LogInIndie developer behind Rise of Industry opened up about how his breakout Steam hit brought global success, but nearly cost him everything in the end.
Mochi provided a breakdown of where the money went, including Steam’s 30% cut, up to 15% in refunds, regional pricing, and grey market resales. But most critically, he blames a bad publishing deal. "The deal looked fair on paper: $75,000 in advance, with a 50/50 split until they recover $100,000... For a new team, fair feels like a win," he says. Over time, however, Mochi claims that support from Kalypso Media (via its Kasedo Games label) waned, and that revenue was “funneled towards other projects,” such as Warhammer 40K: Mechanicus.
Kasedo Games disputes many of these claims. In a statement to GamesIndustry.biz, a spokesperson explained: "This was a licensing agreement in which the developer committed to secure all development funding and asked for a small advance." The publisher says Mochi’s €4 million figure is misleading and doesn’t account for taxes, platform cuts, or refunds.
Rise of Industry, Dapper Penguin Studios
Mochi also tried to be involved in Rise of Industry 2, but said "Kasedo’s offer was absurd", claiming there was no revenue share, minimal creative control, and “laughable pay.” Kasedo Games responded, "Mochi did reach out shortly before the announcement to ask to be involved, and this was discussed in detail," the publisher said. "Mochi offered specific 'testing packages' in a consultation capacity for a specific level of remuneration (set at his preferred hourly rate). After consultation with the development team, a suggestion of involvement for a period of ten months was discussed with him, based on his requested hourly rate.
Despite the fallout, Mochi emphasized that he doesn’t want to stir drama: "Kalypso/Kasedo played a part in how things turned out, yes, but so did my own misjudgments, poor planning, and unrealistic expectations. All those factors are exactly the point of this post."
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