Indie Insider Podcast - Black Shell Media

  A compilation of all of the best advice and ideas we’ve received from 50 episodes worth of amazing guests and industry icons. Topics discussed: How to get up and start something new Dealing with feedback and finding balance in your work Mastering the art of communication with collaborators Doing your research and putting in […]

  Guest: Larry Kuperman, Director of Business Development for Nightdive Studios, the team perhaps most notable for remaking games from the past, such as the System Shock franchise. Topics discussed: Larry’s story and how he went from a theatre education degree to being the Director of Business Development for Nightdive His advice for your developers […]

  Guest: Tobias Sjögren, CEO of White Wolf Entertainment, a sister company to Paradox Interactive. Topics discussed: Tobias’ story of taking over a company acquired by Paradox Interactive and nurturing the World of Darkness IP, as well as his humble beginnings with Battlefield and DICE Tobias’ tips and tricks to surviving E3 and other major […]

  Guest: Zhenghua Yang, Game Developer and Founder of Serenity Forge, an indie video game publishing studio. Topics discussed: An in-depth exploration of the blood disorder that almost claimed Zhenghua’s life, and how video games saved him How Serenity Forge is sharing games that tell important stories Zhenghua’s advice to managing your own studio Breaking […]

  Guest: Nolan Bushnell, Founder of Atari and father of the video game industry. Nolan Bushnell has also co-founded companies such as Modal VR and Brainrush. Topics discussed: Things that shouldn’t hold you back, such as location or a college education Nolan Bushnell’s tips on delegating What the Founder of Atari thinks is the most […]

  Guest: Craig Morrison, Design Department Manager of the World of Warcraft franchise at Blizzard Entertainment. Topics discussed: How Craig approaches design as a philosophy and a discipline The immense importance of collaboration in this industry The values and philosophies that unify a team and guide the design of a game Craig’s tips and tricks […]

  Guest: Fredrik Wester, the CEO of video game developer and publishing company Paradox Interactive. Topics discussed: What platform should you put your game on, and is console viable for indies? Fred’s advice to “taking a lot of s**t.” How to maximize your own productivity, as well as the productivity of your team The art […]

  Guests: Robert Canciello, Founder of Eos Interactive Jane Friedhoff and Andy Wallace, Developers and Art Makers Dan Butchko, CEO of Playcrafting Topics discussed: Robert’s thoughts on project and team management How a varied background (such as one in theatre) can influence you as a developer Why supplemental education can help you “get the job” […]

  Guests: Joe Tringali, Director of Digital Continue Josh DeBonis, President of BunbleBear Games Zac Dixon, Creative Director of IV Studio Kati Nawrocki, Art Director of Computer Lunch Dan Butchko, CEO of Playcrafting   Topics discussed: Joe’s insight into starting companies and leading teams What it means to be catalyst for art and growth in […]

  Guests: Nick Fortugno, CCO of Playmatics Rebecca Bennett, Marketing & Community Manager of Dreamsail Games Lawrence Mascia, Owner of Goodnight Games Ben Miller, Lead Designer of Fabraz Dan Butchko, CEO of Playcrafting Topics discussed: Nick’s guide to outstanding design and player guidance Thoughts on how indie developers will change the nature of art Rebecca’s […]

  This week’s guest: John Master Lee, a veteran product and brand executive in the video game industry. Topics discussed: How the Lean Startup Methodology can help optimize your life and work Whether or not your geographical location impacts your ability to succeed Why it is that success comes to those who pursue their passions […]

  This week’s guest: Anthony Palma, CEO of Jump, the upcoming on-demand video game subscription service! Topics discussed: Creating a Netflix-like subscription service focused on indie games The art of developing a business model and growth model The pros and cons of Jump’s revenue split model Tips to persevering when you’re aimless Finding the right […]

  This week’s guest: Dan Butchko, CEO of Playcrafting, the organization providing in-person classes, courses, and events across America for both aspiring and established game developers! Topics discussed: Running a for-profit company with a non-profit mindset An inside look into Play NYC, Playcrafting’s upcoming convention! The future of conventions in the video game industry The […]

  This week’s guest: Rocky Kev, founder of the Serious Game Devs Only community and creator of the Bytesized educational video series for game developers! Topics discussed: Tackling debt as an indie game developer Why periods of video game apathy can be a positive thing Making real art vs. appealing to the marketplace The constant […]

  This week’s guest: Dirk Knemeyer, host of The Game Design Roundtable podcast and Creative Director of Artana, a tabletop game company! Topics discussed: How to bounce back when your company or idea crumbles around you Finding your personal alignment Dealing with negative collaborations When to decide it’s time to move on Reformatting your idea […]

  This week’s guest: Alex Nae and Alex Nechita, developers of The Underground King, perhaps most notable for being the final Steam Greenlight game. Topics discussed: What happens when your game receives publicity for something out of your control The nature and future of Steam as a marketplace How to respond when your development partner […]

  This week’s guest: Rich Vreeland, AKA Disasterpeace, the composer of the music behind games such as Fez, Hyper Light Drifter, Mini Metro, and more! Topics discussed: Designing music for games such as Fez and Hyper Light Drifter The art of seizing an opportunity Maintaining motivation and inspiration in your work over time Negotiating pay […]

  This week’s guest: Alexander Winn, founder of EdgeWorks Entertainment and creator of the hit app, TerraGenesis! Topics discussed: Developing 24 apps before finally hitting it big The constant grind of bug-fixes and audience response Developing and managing a community around your game The pros and cons of developing solo …and much more! ​ Hey […]

  This week’s guest: Timo Verschueren from nevaly, a startup focused on connecting game developers and publishers with online and YouTube influencers! Topics discussed: The art of the cold email Why do people love YouTubers and Let’s Play videos How to utilize influencers to market your game How to get noticed in a sea of […]

  This week’s guest: YouTube personality and game development tutor, Anne McLaughlin (AKA The Happie Cat)! Topics discussed: Managing a YouTube Channel The pros and cons of Patreon Building and maintaining a community around your content The future of artificial intelligence in video games …and much more! ​ I first learned about Anne and her […]

  This week’s guests: Ernani Rocha and Bashar Saade of the indie studio Turtle Juice. Topics discussed: Conducting a successful Steam Greenlight campaign Managing a team that works entirely remote Navigating a working relationship with someone as close as a spouse Dealing with tragedy during the development process, such as the death of your programmer […]

  This week’s guest: Kate Edwards, the Executive Director of the International Game Developers Association Topics discussed: What it is like working for Microsoft and instructing Bill Gates on how to avoid a major international incident How game fraud and illegal resale is hurting the industry The best ways to avoid crunch time in the […]

  This week’s guest: Joel Esquilin and Marcus Maulucci of Glowlime Games. Topics discussed: How Glowlime Games is educating the professionals YOU will want on your team The art of project management How to find happiness while still pursuing your dreams Tricks to keeping the scope of your game in check …and much more! ​ […]

  This week’s guest: David Sirlin, founder of Sirlin Games and creator of Fantasy Strike. Topics discussed: How the competitive fighting game world and the 9-11 terrorist attacks make you who you are The art of developing multiple games in a shared universe The similarities between indie video games and indie board games How microtransactions […]

  This week’s guest: Tyler Bushnell, creator of the Polycade arcade machine. Topics discussed: What makes for a successful Kickstarter campaign? How do arcade machines fit into the modern day video game industry? How does having a father like Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari, affect your company? Turning the solution to a personal issue into […]

  This week’s episode is a special discussion panel all about game writing: What it is, what it means, and how you can be doing it better! Panel members include Nathan Meunier, Rick Davidson, and Chris Solarski. Topics discussed: How do you pin down and define game writing? How game writing works in open world […]

  This week’s guest: Lucas Molina, developer of Painter’s Guild and Roguemance! Topics discussed: How game development in Brazil is beginning to take off Why historical accuracy matters in a game like Painter’s Guild Pushing through the fear to accept feedback Sticking with your gut when your game’s content might upset someone Building a support […]

  > Listen on iTunes <   On the twenty-eighth episode of Indie Insider, host Logan Schultz sits down with Bret Black and Shane Draper, founders of the indie studio Vashta Entertainment. The group chats about their newly released mobile game, River Rider, and how they’re working on a major project, or “the big one,” entitled […]

  On the twenty-seventh episode of Indie Insider, host Logan Schultz sits down with Paul Hellquist, an industry professional who has worked as Lead Designer and Creative Director of BioShock and Borderlands 2, respectively. Since working in the AAA space, however, Paul has gone indie and is currently working with Robot Entertainment. The two chat […]

  On the twenty-sixth episode of Indie Insider, host Logan Schultz sits down with Bob Best, a college senior from the Netherlands who, while working multiple jobs and finishing up his studies, also helps produce a major game conference each year called Indievelopment, where industry students can connect with game developers and companies. Logan and […]

  On the twenty-fifth episode of Indie Insider, host Logan Schultz sits down with David Mullich, an industry veteran who has worked on games such as The Prisoner, I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream, and the Heroes of Might and Magic series. The two talk about David’s incredible story, his advice for avoiding […]

  On the twenty-fourth episode of Indie Insider, host Logan Schultz sits down with Jack Wegrich, the 16-year old full time high school student who also happens to be the Community Manager of multiple projects, including the Silicon Valley start-up, Cut Throat Robotics. The two chat about Cut Throat Robotic’s main endeavor, Zozbot, as well […]

  On the twenty-third episode of Indie Insider, host Logan Schultz sits down with Danny Baranowsky, composer of the soundtracks to such indie games as Super Meat Boy, The Binding of Isaac, and Crypt of the NecroDancer. The two chat about Danny’s journey from his parents’ basement to hiring his own manager, the importance of […]

  On the twenty-second episode of Indie Insider, host Logan Schultz sits down with Chris Solarski, video game artist and author of Interactive Stories and Video Game Art. The two talk about Chris’ history in the industry, his passion for painting, how he put together an all-star team to create a new project, and Chris […]

  On the twenty-first episode of Indie Insider, host Logan Schultz sits down with Ryan Hewer, founder of Little Red Dog Games. The two chat about their first release, Rogue State, as well as their upcoming title, Deep Sixed. Ryan and Logan also discuss the political climate, being a part-time developer, and even what it’s […]

  On the twentieth episode of Indie Insider, host Logan Schultz sits down with Scott Rogers, author of Level Up! The Guide to Great Video Game Design and longtime industry professional. The two talk at length about Scott’s personal journey in the industry, his passion for Disneyland, his thoughts on indie video games, how his […]

  On the nineteenth episode of Indie Insider, host Logan Schultz sits down with Raghav Mathur, Co-Founder of Black Shell Media. Black Shell Media is not only an indie video game publishing and marketing firm, but also the presenter of the Indie Insider podcast. The two chat about Raghav’s thoughts on the indie video game […]

  On the eighteenth episode of Indie Insider, host Logan Schultz leads the first Indie Insider Discussion Panel! Mark Soderwall of Indie Game University and Sarah Doukakos of Archiact return to the show, along with new guest Raghav Mathur of Black Shell Media, to discuss the newly presented Nintendo Switch. The panel shares their thoughts […]

  On the seventeenth episode of Indie Insider (and the first of 2017!), host Logan Schultz sits down with James Gwertzman, CEO of PlayFab. PlayFab is a company that offers a complete backend experience built exclusively for live games. James and I talk about how he got started and his time at PopCap, the differences […]

  On the sixteenth episode of Indie Insider, host Logan Schultz sits down with Luke Muscat, creator of the hit app Fruit Ninja and founder of Pretty Great. The two share some laughs and chat about the indie video game scene, the fascinating Fruit Ninja story, and Luke shares an exciting look at his newest […]

  On the fifteenth episode of Indie Insider, host Logan Schultz sits down with Richard Bartle, Co-Creator of M.U.D. and one of the fathers of MMORPGs. This pioneer of the video game industry shares his fascinating story, his thoughts on indie video games, his enjoyment of Westworld, and his advice for aspiring developers. Have thoughts […]

  On the fourteenth episode of Indie Insider, host Logan Schultz sits down with Jason Della Rocca, Co-Founder of Execution Labs, a company designed to fund and invest in promising indie companies. The two chat about Jason’s fascinating career, what it takes to develop a good pitch for investors, and Jason shares abundant advice on […]

  On the lucky thirteenth episode of Indie Insider, host Logan Schultz sits down with Mark Soderwall, the founder of IndieGameU. The two talk about Mark’s successful development career (including his stint at LucasArts), his thoughts on the future of the indie video game industry, and what IndieGameU is doing to help create the next […]

  On the twelfth episode of Indie Insider, host Logan Schultz sits down with Rabecca Rocha, a freelance artist and creator of LatinaGeek. The two talk about Becca’s budding career, her thoughts on the indie video game industry, and they chat at length about being a woman (particularly a woman of color) in the world […]

  It’s Thanksgiving here in the United States, and we’re all extremely thankful to all of you for listening to our show and joining us for developer stories each week! This episode features a special message of gratitude from all of us here at Indie Insider, as well as some friends of the show. On […]

  On the tenth episode of Indie Insider (Hooray for 10 episodes!), host Logan Schultz sits down with Hans van Brackel, Executive Manager of Soedesco Publishing. The two talk about the young company’s early success, the realities of offering physical releases for games, the pros and cons of Steam, and Hans’ advice for others. Hans […]

  On the ninth episode of Indie Insider, host Logan Schultz sits down with none other than David Brevik, best known as the creator of the Diablo series. The two chat about David’s 25-year history in the video game industry, his thoughts on indie games, his advice for others, and even how he really feels […]

  On the eighth episode of Indie Insider, host Logan Schultz sits down with one of the co-founders of Crash Wave Games, Carina Kom. They discuss how she made her way into the industry, the unique video game scene in Vancouver, their experience running a successful Kickstarter campaign for their new game, Iron Tides, and […]

  On the seventh episode of Indie Insider, host Logan Schultz sits down with Sarah Doukakos and Andy Bacon, two of the leads on the adorable new VR game from Archiact, Waddle Home! They discuss how the two made their way into the industry, what it was like developing a family-friendly VR game, the experience […]

  On the sixth episode of Indie Insider, host Logan Schultz sits down with independent author and game developer Nathan Meunier. The two discuss Nathan’s hit book/game, This Book is a Dungeon, his views on the indie video game scene, virtual reality, his personal story, and his advice for others. Nathan also shares an exclusive […]