E75: Why It’s So Hard To Get Players To Play Your Game, with Joe and Chris from Ignition Facility

In this episode, Ben sits down with Chris Heintz and Joe Blancato, co-founders of Ignition Facility, to discuss the challenges and strategies in game marketing today. As game industry veterans with deep experience in marketing for top studios like Riot Games, Chris and Joe share insights on why traditional marketing models often fall short in a crowded gaming landscape. They explore how studios can reach players more effectively by building meaningful communities, testing their games early, and engaging influencers long before release. If you're curious about how to adapt to today's fast-changing market, this episode has the answers.

Key Takeaways:

• Navigating Niche Marketing: How targeting specific communities can yield better results than broad-based marketing strategies.
• The Power (and Risks) of Early Access: Testing games early can provide critical feedback and build a player base before launch, but perception has been tarnished in recent years.
• Engaging with Influencers: Why building genuine relationships with content creators can lead to better game visibility.
• Community Building as Core Strategy: Ignition Facility’s approach to embedding within game communities to foster authentic engagement.
• Avoiding Costly Missteps: Tips on testing marketing strategies before fully investing in campaigns.

👉 Connect with Chris Heintz & Joe Blancato:

• Chris Heintz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heintzer/

• Joe Blancato LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jblancato/

Our discord community is live! Join here to engage with leaders and producers in game dev looking to make our industry a better place that makes better games: https://discord.gg/ySCPS5aMcQ

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Ben's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@buildingbettergames

Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6QD5yIbFdJXvccO8Z5aXpm