(1) What is the problem being addressed?
The problem being addressed is the lack of tools for indie game developers to validate their game concepts and understand the market potential of their game before starting development. Many indie game developers struggle in the early stages of game development, often lacking the resources to conduct market research and analytics. This can lead to developers investing time and resources into a game that fails to gain traction in the gaming community. Additionally, there is a demand for such a platform, as evidenced by numerous posts on online gaming forums and Reddit where developers inquire about the existence of a platform like TrendPlay.
(2) What is your project idea and how will it work (what are its components etc)?
Our project idea is TrendPlay, a web-based platform aimed at bridging the gap between indie game developers and their audience. TrendPlay offers unique tools to help developers validate game concepts before committing to full-scale development. The platform will provide features such as market analysis, trend tracking, and feedback mechanisms to help developers refine their game concepts based on real-world data and community feedback. By using TrendPlay, developers can make informed decisions about their game concepts, potentially saving valuable development time and increasing the chances of their game's success in the market.
Software Components:
Frontend:
- Developed using NextJS and TypeScript
- Hosted on AWS Amplify for quick deployment and scalability
Core Backend Service:
- Built with the Gin framework in Golang
- Deployed on AWS EC2
Database:
- Supabase for a cloud-based database solution
Data Fetching and Processing:
- Steam Web API as a data source
- Automated data retrieval from Steam using AWS Lambda, SQS, and EventBridge for regular updates
Machine Learning Model:
- Prediction models for game features trained using AWS SageMaker for forecasts of game review scores
- Inference provided through an endpoint with AWS Lambda
