You were your own publisher. This shows how important planning and marketing is and you really understand it perfectly.Most people fail because they think "I make a good game and the internet will do the rest".
Marketing can do wonders for an ok, above average or bad game. But tell me one phenomenally good game that is out of the charts that did not succeed? I can't think of one.
this is 100% fake, no big media like IGN will ever cover a game without receiving payment first, not even small media, 100% of streamers also only play games they get paid for, i am sick of those "small indie developer" stories, just be honest and tell us how much you paid
well 7 years but thats while holding a full time job and life for more than 6 of it. so keep that in mind.... not like he had daddys credit card in moms basement for 7 years the whole time. he made a living and did this on the side. saved up enough money to be able to put everything aside and roll the dice on it for 6 months as he finished it, polished it etc for launch
@@NotHappening-b8t whether he did it full time or part time, not give up after several years is really amazing. He must have a strong conviction and believe into himself. He truly deserve this success
Hey, I’m really late to this video. But it is really cool to be apart of this. I’m so happy your game found the success it deserved. While I am beyond happy I could help. At the end of the day your game is original and fun, and would eventually find success regardless. Great job man!
@@LakierosJordy Maybe you could make a video discussing the time you behaved like a twat to Nerd of the Rings? That was a fun read. I'd delete those comments if you don't want people to see how annoying you actually are lol
I'm developing a game after having it itch my brain for the last 6 years or more, and this story fills me with determination and joy for you. Thank you for sharing your story, I'm definitely gonna wishlist and buy. Keep making content and videos, I loved this story!
@@SkylerMaki I don't! The hard thing about it is that I think I'd like to stealth-release it😅 I know it kind of goes against a lot of the advice as well, but if I do decide to make it public beforehand, I can let you know, if you'd like.
@MistereXMachina If you have made any progress at all, I urge (encourage?) you to be bold and go for it. From my own time in the industry (big companies and an indy) if you are worried about discouraging feedback or negative reviews, then you don't ever want to release a game. Gamers, as a group, are passionate but can be quite critical (even whiny) at times, even of the best games. However, a handful of passionate fans can be a great sounding board and, ultimately, the greatest source of encouragement to help you stay motivated.
@@MistereXMachina please be careful with stealth releases. alphas/betas/teasers/ or videos of not released game are needed to iterate and test how people react to your ideas, measuring what is more succesful to not flop. That's why it is important to do MVPs or prototypes. I recommend you to read the book The Lean Startup
As a solo dev with a day job trying to make a game, you inspire me to keep going, not give up, and just keep grinding. I first saw your game via Splattercat, and I jumped in to see what a solo dev could do. I immediately recognized a labor of love. You made an incredible game, you already know this because of how it has done. But you also have become a lighthouse, a guiding light in the dark for those of us still out there to look up to and stay the course. Then you go and make a video like this... Thank you. Whenever I feel like I can't do it, all I have to do is click the play button, enter the arena for a few minutes, and see what you've accomplished, and that helps me believe in myself all over again.
@@LakierosJordy As another solodev here I second this comment, would love to hear more of the behind the scenes of your journey or any solodev tips you can give us in future videos
@@karlazytzeen9226Way too early, but even if I was at that point, I feel it would be disrespectful to self-plug on a dev's channel that I respect and look up to. I appreciate you asking though.
Congrats, Jordy. I'm just starting my game dev journey (at 43! 😱), so it is great to hear your story and the impact it has had on you; truly living the dream. Stay humble and stay indie. 😉
@@justincase6387 he released his game on early access, There might be new features added, But it's not Fully Launched Yet. I mean it's showing early access on steam.
Dude, I randomly got recommended your video. It's my first time watching your content, and I'm so happy to see you succeed. I can imagine how much work you've put into this game, how much stress and anxiety you've faced, and how many hours of your life have been dedicated to this project. It's truly, truly inspirational. Thanks for sharing. I got really emotional watching your video. Maybe someday one of my projects will also be a success...
I bought your game on steam organically! It’s great! And just in case anyone hasn’t said it- you talk into the side of that mic, towards the blue light to get the full effect, I used to talk into the top of mine too lol
Curiosity saved the cat! Your video on your experience is so appreciated. I'm planning to release a game I've been working on for 2 years at the end of 24, and I am already feeling anxious about it. Congratulations on your success. It sounds like you earned every little bit of it!
It's well deserved man! And I'm happy you stuck with the original name. It's also good to see the game mechanics were improved a _lot_ since the humble beginnings. Respect!
I think what's important is the fact you found a popular but still niche genre. We all played Swords and Sandals as kids and your game is basically 3D Sword and Sandals. I believe nostalgia also played a role on why your game got popular! Congrats dude
i have been looking for and buying different gladiator games on steam reminiscing about s&s, we who are about to die was among them, you are right. they all do the gameplay different and focus on different aspects, but they have that thrilled focus of surviving and climbing the ranks in an arena against supposed equals, as a lethal competitive sport. i dont know what it is, maybe a continuous ranked deathmatch on a grand scale that i cant get enough of. i remember i got a similar thrill out of doing team matches against ai with random characters in the rosters in the old tekken games, even though that had nothing to do with gladiator games. but it left that same wonder of who came out on top at the end of it all
There are multiple genres that would get massive sales, Western games are also underdeveloped. Recently that has been changing and Western games certainly are in a better state than gladiator games.
I followed you through the entire dev process (and before!) and I just want to say I'm so happy for you man! As someone who also plans to one day launch an indie game, you've been a big inspiration.. grats Jordy!
Dude, I am beyond happy about you! It can be seen in your teared tired eyes the immense work you have put to this game. And I know this tends to game developers, but I would like to think that this can happen to RUclips content creator as well. Putting your soul into a video, while beforehand you have done all the research and preparations to maximize those views. And just one quick swipe on your phone to see in Studio, that you have made it, the video is blowing the roof off and everyone in the comment section admire your work. That`s what RUclips is all about in my eyes :) Congratulations once again. I would buy your game, and enjoy it !
You took a risk and your dedication made it what it is now, well played. Your game is dope from concept to gameplay and i'll gladly keep waiting for each update, thanks for your work
I heard about the game, I even watched a youtube blogger played it. But I didn't know it was done by a single dev. As a guy who's chasing a dream to create a game one day, I want to show my respect to you. You deserved that success.
wow thank you so much for sharing your story, After working on my game (18Minutes) for almost 5 years, i was so eager to get it to the finish line and publish on steam and all the hard work and anxiety to make a successful game will be done, and after watching my game for 5 months get abysmal sales and get buried it was so heart breaking and when you have sacrificed a lot of heart and work, a lot of late nights, countless hours away from your loved once ...i mean it's bittersweet and it hurts. but after i had stumbled in to your video i can't tell you how good it made me feel because i could relate to you on many points, and it really feels good to see you win and succeed, things doesn't always go as you had planned or hoped, and it sucks but to see another person on a similar situation make it is a ray of sunshine that gives you your hope back again. i am so happy for you and so sorry for rumbling on but i truly appreciate your video. Thank you
This man is so sincere, wholesome, and passionate about his craft! I have no doubt that you deserve every ounce of success you've attained and you're an inspiration to myself and many others Jordy, I salute you (who are about to die).
As a dev who do not have the slightest interest in video games in general I still liked this video and found it REALLY inspiring. Thank you to have shared this journey with us !
was just reseacrching the game to buy, no clue there was a documented dev journey, its on sale for the steam replayability fest and its been on my list for a while, gon def pic it up thx for spending time on dis game looks dope
I love seeing my old friends..... ZiggyD, Splattercat, Northernlion.... i am so happy they made your game a priority. It deserves it. I'm adding to cart now. I haven't played it. I haven't tried it at all, even in the earliest of days. But damnit, I respect these content creators so much. Well done Jordy! Well done!
Really an inspiration for other solo devs like myself. Please keep posting. You the perfect kind of person we need to hear from when it comes to game dev & art.
Hey @@LakierosJordy, first of all, congratulations on the game, it looks amazing! Also, thanks for sharing your story, it’s really inspiring. I have a quick question about the game development. Did you create the whole game by yourself? It seems like a lot of work to pull off!
I got goosebumps watching this, it's really incredible what someone can do when they put their heart and soul into it. Huge respect from an aspiring indie developer, I'm excited to see what the future holds for you and your new studio!
Jordy, thank you for this video. I had the same mentality for years, but unfortunately during the launch day, I failed (I'm not a game dev, but an entrepreneur). I put everything at risk and lost. But seeing this video something awaken inside me. Thanks. After years of recovery, I am ready to give it a shot again:D.
Wow.. amazing story Jordy. My deepest respect for such a dedication and your hard work! You're showing again how important it is to never give up if you're having a dream. All the best for you man!
Hey! I just got recommended this video, then realized it was you. Congrats again - goosebumps! I had 32k wishlists on launch (World Turtles, my first game ever), spent 4 days on popular upcoming, and sold “very little”. The game itself has to carry that exposure forward, or it won’t mean a lot. And yours did! Well done!!
I literally stumbled across this game last week, grabbed the demo because i didn't have the funds on hand, and legit played it until it told me I had to buy it. First time in a while I'd been able to sit and play a game for more than 30 mins, and I had a blast, which cemented it as my next purchase. Also just recently began learning and building my own game, and just clicked on this suggested video, only to see you are the guy that made WWAATD! Your game made me think about old flash games i used to love, and definitely inspired some creativity, so yeah enough of my ramble, and thanks!
Mannnn...This video is super inspiring, I am getting goosebumps hearing you process it all on cam. I super appreciate this video, definetly filled with high spirits after this one
If Jordy seems like a really pleasant, humble and interesting dude, i can confirm he is that 150% when you meet him in person. It was really cool to hear your story on that, and it's both scary and impressive to see how much work goes into making a successful game, as most of the time is put into learning and improving until you are in a spot to be able to make a really good game. Your planning on the launch was amazing to see too! I think we had about 6 hours in the "popular upcoming" list because we had like 20 releases on the same day and 13 of them before us. So again it shows that it's sometimes good not to do what everyone does :)
@@bippinbits yeah that's me :) I'm so happy for you that your game did well! And thankful of the time I spent with you guys, if it wasn't for Dome keeper we wouldn't have switched to Godot instead of unity.
As someone who has dabbled in game development, this story is inspiring. And as a fellow Belgian it's always amazing to see what gems come out of this little plot of land we call home. Great job, truly a case of a dream come true!
I saw your game during demo launch. When splattercat and pixellated apollo started a wave and lot of RUclipsrs start riding that. I used to watch your game whole night, and was following every new streamer covering your game. Watching people expertly handling the game and sharing tips and few struggling with basics of combat. I downloaded and played it myself and wishlisted as well. You have made a great unique game. Thank you and Wishing you success.
Crazy to think that you have been my teacher once in DAE... It was only a couple of lessons, because we had a teacher who was sick. But still, you made an impression those lessons. You basically did a 180 about what school says you have to do, and told us what you should do. Thank you for that. I did nothing with that advice, since I stopped a year later... but still 😂.
JORDY! I love this game. There's been no other rougelike or arena game that gets me as pumped as this has. NO EXAGGERATION. Glad to see that things are still going strong since launch!
Congratulations on your success. It proves that compassion, a lot of hard work and careful planning helps. Marketing early has the biggest impact. I’m very happy for you.
i randomly saw you post about this game on reddit like, two days before it launched. i never heard of the game until then and i’m so glad i did cause this game is a game i wanted for a long time. i love the idea of a gladiator game and there is a distinct lack of them so thanks for this
I keep watching this video over and over and over again! I have the same dream and I'm following a similar path and planning like crazy every detail! I also spent my last 8 years developing my skills from 0 to now working in Ubisoft as a programmer! I spend some of my free time planning my game and creating a demo. I have 2 children and is not easy but I want this moment more than anything else! Thanks 1 million times for sharing, this will be my motivation video for the next 2 years!
Dude you seem like an amazing dedicated developer. Just bought the game. I know how hard it is to make games and finishing them near them nearly impossible. Congrats on all your success and dedication to your passion.
I’m not a developer and I don’t know how to code at all but I wish more people knew how much hard work and dedication goes into making some games. Thank you for your sacrifice, I genuinely hope that the universe will pay you what you are worth to society, which is probably a lot. Bro, I hope you take some much needed time to rest and take care of yourself. Invest in eating healthy, exercising, getting enough sleep, talk to a doctor and a therapist but make sure you take the time you need/want for yourself. Get outdoors, go to a beach, do whatever you want, you deserve it man.
It's funny because I saw this years back in 9gag and some people were complaining about you promoting there when asking for advice. Oh, what a toxic community is there...
It must me destiny that I find this video. I am scraping around, trying to find time, get movitated, etc, to get my games out the door. Your story has me so excited. I am so happy for your success. And now you have motivated me to push through. I wish you continued success in your future projects.
Much props Jordy! Congrats on your success and know your hard work has not gone unnoticed. I am on the exact same path as you were, and I understand the struggle, also the hustle. Don't stop!
I've been learning game design since 2014 on both Unity and UE. A few months ago I decided to just stick with UE since the release of UE5. My game is progressing so much faster since switching engines. I've watched hours of lectures on blueprints and level design. I've given up so many times now from the frustration that I lost count. I just keep reminding myself that it's not about money, it's about finishing something that others will hopefully enjoy. I didn't think that I would ever reach a lifetime goal of 10,000 sales. I keep seeing videos where devs say that it's nearly impossible to do it alone but I kept going anyways. I remember seeing your game hit the market. It looks awesome! Watching this video has inspired me to keep moving forward. Thank you!
This video came up in my recommended this morning and before I even watched it I checked out the game on Steam. Seemed interesting enough, so I bought it. That was 12 hours ago. I just stopped playing to come watch this video. Great work, thank you for your years of dedication. I'm so happy it all paid off, well deserved.
Goosebumps and tears bro. Your story is an absolute inspiration. I’d love to hear more about your journey through the development of the game… conception, design, tooling choices and all the technical stuff!
Brother - YOU ARE WHAT THE GAME INDUSTRY NEEDS! I am absolutely so happy for you that this game took off!! Just purchased the game after watching your development for the last year. Keep it up dude! Much love from Australia!
Proficiat! Geweldig goed spel en ook fantastisch ingezet op je release. Hopelijk even veel adrenaline maar minder stress voor je (nu, jullie) volgende game.
Glad you included Splattercat. I found both him and this game off of one video. 10/10. Also shout out to your real job for encouraging you to follow your dream
That's amazing! I remember seeing this little indie game before the release, added it to wishlist, and I was like: "this one's gonna blow up". And I'm glad it did! I haven't had time to play it yet, but I sure as hell will!
Roguelites in general popped off this november, it's been crazy the last two months how many good games have came out or came to light in the roguelite scene. great job.
Recently started programming with the idea of building my own game start to finish. I also bought this game as one of my first ones on steam when I first got my computer in January. Had no clue it was all done by one person. Definitely amazing and fills me with hope I can do the same one day.
What a fantastic story, massive congratulations on achieving your dream, my friend. I've had an idea for a game rattling around for years, after seeing this, I think it's time I had a crack at it.
Absolutely inspiring. Gives a lot of us indies who are trudging through the waters of our most passionate projects for years realistic hope that is explained well all the way through, backed up by all of the things that actually happened to you throughout. I have been working on my indie rpg for around three years now, and although it has a long way to go before publicity can really start, this really gives me insight on so many things I needed to both hear and understand at this point in my development in order to keep myself on a path to success. Subbed, and thank you; for sharing your story.
Wow this is so incredible to see. I'm currently about 3 years deep on my game project, and it is a struggle with no money. Just thousands of hours of hard work for something that might not ever be seen. I'm really happy it worked out for you brother! 🤜you deserve it!🙌
Jordy, I have had the game for months and it just keeps getting better. It is one of my most consistent games I play b/c i can play for a little at a time. You did great work. Maximus would be proud
I Like that you talked about your story and not so much your game, but more so how this project changed you and how you were willing to take that leap of faith by basically quitting your job to follow your passions. its been very inspiring and i hope to make a video like this one day in the future :)
Brother this is super inspiring. I am so proud of all the hard work that you put into the game, and telling us the story. I am buying your game. Thank you
I've been working on and off for approximately 15 years to make a game to fully release with no success, mostly because cause a lot of ideas I have are just too big for a solo dev & I can't fathom putting multiple years into one of my ideas, I've got too many. I've recently taken a break to prioritize some life events & getting myself back to 100%, but am on a steady path there now. So I've started refining an idea for a smaller title that's been in my head for about a decade at this point. Thanks for sharing your story, it gave me that extra bit of confidence back that I need right now.
I remember seeing the game on Next Fest and thinking it looked cool so I downloaded it and even gave a tiny bit of feedback on the community page. I could tell already that this was gonna be a gem just from the amount of quirky and fun energy in every aspect of the game. Just bought and downloaded it last night to play over winter break before starting my last semester and internship in January. Looking forward to the game's future.
Got to comment... I got so anxious about it... you were holding the microphone wrong way at the beginning... dayum. Congratulations about your game, a dream I certainly would never be able to achieve 😁
Jordy i want you know something maybe you may not see, not only did you set a goal but you made it your "now" every second of existence, you made sure there was a never a tomorrow and maxed your production daily. You micro managing everything up until that release day, was you manifesting what you NEEDED to happen. You are an amazing individual and i hope this gets millions of views, so many need to see this. Cant wait to try out this game!
I just want to say as a day one purchase and lover of this game thank you for making it. I have said for years and years a gladiator game with permadeath can not only be done but it is something gamers would go bananas for. You should allow for people to promote a gladiator to be a new scrollo, it would be really cool to take fights from a scrollo who I personally put thru the arena and saw them walk away and do something for themselves. You’re a legend for this jordy good shit the game rules
Congratulations, Im happy that this happend to you as developing as a solo dev around a job for years can really take a toll on you when you pu everything on the line.
Funfact, I use Steam for so long now, but never bothered with those new&trending or any of the just released displays at the bottom. I usually find my games from many other sources or Steam recommendations on the top. And I got your Steam wishlisted since 17.11.2022. Glad your game does well!
Great job marketing the game! It is a good game, but not only did you develop the game, but you also showed it off to the world. You deserve all the success you earned!
➤ STEAM PAGE: store.steampowered.com/app/973230/We_Who_Are_About_To_Die
➤ NEWSLETTER: subscribe.jordylakiere.net/Newsletter
➤ DISCORD: discord.com/invite/8PEutcdwf5
Handy links to follow our game studio's adventures!
Gefeliciteerd!
You were your own publisher. This shows how important planning and marketing is and you really understand it perfectly.Most people fail because they think "I make a good game and the internet will do the rest".
Marketing can do wonders for an ok, above average or bad game. But tell me one phenomenally good game that is out of the charts that did not succeed? I can't think of one.
@@abc-yg6tk False premise because if it didn't succeed I wouldn't know about it to tell you.
@@abc-yg6tkyou just answered your own question. A good game that didn’t succeed would be something you don’t know.
this is 100% fake, no big media like IGN will ever cover a game without receiving payment first, not even small media, 100% of streamers also only play games they get paid for, i am sick of those "small indie developer" stories, just be honest and tell us how much you paid
@@leandrrob is there any context for this? Are other youtubers talking about this? I didn't know that was such a thing
It took 7 years? The size of devotion and hope is just...My deepest respect to you Jordy!
well 7 years but thats while holding a full time job and life for more than 6 of it. so keep that in mind....
not like he had daddys credit card in moms basement for 7 years the whole time.
he made a living and did this on the side. saved up enough money to be able to put everything aside and roll the dice on it for 6 months as he finished it, polished it etc for launch
Huge respect
STILL NOT EASY@@NotHappening-b8t
@@NotHappening-b8t whether he did it full time or part time, not give up after several years is really amazing. He must have a strong conviction and believe into himself. He truly deserve this success
Quitting will only guaranteed failure so just don't quit
Man said "with no publisher" when he literally wrote, produced, developped, and published his own game. Legend in my book
Hey, I’m really late to this video. But it is really cool to be apart of this. I’m so happy your game found the success it deserved. While I am beyond happy I could help. At the end of the day your game is original and fun, and would eventually find success regardless. Great job man!
Thank you so much PixelatedApollo < 3 Perhaps you're right but believe me it makes a huge difference what you do!
Congrats on the very difficult task of completing a game AND making it awesome AND finding massive success!
Thanks man!
@@LakierosJordy Maybe you could make a video discussing the time you behaved like a twat to Nerd of the Rings? That was a fun read. I'd delete those comments if you don't want people to see how annoying you actually are lol
You had me in tears ffs, how I can be so happy for a strangers success idk
Hear me when I tell you that I know what went into what you accomplished. You have right to every ounce of pride you feel @@LakierosJordy
Same :)
Because stories like this give us hope.
BRUH SAME I LITERALLY CRIED im too emotional lmao
I'm developing a game after having it itch my brain for the last 6 years or more, and this story fills me with determination and joy for you. Thank you for sharing your story, I'm definitely gonna wishlist and buy. Keep making content and videos, I loved this story!
Do you have any page or discord server or something?
@@SkylerMaki I don't! The hard thing about it is that I think I'd like to stealth-release it😅 I know it kind of goes against a lot of the advice as well, but if I do decide to make it public beforehand, I can let you know, if you'd like.
@MistereXMachina If you have made any progress at all, I urge (encourage?) you to be bold and go for it. From my own time in the industry (big companies and an indy) if you are worried about discouraging feedback or negative reviews, then you don't ever want to release a game. Gamers, as a group, are passionate but can be quite critical (even whiny) at times, even of the best games. However, a handful of passionate fans can be a great sounding board and, ultimately, the greatest source of encouragement to help you stay motivated.
Don't stealth too much, gamers like to invest more in the person than the game sometimes.
@@MistereXMachina please be careful with stealth releases. alphas/betas/teasers/ or videos of not released game are needed to iterate and test how people react to your ideas, measuring what is more succesful to not flop. That's why it is important to do MVPs or prototypes. I recommend you to read the book The Lean Startup
As a solo dev with a day job trying to make a game, you inspire me to keep going, not give up, and just keep grinding. I first saw your game via Splattercat, and I jumped in to see what a solo dev could do. I immediately recognized a labor of love. You made an incredible game, you already know this because of how it has done. But you also have become a lighthouse, a guiding light in the dark for those of us still out there to look up to and stay the course. Then you go and make a video like this... Thank you. Whenever I feel like I can't do it, all I have to do is click the play button, enter the arena for a few minutes, and see what you've accomplished, and that helps me believe in myself all over again.
Very glad to have that effect! I also looked towards other success stories very frequently to get me to keep going in those darker moments.
@@LakierosJordy As another solodev here I second this comment, would love to hear more of the behind the scenes of your journey or any solodev tips you can give us in future videos
Got anything I can look forward to ? :D or is it too soon to even ask.
@@karlazytzeen9226Way too early, but even if I was at that point, I feel it would be disrespectful to self-plug on a dev's channel that I respect and look up to. I appreciate you asking though.
Please stay humble, you're a gem to the industry, and so is your game!
Congrats, Jordy. I'm just starting my game dev journey (at 43! 😱), so it is great to hear your story and the impact it has had on you; truly living the dream. Stay humble and stay indie. 😉
So cool to see the behind the scenes of your journey, especially the launch moment! Hoping your Full Launch goes great as well :D
wait what? what's full launch? I thought the game's released.
The game that is on early access is his new game that he has been working with his new team. The game he talked about was finished on launch day :)
@@justincase6387 he released his game on early access, There might be new features added, But it's not Fully Launched Yet. I mean it's showing early access on steam.
Dude, I randomly got recommended your video. It's my first time watching your content, and I'm so happy to see you succeed. I can imagine how much work you've put into this game, how much stress and anxiety you've faced, and how many hours of your life have been dedicated to this project. It's truly, truly inspirational. Thanks for sharing. I got really emotional watching your video. Maybe someday one of my projects will also be a success...
Gotta love indie devs finding success. Congrats on being able to make this your living and being your own boss!
I bought your game on steam organically! It’s great! And just in case anyone hasn’t said it- you talk into the side of that mic, towards the blue light to get the full effect, I used to talk into the top of mine too lol
I know you 😑
Pretty sure dude knows how to use his own mic bro
@@saturdaynighto74261 apparently he doesn't, and you can hear it too
Curiosity saved the cat! Your video on your experience is so appreciated. I'm planning to release a game I've been working on for 2 years at the end of 24, and I am already feeling anxious about it.
Congratulations on your success. It sounds like you earned every little bit of it!
Where can I follow the development and name?
It's well deserved man! And I'm happy you stuck with the original name. It's also good to see the game mechanics were improved a _lot_ since the humble beginnings. Respect!
Thank you!
The name was divisive haha but I stuck to my guns.
@@LakierosJordy The name is the thing that got me to take a look. So yea, it's better to have a divisive name than a boring name.
I think what's important is the fact you found a popular but still niche genre. We all played Swords and Sandals as kids and your game is basically 3D Sword and Sandals. I believe nostalgia also played a role on why your game got popular! Congrats dude
I love swords and sandals! Is the game play legit like swords and sandals but 3d? Is it turn based?
@@amerikagaijin No it's not turn based but I think the premise is very clear.
bro ong my first thought was holy shit 3d swords and sandals. Fresh ideas always win. Indie devs on top fr @@kesorangutan6170
i have been looking for and buying different gladiator games on steam reminiscing about s&s, we who are about to die was among them, you are right. they all do the gameplay different and focus on different aspects, but they have that thrilled focus of surviving and climbing the ranks in an arena against supposed equals, as a lethal competitive sport. i dont know what it is, maybe a continuous ranked deathmatch on a grand scale that i cant get enough of. i remember i got a similar thrill out of doing team matches against ai with random characters in the rosters in the old tekken games, even though that had nothing to do with gladiator games. but it left that same wonder of who came out on top at the end of it all
There are multiple genres that would get massive sales, Western games are also underdeveloped. Recently that has been changing and Western games certainly are in a better state than gladiator games.
I followed you through the entire dev process (and before!) and I just want to say I'm so happy for you man! As someone who also plans to one day launch an indie game, you've been a big inspiration.. grats Jordy!
thank you Jason!
Super inspiring to see, I'm happy for your success! Thanks for all the hard work, will definitely try your game, it looks really cool!
Dude, I am beyond happy about you! It can be seen in your teared tired eyes the immense work you have put to this game.
And I know this tends to game developers, but I would like to think that this can happen to RUclips content creator as well.
Putting your soul into a video, while beforehand you have done all the research and preparations to maximize those views.
And just one quick swipe on your phone to see in Studio, that you have made it, the video is blowing the roof off and everyone in the comment section admire your work.
That`s what RUclips is all about in my eyes :)
Congratulations once again.
I would buy your game, and enjoy it !
You took a risk and your dedication made it what it is now, well played. Your game is dope from concept to gameplay and i'll gladly keep waiting for each update, thanks for your work
I heard about the game, I even watched a youtube blogger played it. But I didn't know it was done by a single dev. As a guy who's chasing a dream to create a game one day, I want to show my respect to you. You deserved that success.
Awesome game, awesome dev, best of luck for the future of this game and all your future projects brother!
You aren't living the solo gamedev dream, you definitely worked for it, and you deserve it, what you accomplished is amazing.
wow thank you so much for sharing your story, After working on my game (18Minutes) for almost 5 years, i was so eager to get it to the finish line and publish on steam and all the hard work and anxiety to make a successful game will be done, and after watching my game for 5 months get abysmal sales and get buried it was so heart breaking and when you have sacrificed a lot of heart and work, a lot of late nights, countless hours away from your loved once ...i mean it's bittersweet and it hurts. but after i had stumbled in to your video i can't tell you how good it made me feel because i could relate to you on many points, and it really feels good to see you win and succeed, things doesn't always go as you had planned or hoped, and it sucks but to see another person on a similar situation make it is a ray of sunshine that gives you your hope back again. i am so happy for you and so sorry for rumbling on but i truly appreciate your video. Thank you
This game reinvigorated my love for Roguelikes and content creation- it is fully worth the money spent tenfold and I'll revisit it again and again.
Send it to ten people the 😜 (no but for real I’d take a copy lol)
This man is so sincere, wholesome, and passionate about his craft! I have no doubt that you deserve every ounce of success you've attained and you're an inspiration to myself and many others Jordy, I salute you (who are about to die).
As a dev who do not have the slightest interest in video games in general I still liked this video and found it REALLY inspiring.
Thank you to have shared this journey with us !
Must be a shitty dev😂
How can you be a dev and not have the slightest interest in video games?
@@pvpherthen2981 dev might be referring to programmer, which isn't limited to videogames
was just reseacrching the game to buy, no clue there was a documented dev journey, its on sale for the steam replayability fest and its been on my list for a while, gon def pic it up thx for spending time on dis game looks dope
I hope you enjoy! Welcome gladiator :)
I love seeing my old friends..... ZiggyD, Splattercat, Northernlion.... i am so happy they made your game a priority. It deserves it. I'm adding to cart now. I haven't played it. I haven't tried it at all, even in the earliest of days. But damnit, I respect these content creators so much. Well done Jordy! Well done!
Really an inspiration for other solo devs like myself. Please keep posting. You the perfect kind of person we need to hear from when it comes to game dev & art.
keep up the hard work man, even when it seems it can't be done. I felt that way too hundreds if not thousands of times.
Hey @@LakierosJordy, first of all, congratulations on the game, it looks amazing! Also, thanks for sharing your story, it’s really inspiring. I have a quick question about the game development. Did you create the whole game by yourself? It seems like a lot of work to pull off!
I got goosebumps watching this, it's really incredible what someone can do when they put their heart and soul into it. Huge respect from an aspiring indie developer, I'm excited to see what the future holds for you and your new studio!
Jordy, thank you for this video. I had the same mentality for years, but unfortunately during the launch day, I failed (I'm not a game dev, but an entrepreneur). I put everything at risk and lost. But seeing this video something awaken inside me. Thanks. After years of recovery, I am ready to give it a shot again:D.
You are inspirational, I needed that.
Wow.. amazing story Jordy. My deepest respect for such a dedication and your hard work! You're showing again how important it is to never give up if you're having a dream. All the best for you man!
Thank you for sharing your game with us and Tiny Teams!
Went straight to steam and put it in my cart, what a story and on top of that its a game i had looked at before just never pulled the trigger on it.
Hey! I just got recommended this video, then realized it was you. Congrats again - goosebumps!
I had 32k wishlists on launch (World Turtles, my first game ever), spent 4 days on popular upcoming, and sold “very little”. The game itself has to carry that exposure forward, or it won’t mean a lot. And yours did! Well done!!
I literally stumbled across this game last week, grabbed the demo because i didn't have the funds on hand, and legit played it until it told me I had to buy it. First time in a while I'd been able to sit and play a game for more than 30 mins, and I had a blast, which cemented it as my next purchase. Also just recently began learning and building my own game, and just clicked on this suggested video, only to see you are the guy that made WWAATD! Your game made me think about old flash games i used to love, and definitely inspired some creativity, so yeah enough of my ramble, and thanks!
Had this game on my wishlist for a long time, this video just sealed it.. looking forward to playing tonight! We (i) salute you!
As a fellow DAE alumni that had classes lead by you just 3 years ago: super proud of you!
Mannnn...This video is super inspiring, I am getting goosebumps hearing you process it all on cam. I super appreciate this video, definetly filled with high spirits after this one
Dude, you deserve all the recognition & success you've received! You're awesome, man, & so is We Who Are About to Die. This makes me so happy
Also, you & I are the same age lol
If Jordy seems like a really pleasant, humble and interesting dude, i can confirm he is that 150% when you meet him in person.
It was really cool to hear your story on that, and it's both scary and impressive to see how much work goes into making a successful game, as most of the time is put into learning and improving until you are in a spot to be able to make a really good game.
Your planning on the launch was amazing to see too! I think we had about 6 hours in the "popular upcoming" list because we had like 20 releases on the same day and 13 of them before us. So again it shows that it's sometimes good not to do what everyone does :)
hey! we are trying to do the same thing as both of you guys :)
Also, Dome keeper is great! its a really fun game
best of luck @@dreanki :)
And if you are the same dreanki as the one who playtested Dome a lot once upon a time, thank you so much!
@@bippinbits yeah that's me :) I'm so happy for you that your game did well! And thankful of the time I spent with you guys, if it wasn't for Dome keeper we wouldn't have switched to Godot instead of unity.
As someone who has dabbled in game development, this story is inspiring. And as a fellow Belgian it's always amazing to see what gems come out of this little plot of land we call home. Great job, truly a case of a dream come true!
I saw your game during demo launch. When splattercat and pixellated apollo started a wave and lot of RUclipsrs start riding that.
I used to watch your game whole night, and was following every new streamer covering your game.
Watching people expertly handling the game and sharing tips and few struggling with basics of combat.
I downloaded and played it myself and wishlisted as well.
You have made a great unique game.
Thank you and Wishing you success.
Crazy to think that you have been my teacher once in DAE... It was only a couple of lessons, because we had a teacher who was sick. But still, you made an impression those lessons.
You basically did a 180 about what school says you have to do, and told us what you should do. Thank you for that. I did nothing with that advice, since I stopped a year later... but still 😂.
I giggled at the "Its 3am face" 😂
JORDY! I love this game. There's been no other rougelike or arena game that gets me as pumped as this has. NO EXAGGERATION. Glad to see that things are still going strong since launch!
What a great story this is, massive congrats man!
Been on my wish list for awhile now, will have to pull the trigger! Cool to see who created it and how, take note big game developers!
Congratulations on your success. It proves that compassion, a lot of hard work and careful planning helps. Marketing early has the biggest impact. I’m very happy for you.
Way to go, so happy for your success! Well planned, well exectued, well deserved! Truly an inspiration for many indie devs, us included!
You deserve the recognition. I truly appreciate your hard work. Thank you!!!
This is incredible & by solo publisher too, the quality is like a whole AAA team created it
Bro I cried about your journey. I'm still looking for my spot light for something amazing in the world
i randomly saw you post about this game on reddit like, two days before it launched. i never heard of the game until then and i’m so glad i did cause this game is a game i wanted for a long time. i love the idea of a gladiator game and there is a distinct lack of them so thanks for this
Huge respect for you Jordy!
This actually makes me rethink going back to a project i started and shafted about 10 years ago.
Gratz on making it!
It's all about not quitting. I'm sure you got it done by now ❤
I keep watching this video over and over and over again! I have the same dream and I'm following a similar path and planning like crazy every detail!
I also spent my last 8 years developing my skills from 0 to now working in Ubisoft as a programmer! I spend some of my free time planning my game and creating a demo.
I have 2 children and is not easy but I want this moment more than anything else!
Thanks 1 million times for sharing, this will be my motivation video for the next 2 years!
Dude you seem like an amazing dedicated developer. Just bought the game. I know how hard it is to make games and finishing them near them nearly impossible. Congrats on all your success and dedication to your passion.
11:27 Schrödinger’s sales 😅
I’m not a developer and I don’t know how to code at all but I wish more people knew how much hard work and dedication goes into making some games. Thank you for your sacrifice, I genuinely hope that the universe will pay you what you are worth to society, which is probably a lot. Bro, I hope you take some much needed time to rest and take care of yourself. Invest in eating healthy, exercising, getting enough sleep, talk to a doctor and a therapist but make sure you take the time you need/want for yourself. Get outdoors, go to a beach, do whatever you want, you deserve it man.
It's funny because I saw this years back in 9gag and some people were complaining about you promoting there when asking for advice. Oh, what a toxic community is there...
It must me destiny that I find this video. I am scraping around, trying to find time, get movitated, etc, to get my games out the door. Your story has me so excited. I am so happy for your success. And now you have motivated me to push through. I wish you continued success in your future projects.
It’s incredibly funny that this video has also gone viral. Huge congratulations to you and we who are about to die.
Much props Jordy! Congrats on your success and know your hard work has not gone unnoticed. I am on the exact same path as you were, and I understand the struggle, also the hustle. Don't stop!
I've been learning game design since 2014 on both Unity and UE. A few months ago I decided to just stick with UE since the release of UE5. My game is progressing so much faster since switching engines. I've watched hours of lectures on blueprints and level design. I've given up so many times now from the frustration that I lost count. I just keep reminding myself that it's not about money, it's about finishing something that others will hopefully enjoy. I didn't think that I would ever reach a lifetime goal of 10,000 sales. I keep seeing videos where devs say that it's nearly impossible to do it alone but I kept going anyways. I remember seeing your game hit the market. It looks awesome! Watching this video has inspired me to keep moving forward. Thank you!
This video came up in my recommended this morning and before I even watched it I checked out the game on Steam. Seemed interesting enough, so I bought it. That was 12 hours ago. I just stopped playing to come watch this video. Great work, thank you for your years of dedication. I'm so happy it all paid off, well deserved.
Goosebumps and tears bro. Your story is an absolute inspiration. I’d love to hear more about your journey through the development of the game… conception, design, tooling choices and all the technical stuff!
As a solo dev myself this story of yours brings me hope. I am soo happy for you and for your hard work paying off ☺️
Brother - YOU ARE WHAT THE GAME INDUSTRY NEEDS! I am absolutely so happy for you that this game took off!! Just purchased the game after watching your development for the last year. Keep it up dude! Much love from Australia!
Proficiat! Geweldig goed spel en ook fantastisch ingezet op je release. Hopelijk even veel adrenaline maar minder stress voor je (nu, jullie) volgende game.
Thxs for ur story
And sparking future developers to go for it
Truly impressive my dude. Always said the Gladiator theme was a goldmine with proper execution, and you proved it
Glad you included Splattercat. I found both him and this game off of one video. 10/10. Also shout out to your real job for encouraging you to follow your dream
That's amazing! I remember seeing this little indie game before the release, added it to wishlist, and I was like: "this one's gonna blow up". And I'm glad it did! I haven't had time to play it yet, but I sure as hell will!
Roguelites in general popped off this november, it's been crazy the last two months how many good games have came out or came to light in the roguelite scene. great job.
Recently started programming with the idea of building my own game start to finish. I also bought this game as one of my first ones on steam when I first got my computer in January. Had no clue it was all done by one person. Definitely amazing and fills me with hope I can do the same one day.
What a fantastic story, massive congratulations on achieving your dream, my friend. I've had an idea for a game rattling around for years, after seeing this, I think it's time I had a crack at it.
Absolutely inspiring. Gives a lot of us indies who are trudging through the waters of our most passionate projects for years realistic hope that is explained well all the way through, backed up by all of the things that actually happened to you throughout. I have been working on my indie rpg for around three years now, and although it has a long way to go before publicity can really start, this really gives me insight on so many things I needed to both hear and understand at this point in my development in order to keep myself on a path to success. Subbed, and thank you; for sharing your story.
Wow this is so incredible to see. I'm currently about 3 years deep on my game project, and it is a struggle with no money. Just thousands of hours of hard work for something that might not ever be seen. I'm really happy it worked out for you brother! 🤜you deserve it!🙌
Jordy, I have had the game for months and it just keeps getting better. It is one of my most consistent games I play b/c i can play for a little at a time. You did great work. Maximus would be proud
Ive been following you since crimson daggers about a decade ago and couldnt be more jazzed to see this finally succeed! Congrats jordy
I Like that you talked about your story and not so much your game, but more so how this project changed you and how you were willing to take that leap of faith by basically quitting your job to follow your passions. its been very inspiring and i hope to make a video like this one day in the future :)
Brother this is super inspiring. I am so proud of all the hard work that you put into the game, and telling us the story. I am buying your game. Thank you
I've been working on and off for approximately 15 years to make a game to fully release with no success, mostly because cause a lot of ideas I have are just too big for a solo dev & I can't fathom putting multiple years into one of my ideas, I've got too many.
I've recently taken a break to prioritize some life events & getting myself back to 100%, but am on a steady path there now. So I've started refining an idea for a smaller title that's been in my head for about a decade at this point.
Thanks for sharing your story, it gave me that extra bit of confidence back that I need right now.
Congratulations, dude! Awesome! So happy for you!
super happy for you man that's an amazing inspiring story!
I remember seeing the game on Next Fest and thinking it looked cool so I downloaded it and even gave a tiny bit of feedback on the community page.
I could tell already that this was gonna be a gem just from the amount of quirky and fun energy in every aspect of the game.
Just bought and downloaded it last night to play over winter break before starting my last semester and internship in January. Looking forward to the game's future.
You’re amazing Jordy! As a DAE student who’s been keeping an eye on this I’m so happy for you 🥹
Got to comment... I got so anxious about it... you were holding the microphone wrong way at the beginning... dayum. Congratulations about your game, a dream I certainly would never be able to achieve 😁
Jordy i want you know something maybe you may not see, not only did you set a goal but you made it your "now" every second of existence, you made sure there was a never a tomorrow and maxed your production daily. You micro managing everything up until that release day, was you manifesting what you NEEDED to happen. You are an amazing individual and i hope this gets millions of views, so many need to see this. Cant wait to try out this game!
Can Make a playlist on how to build games like you build? Explaining your experience and knowledge in detail.
Man, the only thing that comes to my mind is that I am so happy for you.
"We Who Are" playing your game, salute you! Bless
Inspiring man, I appreciate all the details and insight you gave from your journey. Glad you made it this far!
Congratulations on your hard work , the community should be ecstatic that a indie game blows up like this
I just want to say as a day one purchase and lover of this game thank you for making it.
I have said for years and years a gladiator game with permadeath can not only be done but it is something gamers would go bananas for.
You should allow for people to promote a gladiator to be a new scrollo, it would be really cool to take fights from a scrollo who I personally put thru the arena and saw them walk away and do something for themselves.
You’re a legend for this jordy good shit the game rules
Congratulations, Im happy that this happend to you as developing as a solo dev around a job for years can really take a toll on you when you pu everything on the line.
Funfact, I use Steam for so long now, but never bothered with those new&trending or any of the just released displays at the bottom. I usually find my games from many other sources or Steam recommendations on the top. And I got your Steam wishlisted since 17.11.2022. Glad your game does well!
I'm an indie solo developer as well and its's nice to see your dream comes true ..after many years of hard work. Respect to you Jordy! 💪
Great job marketing the game! It is a good game, but not only did you develop the game, but you also showed it off to the world. You deserve all the success you earned!