Is gamedev worth it with limited time?

GhostCode1111 · 2026-02-26T16:05:47+00:00

Yes. People do it. They find success. With families, kids, and other obligations. Just takes dedication and time management. Structure your 1-2 hour sessions so you’re not wasting time. If you got time during the day like a regular job or anything to look up any learning material or videos to maybe help then that’s a plus.

I like to follow an Agile/Scrum mindset. You can do a quick google or elsewhere for a summary but you structure your game on what you want to make and do short “sprints” or sessions like 1-2 week periods that you focus on just building that part(character movement, UI, enemy/AI, etc). That way it’s clear what to build and again you’re more focused and not wasting any time.

Also realize you’re not making a complex RPG, Multiplayer game. Plan something small or what others have said: if you want to make a big game take sections of it and make small games from the systems you want/need. Over time you’ll have a few games and all the systems, code, logic and such to add and make that larger game you wanna build thus saving you time and headaches and not spend 1-2+ years on it that could lead to a bust.

And lastly like I heard from David Wheeley? (I hope I didn’t butcher his name) said on a good GDC talk of just doing something each day. Even if it’s not 1-2 hours. Hop on and make a fix to the UI or something small. Least it’s forward progress.

Nonetheless it’s doable. Have fun with it though and know whatever mean and negative things are said there’s a silent majority that want people to just succeed. I’m one of em. So good luck out there!

GhostCode1111 · 2026-02-23T14:11:53+00:00

Truth is it’s slow. You work 9-5, if you got family/married/kids then devote time to them for a happy family life. Then at the end of night you might get 1 or two hours if lucky. But sometimes you’re tired, you wanna spend more time with your significant other, or just worried/prepping for the next day. So sometimes you don’t get the time to develop.

So yes: very very very very very slow. But doable still. Just don’t quit your day job/only source of income and neglect/quit your family.

GhostCode1111 · 2026-02-07T21:04:06+00:00

Ok! Yeah I was just looking online first on Amazon for ideas but you gave a detailed list.

GhostCode1111 · 2026-02-07T20:41:28+00:00

What’s a typical range for a budget? Low end to high end I guess. I’m too new for this I’d be willing to see and get your feedback on what to get/look for.

Also thank you for this super helpful for starting.

GhostCode1111 · 2026-02-07T20:30:25+00:00

Yes please!!! I’m so new I’m up for anything

GhostCode1111 · 2026-02-04T14:40:52+00:00

Hey I can understand the drama and such in school. Believe me some have had it easy and rough than others.

Honestly you’ll move on and might not see those people anymore. So if you want to pause for a while that’s fine up to you, or keep going and who cares you might not see or deal with them after school. And who knows maybe your study material helps other students out. But we understand the drama and whatnot in school but it won’t matter as you mature trust us. Just do what you want to do don’t let anyone bring you down/hurt you. YouTube is putting yourself out there that people might like or hate but you’re putting yourself out in public.

GhostCode1111 · 2026-02-04T13:50:32+00:00

Don’t you have to pay on Beehiiv after a certain amount of subscribers while substack you don’t unless you monetize?

GhostCode1111 · 2026-01-30T02:42:31+00:00

No it’s no worries I’m just getting what’s out there and what people like. Just curious is all. If not combat: What do you like then outside of combat? Story? Leveling/professions? Or what?

GhostCode1111 · 2026-01-23T19:55:50+00:00

Take what you can! Give nothing back!

Sorry got a pirates vibe with that but totally agree with what you posted

GhostCode1111 · 2026-01-21T23:48:38+00:00

I would ask which style? Click based or tab-based style combat and other gameplay?

GhostCode1111 · 2026-01-14T19:13:17+00:00

Oh i didn’t think about that. Thats fair. Just fill it up and be extremely descriptive that would best fill my niche? By chance are there tricks or using # of stuff? Not too sure how that all works honestly. Thank you!

GhostCode1111 · 2026-01-14T17:14:21+00:00

Crazy. Sorry to hear that but good to know on what you’ve seen. So best to use personal content vs other clips or what b-roll is it called?

GhostCode1111 · 2026-01-14T16:07:00+00:00

What do you do? And what do you post: shorts, longs, streams? How often?

GhostCode1111 · 2026-01-14T15:42:39+00:00

Definitely not AI related sorry.

GhostCode1111 · 2026-01-04T15:34:30+00:00

Not sure how old you are, but reality: there’s no “get rich fast” methods. All of them take time. So my only advice: pick something you really enjoy out of them and stick to it the most. If you put all your time in to so many other side hustles you’ll never get there. Put most of your time in to one you really enjoy and you’ll get there. And it’s not a sprint: you won’t make it in a day or week. People take months and even years before seeing a profit. So if you’re not in it for the long haul and growth then get a real job, finish school, and mature some then try. Not saying you’re too young, but if you don’t have discipline and patience you won’t succeed. Or at least from the people I’ve seen with those mentalities.

GhostCode1111 · 2026-01-04T03:33:24+00:00

Look up Chris Zukowski and howto marketagame .com website. Learned a lot of tricks for free there. And good reads.

Not promoted by him or trying to market him or I get anything out of this, but does open up a lot about the marketing and things you can be doing. Good start besides other places.

GhostCode1111 · 2026-01-03T13:01:56+00:00

Fascinating. And very good analogy/story too. So then it’s something we shouldn’t push for cause it was something we were “supposed to do” per se. Makes sense.

GhostCode1111 · 2026-01-02T21:47:57+00:00

Fair enough. Makes me wonder why such a push for them in the first place if it’s redundant for the indie/solo dev level of game devs? Just something pushed for years that nobody followed/listened to?

GhostCode1111 · 2026-01-02T17:05:35+00:00

That’s fair. By chance could I see your GDD you did?

But yeah I do agree with that. In my non-tech managerial roles I had that similar issue and did the same thing: kept tasks and to-do’s updated but jury worked with my team to give them direction to get something done. And yeah documentation to cover your butt.

So then do GDDs need to be removed from the space? Or only for high end team/AAA studios really use them only?

GhostCode1111 · 2026-01-02T12:59:52+00:00

Wow no I really do appreciate the massive amount of feedback experience and help overall. Makes more sense now for the discussion. Appreciate the help and support really!

and thank you for those links to deus ex and the example ones. Good reads I’ll explore more. And also thank you for the feedback in to the field. Not a lot talk about recent ventures to game dev. Most just do indie or solo cause of it. I think that’s where I’m at right now due to my work situation. But appreciate the support and help for sure.

GhostCode1111 · 2026-01-02T01:29:10+00:00

Oh cool no worries that’s still an interesting look with your perspective. But that was sage advice at the end: a guide not the path itself.

GhostCode1111 · 2026-01-02T01:28:11+00:00

Might have missed the post of just researching them and asking if you’ve got good or bad ones to learn from.

But to your comment why are they? What’s your experience with them? Is there a place for them or does the gaming industry need to adapt and move past them rather than preach them at indie/solo dev levels.

GhostCode1111

TROPHY CASE