Marta Matyjewicz

Last week we pushed a Steam Playtest Update for the game about fishing I’m leading marketing on and… yeah. Some of you got really hooked😅

I recently shred my stance on “just make good games” you can find it on my profile. And I get your point but I guess ythat the only difference between our arguments here is that it sounds like you think that you have to know the platform’s formula to put a foot into the door of discoverability, while I strongly believe that you have to focus on cracking the player algorithm to actually have a shot at it. These platform algorithms are built based on people’s behavior. But thanks for sharing your perspective. 🙏 This opens my eyes to many problems devs have these days.

I see your point, but this feels a bit like Gabe recently saying "just make good games". It overlooks the harsh reality of being an indie dev: discoverability. Yes, platforms scale what works, but you have to beat the store/social algorithms first to reach that initial audience to prove it works. If you can't reach the masses to begin with, understanding the "player algorithm" doesn't mean much because no one is there to play it.

Marketing a game

I think I owe you an explanation. My main point is that we’re often trying to hack the wrong algorithm. I see this a lot when working with game devs. The only algorithm that actually matters is… players. How they think, what makes them want to play, what they feel, what keeps them focused and engaged. That understanding should shape the game itself. When you get that right, promotion stops feeling like an uphill battle. You naturally end up with moments worth showing. Trailers, clips, gifs start to click because they reflect something people genuinely respond to. Platforms don’t magically make people care. They scale what already works. And yeah, I’m happy to die on this hill 😅

@Owlsomness I don't actually agree with you because understanding how the algorithm works to find a way to market your game and making games are totally different things

Something that might come across as a cash grab is often still made by people who genuinely care about it. I think this industry relies heavily on passionate people who put real time and heart into what they’re making. Do you have any specific games in mind? It would help understand the context

It's so easy to tell when a game is made for a quick cash grab. There's no love, creativity, thought, or passion put into it.

This advice really upset some devs. I agree with it but it has one unsolvable problem. (From a general pov) It’s so damn hard to define “good”. It means different things across genres. and most people genuinely believe that whatever they’re making falls under this category. Lack of self awareness is making people waste ridiculous amounts of time and resources. They try to play every move to trick the algorithm, while often the game is unmarketable. I’ve seen this more than once. And it always breaks my heart. Devs pursuing the idea without considering players’ motivations and enjoyment. Or focusing on stuff that is not relevant for people you’re making your game for. Cause this is what game marketing actually is. Creating with your players’ needs, wants and motivations at the center. Constantly asking what they’ll enjoy and feel while playing. Developing a game is marketing.

How to open a car door like a proper gentleman? #indiedev #indiegame #fps #gamedev

Weapon of choice? Architecture. #indiedev #indiegame #fps #gamedev

Stomping them to death is also a valid strategy

Shenmue, Dredge, Twin Peaks, Silent Hill i wiele innych skojarzeń z wysokiej półki. Wrzucam na listę priorytetową i może w oczekiwaniu na premierę zmotywuję się, żeby w końcu Arctic Eggs ograć (naiwnie czekałem na jakieś przesłanki o porcie konsolowym).

The GOTY Of 2026 Could Be A Fishing Game - Kotaku kotaku.com/2026s-goty-cou… kotaku.com/2026s-goty-cou…

new playtest for a game About Fishing live on Steam! you can hear a ton of my work in this version- specifically proud of my ambience work for each area 😇🎣

Big update to the About Fishing demo rolling out soon store.steampowered.com/news/app/38565…

@Chew1e_TC Thanks 🙏

@gamemarketguide Congrats!

@GryKZWP Thanks <3

@gamemarketguide Congrats!

𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐒 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐈𝐈 youtu.be/w0SLSLuYMhw

@PixelTheRetro Robie fikoła 🙃

@gamemarketguide Gratulacje dla rozszerzenia pracy z Australijczykami 😄

pɐǝɥ sʇᴉ uo ɓuᴉʇǝʞɹɐɯ ǝɯɐɓ ɹnoʎ uɹnʇ s'ʇǝ⅂ 🙃

I plan to drop by