Why Small Games Can Outlast Big Bets in Game…

Indie game enthusiasts might have noticed the impressive track record of Strange Scaffold. Every game released by this studio, including Clickolding, I Am Your Beast, and the latest title, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown, has secured a place in Steam’s “Positive” ranking, with numerous titles earning “Very Positive” or even “Overwhelmingly Positive” ratings.

So, how does the creative director, Xalavier Nelson Jr., achieve such a high-quality output at his studio?

To discover the answer, I met with Nelson during this past March’s Game Developers Conference—or more accurately, just outside it, as he had to forgo purchasing a ticket to the exclusive and costly event. This inclination to work with limited resources exemplifies Nelson’s strategy of adhering strictly to what his studio can realistically manage, diverging sharply from the Icarus myth: instead of striving to soar too high, he focuses on steady, consistent progress.

“In today’s industry, developing games quickly and efficiently is more essential than ever,” Nelson shared as we chatted on a bench near Yerba Buena Gardens, close to the conference venue. “Given the current industry landscape, you can’t afford to operate any differently. For our latest project, TMNT, we are working with a budget of under $300,000 over a span of 18 months.”