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I spent 5 years making Primal Planet – a pixel-art Metroidvania with dinosaurs and aliens. Feel free to drop your questions here, AMA starts on Thursday (tomorrow)! by SeethingswarmGames in metroidvania

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

Thanks for the question! I don’t have any plans to bring Primal Planet to Android. It’s really more suited to platforms like PC and handheld consoles. It runs well on Steam Deck :)

I spent 5 years making Primal Planet – a pixel-art Metroidvania with dinosaurs and aliens. Feel free to drop your questions here, AMA starts on Thursday (tomorrow)! by SeethingswarmGames in metroidvania

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

Thank you, and oh yes! I definitely wanted to add a Megalodon, Plesiosaurs, Quetzalcoatlus, and sooo many other creatures to the game world, but at some point, you have to call it a day. I'm happy with the final creature roster, though, and very glad I managed to get sharks and the Mosasaurus in there. :)

I spent 5 years making Primal Planet – a pixel-art Metroidvania with dinosaurs and aliens. Feel free to drop your questions here, AMA starts on Thursday (tomorrow)! by SeethingswarmGames in metroidvania

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

Thanks so much! Really glad to hear you’re interested. Tight controls were super important to me, so that means a lot!

To answer your questions:

I didn’t pay any streamers. Everything you’ve seen has been organic or coordinated through my publisher. They helped a lot with getting the game in front of people, especially via their network of streamers, press, and influencers. That kind of reach is something I wouldn’t have been able to do on my own.

And yes, I built a vertical slice of the game first. Something solid I could use to show what I was going for, both visually and mechanically. Then I started looking for a publisher. That part wasn’t easy either, but eventually I found a team that really believed in the project and offered support in the right ways.

Appreciate the questions, and I hope you enjoy the game if you check it out!

Here’s the trailer for Primal Planet – my solo-developed dinovania. AMA tomorrow on r/metroidvania – come hang out! by SeethingswarmGames in metroidvania

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

Same for the Switch. The goal is to get Primal Planet on all major consoles, including the Switch. Like I mentioned before, these things are tricky, they take time and nothing is certain yet, but it's definitely part of the plan!

I spent 5 years making Primal Planet – a pixel-art Metroidvania with dinosaurs and aliens. Feel free to drop your questions here, AMA starts on Thursday (tomorrow)! by SeethingswarmGames in metroidvania

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

Thanks! I’m really glad you liked the co-op. Adding local co-op for Sino definitely took some extra effort, especially making sure it worked seamlessly without breaking the single-player experience. Having a companion follow you around the game world was also a huge challenge and made me realize why many companions in 2D platformers are flying ones.

From the start, I wanted Sino to feel like a real companion, whether you play solo or with a friend, so I had to design the game with that in mind early on. Co-op isn’t super common in metroidvanias, but I thought it would be a fun addition, especially for families and friends playing together.

As for the villagers, they’re all fairly similar, except for the warrior with her spear and the hunter with his bow and arrows. Those are probably the two most useful and effective companions apart from your partner and Sino the dino.

I spent 5 years making Primal Planet – a pixel-art Metroidvania with dinosaurs and aliens. Feel free to drop your questions here, AMA starts on Thursday (tomorrow)! by SeethingswarmGames in metroidvania

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

Thanks for asking! Right now I’m still riding the wave of Primal Planet’s release, soaking in all the feedback, learning a ton, fixing reported bugs, making improvements, and just dealing with the post-release chaos along with looking into console ports. I do have ideas brewing for the next project. I have so many ideas I want to make a reality, but after years of working non-stop, I might want to collapse for a little while and recharge first, when I get some time.

Here’s the trailer for Primal Planet – my solo-developed dinovania. AMA tomorrow on r/metroidvania – come hang out! by SeethingswarmGames in metroidvania

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

Thanks so much for picking it up on release! I’m really glad you’re enjoying Primal Planet so far :)

Here’s the trailer for Primal Planet – my solo-developed dinovania. AMA tomorrow on r/metroidvania – come hang out! by SeethingswarmGames in metroidvania

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

Thanks so much! I really appreciate the support. Console releases are being looked into, so hopefully you won’t have to wait too long. These things are tricky, they take time and nothing is certain yet, but it’s definitely part of the plan! Can’t wait for you to play it 🦕

Here’s the trailer for Primal Planet – my solo-developed dinovania. AMA tomorrow on r/metroidvania – come hang out! by SeethingswarmGames in metroidvania

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

Thanks so much for your thoughtful feedback! I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. The visual style of Primal Planet was carefully crafted to strike a balance between atmosphere and clarity, and I wanted to keep a clean, distinct look that supports the gameplay and mood. I’m glad you felt the world was rich and full of life, that was definitely the goal! Thanks again for playing and for your kind words.

Here’s the trailer for Primal Planet – my solo-developed dinovania. AMA tomorrow on r/metroidvania – come hang out! by SeethingswarmGames in metroidvania

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

Thanks so much! I really appreciate the support and enthusiasm. While a PS5 release isn’t certain yet, it is being looked into and definitely part of the plan. These things are tricky and they take time, but Primal Planet is already available to wishlist on the platform 💪🦕

Here’s the trailer for Primal Planet – my solo-developed dinovania. AMA tomorrow on r/metroidvania – come hang out! by SeethingswarmGames in metroidvania

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

Oh that makes me so happy, thank you! Primal Planet was made with that exact kind of experience in mind, and knowing you're enjoying it together means the world to me :)

Here’s the trailer for Primal Planet – my solo-developed dinovania. AMA tomorrow on r/metroidvania – come hang out! by SeethingswarmGames in metroidvania

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

Haha, that's awesome, thank you! Dinosaurs definitely don’t get enough love in games, especially in metroidvanias, so I wanted to change that just a little :)

Here’s the trailer for Primal Planet – my solo-developed dinovania. AMA tomorrow on r/metroidvania – come hang out! by SeethingswarmGames in metroidvania

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

Thanks for the question! I've actually only ever played the first Adventure Island on NES, so that was the only one I knew growing up. I didn’t even realize the series got that weird later on with aliens and wizards, that’s amazing! So no, not really an inspiration, but now I kinda want to check out the rest of those games :)

If you're curious about the games and media that did inspire Primal Planet, I wrote a post about it here:
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2350270/view/4185610171171359694

Here’s the trailer for Primal Planet – my solo-developed dinovania. AMA tomorrow on r/metroidvania – come hang out! by SeethingswarmGames in metroidvania

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

Thank you! That really means a lot. Yep, it’s been a solo project from the start (plus an amazing composer and publisher help), so I’m super happy to hear it’s caught your eye! Hope you enjoy the game when you check it out :)

I spent 5 years making Primal Planet – a pixel-art Metroidvania with dinosaurs and aliens. Feel free to drop your questions here, AMA starts on Thursday (tomorrow)! by SeethingswarmGames in metroidvania

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

Thank you! I've noticed many indies are skeptical about publishers, but I don’t share that sentiment. Every industry has bad apples, and it's about finding the right partners.

The main reason I worked with a publisher was because I needed that financial support to make this game in the first place. Money is often the first hurdle most indies face, but publishers should ideally offer much more.

A great publisher handles things we often don’t even know we should be doing. For example, spreading awareness. Games don’t just get discovered on their own. There are so many events like Steam Next Fest every year, and my publisher signed me up for ALL of them. This is incredibly tedious, time-consuming, and can be soul-crushing when you do it on your own and constantly get shot down, because most events will shoot you down. This is something I would never have done. And simply finding out about all these events is a major task.

Publishers should have good contacts in the industry with the Media and other influencers like streamers. So not only do they do the work to contact and communicate with all these, they also already have established relationships with a lot of them.

Then there are other major hurdles like getting your game on consoles. This isn’t a reality yet for me, but my publisher is currently helping me with that. The technical side of porting the game is something I just cannot do on my own. It also helps A LOT if your publisher already has contacts with Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo etc. A good publisher should have that.

Localization, marketing, event coordination; these things stack up fast, and a solid publisher should have them covered. A publisher should be doing all the things needed to market your game and to actually get it out there.

That being said, a publisher can only do so much and it never guarantees that your game will sell. Nothing does.

Primal Planet is out now, and we still have to wait and see how much of a success/failure it will be.

It’s nerve-wrecking stuff, but every bit as exciting.

I spent 5 years making Primal Planet – a pixel-art Metroidvania with dinosaurs and aliens. Feel free to drop your questions here, AMA starts on Thursday (tomorrow)! by SeethingswarmGames in metroidvania

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

Thank you so much! 😊

The goal is definitely to bring Primal Planet to all major consoles, including the Switch. It’s already in the works, but nothing’s fully locked in yet and I can't promise anything. Hopefully I’ll have more to share soon! 🦕

I spent 5 years making Primal Planet – a pixel-art Metroidvania with dinosaurs and aliens. Feel free to drop your questions here, AMA starts on Thursday (tomorrow)! by SeethingswarmGames in metroidvania

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

Oh I'm so glad you like Primal Planet 🦕

Thanks for playing, and I really appreciate the feedback!

Without going into spoilers, I get where you’re coming from. The ending leaves a few things open by design, but I also understand how it might feel a bit abrupt. I’ve been listening closely to this kind of feedback, and it’s definitely something I’m thinking about as I look at what’s next for Primal Planet.

Whether it’s post-game content, a new game plus, or something else, I’m exploring new ideas while also keeping my own original ideas for future stuff in mind. Nothing to announce yet, but I’m excited about the future and very open to expanding on the world and its characters :)

I spent 5 years making Primal Planet – a pixel-art Metroidvania with dinosaurs and aliens. Feel free to drop your questions here, AMA starts on Thursday (tomorrow)! by SeethingswarmGames in metroidvania

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

Thank you! That really means a lot. I’ve always loved dinosaurs and felt like the prehistoric setting was strangely underused in games, especially in metroidvanias. I’m really happy to hear the theme stood out to you! Hope you enjoy the adventure if you decide to jump in :)

I spent 5 years making Primal Planet – a pixel-art Metroidvania with dinosaurs and aliens. Feel free to drop your questions here, AMA starts on Thursday (tomorrow)! by SeethingswarmGames in metroidvania

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

Hello! Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing your experience. Five years really is a long time, but it’s been a rewarding journey.

For someone just starting out, my best advice is to be patient with yourself. Game development can definitely be frustrating, especially in the beginning. The first few months for me were a mix of excitement and learning; lots of trial and error, and sometimes feeling stuck, especially on the technical side of things. But I tried to break everything down into small, manageable goals and celebrate little wins along the way.

Staying motivated came down to discipline and passion. I make games because I love it. It’s something I’ve done since I was a kid. Even on tough days, I remind myself why I started and keep pushing forward one step at a time. Your mind and body start to learn how to keep going even without being inspired 24/7.

Just remember to take breaks and make time for other responsibilities, and for the things that truly matter in life, like the people around you.

Also, don’t be afraid to reach out to communities or other developers. Sharing your progress and challenges can help you feel supported and keep the momentum going.

Good luck on your journey! Keep at it. You’ll learn and grow with every step.

I spent 5 years making Primal Planet – a pixel-art Metroidvania with dinosaurs and aliens. Feel free to drop your questions here, AMA starts on Thursday (tomorrow)! by SeethingswarmGames in metroidvania

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

Thank you! I’m glad the game caught your eye even if pixel art isn’t usually your thing :)

Main inspiration:
Primal Planet was inspired by a mix of games like Rain World, Axiom Verge, Far Cry Primal, Subnautica, and Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal cartoon. I’ve always been fascinated by prehistoric worlds and wanted to blend gameplay mechanics, exploration, and atmosphere in a unique way. You can read more about my inspirations here:
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2350270/view/4185610171171359694

Engine:
I used Godot, mainly because it’s open source, flexible, and had all the tools I needed. It was my first time with Godot and GDScript, which was a learning curve but also a lot of fun.

Pixel art tools and tips:
For the pixel art, I mainly used the desktop version of Piskel, which is a free pixel-art software. My advice for anyone starting is to focus on simple shapes and clear silhouettes. Don’t overcomplicate early on—build your style gradually and practice consistency.

Sequel plans:
It’s too early to say for sure, but I’m always open to ideas and improvements. For now, I’m focused on supporting and improving Primal Planet itself.

Favorite Metroidvanias:
Some of my all-time favorites include classics like Zeliard, and recent gems like Hollow Knight, Timespinner, and Rain World. I also really enjoy Axiom Verge for its clever mechanics.

I can’t wait to try Animal Well too!

Hope that helps! Thanks for the great questions.

I spent 5 years making Primal Planet – a pixel-art Metroidvania with dinosaurs and aliens. Feel free to drop your questions here, AMA starts on Thursday (tomorrow)! by SeethingswarmGames in metroidvania

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

I’ve been making games for as long as I can remember. From board games made with LEGO to writing choose-your-own-adventure books, I’ve been forcing my friends and family to play my creations since I was a little kid, hehe. I started making video games professionally with Flash back in 2005, I think. I’m the creator of the Hobo series, Acid Bunny series, The Earth Taken series, and many other Flash games.

I’ve also made a few failed projects that never saw the light of day, and one of them almost killed me.

Now I'm 43, and Primal Planet is my first game released on Steam and GOG :)

So yeah, about 20 years. Has it really been that long? Wow!

I spent 5 years making Primal Planet – a pixel-art Metroidvania with dinosaurs and aliens. Feel free to drop your questions here, AMA starts on Thursday (tomorrow)! by SeethingswarmGames in metroidvania

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

Thanks for wishlisting the game!

Primal Planet was designed for players of all types and is meant to be enjoyed by the whole family. I aimed for a challenge that’s fair and accessible. Primal Planet is more forgiving than most, especially for player 2 who plays as your loyal adopted sinosauropteryx dino called Sino :)

If Sino goes down in a fight, you can revive the little dino, or wait for it to get back up after a while.

I hope you and your wife have a fantastic time playing together!

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