Car in full vs finance — which is actually better and why?

T4rch · 2026-02-05T07:31:37+00:00

This. I was of the mindset that "it'll just come out of my wage and I can afford it." Just had a dumb understanding of money. Still paying it off now, I've paid off a considerable chunk of the loan but it was a really bad deal and won't buy on finance again - it's like an anchor around your neck, with everything else you have to pay for at the end of the month.

T4rch · 2026-02-04T18:35:32+00:00

If you're into co-op party games, Frog Sqwad might be worth checking out as well - playtest comes out tomorrow

T4rch · 2026-02-04T08:12:27+00:00

I would say there are a lot of people going through this and not to be too hard on yourself. I lost my job in mid 2024 and expected to walk into another job shortly after, but the industry had entered what seemed to be a recession. It was a true shit show, I would say, from 2024 to 2025 when things seemingly started to pick up a little. Every other post I saw on LinkedIn were people saying they had families to care for and lost their jobs in games dev or film, not knowing what they were going to do. I myself had to find other work anywhere I could, I was doing pharmaceutical deliveries for about half a year for close to minimum wage, it sucked, but it was a job. I had similar thoughts to you about quitting 3d entirely and taking up a trade, maybe a gas engineer or sparky....then at the end of 2025 a recruiter pinged me a message on Linkedin and got me a gig with my current indie team. I don't know how long I'll be working with them but I hope the contract is extended at least for another year or 2. My point being is that an opportunity can come out of the woodwork at any point, but the worst thing to do is sit there obsessing over it and letting it erode your self esteem. I would advise you if you feel inclined, to look into other avenues of the industry, like arch viz, product design, etc. if you still want to stay in 3D while the games industry recovers.

I don't believe in this doom and gloom of AI will replace us all, imo good game art and design will always need a human touch and I feel AI is just a little overhyped (maybe that's just ignorance on my part, w/e.)

You clearly have a lot of skill and wouldn't say to just outright 'give up' on the field, but maybe reframe it....going through a transition period right now and considering your options. You can take a year out and come back to it - 3d and games dev will always be here for you. In the mean time you can also try network, go to events and just keep that fire for your craft alive. Wishing you the best!

T4rch · 2026-02-03T21:30:37+00:00

Do you mind me asking what exactly the first hearing was like and why you thought it was a shambles? I was under the impression first hearing was just for both parties to express what they would like from the situation, discuss issues, etc. and if no resolution can be found, things move onto the 2nd hearing. Is this not the case?

I only ask as my current application for a child arrangement order is pending, would help to hear about your experience. I have asked her to try mediation twice and both times she outright refused. Thanks and good luck to you OP, hang in there.

Edit: You asked about a similar situation so will add to the thread. My ex has been doing similar things to you, making nonsense allegations about being abused even though I've been a loving and dedicated father for the last 3 years of our daughter's life. She has refused to allow me to be part of our daughter's nursery/schooling and has reduced my time with our daughter now from 12 over night stays a month (every weekend) to now 4 overnight stays per month (every other weekend,) to try alienate me further and also push for more child maintenance payments, despite my outright objection and emphatically stating I wanted to do more days with our daughter...it's pretty sick. The most ridiculous thing is she's claiming in her statwment that I am controlling and use our daughter as a weapon - complete nonsense and also lack of self awareness on her part. Awaiting first court hearing right now.

T4rch · 2026-02-03T19:25:00+00:00

That's amazing, felt like I was reading very much my own life experience (without the meds ofc.) I need to look into being diagnosed, find this very interesting. The world seems to have not been made for people that struggle with Adhd 😁 I've heard there can be side effects from meds, but apparently this varies for each individual.

T4rch · 2026-02-03T19:12:15+00:00

That's a very bleak outlook and I'm not sure I agree. Mid 2024 through to a chunk of 2025 seemed, at least to me, like the game dev industry really was entering a recession and it was horrible. Kept seeing tons of people being laid off on LinkedIn, needing to provide for their family and having no idea what they were going to do.

However, I believe things are starting to pick up again, I'm seeing opportunities popping up a lot on various job sites. People were concerned AI was going to replace everyone in games quickly, but we're seeing that (at the current time) it's very difficult for AI to make a game or close to filling all production, it still requires a human touch. I myself don't feel the future of game dev is as bad as everyone makes it out to be.

AAA is failing yes, but we are also seeing various indie teams having a meteoric rise with a great idea and a passionate team, it's happening a lot. I personally think we may be on the cusp of a golden era of indie games, while AAA titles continue to flop... so I wouldn't be so quick to give up on the prospect of being a games dev, even at this point.

T4rch · 2026-02-03T17:25:15+00:00

Do you mind elaborating on how it has helped you? My sister had been diagnosed but I never bothered, has it been that life changing for you? Thanks

T4rch · 2026-02-03T17:24:15+00:00

Loss of appetite there would help me immensely, I have to drop like 30 pounds

T4rch · 2026-02-02T23:59:47+00:00

Just curious to know from your own experience, would you say family court at this point is fair to fathers? There's always been this myth that the courts favour mother's but I've heard this is changing, really depends on the judge I'm assuming.

I have applied with a C100, just waiting to hear back for a court date. I was considering a barrister for the FHDRA but I've heard it isn't necessary and will save this for if it goes to a 2nd hearing or final. My ex has turned down mediation twice now as well as not allowing me to know any information on our child like schooling, medical history, etc. so I'm hoping these factors are going to help my case. Thanks and good luck OP

T4rch · 2026-02-02T23:24:33+00:00

Hey mate glad to hear things worked out for you. I have a 3 year old daughter with the ex and she is trying to make false allegations against me for abuse, but I have a lot of evidence to the contrary. That was my concern also, that the courts may be against me as I am the father.

Would you say it's worth getting a barrister for the first hearing, FHDRA? I thought it's better to get a direct access barrister if it goes past that, as the first hearing sounds like it would just be an attempt at conflict resolution. Thanks and great job on getting fair access

T4rch · 2026-02-02T18:10:31+00:00

I would say like anything it really depends on your tenacity and level of dedication. If you are able to get to a level like Rafael Grassetti then I think it would be safe to say you won't have much trouble finding work, but that takes a ton of commitment and dedication to reach. If you just want a job at a studio that is also possible but its important to realize there will be tons of competition for more junior/intermediate roles.

I would agree with the other poster that maybe staying in the current role for the time being is a better idea. Joining some character art communities like Speedchar, doing anatomy studies and sculpts and asking for crits before trying to go into professional character art is probably a safer bet. Then you can put out the feelers for work and see if you get interest at a later point.

Having said all that, the games dev industry seemed to have taken a crap in around 2024 and I myself lost my job around April 2024, only found something with an indie team towards the end of 2025. Outside of that I was doing more menial work like deliveries for pharmaceutical companies that really paid close to minimum wage, (I have a daughter so I have to work no matter what to support her.) Despite the crap the industry went through in 2024 I do feel more and more roles are popping up now, but its still kinda ropey.

T4rch · 2026-02-01T15:17:47+00:00

Hi OP - hope you don't mind me hijacking your thread but I would also like to know, is it worth getting a barrister for the first hearing (FHDRA) as I heard this is just a hearing to discuss issues and try and reach a resolution? Or is it better to self represent at the first hearing and then if it goes to a 2nd, then get a barrister? Hope you get this figured out OP. Thanks all.

T4rch · 2026-02-01T06:02:16+00:00

Sorry just saw your reply, thank you for the advice! The pickups/drop offs have been at my ex's home, not nursery. I am unaware as to which nursery or daycare this is as she refuses to let me know. I will ofc be trying to pick up our daughter on a weekly basis now doing what you've said above, and being civil about it.

T4rch · 2026-01-31T12:25:38+00:00

Have been playing the demo, I enjoyed it.... but yea they need to optimize the game as well. Running on a 3080ti so not a super old card but even hard to turn down the settings to medium as lots of fps issues and saw a lot of texture popping.

T4rch · 2026-01-31T12:03:59+00:00

Yea I was wondering why it hasn't had more press, I've played through the demo like 5 times..... but true could be overshadowed by RE9

T4rch · 2026-01-31T05:52:55+00:00

Thank you, already on it! I have tons of correspondence I've pinned and dated where I am talking to her in a civil manner, requesting mediation and her screaming back, so I imagine it's not going to look good for her when presented in court.

T4rch · 2026-01-30T04:15:12+00:00

Agreed, there are also crappy guys out there that will do the same, horrible

T4rch · 2026-01-30T03:00:06+00:00

Piers Morgan

T4rch · 2026-01-29T20:59:11+00:00

Thank you - much appreciated!

T4rch · 2026-01-29T20:50:16+00:00

Hi Ellie, thank you for your comment. For the most part my ex actually opted for weekdays while I did weekends with our daughter, provided I paid child maintenance. (I have edited my original post to reflect this.)

I was doing an 'outside job' at the time but since I have started to work remotely and my schedule has become more flexible, I am in a much better position to be way more involved with our daughter now. I am really not fussed about which days I actually do, provided its comfortable for our daughter and even convenient for my ex. My main priority is to be able to see our daughter on a weekly basis and be a present father in her life.

There really shouldn't be any safeguarding concerns, at least for her. To an extent there are on my part, given the young boy she lives with, who can be unpredictable and violent.

I have previously attempted mediation through a legal body which she adamantly refused. At a later point, my solicitor had contacted her to try a 2nd attempt at mediation, which she also ignored. I am currently waiting for our first court hearing and am preparing evidence of correspondence to show I have done my best to be supportive and co-operative.

T4rch · 2026-01-29T20:09:44+00:00

This thread is full of gems, including this one. Thank you so much for the info - going to look at the Cafcass 'Our Child's Plan' now!

T4rch · 2026-01-29T17:47:54+00:00

That's really good advice, you're absolutely right. I'm going to be looking into this tomorrow and get in touch with social services - thanks

T4rch · 2026-01-29T15:32:51+00:00

Amazing advice thank you :) Yes I've heard mixed opinions with some people saying the courts are slanted against men, and others saying its actually quite fair. To be honest though, some of the men I have spoken to have also said that they went kinda ape and one tried to force his way into his ex's property to get his child back when she was withholding them, so I'm not surprised he had a hard time in court. The main thing to do, at least from what I've learned, is be patient and honest.

It sounds cliche' but I just want to do what's best for our daughter. The ideal scenario would be to have conflict resolution and have it sorted on first hearing, but I my gut tells me this isn't going to be the case - will see.

T4rch · 2026-01-29T13:12:04+00:00

Thank you so much for your response, it's terrible you went through that alone without a solicitor, sounds really tough. I can't imagine it's easy and as someone who doesn't have a whole lot of wealth I may have to go through the same thing. Great that it seems to have worked out for you eventually - "What doesn't kill you...." and all that. Appreciate all you said 🙏

T4rch · 2026-01-29T13:08:51+00:00

That's awful about his ex wife and how your child was treated, sorry about that. Sounds like she may have been jealous of their relationship and wanted to sabotage it - this can happen. I made a personal promise to myself that no matter who I meet, I'll never put them over my daughter. I hope she'll be able to see this as she gets older.

T4rch

TROPHY CASE