#[Ep564] We're Solving Self-Publishing on Steam

#[Ep564] We're Solving Self-Publishing on Steam

Author: Butterscotch Shenanigans March 18, 2026 Duration: 1:12:33
Game Dev Podcast | Coffee with Butterscotch
GamesGames & HobbiesArtsComedyCultureHobbiesPhilosophySocietySociety & CultureTechnology

In episode 564 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers get into the real friction behind self-publishing on Steam and how they're building their way out of it. They introduce LudoKit, a tool designed to wrangle store pages, localization, and credits management without losing your mind, drawing on lessons from shipping Crashlands 2. The conversation then shifts to How Many Dudes, where meta progression, ensemble mechanics, and balancing randomness with player control are all on the table.

Support How Many Dudes!
Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/how-many-dudes
Trailer Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgQM1SceEpI
Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3934270/How_Many_Dudes

00:00 Cold Open
00:42 Introduction and Welcome
01:57 The Need for Efficient Game Release Management
07:46 Navigating the Complexities of Game Launch
09:49 LudoKit: A Tool for Streamlining Game Publishing
12:35 The Importance of Credits Management in Game Development
17:39 Challenges in Collecting and Managing Game Credits
24:11 Technical Challenges in Game Development
29:33 Streamlining the Credits Process
33:40 The Importance of Accurate Credits
39:32 LudoKit: A Game Development Tool
47:22 Future Plans for LudoKit
49:53 Meta Progression and Player Engagement
53:39 Balancing Exploration and Strategy
59:29 Innovations in Gameplay Mechanics
01:09:19 Final Thoughts on Game Development

To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness.

If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello!

Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to podcast@bscotch.net, and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox.

We also built Ludokit, a tool for managing store pages, promo art, localization, achievements, credits, fonts, change logs, and more. Check it out at https://ludokit.com!


Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net.

★ Support this podcast ★

Pull up a chair and pour something warm. Each week, the folks behind the award-winning indie studio Butterscotch Shenanigans-the creators of Crashlands-sit down to untangle the messy, rewarding, and often absurd reality of making games. Coffee with Butterscotch feels less like a formal broadcast and more like eavesdropping on a freewheeling conversation between friends who’ve been in the trenches. You’ll hear them dissect the nuts and bolts of development, from art pipelines to bug-squashing, but the discussion rarely stays in the technical lane. It veers into the philosophy of creativity, the rollercoaster of running a small business, and the strange habits that fuel productivity. The tone is unfiltered and genuinely funny, because the hosts don’t separate the work from the life surrounding it. This podcast digs into how to solve problems, ship your projects, and keep your sanity while doing it, all served with a heavy dose of camaraderie and self-deprecating humor. It’s a weekly dose of insight and laughter for anyone curious about the stories behind the screen, whether you're a seasoned developer, an aspiring creator, or just someone who enjoys peeking behind the curtain of how things are made.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 556

Official website RSS
Game Dev Podcast | Coffee with Butterscotch
Podcast Episodes
[Ep516] Exploding Servers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:41
In this episode, we discuss launch stats, slippery servers, and squishy plushies. Crashlands 2 hit the ground running with five times the sales of the original and a tidal wave of new players! Steam charts lit up, bugs s…
[Ep515] Crashlands 2 OUT NOW! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:26
On this special bonus episode of Coffee with Bscotch, we celebrate the launch of Crashlands 2! We talk about the studio's journey and reflect on a decade of shenanigans, butterscotch-flavored and otherwise. If you’re new…
[Ep514] It’s Coming [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:49
In this episode, we discuss comfort systems, progression maps, and pre-launch vibes. Everything’s ready, the fuse is lit, and now it’s the final countdown. Crashlands 2 launches tomorrow! Are you ready?Support Crashlands…
[Ep513] Locked & Loaded [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:58
This week, we talk about golden builds, crabs, and slippery fish. Some weapons in Crashlands 2 have a catch, literally. If you manage to hook one of these powerful items, you might find that they’re hard to hang on to. E…
[Ep512] Sequel Struggle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:42
In this episode, we discuss development time, co-op, and sequel iterations. Turns out, building a sequel is less about stacking on new features and more about wrestling the original into shape. Sometimes you circle all t…
[Ep511] Final Stretch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:15
This week, we talk about the beta wrap-up, player stats, and endgame design. The end of a game is where things get weird. Players want closure, but they also want more to do. There’s a fine line between sticking the land…
[Ep510] Lock & Launch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:58
In this episode, we discuss edge cases, string lock, and embargos. Press keys are out, and now it’s a trust fall. Will the embargoes hold, or will spoilers make it into the wild? Will our calculated risks pay off, or is…
[Ep509] Median Madness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:51
This week, we talk about median playtime, weapon balance, and revisiting our older games. From chaotic co-op antics to echolocation-based platforming, our game jam experiments were always a blast, even if they were never…
[Ep508] Game Hooks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:50
In this episode, we discuss meatloaf, odd strategies, and player engagement. Striking the right balance of clarity, depth, and enjoyable interactions keeps players hooked, but doing it at every level is a challenge. If a…
[Ep507] Testing Grounds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:55
This week, we talk about beta testing,design tweaks, and the wild gamble of launching a game. No matter how much planning, testing, or iterating goes into making a game, launching one is always a leap into the unknown. A…

«12345678910...56»