When making your game, sometimes it can be difficult to focus on anything else. But if your plan is to release your game, then you also need to focus on your business values and how those can carry over to the gaming community and beyond. That’s why our guests today, brother team Khalil and Ahmed from Decoy Games talk about how their focus of developing core values and serving others was a means that led to the success of their first game and able to lead various communities.

Indie Game Movement - The podcast about the business and marketing of indie games.

Ep 135 - How to Focus on Values While Leading Others

Not going to lie, it’s been a difficult year, but despite the turbulence and uncertainty that has impacted the industry, Mustapha and I can confidently say that Indie Games as a whole has taken this as an opportunity to shine brighter and be a beacon of hope in our creative medium. With that said, we wanted to celebrate this by putting together an end of the year special by having a relaxed structure compared to previous episodes where we put together a small panel of past guests to reflect on this year’s events and how they bring us closer as an industry and community.

Ep 141 - End of Year Special

When it comes to devs supporting the indie dev community, sometimes people can feel that doing so can be counter-intuitive and be viewed as a way to support your competition. In today’s episode, our guest Chris Zukowski of Howtomarketyourgame gives their reasons why this couldn’t be further from the truth by providing great examples of how devs have leveraged their community to gain valuable insight and create powerful opportunities that they wouldn’t have been able to do alone.

Ep 140 - How to Leverage the Dev Community

You’ve finally made it! You worked long and hard, your game is hitting the market at last and you’re getting ready for all of that public reception. But just because your game is out and the end of this journey is in sight doesn’t mean you should stop your marketing efforts. Thankfully, Tanya X Short of Kitfox Games has been in this scenario multiple times with their own titles in addition to titles they’ve published, providing valuable insight not only why you should continue to market your released games but also ways to maintain that marketing momentum.

Ep 139 - How to Market Your Game After Launch

For most indie devs working on a game, it’s probably safe to say that their number one priority is focusing on the game. But while it’s good to be driven to complete tasks it’s also important to dedicate some of that time to reflect and plan ahead. That’s why today Mustapha and I discuss the importance of evaluation, projection and execution so you can be better positioned to not only hit your goals but potentially exceed them and be ready for anything that gets thrown in your way.

Ep 138 - The Importance of Future Planning

Preparation and execution are everything when it comes to running an effective crowdfunding campaign, but very rarely do we ever get the opportunity to have a first-hand account from someone who is right in the heat of the moment. Thankfully, Mikhail Sebastian of Mythallica Inc is willing to share everything with us in a two-part episode, starting with their process of planning a non-conventional crowdfunding campaign right to the moment during the middle of it all. Between sharing their experiences to date and the emotions that come with it, our guest is able to provide a fresh take on what it takes to execute a “killa” crowdfunding campaign.

Ep 137 - How to Execute a "Killa" Crowdfunding Campaign

We often discuss the balance of business and creativity in the indie games space, and one area that can sometimes be overlooked is the business development side of the industry. Building and maintaining relationships is essential but sometimes it can be a challenge to really know and understand how to do that, while also being comfortable with it. That’s why in today’s episode David Logan of Akupara Games shares not only the importance of building and maintaining those relationships but also methods on how to be impactful and stand out to others, giving you a great advantage.

Ep 136 - The Importance of Business Relationships and Partnerships

When indie devs decide that they want to make games, in most cases when thinking about publishing, it’s along the lines of partnering with one. However, there’s a trend going on where many developers are becoming publishers. For some that may consider this, transitioning into this role can seem daunting despite the opportunities it can provide. That’s why IGM podcast veteran Neal Lorenza, shares his history, process, and reasoning for making this transition and why for some, the benefits can be rewarding on various levels.

Ep 134 - How to Transition into Becoming a Publisher

Since the pandemic has forced many to rely on digital events and other online formats and means of communication, in a lot of ways the indie game industry was already there. While some new trends have emerged, it still goes to show that knowing how to stand out in this digital landscape is extremely important. That’s why Chris Wulf of Those Awesome Guys is going to share his experience and insight on how to navigate this landscape, what to expect and what you always need to do to stand out to others, regardless of what the future has in store. Want to get more out of IGM? Support us on

Ep 133 - How to Stand Out in a Digital Landscape

Finding ways to provide value to communities can be a challenge, especially when your attention and focus is more around the development of your game or studio. While this is important, looking outward and providing value to other communities can provide valuable insight and opportunities you never thought possible. Today, Mustapha and I will be discussing different types of communities that devs can help enrich while building the integrity and authority of their brand. Love the content? Want to get more out of it? Then support us on

Ep 132 - How to Provide Value to Your Communities and Beyond

Whenever you market or promote your game, it can become a little weird. Putting yourself out there and calling attention to your game can come off self-serving. Feeling this way is normal, but you should never let it hinder you from getting the word out about your game. Today, Mustapha and I will be discussing the problems that a lot of devs face in addressing these issues by changing your mindset and understanding what you’re doing is really serving your audience. Love the content? Want to get more out of it? Then support us on

Ep 131 - How to Serve Your Audience with the Right Intent

Eventually, the game you’re making will be released. But before you get there, you need to make some important decisions to help clarify your vision, understand what you need and areas you should focus on regardless if you plan to self-publish or partner with a publisher.  That’s why our guest today is going to share how to navigate the publishing landscape so you can be on top of your game as you get ready to launch.

Ep 130 How to Navigate the Publishing Landscape

When it comes to reaching out to the media, forming relationships is absolutely essential. Whether or not you’re able to hire a PR firm, not building relationships and understanding how your public image can impact others can make getting media coverage a greater challenge. Thankfully, Chris Compendio shares how they have established relationships with indie devs and relation figures, providing an insider’s perspective on the best ways to build relationships with the media. Support us on

How to Build Media Relationships

Creating a strong marketing and business foundation can always be difficult to navigate. With so many moving parts, it’s easy to let things fall through the cracks which in turn can leave you under-prepared and overwhelmed, In this episode, Mustapha and Andrew discuss some of the mistakes that people can make when developing their games and what solutions can be used to help you establish a strong foundation and be completely prepared when you’re ready to self-publish or work with a publisher.

Ep 128 - Mistakes to Avoid While Building a Strong Foundation

Indie Game Movement talks with developers, industry veterans, marketing professionals and publishers about the business and marketing of indie games.

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Ep 135 - How to Focus on Values While Leading Others

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