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Chris Zukowski: On why Devs Fail, Steam Marketing, and Next Fest | Scope Creepers a Game Dev Podcast

Scope Creepers: A Game Dev Podcast

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‪@Aarimous‬ and ‪@howtomarketagame‬ Chris Z sit down to chat about the most recent Steam Next Fest, Steam marketing, and why most indie devs fail to make a second game!

Use my affiliate link to get a ticket to Chris Zukowski's online Game Dev Conference:
https://www.progamemarketing.com/p/in...

Inside Conference isn’t a traditional conference. Every session is a focused one-on-one conversation between me and a developer who’s done something impressive fast. We go deep on the specifics — not vague advice. More Info: https://howtomarketagame.com/inside/

#podcast #gamedev #indiedev

How to Market A Game: https://howtomarketagame.com/free/

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/21b1Ta5...

Checkout my main channel: @Aarimous

20 Comments

@ScopeCreepers Creator 5 months ago Pinned

Use my affiliate link to get a ticket to Chris Zukowski's online Game Dev Conference:
https://www.progamemarketing.com/p/inside-conference-2026/?affcode=822864_csbdoe1j&coupon_code=EARLYBIRD

Inside Conference isn’t a traditional conference. Every session is a focused one-on-one conversation between me and a developer who’s done something impressive fast. We go deep on the specifics — not vague advice. More Info: https://howtomarketagame.com/inside/

@imjody 6 months ago (edited)

Don't be shy to make the actual webcam videos bigger. There's no reason for them to be so small. The logo can be 10x smaller; we're already here!

PS. New subscriber! I REALLY do hope you make the videos larger in future podcasts 🤞

@caponatastud 6 months ago

"We're toymakers," is such a great insight.

@howtomarketagame 6 months ago

Hi thanks for having me

@Rhyzan_Rattletrick 6 months ago

I've heard it all a million times but I still love listening to Chris 😂

@ragintombo 6 months ago

"Just want you to be able to quit your stupid job" is be a great tagline.

@GameDevInAVan 6 months ago

Massively under-appreciated value that listening to Chris brings: Not only does he give many important pointers in the right direction - his body of work lets you much better understand when you're off in the wrong direction. Maybe a hot take, but IMHO for a lot of us recognising and avoiding/mitigating the time sink of a doomed project is the single most impactful skill to learn.

@DerekLieu 6 months ago

The wood working blue prints analogy is super good.

It’s like how fan trailer editors make things like: “Dune trailer in the style of LOGAN trailer.” It takes out the hard work of picking the right piece of music for a trailer and lets them start cutting a trailer (and even shows where to put the dialogue)

@HeitorD.deSilva-ck5xl 4 months ago

around 50:00 the thing about "you can make your genre" reminds me of a phrase: "you can surf a wave, but will never able to make a sea" - you could always derive your creations from something else's characteristics of many others sources before.

@OkSociety 1 month ago

I love you Mr. Zukowski. When you said you want me to be able to quit my job, that is one of the mantras of why I've been indie deving. Thanks man, it's nice to hear it from someone else.

@mauroannetta 6 months ago (edited)

The interview was great! I love the "I just want you to quit your stupid jobs" phrase haha❤. I think in videogames is even more important to just do. Do do do. Doesn't matter if it's bad, it is just a stairway you are climbing with each thing you managed to finish. Just the act of doing and finishing something is an achievement nowadays

@user-tk1jj1cp9x4 6 months ago

I been juggling this tab for like a week trying to find time to watch it -- and it did not disappoint! Cheers.

@spacebroad 6 months ago

Yes Chris Z! We read that beginners blog. So, so many beautiful nuggets that I CAN do right, and will help me garner what I can from my weird and small game niche.

@Skeindem 6 months ago

58:00 Damn, getting 30 this year, feeling really called out there :D

@norishb6n 5 months ago

I love this pass it forward mentality!!!!

@ShakaTechie 6 months ago

Cool guy and podcast. Thank you. Love the energy and philosophies.

@night-raven-games 6 months ago

hehe the rock climing discussion was soo good ! you could feel the vibes, love to see you and chris ping pong of eachother, it works so well !

@KristianKelloway 5 months ago

56:30 I'm 33 — I just had this exact conversation with myself in January, but I'm glad I found Chris and Indie Game Clinic to remind myself to create something small and just finish something. Long story short, see you at Next Fest <3