Jan Zelený liked trains from an early age. When he grew up a little, he fell in love Transport Tycoon. As an adult, he became a game programmer – and then combined these three elements to create a game Mashinky. It became a hit that earned him millions. “At the same time, the goal was not to be profitable. I even remember a time when I considered releasing *Mashinky* for free,” he says in an interview for CzechCrunch.
He went through the well-known game studios 2K Czech and Bohemia Interactive, but Jan Zelený gained video game fame thanks to his own game *Mashinky. It was released seven years ago. So why are we writing about her now? Because its author is constantly improving it – and mainly because it was only after such a long time that a free demo was released that you can download on Steam. “The biggest reason for the delay is my desire to release a playable demo only when the game content is more representative after all,” says Green modestly.
But during this time Mashinky managed to reach tens of thousands of players and brought their creator millions of crowns. Also thanks to the fact that they improve the recipe of the cult *Transport Tycoonu*. In it, you build a transport network of trains, vehicles, and planes from the age of steam to the near future. “Transport Tycoon was one of my all-time favorite games. I played it with my dad,” says Zelený. And then he decided to improve it…
**Machines first took to the virtual tracks seven years ago. How many were sold during that time?**
Over the course of its existence, Mashinek has sold just over 80,000 units, generating over one million dollars in pre-tax sales and expenses. At today’s exchange rate, that’s around 24 million crowns.
*At that time you were working at the big studio Bohemia Interactive, but a few months after the premiere of *Mashinky* you started a solo career. Did they become a source of interesting income so quickly that you risked it?*
That’s right. I spent a few years working on the development of *Mashinky* as an employee in my free time, but after the release – and with the birth of my daughter – I was faced with the decision of how to pursue everything. The only option was to devote myself to the game full-time, which is still true today. Most of the profit came in the first weeks after the release, so it wasn’t even a financial risk.
M* So even now you are in a comfortable position.*
A de facto cushion has been created that should be enough to finish something as big as *Mashinky*. Everything I promised on the day the game was released in Early Access (or early access, i.e., the release of the game in a fully playable form, but with ongoing development and the addition of content – editor’s note) is gradually being added to it. This is also the advantage of this
What factors motivated Jan Zelený to continue developing *Mashinky* even when profitability wasn’t his primary goal?
## Interview: Mashinky’s Modest Millionaire
**[Host]:** Welcome back to the show! Today we’re joined by Jan Zelený, the creator of the indie hit game, *Mashinky*. Jan, thanks for joining us.
**[Jan Zelený]:** Pleasure to be here.
**[Host]:** *Mashinky* has been out for seven years now and has been steadily gaining a dedicated fanbase. What inspired you to create this train-focused strategy game?
**[Jan Zelený]:** Well, I’ve always been fascinated by trains since I was a kid. [[1](https://steamcommunity.com/app/598960/)]Then I discovered *Transport Tycoon* and fell in love with the strategic depth of building and managing transportation networks. When I became a game programmer, it was only natural that those passions would combine into *Mashinky.*
**[Host]:** And it seems those passions have paid off! You mentioned that *Mashinky* has brought you success, even considering releasing it for free at one point. What drove you to keep developing the game?
**[Jan Zelený]:** Honestly, the initial goal wasn’t about profit. I wanted to create a game that I’d personally enjoy playing, and I’m thrilled that others seem to enjoy it as well. I owe a lot to the community who have been so supportive over the years, which is why I really wanted to release a free demo on Steam to allow even more people to experience the game. [[1](https://steamcommunity.com/app/598960/)]
**[Host]:** That’s fantastic. What can players expect from the demo?
**[Jan Zelený]:** It gives a good taste of the core gameplay – building your own train network, managing resources, and watching your empire grow. I wanted to make sure it was representative of the full game experience, which is why it took a while to get right.
**[Host]:** Well, I’m sure everyone is eager to give it a try. Thanks for joining us, Jan, and congratulations on the continued success of *Mashinky*.
**[Jan Zelený]:** Thank you!
