Dmitry Afanasev 🕊’s Post

#indiedev PSA: if your game is on Steam and has appeal in 🇨🇳 China, but you don't collaborate with a local partner there yet – consider working with HeyBox, which delivers the same level of support to Steam players in China as you can provide yourself to other regions via Steam Community. Better user experience -> happier community –> better sales. When HeyBox reached out to us first, we checked with the Chinese players of Gremlins, Inc., and the absolute majority there (1) knew HeyBox (2) used HeyBox (3) were happy to learn that we may start collaborating with HeyBox. I also asked around other indie studios, and got positive feedback from those who collaborated with HeyBox before (thanks to those who shared their experience). We were lucky enough to launch on HeyBox in time for Double 11, and we synchronized the sale on Steam with the sale on HeyBox, and the in-game tournament. As a result, HeyBox delivered 1:1 in copies sold on Steam (10K+10K). But more importantly, our players in China could use a hub in their own language, with tips and tricks and whatnot, and felt taken care of. We are a small fish, with a niche game – which actually makes such collaboration all the more important: we depend on whatever sales we can score, to be able to fund our next game (currently in production). My message to other indie studios is not to miss on such opportunities, and to cultivate similar partnerships in 🇨🇳 China. Our contact at HeyBox is Isla Xu, who has been flawless in communication and in working together on things big (contact) and small (making sure tournament winners in China receive their real-life prizes, which was always a challenge before). And now that we have completed the first royalty cycle, I can also confirm that the marketing and comms are great, and that the reporting and the payments are as timely as those of Valve (a high standard, if you ask me). Lastly, this would never have happened without the generous policy of Valve that allows developers like us to request Steam keys when such requests are reasonable and when pricing policy is respected. In the world where pretty much every big company we work with, from Miro to Unity to Atlassian and to Google, regularly makes our life harder and becomes more predatory with each reporting period, Valve stands out as the partner who continuously supports our dream of making games for the global audience, and has our complete trust. TL;DR – Have a game on Steam? Localized into Chinese, and making players in China happy? –> Consider HeyBox. If you can communicate and synchronize sales and marketing, then you can sell 1:1 to what you ship to China on Steam directly. The next big thing for that region, btw, is 🧧Lunar New Year – the promotion starts from January 20, 2025 😉.

When initially dreaming up The Indie Game Awards with the Six One Indie crew a few years back, there has always been one crystal clear fact: we gotta do it right. Here’s a brief glimpse into our approach. 🔹 While we’re behind the organization and production of the show, it ain’t “The Six One Indie Awards.” It’s The Indie Game Awards. When it comes to the presenters, the judges, and partners, we’re inviting diverse voices from across all aspects and roles within our industry who share our passion the indie scene to help us celebrate the games and the creators behind them. 🔹 We’re crafting a broad range of unique categories dedicated to celebrating the best of the global indie scene across all platforms, services, and storefronts (we see you, Playdate Catalog) no matter the size or scope of the project. Similar to the Six One Indie Showcase: zero barriers, no gatekeeping. 🔹 Speaking of which, it is not a games showcase. We have our productions dedicated to unveiling upcoming and recently released indies ahead of PAX East and West. This is a show to celebrate excellence throughout the indie scene for those who crossed the finish (or early access) line; a feat of its own. 🔹 All killer, no filler. We’re straying away from traditional ad-space or commercial spots for funding. Instead, we’re looking for authentic sponsorships from partners who are as passionate towards celebrating indies as we are. 🔹 The biggie: giving the developers their time to shine! Blood, sweat, tears, and years are poured into crafting these unbelievable experiences. The folks behind them deserve their moment without any interruption. #indie #indiegames #indiegame #indiedev #gamedev #awards

Great game designs give great fun. Great game economies give great sustainability. But great communities build unforgettable legacies for your games. The ultimate long-term goal of developing a strong community isn’t only to boost organic acquisition, improve retention or optimize informative communication. It’s also to take your game to levels beyond what we had imagined our initial designs could achieve. Empower your communities to make your game worth having and worth playing for decades to come. #gamedevelopment #communitymanagement #communitydevelopment

Congrats LIVE AWARE LABS on their successful fundraise and great progress building a product feedback platform that takes advantage of AI in a hassle-free way. This is a tool I've always wanted as user feedback is the foundation of building great consumer products. I predict Live Aware's will become part of any game company's (and really any software company's) development flow as it allows for user research at scale. This is a mission driven team that really believes in a deeper connection between builders and users, ensuring that products truly put customers first and that customers feel a deep connection with those creating the tools that help them. Live Aware's list of legendary investors includes: Lifelike Capital: Randy Lee, Kevin Lin, Jason Lin; Transcend, Andrew Shepphard, Brett Krause, and Shanti Bergel; A16Z GAMES: Andrew Chen, Jonathan Lai, Troy Kirwin; Firestreak Ventures: Walter Kortschak, Amir Rustamzadeh; Patrick Wyatt – Founder of One More Game, Co-founder of ArenaNet, former Blizzard VP, worked on StarCraft and Warcraft.; Luis Villegas – CTO at Bungie; Michael Evans – Director of Engineering at Apple, AI infrastructure expert.; Chacko Sonny – Former Executive Producer of Overwatch, now leading a new studio at Netflix.; Eden Chen – CEO of Pragma, building multiplayer infrastructure.; Seth Sivak – Investor, Former VP of Development for World of Warcraft at Blizzard.; Brendan Mulligan – CEO of Liminal Experiences, creating narrative action role-playing games; Curt Bererton – CEO of Roboto Games, former EA developer.; Brian Vesce – CEO of RefAssured.; Todd Hooper – Investor, Former CEO of Vreal, VP at Unity.

🌟Transform Lives with Into Games! 🌟 As an IG50 winner I know just how just how important the work Into Games does in helping marginalised and underrepresented people get their first role in the games industry, please support this great organisation if you can! 🌟 The 2024 Gameplan isn't just a campaign; it's a beacon of hope for aspiring game creators from working-class backgrounds. Today, only 13% of our industry's talent comes from low-income families – a reality we're determined to change. Together, we can unlock a world of opportunity, creativity, and dreams. Your support could be the key to someone's future in games. Be part of this vital change. Explore, contribute, and spread the word: https://lnkd.in/eadQqGEs. 🎮 🚀 #IntoGames2024 #GamingForEveryone

Here are the Games Industry Highlights | Week 36-37 | 2024 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀 🌍 Dutch Game Garden is shutting down next year. The Netherlands-based incubator has been supporting developers for 17 years.- https://lnkd.in/ehcNBEBm 🌍 Lay off news: Rocksteady Studios Ltd hit by layoffs after Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League underperforms. Ouka Studios (Visions of Mana, just released) reportedly has all but a handful of jobs cut by NetEase Games. 🌍 Legendary Capcom developer Hideaki Itsuno (Dragon's Dogma, Devil May Cry) has left the company after more than 30 years. He will begin a new project in a new environment this month. 🌍 Remedy Entertainment Plc and Annapurna announced a strategic cooperation agreement on Control 2 and bringing Control & Alan Wake to film and television 🌍 Since its inception in 2018, the Epic Games Store has given away 580M units of “free” games through its weekly giveaways. 🌍 Valve corporation’s Deadlock is gaining popularity. The game hit a new peak of 171K concurrent users <while still in closed beta. It has over 1.5M wishlists. 🌍 Apple unveiled its latest iPhone which is able to run AAA games – a feature that was previously limited to its pricier Pro range 🌍 PlayStation shut down Concord last week and offered refunds to everyone, even for physical copies. An unprecedented move for such an expensive release. 🌍 A Minecraft Movie's trailer released. The movie based on the infamous Mojang Studios title will release April 2025. The trailer met a lot of criticism, but its core audience is young kids. 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗴𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 👉 RTBF, in collaboration with ARTE, will co-produce Ram Ram Games' 30 Birds. A first step for the media of the French-speaking Belgian public service in the production of video games. https://lnkd.in/eUKe54nW 👉 Ready your wands: Bolt Blaster Games' The Spell Brigade will release September 16th on Steam. https://lnkd.in/dbf82Fb7 👉 Saffron Streams Interactive announced their next title: Yesterdreamt, a gun-slinging metroidvania. https://lnkd.in/eJvPE7Qx 👉 Unicycle Pizza Time is a "Getting over It"-inspired game by BiteMe Games and just launched on Steam: https://lnkd.in/etTx5upp 👉 Belgian game retail store Game Mania - Pop'd officially filed for bankruptcy and is already auctioning off its store assets. 👉 The first batch of #BelgianGameAwards 2024 nominees have been announced. https://lnkd.in/eWyP7UTa 👉 Ticket sales for the Belgian Game Awards 2024 Show on October 18th have also started: https://lnkd.in/eY6JeE-y REMINDER | you can also read & share this news via: https://lnkd.in/etrgGa9z

We are thrilled to introduce GetPublishedGames, a platform designed to connect game developers and publishers across the globe! 🌍 At GetPublished, our mission is to bridge the gap between the Western gaming community and the East, offering seamless connections for developers seeking publishing support and publishers on the lookout for new, exciting titles. 🎮 What we offer: - Comprehensive Profiles: Showcase your projects and portfolios in detail. - Integrated Tools: Enjoy secure document sharing, direct messaging, and smooth contract signing. - Custom Matchmaking Algorithm: Find the perfect match for your game with our tailored recommendations. - Expert Guidance: Receive business consultancy to confidently launch your game and secure the best publishing deals. If you are a game developer or publisher looking to expand your horizons, set up an account on our platform and let us help you connect with the most ideal partners you are seeking. 💡 Visit us at [getpublished.gg] to register. #GetPublished #GameDevelopment #GamePublishing #GamingIndustry #IndieDev #GameDevCommunity

As you may recall, last month we hosted our first Subscrible Demo Day, aimed at offering both aspiring and established #gamedevelopers a centralized platform to showcase their projects and garner feedback from potential investors. The outcome surpassed our expectations! Not only did we receive positive feedback from investors expressing keen interest in further developing this format, but we also saw a significant influx of applications from developers eager to present their products. This overwhelming response made it clear: the event resonated deeply with all stakeholders involved! Consequently, we've decided to organize a second Subscrible's Games Demo Day. This ensures that every project has the chance to showcase its unique offering and receive valuable feedback from potential #investors. We're excited to announce the second Games Demo Day by Subscrible | Your Self Publishing Mobile Games Booster, now with an expanded geographic scope, featuring #gamedevelopers and investors from Europe, the United States, and Israel. Mark your calendars for May 28th at 16:00 UTC!  Applications will be open until noon CET on May 22. Join us on this transformative journey towards cultivating a more dynamic and flourishing #gamingecosystem. Would you like to join Shima Capital, Griffin Gaming Partners, Playtika? For further details and to participate, visit: https://lnkd.in/dANWYQhu

Online game builders give indie developers access to a range of monetization methods. Whether it's through in-app purchases, merchandise sales, or sponsorships, there’s something for every game. Don't miss out on maximizing your earnings! Dive into the world of game building and start monetizing your creativity now! #IndieDev #GameEarnings #MonetizationOptions #GameBuilder #CreativeProfit

Discover Carry1st a South African gaming company leading the way in mobile game publishing. Founded by Cordel Robbin-Coker (@cordel_rc), Carry1st is bringing African stories to the global gaming stage. 🎮 Overview: Carry1st was founded to publish and promote mobile games that reflect African culture and stories. Founders' Backgrounds: Cordel Robbin-Coker, a tech entrepreneur with a passion for gaming, aimed to showcase African creativity and talent in the global gaming industry. Challenges and Overcoming Them: Breaking into the competitive gaming market was a major challenge. Carry1st overcame this by focusing on high-quality content and unique cultural narratives that resonate with players worldwide. Achievements: Carry1st has successfully launched several popular games, gaining a substantial user base and receiving international recognition. Quote from Founder: "Our mission is to put Africa on the map in the gaming world by creating and publishing games that tell our unique stories." – Cordel Robbin-Coker Sources: https://zurl.co/GKC0 #MotivationMonday #GamingSuccess #AfricanInnovation #BizVitalSigns Follow us for more stories of innovation and success!