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Steam meme game made in days almost turns teen into a millionaire
Polygon.com • • technology
Key Points:
- Eighteen-year-old developer Michael Major created a joke PC game on Steam called "This Game Costs $10," which initially gained little attention but later inspired a $200 version that unexpectedly sold thousands of copies.
- Despite the game's trollish nature and minimal content, Major earned $1.3 million in revenue from the $200 game, mostly from purchases by Steam users in China, though most were refunded by players who never opened the game.
- After refunds, Major still made around $2,000, indicating that some users willingly spent $200 on the prank; he speculated that some purchases might have been for Steam points or potentially for money laundering.
- The prank expanded Major's audience, with some players discovering unexpected features like multiple endings, and one reviewer expressing interest in buying his future games if priced lower.
- Major emphasized that the high price was part of the joke and stated there would be no price drops, encouraging players to buy the more affordable $10 version instead.
