Wage Slavery - Game Dev question for Leo

[SuperLuigi]

Hi,

I am really hoping @Leo Gura can answer this as he has a lot of experience in the game industry but answer from anyone else are most welcome.

Anyway, after watching the newest 'wage slavery' video, I decided I should merge my existing skills (software dev) with a passion (video games) and focus on making a game. Why? I can use the game as a medium to promote self-actualization as a way of life, create beautiful art, etc.

Onto the question - this project would take a minimum of 3 - 5 years to complete. Hundreds of games are released each week on platforms like steam, what if I spent 30+ hours a week doing this for 5 years (ontop of my 40 hour job) and it flops? What if it fails? I have given up 5 years of my life for little return and am still a wage slave...

 

Any advice beyond 'just believe and it will happen' would be appreciated. 

 

Thanks for reading

 

Lui

[Strikr]

you'll have learned skill most people will never have.

your odds of success increase every time you get knowledge you can apply that people can't.

no.

you didn't get it, your mindset and life change while you work.

You can't create a goal on 5 years, world will change, and so you'll.

it's hard to answer, you are really at the beggining of this work ( on creatity ) my life changed 40 times since I started music, many things happen.

 

strive everyday for the best TODAY creativity, never focus on the futur, the futur will happen because of the present.

[thehero]

study business and how to run a business

the book lean startup answers this question you have 

[Leo Gura]

@SuperLuigi I can almost guarantee your first game project will fail.

If only it were as easy as to just sit down and make a game.

You must be extremely prudent and strategic about testing niches and taking risks in business.

Starting a successful biz usually requires many years of experience within a certain field. You must know many of the traps of your field.

The advice is, find your life purpose and master a specific narrow field.

[Samra]

@SuperLuigi me and my partner each have 6 years of game dev experience. My suggestion to you is the suggestion to us. Start small. 3 - 5 years is no good if you have not done any independent projects before. It will fail. You need to be your own producer. Give yourself very short time limits, with proper deadlines and sprints. Start with 1 month project, then 3 month, the 5 months. Like anything else in life, built up to it. Try and collaborate when you can. Realistically, You cannot learn every single thing. 

I also agree with What Leo suggests. Specialise! From personal experience, I switched from a very generic role to a highly specialised role. First it seemed scary and foolish since the demand was much lower. But the pay off proved the opposite. Take the road less taken. Work on your career and your Life purpose side by side. It is not easy. You cannot burn out, so be mindful. Try and align them as much as you can. But make that career count. And have fun! 

[SuperLuigi]

@Leo Gura Thanks for the advice. I will implement it.

@Samra Thanks so much - some specific questions if I may. I am a C# developer 'by trade' and so intend to carry over that to game dev work. I (I'm sure along with many thousands of others) have been inspired by solo devs such as the Stardew Valley creator and have a degree in music composition. So I would like to do everything, music, art and programming. Do you still think I should work on a small project first? Leo said about testing niches, with Steams new self-publishing model, should I build a small 'proto-type' of my larger idea and see how that is received? It's just hard to know how / where to start.

 

Thanks again

[Samra]

@SuperLuigi I say before deciding on any specific project, first learn the skills, or at least get a sense for it. For instance, music is world apart from 2D art. 2D art is world apart from 3D art. Concept art is world apart from production art. Programming is a whole different language. That being said, you could still do all of them , not at a fantastic level, but a good enough level. For instance, my partner, a 3D artist by trade, doesn't know deep programming, but he knows how to use game dev software's. He is also a good designer, and concept artist. All of this skills has taken him 10 years to develop. So maybe get to work, realize what's what, where you at. Go to couple of classes. Participate in couple of game jams. Hang out with game nerds like us. Scope. Experiment. Practise. Learn. And then maybe think about starting a project. You know, by the time you are ready, your idea might have evolved and change 1000 times.

[SuperLuigi]

@Samra Awesome, thanks so much, your words have inspired and encouraged me  Ps where are you guys based? 

 

I will get to work straight away, art is definitely going to be the hardest learning curve, very exciting. I am 30 yrs old so do worry that I'll be over 40 by the time I escape the slavery but... better late than never I guess: )

[Samra]

I'm in the same boat as you. I live in UK currently. One way or another I'm sure you will figure it out. best of luck on any paths you take

Edited September 14, 2018 by Samra