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Not Quitting to go Full Time Indie Game Dev
Why going full time game dev not for everyone
Weiqing Teh
April 01, 2024
Hi Fellow BossKey Readers,
If you have been browsing Youtube GameDev lately, I am seeing various YouTube game devs quitting their job to pursue full time indie game dev. I too wanted this dream two years ago when the pandemic started and I was looking around for my next career move. But is it worth it?
Bottom Line. Is a NO for me.
Art and Creative Projects needs business revenue. i have been thinking about it a lot and this day if I am starting young out of college I would not quit my job to go do this full time. But at a different lifestage if you are unable to keep cost low or live in a super cheap place to make games quickly I would not recommend it.
This video I came across by Eat Shade Studios tells about quitting their jobs to make indie games for 5 years, and having to live with their grandmother house.
Project Oni
I am currently making a solo dev game in unreal engine Working Title “Project Oni” Its a FPS style Supernatural Power Mask Adventure game.
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Quitting to go full time the reality
I don’t think one should quit but there is only one reasons to quit your job and work on the game full time if you have build up demand for your product.
Some other videos I cam across that discuss the state of the industy and whether you should or not quit to pursue this passion.
Sasquatch B Studios he quits and gives a healthy does of reality
Farewell north Interview with the creator, quitting to go full time. I do think he has quite an audience on Youtube that are interested in his game to go full time.
Its Brutal to be a Game Dev Now:
The reality of the industry right now is not good and you will be competing with thousand of other devs some even with AAA experience making indie games.
So What can you do?
Life as An Artist is hard
Some uplifting video. I always remember that Life will be hard and in Trents video the talk about how one can navigate this uncertain time. Attitide is important. how you respond to pain and stress.
The creative field is hard its quantifiable unlike software development. It’s important to believe with yourself as you go forward to make your projects.
I feel that when venturing into such a creative project you have to be adaptable and willing to change and adapt to various trends and changes in industry.
Summary:
The speaker says that being an artist is not easy. It requires a growth mentality and the ability to adapt to your environment. You need to be able to take criticism and use it to improve your work. Successful artists are those who are able to find the sweet spot between what they love to do and what the audience loves. This may require facing your shadow self and rewiring your neural associative conditioning.
The speaker also emphasizes the importance of believing in yourself. There will be times when you feel like giving up, but you need to push through those moments. Remember that it takes years of struggle and focus to achieve success. Even if you don't get the recognition you feel you deserve, keep going and focus on your own personal growth.
Million Dollar Weekend
By Noah Kagan
Beside planning to earn money from your Game one can consider makine a side hustle project job as side income might help to supplement the income from your Game Dev Endeavours.
This book I am currently reading right now give some good insights to creating things people want, and solving problems for people.
I recommend it to give a read to have mindset shift if one quits to go full time game dev to help with revenue. But doing this might take away time from making a game.
But the lessons learnings here in the books can apply back into Game Development.
Top learnings I learnt
Asking and starting overcome the fear
Finding Business ideas by looking for problems to be solved.
Validate business by getting 3 paying customers
Check out this book by Noah Kagan.
Noah talking about starting a million dollar Business