Josh Garity, the founder and CEO of Pyramid Lake Games, to discuss the ins and outs of indie game development. Josh shares insights on their latest project, Varsity High School Football, detailing the challenges of creating a game that represents hundreds of high school football teams across the U.S. He highlights the importance of community feedback and how Pyramid Lake Games stays connected with their players through platforms like Discord and Patreon. Josh also reflects on his partnership with Midwest Games and how shared values helped secure the future of their family-friendly title Floor is What. This episode gives listeners a fascinating look at the indie game development process, the complexities of building realistic games, and the value of community in the industry.

Josh Garity shares the journey behind Pyramid Lake Games, based in Madison, Wisconsin. He discusses their growth and upcoming projects, including their new game Varsity High School Football and the evolution from Doug Flutie's Maximum Football.

The Genesis of Varsity High School Football
Josh reveals how the idea for Varsity High School Football came from the popularity of high school football culture in the U.S., particularly in states like Texas. His team did in-depth research into high school classifications, divisions, and how to best represent the sport in a video game.

Challenges of Game Development
Josh talks about the complexity of managing the data for hundreds of high school teams across 50 states. He touches on balancing realism and gameplay accessibility, ensuring players from different regions feel represented while keeping the game fun and manageable.

Community Engagement and Feedback
The importance of community feedback is highlighted as Josh explains Pyramid Lake Games’ approach to interacting with fans through platforms like Discord and Patreon. He discusses the challenge of building a broad community outside of a small core group of followers and the value of direct communication with players.

Collaborating with Midwest Games
Josh reflects on his experience partnering with Midwest Games, sharing how their shared values and open communication made it a perfect fit for publishing Floor is What. He emphasizes the importance of having the right partners when working on indie games.

Future Plans and the Power of Feedback
Josh outlines his ambitions for Pyramid Lake Games, with a strong focus on continuing to involve the community. He mentions plans for a winter playtest of Floor is What, encouraging players to wishlist the game on Steam and join the development journey.

Timestamp Highlights:

• [00:02:27] – The origin of Varsity High School Football and the inspiration behind focusing on high school sports.

• [00:06:30] – Josh discusses the research that went into representing hundreds of high school teams across various states.

• [00:10:39] – Josh shares the critical role of community engagement in indie game development.

• [00:14:42] – The partnership with Midwest Games and how shared values created a strong publishing relationship.

• [00:27:35] – Josh talks about the development process behind Floor is What, a family-friendly party game inspired by Mario Party and Fusion Frenzy.