Thinking About Becoming An Indie Game Developer?
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1 – You either are, or you aren’t.
People can go and think, “I’m an aspiring indie game developer”. You are
either doing games or not, period. If you are starting in development
with your own money then you are one. People tend to think they are
indie developers when money starts rolling in, well think again, cause
money may never come.
2 – It’s a jungle out there
There’s not a safe path on becoming a successful indie developer. It’s
not like following another’s path will get you there. That’s why giving
advices is just that, it might work or not.
3 – There’s a minefield being left behind
We see it everywhere, indie bundles, pay what you want, fremium games,
games at $1, the ones who made money with those models are leaving
behind a bad legacy and an audience that doesn’t want to pay much.
4 – Finish your stuff
You should actually be working on it instead of reading this.
5 – You need to learn the rules
… to know when they must be broken
6 – You need to break the rules
… to know why they matter.
7 – Playing games does NOT make you a developer
Yet many think it’s all it takes, I’m good at playing thus I must be
good at making them. You should however play critically, that is the
key.
8 – Working alone
..can be like rowing a boat with just one paddle.
9 – Working with a team
…can be like two people on a bike, one steering and another one pedaling.
10 – Overnight success
Out of nothing this indie developer! Overnight success! Million-dollar!
And you think, “I can do that”. Yeah, except, those who are “overnight
successes,” rarely appear out of nowhere. Minecraft? That dude’s been
working in games for years. Super Meat Boy? I bet Edmund made over 30
games till now. They just stayed in obscurity for years. Work matters.
11 – Learn to fall
This one’s hard especially if you think your game is great and the first
comment is “This is sh**”. Learn from mistakes and do it again, but
better.
12 – Making games is hard work
…and you will shoot fire from your eyes to however says otherwise.
13 – People who tell you to keep trying
…are mostly lying, they think you’re lazy and can’t get a real job.
14 – Your parents will keep the hope
…that you get your act together and apply for IBM or Microsoft, cause that’s where the money is.
15 – You will think twice
…when someone asks you what you do for a living. It would be the first thing said if you where a Doctor.
From http://www.david-amador.com/2012/02/some-thoughts-about-indie-dev/
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