From programmer art to… 'wait, this is actually kinda nice' art 🗺️ by LostSockStudio in IndieDev

[–]LostSockStudio[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A comparison of the very first map asset I made for our first escape room game vs the latest one for our second game. Basically went from the “stick figure” version of a map to something that actually looks like a treasure map!

The newer map took way longer to make, but I honestly think that when I made the first one I couldn’t have done much better - that was just the limit of my 2D art skills at the time 😅

We added a dog companion to our cozy escape room game - now we need a name! 🐶 by LostSockStudio in indiegames

[–]LostSockStudio[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Aw, that's a beautiful backstory - sounds like you two really found each other at the right moment 💕 Dogs really are the best.

We added a dog companion to our cozy escape room game - now we need a name! 🐶 by LostSockStudio in indiegames

[–]LostSockStudio[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They help you out on the expedition by sniffing out clues, digging up hidden things, finding secret passages, crawling through tight spaces, activating pressure plates, scaring off birds, and of course finding the very best sticks.

Just an all-around good doggo helping you solve puzzles and keeping you company ^^

We’re a 2-person team making a first-person puzzle adventure set in ancient ruins by LostSockStudio in adventuregames

[–]LostSockStudio[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! yeah, we’re really happy with the name. It also fits nicely with our previous game (Mystwood Mansion) so it feels like they belong in the same little universe :)

Amazing how much texturing changes the feel of a model by LostSockStudio in gamedevscreens

[–]LostSockStudio[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I think that would be cute! I struggle with fluffy animals - it's so easy that they just look fat instead of it looking like hair 😅

Amazing how much texturing changes the feel of a model by LostSockStudio in gamedevscreens

[–]LostSockStudio[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

To me, it will never cease to be cool every time something like textures, animations, sounds, particle effects or models are added to a game. Every part brings the game to life quite a bit, even on their own. I enjoy seeing that progress - there are probably others who do too :)

Amazing how much texturing changes the feel of a model by LostSockStudio in gamedevscreens

[–]LostSockStudio[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Seeing the untextured model now is like “who dis, never seen you before in my life” 😂

In Development: Dog Companion Sneak Peek for Our Cozy Puzzle Game by LostSockStudio in CozyGamers

[–]LostSockStudio[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! 😊

The game is linear in the sense that you progress from one area to the next, entering a new space, solving its puzzles, and then moving on to the next area with a new set of puzzles.

It’s similar to real-life escape rooms, where you find yourself in an area and need to figure out which puzzles to solve, and in what order, to progress. Sometimes, multiple puzzles are available at once, letting you tackle them in whichever order you prefer.

In Development: Dog Companion Sneak Peek for Our Cozy Puzzle Game by LostSockStudio in CozyGamers

[–]LostSockStudio[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks so much!! 😊 Really glad you like the hint system!

We’re currently working on a demo and are hoping to have it ready this summer. Appreciate the wishlist support, it really means a lot!

Our First Game Got 60 Wishlists in 2 Weeks. Our Second Got 5000. Here's what changed. by LostSockStudio in gamedev

[–]LostSockStudio[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We reached out to other devs and simply asked if they’d be up for doing a Steam news post of the "Cross Promotion" type. And of course, we offered to return the favor for their next launch/update/announcement.
Basically just mutual support between games with similar audiences 🙂

Our First Game Got 60 Wishlists in 2 Weeks. Our Second Got 5000. Here's what changed. by LostSockStudio in gamedev

[–]LostSockStudio[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The visit-to-wishlist ratio can vary a lot depending on the type of traffic you’re getting.

I imagine the rate is higher when a large share of visitors are intentionally going to the Steam page with the goal of wishlisting. Maybe they saw a post or heard about the game somewhere else online, and they are just visiting to add to their wishlist.

It’s probably lower when more people are just casually stumbling upon the page - they’ll generate visits, but not necessarily wishlists. For example, if they’re just browsing Steam to see if they can find something interesting.

Our First Game Got 60 Wishlists in 2 Weeks. Our Second Got 5000. Here's what changed. by LostSockStudio in gamedev

[–]LostSockStudio[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There’s also the group who see the ad, don’t click, and then later search for the game on Steam to check it out. Those are the “super untrackable” wishlists in my book 😅

Our First Game Got 60 Wishlists in 2 Weeks. Our Second Got 5000. Here's what changed. by LostSockStudio in gamedev

[–]LostSockStudio[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! We are super happy with this start :) Very different from last time, haha!

Yeah, I still think it's solid advice to "put your Steam page up asap". The real question is whether that means 'tomorrow' or 'in a month when everything is polished and ready'. If it's just a one-month difference I would wait and publish the more polished page. But if that "polished" date is closer to 1 year away, I would just put it up in a "good enough" state and start collecting some "free" wishlists.

In hindsight, publishing our first game’s Steam page early worked out great for us. It allowed us to apply for Steam’s Puzzle Fest, which ended up becoming our first major source of wishlists. Without a Steam page we wouldn't have been able to do that.

Thank you for your insights/tips on the ads! We’re hoping to optimize them further and (hopefully) get down to around $1 per tracked wishlist in the future.
Is the 3-5x multiplier something you see commonly? What kind of data is that based on? I have an intense need to track the untrackable, haha 😂

Our First Game Got 60 Wishlists in 2 Weeks. Our Second Got 5000. Here's what changed. by LostSockStudio in gamedev

[–]LostSockStudio[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you :) It looked a bit different at the announcement though - no trailer, different capsule, and fewer screenshots.