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

Hosted by Andrew Pappas, Game Marketing Strategist and Consultant

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Episodes

285

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

Andrew Pappas, founder of RenGen Marketing helps take indie devs and their games to a whole new level by discussing business best practices and sharing marketing strategies and tips to better navigate the world of indie game marketing. Regardless if you're an indie dev starting out or a veteran small team, the topic discussions apply to anyone wanting to better understand the online environment and stand out in a saturated market. A marketer since 2011, Andrew has found a passion for applying his knowledge by empowering and educating the indie dev community. Between the years of his experience and interviews with respected industry veterans, you'll learn about online marketing, email marketing, crowdfunding, paid advertising, community development, social media, community outreach, project management, and much more. All episodes are packed with helpful information and actionable steps that can give you the confidence you need when it comes to your business and indie game marketing. Hit subscribe and get ready to become part of the indie game movement.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 3, 2026Episode 4791 hr 1 min

Ep 478 - Closing the Gap Between Your Vision and the Player Experience with Walter Chambers

What makes perfect sense to a developer doesn't always translate into the experience players expect. Turning a creative vision into something players understand and enjoy can introduce challenges that aren't always obvious during development. In this episode, we explore how indie developers can create meaningful progression, improve onboarding, and use player feedback to bridge the gap between their original vision and the experience players actually have. Episode Shownotes Link: https://rengenmarketing.com/478

October 27, 202658 min

Ep 477 - Finding Your Voice in Game Marketing with Sydney Clara

For many indie developers, putting themselves out there can be one of the most uncomfortable parts of marketing their game. But what if becoming more comfortable online starts with embracing a little discomfort? In this episode, we'll explore how developers can become more comfortable engaging online, build genuine relationships through shared interests and communities, and find their own voice when marketing their games. We'll also discuss how meaningful connections can create opportunities without making every interaction feel like self-promotion. Episode Shownotes Link: https://rengenmarketing.com/477

October 20, 2026Episode 4761 hr 3 min

Ep 476 - Attracting Players Through Storytelling with Edward Smith

Every game has a story to tell, but how developers share that story can make all the difference in attracting players. Getting millions of views on social media might seem like success, but how much of that attention actually translates into genuine interest? In this episode, we'll explore how developers can use organic content to spark curiosity, build meaningful connections, and gradually reveal what makes their games worth caring about. We'll also discuss how storytelling can help attract the right audience and turn attention into potential players. Episode Shownotes Link: https://rengenmarketing.com/476

October 12, 2026Episode 47558 min

Ep 475 - When Real Experiences Become Games Players Remember with Dustin Hansen

Inspiration for a game can come from anywhere. A trend, another game, or something completely unexpected from your own life. But just because an experience meant something to you doesn't mean it will resonate with players. So today, we'll discuss how to find the emotional core of an experience, use it to create in-game moments that feel relatable, and find creative ways to connect with players while keeping the project personal. Episode Shownotes Link: https://rengenmarketing.com/475

October 6, 2026Episode 47441 min

Ep 474 - Defining Success While Enjoying the Process With Andrew Pappas

I spend a lot of time talking about game development from the outside, but making my first tabletop game has forced me to experience some of that process for myself. In this episode, I'm sharing what I've learned so far, from defining the experience and scoping the idea down to deciding when business questions should enter the process and what success should actually look like. Because what I'm finding, is sometimes the real value isn't just in what you make, but what the process teaches you along the way. Episode Shownotes Link: https://rengenmarketing.com/474

September 29, 2026Episode 47358 min

Ep 473 - Rethinking Indie Game Distribution with Dom Harris

Indie developers have more ways than ever to reach players, but every new distribution channel comes with trade-offs around revenue, control, and player acquisition. So today, we're going to explore how studios can evaluate those trade-offs more strategically, with a closer look at web distribution and the economics of reaching new audiences, including where the web can complement traditional storefronts. Episode Shownotes Link: https://rengenmarketing.com/473

September 22, 2026Episode 47258 min

Ep 472 - Is your game ready for a publisher with Heather Chandler

Getting a publisher is not just about finding someone willing to fund or market your game. Your project, team, production plan, and expectations all play a role in whether a publishing partnership can actually work. In this episode, we explore what publishers are really evaluating when they consider a game, what makes a studio ready to work with, the different ways developers and publishers can structure a partnership, and the production challenges that can shape a game's path to release. Episode Shownotes Link: https://rengenmarketing.com/472

September 15, 2026Episode 4711 hr 8 min

Ep 471 - When Engagement Becomes Exploitation in Games with Tyler Brannan

Games are built to keep players engaged, but is there ever a point when good design becomes exploitation? In this episode, we explore the line between compelling experiences and design that takes advantage of player behavior, and how developers can create engaging games while being more thoughtful about the impact their design decisions have on players. Episode Shownotes Link: https://rengenmarketing.com/471

September 8, 2026Episode 47058 min

Ep 470 - Your Game Is a Business with Jay Powell

Most indie developers learn how to make games long before they learn how to run a business. Unfortunately, that gap can lead to poor decisions, weak positioning, and a lot of avoidable mistakes. So in this episode, we'll break down the business skills that have the biggest impact on long-term sustainability and how using them can help you make smarter decisions without losing sight of your vision. Episode Shownotes Link: https://rengenmarketing.com/470

September 1, 2026Episode 4691 hr 1 min

Ep 469 - What Horror Games Teach Us About Fandom with Dan Morris

Many games can attract players, but far fewer turn those players into passionate communities that keep talking, creating, sharing, and bringing others in. What's interesting, horror games seem unusually good at making that happen. In this episode, we explore why this is the case by looking at factors like mystery, shared discovery, identity, and community-driven experiences. And most important, we dig into how developers in any genre can learn from horror's ability to turn player interest into lasting fandom. Episode Shownotes Link: https://rengenmarketing.com/469