FLUTTER is launching this Thursday at 12:01am… which ostensibly means tomorrow night.
So what does a solo developer feel on the night before launch?
FEAR
EXCITEMENT
ANXIETY
NERVOUSNESS
IMPATIENCE
EXHAUSTION
HOPEFULNESS
DREAD
TERROR
LIKE I WANT TO HIDE
LIKE I WANT TO JOYFULLY SHOUT
PRIDE
CHAGRIN
ANTICIPATION
There’s a large moon rising out the window. Tomorrow night it will be full. A sign? Who knows. As always with these things it could be a huge embarrassing bellyflop. At the same time, I’m very proud of it. I think it’s a very good game. Maybe even a piece of art.
As a solo dev I don’t have the resources of a studio to, say, throw a fancy launch party or do extensive beta testing. I showed it to some friends and they liked it. I know some of you might say- ‘hey! actually even indie devs have the ability to a/b test and get surveys filled out and do pr and marketing…’
You’re right. I’m very aware of that. But I’m also very aware of the opportunity cost. I’m an indie dev. I am one solo dude. Every second I spend sending out some pr email is a second I COULD BE SPENDING DEVELOPING THE NEXT APP.
And that is what I’ve been doing instead.
I’m already working on the next one.
I have a lot more control over making a game as amazing as I possibly can than I could ever have trying to market to a global audience for zero dollars. And maybe it’s naive. But I pride myself on stubbornly clinging to the belief that great art– great product– great entertainment– is the absolute best marketing there is. Build a great app and they will come. Apple has made that at the very least feasible.
Thanks for reading! I hope very much that if you purchase Flutter you enjoy the experience and have way more than $1.99 worth of fun with it! I hope it makes you smile. And curse. :)
Whether the masses take a shining to it or not, I’ll be dusting off the keyboard and working furiously on the next one. Perhaps by the light of that full moon.
Sebastian
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