How Indies Can Scale with Global Development | Brad Hendricks
In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we’re joined by Brad Hendricks, Founder and CEO of Blind Squirrel Games. Brad shares why globally distributed development is the foundation for scalability, sustainability, and long-term success in today’s turbulent industry. We’ll discuss how Blind Squirrel positioned itself to thrive during industry shifts, how distributed development helps prevent burnout, and how they balance client work with original IP creation. Brad also explains the challenges of unifying studio culture across regions like New Zealand and Colombia while celebrating each location’s unique strengths. With 15 years of experience, Brad brings actionable insights for both indies and large studios looking to adapt, scale, and sustain creative excellence. Follow Brad Hendricks: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradhendricks/ #IndieGameBusiness #GameDevelopment #BlindSquirrelGames #DistributedDevelopment #GameIndustry
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You Did What?! A Game Dev Legal Bingo Experience
Join attorney and game developer Veda Cruz for an interactive session where legal pitfalls take center stage—in bingo form! Each square represents a sketchy but all-too-common scenario that devs run into, like forgotten contracts, fuzzy ownership, or fan content gone rogue. As we play through the card, you’ll learn how to spot these legal traps early and handle them like a pro. Whether you're a solo dev or part of a growing team, this session will help you stay out of trouble and keep your game on track with way fewer headaches.
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Why Games as Platforms Are the Future | Alex Seropian
In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we’re joined by Alex Seropian, CEO and Founder of Look North World. Alex shares lessons learned from launching UEFN experiences with Hasbro, Harmonix, Bandai Namco, and Twitch, and unpacks why the idea of games as platforms is more than just a passing trend. We’ll dive into the growing influence of Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha, the race to turn popular games into open platforms, and what success will look like in this new era. From cost scaling measures to optimal testing and release cadences, Alex explains why developers now have just 6 seconds to capture player attention. If you want to understand the gaming industry’s shift toward a platform economy—and how to adapt for a world where gamers choose games within games—this is a must-watch. Follow Alex Seropian and Look North World: X: https://x.com/steakbacon?lang=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderseropian Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/looknorthworld/ #IndieGameBusiness #GamingIndustry #GamesAsPlatforms #GameDevelopment #UEFN
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The Problem with Publishing
It’s time to ask traditional video game publishing - are you ok? While the rest of the industry seems to evolve overnight, publishing remains the same, despite clear areas of concern. In this session, we’ll examine the state of publishing today, areas of risk and opportunity, and options available to developers and publishers alike.
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The Adventure of Building an Indie Studio: Key Lessons from the Inside
Juan Pablo Guzmán Fernández, CEO of Infinite Thread Games, shares his ongoing experience leading an indie studio. In this talk, he walks through the development of the games Hitori Kakurenbo Online and Hidalgo, covering production, marketing, funding, and team building. He discusses remote workflows, incubation programs, and the importance of early playtesting and market-driven design. The session includes practical advice for entering the games industry and highlights the value of a strong professional network and well-defined development processes.
Candid conversations with veterans of all aspects of the business side of games. We firmly believe that great games from all developers need the support they deserve to succeed. This podcast exists to provide that support.
IndieGameBusiness® is produced by The Powell Group, a video game consulting firm specializing in business development, marketing, and licensing. Our CEO has been in the industry for 20 years and closed countless publishing and licensing deals. The Powell Group monitors over 3,500 game developers and 750+ publishers.
Canada - english