Veteran Solo Dev Sparks Debate: "The Game Itself Is Now Secondary"

A developer who moved from AAA studios to solo projects posted in an overseas community that "the game itself is almost secondary," saying publishers want trailers, screenshots and key art validated and wishlists built before real production begins. Hundreds of replies split between those who call this the standard path to publisher funding over the past 10 years and those who insist the game itself still comes first. One commenter's breakdown of 7,000 wishlists leading to about $10,000 net showed that good data does not guarantee players stay.