Full Time Game Dev Chris Zukowski: How To Make Your First Game Blow Up On Steam (With No Following) - Ep. #045
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Jun 6, 2025 This chat features Chris Zukowski, a game dev marketing expert known for helping indie developers thrive on Steam. He shares essential strategies for building wishlists without an existing audience, emphasizing quality gameplay over hype. The discussion dives into the significance of community engagement and the role of demos in driving visibility. Listeners gain insights on navigating Steam's algorithms and the importance of genuine marketing efforts. Chris also reflects on the challenges of launching demos and offers realistic wishlist targets for aspiring game creators.
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Steam's Promotion Depends On Sales
- Steam promotes games based on sales money, not followers or wishlists.
- Achieving about 30,000 wishlists is sufficient for Steam testing and promotion phases.
Avoid Lukewarm Games
- Avoid lukewarm games by making your game either really exciting or clearly defined.
- Use demos to show real gameplay since great graphics alone can't guarantee fun.
Leverage Social Media and Festivals
- Start sharing quality game images and clips on social media to gauge interest quickly.
- Aim for major shows and festivals with strong trailers to gain thousands of wishlists fast.