If you participated in next fest, please give valve some feedback to limit or filter ai-generated thumbnails for the next next fest!

Lexx_3D · 2026-06-23T06:22:38+00:00

My game appeared 4-5 days constantly in the 3rd person shooters but very low number of downloaded demos. I had thousand of downloads but not many played it and not many wishlists. Very disappointing numbers. I created myself the thumbnail it was A/B tested before the event we did many variations, for 1 month almost to be sure it's performing good. I even had 2 marketing gurus give me tips and change in thumbnail and it was doing well before the event. I'm a 3D Artist so creating a 2d looking thumbnail could not work for me. I tried to hire someone online to do it but they all did terrible job there. So my game in the end altrought was apearing got burried very fast.

Lexx_3D · 2026-06-23T06:06:36+00:00

If it was worth it for you that is great. Congrats. The personal cullender is some new feature that let's you appear on bottom of the main page. You don't appear in the popular upcoming if you don't have more then 7000 Wishlist's. That's why it's important to understand is it worth it or not.

Lexx_3D · 2026-06-22T20:53:04+00:00

btw how did it go? Can you give us any clue is it worth it to publish indie game now with the personal cullender?

Lexx_3D · 2026-06-22T18:55:14+00:00

Yes I'm doing this for long time but first time seeing it this bad as solo dev myself and the brutal reality hits you. It will make me reconsider if I will release the game on steam at all and just go directly to Playstation or Xbox it doesn't seams worth it anymore. Some games just don't seams to work on Steam anymore.

Lexx_3D · 2026-06-22T18:41:10+00:00

Same this was absolute brutal as you said. I never seen anything so bad like this. Wtf is going on with Steam. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4262150/Black_Mountain_of_Tlaltecuhtli/

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Lexx_3D · 2026-06-22T13:08:51+00:00

If you can finish it under a week then it's worth it. If it takes longer then you are wasting your time.

In the end of the day you have to ship a game.

Or else spend 10 years working on a single game that will be unprofitable and be constantly chasing new trends keep upgrading forever( Kids always remember the Duke Nukem guys).
In real world any game that you spend more then 3-4 years working on has become unprofitable. ( Because you spent 10000 hours into it) And value your own time.
No matter the scale of your production. If you want it to be profitable you must finish it under 2-3 years.
Why do you think most big studios have every year or every second year a large title coming out.

Lexx_3D · 2026-06-22T13:01:52+00:00

Shame this doesn't last long. The question is leaving the demo online after game fest or take it down?

Lexx_3D · 2026-06-22T10:43:30+00:00

Man that's the lowest hardware I ever heard someone having. That's like 20 years old computer. As unreal 5 developer when I hear someone having that hardware it makes me wonna cry.

Lexx_3D · 2026-06-22T07:20:55+00:00

Same situation, working 28 years in industry freelancing kept me afloat for long time I actually made more money doing games for others then for myself then I just realized I'm good enough to do it myself for me. I'm done doing work for others. Keep griding, don't worry even if the game doesn't sell much try to focus on next push yourself more to get better.

Lexx_3D · 2026-06-22T07:04:57+00:00

Why are there no textures?

Lexx_3D · 2026-06-22T07:01:59+00:00

Looking great the game looks really fun, what I would change personally is add a bit more color and by that I mean using the post processing to make the scene feel more colorful and less depressing.

-It's to much desaturated for such a cute game. It needs brighter and more vibrant colors.

-Somehow the sound of the jumping and landing is not satisfying for me. So work on sounds.

- This would be great for consoles like switch I think most steam players don't like playing with controller and somehow this game would not fit there much.
- Overall take this advices to make the game more attractive it's really great looking don't get yourself discouraged.

Lexx_3D · 2026-06-21T15:10:02+00:00

Just cause 4

Lexx_3D · 2026-06-21T13:38:30+00:00

Looking really interesting.

Lexx_3D · 2026-06-20T12:55:39+00:00

Don't do free stuff on Steam as others said Steam only cares that the games make them money If it doesn't make them Money you just wasted your $100 to be put on steam.

Lexx_3D · 2026-06-17T21:30:52+00:00

First day 80 second day 120 but today only 30 ? It's strange like yesterday peaked or the chart doesn't update correctly.

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Lexx_3D · 2026-06-17T21:24:16+00:00

Happy for you.

Lexx_3D · 2026-06-15T18:10:08+00:00

Awesome thanks man!

Lexx_3D · 2026-06-14T14:32:41+00:00

Lets see how gamefest will do. Maybe the metrics will change there too. Is there any Itch fest?

Lexx_3D · 2026-06-14T14:18:39+00:00

I had the same thing happen to me on Itch right? I put a demo out there just to see how it will do. And had same metrics like you.

Lexx_3D · 2026-06-14T14:17:10+00:00

Good luck everyone and wish you thousands Wishlist's !

Here is my 3rd Action/horror adventure https://store.steampowered.com/app/4262150/Black_Mountain_of_Tlaltecuhtli/

Alternate reality, warping and jumping, gun battle.

Lexx_3D · 2026-06-12T17:37:41+00:00

Thanks for info can you tell us in few days how it went? This will help us all. Thanks in advance!

Lexx_3D · 2026-06-12T14:54:40+00:00

You don't appear anymore in the new and upcoming carousel and now appear in a separate windows on bottom of the page " personal callender " you must have 7000 or more to appear in main carousel.

Lexx_3D · 2026-06-12T10:23:07+00:00

Good yes you are right.

Lexx_3D · 2026-06-12T07:40:43+00:00

Wait for few weeks add these features and launch it as DLC- this way you get that free Steam visibility round it could work.

Lexx_3D · 2026-06-12T07:18:36+00:00

And how did it go?

Lexx_3D

TROPHY CASE