The Thomas Brush Show Ep. 030 - How He Sold 1,000,000+ Copies Of His Game (Thomas Vandenberg)
Jan 9, 2025
In this discussion, Thomas Vandenberg, creator of the successful Kingdom series, dives into his journey as an indie game developer. He shares how he sold over a million copies of his game and the challenges he faced, including creative struggles and the impact of publishers on artistic freedom. Thomas highlights the shift towards smaller, focused game design with titles like Garbage Country, and explores innovative genre blending in gameplay mechanics. His insights on community feedback and navigating the complexities of game development are both enlightening and inspiring.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Apparent Focus Can Hide Complexity
- Garbage Country seems more focused externally but internally is more complex and expansive.
- Kingdom was forced simple early on; skill improvement now allows bigger scope for Garbage Country.
Publishers De-Risk and Drive Progress
- Signing with a publisher can de-risk development by providing funding and accountability.
- Good publisher relationships help polish and successfully launch games, but direct player contact has its own benefits.
Publisher Deal Felt Like Stealing
- Thomas Brush got his first significant publishing deal with Armor Games and felt like he was stealing money.
- He experienced a positive publisher relationship with honest treatment and support from Armor Games' CEO.