How This Game Dev Sold 1,000,000 Copies of His Game (In A WEEK)

I chat with Jay Armstrong of Massive Monster, who sold over 1,000,000 copies of Cult of Lamb in a week.
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[@thomasbrush]

Check out Cult of the Lamb: www.cultofthelamb.com/ ► Enroll in my FREE 3D course! www.fulltimegamedev.com/sign-up-easy3d ► Get my 2D Game Kit Free: www.fulltimegamedev.com/free-game-kit ► Learn Game Dev (Get 25% off with code LETSGO): www.fulltimegamedev.com

[@notgonnafaint]

The "love of money" is the root of all evil. As long as we don't have a love of money we're not selling our souls. So congrats to your audience for not having a love of money but a love for people.

[@spitefol5504]

I love the interviews with other devs, my favorite type of content, keep it up

[@ForgeMaster1025]

“Pokémon with guns” perfect example of what they talk about in the beginning. How many times have we heard/read that in the past two weeks?

[@Evangeder]

Too much. Way too much. I get it, it's a fresh look at pokemon mechanics with survival elements, but ffs, everywhere i go there's always a spam about palworld...

[@Rick-ng3lr]

Same thought. Easy to explain and memorable.

[@Rick-ng3lr]

@@Evangederthat’s not his point. 😉

[@fablefolk_studio]

Whoa, a million copies in a week?! This guy's gotta have some serious next-level dev secrets. Taking notes (and maybe planning a video of my own... ). Can't wait to see what you did next, keep crushing it!

[@Rick-ng3lr]

Subscribed to your channel. = hook. Now some solid content. = retention.

[@ariamohebi]

AMAZING interview again! Please continue interviewing people!

[@jawwad1189]

Crazy i will have to take notes on this one let see if my game gets to this level

[@MrChick86]

This is absolutely amazing .. The thing is, I do relate to a lot of things you mentionned even though I am not a game developer but a software developer.. It made me feel 'relieved' that I am not the only one who is living what I am living especially when It comes to team work! Also it is a real inspiration to see LEGENDS like you being so cool, honest and simple guys while building what you have build! I am planning to be part of your world and develop my first game and this video came just in the right time! Thank you so much for giving us this chat! 1 hour went by like a minute! Good luck!!!

[@behrbones1]

Your interviews are fantastic. Thank you!

[@hamzahgamedev]

Awesome video, super inspiring numbers. Cult of the Lamb is a masterclass in itself for anyone who wants to learn game art, game design or juicy game dev mechanics. Very excited to see Thomas and Jay together speaking about the things I love most about.

[@3DPrinterAcademy]

do you require your guests to have purple background lights to be on the podcast?

[@Bryanox7]

lol

[@GilbertGames]

That was an awesome interview! I’ve purchased cult of the lamb twice and love it. You coulda put it’s music in the background 😅

[@strudlaygames9933]

Thomas, I absolutely love these videos. Not sure if you ever thought about it, but these would be amazing as podcasts.

[@Poly_Knight]

Awesome interview as always!

[@CogWorks-ne1eg]

This was a great talk, I learned a lot about working with teams with this podcast.

[@IceBreakINQGameDev-pp6zu]

Thank you guys for that interview :)

[@mronion2020]

I love seeing different devs perspectives on the industry. Great interview Thomas!

[@calebkrauter4027]

Currently working on a small scope RPG Adventure Platformer but you play as a Chad with a slingshot and a sword. It's a web game called "The Good, The Bad, and Chad". It's a team project in JS.

[@UKXcalibur]

you re a really good interviewer thomas, besides game dev content you explore human nature. really interesting to see how people react to strugles and succes. congrats!

[@lunarwaslost]

Definitely some wild manifestation from Mr. Jay Armstrong, been meaning to check out Cult Of The Lamb

[@RageGames_]

hey thomas, i think you should do spotify podcast along with youtube. it would be great if i can listen to ur podcasts on the go! thanks.

[@bistrobmusic]

Haxe seemed cool but I was tearing my hair out trying to compile the IDE (HIDE). It’s living on the edge.

[@TheLostEggroll]

the devs at massive monster are so nice and educational.

[@The_Raikin]

excited for this one

[@TYNEPUNK]

Never wasted time on a GDD (outside of working in studios). I just develop and design as I go. Might be more difficult if you're not working alone.

[@sabasayer]

About GDD, i think documentation on software general is important but if you are not building mostly the same thing over and over again and you have a very structured team and organization it will be just a waste of time

[@arnesso92]

GDD is good to get a direction for your "train", but it does not have to show the whole journey.

[@aaaalord]

Thank you Thomas

[@protobeing3999]

I'm sitting here - wearing a black t-shirt. I noticed both of you are wearing black t-shirts. Does this mean I'm officially a game dev?

[@popay0163]

How old r him, 🤔37?

[@yugam6578]

What should a beginner do to enter into game development

[@Dailyfiver]

The best thing I found to do is just start. Make “asteroids” where you control a ship and shoot asteroids. Very simple and gets you a quick understanding

[@baseera6532]

Just follow a tutorial to make a basic game and you'll be hooked

[@Suavemente_Enjoyer]

Thanks for the W vid Thomas!

[@itsalwaysme123]

Guess I'm fucked if I need friends 😂 #solodev all the way for me I think Loving these interviews! They're pretty eye opening and are helping shape the future of my game-deving

[@charleslamb6500]

for me, and art is difficult to make, or one could call it ' subversive ', or the folly, or bogus of the world, or etc // however, or one could say art is difficult to work, or that it's going to the olympics, or that's also difficult, or it takes resources, or also effort, or skill // however, and despite that, or theater entertains a ton of people, or one could say culture, or good books, or marketing is worth fighting for, and that's the struggle, or that television moves the world, or to say one added to creativity, or etc . . think it's important to have certain walk - away, or so - called ' cost points ', or where one says, this, or that could be cool, or make a ton of money, or however not doing that, or it's too costly, or one could talk of ' sanity ', or that one can't ditch conscience, or what one knows, or has seen // art is a tricky ' beast ', or that turns on people, and that makes the process, sellery, or even hype, or marketing a ' devil ', and however if one could struggle with that, or learn, or suffer through that, or one could talk of an olympic feat, or to say one was an important artist, had brought entertainment to millions, or also to move the world, or etc . . art is difficult, or one could say trauma, or ' death ' // however, and esp. the product, or what the audience sees, or benefits, or that could be worth it // that's where the artist suffers, or to work great culture, or perhaps critique, or tell the public this, or that, or however it's also difficult to go to doctor's school, to be a lawyer, or that takes suffering // that's the challenge, or also ' quest ' of art, or where enjoying art is easier, or however one could talk of ' desolation ' of the artist, and however that's worth that, or the product, or culture adds to the world, or despite the folly, or etc . .

[@frediwalker2381]

"this dev" is a studio with like 30 people

[@SwitchedOn]

Enjoyed the video but did get a vibe it was more a therapy session for Thomas mining information rather than a balanced chat between 2 people…

[@Sweepy_Games]

great stuff!!! I love these interviews! Can you also make a short summary version like with choo choo charles?? pls!

[@makariobludhard1459]

He realeased the sex update - thats how!

[@user-wy6er1hr1m]

Oh yeah, cool new update to check out! *Begins ritual in game since launch* *soft locks game again* *closes software.* Another excellent commercial success, on to the next game!

[@magnusm4]

It's pretty obvious why it's a success. -Good and popping art style. -Recognizable and eye catching characters and design. -Interesting and dark light theme. -Engaging and rewarding gameplay. -Simple but polished game design. -Literally Outstanding and unique soundtrack from anything else "don't try this it's REALLY hard to figure out something this unique". -And an alluring and interesting scenario "A cute artstyle drawn with evil theming about being a cult". They made a scenario that's different and piques the interest when you see the front cover and name. And the game lives up to it.

[@FromTheAtticTV]

Cult of the Lamb is the least "selling out" game ever made haha! It's a village-builder roguelike dungeon crawler featuring devil worshiping lambs. There's nothing trendy about it. THEY made it trendy.

[@xdeschenes]

Thomas is so sour, arms crossed most of the interview. every studio in the world creates a 1 praser to summeries the game, then when you have 500 other incoming ideas you need to remember what is spine of the experience. And you donèt need to choose between making something you love and make something that works, you can just go right inbetween. Nobody likes 100% of their jobs. You are selling a product, you need to make stuff people like. Otherwise you end up being the only one playing. cheers!

[@almahmudrony6432]

Its funny about the GDD. I agree less with this guy(This "CultOfTheLamb" dev guy). And agree more with Gavin and Thomas about making a GDD. Gavin is more knowledgeable relative to his age. And GDD is very important. GDD is the central point the PIVOT of your project. I'm not saying this guy has no ability to make game. The thing is, I have learned NOTHING from this guy. And this guy is very cryptic.

[@latenmuniz773]

Well he makes a lot of money from selling his courses. So if you want to learn something from him you should probably purchase one of those.

[@almahmudrony6432]

@@latenmuniz773 Not Thomas, I like Thomas, I 'm talking about this "CultOfTheLamb" dev guy.

[@madddog7]

_" 1,000,000 copies of Cult of Lamb in a week"_ don't believe that at all.

[@papsterling8376]

Is your believer broken?

[@madddog7]

@@papsterling8376 might be .. but my skepticism is working just fine

[@papsterling8376]

⁠@@madddog7vginsights says 2.1 million units sold. Half of that in the first week could be possible. Skepticism is always good though.

[@blufuz]

To any Christian Game Devs: If Satan can make popular an occultic satanic game, how much more can God make popular a rightious godly game. ✝️

[@neetfreek9921]

There is no difference between you and a AAA if you only make games for money. Except a decrease in scale. The entire point of indie is to make passionate ideas that aren’t exactly the most marketable. This whole hustle culture marketing mindset is so gross. Stop pumping out uninspired cash grabs and go work as a corporate artist if you’re just here for a paycheck. You rehashing market trends does nothing but stagnate the medium.

[@papsterling8376]

So you want to dictate what someone’s motivations should be to participate in indie game dev. That seems pretty gross. Indie means that no one gets to tell you what to do or what to think. These are adults with families and bills to pay. It is not wrong to make games for money so you can eat and live in a house and put your kids through college. If you want to be a purist and starve while you make your artistic masterpiece, then more power to you I guess.

[@ehadmili3043]

​@@papsterling8376i definitely agree, but i also kinda agree with the og commenter, being a purist is basically being a rebel, but lets be honest a person in their 25+ years of age with a family and other responsibilities does not have the luxury of being a puriat/rebel

[@BigFattyNat]

stop wiggling around and looking off screen. its distracring to the viewer and disrespectful to the guest.

[@kyleperkins93]

It’s my understanding that they film these separately and they can’t actually see each other. In one of these interviews the guest said “I know you can’t see this yet but I’m holding…” or something to that effect.

[@rithikkumarc]

@@kyleperkins93 Exactly!