Join Jay Powell for a special IndieGameBusiness Fireside Chat with Julia da Silva Brito from Indie Hero. In this conversation, they’ll discuss the indie game industry, supporting developers, building communities, and the challenges and opportunities facing indie studios today.

Julia will share insights from her experience with Indie Hero, thoughts on the evolving indie landscape, and perspectives on helping developers grow both creatively and professionally. Expect an honest, relaxed conversation filled with industry insight, personal experiences, and practical discussion around the realities of indie game development.

As always with Fireside Chats, the discussion will be conversational and audience focused, with opportunities for questions and live interaction throughout the stream.

Follow Julia da Silva Brito:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianasilvabrito/

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

#IndieGameBusiness #FiresideChat #IndieHero #IndieDev #GameIndustry

In this IndieGameBusiness Fireside Chat, Jay Powell sits down with Fedor van Herpen, Co-founder and Partnership Director at MeetToMatch, for a conversation about networking, events, and building a company in the games industry.

Fedor shares the story behind MeetToMatch, how it has grown into a key platform for connecting developers, publishers, and industry professionals, and what it takes to run successful networking events at scale. The discussion also dives into the realities of building and operating a company, lessons learned along the way, and how meaningful connections can shape careers and studios.

Jay and Fedor also talk about their experience working together through The Powell Group and IndieGameBusiness, offering a behind-the-scenes look at collaboration in the industry.

If you want to understand how networking actually works in the game industry and how to make the most of it, this Fireside Chat delivers valuable insight.

Follow Fedor van Herpen:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fjvanherpen/

#IndieGameBusiness #FiresideChat #MeetToMatch #GameIndustry #Networking

In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we’re joined by Charlie Brandick, Founder of Quetzal-Core Games, for an honest conversation about the realities of building a career in game development.

Charlie’s journey is anything but traditional. Before games, he was an elementary school teacher and aspiring professional musician. He eventually broke into the industry through a chance conversation that led to his first role as a junior game designer. Since then, he has worked across mobile, VR, AR, Disney Imagineering, and Riot Games, where he served as a Game Director on Valorant's mobile and console efforts. Today, he leads Quetzal-Core Games and is developing Soulway, a narrative-driven management sim about helping souls find their way to the afterlife.

We discuss how to know whether game development is a career or a passion project, how indie developers can build meaningful professional relationships, and what Charlie had to unlearn while moving between startups, AAA studios, and indie development. We also explore how aspiring developers can gain industry knowledge, how to decide what skills to focus on, and the personal costs of building games over the long term.

If you've ever wondered what it really takes to build a life in game development, this conversation offers practical advice, hard-earned lessons, and a refreshing dose of honesty.

Follow Charlie Brandick and Soulway:

X: https://x.com/playsoulway

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-brandick/

Discord: https://discord.gg/Q2QSQ7hFMa

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

#IndieGameBusiness #GameDevelopment #IndieDev #Soulway #QuetzalCoreGames

In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we’re joined by Darren Williams, Founder & CEO of MinMax Game Consulting, to explore a question every developer should ask: why do some great games fail to find an audience?Using Bayonetta as a case study, Darren breaks down the lessons indie developers can learn from games that were critically acclaimed but struggled to achieve commercial success. We discuss the dangers of being unique for the sake of being unique, the importance of release timing, and why awareness alone is rarely enough to guarantee success.Darren also shares insights into modern game marketing, including why developers should rethink traditional marketing funnels, why metrics and measurement matter more than ever, and how to build a pre-release plan that can adapt as circumstances change. We’ll also examine how AAA publishing approaches differ from indie development and why smaller studios have opportunities that larger publishers often miss.If you want to better understand the relationship between great games, great marketing, and commercial success, this episode is packed with practical lessons you can apply to your own projects.Follow Darren Williams: LinkedIn:   / darrencwilliams  

#IndieGameBusiness #GameMarketing #IndieDev #GamePublishing #GameBusinessAsk

Join us for an IndieGameBusiness Fireside Chat with Guy Blomberg from Games Industry Gathering. In this conversation, we’ll discuss building communities within the games industry, creating meaningful networking opportunities, and the evolving challenges facing developers and industry professionals today.

Guy shares insights from organizing and growing Games Industry Gathering, along with lessons learned from connecting developers, publishers, creators, and business professionals across the industry. The discussion will also explore the importance of relationships, collaboration, and creating spaces where developers can learn, grow, and support one another.

As always with Fireside Chats, expect a relaxed and honest conversation filled with industry insight, stories, and live audience interaction.

Follow Guy Blomberg:

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/yug.bsky.social

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

X: https://x.com/YugSTAR

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guyblomberg/

#IndieGameBusiness #FiresideChat #GamesIndustryGathering #IndieDev #GameIndustry

In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we’re joined by Rob Carroll, CEO of Roll Craft, to break down what it really takes to start an indie game studio from the ground up.

Rob walks through the key decisions founders need to make early, including choosing the right company structure, deciding whether to go solo or bring on co-founders, and where to form your company. He also shares the story behind starting Roll Craft and the thought process that guided its formation.

We’ll dive into fundraising, including why Roll Craft chose WeFunder over traditional venture capital, and what indie teams should consider when raising money. Rob also emphasizes the importance of having a clear plan to get to market, outlining the major milestones developers need to hit to successfully launch their game.

If you’re thinking about starting your own studio or want to avoid common early mistakes, this episode delivers practical, real world advice.

Follow Rob Carroll and Roll Craft:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rcarroll23/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rollcraft.games

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

#IndieGameBusiness #IndieDev #GameStudio #GameBusiness #RollCraft

In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we’re joined by Mercedes Boberg, Sales Manager at Pragma and Firstlook, to break down how indie developers should approach working with creators from day one.

Mercedes shares why thinking about creators early, before launch, is critical and explains the difference between paid creator campaigns and organic creator growth. We’ll talk about what actually makes creators stick with a game long term, how to approach creators when you don’t have budget or brand recognition, and the most common mistakes studios make when trying to work with them.

This conversation also dives into how to turn creators into long term partners instead of one off promotions, and what real success looks like when your creator strategy is working. If you want to build lasting relationships that actually move your game forward, this episode is packed with practical insight.

Follow Mercedes Boberg:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mercedes-boberg-225023234/

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

#IndieGameBusiness #CreatorMarketing #IndieDev #GameMarketing #Firstlook #Pragma

Join Patrick Sweeney for “Working with Publishers: Lessons Learned from 3,000 Agreements”

Publishing deals can be complex, and small misunderstandings can lead to big problems. Drawing from experience across thousands of agreements, Patrick breaks down common myths, recurring pitfalls, and what developers often overlook when entering partnerships. This session offers clear guidance on how to approach deals with better expectations, stronger communication, and a more balanced relationship from the start.

#FYP #VirtualConference #IndieGameDev #IndieGames #GamesIndustry #Publishing

Join Katherine Vildoso for “Building International Networks: Ambassador & Partnership Strategies”

Expanding beyond local reach can be one of the biggest hurdles for growing organizations. Katherine shares how to build and scale an international network, drawing from her experience launching and formalizing an association within a year. This session covers how to develop a strong ambassador program, form strategic partnerships, and create a governance structure that attracts both government and private support. You’ll leave with practical approaches to growing your network with purpose and structure.

Join Eline Muijres for “Your Publisher Is Still Judging You: How Trust Is Built, Lost, and Repaired in a Publishing Relationship”

Signing a publishing deal isn’t the finish line, it’s the start of a long-term relationship. Eline draws from her experience as a Publisher Producer to explain how trust is built, tested, and sometimes broken throughout development. Using real-world examples, this session explores how publishers evaluate not just your game, but your communication, reliability, and team dynamics. You’ll learn what strengthens a partnership, what damages it, and how to recover when things start going sideways.

#FYP #VirtualConference #IndieGameDev #IndieGames #GamesIndustry #Publishing