A
Animal Well
animalwell.net
Atmospheric pixel-art exploration and puzzle game full of hidden layers, published by Bigmode.
diff ~/p/billy-basso ~/p/derek-yu
Billy Basso vs Derek Yu
Products, revenue & stack compared side by side.
Chicago solo developer who spent seven years building the hit Metroidvania Animal Well
@Billy_Basso United States
Indie game designer behind Spelunky, Spelunky 2 and UFO 50, founder of Mossmouth
@mossmouth United States
Billy Basso vs Derek Yu at a glance
Billy Basso and Derek Yu are both indie makers listed on IndieMakerList. They overlap in Indie Game Makers. Billy is based in Chicago, United States, Derek in Los Angeles, United States. Billy started in 2017 and Derek in 2002. Billy Basso has 1 product listed on IndieMakerList vs Derek Yu's 6. On X, Billy has about 15K followers and Derek about 59K.
Side-by-side comparison
- Based in
- Billy Basso: Chicago, United States
- Derek Yu: Los Angeles, United States
- Started
- Billy Basso: 2017 (9 yrs indie)
- Derek Yu: 2002 (24 yrs indie)
- Revenue (self-reported)
- Billy Basso: Not public
- Derek Yu: Not public
- Products listed
- Billy Basso: 1
- Derek Yu: 6
- Product status
- Billy Basso: 1 active
- Derek Yu: 6 active
- X followers
- Billy Basso: 15K
- Derek Yu: 59K
- Style
- Billy Basso: solo
- Derek Yu: bootstrapped
- Courses & resources
- Billy Basso: —
- Derek Yu: 3
Revenue figures are self-reported by each maker and not audited; dates and scope differ. Highlighted categories are shared by both.
Top products
S
Spelunky
spelunkyworld.com
Roguelike cave-exploring platformer with procedurally generated levels; free original in 2008, HD remake in 2012.
Spelunky 2
mossmouth.com
Sequel to Spelunky set on the Moon, with deeper systems and online multiplayer.
UFO 50
50games.fun
Collection of 50 original single and multiplayer games styled as the library of a fictional 8-bit console maker.
Aquaria
bit-blot.com
Underwater exploration action-adventure co-created with Alec Holowka as Bit Blot.
Tech stack
No tools in common in their publicly listed stacks. See the indie maker tech stack.
C++custom game engine
GameMaker
How they build
- Make single-player games that respect the player's time.
- Building your own engine gives full control over a game's look and feel.
- Hide layers of secrets that reward curious players and communities.
- Ship a finished game rather than an ongoing stream of post-launch content.
- Finishing a game matters more than starting one; protect momentum and cut scope to ship.
- Procedural generation and tight rules can create endless emergent stories.
- Make small prototypes and freeware first, then polish the ideas that stick.
- Building community around indie games helps everyone in the scene.
Learn from Billy and Derek
No courses, books or communities listed.
- [book] Spelunky (Boss Fight Books)
- [template] Make Games essays
- [community] TIGSource forums
Billy Basso vs Derek Yu FAQ
Who makes more money, Billy Basso or Derek Yu?
Neither Billy Basso nor Derek Yu has publicly reported a revenue figure that IndieMakerList tracks, so it's not public.
Who has built more products, Billy Basso or Derek Yu?
Billy Basso has 1 product listed (Animal Well); Derek Yu has 6 products listed (including Spelunky, Spelunky 2 and UFO 50).
What tech stack do Billy Basso and Derek Yu use?
Billy Basso uses C++ and custom game engine. Derek Yu uses GameMaker. They don't list any tools in common.
Where are Billy Basso and Derek Yu based?
Billy Basso: Chicago, United States. Derek Yu: Los Angeles, United States.
Who has been an indie maker longer, Billy Basso or Derek Yu?
Billy Basso started in 2017 (9 years indie); Derek Yu started in 2002 (24 years indie).
Are Billy Basso and Derek Yu bootstrapped?
Derek Yu is listed as bootstrapped; Billy Basso isn't tagged as bootstrapped on IndieMakerList.
Full profiles
Read the full story, timeline and links on Billy Basso's profile and Derek Yu's profile.
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