The Thomas Brush Show Ep. 019 - How To Make Money As A Game Dev
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Sep 13, 2024 Eli Brewer, an indie game developer and founder of Treefall Studios, discusses his journey to making a full-time income from small games. He reveals how to turn criticism into opportunity, shares insights on effective YouTube content, and explains the importance of niche franchises. Eli emphasizes adapting to market changes with low-risk projects and offers strategies for successful game releases on console versus Steam. His insights on pricing experiments and building franchises provide valuable tips for aspiring game developers.
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Early Viral Failure Turned Profitable
- Eli sold a poorly reviewed student game on Wii U and made more in one day than months of his minimum-wage job.
- Negative press drove attention and early sales, enabling him to quit his low-paying job.
YouTube Rewards Money Narratives
- YouTube's algorithm rewards clicky business/money content, not necessarily credible game dev experience.
- That creates a muddy advice space where non-profitable creators teach game business tactics.
Trust Sellers Who Also Ship Games
- Only take business advice from creators who actually make full-time income from shipping games.
- Avoid gurus who teach monetization without real studio revenue experience.