Tinybuild, an indie game publisher, faced challenges last year with layoffs and shutting down Versus Evil. However, they have made significant improvements this year. They have generated over three million wishlists for their games, gained over 10 million views on YouTube for playable demos, and players have spent 1.8 million hours in their game demos. The company saw tremendous success in the past month, making it the best traction in Tinybuild’s history. CEO Alex Nichiporchik is now talking about creating 1,000-hour games again. Some of the top wishlisted games from Tinybuild include Level Zero Extraction, Drill Core, Duckside, Streets of Rogue 2, LZE, Sand, Ferocious, and Kingmakers. These games have all been popular and have received positive feedback. The key to success for Tinybuild has been focusing on playtests, re-announcements, and effective marketing strategies like April Fool’s jokes and Steam Next Fest.
Nichiporchik emphasizes the importance of creating games that can captivate players for long periods of time. He believes that if players spend a lot of time in a game, it leads to long-term sustainability and greater sales. The goal is to create games that players want to spend 1,000 hours playing. The success of games like Kingmakers, which received over 18 million views on Twitter, highlights the effectiveness of building enthusiasm and releasing games strategically.
Games like Level Zero Extraction, Duckside, and Drill Core have been successful in engaging players for long periods. These games were showcased at the Steam Next Festival and received positive feedback from players. The focus on emergent gameplay, unpredictable scenarios, and high replayability has been key to the success of these games. Nichiporchik also discusses the importance of respecting players and building a relationship of mutual respect with the player base.
In the interview, Nichiporchik talks about the challenges and opportunities in the gaming industry. He emphasizes the need for transparency in game development and marketing, as well as the importance of player engagement and community involvement. Nichiporchik also mentions the potential of modding communities and user-generated content in extending the longevity of games. Overall, Tinybuild’s focus on creating engaging, long-lasting games has been key to their recent success and growth in the industry.
