This is the story of Michelle and Steve, the founders of Nessie Games, an indie game studio, and their unexpected journey into game development. Both came from seemingly unrelated backgrounds and, against the odds, found success.
The Founders' Backgrounds
Michelle: The Writer with a Love for Storytelling
Michelle has a bachelor's degree in Japanese and a background primarily in receptionist roles. She considers herself below average in art, math, and height, but her redeeming quality is her strong writing skills and love for storytelling and NPCs.
Steve: The Self-Taught Artist and Programmer
Steve has an associate's degree and a background mainly in retail. He is above average in art and programming, skills he taught himself. He initially pursued art but found it challenging to make a living, especially in an expensive city like Seattle. He then started learning programming in 2020, hoping for a more profitable career.
A Change of Scenery and a New Idea
In 2021, Michelle got a job in Japan, leading them to move to a small ski town. Steve continued his job search, applying to hundreds of positions with little success due to his lack of a degree and professional experience. After a year, they decided to re-evaluate their plans.
The Birth of a Game Idea
Michelle and Steve frequently brainstormed story ideas. During one of these discussions, Michelle shared a game idea. This conversation led to Steve suggesting they work together to bring the game to life. He saw it as a way to work on something he was passionate about and build a portfolio piece.
Defining Roles
They decided on their roles: Steve would learn game programming, and Michelle would handle art and writing. Michelle, wanting to contribute visually, decided to learn pixel art. They opted for a smaller-scope project, and Checkout was born.
Developing Checkout
Checkout drew upon their years of retail experience, aiming to create a relatable and fun experience. They began development on February 1st, 2024.
The Early Days
Initially working at a kotatsu, they eventually upgraded to office chairs and a dining room table setup. Michelle insisted on a studio name to feel more professional.
Naming the Studio: Nessie Games
Recalling a conversation from 2010 about their favorite mythological creature, they chose the Loch Ness Monster. Thus, Nessie Games was established, complete with a cute Nessie mascot.
Development Process
For ten months, they worked on the game daily. Michelle worked evenings and weekends alongside her full-time job, while Steve dedicated his time fully to the project. They quickly established a game loop and launched a Steam page in May, followed by a demo in June.
The Importance of Feedback
The demo proved invaluable, allowing them to gather feedback and iterate on the game based on player suggestions. This process helped them realize that the game was genuinely engaging.
Adding a Story
Passionate about storytelling, they integrated a narrative by adding co-workers players could interact with between shifts, enhancing the game's world.
Launch and Initial Success
Checkout launched on January 10th, a few days behind schedule, after some unexpected delays with Steam's review process.
Minimal Marketing
They did very little marketing, relying on word-of-mouth and a single appearance at Steam Next Fest.
Unexpectedly Positive Reception
Despite the lack of marketing, the game saw immediate sales. The first day brought in $262, and the following week saw daily revenues ranging from $1,100 to $1,500. By the one-month mark, they had earned $28,600.
Organic Promotion
To their surprise, others began promoting their game organically. A post on the Cozy Gamer subreddit and support from various streamers and YouTubers further boosted its visibility.
Why Was Checkout Successful?
Michelle and Steve have a few theories about their game's unexpected success.
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Polished Gameplay: They focused on polishing the game and ensuring consistent UI.
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Unique Concept: Checkout offered a unique experience that stood out in the market.
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Target Audience: They acknowledge the game isn't for everyone, but it resonates strongly with its target audience.
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Quality: They believe the core reason for its success is simply that Checkout is a good, well-executed game.
The Future of Nessie Games
Working on Checkout was a fulfilling experience, and the future of Nessie Games looks bright. They plan to develop more games, focusing on manageable scopes to avoid buggy messes. With the success of Checkout, Steve can finally get that Red Bull he deserves. They also thank the viewers for watching and ask them to like and subscribe for future game development updates. Finally, they note that the coded message in Checkout remains unsolved.