Matt Hackett

@richtaur.bsky.social

2720 Followers 537 Following

Friendly neighborhood game dev (he/him) 📙 Wrote How to Make a Video Game All By Yourself: https://www.amazon.com/How-Make-Video-Game-Yourself/dp/1736576208/ 🐷 Working on Pixel Washer: https://playacclaim.com/pixel-washer/

Matt's hand holding his Sega CD with a Base Power Convert jammed in there. In the background on a shelf are some "complete in box" Sega Master System games, including Golden Axe Warrior, Golvellius, Miracle Warriors, and Phantasy Star.
A big green button that says RELEASE GAME! On the classic Steam dark gray background.
Two screenshots on the left and right. Left: 2023 - a rough Pixel Washer prototype screenshot. Very early times, first-pass black and white UI, and a Pigxel who's looking quite naked without his goggles. Right: 2026 - A current screenshot of Pixel Washer. I hope this does not look rough to you because it looks quite pretty to me. Bright, colorful, with a new on-model Pigxel the pig power washing a train with his huge Whale Washer. Rolling clouds happily float by in the distance. All is well in Pig Town.
PIXEL WASHER promo art yes I took these photos myself, that is a cute rubber piggy with 3D-printed, hand-painted goggles holding a Blender-bashed power washer (also 3D-printed, also hand-painted) in an environment of little wooden houses and fences and moss and bushes that I picked myself and organized myself and I did all of this to procrastinate because finishing games is really hard and I am weak thank you for reading.
A photo of me holding Legendary Axe for Turbo Grafx 16, the original physical game hell yeah. Also other epics from the era in the background like Casash and Ys yes yes
Pixel Washer Demo on Steam: Grab your power washer and scrub pixelated worlds squeaky clean! Play as an adorable piggy, blast away grime, upgrade your gear, and restore a grubby town to its former glory in this cozy, almost zen-like game. ALL REVIEWS: Very Positive (102)
Hi-ho, kermit the frog here, with ears that are ducks for some reason. He's sitting with a big belly, eating popcorn. He seems to be as disturbed by the duck ears as a viewer of this might also be.
A Pixel Washer video where Pigxel the pig shoots ONE (1) shot of a WIP replicator gun, immediately spawning like 1,000 shots that instantly washes half of the entire level while Pigxel didn't have to move an inch. There's no sound because I failed to follow my own advice to capture sound.
(very old GIF of Pixel Washer) Here's Pigxel the pig oinking outside of a half-washed ice cream truck.
The classic delayed-response angry eyebrows meme. Panel 1: The rat from Dig Dig Boom says "Fight me" Panel 2: A person (potential player) says "Too cute!" Panel 3: [Rat] ... Panel 4: Rat has angry eyebrows now!
Two Pixel Washer screenshots. On the left: 2023, a very rudimentary shot. Pigxel has no goggles (gasp!) and he's shooting a red-ish building with a silly-looking string gun. Very minimal. On the right: 2026, with a fully-fleshed out level inspired by the La Brea Tar Pits. Features brand new pixel art, including a HUD, skeletons, palm trees, bridges, a new Pigxel the pig with goggles, and a cool-looking power washer!
A Pixel Washer screenshot of a banana stand, showing money being drawn *over* it (but really it's behind it). Also I just realized that's an old fire hydrant asset I've gotta replace I should write that down.
STEAM DISCOUNT CHEAT SHEET Gamers who wishlisted your game are emailed when: • Your game launches into Early Access • Your game launches (or from EA to 1.0) • Your game is discounted 20% or more STAIRSTEP DISCOUNTS Do not rush to the bottom Ramp up over time! DISCOUNT RANGES • Minimum discount: 10% • Maximum discount: 90% • Miniumum price: $0.49 USD • Custom discount duration: 1-14 days LAUNCH DISCOUNT (optional) • Begins the day your game launches • Ends @ 10AM Pacific on the 7th day • You can discount up to 40% • Valve suggests 10-15% You must wait 30 days between discounts Check out the official Discounting Steamworks Documentation at: Steamworks Documentation / Sales and Marketing / Discounting made by Matt Hackett in 2023 (this version January 2024) valadria.com
Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes) in the classic 1993 film Demolition Man, finding the most 90s ways to say "exactly".
A screenshot of Pixel Washer, with Pigxel the pig staring at a newly-washed banana stand. (It's an Arrested Development reference, the "how much could a banana cost?" meme yeah that one.)
Pixel Washer screenshot of the uh train level I think? Pigxel is shooting the spreader gun which shoots cool looking washy bally projectiles (there are 7 of them). He's still got a lot of work to do (as do I).
Video games such as Forbidden Solitaire - wishlist now (Ln: 1, Col 55)
DESOLUS title shot: a beautiful landscape of bright yellows and oranges.
Tiny tiny little hummingbird tongue
[Phil Connors (Bill Murray) in Groundhog Day (1993) at the groundhog day event] Well, I got a new game idea ... again
Tiniest little hummingbird tongue
A GIF of Pigxel the pig power washing an ice cream truck.
Matt's holding a note that says "elevate your trash experience"
Clip Studio Paint folders: Ghouls, Goblins, and Monsters
Pigxel the pig power washing a Christmas tree that then says ASTONISHING! ... and Merry Christmas 🎁
Make the Game with Matt Hackett 2025 growth ^963% Total new audience ^70% Followers ^1.6K Listening hours (Shame) for Creators WRAPPED
[Classic Simpsons Homer Simpson standing on a bunch of Donkey Kong barrels (not really) and holding up a beer (yes really)] "To game development! The cause of, and solution to, all of my problems"
30% PLATFORM FEE
Pixel Washer trailer (brought to you by Acclaim) 🌈
Pixel Washer WIP - Memory Museum
Michael Bluth ignoring Gob Bluth's fireball trick (Arrested Development).
Yes, Your Grace
STEAM DEV CHEAT SHEET Quick access to a collection of best practices & magic formulas: STEAM CAPSULE (Your Game) The single most IMPORTANT element since it's seen the most Clear Readable Game name Genre Hook(s) Hire on artist! THE DISCOVERY ALGORITHM Get 7,000+ wishlists before launch Get 10+ reviews ASAP (positive or negative, just need 10) The only punishing review status is OVERWHELMINGLY NEGATIVE (the rest are neutral for traffic) WISHLISTS About 15% of wishlists convert in the first week. ALL wishlisters are emailed at launch. Discount 20%+ to email wishlisters after launch. SALES ESTIMATES FROM REVIEWS One review represents about 20-55 soles. It's the New Boxleiter Number! ~30 is good So 100 reviews = about 3,000 copies sold. TRAILER (Viewers skip through trailers) Start strong Omit intro logos Direct to gameplay 60 seconds or less End with ONE CTA: Wishlist it or buy it Made in October 2023 From the author of How to Make a Video Game All By Yourself valadria.com
[David Lynch looking awesome in sunglasses] i hope you all are having a lot of fun working on your favorite projects
A YouTube playlist showing two videos: 1. GAMEPLAY LOOPS - Go from Ideas to Gameplay using Gameplay Loops 2. make games using CHAINS! - Game Loops Are Out, Chains Are In
Pigxel the pig standing by a half-washed ice cream truck, oinking happily.
Play Acclaim / Pixel Washer
[strong dragon] me doing game design [strong dragon] me doing programming [derpy dragon] me doing marketing
WHY MAKE GAMES? (Check all that apply.) For FUN For MONEY For REVENGE For SPITE Because NOBODY HAS MADE THIS SPECIFIC GAME I WANT TO PLAY SO I HAVE TO DO IT Matt Hackett April 2025 valadria.com
[crying man] NOOOOOOOO [chad] ALL I SAID WAS FINISH YOUR GAME
[bugs bunny looking quite dapper in a suit with a red flower-shaped lapel] i wish all INDIE GAME DEVS a very FINISH YOUR GAME
[anakin] My game releases next week. [padme] Congrats! How have you been marketing it? [anakin] ... [padme] You did some marketing, right?
The Pixel Washer MOUSE menu, showing that the options have smaller rectangle hit boxes than they should.
[Bilbo Baggins] Well, no. And yes.
A Pixel Washer setting screen, except there's some kind of hit box bug where the mouse can only select certain options.
GAME DEVELOPMENT MAP rough sketch v3 Set sail: OCEAN OF IDEAS <- Tides of inaction Dream smashin' rocks Prototype Pond Desert of Dead Projects Clearing of Clarity "Real Project" On-Ramp SLOG SWAMP Bugs Bugs Bugs Bugs Bugs Bugs Bugs Bugs Bugs Bugs Bugs Bugs Bugs SCOPE CREEP CREEK Fjords of finishing Farmhouse of finishing Fairgrounds of finishing Factory of finishing Forest of finishing Fountain of finishing CONTENT MOUNTAIN Game Dev Event Horizon SHIP IT BAY CONGRATULATIONS! Where will you go next? Land of Neverending Updates (GOTO SLOG SWAMP) or "Dead Game" Island From Matt Hackett, author of How to Make a Video Game All By Yourself May 2023 valadria.com
Tell me the truth…lm..l'm ready to hear it. You can't just constantly start new prototypes. Sometimes you have to ship games.
Pigxel's van driving home at night. Looks like the sun is just about to sink below the horizon, making the clouds that last glorious orange before fading into the night. Oh yeah we got headlights now.
Get new game idea Make a prototype Get to the part where it needs lots of content (skipped) Finish the game valadria.com @richtaur
Game Development Difficulty Tiers S: Doors (circled in red), Finishing, Marketing, Online Multiplayer A (brain melting): Shaders, Physics, Tutorials B (extremely difficult): Game Balance, User Interface, Level Design, Animation C (very hard): Optimization, Passing Certification, Collisions, Sound Design D (hard): It's all very hard :( v1.0 (there are new versions now)
THE SOLO GAME DEV STARTER PACK Good Ideas Funding Art Animation Business Development Community Management Game Design Legal Level Design Localization Marketing Music Narrative Optimization Production Programming Quality Assurance Sound Design User Experience Finishing valadria.com @richtaur
The "machine gun" in Pixel Washer, shootin' up (washing) a tree.
DO NOT RELEASE ON FRIDAY Something will break (doesn't it always?) Nobody wants to have to work all weekend There are so many other days of the week! Matt Hackett valadria.com
[The big green Steam button] RELEASE GAME!
[Steam review for Project Zomboid] Not Recommended 139.5 hrs on record EARLY ACCESS REVIEW POSTED: JUNE 26 After playing this game on and off for the last decade, I can't really recommend it. I cannot make sense of what the devs are aiming for. NPCs were promised many many years ago. We JUST got ...