You dont actually want to make games Scientia Ludos 2025-03-04 | People who've never made games have a very unrealistic view of what this industry is like to work in. You don't know what you're getting into, you'll give up, and you'll hate it if you succeed. YayFor the ones who ACTUALLY want to make games: youtu.be/ayt7Qfzoewk
For the ones who ACTUALLY want to make games Scientia Ludos 2025-03-05 | Last video talked to all the people who aren't making games who think they might want to, this video I wanna talk to the people who actually want it and have passed the major filters. You're on track, and you've got a solid chance at this point.For the people who think they want to make games: youtu.be/lkO8rYcXZXY?si=qJcALkS3y51hqDsC
More ways to increase game virality Scientia Ludos 2025-02-20 | CTR spreadsheet docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1g6v3JD3gzvgGGZauO4AuI0X1Tq_klaAW5jgfehpsGf8/edit?usp=sharingRetention strategy youtu.be/5m2umPx5774?si=xM9ARnW3Ux88jCMGBranding youtu.be/cBUJVKVUojg?si=CotCpcXkfEJoC6czDemonetized words list docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ozg1Cnm6SdtM4M5rATkANAi07xAzYWaKL7HKxyvoHzk/edit?usp=sharing
Most common reasons Steam users write bad reviews Scientia Ludos 2025-02-04 | These are the most common reasons that I see people write negative reviews on Steam. By avoiding them, and prioritizing the right things, you can secure a solid review score with relative ease.Also watch this video about how the Steam review system works: youtu.be/Ji7Phgx7ry4
My Honest Thoughts on Indie Publishers Scientia Ludos 2024-12-13 | Many new developers think and are told that publishers hold the keys to success, when in reality, they have very little control over your profitability. More often than not they'll grossly overexaggerate their level of power and influence, to coax perfectly capable developers into unnecessary deals. These are my thoughts after talking with many of the largest publishers in the industry, working directly with some, and self publishing my own games.
Using Analytics to Create Viral Games Scientia Ludos 2024-12-09 | In 2023 I spent a month studying retention charts of 100 games, and found a handful of consistent and predictable patterns regarding mechanics that impact retention, and thus the virality of a game.Everything in Order: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvvP3JlIEiRrYtYx_sgy5nzpyxj2L8me-What Triggers a Game to Go Viral: youtube.com/watch?v=7ktGzSoacQc&list=PLvvP3JlIEiRrYtYx_sgy5nzpyxj2L8me-&index=3&pp=gAQBiAQBWhat Actually is Entertainment: youtube.com/watch?v=oOcTqYGQKBw&t=32sHow Successful Games Leverage Human Instinct: youtube.com/watch?v=UEChDilvob4&list=PLvvP3JlIEiRrYtYx_sgy5nzpyxj2L8me-&index=6&t=1262s&pp=gAQBiAQBRetention Study Conclusions Document: docs.google.com/document/d/1D4ZcUCErHkwATVYicddPUOBJMljW4lYo3HBW53uqdHQ/edit?usp=sharing
How Branding Makes a Game Unforgettable Scientia Ludos 2024-12-05 | Good branding can make a game more memorable, recognizable, and much easier to market and sell. Today I'll discuss a handful of the most impactful ways I've seen that make this possible.YouTube Demonetized Words List: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ozg1Cnm6SdtM4M5rATkANAi07xAzYWaKL7HKxyvoHzk/edit#gid=1380702445Color 101: youtu.be/-4L50dvXvLgblog.hubspot.com/the-hustle/psychology-of-color
Why Niche Games Dont Sell Scientia Ludos 2024-11-29 | Most game developers take the "niche down" advice too far and create obscure, unreadable concepts that are simply unappealing to a wide demographic, kneecapping their potential sales. Be unique, but not to the point of being foreign, and make sure your unique concepts are readable.
How Successful Games Utilize Nostalgia Scientia Ludos 2024-11-28 | Games like Palworld, Choo-Choo Charles, and Ark utilize nostalgia to increase familiarity, attention, and conversion rates for their games. This is a slightly deeper look at how this concept functions, and how it can be implimented into your own games.
Two Star Seattle Indies Q&A Scientia Ludos 2024-11-25 | Recently I went to Seattle to speak for the Seattle Indies meetup, and thought some people might be interested in the recording. Check out Seattle indies: seattleindies.org
Good Marketing Copy for Games Scientia Ludos 2024-11-17 | Thought this video would be shorter lol. TLDR; Verbs are king, story doesn't sell, brevity over bloat.
How Successful Games Leverage Human Instinct Scientia Ludos 2024-11-15 | The bedrock of the most successful games is how effectively they utilize unique, underexposed instincts that people are lacking in their day to day lives. My explanation of generally how this works, and examples of how different games utilize this strategy.What Actually is Entertainment?: youtu.be/oOcTqYGQKBwWhat Actually makes a Game Successful?: youtu.be/JUfCvoeEb2UConcept VS Execution in the Game Industry: youtu.be/wb-X41WoV1Y
Why Im Revealing my Game Industry Strategies Scientia Ludos 2024-11-13 | Quick summary of the goal and purpose of this channel.
What ACTUALLY Makes a Game Successful? Scientia Ludos 2024-11-12 | These are the most fundamental concepts that my strategy is built on.Concept VS Execution: youtu.be/wb-X41WoV1Y?si=Znt6LQxI-dvRc6BM
What Triggers a Game to go Viral? Scientia Ludos 2024-11-05 | There's a very specific, identifiable root cause for video game virality on social media. This is a high level overview of this foundational concept in designing for virality.
Should Game Developers Make Devlogs? Scientia Ludos 2024-11-01 | A nuanced look at the utility of devlogs with the real pros and cons. Many indie developers adopt a very binary view of the topic that simply isn't accurate. It can be one of the most effective marketing tools, if it's approached correctly, like in the cases of Choo-Choo Charles (Two Star), Escape the Backrooms (Fancy), and Karlson (Dani).
What ACTUALLY is entertainment? Scientia Ludos 2024-10-31 | Why do we need entertainment, and what does it do? Why do we feel the need to watch movies, play video games, or scroll on social media?Today I'm talking about the fundemental building blocks of the entertainment industry, and why this business needs to exist, as well as the unfortunate side effects that come with it.
Concept VS Execution in the Game Industry Scientia Ludos 2024-10-29 | The concept VS execution debate is one of the most common debates in the indie game development community.
The Misleading Statistics of Steam Reviews Scientia Ludos 2024-10-29 | Steam uses a very specific type of rating system that most people don't fully understand.PC gaming platform Steam, where I publish all my indie games (including my horror game Choo-Choo Charles, and upcoming multiplayer prison escape game CUFFBUST) uses a different review system from other online storefront like Playstation Xbox and Nintendo Switch. As a game developer, I thought it'd be interesting to disscuss how this system works to subtly misleads buyers, as an example of how easy it it to use statistics to "honestly lie".
