[jonhohle]

This has got to be one of the biggest marketing pushes for an “indie” game I’ve every seen. Having not heard of the game prior to yesterday and now seeing it on a twitch stream I subscribe to, YouTube channels I subscribe to, and now HN is way too coordinated to be organic. Seeing Dan Adelman attached to marketing further confirms that (not a knock, but that’s kind of like attaching Wes Anderson to an “indie” movie).

The game looks awesome, is getting a lot of positive reviews from people I generally agree with, but it’s starting to feel like a lot of astroturf, which turns me off.

[jitl]

Game made by one dude - art, programming, sound - is an indie game. Pretty different than a Wes Anderson flick.

This is also the first game from the game’s publisher Bigmode Games. However Bigmode is started by dunkey, a very popular and influential video game YouTuber.

[happytoexplain]

I get it, but I absolutely hate that this question has to come up every time anything gets "too much" attention. I wish we could just put off the out-loud doubt a little more, even if it often turns out to be validated. It usually doesn't feel like the negativity is a good trade-off for the benefit of potentially rightfully calling out astroturfing.

For what it's worth, this one is published by Dunkey, a popular comedic (i.e. memeable) video game YouTuber, so I'm not surprised to see it get a lot of talk.

[smegsicle]

bigmode games is sometimes referred to as the kgb of videogame publishers for their over the top stealth marketing campaigns

[crtasm]

How can that be when this is their first release?

[happytoexplain]

It's a joke (this isn't clear if you're not familiar with the publisher).

[ghthor]

Sounds like something Dunkey would say about his our publishing company.

[kaycey2022]

“smegcicle”? Is that a funny word for penis?

[happytoexplain]

Is this intended to sound condescending? Sorry if not, it's hard to tell on the internet.