Mike Arnone
@freakingcoolindies.com
🔦Take the FEAR Out of Indie Game Marketing 👻
🎮 Turning Indie Devs to 'Indiepreneurs'
🌟 Step-by-step guides, breakdowns & interviews
🇨🇦 Broadcasting from Toronto
https://freakingcoolindies.com/resources/
🎮 Turning Indie Devs to 'Indiepreneurs'
🌟 Step-by-step guides, breakdowns & interviews
🇨🇦 Broadcasting from Toronto
https://freakingcoolindies.com/resources/
🦵NEW EPISODE: Kickstarter Reward Strategy: Lessons from $300K in Successful Campaigns with Sam from Indievelopment!
🎧 Listen now: freakingcoolindies.com/12-2/
🎧 Listen now: freakingcoolindies.com/12-2/
September 18, 2025 at 1:15 AM
🦵NEW EPISODE: Kickstarter Reward Strategy: Lessons from $300K in Successful Campaigns with Sam from Indievelopment!
🎧 Listen now: freakingcoolindies.com/12-2/
🎧 Listen now: freakingcoolindies.com/12-2/
🌟 INDIE SPOTLIGHT: Star Rift Saga
My guest this week, Jacob Vela didn't just talk legal theory, he walked the walk. His Metroidvania is great, and it features a brilliant Tetris-like skill customization system. Good stuff, Jacob!
Check it out: store.steampowered.com/app/2158690/Star_Rift_Saga/
My guest this week, Jacob Vela didn't just talk legal theory, he walked the walk. His Metroidvania is great, and it features a brilliant Tetris-like skill customization system. Good stuff, Jacob!
Check it out: store.steampowered.com/app/2158690/Star_Rift_Saga/
September 14, 2025 at 4:01 PM
🌟 INDIE SPOTLIGHT: Star Rift Saga
My guest this week, Jacob Vela didn't just talk legal theory, he walked the walk. His Metroidvania is great, and it features a brilliant Tetris-like skill customization system. Good stuff, Jacob!
Check it out: store.steampowered.com/app/2158690/Star_Rift_Saga/
My guest this week, Jacob Vela didn't just talk legal theory, he walked the walk. His Metroidvania is great, and it features a brilliant Tetris-like skill customization system. Good stuff, Jacob!
Check it out: store.steampowered.com/app/2158690/Star_Rift_Saga/
When friends make a game together without formal agreements, who owns the IP by default?
ALL OF THEM. Equally.
Regardless of contribution. This creates a legal nightmare where anyone can sell the game.
Contracts aren't about trust, they're about clarity.
ALL OF THEM. Equally.
Regardless of contribution. This creates a legal nightmare where anyone can sell the game.
Contracts aren't about trust, they're about clarity.
September 13, 2025 at 10:22 PM
When friends make a game together without formal agreements, who owns the IP by default?
ALL OF THEM. Equally.
Regardless of contribution. This creates a legal nightmare where anyone can sell the game.
Contracts aren't about trust, they're about clarity.
ALL OF THEM. Equally.
Regardless of contribution. This creates a legal nightmare where anyone can sell the game.
Contracts aren't about trust, they're about clarity.
This week are talking game law! ⚖️ 💼
What's the most confusing legal thing about game development that you've always wondered about?
Drop your questions below and let's help each other learn!
No question is too basic.
What's the most confusing legal thing about game development that you've always wondered about?
Drop your questions below and let's help each other learn!
No question is too basic.
September 12, 2025 at 12:47 AM
This week are talking game law! ⚖️ 💼
What's the most confusing legal thing about game development that you've always wondered about?
Drop your questions below and let's help each other learn!
No question is too basic.
What's the most confusing legal thing about game development that you've always wondered about?
Drop your questions below and let's help each other learn!
No question is too basic.
🚨 NEW EPISODE: From Idea to Trademark: Protecting Your Indie Game the Right Way ⚖️
Story time: Your indie game just hit 100K downloads. Congratulations!! 🎉
But then the legal nightmare begins... 🧵
Story time: Your indie game just hit 100K downloads. Congratulations!! 🎉
But then the legal nightmare begins... 🧵
September 11, 2025 at 1:46 PM
🚨 NEW EPISODE: From Idea to Trademark: Protecting Your Indie Game the Right Way ⚖️
Story time: Your indie game just hit 100K downloads. Congratulations!! 🎉
But then the legal nightmare begins... 🧵
Story time: Your indie game just hit 100K downloads. Congratulations!! 🎉
But then the legal nightmare begins... 🧵
Community spotlight time! 📢
Share your game trailers, Steam pages, or WIP clips below
I'll feature our favourites in next week's newsletter + boost on socials.
Free marketing for your marketing 😉
Drop 'em! ⬇️
Share your game trailers, Steam pages, or WIP clips below
I'll feature our favourites in next week's newsletter + boost on socials.
Free marketing for your marketing 😉
Drop 'em! ⬇️
September 5, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Community spotlight time! 📢
Share your game trailers, Steam pages, or WIP clips below
I'll feature our favourites in next week's newsletter + boost on socials.
Free marketing for your marketing 😉
Drop 'em! ⬇️
Share your game trailers, Steam pages, or WIP clips below
I'll feature our favourites in next week's newsletter + boost on socials.
Free marketing for your marketing 😉
Drop 'em! ⬇️
@derek-lieu.com's "eye trace" revelation: Cozy games often have better visual flow than action games 👀
Invisible improvements keep viewers engaged without them realising why.
Watch A Little To The Left's trailer. Notice the flow.
Get more insights: freakingcoolindies.com/subscribe
Invisible improvements keep viewers engaged without them realising why.
Watch A Little To The Left's trailer. Notice the flow.
Get more insights: freakingcoolindies.com/subscribe
September 5, 2025 at 5:56 PM
@derek-lieu.com's "eye trace" revelation: Cozy games often have better visual flow than action games 👀
Invisible improvements keep viewers engaged without them realising why.
Watch A Little To The Left's trailer. Notice the flow.
Get more insights: freakingcoolindies.com/subscribe
Invisible improvements keep viewers engaged without them realising why.
Watch A Little To The Left's trailer. Notice the flow.
Get more insights: freakingcoolindies.com/subscribe
🎬 NEW EPISODE: Meet the Man Behind Gaming’s Most Iconic Indie Trailers
Did you love the trailer for Sea of Stars?? Yea, me too.
This week I had the honour to sit down with @derek-lieu.com, the man behind the trailer.
Did you love the trailer for Sea of Stars?? Yea, me too.
This week I had the honour to sit down with @derek-lieu.com, the man behind the trailer.
September 4, 2025 at 1:34 AM
🎬 NEW EPISODE: Meet the Man Behind Gaming’s Most Iconic Indie Trailers
Did you love the trailer for Sea of Stars?? Yea, me too.
This week I had the honour to sit down with @derek-lieu.com, the man behind the trailer.
Did you love the trailer for Sea of Stars?? Yea, me too.
This week I had the honour to sit down with @derek-lieu.com, the man behind the trailer.
Show publishers how you FEEL about your game. If you have that passion, it's going to rub off. Practice your pitch, but make it your own words. Be so passionate you don't even need the deck!
August 30, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Show publishers how you FEEL about your game. If you have that passion, it's going to rub off. Practice your pitch, but make it your own words. Be so passionate you don't even need the deck!
Publishers are impressed if you've shipped a game, regardless of what happened to it. Sometimes the proof is in the pudding though. Send that prototype that makes them unable to stop playing! Experience matters, but great gameplay speaks volumes. 🗣️ 🔈
August 30, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Publishers are impressed if you've shipped a game, regardless of what happened to it. Sometimes the proof is in the pudding though. Send that prototype that makes them unable to stop playing! Experience matters, but great gameplay speaks volumes. 🗣️ 🔈
Don't bury the lead in your pitch deck!
Get your USP (unique selling point) front and centre immediately. Publishers want the meat and potatoes of why they should sign your game within the first few slides. Everything else is supporting details.
#IndieGameDev #GamePublishing
Get your USP (unique selling point) front and centre immediately. Publishers want the meat and potatoes of why they should sign your game within the first few slides. Everything else is supporting details.
#IndieGameDev #GamePublishing
August 29, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Don't bury the lead in your pitch deck!
Get your USP (unique selling point) front and centre immediately. Publishers want the meat and potatoes of why they should sign your game within the first few slides. Everything else is supporting details.
#IndieGameDev #GamePublishing
Get your USP (unique selling point) front and centre immediately. Publishers want the meat and potatoes of why they should sign your game within the first few slides. Everything else is supporting details.
#IndieGameDev #GamePublishing
Showcase timing secrets revealed! 🎪
Send press releases MINUTES after your trailer airs, not hours later. Journalists are racing against deadlines - your perfectly-timed email with assets becomes their lifesaver!
Perfect timing = instant coverage win.
Send press releases MINUTES after your trailer airs, not hours later. Journalists are racing against deadlines - your perfectly-timed email with assets becomes their lifesaver!
Perfect timing = instant coverage win.
August 23, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Showcase timing secrets revealed! 🎪
Send press releases MINUTES after your trailer airs, not hours later. Journalists are racing against deadlines - your perfectly-timed email with assets becomes their lifesaver!
Perfect timing = instant coverage win.
Send press releases MINUTES after your trailer airs, not hours later. Journalists are racing against deadlines - your perfectly-timed email with assets becomes their lifesaver!
Perfect timing = instant coverage win.
Genius GIF strategy unlocked! 🎮
Upload your best game GIFs to Giphy and Tenor. When you're posting on mobile without cloud access, just search the GIF bar - boom, your own content appears!
Every time your gif gets used by others, you get free marketing!
Upload your best game GIFs to Giphy and Tenor. When you're posting on mobile without cloud access, just search the GIF bar - boom, your own content appears!
Every time your gif gets used by others, you get free marketing!
August 21, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Genius GIF strategy unlocked! 🎮
Upload your best game GIFs to Giphy and Tenor. When you're posting on mobile without cloud access, just search the GIF bar - boom, your own content appears!
Every time your gif gets used by others, you get free marketing!
Upload your best game GIFs to Giphy and Tenor. When you're posting on mobile without cloud access, just search the GIF bar - boom, your own content appears!
Every time your gif gets used by others, you get free marketing!
Don't skip the "About the Studio" section in your press releases! 📝
One dev (@lente.me) makes boat-cleaning games... while living ON a boat. That unique story became marketing gold ⭐
Your location, team size, personal story = amazing free marketing
store.steampowered.com/app/2240080/...
One dev (@lente.me) makes boat-cleaning games... while living ON a boat. That unique story became marketing gold ⭐
Your location, team size, personal story = amazing free marketing
store.steampowered.com/app/2240080/...
August 21, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Don't skip the "About the Studio" section in your press releases! 📝
One dev (@lente.me) makes boat-cleaning games... while living ON a boat. That unique story became marketing gold ⭐
Your location, team size, personal story = amazing free marketing
store.steampowered.com/app/2240080/...
One dev (@lente.me) makes boat-cleaning games... while living ON a boat. That unique story became marketing gold ⭐
Your location, team size, personal story = amazing free marketing
store.steampowered.com/app/2240080/...
🎙️ NEW EPISODE: Want to know how to get your indie game featured on IGN or Game Trailers?
Today on Freaking Cool Indies, I’m joined by Robby Bisschop of @piratepr.com, who has guided dozens of indie announcements from unknown → IGN features.
🧵👇
Today on Freaking Cool Indies, I’m joined by Robby Bisschop of @piratepr.com, who has guided dozens of indie announcements from unknown → IGN features.
🧵👇
August 19, 2025 at 9:16 PM
🎙️ NEW EPISODE: Want to know how to get your indie game featured on IGN or Game Trailers?
Today on Freaking Cool Indies, I’m joined by Robby Bisschop of @piratepr.com, who has guided dozens of indie announcements from unknown → IGN features.
🧵👇
Today on Freaking Cool Indies, I’m joined by Robby Bisschop of @piratepr.com, who has guided dozens of indie announcements from unknown → IGN features.
🧵👇
Game launch isn't the finish line.
People keep buying after launch.
Don't take a break. Keep marketing: → Get streamers involved → Create User-Generated Content campaigns → Maintain social engagement
The real money comes after week 1.
People keep buying after launch.
Don't take a break. Keep marketing: → Get streamers involved → Create User-Generated Content campaigns → Maintain social engagement
The real money comes after week 1.
August 17, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Game launch isn't the finish line.
People keep buying after launch.
Don't take a break. Keep marketing: → Get streamers involved → Create User-Generated Content campaigns → Maintain social engagement
The real money comes after week 1.
People keep buying after launch.
Don't take a break. Keep marketing: → Get streamers involved → Create User-Generated Content campaigns → Maintain social engagement
The real money comes after week 1.
Game devs sometimes overthink marketing.
"We can't use this concept art - it's not in the game!"
Wrong approach.
Right approach: "Here's concept art that didn't make the game. What are your thoughts?"
You're building a brand, not just selling a product. People love behind-the-scenes content.
"We can't use this concept art - it's not in the game!"
Wrong approach.
Right approach: "Here's concept art that didn't make the game. What are your thoughts?"
You're building a brand, not just selling a product. People love behind-the-scenes content.
August 15, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Game devs sometimes overthink marketing.
"We can't use this concept art - it's not in the game!"
Wrong approach.
Right approach: "Here's concept art that didn't make the game. What are your thoughts?"
You're building a brand, not just selling a product. People love behind-the-scenes content.
"We can't use this concept art - it's not in the game!"
Wrong approach.
Right approach: "Here's concept art that didn't make the game. What are your thoughts?"
You're building a brand, not just selling a product. People love behind-the-scenes content.
We had only 3 Steam keys for a giveaway.
Rule: Say the game name in your post to enter.
Result: Huge wishlist spike.
Why it worked: People had to actively engage with our brand name. Simple participation created awareness.
Sometimes the smallest campaigns have the biggest impact.
Rule: Say the game name in your post to enter.
Result: Huge wishlist spike.
Why it worked: People had to actively engage with our brand name. Simple participation created awareness.
Sometimes the smallest campaigns have the biggest impact.
August 14, 2025 at 7:45 PM
We had only 3 Steam keys for a giveaway.
Rule: Say the game name in your post to enter.
Result: Huge wishlist spike.
Why it worked: People had to actively engage with our brand name. Simple participation created awareness.
Sometimes the smallest campaigns have the biggest impact.
Rule: Say the game name in your post to enter.
Result: Huge wishlist spike.
Why it worked: People had to actively engage with our brand name. Simple participation created awareness.
Sometimes the smallest campaigns have the biggest impact.
Marketing isn't a vending machine.
You don't put $1 in and get $1 out immediately.
You invest $100 → grow followers → they engage → share content → their friends see it → conversions happen later.
Think compound growth
You don't put $1 in and get $1 out immediately.
You invest $100 → grow followers → they engage → share content → their friends see it → conversions happen later.
Think compound growth
August 13, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Marketing isn't a vending machine.
You don't put $1 in and get $1 out immediately.
You invest $100 → grow followers → they engage → share content → their friends see it → conversions happen later.
Think compound growth
You don't put $1 in and get $1 out immediately.
You invest $100 → grow followers → they engage → share content → their friends see it → conversions happen later.
Think compound growth
Most game devs waste money on "spray & pray" influencer sites.
Better strategy: Target micro-influencers with 10K-100K followers and 5-10% engagement rates.
100 views from a random YouTuber ≠ good ROI Quality engagement from the right audience = conversions
Better strategy: Target micro-influencers with 10K-100K followers and 5-10% engagement rates.
100 views from a random YouTuber ≠ good ROI Quality engagement from the right audience = conversions
August 12, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Most game devs waste money on "spray & pray" influencer sites.
Better strategy: Target micro-influencers with 10K-100K followers and 5-10% engagement rates.
100 views from a random YouTuber ≠ good ROI Quality engagement from the right audience = conversions
Better strategy: Target micro-influencers with 10K-100K followers and 5-10% engagement rates.
100 views from a random YouTuber ≠ good ROI Quality engagement from the right audience = conversions