One indie publisher believes that maintaining small goals and realistic expectations is essential for achieving success.
In an interview with GamesRadar+, Simon Byron, the publishing director at Yogcast Games—which is known for titles like Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers and the upcoming deck-building game Kaya’s Prophecy—discussed how the team is “almost overly realistic regarding our projections” when considering potential partnerships.
“We generally estimate around 100,000 to 120,000 units over a span of a couple of years and reflect on what those numbers might mean, not only for us but also for our partnering studios,” Byron elaborated. “We remain very open and honest in those discussions. I must confess, I have never accurately predicted a game’s performance, but it’s important to base decisions on some figures.”
However, Byron acknowledged that he miscalculated significantly with PlateUp, the restaurant simulation game where players manage a franchise amidst hectic Overcooked-style chaos. “We anticipated that it would sell 100,000 copies over two years, yet it astonishingly achieved 200,000 in just the first month,” he noted.
“Conversely, there are games that do not meet expectations, and those are the ones that truly weigh on me. Our core belief is that we must have faith in our ability to connect with an audience and cultivate a community that can lead to substantial sales—a challenging feat. Yet, considering the vast number of gamers currently active and the continuous traffic on Steam, it seems like a reachable goal for a publisher of our scale.”
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