.Today, Mustapha and I will be discussing the problems that a lot of devs face in addressing these issues by changing your mindset and understanding what you’re doing is really serving your audience.

Eventually, the game you’re making will be released. But before you get there, you need to make some important decisions to help clarify your vision, understand what you need and areas you should focus on regardless if you plan to self-publish or partner with a publisher. That’s why our guest today is going to share how to navigate the publishing landscape so you can be on top of your game as you get ready to launch.

When it comes to reaching out to the media, forming relationships is absolutely essential. Whether or not you’re able to hire a PR firm, not building relationships and understanding how your public image can impact others can make getting media coverage a greater challenge.Support us on Patreon!Thankfully, Chris Compendio shares how they have established relationships with indie devs and relation figures, providing an insider’s perspective on the best ways to build relationships with the media.

Creating a strong marketing and business foundation can always be difficult to navigate. With so many moving parts, it’s easy to let things fall through the cracks which in turn can leave you under-prepared and overwhelmed,In this episode, Mustapha and Andrew discuss some of the mistakes that people can make when developing their games and what solutions can be used to help you establish a strong foundation and be completely prepared when you’re ready to self-publish or work with a publisher.

Given current events or any future events, we know that there’s always a boiling point when conversations of diversity in all spaces are left unchecked. In games in particular, there tends to be a lot of confusion around the correct approach to building an inclusive environment within your game's community. With our guest Victoria Tran of Kitfox Games, we’re going to dig in and approach the challenging topic of inclusion as it pertains to games-related spaces and beyond.

Mustapha and Andrew share some new and exciting changes we have in store for the podcast and our listeners!You can now support IGM on our Patreon page! www.patreon.com/IGMPodcastShare your marketing and business stories with us and the community!www.rengenmarketing.com/IGMmystoryAs always, thanks for being such great listeners and taking action!

At some point, indie devs are going to need to take action with their PR but it can often be a challenge. Writing only press releases isn’t enough to get the attention of the press, and simply asking for coverage isn’t going to work either.Thankfully Yohann Miniere shares his expertise and experiences on how indie devs can be creative in their approach so their next PR campaign can create awareness and strengthen their brand.

The steps to creating a community can be a challenge in itself, but community management can be something completely different. While there are some great perks that come with a community, there can also be some potential pitfalls that can lead to disgruntled community members.Thankfully Jenny Windom of Rose City Games is able to shed some light on how to address situations that may arise and ways to circumvent or resolve conflict surrounding difficult community members.

Creating awareness for your game and building a community will always be a challenge for indie devs. There are lots of ways to do this, but one that a lot of devs seem to gravitate to is Twitter.While organic reach on Twitter is strong, it can still be a challenge to develop effective awareness strategies that convert into a community. That’s why Niclas Marie is going to share his methods and tips on how you can ramp up your Twitter presence and still be able to focus on development.

Kickstarter has become a household name for crowdfunding. But with everything that Kickstarter has to offer for game creators, it can still be a challenge to navigate the crowdfunding landscape, trying to raise funds and build a community. Thankfully we're going to speak with Anya Combs who is the director of games outreach from Kickstarter to get a better perspective of how Kickstarter works while discussing some great tips and tricks to make a game stand out, and some things to avoid.

During the pre-dev and early stages of development, there is a lot that indie devs need to focus on which can make it a challenge to keep a pulse on the market and build their brand.That’s why our guest Mike Money of Cathar games will be sharing how indie devs can identify objectives, create goals and establish a strong foundation in the early stages of their business, so they have the right mindset and course to follow.

Whether you’re a cosplayer, a developer, or simply attending for fun, conventions like PAX can provide huge networking opportunities for all attendees. Despite this, the thought of networking for personal or professional purposes can deter people from making the most out of their experience.We’ll discuss what it means to market yourself, how to get out of your comfort zone and provide actionable tips that can be used immediately to maximize your experience at PAX and beyond!

There’s a lot of things that indie devs need to focus on during development, but sometimes there can be so much that it can often be difficult to determine what needs attention and what doesn’t. Thankfully, our guest today provides us with some helpful concepts, ideas and strategies on how to better implement production management regardless if you’re a solo dev or working at a small studio.

The marketing of indie games must always be consumer-focused, ensuring that your product fulfills a need and relevant place in a gamer’s collection. However, it can be difficult to determine what a customer really wants.Thankfully, we have Chris Zukowski with us today to share a recent study he’s finished about user behavior and provides insights on how indie devs can better influence that behavior which ultimately leads to sales.

It's another year and Andrew, Mustapha and Justin have a relaxed conversation and review the past 12 months.Discussing everything from how indie devs are standing out more to the new platforms we have seen introduced, overall it was a good year and great things to look forward to.

Andrew Pappas serves as your guest as he is interviewed by Simon Bailey, one of the team members of The Business of Indie Games, a virtual summit that happens annually and is scheduled for Dec 9 - 13, 2019. In this episode, we debunk some of the myths of paid advertising, dive deep into strategies and how data collected can be applied to other marketing efforts used to promote your indie game.

The Game Bakers have an incredibly diverse catalog of games, and they do a really good job of marketing them while avoiding giving too much away. In doing so, they show how it has become a pretty interesting artform. We’re going to dive in further with how this works for them, what type of promotional materials they reveal prior to and after launch and understand their process better right here on Indie Game Movement.

It’s a big question we all face at one point or another. When does an indie dev get to the point where they should seriously consider taking it to the next step and form their own company.In this episode, Mustapha and I share our own personal experiences with forming our own companies, what the procedure was like for us and what we learned from it so you don’t have to sweat the small stuff when deciding if forming a company is right for you!

There are a lot of big events game industry events out there that indie devs are involved in, whether it’s PAX, E3, MAGFest, GDC or any other event. Regardless, with all of the events out there we understand that there are a lot of things people can be doing to make the most out of those events.In this episode, Mustapha and Andrew discuss how to make the most out of big events and offer some quick tips regardless if you’re an attendee, exhibitor or just following the event.