I make games and this literally happened to me this morning

Comments

• Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  For context: I make indie games and have released two so far and I’m currently working on the third one which is weird as fuck. So the way that Steam works is, they don’t send you money anytime you make a sale, but they send all of it at the end of every month. Now September is almost over and I got an e-mail titled “Steam Payment Notification” and I get all hyped up. I open it and read it that the Payment Notification is actually that there is no Payment since I didn’t make $100 in sales. Way to hype me up and bring me down, Steam.

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  • Zoot_@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Youtube and twitch work this same way. When I was starting there were months where I didnt make any money because I didn’t meet the minimum. Hoping next month meets the requirement for you boss 🙏

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    • IrateAnteater@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Does the balance at least accumulate until you do hit the threshold, or is the money just gone?

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  • SirDerpy@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Does Steam take a cut for distribution?

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    • Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Yes, their cut is 30% which is a lot, but they are pretty much the only big platform out there. Epic games has been trying to get in the game but so far they are not close. Their cut is 15%.

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  • reshuffle6655@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Other games include “be a rock” and “pizza synthwave” and this is the weird one.

    Wish listed.

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  • crimsoncobalt@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    I see you settled on a design for the toaster. Love the mustache.

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    • Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Thank you : )

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  • moody@lemmings.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    You raised my hopes, and dashed them quite expertly sir! Bravo!

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  • Korrok@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Oooh, I remember seeing you post about the toaster

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  • a_wild_mimic_appears@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Since i’m a sucker for weird games and very bad at following simple rules i wishlisted your new game lol

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  • choss@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Ayy I remember that toaster! This looks great! The sign with “Do not bite yourself to check whether you are a cake” got me smiling good

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  • indomara@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Whats the game? :)

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• Bougie_Birdie@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  I released a game like three years ago and it’s earned $97 in that time.

  I feel your pain

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  • itslilith@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Buy it yourself, get over 100, cash out

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    • Bougie_Birdie@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Haha, I’ve considered it. I’d really like to at least be able to buy pizza for the gang who helped make the game.

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  • Amanduh@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Tell us the game now.

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    • Person264@lemmings.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Concord

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  • indomara@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Whats the game? :)

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  • cheddar@programming.dev ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    If you roughly convert your hourly salary, how much money did you spend working on this game?

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    • Bougie_Birdie@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      If we were to compare it to our day jobs, the opportunity cost for the team and me would probably be around ten grand.

      If we compare the time spent to the money earned, then we’re each worth several cents an hour.

      It’s a good thing I didn’t get into game dev for the money, it seems I’m quite bad at it

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• Evotech@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  I’m sure if you owed them 100 bucks they’d demand it

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  • Flocklesscrow@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    *$99

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    • MadBob@feddit.nl ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Perhaps that’s a $99 discount on the next amount owed?

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  • CaptPretentious@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Fairly certain I’ve bought a game that was like 34 cents or something. I definitely charged me the 34 cents.

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• maneframe@lemmy.sdf.org ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  Hey me too! I released my first game on Steam a month ago and by all objective measures it was a flop, but as a hobbyist I’m still proud of it. It honestly did better than I thought for a small niche game that I did a terrible job of marketing, and my one review so far was quite positive so I’ll count that as a small win as I move onwards to the next game.

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  • gwen@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    you cant just SAY that and then not mention the game name

    wow you really are bad at marketing

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    • DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      The eternal conflict between being an indie dev and not wanting to be a shill :'(

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    • maneframe@lemmy.sdf.org ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Oof, though you’re not wrong!

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    • Flocklesscrow@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      This IS the game.

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  • maneframe@lemmy.sdf.org ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    By the way, here’s the game for anyone interested: store.steampowered.com/app/2792160/SnowDown/

    I didn’t expect to see so many replies!

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    • indomara@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      This is super cute! If I buy these now for my friends and family but set it to deliver the gift near Christmas, would you get the money now? Or not til Christmas?

      This looks perfect for when everyone is over on Christmas eve! <3

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    • Donjuanme@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Got it on follow, if I ever get a house with a better Internet connection I’ll give it a shot and leave a review

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    • gerbler@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      As someone who is also awkwardly treading the line between being a soulless hack and trying to get my work noticed by literally anyone: please edit your top comment with a link to your game.

      I mean it. I can’t even muster the courage to post my renders to Instagram without feeling like some desperate influencer goof.

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    • CondensedPossum@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      this is unexpected, i was expecting a COD type game but instead it has penguins and you’re supposed to have friends

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    • PalmTreeIsBestTree@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Reminds me of some of the old school flash multiplayer games

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  • Bongles@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Considering you’re a hobbyist and probably don’t have marketing, it’s too soon to say it’s a flop. Many games like that pop off later once it gets seen.

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    • maneframe@lemmy.sdf.org ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      I appreciate the optimism! I hope it can find an audience over time, but it’s definitely tough to stand out. For now, I’m aiming to just keep making games and improving, rather than giving up after the first try, which sadly seems to happen a lot out there.

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    • SkunkWorkz@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Rarely happens. The vast majority of game on Steam make the bulk of their sales within a few months of release.

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  • TachyonTele@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    What’s you game? Niche games are awesome. And if you made it with Godot I’m definitely interested.

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    • maneframe@lemmy.sdf.org ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Here’s my game: store.steampowered.com/app/2792160/SnowDown/

      It’s a little action party game you can play with phones as controllers (similar to how you’d host a Jackbox game). And yes I did make it with Godot!

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• Blackmist@feddit.uk ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  I have lots of bills that are less than that every month, and yet somehow I can’t just say they’re not worth paying…

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  • kameecoding@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    I am guessing you dont have service providers from all over the globe with international transaction fees

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    • Blackmist@feddit.uk ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      If I did I’d probably have lots of little satellite offices in various regions to make that easier.

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• Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  If you want to support me, a wishlist of my current game will mean the world to me: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2336120/Do_Not_Press_The_Button_To_Delete_The_Multiverse/

  But please don’t spend money on my previous games, I recognize that they aren’t that good I don’t want to burden anyone financially with them (I loved every minute of making them, but I was still a noob back then).

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  • Muehe@lemmy.ml ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    FYI you have a typo in your last screenshot (This sign m[a]y not…):

    Image

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    • Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Arhgh missed that! Thank you so much!

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  • indomara@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    But please don’t spend money on my previous games, I recognize that they aren’t that good I don’t want to burden anyone financially with them (I loved every minute of making them, but I was still a noob back then).

    You’re not my mum! I bought Be a Rock anyway. Keep going, make games!

    I believe in you!

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  • thisbenzingring@lemmy.sdf.org ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    I will advertise this to my friends, they have lots of young people in their circles that go through games at a good pace. This looks right up their alley.

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    • Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      WOW! Thank you so much! Word of mouth is important for small indie dev teams

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  • JusticeForPorygon@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    You know what? Fuck you.

    Buys “Be A Rock”

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  • Wurzelfurz@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Would you mind explaining how wishlisting a game helps the devs? Is it an algorithm thing? Will it be shown to more people when it is being wishlisted more?

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    • gwen@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      yeah pretty much, if a ton of people wishlist a game it pops up more on the front pages of categories bc that means it’s rlly popular

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  • MajorHavoc@programming.dev ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    The screenshots sell it well. That’s some funny stuff. I’ll plan to check it out.

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    • Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Thank you :)

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  • w3dd1e@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Does Wishlisting a game help the developer in anyway other than indicating excitement for a game?

    I’d love to know if there an any incentive to interacting with a game’s store page other than buying a game, obviously.

    If Steam gives a bonus for that kind of thing, I’m going to be a lot more generous with my clicks.

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    • TachyonTele@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      It definitely helps. Every dev I’ve heard talking about releasing a game stresses wishlisting. I forget why, unfortunately. It might make it more noticable, sort of like likensub on YouTube.

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  • SturgiesYrFase@lemmy.ml ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    I love that the Lemmy workshopped toaster has made it to the Steam page already.

    Wish listed!

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  • jacecomix@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    One of my friends has your game wishlisted. That’s one more than I expected to see based on your post, so shoutouts to you for exceeding expectations! Hope you keep making better and better games. :)

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  • sevan@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Wish listed! Also bought Be a Rock, I look forward to being a rock later tonight, it sounds fantastic!

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  • AGreenPurple@lemmynsfw.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Funnily I saw the playthrough of your game in YouTube and it really looks like a labour of love. As the guy who did the playthrough suggested, still need to buy it as a thank you.

    Or is that another game with a red button? The maker of the game I’m thinking about wrote a comment on YouTube

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• Deestan@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  My bank: “We have a new valuation on your home! Open your app to see it!”

  …

  “It’s down 2%!”

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• swordgeek@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  I guess I shouldn’t be expected to pay for games until my total is over a hundred bucks then?

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• NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  I’ve had Google charge me $0.01 before for firebase usage.

  They really should have waited until I owed more since that cost them money.

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• Yerbouti@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  itch.io once sent me 4$

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• ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  If a game gets lost in the steam store and no one ever plays it, was it ever a game at all?

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• RiQuY@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  I feel you, on Twitch is 50$.

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• grandma@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  They don’t seem to have an issue sending $10 refunds to my bank account, I wonder how much it actually costs them

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• WolfLink@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  I used to make mobile apps as a hobby and I still get the weekly report of my dwindling numbers.

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• MarcomachtKuchen@feddit.org ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  Do they just keep your earning in your account until one month your total outstanding earnings breach the 100$ threshold and you’ll receive all your earning in one transaction or does this money get swallowed by steam?

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• Philharmonic3@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  Policy schmolicy. Withholding even one cent you are owed is fucking shitty.

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• Deceptichum@quokk.au ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  I’ve been waiting like 20 years for my money from NewGrounds. I was at $80 last time I checked a while ago.

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• ExtraMedicated@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  Happens to me almost every month. Good think I didn’t quit my day job.

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• recursive_recursion@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  if this is true I’d recommend sending GamersNexus an email with the details as they might be able to help considering their past actions to hold companies accountable

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• itsmect@monero.town ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  Seen your meme during my lunch break doom scrolling on another site. Happy to see you are here on lemmy too!

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• NOOBMASTER@lemmy.ml ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  don’t make shitty asset flips then

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• dejected_warp_core@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  Jesus. This makes it reasonable to just buy $100 worth of your own game every month, just to make sure. Yeah, that’s a non-zero opportunity cost for you, and additional float for Valve, however petty it may be. But for a small developer, maybe that makes sense.

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• Wawe@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  My experience every month.

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