There is a big debate around Predator Simulator and I see people claiming that I lied to them about the 100 free keys on launch. I was even called out to show proof that I did give away the games. I did not feel the need to prove myself when asked rudely and I have already explained why I couldn't, but since the launch 3 days ago, I have given away free copies of the game to anybody who has reached out to me and asked. As many copies as they wanted. Here is a small list of emails I have been sending for last 2-3 days.
Some of these people are press, but majority of them are Steam users who actually followed the announcements, groups, votes and everything else in the GameIndica Group. I love YOU people!
Just today, I have given out 300+ keys to people who have showed their interest. These were potential customers who might have payed for the game, but just because they cared more than the others, I felt obliged to give them the care back. And they surely enjoyed it, so did I. Because they are the audience who I made the game for.
It makes me very sad that people, especially a fellow indie developer, automatically assumes that if a developer didn't announce everything publicly, means something is fishy about it. And someone has to confront the developer in public, in a way that it hampers the reputation of them while they are chasing their dream. I do not make games for these people. I make it for myself. I make it for someone who actually cares about it. If they enjoy it, they can pay for it and let me make more of it. I thought that's what Indie is all about. But, may be I'm wrong....