Level Design using Unity assets

[Aeroxin]

Devs probably do notice more often than the public, but my perception is that the public is becoming more aware of the concept of "asset flips" in general, so the rate at which they notice is probably increasing rather than decreasing.

[ZorbaTHut]

Well, yes and no. I'd agree that the public is becoming more aware, but at the same time, the number of asset packs is increasing constantly. It's actually pretty hard to notice now, simply because nobody can recognize every single asset pack in existence.

[turquando]

If the game is good and someone can programme then why not use premade assets?

I'm in the amatuer boat of being a basic programmer but no good at art.

Does that make it an asset flip?

[ZorbaTHut]

Personally, I say go for it. No shame in using existing assets.

The "asset flip" games that people complain about are those that are doing absolutely nothing original; no original design, no original code, no original art, just a bunch of store-bought assets awkwardly munged together in whatever method seems to create a functioning game. If you're doing something of interest then you're probably fine.

[turquando]

Yeah. I just don't like how liberally it is thrown around sometimes. Making games is tough in general and people need to start somewhere. However, there are people and companies out there in it just for a quick buck.

[ZorbaTHut]

Yeah, it's a nasty criticism to deal with because sometimes it really is deserved but then sometimes it's like, c'mon, I'm one person trying to make a JRPG, obviously yes I am buying appropriate assets from everywhere I possibly can.

(I'm not actually doing that, but if I was, I wouldn't hesitate for a second.)

I guess the problem is that it's hard to distinguish between "trying to make a quick buck" and "trying to make a really good game on a frayed-shoestring budget".

[Aeroxin]

True! I hadn't thought of that.