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(+6)

For the record, I'm no professional. so please take everything I say with a grain of salt. I likely originally got your games as part of a bundle or from the subreddit r/freegamefindings because I'm a digital hoarder.

I saw your emails just now and it really hit me hard. This is a tough life and path we choose. I understand if you need to stop gamedev permanently or temporarily. No judgement there, everyone has their own path they need to take.

Just from the itch.io pages and screenshots, this is your best-looking game so far. It has a proper logo and more cohesive looking screenshots. I'll see if I get around to playing them later, but lately I've been avoiding FPSes due to my hand problems. When it comes to "first impression" sales, I think it's mainly about how it looks on the storefront if you aren't running any ad campaigns and all that.

There is a bit of an issue where several of your older games just frankly don't have a great thumbnail. Being 3D and likely store bought assets, they seem like products I'd normally not buy.
I'd perhaps bundle your older entries into one itch page with a big ol zip file and call it "Wenudu's retro collection" or "early days" or something, just to clean up the store page and ensure your best and most recent stuff is what shows up first.

I'm assuming this entry is your latest, as it looks the best as a complete project.

I just want to say that it's heartening to see your improvement with each game's storepage. So likely, you'd have to keep making more games, but there seems to be a pattern of improvement over time.


Don't forget that you've released 7 games on itch. You already have me and so many other game developer wannabes beat! There's pride to be taken in having put yourself and your work out there like you have.

If you still have it in you to get back on the gamedev wagon after you've settled the more difficult external factors in your life, you have a major head start on other folks starting out. I hope things will go for the better in time.

(+5)

Hey there,

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a kind and honest message. It really means a lot, especially right now.

It's actually quite comforting to hear your perspective as a "digital hoarder" – it helps me understand how people come across games like mine. And honestly, your words about this being a "tough life and path we choose" really hit home. It's true, and there are definitely some difficult external factors I'm dealing with that led to this decision. So, no judgment taken at all, and thank you for that understanding.

I'm really glad to hear you noticed the improvements in my latest game's presentation! I've been trying hard to learn and get better with each project, and it's incredibly encouraging to know that effort shows, even if you haven't played it yet due to your hand problems (totally understand that too, health comes first!). Your point about "first impression" sales and the importance of storefront visuals is spot on, and it's something I've been trying to grasp better.

Your feedback on the older games and the idea of bundling them into a "retro collection" is brilliant, actually. It's a great way to clean up the store page and highlight the more recent work. I hadn't thought of that, and it's definitely something I'll consider if I ever pick things back up.

And thank you for that final boost. It's easy to get lost in the challenges and forget the small victories. You're right, having 7 games out there is something to be proud of, and it definitely feels like a head start if I do find my way back to game development.

I genuinely appreciate your encouragement and optimism. I'm taking things one step at a time, but messages like yours truly help.

(1 edit) (+2)

I'm looking forward to checking them out when my hands are better. Believe it or not, I hope to release games myself one day, so that's why I feel the frustration and pain. I actually want to catch up to you eventually haha.

I'm surprised how many people replied in the discussion here. There's more engagement now that we see a bit more behind the curtain and into the life of the human being that worked hard to make these games.

I'm afraid that most of us claimed it for free, but that is a step in the long run into some of those claimers into paying. As your skills get better, I think people will eventually start buying!

It's like when learning to draw, it takes so much time and work, but eventually it starts to come together. Took me years for that and now I'm trying to do the same for games!

Take the time you need. I would at the very least keep the itch page up in case of a future situation where you can say "Here's some games I made, and you can even download an play them!" You never know when it will come in handy!