Make the Game with Matt Hackett

47 Episodes

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All about Making Big Indie Games

2022-08-0219:44

Let's make big games! I just launched an advanced guide for indie game developers who are ready for the next level. Let's talk all about it. Show notes How to Make a Video Game All By Yourself Making Big Indie Games Super Hackett Bros

Steam Game Marketing GOLD with Chris Zukowski

2023-05-2145:27

Learn Steam game marketing from expert Chris Zukowski! Find resources & more: https://www.valadria.com/steam-game-marketing-with-chris-zukowski/ 0:00 Intro 0:15 Critical Steam dev marketing advice 1:51 Reliable Steam dev strategies 3:38 Translating your page 6:28 Interest-first dev 9:48 Outro

Fruit Ninja designer Luke Muscat talks going solo dev

2023-04-2550:37

Join me on today's Make the Game as we talk going solo with Luke Muscat, designer of mobile hits Fruit Ninja and Jetpack Joyride. Luke's fascinating journey through games includes going from leadership roles to learning programming & art. Particularly fascinating to me is Luke's usage of YouTube to prove prototypes before committing fully to a concept. Join 10,000+ subscribers on Luke's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lukemuscat More episode links and resources right here: https://www.valadria.com/solo-dev-luke-muscat/

Pro tips from 2 indie game devs with Thomas Stewart

2023-03-2824:11

Come hang out with me and @ThomasStewartDev on today's Make the Game! We're talking about indie game dev, video creation, and how to balance these complicated things. 0:00 Intro 1:16 Game dev book 4:08 Monetized GOT 5:36 Consumer VS creator 7:24 YouTube tips 8:44 Delivering on promises 11:15 Game dev tiers 14:21 Work/life balance 18:50 Tanks, but No Tanks 21:57 Outro https://www.valadria.com/indie-game-dev-with-thomas-stewart/

How to make a good Steam page

2023-03-1607:57

How do you make a good Steam page? 0:00 Intro 0:20 Summary 0:28 Assets 2:46 Short description 4:00 Long description 5:04 Screenshots 5:34 Trailer 6:57 Resources 7:17 Outro Notes, links, & attributions: https://www.valadria.com/how-to-make-a-good-steam-page/

Pancakes & the secret to making good things

2023-03-0112:52

How making pancakes can make you a better game developer: 0:00 Intro 0:25 Topics 1:20 Pancakes as creative works 1:49 Why pancakes? 2:32 How I make pancakes 3:43 Iteration is key 4:31 A tight feedback loop 6:29 Making a pancake machine 7:07 Ready to automate? 8:45 Handmade VS procedural 11:08 Outro https://www.valadria.com/pancakes-equal-excellence/

From monster horde to charcuterie board

2023-02-1510:39

https://www.valadria.com/from-monster-horde-to-charcuterie-board/

Designing a great player experience with Coraly Rosario

2023-01-3101:06:24

https://www.valadria.com/ux-design-with-coraly-rosario/

Game launch success: treat your release like hosting a holiday feast

2023-01-1814:36

https://www.valadria.com/game-launch-feast/

Witchmore direction discussion: let's go to (bullet) hell

2023-01-0316:25

https://www.valadria.com/witchmore-direction-discussion/

How to feel GOOD about your unfinished games

2022-12-2006:34

https://www.valadria.com/feel-good-about-your-unfinished-games/

The appeal of making an auto shoot 'em up game like Vampire Survivors

2022-11-2314:01

https://www.valadria.com/appeal-of-vampire-survivors/

How to handle the DEATH of a platform?

2022-11-0309:42

https://www.valadria.com/death-of-a-platform/

Scratch your itch with ChuyPlays

2022-10-1258:34

https://www.valadria.com/scratch-your-itch-with-chuyplays/

Making Airships: Conquer the Skies with David Stark

2022-09-2050:24

https://www.valadria.com/making-airships-with-david/

Acclaim, Side Projects, and Content Marketing

2025-12-1741:19

🔗 Show NotesAcclaim / Pixel WasherWashlist Pixel Washer on Steam🔥 Acclaim is publishing my game Pixel Washer🕹️ How I got a publisher for my indie game📺 Video: Publishing with AcclaimDiggy, an open source JavaScript game engine (with example game)Onslaught! Arena by Lost Decade GamesOnslaught! ArenaBacon and GamesGame Dev Comics by Matt HackettBuffer (for scheduling posts)Matt's Canon EOS M50 Guide🛠️ Building a fulfilling creative career as a solo devStar SparkJonas TyrollerJuniper Dev🎶 Music by Joshua Morse

🎙️ Sprint Planning, Complexity, and Marketing

2025-07-2340:58

Links and more: https://www.valadria.com/sprint-planning-complexity-and-marketing/🎬 Time Codes0:00 Intro0:23 Work schedules / time tracking / sprint planning4:28 Game architecture complexity8:50 Splitting time on indie game development / other stuff14:09 Marketing / promotion21:08 A challenge for you23:40 Ramble on34:06 Promoting games on social media37:20 Outro

🛠️ How to get BACK into game development

2025-05-0701:40:35

Links and more: https://www.valadria.com/how-to-get-back-into-game-development/

Marketing and PR with Robby Bisschop of PiratePR

2025-04-0901:27:37

Article: https://www.valadria.com/robby-bisschop-piratepr/🎬 TIMELINE0:00 Intro0:13 Marketing and PR35:37 How to get wishlists49:32 How long to market a game?59:17 Marketing beats1:07:05 Keyscammers1:25:40 Outro🏴‍☠️ Hire Robby: https://piratepr.com/📙 Buy my book: https://www.amazon.com/How-Make-Video-Game-Yourself/dp/1736576208/🐷 Washlist Pixel Washer: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2572060/Pixel_Washer/#gamedev #marketing #podcast

Webbiness and Refactoring

2025-01-0849:57

See valadria.com for more info! 📋 Show Notes A Wizard's Lizard From Quake mods to game director with Jon Hackett 🐷 Pixel Washer PowerWash Simulator Dr Wahwee Tiled (map editor)

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