From Zero to Hooked in 20 Seconds: The Stopwatch Strategy for Sustainable Indies

What does it take to turn a minimalist text-based game into a global phenomenon?

Indie developer and software craftsman Amir Rajan joins us to unpack his unconventional path from enterprise software to the top of the App Store with A Dark Room. In this episode, we explore how Amir built the DragonRuby Game Toolkit, why betting on hyper-niche communities pays off, and how rapid prototyping drives sustainable success in indie dev. From cracking console publishing to navigating the unpredictable App Store ecosystem, Amir shares hard-earned insights into the creative and financial realities of going solo in the game industry.

Whether you’re a seasoned dev or just starting out, this episode offers an honest look at the intersection of craft, code, and commerce.

Check out Amir's Resources:
https://amirrajan.net/
https://x.com/amirrajan
https://github.com/amirrajan
https://www.twitch.tv/amirrajan
https://www.youtube.com/@amirrajan
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirrajan/
https://www.reddit.com/user/amirrajan/

Games Mentioned:
Illusion of Gaia - Amir's favorite game to play
Slay the Spire
Balder's Gate
mildly interesting RTS
Dark Room
De Noble Circle
Inside Vista
Dragon Ruby Game Toolkit

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• (00:00) - Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
• (00:27) - Amir Rajan's Background and Achievements
• (01:48) - Favorite Games and Gaming Nostalgia
• (03:17) - Corporate Life and Transition to Game Development
• (04:57) - The Inspiration Behind Dragon Ruby
• (07:57) - Challenges of Mobile App Development
• (11:01) - Creating Dragon Ruby Game Toolkit
• (16:01) - The Success of A Dark Room
• (20:35) - Sustainable Game Development Strategies
• (22:49) - Indie Game Development Strategies
• (23:38) - The Importance of Short Release Cycles
• (24:38) - Cross-Platform Distribution
• (26:56) - Navigating Console Releases
• (31:16) - Monetization Strategies
• (37:15) - Fail Fast and Iterate
• (39:02) - Community and Networking
• (43:40) - Maintaining and Updating Games
• (44:51) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com