Full Time Game Dev Ep. 026 - How To Make Games With No Experience w/ Mark Brown
Dec 4, 2024
Mark Brown, creator of the influential YouTube channel Game Maker's Toolkit, shares his journey from journalism to indie game development with his new title, Mind Over Magnet. He discusses the balance between audience engagement and game distribution, emphasizing the power of a built-in fanbase. The conversation highlights the emotional challenges indie developers face, including self-doubt and perfectionism. Brown also delves into the importance of sound design, testing, and realistic goal-setting to enhance gameplay and ensure resonance with players.
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Successful Launch with Built-in Audience
- Mark Brown launched his game, Mind Over Magnet, with a very positive reception on Steam.
- This was facilitated by his existing YouTube audience and credibility, which he acknowledges as advantageous.
Audience Ownership as a Business Model
- Building an audience first, like Mark Brown did with his YouTube channel, offers significant advantages for game developers.
- It provides a ready-made player base, but it also requires substantial effort and unique content to stand out.
Algorithm Considerations for YouTube Content
- Consider the potential impact on the algorithm when introducing new content types on YouTube.
- Starting a new channel for different content might be preferable to disrupting an established audience.