Ep 434 - Finding Clarity and Moving Forward in Uncertain Times: An IGM Year-End
Release Date: 12/30/2025
Ep 438 - Rethinking Game Marketing from Concept to Connection with The Gaming Playbook
Indie Game Movement
Many indie games struggle not because they lack quality, but because teams never get clear on who they’re building for. In this episode, I join The Gaming Playbook to talk about why marketing starts at the concept stage, not at launch. We dig into empathy-driven decision making, avoiding shallow data traps, and building trust with players in ways that actually scale. This isn’t about hacks or hype — it’s about clarity, intention, and building games that last. Episode Shownotes Link:
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Ep 437 - Why Indie Games Are Driving the Industry with Ray Willmott
Indie Game Movement
For years, indie games were treated as alternatives to the mainstream. But more recently, that narrative started to fall apart. The games shaping player expectations and influencing industry direction aren’t just succeeding, they’re forcing the rest of the market to respond. In this episode, we explore why indie games are driving the industry forward. We reflect on what made 2025 a turning point, how player expectations around scope and ambition have shifted, and how publishing models are evolving in response. So rather than chasing hype, we’re going to focus on the forces behind this...
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Ep 436 - Why Games Are the Best Teachers with Matt Dalio
Indie Game Movement
Game development is usually focused on execution, building systems, solving problems, and moving forward. But without stepping back to examine what the process itself teaches us, teams can miss why projects succeed, where collaboration falters, or why feedback loops lose momentum. This episode explores how creating games naturally develops strategic thinking, teamwork, feedback cycles, and storytelling instincts, skills that extend far beyond any engine or genre. By viewing game development as a learning system, the conversation reveals how developers can sharpen their craft, align more...
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Ep 435 - Crafting Authentic Brands in an Overcrowded Market with Laure Guilbert
Indie Game Movement
Everyone talks about how oversaturated the games market is, but the real issue is that you’re also competing with creators, platforms, and every other demand on players’ time and trust. Under that pressure, teams rush decisions: defaulting to what feels “safe,” or treating creators and communities like distribution channels instead of partners. So today, we unpack how those shortcuts quietly erode long-term trust, and what studios building strong brands do differently. We’ll dig into the early signals that show a community is genuinely taking root, how to use data without letting it...
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Ep 434 - Finding Clarity and Moving Forward in Uncertain Times: An IGM Year-End
Indie Game Movement
Today, we’re taking time to reflect on the past year by revisiting some of our most-listened-to conversations. But not just for the moments themselves, but for the themes that kept surfacing again and again throughout the year. I won’t sugarcoat it: 2025 was tough for a lot of us. Uncertainty was the backdrop, and honestly, it just sucked for many of us. But even in the worst of times, there’s always a silver lining. It’s just a matter of perspective. So think of this episode as a shared journey, one many of us have been on, or are still navigating. And through these conversations,...
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Ep 433 - Crafting Store Pages that Stand out with Josh Bycer
Indie Game Movement
Making a great game isn’t enough if players don’t understand why they should care in the first place. To today, we’re going to explore some of the many things that are commonly overlooked when setting up Steam store pages. : how to communicate your game’s value quickly, visually, and honestly. We break down common store page mistakes, discuss how players scan pages instead of reading them, and examine how developers can better showcase their game’s experience without relying on buzzwords or hype. Episode Shownotes Link:
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Ep 432 - The Impact of QA on Player Experience with Francisca Butron
Indie Game Movement
Games succeed or fail based on the experience players walk away with, and few disciplines shape that experience more than QA. In this episode, we look beyond bug reports and test plans to uncover one of QA’s most underrated strengths: communication and empathy. From UX and design discussions to player-focused problem solving, QA isn’t just about finding issues — it’s about connecting across teams to ensure the experience feels right for players where it matters most. Episode Shownotes Link:
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Ep 431 - Empathy-Driven Marketing: How to Understand Player Motivation with Freaking Cool Indies
Indie Game Movement
This week, we’re doing something a little different. Andrew recently joined Mike on the Freaking Cool Indies podcast for a conversation that struck right at the heart of what Indie Game Movement is all about: empathy, perspective, and understanding the people behind the player data. In this shared episode, Andrew opens up about why empathy isn’t just a marketing strategy—it's the foundation of how he approaches problem-solving, community building, and even this very podcast. Together, Mike and Andrew explore why players choose to invest their time in certain games, how human motivation...
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Ep 430 - Scaling the Next Generation of Game Studios with Oded Ben Dov
Indie Game Movement
The intersection of imagination and machine intelligence is giving rise to a new kind of game design, one where players and AI co-create experiences together. But with this innovation comes new challenges: ethical design, scaling responsibly, and keeping the human spirit of storytelling alive. In this episode, we discuss what’s next for AI in gaming and how indie studios can innovate sustainably while staying creative. Episode Shownotes Link:
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Ep 429 - Navigating Game Contracts Like a Pro with René Otto
Indie Game Movement
Publishing deals and working agreements can do everything from launch a game or sink a studio. But too often, devs and studios sign first without realizing they gave up too much. So today, we’re going to go over what every developer should understand about publishing agreements, licensing and work-for-hire arrangements. From negotiation red flags to protecting your IP, you’ll know how to navigate legal decisions now to help you avoid financial and creative headaches tomorrow. Episode Shownotes Link:
info_outlineToday, we’re taking time to reflect on the past year by revisiting some of our most-listened-to conversations. But not just for the moments themselves, but for the themes that kept surfacing again and again throughout the year.
I won’t sugarcoat it: 2025 was tough for a lot of us. Uncertainty was the backdrop, and honestly, it just sucked for many of us.
But even in the worst of times, there’s always a silver lining. It’s just a matter of perspective.
So think of this episode as a shared journey, one many of us have been on, or are still navigating. And through these conversations, we’ll pull out perspectives and insights to guide you forward with clarity, focus, and confidence into the next year, and many to come!
Episode Shownotes Link: https://rengenmarketing.com/434