IndieGameBusiness®

In this episode, we chat with Jonathan Concepcion, the Lead Developer and founder of Galactic Slice, about his journey from hobbyist to full-time indie game developer. Jonathan shares the inspiring story of how a simple game, OneBit Adventure, allowed him to turn his passion into a career. He discusses the motivations behind his leap of faith, the impact of choosing a free-to-play model on community growth, and the challenges he faced with burnout and stress.

Jonathan also dives into the benefits and challenges of feature creep, explaining how it helped create lifetime players for OneBit Adventure. He reveals why simplicity in game design often gains more traction than complexity and opens up about accepting his weaknesses in marketing as a solo developer.

Topics Covered:

Why Jonathan chose to pursue full-time indie game development

Building a community through a free-to-play model versus premium

Overcoming burnout and stress in game development

The impact of feature creep on player retention

The power of simplicity in game design

Embracing weaknesses in marketing as an indie developer

Connect with Jonathan Concepcion:

Twitter: https://x.com/SpaceKryptonite

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-concepcion-2917096a/

#IndieGameBusiness #GalacticSlice #OneBitAdventure #GameDevelopment #IndieDev #GameDesign #CommunityBuilding #FeatureCreep #MarketingChallenges #IndieGameJourney

In this candid and introspective episode, we sit down with Brett Taylor, founder of My Dog Zorro, to explore the personal and professional challenges of building a career in game development. Brett opens up about his journey, sharing insights from his previous roles, the lessons he's learned as a young founder, and how he balances work and life while aiming high and accepting the possibility of failure.

Join us as Brett discusses what truly matters to him, the recurring mistakes he strives to overcome, and the ways he’s working on improving himself and his process. We'll also touch on his philosophy of "done is better than perfect," the importance of celebrating small wins, and building self-belief. Plus, Brett shares his favorite books that inspire his journey in both life and game development.

Connect with Brett Taylor:

Twitter: https://x.com/batzerk

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-taylor-13268916/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bretttaylor1/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/batzerk/

#IndieGameBusiness #GameDevelopment #WorkLifeBalance #MyDogZorro #SelfImprovement #GameIndustry #PersonalGrowth #BelievingInYourself #Entrepreneurship #BrettTaylor

In this episode, we sit down with Joe Mirabello, Founder and Creative

Discover how to understand player preferences and leverage feedback to master game evaluation and scouting for business success. Learn strategies to mitigate bias and present evaluations effectively, bridging the gap between gamers and business development. Gain insights from market research to stay ahead of trends and ensure your game's success in a competitive market. Key takeaways include actionable steps for integrating player feedback, improving game evaluation processes, and aligning business development strategies with market trends.

Dive into the dynamic world of licensing in video games. Explore strategies for securing and optimizing licensing deals, from iconic characters to innovative technology. Gain insights into key legal considerations and industry trends. Level up your understanding of how licensing shapes the gaming landscape and drives success in this rapidly evolving industry.

Standing out is a challenge for all developers. While strategies help, a simple approach can amplify awareness efforts and connect with players while achieving remarkable results.

This talk explores the common challenges of resonating with players and offers a practical framework that emphasizes treating players as people. By understanding their diverse interests and values, you'll learn to create more engaging and meaningful experiences.

Attendees will gain insights into integrating player interests creatively, aligning with in-game experiences, and achieving better engagement and results.

This program is intended to highlight the legal concerns of indie video game studios including: contracts, copyrights, trademarks, and artificial intelligence. My goal is to provide FREE legal nuggets and gems for attendees and to illustrate how beneficial and cost-effective having outside general counsel can be whether the indie studio is a start-up or is more established.

The goal of the talk is to provide case study tips regarding the proper execution of documents necessary to efficiently execute a premium Steam game business development analysis, including contemporary methodologies, algorithms and general structure. The attendees will learn how to draw proper conclusions by completing a direct competition analysis, preparing a P&L, sum up competition rev estimates and more.

Safe In Our World and PTW discuss the landscape of online safety, uncovering key elements for supporting players, users, communities, and frontline teams. We highlight critical factors that contribute to constructing and maintaining secure environments where players and teams can thrive without compromising their safety. From privacy concerns to combating toxicity, we explore a comprehensive range of issues. We share insights on successful strategies, innovative approaches, and real-world case studies that have proven effective in mitigating risks and enhancing overall safety.

Join Manon Salaché as she explores the critical role of market analysis during game development. Learn how an in-depth market study can enhance your marketing strategy, boost user acquisition, and position your game for success before launch. This presentation covers key elements such as competitive analysis, market positioning, and demonstrates how to use these insights to craft effective strategies.

Key Takeaways:

- Essential elements to structure your market analysis.

- Techniques for identifying and analyzing your market.

- Optimizing your marketing message for your audience.