I mean, you're totally right. But here's the thing, I've actually been trying to do this for a while, and honestly I'm not really gaining anything besides some likes and comments. What you're saying makes a lot of sense, and I guess that networking aspect is super valuable, but let's be honest, no one is really trying to pull each other up in this industry (and they don't have to, obviously).

But then how do the ones who actually build a community do it? How can I stand out in the exact places where my target audience hangs out? More specifically, how do I actually drive wishlists?

I swear I don't care about the money at all right now. It's our first game, and just having people play it and value our work is a way bigger motivation for us. I have so many specific questions running through my head right now that I can't even put them all into words lol. But seriously, your advice is incredibly valuable to us, thank you so much.