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In this episode of the Indie Game Development Podcast, I sat down with BenBonk to chat about making Slimekeep, his five-year journey, and what it’s like developing a game from high school to Steam.

He shares about wishlists, hard work, and growing as a solo indie dev.

BenBonk started Slimekeep in grade 9. Five years later, it became one of the most wishlisted indie games on Steam.

This is his story about how Slimekeep came to life, from a game jam game to a hit indie title. No hype—just a real talk with BenBonk about making a game he believed in. 

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The game dev industry has been looking rough lately—layoffs, AI advancements, drama with engines, and an overwhelming number of new releases. It’s easy to feel discouraged.

But despite all of that, we truly believe now is the BEST time to get into game dev. 

The industry is changing fast, and those who push through will be ahead when the dust settles. If you’ve ever wanted to make games, there’s no better time than right now!

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Check us out on Youtube!

The game dev industry has been looking rough lately—layoffs, AI advancements, drama with engines, and an overwhelming number of new releases. It’s easy to feel discouraged.

But despite all of that, we truly believe now is the BEST time to get into game dev. 

The industry is changing fast, and those who push through will be ahead when the dust settles. If you’ve ever wanted to make games, there’s no better time than right now!

Wishlist Cropolution on Steam! 

Wishlist Cropolution on Steam! 

Check us out on Youtube!

In this episode of The Indie Game Development Podcast, I’m focusing on helping those of you who are struggling with the technical side of game development.

I’ll guide you through the different options for coding in the major game engines like Unreal, Unity, and Godot, and share practical tips on how to start thinking like a programmer, no matter which engine you choose.

By the end of the episode, you'll know exactly how to tackle coding and break down challenges into manageable steps!

Join our Discord Community!

Wishlist Cropolution on Steam! 

Check us out on Youtube!

In this episode of The Indie Game Development Podcast, we provide a complete roadmap to help you get started with indie game development in 2025.

From choosing the right game engine to the fastest ways to develop your skills, we cover essential tools, resources, and strategies to kickstart your game development journey. 

Links for sound/art/software/learning programming:

https://opengameart.org/ - free and commercially available art

https://www.audacityteam.org/ - Audacity - a free audio editor. Most youtubers, podcasters, and game developers i know use this software. It's awesome.

https://freesound.org - a HUGE collection of free sound effects https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/ - another HUGE collection of sound effects.

https://links.zerotomastery.io/sasquatchstudios-gamedev - Zero To Mastery courses: Game Development Career Path (don't forget to use the coupon code 'FRIENDS10' for an additional 10% off)

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Wishlist Cropolution on Steam! 

Join our Discord Community!

Check us out on Youtube!

In this episode of The Indie Game Development Podcast, we'll dive into the realities of going full-time as an indie game developer.

While I’m all for chasing your dreams, the journey is often far more challenging than expected. That said, the rewards are unmatched. This episode is really all about preparing you for the journey so you can pursue your passion with open eyes.

Join our Discord Community: https://discord.com/invite/aHjTSBz3jH

Check us out on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sasquatchbgames

In this episode of The Indie Game Development Podcast, I get real about something that’s been on my mind as a game developer: I suck at art. Like, really suck.

The point of this episode is to talk about making games when you’re not great at art right NOW without spending years learning and honing your art skills.

The big takeaway? You don’t need to be an art expert to make a great game!

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Check us out on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sasquatchbgames

Game development can incredibly hard due to the need to master various technical and creative skills, alongside the demands of marketing and handling feedback.

Balancing these tasks with personal responsibilities can lead to stress, burnout, and self-doubt.

In this episode, we talk about how to succeed by prioritizing self-care and recognizing signs of burnout, tackling the most stressful tasks first to maintain productivity, and strike a balance between discipline and flexibility.

Join our Discord Community: https://discord.com/invite/aHjTSBz3jH

Check us out on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sasquatchbgames

In this episode of The Indie Game Development Podcast, I dive into one of the toughest questions in game development: "Why should players care about your game?"

With so many games flooding the market, it’s crucial to make yours stand out, and figuring out why players should invest their time and money is the key.

As developers, we often get lost in what we think is cool, instead of focusing on what will resonate with players. I also introduce a tool called the Customer Value Proposition (CVP) to help you break down your game's unique appeal and market it effectively.

Marketing isn't something to dread—it's about communicating why your game deserves attention.

Join our Discord Community: https://discord.com/invite/aHjTSBz3jH

Check us out on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sasquatchbgames

In this episode of The Indie Game Development Podcast, we delve into the nuanced role of an indie game designer, exploring the delicate balance between challenge and reward that keeps players engaged and satisfied.

You'll uncover the fascinating secrets behind popular game mechanics, like the 'coyote time' and dynamic difficulty adjustments, designed to subtly enhance the player's experience without their awareness.

Through examples from games like Devil May Cry, Half-Life, and Pac-Man, we'll show how these hidden techniques create a fair, responsive, and emotionally resonant gameplay.

Whether it's manipulating enemy behavior or tweaking player advantages, these clever tricks might just be the key to overcoming your next design challenge.

Links Discussed in this episode:

Our 2D Platformer Controller Tutorial: https://youtu.be/zHSWG05byEc

Twitter Post:https://x.com/gaohmee/status/903510060197744640?lang=en