Attention indie game developers: what if we told you that grants could be the key to unlocking your game’s full potential? In a recent episode of the IndieGameBusiness Podcast, our CEO, Dan White, shares his expertise on securing grants for indie games and an inside look into his long career in educational game development.
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Hosted by The Powell Group, a video game consulting firm specializing in business development, marketing, and licensing, IndieGameBusiness features candid conversations with veterans from all aspects of the business side of games.
In this informative episode, Dan dives into the process of identifying and applying for relevant grants, drawing from Filament Games’ experience with RoboCo and our other projects. He discusses the role of grants in supporting educational game development and the challenges of balancing grant requirements with creative vision.
Throughout the conversation, Dan also shares Filament’s approach to partnering with educational institutions and organizations, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with subject matter experts and leveraging partnerships for playtesting and feedback.
Using RoboCo as a case study, Dan provides insights into the iterative design and development process for educational games, discussing how the game’s design evolved over time to balance educational content with engaging gameplay mechanics.
Episode outline:
[0:00 – 0:57] Intro
[0:58 – 7:31] Dan’s journey into the game industry
[7:32 – 9:51] How Filament has evolved over the years
[9:52 – 13:00] Edutainment versus gamification versus game-based learning
[13:01 – 17:59] Where does Filament find grants?
[18:00 – 20:56] How Filament creatively adapts to technology trends
[20:57 – 24:33] Making high-quality educational games
[24:34 – 30:21] Publishers and educational games
[30:22 – 33:00] At what stage of development should indie developers pursue grants?
[33:01 – 35:52] Are there grants that can be awarded for robust documentation on how to make a game?
[35:53 – 37:52] Pitching a publisher vs applying for a grant
[37:53 – 41:48] How we balance client requests with game design best practices
[41:49 – 50:13] Roblox as a platform for educational games
[50:14 – 53:56] Can you associate a license/IP with your game if you’ve funded it with a grant?
[53:57 – 57:03] Common obligations of indie developers when applying for grants and what to look out for when doing solicitations
[57:04 – 1:00:24] What makes a good educational game?
[1:00:25 – 1:01:51] How does geographical location/company structure factor into applying for grants?
[1:01:52 – 1:02:46] Are there specific grants for developers with disabilities?
[1:02:47 – 1:04:49] Are grants for STEM projects easier to get than grants for non-STEM projects?
[1:04:50 – 1:08:31] Outro
We hope this episode provides valuable insights for indie game developers looking to secure funding. Stay connected with us on X and Facebook, and if you’re interested in exploring game-based learning solutions for your organization, reach out to us! With over 18 years of experience, we’re committed to creating impactful games that educate and inspire.
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