{"id":850,"date":"2023-01-31T05:43:54","date_gmt":"2023-01-30T20:43:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/igi.dev\/?page_id=850"},"modified":"2025-05-01T14:43:03","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T05:43:03","slug":"support_industry","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/igi.dev\/en\/support_industry\/","title":{"rendered":"For those who want to support us"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Background to the foundation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What is iGi?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Japan’s first incubation program for indie games.
It has been running since 2021 as a non-profit initiative of Marvelous’ industry-academia-government collaboration, which aims to build a creator-first ecosystem.
The program provides support not only for the completion of games, but also for a wide range of other areas such as distribution and promotion<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why support indie game development?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The indie game industry has experienced explosive growth since 2014, mainly on the PC game distribution platform Steam, and the number of indie games released continues to increase.
However, Japanese indie game developers face the following challenges<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isolated indie game creators<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Lack of connections within the industry and a lack of people to talk to, making it easy to become isolated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Little public support<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Unlike other countries, there are no public institutions in Japan to support indie game creators, so creators have to do everything from development to release themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lack of know-how on “publishing indie games”<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Game development itself can be done, but “releasing a work” requires a different kind of know-how.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

iGi aims to solve these problems.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

History of iGi<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Year of foundation<\/td>2021<\/td><\/tr>
Number of mentors<\/td>over 25<\/td><\/tr>
Number of sponsoring companies<\/td>21 companies and 2 organizations<\/td><\/tr>
Network of publishers<\/td>more than 100 companies<\/td><\/tr>
Exhibitions at national events<\/td>BitSummit, Tokyo Game Show, etc.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

iGi activities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Support provided by iGi<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The program offers five main types of support to indie game developers.
Not just game development, but how to get people to play the games they have spent so much time making. How to get media coverage? We offer support from a variety of perspectives, including<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Development expertise<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Support for the development expertise needed to complete the game, including knowledge of game development itself and progress management, including team members.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Human network<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

After an interview with iGi and a screening process, the most appropriate mentor will be matched to your needs, challenges and team.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Participation in events<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Participate as an iGi in major game events such as Tokyo Game Show and BitSummit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Organization of Demo days<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Pre-recorded pitches (presentation materials for selling the game) are shown at Demo Day, a presentation event to which mainly domestic and international publishers are invited. Question and answer sessions are also held.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Marketing know-how<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Business know-how support, such as SNS operation methods and game sales and marketing methods.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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iGi’s ultimate goal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main goal of iGi is to bring the great works of indie game creators to the world.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schedule for the 5th Phase<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Late Feb toEarly March<\/td>Document review<\/td><\/tr>
Mid to Late March<\/td>Interviews<\/td><\/tr>
Late March<\/td>Participating teams confirmed, audits<\/td><\/tr>
Mid-April<\/td>Announcement of participating teams<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Graduates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Phase 1<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n