Topic: indie game development
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"Horses" Is a Hit, But Its Studio Faces Trouble
The horror game *Horses* became a surprise bestseller on GOG.com after being banned from Steam, highlighting the financial vulnerability of indie developers reliant on a single dominant marketplace. Its removal from major platforms paradoxically fueled its success by generating intense public cur...
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Charity Speedrun Event Spotlights Indie Games
The Games Done Quick (GDQ) charity speedrunning marathon provides a significant visibility and sales boost for featured independent video games, often leading to a surge in player interest and developer recognition. Developers experience a unique pressure during the showcase, as speedrunners may ...
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Why You Should Play Horses, Even If It's Flawed
The horror game *Horses* became a flashpoint in censorship debates after its removal from major storefronts, but the game itself is critically flawed and undeserving of its polarized reception. Despite its bleak premise, the game is undercut by pervasive unintentional humor and dated technical ex...
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How The Roottrees Thrived by Ditching AI for Authenticity
The indie game "The Roottrees Are Dead" initially used AI-generated art, which faced ethical concerns and policy clashes on platforms like Steam, but later transitioned to handcrafted illustrations. Artist Henning Ludvigsen replaced the flawed AI art with 40 hand-drawn illustrations, improving co...
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Steam Hit Recoups 7-Year Dev Budget in 3 Hours
Mewgenics, a long-awaited indie roguelike, recouped its entire seven-year development budget within just three hours of its Steam launch, highlighting the market's support for dedicated creative projects. Disney's leadership suggests future premieres or bookings could occur within platforms like ...
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What Can You Really Buy With $8?
The article presents a theory that consumers often mentally round down an eight-dollar price to five dollars, placing it in a lower spending tier to justify purchases. This logic is challenged by pointing out that spending eight dollars conceptually breaks a ten-dollar bill, leaving an annoying t...
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Game Discoverability: A Rebirth in the Digital Age
Organic game discoverability has transformed into a complex, social discipline requiring strategic investment in social media traction and creator ecosystems, as players increasingly find games through platforms like YouTube and TikTok rather than storefronts alone. Developers must treat discover...
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