In this inspiring episode of The Fourth Curtain, we sit down with Sandi Montaño, a self-taught modding phenom who went from stay-at-home dad to one of the most downloaded indie creators in the gaming world. With over 31 million downloads of his content for games like ARK: Survival Ascended and Hogwarts Legacy, Sandi proves you don’t need a degree—or even a formal background in game development—to make a major impact.

If you’re a game developer, modder, or creative looking to break into the industry—this is a must-listen.

What started as a project to entertain his daughter has turned into a successful business. We discuss Blender, community needs and geometric growth this week!

[00:00:40] Modding During Nap Time
Sandi shares how he taught himself game modding using textbooks during his daughter’s daily naps—no school, no YouTube, just pure grit.

[00:02:15] 31 Million Downloads & Counting
Alex and Aaron react to the jaw-dropping number of downloads Sandi has achieved—and how it all started as a creative project with his daughter.

[00:10:00] How a Simple Structure Became a Business
Sandi explains how he began creating ARK mods specifically for his daughter, which unexpectedly turned into a full-time business.

[00:17:45] Modding Hogwarts Legacy with SQL
Sandi talks about stepping into Hogwarts Legacy modding and the unexpected challenge of learning SQL to build new features.

[00:24:40] How He Tests New Ideas (The Smart Way)
Sandi walks through his efficient system of prototyping floor and wall structures, using community feedback to determine what becomes a premium mod.

[00:29:10] Modding for Relaxation—and Revenue
Sandi reflects on how modding became both his creative outlet and a surprisingly profitable business, even allowing him to hire help.

[00:35:15] Explaining Your Job as a Modder
He shares how surreal it was when his barber turned out to be a fan using his mods—and the tricky task of explaining his job to others.

[00:46:00] Advice for Aspiring Modders
Sandi encourages anyone curious about modding to just get started—highlighting persistence, experimentation, and community feedback as key ingredients to success.

Thank you for listening to our podcast all about videogames and the amazing people who bring them to life!
Hosted by Alexander Seropian and Aaron Marroquin
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