Indie Innovators

Solo dev + pro musician Kolby Heiss breaks down exactly how he shipped Quail Crossing to Steam in 12 months—no fluff, just the real systems: tiny daily wins, ruthless scope, and making dev accessible to yourself.If you’re building after work, juggling life, or stuck between “perfect” and “publish,” this one’s your blueprint.

What you’ll learn- Scope like a pro: why your first game shouldn’t be an RPG, and how to cut without killing the fun- Momentum -- motivation: the “tiny wins” loop Kolby used to keep going on tired days- Accessible-to-you workflow: laptops, living rooms, and lowering the activation energy to start- Code vs. fun: shipping with “good enough” tech that still feels great- Audio to gameplay: lessons from professional sound design that speed up solo pipelines- Community -- lone grind: how small local meetups and feedback unlock progress- Demo discipline: what he changed for Next Fest and why that week matteredKolby HeissQuail Crossing on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3398430/Quail_Crossing/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kolbyheiss/Portfolio: http://www.khsounddesign.com/

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Follow Indie Innovators on Twitter [@IndieInnovators] for updates, or hop into our Discord to share your own prototype plans, questions, and progress.Subscribe for bi-weekly indie game dev episodes and interviewsNew episodes every 2 weeks!Work with us!Business inquiries & guest pitches: [email protected]

You’ve got the idea. You’ve nailed down the mechanics. But before you dive into code or art, you need something just as important: a blueprint.

In Part 2 of our prototype planning series, Spencer and James break down how to turn loose ideas into a structured development plan. From documenting mechanics to setting art direction, audio cues, and even time estimates, this episode is all about building a roadmap that keeps your team aligned and your project on track.

What’s Inside:

• Why documenting decisions beats relying on memory

• How to define your prototype’s essence without scope creep

• The role of art, audio, and assets in guiding early development

• Why testing and iteration matter more than polish at this stage

• How to estimate time realistically (and why it always takes longer than you think)

If you’re serious about finishing your first game, this episode will help you transform raw ideas into a clear, actionable plan—one that can keep your project moving forward even when life pulls you away.

Join the Conversation:
Follow Indie Innovators on Twitter [@IndieInnovators] for updates, or hop into our Discord to share your own prototype plans, questions, and progress.

Most people think prototyping means throwing ideas into an engine and hoping something sticks. But for indie developers, a real prototype demands a plan.

In this episode, Spencer and James break down how to create a prototype plan that actually works—why it’s not about flashy demos, but about clarity, focus, and building a foundation you can finish. From scoping misconceptions to laying out mechanics, story beats, and testing strategies, this is the blueprint most first-time devs skip (and regret later).

What’s Inside:

• Why prototypes ≠ demos

• The biggest misconceptions new devs have about planning

• How to decide what goes in (and what doesn’t)

Whether you’re solo or working with a team, this episode will help you avoid wasted effort and set up a prototype that actually proves your game idea works.

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!

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!

Most new devs think budgeting is about spreadsheets and dollar signs—but that's only part of the truth.

In this episode, James (a veteran developer) breaks down what budgeting in game development actually means—and why it’s more about time, emotional stamina, and team clarity than money. Spencer (new to the industry) asks the questions most beginners are too afraid to voice, digging into the real reasons indie games fall apart.

What’s Inside:

• Why budget ≠ money

• How time and emotional cost shape game scope

• How to Budget without breaking your creative spirit

• Why most indies underestimate their first project

Whether you're building your first prototype or preparing a pitch, this is essential listening for anyone trying to finish what they 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!

Most devs don’t fail because they lack ideas—but because they don’t plan for what those ideas actually cost.

In Part 3 of our “Preparing for Your First Game” arc, Spencer and James take the next step: stress-testing their narrative game idea to see if they can realistically build it. This isn’t just brainstorming—it’s brutal math, emotional honesty, and hard truths about scope, burnout, and what it means to “finish.”

What’s Inside:

• The true meaning of MVP vs. vertical slice

• A visual metaphor for market saturation you’ll never forget

• How to scope a dream without killing it

• The quiet danger of indie burnout—and how to plan around it

  
  

This is the episode where fantasy meets feasibility—and the real work begins.

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!

Most game ideas fail long before they’re built. Not because they’re bad—but because they aren’t ready.

In Part 2 of our “Preparing for Your First Game” arc, Spencer and James dig into the critical next step: validating an idea before turning it into a full game treatment.

This episode covers what most new developers skip—audience analysis, artistic considerations, and the actual cost (in both time and money) of finishing what you start. It’s a brutally honest look at what it takes to move from idea to executable plan.

What’s Inside:

• Why market fit matters more than originality

• How art and UI choices shape development scope

• The hidden costs of “free” indie game dev

• Rethinking a streamer clicker game—live on air

This is a must-listen for any new developer trying to choose their first project wisely.

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.
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!

Everyone has game ideas. But most never get built — and even fewer get finished.

In this episode of Indie Innovators, Spencer and James tackle the challenge of brainstorming a game that could actually survive development.

They explore three original ideas, but this isn’t a freeform jam session. It's a grounded, honest look at how to scope for two people — especially when one of you is brand new to game development.

What’s Inside:

This is the first step in our new arc: Preparing for Your First Game. Next episode, we start deciding what to build.

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.

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!”

You’ve probably heard it before: “Just keep going.”

But what if grit isn’t enough to make your first indie game — or even your fifth — work?

In this episode of Indie Innovators, James and Spencer dig deep into what perseverance really looks like in game development. From spaghetti code and scope creep to the quiet weight of walking away from a project, we unpack what most people don’t say when they tell you to "just stick with it."This isn’t just about staying in the game — it’s about learning how to think while you do.

Topics in this episode:

- What “grit” means in the games industry (it’s not what you think)

- Why beginner devs get stuck in chaos loops

- How professionals use wishlists to fight distraction

- Why quitting a game might be the smartest move you make

- What separates critical thinking from blind perseverance

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.

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!”

What’s the difference between a prototype that leads to a finished game—and one that wastes months of your time? Is it better to start with a detailed plan, or just start building and see what happens? And how do you know when it’s time to move on from a failing idea?

In this episode of Indie Innovators, host Spencer Koroll is joined by James Smith, co-owner of Blackcap Creative and the podcast’s co-producer, for a deep dive into the messy, essential world of prototyping. They explore how prototypes help developers test ideas fast, why “fun” is more important than “function,” and what AAA studios do differently when it comes to early-stage design.

You’ll also hear real examples of broken prototypes, lessons from game jams, and why tinkering alone isn’t enough to finish a game. Whether you’re using spreadsheets, cardboard, or Unreal Engine, this episode will help you build smarter—and stop wasting time on ideas that don’t deliver.

Tune in and learn how to prototype like a pro.

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.

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!”