How Not To Make An Indie Game...

Summary

Background and Kickstarter

The video examines Blue Omen Operation (BOO), a Kickstarter-funded indie RPG that attracted attention in the late 2010s but was ultimately put on indefinite hold.

The project began building a following on Tumblr in 2016 through concept art and gameplay GIFs. Its small team consisted of artist Ink, programmer Brian Cox, and composer Michael Staple. In 2017, they launched a Kickstarter seeking $15,000. The campaign raised about $62,000 and reached eight of its eleven stretch goals.

Demo and Gameplay

BOO drew heavily on the Paper Mario style of turn-based combat:

• Time button presses correctly to improve attacks and land up to three hits.
• Equip patches to use special attacks, with the right button combination producing maximum damage.
• Parry incoming attacks with well-timed button presses to avoid damage and strike back.
• In the demo’s final boss fight, defeat both enemies in one move; otherwise, the survivor revives its partner.

The video praises the game’s art, animation, character designs, and soundtrack, but criticizes the combat, especially its inconsistent parry timing. Difficult enemies and damaging projectile attacks could make the demo frustrating, and the lack of revival items meant losing one character could end a run.

Development and Cancellation

After the Kickstarter, updates became increasingly infrequent, sometimes separated by several months. The team shared new features and demos, held an enemy-design contest, and opened a Discord server for backers.

In February 2023, the developers announced that BOO was indefinitely delayed, citing burnout and the project’s scale for a two-person team working on their first game.

The video questions the lack of regular communication and a clear breakdown of how Kickstarter funds were spent. It also asks why the developers chose to pursue a separate, smaller game instead of reducing BOO’s scope. Backers who had paid for rewards—including the chance to design a boss—were left without the promised finished game. The video reports that, as of 2026, there had been no announcement about the smaller project.

Lessons Highlighted

• Know your limits: Start with a manageable project and build experience before attempting something ambitious.
• Plan the budget: Account for fees, merchandise, marketing, and other expenses—not just development.
• Be transparent and keep promises: Regular communication and clear financial explanations help maintain backer trust. Failing to deliver can damage future opportunities.

People and Games Mentioned

People: Ink (Inku-san/Inkerton), Brian Cox, Michael Staple (DJ Max), and Toby Fox.

Games: Blue Omen Operation, Paper Mario, Mighty No. 9, Bloodstained, Yooka-Laylee, Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, Yooka-Replaylee, Undertale, and Freedom Planet. Playtonic is also mentioned.