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Dev Dream Pod with Blake Gocey

Blake Gocey

The Dev Dream Pod is a podcast about the real journey of making video games. Each episode features interviews with indie game developers, creators, and builders chasing the dream of game development. We talk about starting from nothing, launching games, surviving the industry, and what it really takes to become a game developer. If you love indie games, game dev stories, and the grind of building games, this podcast is for you.

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  • 23 episodes
  • Avg 1 hr 7 min
  • English

Episodes 23

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  • April 27 · 1 hr 14 min

    SamYam is A Game Dev YouTube Icon - Next Step, Solo Dev

    Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/a2hceZhcfJSamYam opens up about her journey as a 120K+ sub Unity YouTuber turned indie game dev. She shares why her second Steam game Bus Buddies flopped after Desktop Cat Cafe succeeded, brutal multiplayer lessons with SDF sculpting, hackathon wins, YouTube burnout, and her big gamedev dream.In this honest conversation, she breaks down playtesting mistakes, marketing realities, team vs solo development, and how she makes game dev more fun and accessible for “TikTok brains.”SamYam on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@UCCkLMimnKzKbOQYxPDSYXFw Desktop Cat Cafe: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2978180/Desktop_Cat_Cafe/Bust Buddies: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3768810/Bust_Buddies/ Chapters:0:00 Intro & Discord Announcement 2:38 Why Make Gamedev Fun 6:02 Growing Up a Gamer 9:04 Hackathons & Web3 Days 13:43 Bus Buddies Game Idea 15:40 Multiplayer Development Hell 20:03 Teamwork vs Solo Dev 22:06 Why Bus Buddies Flopped 25:32 Playtesting & Prototyping Tips 33:50 Desktop Cat Cafe Story 38:10 Branching Into New Genres 39:00 Marketing & Wishlist Lessons 42:50 YouTube Channel Origin 44:33 YouTube Burnout & Evolution 50:47 YouTube Advice for Game Devs 55:03 Business & Brand Plans 1:01:38 Steam Marketing Meta 1:08:30 Viewer Questions 1:09:11 Handling Hate as Female Dev 1:13:22 Sam's Gamedev Dream If you're building games in Unity, launching on Steam, or growing a game dev YouTube channel, this episode is full of real talk and actionable lessons from someone who's done both successfully. Subscribe for more indie dev interviews, Unity tips, and Steam launch stories!#Unity #GameDev #IndieGame #Steam #BusBuddies #DesktopCatCafe #samyam #MultiplayerGame #IndieDev #YouTubeTips #GameDevelopment #UnityTutorial #SoloDev

  • April 26 · 1 hr 26 min

    You're Missing The Best Time Ever To Make A Video Game

    Inside Conference: https://howtomarketagame.com/insideChris's Free Blog: https://www.howtomarketagame.com/freeJoin The Dev Dream Discord: https://discord.gg/qG3EA8fuEThis episode with Chris Zukowski of How To Market A Game dives deep into the reality of indie game development, breaking down what it actually takes to succeed on Steam in today’s so-called “golden age” of small, fast-to-make games. We explore why genres like incremental games, roguelites, and management sims are dominating, how to validate your game idea using demos and itch.io, and why most indie games fail—even when developers follow all the “right” marketing strategies. From building wishlists and leveraging Steam Next Fest to working with content creators and understanding what makes a game “have it,” this podcast is packed with actionable insights for beginner and experienced indie devs alike. If you're trying to grow your game, launch successfully, or avoid wasting years on the wrong project, this is a must-listen conversation about indie game marketing, game design strategy, and how to actually make money as a solo developer.Chapters:00:00 Intro04:45 Conference Origins 09:30 Small Games Thesis 15:10 Industry Misconceptions 20:40 Why Small Wins 26:15 Speed Advantage 31:50 Scope Discipline 37:20 Dev Reality Check 42:55 Marketing Mindset 48:30 Finding Players 54:05 Platform Strategy 59:40 Algorithm Leverage 1:05:10 Viral Mechanics 1:10:45 Monetization Truth 1:16:20 Real Examples 1:21:30 Final Advice 1:26:00 Closing Thoughts #IndieGameDev #GameDevelopment #SteamGames #IndieDev #GameMarketing #SoloDev #GamedevTips #IndieGames #SteamNextFest #ItchIO #GameDesign #Roguelike #IncrementalGames #GameDevPodcast #MakeGames

  • April 20 · 48 min

    The Real Reason Small Teams Crush At Game Dev

    Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/a2hceZhcfJ Tired of wearing every hat as a solo indie game dev? Backward Studio shares honest insights on the benefits of working in a small 3-person team versus going solo. They reveal how trust, focus, and playtesting help them learn faster, make better decisions, and avoid burnout while building toward their first commercial release. From in-person workflows and revenue share talks to client projects and procedural sound design, this episode is packed with practical advice for indie developers considering teamwork or struggling with solo development. Dev Dream Podcast Chapters: 00:00 - Small Team vs Solo 03:30 - Trust the Process 07:00 - Data Driven Prototyping 11:00 - In Person Workflow 15:00 - Revenue Share Reality 19:00 - Client Project Lessons 24:00 - Deadlines That Work 28:00 - Programmer on a Team 32:00 - Artist Workflow Tips 37:00 - Procedural Sound Design 42:00 - Studio Future Dreams #IndieGameDev #SmallTeam #SoloDev #GameDevelopment #IndieDev #Godot #Unity #GameDevTips #IndieStudio #ProceduralAudio #DevDreamPod

Showing 21–23 of 23 episodes