Video game development is incredibly challenging, particularly for indie projects that aren't starting with any built-in audience or followers. On occasion, however, an indie developer will tap a market in a way previously unexplored. That's exactly the case for TikTok user and game developer GameMechanic, who has used the social media platform's short videos to gain viral attention for their currently unannounced game. This has been accomplished by showing off an early prototype and asking fans to follow on TikTok.
GameMechanic's project is described as a a "dream video game," a first-person action-adventure title with survival game aspects. What's particularly attractive about GameMechanic's pitch, however, is the three properties that they list as inspiration for the game. Those three properties being Harvest Moon, Animal Crossing, and Adventure Time, though at this time it isn't exactly clear how those three properties come together to create the project that GameMechanic has been showing off so far.
So far, GameMechanic has shared six videos in his series of "Making a Video Game On TikTok" posts. The videos each show what appears to be a playable demo version of GameMechanic's project. It shows an island of sorts with gameplay that's perhaps most comparable to Minecraft or Rust. The clips show the player cutting down trees to pick up wood and mining boulders for stone. They then "craft" pieces of docks, houses, and furniture from their inventory.
While their demo is ultimately very simple, it's easy to see what GameMechanic is going for based on their commentary. GameMechanic wants an island full of life and adventure for players to explore, with NPCs, creatures, and interesting things to discover, like in Adventure Time. They'll then be able to use crafting to develop the island in their own image, like Animal Crossing. And then there will be systems for relationships, growth, and progression akin to Harvest Moon.
Across six videos, GameMechanic has only added a handful of relatively inconsequential features, like the ability to throw crabs, use a catapult, and make furniture. But what's important is that they involved the TikTok audience the entire way. That's why GameMechanic's latest video has pulled in over 600,000 views.
GameChemist may not have a finished game to play or sell yet. However, when they reach that point where an early access release makes sense, they'll have an advantage that many indie game developers don't. They'll have an audience of interested followers from TikTok anxious to try out the game for themselves.