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Last year, I finally worked up the nerve to make a free web game into a real, complete game and release it on Steam.
Since I was doing it for fun, I decided to make the game free (this meant I missed out on learning if people liked the idea enough to pay, and also I couldn’t use sales to drive interest).

I grudgingly set up a Discord server and released the game.

I was lucky that someone with millions of followers recommended my game, and that the overall response was positive (“very positive” on Steam, briefly), but what did I really get in the end? A couple of fans, a few hours of talking about my game with strangers, an interesting story (“a billionaire beat my game!”), and witnessing people beat me (handily) at my own game.

Was it all worth it? Should I do it again? Honestly, I don’t know. I’m still processing it all. I do have a nagging feeling that my tech skills could be put to better use, or at least help people I know, instead of strangers.

Like I said: still processing :)

Last year, I finally worked up the nerve to make a free web game into a real, complete game and release it on Steam.
Since I was doing it for fun, I decided to make the game free (this meant I missed out on learning if people liked the idea enough to pay, and also I couldn’t use sales to drive interest).

I grudgingly set up a Discord server and released the game.

I was lucky that someone with millions of followers recommended my game, and that the overall response was positive (“very positive” on Steam, briefly), but what did I really get in the end? A couple of fans, a few hours of talking about my game with strangers, an interesting story (“a billionaire beat my game!”), and witnessing people beat me (handily) at my own game.

Was it all worth it? Should I do it again? Honestly, I don’t know. I’m still processing it all. I do have a nagging feeling that my tech skills could be put to better use, or at least help people I know, instead of strangers.

Like I said: still processing :)