How Dave the Diver Sold Over 4 Million Copies | An Interview with Jaeho Hwang

Опубликовано: 22 Август 2024
на канале: A16Z GAMES

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In this episode of Win Conditions, we dive into the creative journey of Jaeho Hwang, the visionary Game Director behind the breakout hit, Dave the Diver.

Jaeho reveals how his time on Jeju Island, with its rich diving culture and charming sushi bars, sparked the idea for a game that uniquely combines underwater exploration with the task of running a sushi restaurant. He shares how these real-life inspirations, along with his love for storytelling and humor, came together to create the wildly successful world of Dave the Diver.

Jaeho opens up about the challenges of directing a small team, the importance of listening to players, and the balance between creative vision and practical considerations like profitability. He also discusses the role of community feedback in shaping the game, including how fan suggestions led to new features. As Jaeho continues to push the boundaries of his creativity, he remains grounded in the belief that anyone can achieve success with the right concept and a willingness to adapt -This is Win Conditions.

Host: Lester Chen -   / chen
Guest: Jaeho Hwang -   / jaehoh

Chapters:
00:00 - 01:26 - Intro
01:26 - 04:30 - Making friends through videogames
04:30 - 07:01 - College & Early Career
07:01 - 10:51 - Learnings from working in US
10:51 - 15:11 - Pursuing a Startup
15:11 - 20:56 - Returning to NEXON
20:56 - 21:42 - Building the perfect team
21:42 - 22:45 - Understanding the Scope of Dave the Diver
22:45 - 23:57 - Identifying Risk
23:57 - 28:48 - DTD Inspirations (IP & Storytelling)
28:48 - 29:39 - 70% Luck, 30% Skill
29:39 - 32:55 - Early Access & Community Interaction
32:55 - 34:41 - Collaborating with DREDGE
34:41 - 36:12 - Humor in games
36:12 - 39:56 - Reflections
39:56 - 41:26 - Closing advice to Game Devs

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