Starting a Game Dev Business
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- Опубліковано 9 кві 2021
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Video Description: Let's talk about the business of game dev, and transitioning from a non-dev career to game dev.
#gamedev #motivation #indiedev
I couldn't agree more. I'm an indie dev with 10 years experience (Harvester Games) and I can attest to that it's wise to create your first projects in your spare time at first until you become succesful and then quit your job and make games full time. It can be done. It doesn't cost anything. Yes, you will lose sleep and struggle with loss of motivation and learning a lot... but in the end it's really worth it! The last 6 years I've been doing this full-time. I don't have a house with a pool and a Ferrari out front but I'm living a comfortable life being able to support my family just from game dev and I couldn't be happier ;)
Can I ask a question? When do you say: "Okay, let's quit this job and do full-time with indie game-dev" with all the rewards that this way have but also all the risks?
@@Bikunto If you can achieve a steady income as an indie dev that outperforms your current job's salary in a yearly basis, then it is probably a good time to start THINKING about it. You should only quit once having a job is costing you more than it's worth. In other words, if your job is holding you back (financially) and acting as a bottleneck, then it is time to quit.
@@BonusPokus Thank you :)
@@Bikunto I feel i should add not only should you wait until you make more than your current job but also (if you live in US) consider health insurance cost that you will no longer get from your company that you will have to pay for out of pocket. Think of all the expenses that you have not just base salary :)
Who needs a Ferrari and a pool when you make games for a living ;) well done this is my dream.
Born in '83, multiple job layoffs within 2 years, very frustrating at my age but I'm finding purpose and enjoyment through game dev... this hobby seems more important than the pursuit of fame and notoriety. Congrats to the people making $$ doing this, but also to the ones who aren't.
At what age did you decide to become a game dev? I'm 38 now, working as an UX/UI designer in enterprise product and really hating it. I'm thinking go smoothly transition to game dev.
@@VitaliyMalyushko It's never too late for anything, just don't give up.
Good luck and have fun. :)
Thanks man. .i feel you on the lay offs constantly. Im making games unemployed
fight the good fight fellas
I'm a backend programmer for 6 yeats by now, and this year I'm focused in make the transition to the gaming industry, because I don't want to build systems for banks the rest of my life, and I can say that for me building a game will always be more fun than a bank system
Hello John, thank you for your frankness and objectivity.
Most of Indie content creators just sell the gamedev dream or just make tutorial, making it seems like an easy and funny journey.
I really appreciate how clear you are about your job, you are one of the few to really care about your community. To tell them the truth.
I'm on my first gamedev experience, after some months of experiments and study.
Lately you are one of the few gamedevs I keep watching with pleasure, since your videos are often a slap in the face, and my brain goes like "gtfo and go back to work on your game".
So, thank you, you deserve LOT more visuals and subscribers.
Cheers!
Hey mate, thanks so much for the message, I'm really happy to hear the content has left a positive impact on you and your journey. It's a tough but glorious road we are on. I wish you the best, now gtfo and get back to work!! :)
I was around 28 when I started to learn 3D. At that time I was working as IT network specialist for about 10 years already and started to hate by job. It was a lot up and downs, regressions, depressions, sleepless nights studying and going on my hated job at morning. But now I'm almost 40 and I'm lead character artist in game dev studio, I'm working on my personal project and I LOVE what I'm doing. It's never to late to change the course. We live ones and you shouldn't spend 5/7 on the job you don't like.
THIS video is the reason why I subbed ;) I am on the journey ...what keeps me motivated is all the knowledge I gain also implemented directly in my game :D I see what I did right/wrong and continue to learn! Making games is a tough journey :) but guess what...it brings me more joy than actually playing games. Good luck to you all on this creative and awesome quest! :D
For sure, and I can assure the is more fun than work on another thing, another that we don't llike and if we like something so much, and we have the will to do it, than we will do that well.
Good Luck on your journey
@@BBdaCosta This is so true! I found something I love to GRIND FOR :) Best of luck to you too!
Talking about other people about your struggles and being in it together with the community is motivating
Learning to make games destroyed my love of playing them... Everything became a question of hmmm i wonder how they achieved that . And every game i play just makes me want to make it better ..
Funny, that the opposite for me since I can appreciate the work done in those games and makes me want create even cooler experiences
I’ve been there, It’s just a phase I believe
I find a deeper appreciation and sense of awe at what they’ve done from it. I just walk around in zelda botw inspecting all their beautifully crafted assets. My favorite part of the game. I still get urges to just enjoy that beautiful scenery.
That's just a phase. I was like that too when I started devving. Eventually you will love to play again.
I just want to share that I have a bookmark for this video at 12:41 -- just prior to the "power music" part -- and I repeatedly return to it for renewed inspiration, 2 years on. Thank you.
Sorry... commenting again...
You have to LOVE the grind. I'm not sure that tells it like I mean it. I once did a thesis code project and was up at 3am trying to find the error... this was LONG ago when error reporting was worse. Turns out I used an 0 rather than an O(number vs letter) in a variable... but still... even during the maddening frustration... it was FUN.
I had a dot matrix sheet feed of code run long wise across my basement(60 feet?) 3 times going over and over the code with markers trying to find the error. Thank GOD this is simple in todays editors... but still... it was FUN
Thank you very much for this. I'm in that exact position. Mid 30s, hate my career, but thanks to bills, responsibilities, etc I'm stuck. 3 months ago I decided to look at working for myself. Experience has not been kind to me working for others, I've learned I can't rely on others to get things done or do things right. I realize this is an issue in myself, but I've also seen companies make the clearly wrong choice in a product and get no say in it, left to deal with the fallout. Making games was a childhood dream I never chased. I'm glad I didn't then. I've learned so much and would have been one of those devs getting worked to the bone by a studio with no real say. I've grown into a jack of all trades and after 3 months of grinding, I'm loving it and it's all I think about and can't wait to sit back down to write more code.
I've yet to finish anything, but with my test, experience gaining, game I'm happy with what I've learned and realize there's so much left to learn. Thank you for all you do and all you share. Much appreciated!
Hi are you still going...i hope so. You can do it man
@@squeakybunny2776 thanks! Definitely still going strong. Lots of work to do but any progress is progress I'll take :)
@@cr0wmatic great to hear. What are you working on if I may ask
@@squeakybunny2776 just a match 3 game. Nothing ground breaking or anything I expect to make money. But a good practice run giving me a direction and finished product to work towards.
Wow! Fist of all, I'm glad this is going well for you. Well done and keep it up. Second, I'm 30 and it's like I'm seeing myself in that comment. I'm building a pc and as soon as I have everyting and it's built I'll start with some math courses for games (unfortunately I kinda suck at math but I think since I'm not a kid anymore I'll actually pay attention) and some coding. I want to do this no matter what, just like you
With so many youtubers it is easy to think that gamedev is easy and because of this I often feel like that if I hit a roadblock then I'm doing something wrong. Thank you for your videos. It's a good reminder that it IS a hard job and it's normal if I struggle from time to time. Also huge thanks to your discord. I wouldn't say that I'm a regular but the lovely people there helped me many times to swing through my own mind-blocks.
I must say that I've decided to move from Web Dev into Indie Game Dev after watching your videos a few months ago, I'm still a noob (still on a day job) and it's frustrating and a constant battle against myself, but when you see results is so gratifying, still a noob but wanted to thank you for sharing light on all of us. For others out there thinking about it just go for it, this is like going to a Gym, you won't see results fast but the smallest result will make it worth it one step at a time.
Cheers from Costa Rica.
I love the current series of videos talking about game Dev as an industry. Great job. You and mizizizi are becoming my favourite UA-camrs. No bs, just the truthful videos.
So glad I found your channel. I can really relate to all the struggles you highlighted and it's nice to know other devs out there are facing the same frustrations I am (the working two jobs feeling hits home especially).
People oughta listen to your advice. I literally spammed the like button like 100 times.
so you liked the video 50 times, nice
@@InnerEagle Counted as 0 likes at the end because 100 is even number ^^
totally aligned with this concept.. Last minutes of the video were really inspired!!! Thank you!
Cool video :) I was a carer before I became a full time game dev. I’ve been working on my game Neyyah for nearly four years and I was fortunate enough to be picked up by a publisher who now fund me full time, have done for a year, but even as a carer, I was working on my game, so you can still definitely do both, and you put the hard work and time into it you never know what might be round the corner!
Always love these lil' lectures. Your genuine nature always shines through. Thank you good sir!
For a starting point into making platformers or car games, check out my Unity Asset Kits ► assetstore.unity.com/publishers/46116
You are fast becoming my favourite game dev channel ♥
Great content, as always! This is an honest take on what to expect as you start out. As your indie studio grows, I hope you’ll continue this series to document your journey!
I just love how real you are, dude. Keep it up!
Discipline and consistency is everything love the last bit at the end its great advice! Martial arts taught me these foundations and it helps in everything I do especially with game development! Thanks for the great content!
I started my journey 4 years ago, inconsistently working, losing motivation from overscoping, but somehow ive always come back. This shit is like a drug to me, i can definitely have too much, but ill always come back. It`s a lot of hard work, but damn it feels good when stuff works, there is no better feeling in the world!
Hell yeah man, exactly how I feel about it. So grateful to have found such a full filling path and purpose.
From 12:16 to 12:35
The best part was "but then you regroup back at the tavern sharpen your sword and start planning out your next quest".
Nice talk, man! I also had a transition year while I was working "only" 3 days per week for my previous employer where I was a solution architect. It helped a lot to free up time to study the market and Unity. Before that, I was working on games (and music) during weekends and nights which was... well not ideal. Since I make a living from indie game dev, indeed... I work even more than before. But most of the time I don't feel like it is a "pointless grind", or that "I'm wasting my time". But as a sacrifice, I make just a portion of what I could earn in the business sector plus there is always a risk/fear of the future... Everything has its advantages and disadvantages.
I fell the same, and I'm studying on nights and weekends, and planning to make the change to work as a freelancer some days at the week to have more time to invest on game dev
@@BBdaCosta Just keep going, mate!
Hey man, I've always loved working on GTA titles, in an attempt to make something that would emulate "Real Life" in a virtual universe, GTA 5 platform was a great foundation for me, modifying and making things work the way they not designed and bending the rules of code and what's possible with the current software we have available. I don't call myself a "Game Developer", I don't know what variables are and what they do, I just "know" as soon as I look at the code, it freaks me out sometimes, I can't explain it. It involved me learning about CSS, PHP, JS, MySQL, HTML & Lua, now I'm able to reconstruct everything from scratch within 2 months instead of original 3 years it took me to learn the skills. It's simply magic, to be able to put something down and then seeing it work. I don't do it for the money, I do it for the reward, no amount of money can make you feel the way you feel when someone says "This is awesome dude, you put a lot work into this" you can't buy that. Maybe one day I'll be able to start writing stuff from scratch and make my own version of my vision. Liked and Subbed!
I'm really glad I found this channel while I'm still in the early stages of learning how to build games. It really does help with planning my path going further.
Holy heck SWORDS AND SANDALS! Hearing that name gave me flashbacks of my childhood! Good shout on that mate gonna go over and check out the creator of a game precious to my childhood lol
Very valide points. One of the most improtant skills imo is grit. The ending with the underlying music was awesome :-D
this person in his/her 40s who sent the email gives me the jolt! i thought that it is already too late to start in game dev in my upcoming 30s. but this... this burns me 🎉 thanks!
Hey John, thanks for the video! Ironically, this video has helped push me towards a different passion of mine: teaching! The advice on setting reasonable goals, following through to the end, and then setting other reasonable goals to pursue personal growth is advice suitable for people in all walks of life.
By the way, love the power music at the end , lol.
This is by far the best video on this subject, because you gave practical advice, a reality check, and motivation on how to go about the transition.
Thank you for the insight! Now back to work on my game...
Hey thank you Ahmad, I appreciate your comment
Can't tell you how much I needed to hear this video this morning. Thank you brother.
My downside is asking others for advice when I could had figured it out myself. I’ve been following your advice for the past week and I am struggling with this because it is a mindset I am trying to break. One of the best advices I’ve heard!
Thank you for what you do John, it helps a lot !
I'm 30 and until recently I was a salesperson (hated it) and recently they were laying off people and I was one of them. So I decided for the first time in my life to follow my dream and become a game dev (at first programmer but after I've learned enough and experimented a lot I'll try my luck at animation and stuff). I'm currently building a pc (always a console guy), do A LOT of courses online (including math for games) and save money so next year I can get apply for a bachelor for game programming. While having a day job of course. This video is what I needed now. I'm very scared and anxious (carrer change in 30's and all) and this is helping. Also, I'm glad that other people over the age of 30 are interested in a career change as a dev
I know that I will rewatch this video in the future for motivation
It's so inspiring to see your insight and grounding in reality. Thank you!
3:48 That's the most important lesson for me and it applies to anything. It's like watching a great guitarist and wanting to become like her/him without realizing that you have to actually enjoy playing guitar and not just enjoy listening to music.
I know everything you said, but it’s a reminder I think everyone needs from time to time, so thanks and wishing you the very best as well.
Amazing motivation boost! Thank you very much :)
Dude, I needed this. Thank you.
Fantastic video! Really motivating and insightful.
Late to this vid, but thanks for the encouragement! I've always wanted to be a game dev and I'm working on EA's Frostbite but still don't feel like I've made it to where I want to be. My passion is for games (I think), not the tools. But I spend so much time focused on code it's hard to feel the passion.
This video for me is a reminder to focus on doing the things I want to do and pursue my creativity. Thanks.
Love how frank and honest this is. I'm a full time game dev (at a studio) curious about the indie side of things as I have a hobby project that's going well (after many in the past that did not). One thing I found extremely helpful was taking a couple of programming classes. I work as a designer and it both helped me in my work life and helps me in my indie dev stuff. You can find a lot on Google and copy tutorials and read books, but for me I needed that motivation of turning in assignments every week and passing exams. It kept my nose to the grindstone and I didn't skip any steps along the way. I'm by no means a master coder, but it instilled a lot of good habits and expanded my understanding of programming. I remember going back to one of my projects and just refactoring everything once I knew a bit more, and a lot of bugs disappeared and things became easier to manage.
You making my courage stronger Thank You For Your Advice
Love ya , man! Gooood stuff
This was the one 🔥🔥👏🏿💪🏿 thank you
wow... you can't imagine how much I needed this video. Thanks :)
Well I actually have been working with games now for around 7 years as a Software Engineer. I've passed through some big and small studios (including Capcom), and am actually working for EA, but I'd like to have my own studio in some point, even knowing that I'll end up working more than I do work right now.
100% agree with John, everything is true.
The only good thing on having our own thing is that if it goes right somehow, you'll only have to share the money with the government, and with your employees if you have any.
You always put the facts. Rather sweetening the bitter realities. #RESPECT
Thanks John, just what I needed to hear, just when I needed to hear it.
all rite I'm off, enough layzing about, TIME TO DEVV!
love these videos man, keep it up you rock!
my favorite game dev channel
great video as always dude!
I did the journey once... Worked for 5 months on a game and released on google play. This is considerably shorter than so many other devs, yet was so hard for me. But I finished that journey, polished and released. That was 6 years ago. I'm enticed to dip my toes again, yet frightened because I know how hard it was
No way you worked with the guy behind Swords and Sandals ! What a game! Great video:)
man this video is the best thing I've watched today thanks 🙃
The best speech ever
Fantastic video!
Great video, the end almost reminds me of the lessons in the war of art by Steven Pressfield.
Glad you made this public. I am a pharmacist looking to move to game dev and turning 40 soon as well. 😂. Looks like there are a few of us.
Great video! I have been working on a game with my brother who is a graphic artist while I'm a programmer. Of course, I'm using Unity to create the game. I think a lot of people fail at their goal of game development because they are not being realistic with their abilities (or lack thereof) and dreams/plans.
Just starting my game dev journey. I'm working as a 3D artist is a semi-related field, which is not creatively satisfying, so I'm trying to make games on the side to scratch that itch. Great vid!
Do you have a link to your portfolio of some awesome 3D stuff you have created?
@@aarondelgado3421 Sorry, my comment keeps getting deleted lol... Just google search my name + artstation and you will find my 3D work. Its pretty outdated at this point though.
This is a fucking epic video man
True on many different levels. You start to notice when rather do that thing you love than consuming. So for gaming, rather developing than gaming. Ofc gaming will be fun but you just know that if you do so you're less productive towards your goal - thus you only game to recharge you inner battery.
Good pep talk. Cheers! xD
Stan Bush's Dare from the 86 Transformers movie has been my power song lol
The Fire Starts at 12:48
Great video and totally agree.
Thank you
For those who constantly doubt your art, don't look at so much at what others do to often, keep yourself in a bubble for a week or sometimes even a month. Then you can dip into some lessons and what others have created a bit only to return to your bubble. Just because the information is there on the web, doesn't mean you can absorb it within a week of constantly trying to learn new things. ALSO think of this as you'll be good at CREATIVE THINGS *COUGH* in 10 years, not 5 months.
Another great video man! It was cool to hear some more about your life and a summary of how you got to where you are. I love the motivational part at the end with the music :) You should post just that part too so we can watch it when we need that bump. I'm definitely at a cross roads in my journey now and I'm hesitating at the edge of the cliff, need to make the jump! Thanks for the motivation, it came at the right time for me. Back to the grind!
Thank you ❤
Yo, I really appreciate your content thanks a lot
Well said!
Thanks a lot! I'm absolutely agree with you. Make the hobby a journey and a soft transition yo indie dev. And thanks for give us this kind of truth. You're a good partner.
I see this is a fact that all indie disciplines share
Dude, I cried.
Also... LOVE your channel. LOVE.
Both your video and promotion card were together 😂
by loving games, i mean loving playing games, talking about them, analyzing and criticizing them, and of course creating them
God bless ya John, keep up the good work
Hey thanks Yvan, all the best to you mate!
In the transition stage while developing my first game I plan on publishing. Worked in TV Production for almost 15 years so I'm no stranger to putting in long hours and hard work. I just prefer to put it into something I truly love doing now. I have skills in animation and graphic design which I can carry over and I'm familiar with basic programming so I'm not starting from scratch.
Good points in this video. Basically, if you want to follow a predetermined schedule where you take care of the tasks that are given to you, then work for the man. So, keep in mind, if you want to run your own business, you'll be the man!
There are strange stories, where you don't like to play games (with a few exceptions, where that's a masterpiece, which anyone would admire), but the process of their creating is much more interesting and breathtaking...
This works for everything, actually
So underrated
Life on DarkSouls mode!
I've just started game dev work at 40 yesterday old. Almost a master electrician by trade. My plan has been work on my solo title I do in my spare time which is rare but I still have some spare time. I'm hoping to have a finished or close to finished product by the time I get my masters in a year and half or so. Then I can get my masters and the dream is make enough on the first game to support my family for a couple years and make game dev my main career and making money with my masters license as a side hustle. And it has the potential to be a lucrative side hustle (around $2-4000 a month) so even if the next game doesn't take off or the first game doesn't make enough in its first year to fully support my family, I should have enough income from both sources to live better than I am now
This video is teaching life skills.
Thanks DevDad ;)
I have never commented on any video of any kind. I have to log in to my google account so I can make the comment on this video.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE CONSTRUCTIVE/SUPPORTIVE VIDEOS!!!!
Thank you Duy, all the best to you
For me, half the battle is feeling uncertain constantly, whether I'm on the right track or not. There's no tutorials about that. Everyone's got a process and finding the right process is the most challenging. Videos like this helps keep me grounded. The insane thing is, that half of the battle is really useless and pointless paranoia.
This guy is very wise ☺
Lots of truths in this video, especially realising that you've got to make your journey your own. It'll be different for everyone.
For me it's not that I love games so much I want to make them, it's that I like to world build and story tell and video games feel like the right medium for me. I def feel like its over my head though.
you know whats funny, im a retail pharmacist too and I am thinking of the switch
Well...damn. Real shit.