Hey Hangry fam,

We've got something special for you this month - we’re starting a guest spot in the newsletter! 

I’ve asked Ceri, our COO, Creative Strategist, and all-around organiser of chaos, to jump in and share a variety of Hangry insights and updates, once a month just for you.

So, grab a snack, settle in, and enjoy!

But first...

Before we dine on the guest content, here's a brief update video on progression of new pickups, flying enemies and all round mechanic fixes that have been bugging me for over a month. I finally had time to settle in and address the oddities in the food item stacking stability function and how the stack is influenced by player velocity based on how high the item is in the stack. Now some may suggest a damp spring to enable nested control of the attached items, but we need to keep track of the stack and all things food related in the same hierarchy, so this was the best solution for now. As you can see in the title image, happy accidents mean funny occurrences we sometimes want to include in the game! Super huge food items, may be a thing as you head towards adding end of stage bosses of some kind. Giant beasts with equally giant appetites eh!

We've been working on different surfaces to confuse the player, or at least make them think strategically about their route to deliver the goods. Equally is a very rough box representation of a flying beastie before we model a creature we are calling a Slurg straight out of some Games Workshop orcs or goblins playbook eh! Nurgle anyone? These bat-like beasties are going to be a nuisance and get in your way along your journey, so best get practicing your high jump roundhouse karate on a bike combo hits for good measure! Anyways, that's all from me, I'm going back to my development cave for now.

Hi everyone, Ceri here - COO, Creative Strategist (and whatever else is needed) at Hangry Animals.

Each month, I'll be popping into the newsletter to share a variety of snackable insights, personal highlights, and behind-the-scenes glimpses from our day to day activities.

This month’s tasty takeaway comes straight from our recent visit to the Impact Indie Games Expo in Bristol.

Held at Strange Brew, this indie gaming micro-conference had an energising, welcoming atmosphere buzzing with indie developers and industry experts (think publishing, marketing, and community-building gurus). A perfect setting to showcase Hangry Animals when the event returns next year, where we’ll also gain feedback and learn from experienced pros.

Why attend an event like this?
Simple: game development doesn’t stop at building a brilliant game. Success hinges on what happens next (and often before!) - publishing strategies, marketing mastery, community building, and crucial platform navigation (hello, Steam wishlists!).

Key Highlights & Takeaways

Publishing & Self-Publishing:
Clear insights into what publishers actually look for, and whether self-publishing might better suit our early-stage development. Choices, choices…

Teaser Trailers & Video Content:
Surprising fact: indie games significantly benefit from strong teaser trailers - setting the mood, showcasing gameplay, and emotionally connecting with potential players.

TikTok for Indies:
Yep - it’s a must! Practical tips for harnessing TikTok effectively: humour, behind-the-scenes moments, and interactive content. The interesting tip? People engage more readily with team members as real humans, rather than branded business pages.

Steam Insights:
Essential understanding of wishlist strategies and Steam page optimisation. Did you know only 2% of indie games earn over a million pounds on Steam? In fact, most indie games average under £25k. If you want to make a million pounds on Steam? You’ll need 160k on your wishlist!

Community is Key:
Engagement doesn’t end at launch. From special events to user-generated content, your community can become your strongest ambassadors - if nurtured effectively.

On a personal note, as someone interested in the psychology behind gaming and strategic content creation, this event was inspiring and encouraging. It reminded me that while there's plenty to learn, indie gaming communities are incredibly supportive, collaborative, and resource-rich.

Thinking about attending similar events? I highly recommend it!

If there’s anything specific you'd like me to cover in future newsletters from creative, strategy, content tips, event insights - pop it into the Ideas Vault on Discord and either tag me or #newsletter. Alternatively, head on over to LinkedIn and send a DM to the Hangry page.

Until next time,

Stay Hangry!
Ceri & Andy

*For those who don’t know, cwtch is a welsh word used either as a comforting hug or a cosy corner as pictured below.