
IndieGameBusiness®
Candid conversations with veterans of all aspects of the business side of games. We firmly believe that great games from all developers need the support they deserve to succeed. This podcast exists to provide that support.
IndieGameBusiness® is produced by The Powell Group, a video game consulting firm specializing in business development, marketing, and licensing. Our CEO has been in the industry for 20 years and closed countless publishing and licensing deals. The Powell Group monitors over 3,500 game developers and 750+ publishers.
Latest episodes

May 12, 2023 • 1h 4min
How successful PR and marketing can land you an investment or publishing deal
Join us for our next episode of Indie Game Business where we will be discussing "How successful PR and marketing can land you an investment or publishing deal." Our special guest, Wahid Lodin, will be sharing his insights into the importance of marketing when it comes to securing investment or publishing deals for your game.
In this episode, we will explore different marketing strategies that can help your game get noticed by investors or publishers. Wahid will also explain which marketing efforts investors look at before investing in a game, common mistakes video game developers make when marketing their games, and how to stand out in a crowded market.
We will also discuss the metrics and data points that you should be looking for when evaluating a video game's marketing campaign, and the appeal of social media platforms for investors and publishers.
Don't miss out on this valuable discussion with Wahid Lodin. Follow him on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram for more insights on marketing and the gaming industry:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wahiggity
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wahid-lodin-a54b00a3/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loopsmarketing/?hl=en
#IndieGameBusiness #VideoGameMarketing #Investment #PublishingDeal #GameDevelopers #WahidLodin #LoopMarketing #SocialMediaMarketing #GamingIndustry

May 8, 2023 • 1h 5min
What is the IGDA Foundation?
Welcome to our show! Today, we have a special guest, Alyssa Padia Walles, the Executive Director of the IGDA Foundation. Alyssa has an impressive career in the video game industry, including launching the Walt Disney Gift Catalog and Sony PlayStation, and re-launching the Atari brand.
In this episode, we will discuss the IGDA Foundation and what it does. Alyssa will explain the application process and who is eligible for the foundation's programs. We will also delve into why Alyssa recommends against partnering or co-founding studios or companies, and learn more about "lamergamer."
Alyssa will also share her journey in the video game business and what excites her about the industry. Her extensive background in business strategy, development, sales, and marketing, including her role as general manager of Hitbox, provides a unique perspective on the gaming industry.
Make sure to follow Alyssa Padia Walles on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram for more insights on the gaming industry and her latest projects:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/apwalles
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/apwalles/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamergamer/
#IGDAFoundation #GameIndustry #VideoGameDevelopment #BusinessStrategy #Gaming #AlyssaPadiaWalles #AmplitudeConsulting #Hitbox #Atari #LamerGamer

Apr 28, 2023 • 1h 8min
Some of the biggest challenges publishing on steam today
Welcome to Indie Game Business! In this episode, we have Oscar Hogervorst, founder of Steam Data Suite, to discuss the challenges of publishing on Steam today and how his platform can help publishers optimize their visibility, store page, and marketing. Oscar's extensive background in games, marketing, and data has led him to develop tools to tackle the challenges that arise with the increasing number of games being released on Steam.
During the show, Oscar will share his insights on Steam and offer tips on how to improve results on the platform. He will also answer questions such as what many companies are doing wrong, what type of company is using his services, and what he thinks will be important factors for success on Steam in the future.
In addition, Oscar will discuss the balance between data and art when creating a game, store page, or game proposition. He will also explain why Valve is not providing the services that Steam Data Suite does, and what's next for his platform.
Make sure to follow Oscar Hogervorst on LinkedIn for more insights on the gaming industry: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oscarhogervorst/
#IndieGameBusiness #SteamDataSuite #GameMarketing #GameAnalytics #SteamPublishing #GameDevelopment #IndieGames #GameVisibility #GameDiscoverability #Valve #GamingInsights #OscarHogervorst

Apr 24, 2023 • 1h 7min
Creating an Integrated Marketing Strategy
Welcome to Indie Game Business!
In this episode, we will be discussing "Creating an Integrated Marketing
Strategy" for your game.
Our guest today is Dwayne Waite Jr., the Marketing Director for Gaming
Events at ReedPop, one of the largest event organizers for the gaming
industry.
In this episode, we will dive into the importance of having a holistic
marketing strategy for your game, why advertising is crucial for your
game's success, and how to create a workflow for content creators. We
will also discuss the benefits and drawbacks of physical and digital
events, and how to effectively use them for your game's marketing.
If you're looking to improve your marketing strategy for your game or
studio, this episode is a must-watch. Join us for an insightful
discussion on the ins and outs of marketing in the gaming industry.
Connect with our guest, Dwayne Waite Jr., on LinkedIn:
http://linkedin.com/in/dwaynewaitejr

Mar 26, 2023 • 1h 1min
How to Avoid a Bad Steam Score Through Playtesting
This session will focus on playtesting as a tool developers can use in order to improve their game and predict the score at launch. We will touch on different forms of playtesting and how each can be utilized at different development stages.
#GamePlaytesting
#GamingQA
#GameDevelopment
#SteamScore
#GamingInsights
#DevelopmentStages
#GameTestingTips
#GamingQualityAssurance
#GameDevelopmentInsights
#GamingQA

Mar 26, 2023 • 56min
How to Smoothly Run an Influencer-Led Marketing Campaign
Learn from my mistakes. Learn how to run a streamlined marketing campaign that integrates your community and content creators. I discuss tips & tricks and current best practices of how to run an integrated marketing campaign that incorporates community, content creators, and how that content should live on all platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch.
#CommunityIntegration
#ContentCreators
#MarketingCampaigns
#StreamlinedMarketing
#MarketingLessonsLearned
#CommunityInfluence
#BrandCommunity
#MarketingStrategy
#MarketingTips

Mar 26, 2023 • 1h 2min
Marketing Isn't Always Evil...Just Sometimes
It's entirely possible for a small team to make a big noise. But how do you do it authentically, organically, and free-range? Eric and Steve's work was nominated for Best Indie PR/Marketing Campaign of 2020 and they'll walk you through the thought process, steps, and tools they used to do it on a limited budget...but a bigger budget would have been nice. Hear about asset utilization, multi-channel synergy, brand ambassador activation, and other buzzwords that they won't actually say out loud. Then ask them questions about classic cocktails, music, and sailing - or marketing, we suppose.
#SmallTeamsBigNoise
#IndieGameDevelopment
#GameMarketing
#GamingSuccess
#MarketingStrategy
#SmallTeamSuccess
#GamePromotion
#IndieGameInsights
#GameDevelopmentProcess
#GamingTools

Mar 24, 2023 • 60min
Modernizing PR Tactics when Promoting Indie Games
This roundtable explores the creative approach behind promoting indie games to the intended core audience as well mass market by truly capturing a game's voice.
#IndieGamePromotion
#GameMarketing
#CreativeApproach
#CoreAudience
#GameVoice
#IndieGameDevelopment
#GamingCommunity
#IndieGameInsights
#IndieGameSuccess
#IndieGameRoundtable

Mar 24, 2023 • 1h 11min
Peglin - A Peg Popping Post-Mortem
Peglin came out of seemingly nowhere to sell over 100K units in less than 2 weeks in Early Access. How did it happen, what worked, and what didn't?
#GamingSuccess
#IndieGameDevelopment
#GameSales
#GamingInsights
#GameDevelopmentTips
#GamingSalesStrategy
#GameMarketing
#IndieGameMarketing
#PeglinSuccessStory
#GameLaunch

Mar 24, 2023 • 1h 3min
Preserving & Promoting Art through Austerity
In a world struck by economic turbulence and austerity, how can the video games industry preserve and promote artistic integrity and originality? How can developers avoid 'selling out', and how can investors and publishers continue to bet on 'risky' projects and encourage ingenuity? This conversation will examine approaches to finding balance between revenue generation and innovation in order to build sustainable studios and projects.
#BalanceForSustainability
#InnovateToThrive
#RevenueGenerationStrategies
#SustainableStudio
#CreativeBusinessGrowth
#ProfitableInnovation
#BusinessSustainability
#GrowthAndInnovation
#SustainableGrowth
#SustainableRevenueGeneration
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