ChessCraft

"A chess variant AI sandbox that lets players create and play custom chess variants, available on Google Play and Steam."
0
chesscraft.ca
Maker: zulban
~$400/mo (explicitly stated: 'More like $400 a month the past couple months')

Marketing Channels

Primary

Google Play

Distributed as a commercial product on the Google Play store

Primary

Steam

Also available on Steam, expanding reach to PC gamers

Secondary

Hackathons / In-person events

Presented at MariHacks hackathon, which created lasting impressions on attendees

Secondary

Hacker News

Shared progress in HN community threads

Growth Levers

  • Leverage dual-platform distribution (Google Play + Steam) to capture both mobile and PC audiences
  • Highlight the 'chess variant sandbox' niche which has limited competition
  • Capitalize on the 5-year track record and community to build word-of-mouth
  • Present at hackathons and gaming events to create memorable impressions
  • Emphasize the custom AI that has proven durable over 5 years as a technical differentiator

First Customer Strategy

Built the product initially for personal use during a brutal commute, which ensured authentic product-market fit. Over 5 years, grew the product organically through app store distribution on Google Play and Steam, plus in-person presentations at hackathons.

Pricing Insight

Commercial product sold on Google Play and Steam. Specific pricing not mentioned, but the $400/mo revenue suggests either a low-price high-volume model or a niche game with a dedicated audience.

New Market Opportunities

  • Chess education and variant communities The lasting impression from a hackathon presentation suggests the concept resonates strongly with chess-curious audiences beyond traditional chess players

Key Takeaways

  • • Building for your own needs ('scratch your own itch') can create authentic product-market fit that sustains for years
  • • A 5-year-old side project can still generate meaningful revenue if the core product remains relevant
  • • Multi-platform distribution (mobile + PC) broadens the addressable market for indie games
  • • In-person presentations at events can create lasting brand impressions years later
  • • A 'good enough' AI can hold up for years, suggesting over-engineering AI is not always necessary

Sentiment Analysis

1 Pos

Notable Quotes

"I saw you present this many years ago at MariHacks! Stuck with me as a really cool idea and project. Awesome to see it still going strong! — va3ndf"

Comments

0 total

No comments yet.