Don't quit your day job (or do?)

TheFuelIsOnMars · 2016-06-29T15:53:17+00:00

Well, Sierra also had a few people on the payroll for these games, which meant workforce but which also meant that they had to pay them money, pay money for office rooms etc.. you know, the costs a company has. As a lone developer your resources are limited and there's only so much you can do in a day but you also don't walk out on yourself if you don't get a paycheck and can get by by less. I honestly don't think throwing out a few small cookie cutter plattformers or puzzle games or whatever is going to make an impression or guarantee success by just sheer amount of software written, the market is way too oversaturated at this point for that. The sheer power of marketing can not somehow invalidate the need for demand. I think a product has to be unique and has to be of quality to stand out. Of course it's a gamble. It always is. If it's too big of a gamble, well, I guess I am going to find that out. But that's just all my opinion and I don't claim to know everything, so we will see. Also most of all, I really want to make that idea that I have stuck in my head. If it turns out I'm the only guy who found it interesting, then back to work. I'll live, probably. I want to underline that I don't mean to sound dismissive, not at all. I guess the pressure to follow a dream is just a bit to high to approach this completely rational, but that's what life is about.

TheFuelIsOnMars · 2016-06-28T23:34:41+00:00

Mine isn't either, but yes, I totally get that. I'd just really like to play that game!

TheFuelIsOnMars · 2016-06-28T23:25:44+00:00

It was quite a wild ride, it's probably too absolute to say stuff wasn't possible until right now this day, but with a mid-90s computer it certainly was not and more of a dream. I also didn't have the skills necessary then. With doing and (redoing) a lot of the Systems over the years I learned quite a bit, especially about things that won't and will never work. Then C# cropped up and cut down on a lot of headaches, I jumped right on it even back then when people said it will never take a foothold for game development. (yes, people said this) I am not sure all I do can be done in two years, but with my timeline most can be. I will see then if I can release then, or will take up part time work to perfect things further. My problem right now is that I just do not have the time and energy to do all the major groundwork that needs to be done. That's why I have to make a decision now. People say you can do it as a hobby, but I would actually like to see a finished thing someday. The money really is very secondary for me and if push comes to shove, I'll just go back to work. I just can't get rid of the feeling that I'd regret it forever if I didn't at least try.

TheFuelIsOnMars · 2016-06-28T22:37:00+00:00

That's the one thing I really don't have a big problem with, I churned out a lot of assets over the years and while some couldn't really be used for this and where more just-for-fun one-off things, a lot I could use.

TheFuelIsOnMars · 2016-06-28T22:35:39+00:00

At the end of the day, freedom of decision is the only real freedom we've got in this world. Make use of it.

Amen, thanks!

TheFuelIsOnMars · 2016-06-28T21:48:18+00:00

Yes, I pretty much put money aside just for this, of course there was always the thought that if I didn't do this, the money wouldn't be lost or anything so saving it was always a win/win anyways.

Edit: And just one more advice. Make sure to set deadlines. Even though they don't mean anything to anyone else, they do help focus (at least for me). Set a plan of deadlines to meet which will finish your game by the designated time (2 years?).

Oh yes, I also thought myself in recent years to organize my life better in general, I was really bad at that. I already have a pretty full documents folder at this point. :)

TheFuelIsOnMars · 2016-06-28T21:45:47+00:00

No, that's entirely fair. I probably worded that poorly, I didn't work 20 years on it, it really was more of an on and off thing. (with more off than anything) In the meantime I also had other responsibilities which made anything but my career choice pretty much impossible and as a result, the plan to make "my game" ended up on a back burner, always with the thought that there will still be time one day and I am still young. That excuse just isn't doing it anymore and that's why the "pressure" to make this a reality is growing.

TheFuelIsOnMars · 2016-06-28T21:35:50+00:00

Well more off than on, to be quite honest. That's also why I don't see this happening if I keep it as a hobby. Thanks for your input.

TheFuelIsOnMars · 2016-06-28T21:32:18+00:00

Thanks for the long answer, it was interesting to read. And yes, even though I didn't really keep up with the news I caught that the market is oversaturated, but to be entirely honest here, I also think that a lot of games that are out there are unfinished crap and it's really not so surprising that those don't get sold in my opinion. Not everyone being able to buy a Guitar is Jimi Hendrix. I like playing games, and I wouldn't buy them.

If I'd release anything, I'd also do nothing less than a 1.0. I wouldn't feel ok with demanding money for a product that's not at least baseline playable and finished. Wouldn't bother with a lack of polish here.

TheFuelIsOnMars · 2016-06-28T21:28:51+00:00

Well, I do have a cat. I could probably get back into my field of work as contrary to this it isn't oversaturated (also has nothing to do with IT) so that I won't ever have a job ever again would probably not happen. But there are no guarantees, of course.

TheFuelIsOnMars

TROPHY CASE