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From Zero to Hooked in 20 Seconds: The Stopwatch Strategy for Sustainable Indies
Manage episode 490550128 series 3534235
What does it take to turn a minimalist text-based game into a global phenomenon?
Indie developer and software craftsman Amir Rajan joins us to unpack his unconventional path from enterprise software to the top of the App Store with A Dark Room. In this episode, we explore how Amir built the DragonRuby Game Toolkit, why betting on hyper-niche communities pays off, and how rapid prototyping drives sustainable success in indie dev. From cracking console publishing to navigating the unpredictable App Store ecosystem, Amir shares hard-earned insights into the creative and financial realities of going solo in the game industry.
Whether you’re a seasoned dev or just starting out, this episode offers an honest look at the intersection of craft, code, and commerce.
Check out Amir's Resources:
https://amirrajan.net/
https://x.com/amirrajan
https://github.com/amirrajan
https://www.twitch.tv/amirrajan
https://www.youtube.com/@amirrajan
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirrajan/
https://www.reddit.com/user/amirrajan/
Games Mentioned:
Illusion of Gaia - Amir's favorite game to play
Slay the Spire
Balder's Gate
mildly interesting RTS
Dark Room
De Noble Circle
Inside Vista
Dragon Ruby Game Toolkit
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- (00:00) - Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
- (00:27) - Amir Rajan's Background and Achievements
- (01:48) - Favorite Games and Gaming Nostalgia
- (03:17) - Corporate Life and Transition to Game Development
- (04:57) - The Inspiration Behind Dragon Ruby
- (07:57) - Challenges of Mobile App Development
- (11:01) - Creating Dragon Ruby Game Toolkit
- (16:01) - The Success of A Dark Room
- (20:35) - Sustainable Game Development Strategies
- (22:49) - Indie Game Development Strategies
- (23:38) - The Importance of Short Release Cycles
- (24:38) - Cross-Platform Distribution
- (26:56) - Navigating Console Releases
- (31:16) - Monetization Strategies
- (37:15) - Fail Fast and Iterate
- (39:02) - Community and Networking
- (43:40) - Maintaining and Updating Games
- (44:51) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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Check out our brainy games:
Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Squeezy - https://imsqueezy.com/
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com
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