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

Today, we're taking time to reflect on the past year by revisiting some of our most-listened-to conversations. But not just for the moments themselves, but for the themes that kept surfacing again and again throughout the year. I won't sugarcoat it: 2025 was tough for a lot of us. Uncertainty was the backdrop, and honestly, it just sucked for many of us. But even in the worst of times, there's always a silver lining. It's just a matter of perspective. So think of this episode as a shared journey, one many of us have been on, or are still navigating. And through these conversations, we'll pull out perspectives and insights to guide you forward with clarity, focus, and confidence into the next year, and many to come! Episode Shownotes Link: https://rengenmarketing.com/434

Making a great game isn't enough if players don't understand why they should care in the first place. To today, we're going to explore some of the many things that are commonly overlooked when setting up Steam store pages. : how to communicate your game's value quickly, visually, and honestly. We break down common store page mistakes, discuss how players scan pages instead of reading them, and examine how developers can better showcase their game's experience without relying on buzzwords or hype. Episode Shownotes Link: https://rengenmarketing.com/433

Games succeed or fail based on the experience players walk away with, and few disciplines shape that experience more than QA. In this episode, we look beyond bug reports and test plans to uncover one of QA's most underrated strengths: communication and empathy. From UX and design discussions to player-focused problem solving, QA isn't just about finding issues — it's about connecting across teams to ensure the experience feels right for players where it matters most. Episode Shownotes Link: https://rengenmarketing.com/432

This week, we're doing something a little different. Andrew recently joined Mike on the Freaking Cool Indies podcast for a conversation that struck right at the heart of what Indie Game Movement is all about: empathy, perspective, and understanding the people behind the player data. In this shared episode, Andrew opens up about why empathy isn't just a marketing strategy—it's the foundation of how he approaches problem-solving, community building, and even this very podcast. Together, Mike and Andrew explore why players choose to invest their time in certain games, how human motivation gets lost in a sea of analytics, and how more empathetic thinking can transform your development and marketing from the inside out. If you've ever felt like your marketing efforts weren't connecting the way they should—or if you've wondered how to make your communication feel more authentic—this conversation offers a grounded, honest, and deeply practical look at how empathy can lead to stronger audience relationships and more fulfilling creative work. Episode Shownotes Link: https://rengenmarketing.com/431

The intersection of imagination and machine intelligence is giving rise to a new kind of game design, one where players and AI co-create experiences together. But with this innovation comes new challenges: ethical design, scaling responsibly, and keeping the human spirit of storytelling alive. In this episode, we discuss what's next for AI in gaming and how indie studios can innovate sustainably while staying creative. Episode Shownotes Link: https://rengenmarketing.com/430