The Indie Cade Approach to Publishing
Our methodology centers on understanding each game's unique character while applying proven principles from years of arcade game publishing experience. Here's how we work with independent developers.
Return HomeOur Publishing Philosophy
We built Indie Cade on principles that respect both creative vision and commercial reality. These foundational beliefs guide every partnership decision we make.
Quality Over Quantity
We deliberately limit the number of games we publish each year. This selectivity allows us to give each project the attention it deserves rather than treating titles as interchangeable products. When we commit to a game, that developer receives our full expertise and network access.
This approach benefits everyone in our catalog. Venues and players trust our judgment because we maintain consistent quality standards. Media contacts take our recommendations seriously because we're thoughtful about what we present to them.
Developer-First Partnership
Having experienced game development ourselves, we understand the creative process and its challenges. Our agreements structure compensation fairly, maintain developer creative control, and provide transparency throughout our collaboration.
We view publishers as service providers supporting developers' visions rather than gatekeepers controlling access to markets. Your game remains your art. Our role involves opening doors and providing guidance while respecting your creative decisions.
Sustainable Growth Focus
Quick launches followed by abandonment don't serve anyone's interests. We plan for games to maintain presence and generate revenue over extended periods. This requires thoughtful positioning, ongoing venue relationships, and strategic adjustments as markets evolve.
Our success metrics emphasize long-term viability over short-term spikes. A game generating steady income for years serves developers better than brief initial excitement followed by obscurity.
Honest Communication
We believe developers deserve clear information about what's working and what isn't. Our updates include both positive developments and challenges we're addressing. If we recommend changes, we explain our reasoning and respect your final decisions.
This transparency extends to setting realistic expectations. We won't promise guaranteed outcomes because too many variables affect success. Instead, we share what we can control and what depends on market response.
The Indie Cade Method
Our publishing process follows a systematic framework while adapting to each game's specific needs and circumstances.
Discovery & Assessment
We begin by thoroughly understanding your game—its mechanics, target audience, development status, and your goals. This foundation informs every subsequent decision. We assess market positioning, competitive landscape, and potential distribution channels.
Strategic Planning
Together we develop a comprehensive launch strategy. This includes venue targeting, marketing messaging, timing considerations, and budget allocation. Plans remain flexible enough to adapt but structured enough to provide clear direction.
Marketing Development
We create marketing materials that authentically represent your game. This includes trailers, press releases, social media content, and venue presentation materials. Messaging emphasizes genuine strengths rather than exaggerated claims.
Distribution Negotiations
Using our venue network, we negotiate placements that suit your game's characteristics. We prioritize quality fits over maximum quantity, ensuring your game appears where it can thrive. Digital platform discussions happen simultaneously.
Launch Execution
When everything aligns, we coordinate the launch across all channels. This includes venue installations, media outreach, social media campaigns, and community engagement. We monitor initial response closely to identify opportunities and address issues.
Ongoing Optimization
Our work continues post-launch. We track performance data, maintain venue relationships, pursue additional opportunities, and adjust strategies based on real-world response. Regular updates keep you informed about progress and any needed decisions.
Personalized Adaptation
While this framework provides structure, we adapt each step to your project's specific needs. A nearly-complete game follows a different path than one still in development. A puzzle game requires different positioning than an action title. Our methodology provides consistency while remaining responsive to individual circumstances.
Evidence-Based Publishing Practices
Our approach draws from established business practices, market research, and lessons learned across numerous game launches.
Market Research Foundation
We continuously study arcade venue trends, player preferences, and competitive dynamics. This research informs our positioning recommendations and venue targeting strategies. Rather than relying on assumptions, we base decisions on observed patterns and documented preferences.
Industry publications, venue operator feedback, player community discussions, and performance data from our published catalog all contribute to our understanding. We share relevant insights with partners to inform collaborative decision-making.
Professional Standards
Our contracts follow fair industry standards established through years of publishing practice. We work with legal professionals ensuring agreements protect both parties appropriately. Financial arrangements reflect common revenue-sharing models adapted to specific project circumstances.
Marketing materials adhere to advertising standards, avoiding misleading claims or deceptive practices. We represent games honestly because long-term reputation matters more than short-term gains from exaggeration.
Data-Driven Decisions
We track comprehensive metrics across our published games—venue performance, player engagement, revenue patterns, and marketing effectiveness. This data reveals what actually works rather than what we hope might work.
When recommending strategies for new titles, we reference similar past situations and their outcomes. While every game remains unique, patterns emerge that guide more informed decision-making than pure intuition allows.
Quality Assurance Process
Before committing to publish, we conduct thorough gameplay evaluation and market assessment. This review process protects both our reputation and developers from launching games unlikely to find audiences. If we have concerns, we discuss them directly.
Our selective approach means rejected games aren't necessarily flawed—they might simply not match our current distribution capabilities or market understanding. We provide honest feedback even when declining projects.
Addressing Common Publishing Limitations
The indie game publishing landscape includes various approaches, each with strengths and limitations. Understanding these differences helps developers make informed partnership choices.
Volume-Focused Publishing
Some publishers pursue quantity over quality, signing numerous titles to maximize their catalog size. While this creates more opportunities for developers, individual games often receive minimal attention and support.
Our approach: By limiting our annual commitments, we ensure each game receives substantial time, expertise, and network access. Your project doesn't compete with dozens of others for our attention.
One-Size-Fits-All Marketing
Standard marketing templates applied to all games ignore what makes each project unique. Generic promotion rarely connects with specific audiences effectively, wasting resources on broad outreach.
Our approach: We develop customized strategies reflecting each game's particular strengths and target audience. Focused outreach to appropriate venues and communities produces better results than scattered generic campaigns.
Limited Ongoing Support
Many publishers concentrate efforts on launch periods, then shift attention to newer titles. Games left to fend for themselves often lose momentum that ongoing support could maintain.
Our approach: We view publishing as an ongoing partnership extending well beyond launch. Continuous venue relationship management, performance monitoring, and strategic adjustments help sustain success over extended periods.
Developer Exclusion
Some traditional publishers make decisions without involving developers, treating games as properties they now control. This approach often misses opportunities because publishers lack the creator's deep understanding.
Our approach: We view developers as essential collaborators whose insights inform strategy. Major decisions involve discussion and mutual agreement. Your creative vision and market instincts matter throughout our partnership.
What Makes Our Methodology Distinctive
Several elements differentiate our approach from conventional indie game publishing practices.
Selective Partnership
We deliberately limit annual commitments, ensuring quality attention for each game. This selectivity protects our reputation and provides developers the support they deserve.
Developer Experience
Our team includes former developers who understand creative processes firsthand. This perspective informs how we structure agreements and communicate throughout partnerships.
Performance Transparency
We provide detailed performance data and honest assessments. Developers receive complete information about what's working and what needs adjustment.
Continuous Learning
Market conditions evolve constantly. We adapt our approach based on emerging trends, venue feedback, and performance data rather than relying on outdated formulas.
Network Access
Years of relationship-building provide access to venue operators, media contacts, and industry professionals that new developers struggle to reach independently.
Honest Communication
We set realistic expectations and communicate challenges directly. Long-term relationships matter more than maintaining comfortable illusions.
How We Track Progress
Success requires measuring what matters while understanding that numbers tell only part of the story.
Quantitative Metrics
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Revenue Performance: Monthly income across all distribution channels, tracked against projections and comparable titles.
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Venue Placements: Number and quality of locations, including renewal rates and expansion opportunities.
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Player Engagement: Play frequency, session duration, and return player rates where measurable.
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Media Coverage: Article placements, reviews, and features in relevant gaming publications.
Qualitative Indicators
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Venue Feedback: Operator satisfaction, maintenance concerns, and enthusiasm for continued placement.
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Player Sentiment: Community discussions, social media mentions, and direct feedback about game experiences.
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Industry Recognition: Award nominations, conference features, and professional community reception.
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Partnership Health: Communication quality, problem-solving effectiveness, and mutual satisfaction with collaboration.
Realistic Expectations
We share performance data monthly, contextualizing numbers with market conditions and comparable benchmarks. Success looks different for each game based on genre, timing, and market circumstances. Our role involves helping you understand what your specific results mean and how to respond strategically.
Experience-Driven Publishing Excellence
Our methodology evolved through direct experience publishing arcade games since 2019. Each partnership taught us something about what works in this specialized market. We've refined our approach continuously, incorporating lessons from both successes and challenges encountered along the way.
The arcade game market differs significantly from other gaming sectors. Physical venue placement involves different considerations than digital distribution alone. Player demographics, engagement patterns, and business models all require specialized understanding. Our team developed this knowledge through years of active participation in this specific marketplace.
We recognize that publishing represents just one component of a game's success. Developer talent, game quality, market timing, and countless other factors influence outcomes. Our methodology acknowledges these realities while focusing on elements we can meaningfully affect through expertise and effort.
Trust forms the foundation of successful publisher-developer relationships. We build this trust through consistent honesty, transparent communication, and following through on commitments. When problems arise—and they sometimes do—we address them directly rather than avoiding difficult conversations.
The independent game development community thrives when publishers support creative vision rather than homogenize content for mass appeal. Our methodology centers on finding appropriate audiences for unique games rather than trying to make every game appeal to everyone. This specificity produces better results than generic broad marketing approaches.
Does This Approach Resonate With You?
If our methodology aligns with your values and your game could benefit from this type of partnership, we'd welcome a conversation. Understanding whether we're a good fit benefits everyone before commitments are made.
Discuss Your ProjectNo pressure. Just honest discussion about possibilities.