Indie Innovators

Indie Game Development: Budgeting for Beginners


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Most people think budgeting a game means adding up the dollar s. But indie development demands a different kind of math.


In this episode, Spencer and James dive deep into what budgeting really looks like for first-time developers—and why it's less about funding and more about emotional endurance, team bandwidth, and brutally honest scoping. If you’ve ever tried to plan a game with limited time, resources, or experience, this is the crash course you didn’t know you needed.


What’s Inside:

  • Why traditional budgeting advice fails indie teams

  • The hidden emotional cost of development

  • Estimating time, energy, and output with brutal honesty

  • Tools and tactics for realistic project planning

Whether you're solo, partnered, or building your first prototype with friends, this episode will help you budget smarter so you can actually finish the game you start.

Join the Conversation:

Follow Indie Innovators on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@IndieInnovators⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for show updates and community discussions.⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Join our Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to connect with fellow aspiring devs, ask questions, and share your creations.

Episodes are also available on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠

Tune in to hear how our guests harnessed determination and grit to carve their own paths in the industry—and learn how you can do the same on your journey into indie game development!

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Indie InnovatorsBy Spencer Koroll