Game Wise: The IGEA Educates Podcast
Game Wise: IGEA Educates is the podcast that brings together the best minds in and around the Australian games industry. Hosted by IGEA, this series is about unlocking industry knowledge to help you navigate the business of making games and building sustainable businesses.
Covering all aspects of game development, emerging challenges and industry trends, we tap into IGEA’s extensive network while also bringing in experts from outside the gaming space to give you fresh perspectives and practical advice.
Whether you’re an indie startup, a growing studio, or an industry veteran, Game Wise is your resource for navigating the business of games in Australia and beyond. Let’s get wise about games!
Game Wise: The IGEA Educates Podcast
Community First: Building Macabre from the Ground Up
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This is yet another episode in our series highlighting Australian success stories, aimed at inspiring the next generation of game makers.
In this episode, Jens speaks with Jay Topping, Co-Founder and Creative Director of WeForge Studios, about the journey behind the co-op horror game Macabre. Starting as a lockdown project between friends with no prior games industry experience, WeForge gradually built a community around the game through continuous iteration, transparent communication and a deep understanding of audience engagement. Jay shares lessons on validating ideas early, using marketing to inform development, running a successful Kickstarter campaign, and navigating the challenges of self-publishing and launching an indie game. It’s an honest conversation about the realities of building a studio from scratch, and the persistence, adaptability and authenticity required along the way.