Make the Game with Matt Hackett

Learn to make and sell indie games with Matt Hackett, author of How to Make a Video Game All By Yourself.

All about Making Big Indie Games

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

08-02
19:44

Steam Game Marketing GOLD with Chris Zukowski

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

05-21
45:27

Fruit Ninja designer Luke Muscat talks going solo dev

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/

04-25
50:37

Pro tips from 2 indie game devs with Thomas Stewart

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/

03-28
24:11

How to make a good Steam page

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/

03-16
07:57

Pancakes & the secret to making good things

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/

03-01
12:52

From monster horde to charcuterie board

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

02-15
10:39

Designing a great player experience with Coraly Rosario

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

01-31
01:06:24

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

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

01-18
14:36

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

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

01-03
16:25

How to feel GOOD about your unfinished games

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

12-20
06:34

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

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

11-23
14:01

How to handle the DEATH of a platform?

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

11-03
09:42

Scratch your itch with ChuyPlays

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

10-12
58:34

Making Airships: Conquer the Skies with David Stark

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

09-20
50:24

Playtests, Prototypes, and Permission Games

https://www.valadria.com/playtests-prototypes-permission-games/ Show Notes 📙 How to Make a Video Game All By Yourself (Gumroad, Itch, signed copies) Pixel Washer How to make a good Steam page Pixel Washer: 3-day devlog Lost Decade Games Steam Hardware & Software Survey Game Tester 💰 The Money Episode The illusion of skill: how to make a better game in less time Production Point Indie Game Sim Making an Indie Game About Indie Game Making How has web dev changed in the last decade? 💀 How to handle the death of a platform (for example: Twitter) Game Dev Comics by Matt Hackett @richtaur.bsky.social Making Big Indie Games (Gumroad, Itch) Join the Valadria Discord 60 minute video coaching/consulting Thanks for listening. Now it's time for you to go make the game!

11-13
54:10

Godot and YouTube with Sean McKenzie (Bacon and Games)

🔗 Show Notes Bacon and Games How to Make a Video Game All By Yourself Steam Dev Cheat Sheet How to Find a Video Game Publisher (Tips for Indie Devs) Armor Games Valadria Discord 10 Godot Features Hidden in Plain Sight 👀 🚫 No Stacking | Make the Game Heartbeast 🔥 Steam Game Promo Art - Photography and Fire Making Big Indie Games Game Maker's Toolkit Cursor Adventure Kenney's Cursor Pixel Pack Golf Story Game Dev Difficulty Tiers

10-02
01:27:06

What's the best thing you ever made?

https://www.valadria.com/the-best-thing-you-ever-made/ 0:00 Intro 0:23 What's the best thing you ever made? 3:28 You didn't miss the boat 5:11 Three hours is all you need 9:48 Breaking down hard problems 19:37 Outro 📙 https://www.amazon.com/How-Make-Video-Game-Yourself/dp/1736576208/ #gamedev #creative #podcast

05-07
20:08

How to do GDC

We're talking about: Preparing for GDC Getting a badge (or not) Lodging around GDC A tour of Moscone Center Navigating GDC parties General tips & advice 🔗 Show Notes Game Developers Conference Making a mobile video for quick, in-person demonstration 🐷🫧 Add Pixel Washer to your Steam washlist Bay Area Rapid Transit Yerba Buena Gardens gdcparties.com hbomberguy Thanks for listening! Please subscribe and rate this podcast 5 stars wherever you can. Good luck with your game 🛠️

04-29
17:14

Don't Stop Posting

We cover a lot in this episode! Look at all these links: Amazon wishlist (thanks!) 📙 How to Make a Video Game All By Yourself Game Marketing GOLD with Chris Zukowski Twitter: @richtaur Podcast: Make the Game 📺 YouTube: @Valadria RedLetterMedia SEA (space videos) Join the Valadria Discord YouTube: @richtaur Steam: Witchmore, Pixel Washer The Clark Tank! Game Maker's Toolkit 🔥 The Steam Dev Cheat Sheet Create Your Steam Page No Stacking | Make the Game Killed by Google (Google Graveyard) Fruit Ninja designer Luke Muscat talks going solo dev YouTube: Make the Game (playlist) TikTok: @richtaur Chef Reactions 📈 4 viral game hooks for game designers Game Dev Comics by Matt Hackett Lostcast (my old podcast) Kenney (public domain assets) r/Games - Indie Sunday (oops I said r/gaming) Game Dev Coaching/Consulting GDC (Game Developers Conference) 🥓 Bacon and Games Wonderland Engine (I meant downloadable engine; games run in the browser!) Building a Web Game in a Day 7 tips from 7 days of game dev for 7 Day Roguelike You were played out with Remember Me by Joshua Morse Coming soon: a GDC postmortem, pitch decks, and publishers. Thanks for listening!

04-09
59:31

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