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Make the Game with Matt Hackett

Make the Game with Matt Hackett

By Valadria

Learn to make and sell indie games with Matt Hackett, author of How to Make a Video Game All By Yourself.
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Currently playing episode

From Quake mods to game director with Jon Hackett

Make the Game with Matt HackettJul 12, 2022

00:00
32:01
No Stacking

No Stacking

More info: https://www.valadria.com/no-stacking/ 🔗 LINKS Book: https://www.amazon.com/How-Make-Video-Game-Yourself/dp/1736576208/ Coaching: https://www.valadria.com/game-dev-coaching-consulting/ 🎬 TIMELINE 0:00 Intro 1:05 GDC 2024 7:27 No Stacking 25:21 Goals 34:51 Outro 🎹 MUSIC Electro Breaks Loop: https://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_3.php?q=749 Phantom Anthem Wubs: https://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_3.php?q=879 Interstellar Winnebago: https://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_3.php?q=1050 Joshua Morse: https://joshuamorse.bandcamp.com/ #gamedev #indiedev #podcast #gdc

Mar 19, 202437:03
Seeing Things in Steam Next Fest

Seeing Things in Steam Next Fest

Links galore: https://www.valadria.com/seeing-things-steam-next-fest-greg-love/


🎬 TIMELINE

0:00 Intro

4:14 Story Machine

11:50 Seeing Things

19:26 Steam Next Fest

36:30 Live streams

42:20 What's next?

45:59 Release after SNF?

49:39 Multiple demos

55:19 Outro


📙 SOLO DEV BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/How-Make-Video-Game-Yourself/dp/1736576208/


#gamedev #steam #podcast

Mar 05, 202457:36
The Money Episode

The Money Episode

Links & more: https://www.valadria.com/the-money-episode/


🎬 Timeline

0:00 Intro

1:36 User Interface (UI)

10:32 Configurable input

21:10 Climbing the wall

26:40 A "game shell"

37:48 The Money Part

43:02 Kickstarter(s)

50:35 Coaching

53:06 Outro

Jan 25, 202454:51
My 2-year indie postmortem

My 2-year indie postmortem

Article: https://www.valadria.com/my-2-year-indie-postmortem/


🎹 Music

https://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_3.php?q=879

https://stevenmelin.itch.io/lo-fi-atmospheres-music-pack

https://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_3.php?q=1601

Jan 09, 202415:53
Gamedev Bosses & Coping with Solodev
Nov 28, 202320:20
Pixel Washer devlog: introduction

Pixel Washer devlog: introduction


Pixel Washer: http://www.pixelwasher.com/ 0:00 Intro 0:17 What's Pixel Washer? 1:44 Why's Pixel Washer? 5:22 What's cool about it? 7:11 State of the game 8:57 Outro #gamedev #devlog #solodev


Oct 24, 202309:31
Make the Game with Geoff Blair

Make the Game with Geoff Blair

https://www.valadria.com/make-the-game-geoff-blair/

Oct 17, 202354:17
Main Project Syndrome with Ben Anderson (HeartBeast)

Main Project Syndrome with Ben Anderson (HeartBeast)

4 main topics in this fun chat with Heart Beast (Ben Anderson):


📙 Ben's solo developer book Production Point

🛠 When to pivot projects?

🚒 GameMaker VS Godot

🎮 Ben's new game WASarD


BOOKS!

🛠 Ben's book Production Point: https://courses.heartgamedev.com/p/my-downloadable-87616

📙 Matt's book How to Make a Video Game All By Yourself: https://www.amazon.com/How-Make-Video-Game-Yourself/dp/1736576208/


GAMES!

🪄 Ben's game WASarD: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1151870/WASarD/

🐷 Matt's game Pixel Washer: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2572060/Pixel_Washer/


🎬 TIMELINE

0:00 Intro

1:27 Main Project Syndrome

5:01 Production Point

15:17 WASarD

27:32 Do people like it?

33:20 When to quit

35:49 GameMaker VS Godot

46:28 Outro


More info: https://www.valadria.com/heartbeast-main-project-syndrome/

Sep 26, 202347:28
The Unity Debacle
Sep 19, 202320:14
Ignore the Great Attractors

Ignore the Great Attractors

Time for another game dev podcast! 🎙

You've been so kind & encouraging about last week's episode that I just had to keep talking. Let's do this. We're discussing:

  1. On loving & hating marketing
  2. Ignore the "Great Attractors"
  3. Failing to follow your own advice
  4. Your tools serving you VS getting in your way
  5. Thoughts on crowd-funding

🎸 Music

🫧 Play the Pixel Washer demo!

Notice me burying the lead much? Yeah, I've got a new playable demo for you!

Have a relaxing time power washing beautiful pixels in Pixel Washer!

That's the pitch! It's just gorgeous 2D pixels that you need to clean. That's it. Some of you may remember Weekend game jam: Pixel Washer – yup, this is further development of that concept!

It's early times. I'll probably completely redo how the power washing itself works, which is all the game is about, but do play the demo & let me know what you think in the Valadria Discord.

Aug 15, 202328:56
Getting back to my roots
Aug 08, 202351:09
Making great game trailers with Derek Lieu

Making great game trailers with Derek Lieu

https://www.valadria.com/game-trailers-with-derek-lieu/


Does anybody read the text that I type into this box? I have no idea.

Anyway here's a timecode dump from my notes, maybe this is helpful:

  • 0:16: getting into game trailers
  • 4:40: overflow work
  • 5:15: charging not enough, less agency / more indie
  • 5:15: undercharging
  • 8:00: make fan trailers
  • 11:00: where to post trailers / content
  • 13:08: give advice about what you're doing
  • 16:00: trailer categories
  • 17:50 types of game trailers
  • 20:42: trailer lengths
  • 21:40: What gameplay to show?
  • 24:56: Movie trailers
  • 28:28: The magic of good editing
  • 29:50: Kuleshov effect
  • 31:03: Advanced game trailer problems
  • 32:35: End slates
  • 33:01: Logo Soup
  • 33:33: Logos and branding
  • 37:29: Spelunky 2
  • 45:35: Game trailer courses
  • 48:32: Anything identifiable from your game
  • 49:56: Ice Cream Analogy
  • 50:59: Outro

Thanks for listening! Support this show by sharing, rating/writing review(s), and buying my book. I appreciate it.

-Matt

Aug 01, 202353:23
Witchmore devlog: Introduction

Witchmore devlog: Introduction

🦇 Add Witchmore to your Steam witchlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2289580/Witchmore/ 📙 Read more: https://www.valadria.com/witchmore-devlog-intro/ TIMELINE 0:00 Intro 1:15 Why Witchmore? 2:47 Eggspansion 5:37 Scratch your itches 7:58 What's cool about it? 10:59 What's next? MUSIC * Electro Breaks Loop Remastered: https://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_3.php?q=749&genre=Electro * Phantom Anthem Wubs: https://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_3.php?q=879&genre=Dubstep

Jun 27, 202311:33
Steam Game Marketing GOLD with Chris Zukowski

Steam Game Marketing GOLD with Chris Zukowski

Learn Steam game marketing from expert Chris Zukowski! Find resources & more: https://www.valadria.com/steam-game-marketing-with-chris-zukowski/


0:00 Intro 0:15 Critical Steam dev marketing advice 1:51 Reliable Steam dev strategies 3:38 Translating your page 6:28 Interest-first dev 9:48 Outro

May 21, 202345:27
Fruit Ninja designer Luke Muscat talks going solo dev

Fruit Ninja designer Luke Muscat talks going solo dev

Join me on today's Make the Game as we talk going solo with Luke Muscat, designer of mobile hits Fruit Ninja and Jetpack Joyride.

Luke's fascinating journey through games includes going from leadership roles to learning programming & art. Particularly fascinating to me is Luke's usage of YouTube to prove prototypes before committing fully to a concept.


Join 10,000+ subscribers on Luke's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lukemuscat


More episode links and resources right here: https://www.valadria.com/solo-dev-luke-muscat/

Apr 25, 202350:37
Pro tips from 2 indie game devs with Thomas Stewart

Pro tips from 2 indie game devs with Thomas Stewart

Come hang out with me and  @ThomasStewartDev  on today's Make the Game! We're talking about indie game dev, video creation, and how to balance these complicated things. 0:00 Intro 1:16 Game dev book 4:08 Monetized GOT 5:36 Consumer VS creator 7:24 YouTube tips 8:44 Delivering on promises 11:15 Game dev tiers 14:21 Work/life balance 18:50 Tanks, but No Tanks 21:57 Outro https://www.valadria.com/indie-game-dev-with-thomas-stewart/

Mar 28, 202324:11
How to make a good Steam page
Mar 16, 202307:57
Pancakes & the secret to making good things

Pancakes & the secret to making good things

How making pancakes can make you a better game developer:

0:00 Intro

0:25 Topics

1:20 Pancakes as creative works

1:49 Why pancakes?

2:32 How I make pancakes

3:43 Iteration is key

4:31 A tight feedback loop

6:29 Making a pancake machine

7:07 Ready to automate?

8:45 Handmade VS procedural

11:08 Outro 

https://www.valadria.com/pancakes-equal-excellence/

Mar 01, 202312:53
From monster horde to charcuterie board

From monster horde to charcuterie board

https://www.valadria.com/from-monster-horde-to-charcuterie-board/

Feb 15, 202310:40
Designing a great player experience with Coraly Rosario

Designing a great player experience with Coraly Rosario

https://www.valadria.com/ux-design-with-coraly-rosario/

Jan 31, 202301:06:24
Game launch success: treat your release like hosting a holiday feast

Game launch success: treat your release like hosting a holiday feast

https://www.valadria.com/game-launch-feast/

Jan 18, 202314:36
Witchmore direction discussion: let's go to (bullet) hell

Witchmore direction discussion: let's go to (bullet) hell

https://www.valadria.com/witchmore-direction-discussion/

Jan 03, 202316:26
How to feel GOOD about your unfinished games

How to feel GOOD about your unfinished games

https://www.valadria.com/feel-good-about-your-unfinished-games/

Dec 20, 202206:35
The appeal of making an auto shoot 'em up game like Vampire Survivors

The appeal of making an auto shoot 'em up game like Vampire Survivors

https://www.valadria.com/appeal-of-vampire-survivors/

Nov 23, 202214:02
How to handle the DEATH of a platform?

How to handle the DEATH of a platform?

https://www.valadria.com/death-of-a-platform/

Nov 03, 202209:43
Scratch your itch with ChuyPlays

Scratch your itch with ChuyPlays

https://www.valadria.com/scratch-your-itch-with-chuyplays/

Oct 12, 202258:35
Making Airships: Conquer the Skies with David Stark

Making Airships: Conquer the Skies with David Stark

https://www.valadria.com/making-airships-with-david/

Sep 20, 202250:25
My next game is called Witchmore

My next game is called Witchmore

https://www.valadria.com/my-next-game-is-called-witchmore/

Sep 06, 202210:33
Making your first game with ChuyPlays

Making your first game with ChuyPlays

https://www.valadria.com/making-your-first-game-with-chuyplays/

Aug 30, 202253:09
Making Midautumn with Sherveen Uduwana

Making Midautumn with Sherveen Uduwana

https://www.valadria.com/making-midautumn-with-sherveen/

Aug 16, 202244:50
All about Making Big Indie Games
Aug 02, 202219:45
From Quake mods to game director with Jon Hackett (part 2)

From Quake mods to game director with Jon Hackett (part 2)

Thanks for listening! Show notes at valadria.com

Jul 19, 202229:26
From Quake mods to game director with Jon Hackett

From Quake mods to game director with Jon Hackett

https://www.valadria.com/make-the-game-with-jon-hackett

Jul 12, 202232:01
Make the Game: How limitations set you free
Jun 21, 202229:08
Make the Game: 5 ways to take your creative side seriously right now

Make the Game: 5 ways to take your creative side seriously right now

Want to level up your creative self? These 5 things helped me become an artist and make video games by myself. (Technically there's 6 but 1 of them is a secret sssshhh let's be silent like the snake.)

READ: https://www.valadria.com/5-ways-to-take-your-creative-side-seriously-right-now/

LISTEN: https://www.valadria.com/make-the-game/

BOOK: https://www.valadria.com/how-to-make-a-video-game-all-by-yourself/

FREE CODE + ASSETS: https://www.valadria.com/game-dev-medkit/

Jun 02, 202230:00
Make the Game: Unlock your game's hidden potential with a saturation analysis
May 10, 202224:04
Make the Game: Building a career's worth of games industry knowledge
May 02, 202224:58