Dumb Game Lab
The Dumb Game Lab Blog
Korean everyday places, cozy idle tycoons, and notes from a tiny game studio in Seoul.
Fur Real? Useless facts, one a day
FoodKetchup Used to Be Fish SauceThe word ketchup came from a name for pickled fish brine
The BodyMorning You Is Taller Than Evening YouYou'll measure tallest if you do it in the morning
PsychologyYour Dog Can Catch Your YawnsWhen you yawn, your dog might yawn right along with you
AnimalsKoala Fingerprints Can Pass for Human OnesEven under an electron microscope, koala and human fingerprints are hard to tell apart
Behind the scenes10 itch.io games, 327 views and 0 sales in 2 weeks: where I went wrongA solo dev uploaded 10 web games to itch.io and got 327 views and 0 sales in 2 weeks. Here is where my plan went wrong, why I wrote devlogs the same day, and when I check again.
Games likeFinished Kairosoft? 14 games to play next, sorted by what you lovedIf you have played through Kairosoft, here are 14 games sorted into four flavors: short grow-it sessions, running a shop, watching residents live, and layout puzzles. Steam list prices, review scores and UI languages checked by hand.
GuideInternet Cafe Tycoon, first 30 minutes: what to buy and when the money starts to stackA beginner guide to Internet Cafe Tycoon, built from a fresh save played through 15 in-game days (30 real minutes). When the first PC pays off, the ₩130,000 stage 2 mark, the ₩490,000 stage 3 mark, and why hoarding cash cut daily sales by 39%.
Behind the scenesOne press release email, one article in Taiwan: the email, the article side by side, and 8 days of trafficOne short press release email to Bahamut GNN in Taiwan became an article 11 and a half hours later. The exact email structure, what the reporter copied, how long the traffic lasted and how many players were left after 7 days.
Korean cultureKorean sauna eggs and sikhye: what a jjimjilbang actually sellsNot a recipe. A fact check of what a jjimjilbang snack counter sells: how Korean sauna eggs differ from boiled eggs, whether sikhye is alcoholic, sikhye vs makgeolli, calories, halal, what they cost in won, and why you should not crack one on your forehead.
GuideWhat is an idle tycoon game? A shop that keeps running after you close the appAn idle tycoon game is a business-management game with automatic and offline earnings. How it differs from clickers, five systems that make money pile up, and what offline earnings really come to, using our own game's numbers.
ComparisonOnsen and bathhouse games: 8 compared by what the store pages sayOnsen and bathhouse games from Steam, Google Play and the App Store in one table: price, rating, idle or not, Korean and Japanese support, plus the weak spots of our own game.
Studio lifeOne month as a solo game dev: 15,000 won earned, 345,000 won spentA solo game developer opens the October 2026 ledger: money earned and spent, one day of AdMob revenue, the installs one press release brought, and what did not take off.
ComparisonIdle tycoon games that work offline: 8 picks sorted by store labelsWhich idle tycoon games work offline? Google Play tag, store wording, list price and ads in one table, plus our own game's weak spots.
Games likeGames like Game Dev Story: 7 Kairosoft alternatives worth playing nextGames like Game Dev Story and Kairosoft alternatives on Steam, iOS and Android, with price, ratings and language support in one table.
Games likeGames like Internet Cafe Simulator: 7 picks, some playable on your phoneGames like Internet Cafe Simulator 1 and 2, picked from Steam and Google Play. Platform, list price, offline play and genre in one table, plus the weak spots of our own game.
Korean cultureJjimjilbang Etiquette: What Not to Do and What Confuses EveryoneDo you wear underwear in a jjimjilbang? Are tattoos allowed? Where can you use your phone? The confusing rules of Korean bathhouses, answered question by question, with the parts that change from place to place marked.
Korean cultureHow to Visit a Jjimjilbang: A First-Timer's Guide to Korean BathhousesA jjimjilbang is a Korean bathhouse and sauna with sleeping rooms, open late or 24 hours. Step-by-step entry, what to wear, the sheep-head towel, baked eggs and sikhye, 2026 prices, etiquette and tips for foreigners.
Studio lifeWhat a PC bang is called around the world: the 2000s internet cafeIndonesia's warnet, Vietnam's quán net, Taiwan's 網咖, China's 网吧, Brazil's lan house, Japan's ネットカフェ, Thailand's ร้านเกม. The names differ, but the early 2000s internet cafe looked alike. Here are the games and the memories.
Korean cultureWhat Is a PC Bang? A First-Timer's Guide to Korea's PC CafesA PC bang is a Korean gaming cafe where you rent a high-end PC by the hour, usually around 1,000 to 2,000 won, and order ramen without leaving your seat. Prices, kiosks, food, 24-hour rules and tips for foreigners.