What Happens After The Big Game Dev Success?
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- Опубликовано: 6 фев 2025
- This is my life the past couple years. I also have some big announcements at the end. Thank you for caring everyone!
If you would like to support my fledgling studio, please check out Game Dev Unlocked: courses.gamede...
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
David! I hope you read this, I do.
1: You do NOT owe us anything.
2: You are NOT a savior.
3: 80% of the internet is cool and the 20% are awful.
4: You are NOT a fraud. You make video games.
And also YES to making smaller games. This is the third time I've heard this very recently.
Additional related mindset:
1. Share with us what you enjoyed in games without the need to please everybody (we all like AND dislike stuff);
2. Give you the right tool for the job. If you want to accomplish more, create or join a team of qualified people;
3. Like @foldupgames said, it's easier these days for people to express their rage on internet. CHOOSE to read and focus on the good comments, they are THE audience of your game, it's around that people that you want to be;
4. You know your weaknesses (overthinking and self-doubt), and you probably don't want your children to develop these behaviours so use them as your mental strength to keep up in a good mentality 💪
I look forward to see your game David! I may or may not like it but this wouldn't change the fact that you are a great person with good skills in game development.
Is this comment intended to be insulting? Cause, its reads as both incredibly insulting and invalidating, but also...unsuccessfully attempting to be encouraging....
@@honaleri I don't know what you're talking about.
David said he feels a burden to help everyone, but I said he doesn't have to.
He said he felt like an imposter, but I said he's not.
My very wise grampa used to say "There have always been more good people than bad. We now know more bad people because there is more people in general. And bad people are usually louder, that's why you hear them more often"
@@honaleri then you misunderstood the comment, and video.
You're a good guy, David. Even better, you appear to be a great father, husband, and provider for your family.
The internet is one of the greatest examples of something being bipolar. It's allows for and brings out the best of humanity as well as the worst. I cannot imagine the pressure you felt after the success of your game and transitioning into RUclips and course content. Humans are a social species, but the internet takes it to a level that we're not meant to handle.
You were brave enough to put yourself on here which is more than most of us can say, myself included. I am not a bridge, I assure you.
Best of luck with the new game and its upcoming reveal. No matter the outcome, know that, "ya done good." You made an indie game that inspired many people, as players and developers alike. You provided for your family while taking on risky work that might not pay off. It's courageous and inspiring. There are people in the industry today who would not be there had they not experienced your content.
Thank you for what you've done over the years. Best of luck to you going forward.
Thank you for posting something very similar to what I'd like to say.
We may not know how to best handle the internet just yet, but people like you making choices like you did posting this comment will help make it better. Bless you
@@joevroh same
"My business was worthless because I hadn't actually created a business; I had created a job. And no one wants to buy a job. ... I knew that I had to build a business that could work without me. Then I would have the type of business that had value when I wanted to sell it and move on. ... I wanted to build the business that I had always dreamed of and not some type of prison I had to go to every day."
- Mark Stoner
You've helped yourself and a lot of people (including myself). You don't owe anyone anything and you don't have to help anyone. Just keep being yourself and do what you want to do with your life. Wish you the best in life and may you grow from your trials and tribulations.
Who is Mark Stoner ?
Hey stranger! Just played your demo of "We Harvest Shadows" of Steam and I am genuinly loving it. The premise is simple yet I found the introduction to be just the perfect mix between blissfull countrylife and creeping psychological horror. The ambiance and atmosphere was perfect. I wish I could leave a review, but lacking that i'll throw an informal up on our curator page instead. Hope it takes root and best of luck in all of your endeavors.
Always bringing very good lessons. Thank you and good luck, David.
What a beatiful family! Take care.
OH MY GOD! That is my game 05:27 second one from the left (top row).
I'm crying. Thanks David.
You cannot imagine how proud you made me feel.
Hey David, glad to see you're back! I remember emailing you back in 2020 when I was launching my game on Xbox. I was really surprised you actually took the time to thoughtfully respond! I wish you well for your upcoming game announcement and hopefully that kind of feature can help stir up some publisher support. Good luck!
Man I commend your courage making this video. You helped so many devs and that is all that matters. As Steve Jobs said you can't please everyone.
I'm always interested in the psychology behind it all. Thanks for sharing so openly! When I watched your trailer I had to smirk, because you managed to package so much of yourself into your art! You're doing great!
Thank you for sharing. You are a great person, and I resonate with your experiences with content creation and others on the internet. I also took a long break from RUclips for a few years to focus on myself and live in the moment with people I love, and always trying to strike a balance and find my way back online to create, something I do still have a love for.
But that sickness you described feeling when opening Unity or your mouth to record is something I can very much understand ❤
thank you for your honesty and for creating this video. Your experience has taught me so much.
As a fellow RUclipsr who has also faced similar things, and who have been tripping the rift of a burnout for some time now, I feel this video deeply. I decided to take a step away from basically all of my social media, I stopped creating videos, I just could not take it any more. It's easy to think just to ignore all the haters, all the people being mean, but from what it sounds you're a similar mind as me, it's nigh impossible not to have those comments chip away at an already low self esteem even further. Thank you for being so brutally honest, and best wishes for the future. Do what makes you happy, even if it includes hard work, even if it includes thinking about money, having passion for what you do will hopefully help with keeping burnout away. Looking forward to hearing more about your new project, best of luck in Germany!
I'm one of your GDU students. Your videos about development and your honest story about the other side of indie development helped me tremendously in making my own decisions about what kind of Indie Dev I wanted to be. In the end I choose to just focus on that what I love the most, creating games! So now I'm creating ROM hacks, don't receive a single penny for that, but loving every minute of it. I would like to thank you for the big role you played in finding my way. I'm sure there are a lot of people like me. People you've never spoken or directly communicated with, but that were inspired and helped by all the work you did. Thank you for that! I wish you and your family all the best David. Regardless of the financial success of your newest game, it will be all right!
This video really touched me. I appreciate your vulnerability. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself with us.
I'm happy that you're okay David! Wishing the best for you!
That feeling of burn out and what's the point of it all is real. I've definitely been there before, but it's awesome to hear that you were able to get inspired again and return to wanting to really get back into your passion again.
I hope your project does take off and you can continue doing what you love, with a change in perspective that will work best to account for your mental health and creativity.
Mate.
All these people didn’t need your help.
They WANTED your help.
Maybe not particularly yours, just someone.
The first persons you must take care of it’s you, if you will not feel good, then no one around will.
I know I sound quite egoistic but anyway.
So, please don’t blame yourself.
There’s nothing for.
And thanks a lot for everything you’ve done bro!
This video made me cry. I got married 4 months ago and it made me feel this need to stand beside my husband through his ups and down. I'm going to sign up for GDU this weekend after I get paid. I'm also an introvert who truly cares about people. I know what it's like to need to get off the internet. It can be overwhelming. I can tell you're a genuine person David.
So great to hear from you David! Thank you for being honest with your struggles, its really comforting to know that even successful people like yourself deal with a lot of the same anxieties as someone like me.
You are good man David. Congratulations on all your achivements and most importantly your beautiful family.
Thanks for baring your soul in that video, it must have been hard to make. "Setting myself on fire to keep everyone warm" is a phrase I really identify with after I had a similar burnout a few years ago. I really hope you rediscover the passion for creating that you had at the beginning. Best of luck with the new game, and with Gamescom.
The fact that you are successful does not mean that you owe us anything, being famous is particularly stressful and difficult because the temptation and stimulation are so great all the time, "never too high, never too low" is a motto that I really like to find an inner balance, I suggest reading Books on the subject, it helped me a lot.
Thank you so much for sharing your intimate story and hardships!
From someone aspiring to become a gamedev on the fence with a similar personality and fears, it's disheartening but also comforting to know that it's not impossible..
Wish you the best of luck on your endeavors, and much love wherever life takes you David
I've been following your channel since the beginning, and just finished your demo of "We Harvest Shadows" and I need more! I don't know what your friends were talking about but they clearly played a different game😅 The idea is genius and I absolutely loved it! Please finish this game! It has so much potential. All the best man.
People pleasing is no joke. I have family members that have that. Its a deep seeded issue. It can be a personal hell. Hope things keep getting better for you. Glad you have a great support network
David, words can't capture the depth of my gratitude for the brilliance you bring into our lives. Your authenticity and creativity are nothing short of extraordinary. I eagerly await the magic you'll conjure next-take your time, because greatness is always worth the wait.
Thank you David; it takes a lot to post a personal video like this. I wholeheartedly wish you every success, and looking forward to seeing what your new game is about!
Your new game is AMAZING! I am so, so happy to see this part of your journey.
Welcome back! Focus on the good things, there will always be people who will talk crap and hate for absolutely everything you do.
Even on this video, don't give them the time of day as they are just hoping to get some attention by acting superior. They will see the material things you have, family or whatever it is they want/don't have and hate on you, remember it does not mean anything.
Hopefully you're new game works out and you keep making games but the good thing is you have plans for whatever happens and are excited for whichever plan you ultimately have to do.
You speak some hard truths that must be heard and this also definitely helps others trying to walk the same path as you, even now you are making a difference. Love from Mexico.
Good to see you back David! You pop up in my mind all the time as I wonder how you are doing generally and with your new game. Looking forward to what you have in store
David, thank you for taking the time to be vulnerable and sharing your struggles. Art, livihood, dreams, and the fabric of human experience is struggle we can all relate to. It's hard being human, especially when dedicating thousands of hours to our game development craft. Have a great Gamescom!
Ah David, we’re so lucky to have a video like this from you. I relate so strongly to so much of your experience - except I make graphic novels. I can’t wait to see your new game, and thank you so much for sharing all this with us
Man you're an inspiration! You gave everything you had never feel bad because of it!
All the best David. I hope the new game works out! Your experience mirrors what a lot of people have experienced lately, you are not alone, but it sounds like you are on the right track.
Yo, dude. This hit me in a big way. I've been struggling with impostor syndrome hard since Covid. I hope you're in a better headspace now. I wish I could give you a hug.
Thank you David for being you and bringing us all the amazing stuff you have. Thank you for being yourself and for being real. I look forward to seeing what you create, as it’s ready. No rush.
I cannot thank you enough for sharing this story. It is hard for people, including game developers, to fully grasp and articulate the emotional weight of feeling like a failure during burnout. The intense feeling of being rejected is difficult to manage as our personal growth relies heavily on feedback, opening the possibility of receiving reactions that are not intended to help us in any way.
David! Its so great to see you again! I think many people including myself relate with your struggles. I definitely feel like I have people pleasing tendencies too. So many people are in pain these days. Especially those in hate mail. But you should only help with what is within your capacity. We can't help everyone. I think most people don't understand is the art we make comes from deep within, and I feel like these experiences forces us to deal with our issues. Proud of you man, excited to see your game at gamescon!
Just keep up, man. I've been a few months trying to remember your game. I showed it to my daughter some time back and was trying to get back to it. I'm glad you are better.
Tank you for this video and all you have done. Wish you all the best!! I bought your couse a long time ago, I am very slow but I just enjoy the moment,it could take me 5, 10 or 20 years, as a hobby to change mind from job, fun comes first.
I have learned a LOT from your cozy atmospheric game for my own upcoming open world game.
Bro All the best for your new game 💓and I hope it shatter the amazing records made by The First Tree.
Wow. I'm sorry to hear what you have gone through. But very happy you have come back stronger. Thank you for everything you have done.
Good luck at Gamesom! I wish you the best. I know all too well how rough the mental battle can be with game development, and I haven't even released anything yet! The part you said about being good with both options just speaks to how you've come to terms with what is good for you and your family. Wisdom and experience indeed. I hope this game does succeed. Because from an outsider perspective it looks like you genuinely care about what you do. But even if it doesn't, you deserve to be happy whether that's in the game industry or not.
I hope your game succeeds, and I wish you the best of luck with it! Looking forward to seeing you create more awesome games throughout the year.
Hi David, you are truly amazing, I can not put in words how much you have helped me in my gamedev journey. I hope that one day you will reach a point where you can do what you love without this world sitting on your shoulders. Love Badger
I bought your course and really found it very useful, I haven't finished a game yet as I've always struggled with an idea, but that said I will continue to try despite time not being on my side. Its ironic that trying to help so many people, you forgot to help you. Take care and I wish you all the best with your next game.
Good luck David! I can’t imagine what it’s been like for you. Thoughts are with you, family, and also your passion for what you love doing. I hit a similar wall with music, then turned back to game dev. Have been working on Neyyah for over 6 years now with a Q1 2025 release window, and it’s insane the amount of work we do put on ourselves to make a dream, a vision, become reality. Hope this new game project finds you happiness and joy!
Welcome back sir. An inspiration to many of us. Glad to see your return.
David you helped me a lot during my game dev career. The First Tree is a great game that I always recommend to anyone who is interested in making games. You inspire us! As you were there for us, we are here for you! Don't give up your dreams. Wish you the best!
Thanks for making this video David, you're a good person. If you made an anime / movie about your life after the success of The First Tree, I'd watch it. All the best!
Not so long ago a dev of a really great open source project announced that they are abandoning the project because people who use it were harassing him and the team online because of the bugs or features they wanted implemented - in the free and open source project! Something strange happens to people online, so don't take it personally when they call you "a cash grab" - as evidence suggests, even if you were distributing your work for free, some strange people would still find a reason to hate and harass you via email.
You are a great storyteller, and amazing teacher, and a great game maker! Don't sell yourself short! If haters show up it means you made it! Life is about feeling it ALL! Goodluck at your launch! Can't wait to play and hopefully learn about these new mechanics on GDU!
Delighted to see you back David! I'm excited to hear about your new game, I wish you all the best, and I hope you get to make smaller games to follow. I think the industry needs more small creative ideas, especially with how many games are made these days. I honestly believe that's the way to go as indie developers, it's those smaller, more unique experiences from individual artists that not only inspire more creativity, but also give gamers refreshing new stories to engage with while respecting their time. It's a win-win in so many ways.
I'm happy that you're at a happier place. Please remember, you don't owe us anything. Super happy to hear you're focusing on yourself, as we all should a little more. It's okay to be selfish at times and think for yourself rather than others. I'm looking forward to what you have in store and remember whatever happens at the end there were people supporting you.
Thanks again for GDU, you can be proud of this training and what has come out of it. Wild Dose, The Inspector, Farewell North which comes out in a few days and World's Worst Handyman which comes out in September, there are so many games that have been forged within GDU.
You gave us the impetus we needed to take the plunge and go for it.
Thanks for everything
Maxime
I'm a pretty young guy and I've only been doing game dev for a few years but I've always struggled with the exact things you talk about, as far as being a "textbook people pleaser" and problems with imposter syndrome. It was so encouraging to hear that I'm not alone in the way that I feel about my skills and capabilities. Thanks for being so open.
HE'S BACK!! love you and your work man. Keep doing what makes you happy and best of luck with the new project!
David, thank you for your hard work. You inspired me to start making my own game. I recognize myself in you, I think we are very similar, we love to create. When you disappeared from RUclips, I was saddened, trying to find out where you had gone. And I was very happy when I received an email from you. I'm really looking forward to your new game and I hope it will bring success and the opportunity to move on!
It's great that you've found the courage to be kinder to yourself. I really hope your game does well! Welcome back!
Hey, I just wanted to listen to the soundtrack of "The first tree", then found this. I think you're a nice guy and a good dad. You cannot save and/or please everyone man. Even if we would all like to do so, it's kinda impossible. You do good on what do and what you did, just a relax it.
David, You inspired me to make games. When I watched your first GDU vid, it inspired me to start making video games. I started teaching myself unity at the age of 12. Now I'm 14 and I already got a job to make a game which is directed by a friend I met on the lethal company discord server. Life hits u hard sometimes. What matters is not giving up.
Thx,
Xindicate
I love you, dude! Super real, raw and authentic video. Just keep being you. I think you're inspiring.
Hang in there man❤
U got this 🔥🔥
So happy to see another video from you! I wish all the best for you!
Mate what an incredible video. Big respect for being vulnerable and I really hope you're feeling better. Much love!
Such a heart-warming video, David! Let me tell you that you were missed by many of us. And I love your voice and cinematic storytelling. You're a great creator, and I'm just happy to be here, even in a censored country like Russia with the barely working RUclips, to be able to watch your videos and learn a bit from you.
Thank you, and keep working on this new game of yours! It will be mind-blowing, I bet, like Elden Ring was.
Good luck in Germany!
Bro, I'm 32 years old, and I've been living this way my entire life. It's been helpful for me as an artist. I never expect to retire. Don't set an endpoint in your life because the moment you start thinking about that point-whether it's a day, a month, a year, or even years away-that expectation will prevent you from living in the present. If you're feeling a bit happy now, or there's some joy in your family, consider that your whole happiness. Surround yourself with positivity, and of course, more positivity will follow. :) Wishing you all the best. I genuinely want to help if you need it. :)
I think the best skill you can learn now, is develop a super power in ignoring people accusing you of "cash grabbing", "scamming", "shilling".
Those are not your intentions, and thus, all of these comments are made in bad faith. You're not tricking them, nor false advertising, and thus no one is forcing them to give you their money.
I think this skill will change your mental burden significantly from what I hear in the video.
Just be happy with what you have, I'm going through the same thing, but without financial success, without friends, without family, without anyone, just the despair of failing and becoming a beggar the next day.
Thank you for sharing your story, good for you for focusing on your health & happiness. Balancing indie gamedev w/ a family especially is a very unique & difficult challenge. You're a good dude David.
I am glad to see you're back David. All the best for your project
I'm sorry to hear about the struggles you've been through, but I'm glad things are getting better. Good luck with the new game, I will definitely be tuning into Gamescom later this month
Thank you for your honest video
Telling us your gamedev journey. Have been following you for a while now. You can't always be selfless. You need to look after yourself too. Wishing you the best in this new game and future small games to come. :)
Holy Crap, good to see you again. Wishing you all the best on your renewed journey!
David, you have done so much good for this world, and it is important to remember that every bit makes a difference, and that you can’t help everyone. When you put those two things together, you can go with the mindset that you don’t need to reply to every email, and read every comment, but those that you do reply to, and those you do read, and those you do help, is enough, just the 5 emails you decide to reply to a day, are 5 peoples who you have impacted, it doesn’t need to be 500, because that eats away at you, and bears you down to a point where you need help, not everyone else. Everything you do it appreciated and is enough, you could never reply to an email again, or help out a customer, and you would still be a good person who has left their mark in the world and impacted many lives. You and what you do is always enough.
Good luck with your game. I for one look forward to it, and hopefully plan on becoming a customer.
Glad to have you back! Wishing you the absolute best at gamescon!
Glad you are back, hope you to sucessed this time and so on!
Damn man, world is a very hellish place for a pure hearted person like you. I hope everything works out for you.
Bro All the best for your new game
We all excited to hear about it
I really liked watching your videos in past. Hope you will make such videos from now on as well 💕
Just the video I needed, glad you posted a video of this message, and will pre-order the sec its avail!
The demo for your new game was amazing and seems to do well, so hopefully you got yourself one more succesful project
Love seeing your return and can’t wait to see the new game!!!! Hope to see you and Thomas collab again in videos!
Best of luck with the rest of development! I'm looking forward to the game's announcement!
Best of luck on the new project! We all know how hard of an undertaking it is. You are not alone. We make games because we must.
Here to support you, Thank you for everything you have done :)
Thank you for giving us so much inspiration
Really look forward to your game! Day one purchase for me. Your honesty in your work is why you're my fav game dev.
"Setting yourself on fire to keep everyone around you warm and barely getting a thank you" broke me.
OMG although this is the first time I watched your videos and knowing about your work,
Your work is amazing and you're such a kind person!!
Don't let the hate in, you are AMAZING and I wish the best for you
Am very happy to see you back on RUclips ,good luck with your game
Thank you for sharing your experience with us!
I once watched your RUclips videos and started learning Unity.
Now I make a living as a full-time indie app developer.
In the near future, I'd like to work on game development.
I can't wait to see your future projects :D
Welcome back, David! Looking forward to whatever you do in the future, games or not.
Hope this project is successful and reignites your passion, my friend! Also remember that your responsibility is to yourself and your loved ones, not to us. Best of luck!
Thank you for making this video! A true story like this is much more inspiring to me than a fake one pretending that making games is all happiness and joy! I really hope that your next game makes success, and you keep making art, cause we're all here for that!
Eu sinto muito por tudo que você tem passado, por toda essa dor e sofrimento que você tem sofrido. Espero do fundo do meu coração que você consiga seguir seus sonhos e que consiga se sentir feliz, sem todo esse peso nos ombros (não importa a direção).
Um grande abraço do Brasil, sou seu fã e torço pelo seu sucesso, seja profissional ou em sua vida particular! 🇧🇷❤
Well, I guess I should have watched this earlier, before talking to you at Gamescom. Thanks for pointing out that you didn't just reappear on twitter, which I saw, but also with a video on here, explaining where you're at.
Keeping my fingers crossed that it all works out.
You're good man David. pray you rock in your finished game. can't wait to celebrate with you
Hey man, great to see you are doing well and good luck with your games.
Bro the demo blew me away. What an awesome and effective concept. Farming to survive on your land and finishing tasks on time before evil gets you.. paired with great narrative and an amazing OST - this game will be a success I can guarantee it!