Constantin "The Gaming Copywriter" Dumitru

I don't know who needs to hear this, but stop glorifying Wishlists as the be-all and end-all that will dictate your game's success.

Looks like brands come over to BlueSky just to advertise their sales and offers.
At least they're honest about treating us as the bags of cash that they consider us to be.

The moment you turn us down, the damage is done.
We'll always think twice before reaching out.
Because we know we're just a number.

Many folks did it.
Then things flopped.
They started asking everyone for help & coverage.

But the boy cried "Wolf" too many times.
Nobody cared when the wolf came
2️⃣/2️⃣

If you're an #IndieDev who turns away folks interested in supporting your game early.
But would be down to suck the d*ck of any major outlet or influencer.
Welp, that says enough about you.

Here's the deal.
Some of us might not be big.
But we want to help and see you win.
1️⃣/2️⃣

First win in Forestrike after about 4 hours.
Turns out that Gun Gun no Jutsu is the best xD

I have to say that the story starts pretty cliché.
But things are already getting interesting after the first victory.

Looking forward to 100%-ing and reviewing this one.

#IndieGame #Action #Fighting

I foresee a Forestrike review in the future 👀

But first... we gotta play it and 100% it.
Come join the #MartialArts journey.

🔴LIVE: www.twitch.tv/gamingcopywr...

Thanks to the folks at Cosmocover and @devolverdigital.com for the review copy 🙌

#IndieDevs #IndieGames #Roguelite #FightingGame

Absolum 1.1 — Stylish, Brutal, Simplistic An elf, a dwarf, a frog, and a marionette enter a bar… And beat everyone up

Power fantasy ✅
Amazing 2D visuals ✅
OST from the greats of game music ✅

Had a blast reviewing Absolum.
Go play it with a buddy.

Full review:
medium.com/@constantin....

#IndieDevs #IndieGames #BeatEmUp #Roguelite
@dotemu.bsky.social @guardcrushgames.bsky.social @supamonksstudio.bsky.social

a man with long hair and a beard says don 't tempt me frodo ALT: a man with long hair and a beard says don 't tempt me frodo

It is definitely a tempting offer.
But in all honesty, I'm swamped in reviews haha.

I would absolutely hate to review Gnaughty Gnomes.
Because I'd rather play it for fun and giggles 😂

YouTube video by Double Stallion Games Surfpunk | 1-252-SURFSUP Hotline Trailer

Here it is in all its glory 😂
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDO1...

Have you seen the latest trailer? 😂

Surfpunk on Steam Surfpunk is a 1-4 player co-op "Surf 'n Slash" featuring radical surfer-pirates, procedurally-generated islands, awesome loot and endless swarms of monsters. Surf, Shred, Scavenge, Repeat!

Meanwhile, I believe they have a demo up for their next big thing.
Go check it out if it looks like your jam:
store.steampowered.com/app/2434830/...

I'll have a lovely chat with @spillzndoodles.bsky.social about building IPs at @dblstallion.com.
And how this looks for them before and after working with @riotgames.com on CONVERGENCE.

This Friday.
19:00 CET.
Live on Twitch: www.twitch.tv/gamingcopywr...

#IndieDevs #IndieGames #GameDev

Oh yes. That video about " #INDIE " Metroidvanias that you TOTALLY HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT.
Featuring franchises like Castlevania, God of War, and Legacy of Kain.

I was just minding my own business and doing quests when this happened.
Turns out that a dwarf on crack can punch the heck out of a demigod.

Also, 1h30 for a run 😥

Time to see what's beyond the first ending.

#IndieGames #BeatEmUp #Roguelite
@dotemu.bsky.social

Gotta applaud the commitment of major game studios to bury themselves without any external help.
These folks are true champions of the community.

Excluding the first (I'm a small PP indie journo), I don't fit in the other two buckets.
It's a conscious decision.

If you want me to handle things as a marketing or PR professional, you should hire me to do that.

If you get critical about what they love, they'll either ignore you or burn you on a cross.

Bottom line is:
- Gaming press is too late to the news party.
- Gaming outlets are just PR agencies that you don't pay.
- Successful journalists are great at writing to validate people's beliefs.

3. Readers don't want truths. They want validation.

Another ugly truth: Very few folks read about games to be informed.
By the time they get to your piece, they already have a formed opinion from a million other sources.
*Check #1.

If you write what they want to hear, they'll praise you.

2. Gaming press is just a PR agency that you don't pay.

The role of gaming press is pretty much to amplify nowadays.
A bit counterintuitive, if you look at the previous point.
But if you think about it, it's just a way to say:
"We're everywhere.
So you should believe that what we're doing is lit"

What you realize about gaming press after you go at it for a while:

1. Information circulates too fast for outlets to "get the scoop".

By the time articles are up, folks already know about the news.
3 content creators released a "REACTIONS" video.
And a subreddit is already up and running.

Happy to put new games on people's radar haha 🙌

Got to try the new patch for Absolum thanks to the folks at Cosmocover and @dotemu.bsky.social.
It's a good day to choose violence and beat 'em up.

🔴LIVE: www.twitch.tv/gamingcopywr...

#IndieDevs #IndieGames #GameDev #BeatEmUp

Neva: Prologue — Completing the story The adventure before the adventure

@nomada.studio strikes again.
A bit softer.

Same atmospheric look and audio.
Less emotion if you consider the DLC on its own.
Less patient gameplay design.

Makes more sense if you play it together with the base game.

medium.com/@constantin....

#IndieDevs #IndieGames #GameDev
@devolverdigital.com

The Eternal Life of Goldman impressed me with its visuals and audio, but fell short in gameplay.

Akatori's demo feels like the smallest pizza with everything the chef could find in the fridge as toppings. Just too all over the place to leave an impression.

3/3
#IndieGames

Akatori

- As demo as a demo can be, with a bunch of abilities thrown at us in quick succession to test them.
- Combat feels floaty. The sense of impact isn't there.
- The level feels like a walking simulator where you can pretty much skip any encounter.

2/3
#IndieGames

Until I publish the Neva - Prologue review, here are my takeaways from the #Demos I've tried:

The Eternal Life of Goldman

- "We wanted to show that we could do old-school 2D animation".
- Platforming is straightforward and barebones.
- Voice acting feels forced and unnatural.

1/3
#IndieGames

Got a few things for ya.

1. The Neva DLC.
Thanks Cosmocover, @devolverdigital.com, and @nomada.studio for the review copy.

2. Demos:
The Eternal Life of Goldman, thanks to @thqnordic.com.
And Akatori, thanks to Critical Hit.

🔴LIVE: www.twitch.tv/gamingcopywr...

#IndieDevs #IndieGames #GameDev

a man with a beard and a blue shirt says i see huge potential ALT: a man with a beard and a blue shirt says i see huge potential

Now this... this has potential.
Will definitely keep my eyes on it.

Might even wanna interview someone from the team.
Just might 👀