Hi there
How can HeyStephenHeyAI
help today?
After thirty-plus years of promoting and marketing video games, Stephen decided that enough was enough.
So, in 2017, after the EA studio he was at closed down, he decided to do something different.
But he really couldn't stop himself. He couldn't help but love the passion, creativity, and imagination of the game makers. So, instead, he thought about using his experience and ability to solve marketing, branding and leadership problems to help game businesses succeed. He adores working with Indie teams, helping them succeed with marketing and pitches, and sharing the ‘wisdom’ of someone who’s been around for a while.
Lately, Stephen has worked with developers of all shapes and sizes, either directly or via screen agencies such as Creative UK, Northern Ireland Screen, BAFTA, Quebec Pix and Games London. He also works in education, advising on courses at Breda University, UCEN (Manchester) and others, as well as working with the likes of Manchester Metropolitan University, NextGen Skills Academy, Game Academy and King’s Trust to inspire young people to inject exhilarating new energy into the industry.
He thought he'd become a consultant, but worried that sometimes 'consultants' weren't all they were cracked up to be. That's why he decided he would be a different kind of consultant - one who could make a real difference and deliver tangible value to companies worldwide.
He's chair of Manchester Games Network, a member of BAFTA and UKIE, and a proud ambassador for the games charity SpecialEffect, though he doesn't like to mention it, as he's far too humble.
Unfortunately, Stephen Hey is not an AI construct. He thinks, therefore he is.
Give your project
the best chance of
success
What can Stephen Hey do for me then? Well, with all that experience and knowledge, he can make a real contribution to your company or cohort of studios and ‘plug and play’ straight away, with no update necessary.
He is a marketing problem solver, calling on his experience in PR, brand, advertising, scouting and pitching to help indies create publishing and marketing strategies that will help them stand out in what can be an overwhelmingly crowded market.
This is actually
what I do, Mum!
What other services does Stephen offer? Here’s a more complete list but be warned, it contains traces of marketing speak, for that we apologise, but Stephen generally speaks English most of the time.
Workshops & Training
Workshop development, delivery and follow-up
Topics include pitching, branding, marketing, asset development as well as bespoke subjects
One-to-one, or company mentoring programmes in publishing, marketing and business development
Remote or in-person delivery
Education
Guest lectures or workshops
Longer-term industry-based game development projects
Game ‘bootcamps’ from a half day to a week
Corporate & Commercial
Corporate Identity – strategy and execution
Relationship management, partnership building, and pitch creation
Content discovery and curation
Creation, structuring and mentoring of marketing teams
Grant application writing - publishing/marketing (non-technical) elements
Grant applications - assessment
Game Sourcing
Sourcing game content from developers around the world
Mediating and negotiating contracts
Representing publishers at events through talks, panels and one-to-one meetings
Marketing and Brand Management
Fractional marketing management/direction
Devising marketing and brand strategy
Creating realistic and comprehensive marketing plans
Branding – name generation and testing, development of brand guidelines and materials
Corporate communications strategy and execution
Metadata – briefing, testing and optimising metadata to create effective marketing materials
Market Research – from desk-based research to commissioning bespoke reports
Pitching - preparing and presenting powerful pitches to platform holders, publishers and other parties
Briefing and working with creatives, media agencies or other vendors to get the best possible results
Social media, influencer and community briefing
Product Strategy
Creating product marketing vision, setting out market requirements and direction for games in development or concept stage
Creating ‘best practice’ for B2C or B2B marketing strategies
Consumer profiling – describing a tangible target market for your product
Determining marketing, PR and social angles during the development process
Devising narrative structure for titles to drive marketing, pre and post-launch
In-game messaging and merchandising – best practice for maximum effectiveness
Culturalisation of content and presentation assets for Western audiences
Here for you
since1993
1993 - 1997 Stephen started his career in games here as a fresh faced PR, working on games such as Jurassic Park, TFX, Doom and Worms.
1997 - 1999 Infogrames acquired Ocean and Stephen's role transitioned into corporate PR as well as working on launches like V-Rally, Heart of Darkness and Driver.
1999 - 2008 A creative agency dedicated to video games, working on iconic campaigns for the likes of Nintendo, Capcom, Take2 and EA. Games included WWE, Star Wars Lego, Resident Evil and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl.
2008 - 2012 Stephen entered the mobile space here, heading up international marketing for carriers across a portfolio of titles. Stephen worked on mobile versions of P.E.S., Guitar Hero and Lumines in this role.
2012 - 2017 Marketing Director for EA's studio for third party publishing on mobile. Responsible for all aspects of marketing from defining core audiences, to optimising assets, to pitching platforms such as Apple and Google Play. Stephen worked on a diverse range of indie titles including Iron Force, Micro Machines, Feed Me Oil and Icycle.
2022-2026 Head of Publishing & Partnerships for the highly regarded Indie games developer. Stephen set up a publishing team to work on the delightfully silly, physics-driven farming game, ‘Southfield’. In 2025, Stephen’s title changed, adding ‘Partnerships’ into the mix as he moved more into a role that included cultivating partnerships with the likes of Netflix, Hasbro, Mattel and Riot Games.
Let’s be
friends
Since the inception of HeyStephenHey in 2017, Stephen has helped developers, publishers, educational and government bodies and other companies working in the games industry.
Clients tend to fall into the following categories:
Education & Mentoring - working with the likes of Creative UK, Northern Ireland Screen, Teesside University, NextGen Academy, the Kings Trust and ScreenSkills Stephen creates and delivers mentoring, workshops and lectures.
Indie Publishers - HeyStephenHey provided business development services, scouting and corporate marketing for UK Indie publisher Merge Games. He has also provided stand in marketing cover for the likes of Ripstone and Bossa.
Gaming Ecosystem - from gamer support systems creator Turbulent, social media giant Social Life, and energy drinks firm Red Bull, Stephen has rolled up his sleeves and got stuck into projects where mature industry insight is vital.
Indie Developers - HeyStephenHey has worked on tens of indie game launches from enthralling adventures to fast-firing card battlers, colourful platformers to intense shooters.
His work at HeyStephenHey is easily the best job he’s ever had.
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Please do, I like to talk. About games, Lego, Manchester, Star Wars, anything really.
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