There are truly many paths. I've been in IT for 25+ years, early on as a support tech, sys-admin, and network admin. As a programmer, I've been a systems programmer, backend developer, and frontend developer. None of my jobs have been in game dev, but I've been pursuing 3D programming for a looong time, dreaming big dreams and tinkering with various ideas. I have small prototypes going waaaaay back, from X11 programming to server-side Java applets to OpenGL / LWJGLv3. Family responsibilities have made it challenging to devote much time to this; now that my kids are both in college, I take great strength from two mantras : "we overestimate what we can do in a day and underestimate what we can do in a year", and "no zero-percent days!"
Nice talk, really appreciated. I have mostly 4 years of experience now and it wasn't easy at all. I was working with other small indies that all gave up in the beginning and ended up with 2+ years of development without releasing a game. 18 months ago I decided to go full solo with a "smaller" game and a good plan and it changed my life. 12 months ago I got my first full time game dev job and my first game will be out in February next year (I didn't give up on it!) One thing that I made that is very interesting is that I also started to extract some content of my game to sell on the asset store and the results are way above my expectation. Next year I will have some grants too so if I want I will probably be able to be full-time for my own studio. GameDev is hard but it gets so rewarding when you pass that challenging part
Inspiring AND another great reality check. I love the pragmatism man. While I love making games and want to pursue it as a full time job, I'm gonna keep holding onto my day job. You are absolutely right about that. As adults, we can't get floaty in the head and quit our job to be an indie dev unless we've got the money to do so.
The internet is filled with developers who no longer work for companies. Looking at them, I always thought dev job would be a temporary job for me because I really don't like working for other people... I was wrong! But now I might give up on my ideas and just do my comfortable web development job!
As long as you're happy in your job, that's great! Each of my dev jobs had some level of stress/boredom that I didn't like. But web dev was pretty dope. It can be really fun and fulfilling.
Interesting video once again. Full-time App developer for a multi-national fintech company. Pays really well, work in global projects, and lots of coding. The part-time indie work comes at evening and early mornings. Seems to be working so far. I too have a family, refreshing to see another fellow practical professional. I have checked out game-dev full-time jobs (East Coast USA) but they just don't pay as well, and don't seem to be as secure as I would be in a big fintech company. It'd be nice to work in a game company, but the security is important. Your comment around the end of the video about being nostalgic caught my attention. All these responsibilities and sacrifices of our times makes me really want to go back in time, to my childhood too, and play Sonic 1 & 2, ninja gaiden and Street Fighter 2 all day, all over again. Sometimes I can't believe those days would never come back again. Feels surreal growing up.
Great video! These are essentially the reasons I stay in my dev role. Having the money and experience in my professional life gives me the freedom to make what I want in my indie life. That being said I am not a game dev, I am a software engineer which I think more people should consider, especially part time indie game devs. - It's better paid (at least here in the UK it is) - Work/Life balance is more reasonable - You learn game dev adjacent skills that give you a different perspective - You learn game dev skills in a different way - You have more motivation to work on your indie game because you've not spent all day doing game dev Recently I've been looking for a new role and I only briefly considered game dev. I've had a few people suggest game dev but I still think software is better. I'm just in the middle of finding the right company.
Currently working on a "portfolio game" with a small team (from your discord), so I can start applying to places as an environment/level designer. Still very much wanting to solo game dev but its become apparent to me that working professionally in the field would benefit me greatly even if it means less time/energy for my solo projects.
Really nice video! Definitely think I need the burst of skills that would come from joining a company as you said. I'm being made redundant from my IT manager / tech role in about 1 year's time, hoping to shift to game dev having already been working on coding intermittently for some 12 years, although much more heavily in recent years. I've released 2 Android games so far, made about £30.. Marketing is definitely where I'm failing which is frustrating because my second game has a lot of potential I think, a unique racer, there's literally nothing on the Android store like it. I'm desperately trying to acquire enough skill to leap out of this job into a game dev job, but the worry is definitely that I won't be 'good enough' by the time I'm made redundant 😑 I really don't want another IT job, really bored of that now I'm able to do something creative in making games!
I'm basically in the situation where I'm thinking about financial needs for the future. I'm 23 and I resigned a job because I felt that it wasn't what I wanted to learn such as cooking in a restaurant and I can't cook nor prepare food at a fast food restaurant. The otherside of the situation is I'm trying to make a game but I realize I have to be more productive and take on the responsibilities. I really get what you mean by if you were young and have all the access to be a game dev you can push through and try to lessen your responsibilities in the future. I praise you for telling us these and making me realize that I can do more for my life. Thank you!
I would say, overall great advice... especially for those just getting started. For those of us already intrenched in a family and full time job: Grind, grind, grind! Really, if it's ever going to work in terms of realizing goals and or dreams, it boils down to what master Yoda is famous for saying: "Do, or do not. There is no try..."
It's always good to be reminded that consistency is key, whether it be in relationships, working out, or game dev. I struggle with consistency in general, and I very much appreciate the advice and talk
Interesting, my "work setup" is quite similar. I have a main job as a software developer, which was full time until this summer where I cut down to 3 days so I can spend 2 days on my game project. It combines the monetary security, since the pay is enough to keep me afloat, nothing luxurious, but you know, enough to not worry. And on the other hand I have no real risk with my game. So my gamedev is more like a mix of hobby and real business and I know how fortunate I am for being in this situation. Makes those computer science university years feel worth it. And oh boy did my job improve my coding skills. Doesn't matter in the slightest that it doesn't have anything to do with games. Looking at the older code in my game really looks kinda bad.
Pfew, I already had a minor paradigm shift after "The Great Game Dev Delusion," and now I'm starting to adjust my outlook even more. I'd been very closed off against the idea of working at a company because of all the horror stories about AAA management and crunch culture and just a general aversion to being part of a team (probably a holdover from being an only child and always being the only person who did any work on group projects in school). I thought I'd go in, be given boring drudge work with no say in creative direction, and then work 60-80 hours a week until I burned out. I was really not at all looking how much healthier the work culture at small studios is, or at the benefits of camaraderie, or what I could learn from more experienced devs, or the friendships I could form, or how those connections and benefits could multiply my progress. Ironically, in being self-centered, I was really stunting my own growth and forgetting that, when you operate alone, you often don't even know what you don't even know. I think I may need to start looking at my current project as a portfolio piece and begin looking for studios where I could be a member of a team instead of a cog in a machine. You've pretty well convinced me that, far from 'settling', it might actually be *better* than trying to go it on my own all the time (whilst spending much of my day and energy on a 'regular' job that pays the bills but doesn't build my skills or put me in contact with other devs).
That is really motivating! You really took all the important aspects of the industry we're all interested in, I loved when you talked about consistency and repetition and spending time on playing games (or doing other stuff) and I realized how much time I waste without having a good plan that I will hold on to. We all should have your wise words in back of our heads to keep going when the times are hard :) Thank you for this video, I really loved it! ❤🔥
Thank you! This video was very insightful and gave me confidence that being a game dev is an actual professional and viable job. I'm at a point in life where the decision I make now on whether to commit to game development or some other IT related job could change the next 10-20 years of my life. I'm glad I found your video!
Dude, if I could ever have had this level of knowledge some years ago I would be a total different person now! I have to go through so much shit just to learn what you said in this video. I really hope someone starting a gamedev carrier will watch this.
Being a professional game dev for nearly a decade, I always found it difficult to switch between projects. The job always consumes all of my commitment and attention so that there is simply no energy left to work on (or even think of) my own projects in the evening or weekend. But I went full indie this year, having all my mind on just my own project is so wonderful.
interested cos I'm 20 years in and still wondering what going solo would be like... do you think there's a risk that you'll become too attached to your own work? to me, one of the saving graces of working for someone else is that you don't own it and can thus make difficult decisions (cutting content etc) without hurting 'yourself'
@john kelly that's always a big problem, u have to become your own product manager, which is a bit schizophren. Usually a business and a creative mind need to pull in different directions. U will have to have this discussion with yourself constantly. So it's super important to set yourself borders and stick with them. These are things u usually learn in a professional dev job, so personally I strongly recommend to build up experience there first. And I think it's important to have some distance to your own project. Maybe it's not the best idea to start with your dream project. U will need to make a lot of compromises on the way. It not gonna end up as u imagined it in the beginning. Usually it's never worth to reach the imaginable 100% we set in our minds at the beginning, it takes some experience and strength to say what's actually good enough (at least for now, u can always improve stuff later on). To make decisions like that, some professional distance is needed, I think. Basically it's all about finishing a project. When I started as a professional game dev, me and my team (an artist, a game designer and progger me) made a super simple jump and rund prototyp in two weeks. But it took nearly another half a year to actually get it into some store. The game itself didn't change much anymore. But the polish, UI, menus, plattform specific bullshit, it all takes sooo much time, I would have never imagined before. But don't get me wrong. I would never make a pink pony game just to have some professional distance to it. It's all about the balance. And not to staple to high at the beginning.
You are really hitting something for me as well. I have been in a bit of an annoying process. I have never had enough discipline to pull myself into going all in on my entrepreneurial aspirations, but now that I might have it, I have a family and a lot of responsibilities. I guess it is often linked in some way.
Keep up the good work! appreciate the video! The topic of comfort and discipline is such an interesting topic as a whole if you work in any technology field. Your hobby becomes your job and this becomes a double edge sword.
The one caveat I'd add is that not all jobs are created equal, and it can be tricky honing in on the job that will help you progress toward your specific goals. Some workplaces are toxic, some excessively busy, some poorly managed, etc. I've found that there can also be significant skill/knowledge atrophy in some jobs, precisely because they require so much work and time investment and don't leave sufficient room for personal growth. Unfortunately, no company is going to tell you during interviews they're a bad place to work, and not everyone gets to write their own ticket, so sometimes a job is just a necessary evil to put food on the table. That's why I think it's extremely important for devs to learn to manage their finances and save for their future, so they can be a little bit more picky later in life and find the jobs that are more rewarding.
I love your content, the passion always shines through. I would love to see a video where you dive into the requirements to land a job at a small studio?
I got a new job offer and had no choice but to accept it since I was going through a tough financial situation and the interview took place a day before my wife gave birth to our second baby daughter. Family comes first so I had to put my gamedev project on hold indefinitely. Maybe one day I'll be able to return to it. Hopefully.
Hey, something similar happened to me, but I had twins, haha. I got back into gamedev 3 years after, so hold on my friend, you will get back to it soon. :D
@@fadiismael5630 Honestly, it all depends on how your baby takes the naps. As I had twins, once one was sleeping, the other one would start crying, and it was a cycle, and after both were sleeping, my mind was dead. That was for 3 years.
Thank you, John. My partner and I have our own indie studio and even competed in your game jame. He has years of industry experience and suggested my skills were to the point where I could and should take on a junior programming job, but I feel like imposter syndrome is holding me back in a major way. I don't think my skills are there, even though I'm learning all the time. If you make a follow-up video, could you talk about that?
Just joined a company after 10 years of only working as a indie dev. I found many of the thing you just said very true and conforting to know i'm not Alone. I'm not giving up on the indie dev dream and i'm doing my proyects on the side(even making an extra salary of that) but i'm finding the new knowdledge and financial security really worth it.
Right now I'm a mere newbie to the programming world and I'm learning to become a Back End dev, while I study to be a Game Dev as well. My first goal is to get a job as a Back End Dev to get money so all those benefits you mention will come to me at some point :)
Thanks a another good tip is to put the "fun" things later as if you raise dopamin in early of the day its hard to do task after that bring low dopamine ( using the PC for example)
Thanks for the information. Could you please make a video to explain about the exact process of making a game? I know that you already said in this video that we should get a job in this industry. But I'm sure a lot of people (including myself) can't just quit their current job and get another job. But since you're already working in this industry, it would be great if you could explain the steps of making a game. For example starting from the idea, defining the game mechanism, bringing them on the paper, making a plan for starting the development, defining tasks and giving the employees their jobs. I mean if someone one day starts his own company and hires 3D artist and programmers, he can't pay employees their salaries while having no tasks for them. Maybe the best way to answer these question is looking at these questions from the eyes of a manager. Generally I'm talking about the Pre-Production process. Thanks.
Great timing! I'm getting to the point where my day job just isn't doing it for me anymore - I am BORED, at a life-scale level. I need to change directions. I've been addicted to game dev for the last year and would love to do it for a living, but I don't have years of experience or formal education. I would absolutely adore a video about how to get into this field!
this video is extremely on point, i work in game dev job exactly the reasons that is mentioned here, financial stability, skill gains, discipline, connections etc.
Brilliant content, as always. I'm a developer as well by day, not in games but more on the tech startup side, so this certainly resonates with me. Nowadays I don't write as much code as I'd like as I've gone the tech lead route the last few years, but even that management experience goes a long way when you're looking to hire some help for your indie projects. As you said, your indie work also serves to benefit the day job as well as you pick up skills, so as long as you can still find the discipline to keep your personal projects going, I really believe it can be a win-win.
Similar story, 20+yrs in enterprise dev, can't beat the stability & benefits of a day job. But 12+ yrs running my own solo-indie shop, making extra cash, and working larger & larger projects. I think the idea of "cutting the cord" is alluring, especially if you get frustrated or burned-out (or are impatient!). But like he said, there's actually more creative freedom when you can make games without worrying about whether it'll put food on the table. And you're right about skills cross-pollination, I was able to practice & explore a lot of Cloud architecture & app-dev via games, and then bring that knowledge back to the job - noticed enough for a promotion! So long as you don't trip over any non-competes or conflicts of interest, day job + indie (solo or team), is IMO the best way to go if you don't have a AA budget.
I currently work in TV animation. And this industry keeps getting shaken up. The hours are long, the contracts are short, the pay is sub par. I dont have much free time, but I like working on my Indie game because it represents hope. Hope that I will be free from the grind, and can work on what I love for a living.
Great stuff thanks for sharing your insights into game dev as a profession. I’m a web dev and I’ve been considering a crossover. You’ve given me more to consider, Cheers!
Great video. I would love to see a video about getting into the industry, especially in Australia. I'm finishing up a degree in game design and am looking to find a job developing games. I have a small child of my own so the stakes are high!
Starting MONDAY I am moving finally after 4.5 years of daily evening grind to PART-TIME gamedev! Chose the safest route just working on Dungeon Ward along my normal fulltime job and it was a good decision. I think part time might be the best option where I still get the stability of the main job with the fun from gamedev and more free time. I am glad that the hard work paid off. I think I would recommend this route to most people who want to be a game developers.
Cool video; Indeed I think sustainability in any entrepreneurial endeavor should be the key, be it building a financial buffer, or act of doing through discipline during off-time-most in important thing is that you're running a marathon, not a sprint. That said, I think life balance is definitely the key word; Everyone has their own social, mental, physical and financial goals and to pursue a creative endeavor to the very end-sacrifice is a must. I see this all around me, people who think they can sacrifice their time to pursue something out of their comfort zone but soon realize they can't, despite their potential. It's seldom the case that someone sticks to the end of a project like they envisioned at the start. Sometimes these frustrations can lead to jealously. It's sad but true, even your friend/family can fall into this trap. Basically, it's impossible to gain something new without pushing down something else, simply because time is limited. e.g. want a new car? probably you need to do overwork sacrificing social time, want to be a full-time game dev? probably you need to sacrifice current financial gains of your job (plus more). Want to finish a project, probably you need to sacrifice sleep/rest. Ideally, we are all very disciplined, but in current day and age everyone screams for our attention, be it games, family/friends, movies whatever. I have mad respect for any Indie-game dev though, I'm not in it myself but I can relate to the hardships. In my case I have sacrificed social time to gain a financial buffer, to take a ''sabbatical'' for the next 5 years-simply because I've seen regret on death beds and believe me, that's a heartbreaking fact you want to avoid in life.
Yesterday was my last day working for a dev house. I got a junior unity job at a company developing their first game. I took a salary dip but I've been saving a lot for situations that I may need it. I had been a software developer for 6 years. Even with all my exp I feel really baby (imposter syndrome) but I have it. I know the usual pipelines, I know the source control protocols etc. So it's definitely better than not. I'm glad I have a failsafe financially and I hope this new job will lead me into game devving mainly. Also I looked at the company critically, they had passive forms of external income, they've worked for big brands in unrelated projects, their contract was good. I didn't want to jump at something that wouldn't be sustainable or very risky. Also also I didn't really enjoy my dev jobs 100% I always felt a bit crap, money rolled in but mentally I wasn't doing the best because I felt unfulfilled. I was so tired at the end of the day I barely played games or anything. I'm trying to fix that but it's an ongoing struggle. So I'm hoping this will be fulfilling as I've achieved my dream of landing this job (still on probation). In the coming weeks I'll see how it is 🫡
Im software engineer now trying to do game dev as a side proj! I would say, i might not be able to use some of the things i learned, but the discipline and resiliency is there. Loving every minute of it. Its hard but, what's not right?
I would like to hear any experience with "non-compete" clauses that prevent you from working on indie side-games in your freetime when working for a studio. Some studios give you specific permission for any projects already in development at the time of hire but you must get explicit permission.
Thank you for the amazing content, insights, inspiration and quality in this channel! I'm a self-taught dev and I solo-developed a Steam game. It has a decent scope & features for a 1 man(newbie) team. To be fair, I always heard and read how developers got approached non-stop from companies & headhunters on linkedin etc. As a solodev, who never worked in the industry, I expected the same treatment from companies lol. Is it really delusional to expect that in my situation? Even if it is, can I get what I want by networking?
Good advice, this approach is called silent quitting or quiet quitting. I think it's a tough thing to balance, respecting your employer and the dedication this deserves while working towards what you want. Especially something careful to consider if it all goes wrong as maybe working for someone was the best place for you. It's a tough thing to work towards especially as you get older, with various responsibilities it may be impossible at that stage without making significant financial sacrifices.
I'd love to work in a Game Dev Job. I've been in IT since 2010 and switched over to Indie Game Dev in 2018. I still can't land an interview, no less a job, in Game Dev. I'll keep trying, but it looks like it's the Indie life for me!
As a 20 year industry 3D Artist that has worked on AAA both fulltime and freelance/contract, I have done some indie titles on mobile in between contracts or jobs. And to this day, I still work on projects that are worked up to a decent alpha standard. In these projects, I mostly work on what I don't get from my day job (UE4 blueprints, shaders, gameplay, design etc) these projects help me to develop other skills, and I have a decent project to work up and potentially release, should I not be working.
So earlier I was trying to basically learn programming on my own while having no job for like six months but later I got a trainee job(software engineer trainee - game dev) and now I get paid to do the same as I did earlier whilst also experience being added to my resume.
I really love being an indie dev, but sometimes I do really want to take on a full-time dev position whether at an indie studio or a big AAA. I just don't where I'd want to work... One day 😊
I'm like you... A 5yo responsibilitie and not a lot of margin to be adventurous! I wish the 80's and 90's were like now in terms of accessability to tools and information! I would have been so much happier... anyway... Today's kids don't know what they have but still spend the all morning on fifa or LOL.... I liked this idea 16:03 so feel free to tell us!!! btw, your game is funny on steamdeck! Check your itch! (I need to play more) Maybe it's time to start thinking again in those "flash kind of games" once people now can have a powerful controler with a screen in the backpack! Great video! Chears!
some employment contracts limit or downright disallow side jobs/projects in competing fields of work. Some even to a point where employers might be in a legal position to claim it legally. If you plan to be employed AND work on the side in the same field you better have a closer look at your contract before doing so.
Good video should help everyone. I am personally retired so no money problem i was a software developer and was doing the vertical development of my project so designee, UI, database, programing and documentation so for me it kind of helped when i decided to do games in my hobby time and a good opportunity to keep on learning new thing using unity in all i am having lots of fun hope you do all too. Remember if you do not have fun doing it find something else live is a terrible thing to waste at been unhappy
What do you think about the topic, do you have some experiences of your own to share? Drop a comment. Visit the discord to hang out and chat: discord.com/invite/yeTuU53 Wishlist my current solo game
The thing is, i don't think i'm competent enough to get a job at a studio bc i didn't focus on any 1 skill, i know coding, animation, concept art and combat design but none of them are spetacular. I also find really hard to move from one project to the other constantly, when i work on my game, i'm usually doing one thing at a time, i can spend sometimes an entire month just coding or creating concept art, i'm not sure working 9to5 then making my own projects simutaneously would work well, but that's probably a me problem.
I got a game dev job to fund my indie game dev dream. Not only for money, as i'm still an entry level and money is realy low, but in which other way could I practice game dev and be rewarded for doing so? I'm a 10thousand times better program after 1 year working on the industry than i was before I entered. Also, it tought me so much about making a project viable, opposed to planning a project that would be a good fit only for myself or would never be finished. Totally recommend. Ps.: I already have a family (wife and 1 kid) and I was already working in smth else. So, why not placing my time into getting my curriculum ready for a gamedev job, instead of spending all my time in a job that did not translate any knowledge into gamedev?
I'm finding myself on the opposite side right now: I have no immediate economic pressure and I can work on my personal projects, but I WANT to get a job in the industry. I'm trying to make a good resume and portfolio with the little experience I have, so I can start applying at some indie studios
Sounds good, that path can be just as fullfilling; you get many of the perks without the overhead of trying to essentially run a business - which is what indie dev is. Be sure to look beyond the big name studios, in other market segments, like eduction and advertising. Those can pay more, and are easier to get interviews for, as they don't have the prestige of the big name studios. Good luck!
Question: if I were to create a game in the Godot engine, and added it to my portfolio, would that increase my chances of getting employed? Or do I need to learn Unity or Unreal Engine too?
Always a pleasure listening to you. Thanks for your insights! Before launching my Kickstarter campaign and therefore funding my game (Above Snakes, you reviewed my Kickstarter page earlier this year!), I was a part-time indie game dev and part-time employed web developer. Even if you are working with different technologies, you still learn so much in a professional environment that you can use for your passion project too. Being a web developer was for instance super useful for creating well-designed and responsive UI in Unity.
Nice video 👏 i have 1 question Do you see older! peaple working for first tine in the studio in the age of 35 to 40 i am 37! My skills are 3D technical environment Thanks
From folks I've spoken to in game-dev, it seems to lean young - not as bad as FAANG, but there's a whiff of ageism in some parts, so YMMV. That said 3D environment modeling & tech artists are in-demand across engineering, archviz, and other manufacturing-adjacent industries, so it might be worth looking there as well.
The question though is will leveling up your developer skills in a commercial game dev job make you richer compared to if you did not have the same level of skills? I'd argue that it would not make much difference, especially if you were to work solo after leveling up those skills. I mean, look at the creator of Stardew Valley. Never worked in a commercial setting and used skills he acquired fresh out of college. Yet he made millions. I think people are intelligent enough to use the basics of a programming language and graphics and audio libraries to make the game they want to make. What will make them rich is more the type of game they are making (the game idea) than the quality of their code.
Thing is, you can spend/waste (pick your term) all this time sharpening your skills and still never get in, largely through no fault of your own. Anyone who's ever been the interviewer (not just the interviewee) will appreciate that there are an awful lot of variables that go into getting an offer or not and how good you are is only one of them. There's a good argument to be made that you'd be better off working some non-game job 9-5 then building something you actually like in your own time.
Thats why I'm a web developer 😅 There is no Game dev industry in my country and by the time I discovered Game dev and stuff I was already 22 and 8-5 job no related to programming ✌️ so ...
4:52 what if im a jr who's never had a job, and I already know about literally all these concepts quite deeply. But I have no portfolio because ADHD and can't finish a project to save the life of me.
The real question is how do you get the game dev job. Every job I come across has like 200+ applicants within a few minutes of being posted. Even with my decent game dev experience, how can one complete with that? Not only that, but I feel as of recent half of the available jobs are working on shitty mobile apps that think utilizing keywords like meta, blockchain, NFT, AR, VR and the like make them interesting. Does anyone else feel extremely discouraged in this regard?
Hmm, two points. One, game-dev seems to run on networking, in the sense that "who you know > what you know". So if you're able, get involved in some social/professional groups of game-industry folks. Two, not all dev work is saving the world, but not all of it is the pits of hell either. Plenty of devs have stories about working on some dumb commercial tie-in project - it's still decent, paid work, you'll learn a lot, and you can make connections with coworkers & clients (see networking above). Not saying you should toss out any personal ethics - I feel those are important, especially as our work can have an outsize influence. But figure out what your personal hardline yes/no positions are, and apply to jobs accordingly. Bonus point! There are a lot of development jobs, even in Unity, that use game-tech or game-approaches, but are in sectors that you might not immediately think of, like architecture, or education. Always good to cast as wide a net as possible, and don't limit yourself to traditional-gaming companies. Good luck, and keep heart!
You may have mistaken me. I have no current plans to leave my job, I and will likely continue commercial dev in one form or another for the rest of my career.
Do you worry about your boss seeing videos like this at all?? It seems like it'd be a little worrying for your employer to know you aren't in it for the long haul.
The 'transition' I described can take years, or never happen at all. Nobody in tech stays in the same place forever, moving on is inevitable for most devs. Every rational tech employer understands this.
I am working on VisualHacker2D and luckily have a day job. I created a game company a few years ago. Been working on this game for like 2.7 years I think. Only stress to finish it is the stress I put on myself because I have a day job. But because I have that day job I can do what I need to do to make a game I'm proud of.
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➤ Please watch the Follow up Video! I respond to commends and offer specific advice on how to get a dev job : ruclips.net/video/hTjKzCArdLo/видео.html
There are truly many paths. I've been in IT for 25+ years, early on as a support tech, sys-admin, and network admin. As a programmer, I've been a systems programmer, backend developer, and frontend developer. None of my jobs have been in game dev, but I've been pursuing 3D programming for a looong time, dreaming big dreams and tinkering with various ideas. I have small prototypes going waaaaay back, from X11 programming to server-side Java applets to OpenGL / LWJGLv3. Family responsibilities have made it challenging to devote much time to this; now that my kids are both in college, I take great strength from two mantras : "we overestimate what we can do in a day and underestimate what we can do in a year", and "no zero-percent days!"
"No zero-percent days". I am always looking for that 1 thing I can do every day to say I didn't 100% waste the day.
Nice talk, really appreciated.
I have mostly 4 years of experience now and it wasn't easy at all. I was working with other small indies that all gave up in the beginning and ended up with 2+ years of development without releasing a game.
18 months ago I decided to go full solo with a "smaller" game and a good plan and it changed my life.
12 months ago I got my first full time game dev job and my first game will be out in February next year (I didn't give up on it!)
One thing that I made that is very interesting is that I also started to extract some content of my game to sell on the asset store and the results are way above my expectation.
Next year I will have some grants too so if I want I will probably be able to be full-time for my own studio.
GameDev is hard but it gets so rewarding when you pass that challenging part
Inspiring AND another great reality check. I love the pragmatism man. While I love making games and want to pursue it as a full time job, I'm gonna keep holding onto my day job.
You are absolutely right about that. As adults, we can't get floaty in the head and quit our job to be an indie dev unless we've got the money to do so.
The internet is filled with developers who no longer work for companies. Looking at them, I always thought dev job would be a temporary job for me because I really don't like working for other people... I was wrong! But now I might give up on my ideas and just do my comfortable web development job!
Cheers to that! Same here mate
As long as you're happy in your job, that's great! Each of my dev jobs had some level of stress/boredom that I didn't like. But web dev was pretty dope. It can be really fun and fulfilling.
Interesting video once again.
Full-time App developer for a multi-national fintech company. Pays really well, work in global projects, and lots of coding. The part-time indie work comes at evening and early mornings. Seems to be working so far. I too have a family, refreshing to see another fellow practical professional.
I have checked out game-dev full-time jobs (East Coast USA) but they just don't pay as well, and don't seem to be as secure as I would be in a big fintech company. It'd be nice to work in a game company, but the security is important.
Your comment around the end of the video about being nostalgic caught my attention. All these responsibilities and sacrifices of our times makes me really want to go back in time, to my childhood too, and play Sonic 1 & 2, ninja gaiden and Street Fighter 2 all day, all over again. Sometimes I can't believe those days would never come back again. Feels surreal growing up.
Really fortunate to have a “mentor” like you John. The real talk this channel contains is priceless. Thank you brother
I'm really glad you keeping making these kind of videos they are helpful in many ways. Just wanted to say thanks for being such a great person.
Hey thanks so much, it's my pleasure. We are all in this together; united by the dream of game dev glory! :) btw love your studio name
Great video! These are essentially the reasons I stay in my dev role. Having the money and experience in my professional life gives me the freedom to make what I want in my indie life.
That being said I am not a game dev, I am a software engineer which I think more people should consider, especially part time indie game devs.
- It's better paid (at least here in the UK it is)
- Work/Life balance is more reasonable
- You learn game dev adjacent skills that give you a different perspective
- You learn game dev skills in a different way
- You have more motivation to work on your indie game because you've not spent all day doing game dev
Recently I've been looking for a new role and I only briefly considered game dev. I've had a few people suggest game dev but I still think software is better. I'm just in the middle of finding the right company.
Currently working on a "portfolio game" with a small team (from your discord), so I can start applying to places as an environment/level designer. Still very much wanting to solo game dev but its become apparent to me that working professionally in the field would benefit me greatly even if it means less time/energy for my solo projects.
Really nice video! Definitely think I need the burst of skills that would come from joining a company as you said. I'm being made redundant from my IT manager / tech role in about 1 year's time, hoping to shift to game dev having already been working on coding intermittently for some 12 years, although much more heavily in recent years.
I've released 2 Android games so far, made about £30.. Marketing is definitely where I'm failing which is frustrating because my second game has a lot of potential I think, a unique racer, there's literally nothing on the Android store like it.
I'm desperately trying to acquire enough skill to leap out of this job into a game dev job, but the worry is definitely that I won't be 'good enough' by the time I'm made redundant 😑 I really don't want another IT job, really bored of that now I'm able to do something creative in making games!
I'm basically in the situation where I'm thinking about financial needs for the future. I'm 23 and I resigned a job because I felt that it wasn't what I wanted to learn such as cooking in a restaurant and I can't cook nor prepare food at a fast food restaurant. The otherside of the situation is I'm trying to make a game but I realize I have to be more productive and take on the responsibilities. I really get what you mean by if you were young and have all the access to be a game dev you can push through and try to lessen your responsibilities in the future. I praise you for telling us these and making me realize that I can do more for my life. Thank you!
I would say, overall great advice... especially for those just getting started. For those of us already intrenched in a family and full time job: Grind, grind, grind! Really, if it's ever going to work in terms of realizing goals and or dreams, it boils down to what master Yoda is famous for saying: "Do, or do not. There is no try..."
You're talking to me... Thanks for sharing.
It's always good to be reminded that consistency is key, whether it be in relationships, working out, or game dev. I struggle with consistency in general, and I very much appreciate the advice and talk
Interesting, my "work setup" is quite similar. I have a main job as a software developer, which was full time until this summer where I cut down to 3 days so I can spend 2 days on my game project. It combines the monetary security, since the pay is enough to keep me afloat, nothing luxurious, but you know, enough to not worry. And on the other hand I have no real risk with my game. So my gamedev is more like a mix of hobby and real business and I know how fortunate I am for being in this situation. Makes those computer science university years feel worth it. And oh boy did my job improve my coding skills. Doesn't matter in the slightest that it doesn't have anything to do with games. Looking at the older code in my game really looks kinda bad.
@lugmillord How'd you negotiate cutting a regular work week into 3 days?
@@theonlycatonice Very special personal circumstances and an actually great boss. I'm very lucky to work there.
Pfew, I already had a minor paradigm shift after "The Great Game Dev Delusion," and now I'm starting to adjust my outlook even more. I'd been very closed off against the idea of working at a company because of all the horror stories about AAA management and crunch culture and just a general aversion to being part of a team (probably a holdover from being an only child and always being the only person who did any work on group projects in school). I thought I'd go in, be given boring drudge work with no say in creative direction, and then work 60-80 hours a week until I burned out.
I was really not at all looking how much healthier the work culture at small studios is, or at the benefits of camaraderie, or what I could learn from more experienced devs, or the friendships I could form, or how those connections and benefits could multiply my progress. Ironically, in being self-centered, I was really stunting my own growth and forgetting that, when you operate alone, you often don't even know what you don't even know.
I think I may need to start looking at my current project as a portfolio piece and begin looking for studios where I could be a member of a team instead of a cog in a machine. You've pretty well convinced me that, far from 'settling', it might actually be *better* than trying to go it on my own all the time (whilst spending much of my day and energy on a 'regular' job that pays the bills but doesn't build my skills or put me in contact with other devs).
That is really motivating!
You really took all the important aspects of the industry we're all interested in, I loved when you talked about consistency and repetition and spending time on playing games (or doing other stuff) and I realized how much time I waste without having a good plan that I will hold on to.
We all should have your wise words in back of our heads to keep going when the times are hard :)
Thank you for this video, I really loved it! ❤🔥
Thank you! This video was very insightful and gave me confidence that being a game dev is an actual professional and viable job. I'm at a point in life where the decision I make now on whether to commit to game development or some other IT related job could change the next 10-20 years of my life. I'm glad I found your video!
Haha, the good old artist vs coder discussion came up! A typical work based scenario that everyone should experience.
Dude, if I could ever have had this level of knowledge some years ago I would be a total different person now! I have to go through so much shit just to learn what you said in this video. I really hope someone starting a gamedev carrier will watch this.
Being a professional game dev for nearly a decade, I always found it difficult to switch between projects. The job always consumes all of my commitment and attention so that there is simply no energy left to work on (or even think of) my own projects in the evening or weekend.
But I went full indie this year, having all my mind on just my own project is so wonderful.
interested cos I'm 20 years in and still wondering what going solo would be like... do you think there's a risk that you'll become too attached to your own work? to me, one of the saving graces of working for someone else is that you don't own it and can thus make difficult decisions (cutting content etc) without hurting 'yourself'
@john kelly that's always a big problem, u have to become your own product manager, which is a bit schizophren. Usually a business and a creative mind need to pull in different directions. U will have to have this discussion with yourself constantly. So it's super important to set yourself borders and stick with them. These are things u usually learn in a professional dev job, so personally I strongly recommend to build up experience there first. And I think it's important to have some distance to your own project. Maybe it's not the best idea to start with your dream project. U will need to make a lot of compromises on the way. It not gonna end up as u imagined it in the beginning. Usually it's never worth to reach the imaginable 100% we set in our minds at the beginning, it takes some experience and strength to say what's actually good enough (at least for now, u can always improve stuff later on). To make decisions like that, some professional distance is needed, I think.
Basically it's all about finishing a project. When I started as a professional game dev, me and my team (an artist, a game designer and progger me) made a super simple jump and rund prototyp in two weeks. But it took nearly another half a year to actually get it into some store. The game itself didn't change much anymore. But the polish, UI, menus, plattform specific bullshit, it all takes sooo much time, I would have never imagined before.
But don't get me wrong. I would never make a pink pony game just to have some professional distance to it. It's all about the balance. And not to staple to high at the beginning.
You are really hitting something for me as well.
I have been in a bit of an annoying process. I have never had enough discipline to pull myself into going all in on my entrepreneurial aspirations, but now that I might have it, I have a family and a lot of responsibilities.
I guess it is often linked in some way.
Keep up the good work! appreciate the video! The topic of comfort and discipline is such an interesting topic as a whole if you work in any technology field. Your hobby becomes your job and this becomes a double edge sword.
The one caveat I'd add is that not all jobs are created equal, and it can be tricky honing in on the job that will help you progress toward your specific goals. Some workplaces are toxic, some excessively busy, some poorly managed, etc. I've found that there can also be significant skill/knowledge atrophy in some jobs, precisely because they require so much work and time investment and don't leave sufficient room for personal growth. Unfortunately, no company is going to tell you during interviews they're a bad place to work, and not everyone gets to write their own ticket, so sometimes a job is just a necessary evil to put food on the table. That's why I think it's extremely important for devs to learn to manage their finances and save for their future, so they can be a little bit more picky later in life and find the jobs that are more rewarding.
I love your content, the passion always shines through.
I would love to see a video where you dive into the requirements to land a job at a small studio?
I got a new job offer and had no choice but to accept it since I was going through a tough financial situation and the interview took place a day before my wife gave birth to our second baby daughter. Family comes first so I had to put my gamedev project on hold indefinitely. Maybe one day I'll be able to return to it. Hopefully.
Hey, something similar happened to me, but I had twins, haha. I got back into gamedev 3 years after, so hold on my friend, you will get back to it soon. :D
@@carlos_7x Three years! Wow! Hahaha... Well, better be late than never I guess. Congrats!
@@fadiismael5630 Honestly, it all depends on how your baby takes the naps. As I had twins, once one was sleeping, the other one would start crying, and it was a cycle, and after both were sleeping, my mind was dead. That was for 3 years.
Love your talks. Would also enjoy to see some more open conversations between you and some other devs
Thank you, John. My partner and I have our own indie studio and even competed in your game jame. He has years of industry experience and suggested my skills were to the point where I could and should take on a junior programming job, but I feel like imposter syndrome is holding me back in a major way. I don't think my skills are there, even though I'm learning all the time. If you make a follow-up video, could you talk about that?
It would be so nice if there was test you could do. Score above 82 and your officially a pro, congratulations.
If someone with years of industry experience thinks you could be a junior dev, you can be a junior dev 👍💪
Inspiring While working on my own :D
side project is on pause hehe :)
Great Video :D
Just joined a company after 10 years of only working as a indie dev. I found many of the thing you just said very true and conforting to know i'm not Alone. I'm not giving up on the indie dev dream and i'm doing my proyects on the side(even making an extra salary of that) but i'm finding the new knowdledge and financial security really worth it.
Always a pleasure listening to you in the car driving home.
Have you considered a podcast format?
Right now I'm a mere newbie to the programming world and I'm learning to become a Back End dev, while I study to be a Game Dev as well. My first goal is to get a job as a Back End Dev to get money so all those benefits you mention will come to me at some point :)
Same
Thanks for this video!
I really needed to hear that!
You have really great wisdom!
Thanks a another good tip is to put the "fun" things later as if you raise dopamin in early of the day its hard to do task after that bring low dopamine ( using the PC for example)
Thanks for the information. Could you please make a video to explain about the exact process of making a game? I know that you already said in this video that we should get a job in this industry. But I'm sure a lot of people (including myself) can't just quit their current job and get another job. But since you're already working in this industry, it would be great if you could explain the steps of making a game.
For example starting from the idea, defining the game mechanism, bringing them on the paper, making a plan for starting the development, defining tasks and giving the employees their jobs.
I mean if someone one day starts his own company and hires 3D artist and programmers, he can't pay employees their salaries while having no tasks for them.
Maybe the best way to answer these question is looking at these questions from the eyes of a manager. Generally I'm talking about the Pre-Production process.
Thanks.
Great timing! I'm getting to the point where my day job just isn't doing it for me anymore - I am BORED, at a life-scale level. I need to change directions. I've been addicted to game dev for the last year and would love to do it for a living, but I don't have years of experience or formal education. I would absolutely adore a video about how to get into this field!
this video is extremely on point, i work in game dev job exactly the reasons that is mentioned here, financial stability, skill gains, discipline, connections etc.
This is some excellent advice, I think this will have a strong impact on the right viewer.
Brilliant content, as always. I'm a developer as well by day, not in games but more on the tech startup side, so this certainly resonates with me. Nowadays I don't write as much code as I'd like as I've gone the tech lead route the last few years, but even that management experience goes a long way when you're looking to hire some help for your indie projects. As you said, your indie work also serves to benefit the day job as well as you pick up skills, so as long as you can still find the discipline to keep your personal projects going, I really believe it can be a win-win.
Similar story, 20+yrs in enterprise dev, can't beat the stability & benefits of a day job. But 12+ yrs running my own solo-indie shop, making extra cash, and working larger & larger projects. I think the idea of "cutting the cord" is alluring, especially if you get frustrated or burned-out (or are impatient!). But like he said, there's actually more creative freedom when you can make games without worrying about whether it'll put food on the table.
And you're right about skills cross-pollination, I was able to practice & explore a lot of Cloud architecture & app-dev via games, and then bring that knowledge back to the job - noticed enough for a promotion! So long as you don't trip over any non-competes or conflicts of interest, day job + indie (solo or team), is IMO the best way to go if you don't have a AA budget.
I currently work in TV animation. And this industry keeps getting shaken up. The hours are long, the contracts are short, the pay is sub par. I dont have much free time, but I like working on my Indie game because it represents hope. Hope that I will be free from the grind, and can work on what I love for a living.
If i were earning anything, I'd give you a significant ammount of it like fr, you're super underrated
As a coming college graduate looking to get into the games industry, I'd love a separate video about how to get a game dev job!!
Great stuff thanks for sharing your insights into game dev as a profession. I’m a web dev and I’ve been considering a crossover. You’ve given me more to consider, Cheers!
Great video.
I would love to see a video about getting into the industry, especially in Australia. I'm finishing up a degree in game design and am looking to find a job developing games. I have a small child of my own so the stakes are high!
Starting MONDAY I am moving finally after 4.5 years of daily evening grind to PART-TIME gamedev!
Chose the safest route just working on Dungeon Ward along my normal fulltime job and it was a good decision. I think part time might be the best option where I still get the stability of the main job with the fun from gamedev and more free time. I am glad that the hard work paid off.
I think I would recommend this route to most people who want to be a game developers.
Cool video; Indeed I think sustainability in any entrepreneurial endeavor should be the key, be it building a financial buffer, or act of doing through discipline during off-time-most in important thing is that you're running a marathon, not a sprint.
That said, I think life balance is definitely the key word; Everyone has their own social, mental, physical and financial goals and to pursue a creative endeavor to the very end-sacrifice is a must. I see this all around me, people who think they can sacrifice their time to pursue something out of their comfort zone but soon realize they can't, despite their potential. It's seldom the case that someone sticks to the end of a project like they envisioned at the start. Sometimes these frustrations can lead to jealously.
It's sad but true, even your friend/family can fall into this trap.
Basically, it's impossible to gain something new without pushing down something else, simply because time is limited. e.g. want a new car? probably you need to do overwork sacrificing social time, want to be a full-time game dev? probably you need to sacrifice current financial gains of your job (plus more). Want to finish a project, probably you need to sacrifice sleep/rest. Ideally, we are all very disciplined, but in current day and age everyone screams for our attention, be it games, family/friends, movies whatever.
I have mad respect for any Indie-game dev though, I'm not in it myself but I can relate to the hardships. In my case I have sacrificed social time to gain a financial buffer, to take a ''sabbatical'' for the next 5 years-simply because I've seen regret on death beds and believe me, that's a heartbreaking fact you want to avoid in life.
Would love a video on how to find/apply for game dev jobs! :)
Yesterday was my last day working for a dev house. I got a junior unity job at a company developing their first game. I took a salary dip but I've been saving a lot for situations that I may need it. I had been a software developer for 6 years. Even with all my exp I feel really baby (imposter syndrome) but I have it. I know the usual pipelines, I know the source control protocols etc. So it's definitely better than not. I'm glad I have a failsafe financially and I hope this new job will lead me into game devving mainly.
Also I looked at the company critically, they had passive forms of external income, they've worked for big brands in unrelated projects, their contract was good. I didn't want to jump at something that wouldn't be sustainable or very risky.
Also also I didn't really enjoy my dev jobs 100% I always felt a bit crap, money rolled in but mentally I wasn't doing the best because I felt unfulfilled. I was so tired at the end of the day I barely played games or anything. I'm trying to fix that but it's an ongoing struggle. So I'm hoping this will be fulfilling as I've achieved my dream of landing this job (still on probation). In the coming weeks I'll see how it is 🫡
Thanks for sharing your story
Im software engineer now trying to do game dev as a side proj! I would say, i might not be able to use some of the things i learned, but the discipline and resiliency is there. Loving every minute of it. Its hard but, what's not right?
I would like to hear any experience with "non-compete" clauses that prevent you from working on indie side-games in your freetime when working for a studio. Some studios give you specific permission for any projects already in development at the time of hire but you must get explicit permission.
Thank you for the amazing content, insights, inspiration and quality in this channel! I'm a self-taught dev and I solo-developed a Steam game. It has a decent scope & features for a 1 man(newbie) team. To be fair, I always heard and read how developers got approached non-stop from companies & headhunters on linkedin etc. As a solodev, who never worked in the industry, I expected the same treatment from companies lol. Is it really delusional to expect that in my situation? Even if it is, can I get what I want by networking?
man your videos are so good and inspiring.. thanks!!
10:35 maybe the real indie project was the friends we made along the way
Good advice, this approach is called silent quitting or quiet quitting.
I think it's a tough thing to balance, respecting your employer and the dedication this deserves while working towards what you want. Especially something careful to consider if it all goes wrong as maybe working for someone was the best place for you. It's a tough thing to work towards especially as you get older, with various responsibilities it may be impossible at that stage without making significant financial sacrifices.
I'd love to work in a Game Dev Job. I've been in IT since 2010 and switched over to Indie Game Dev in 2018. I still can't land an interview, no less a job, in Game Dev. I'll keep trying, but it looks like it's the Indie life for me!
As a 20 year industry 3D Artist that has worked on AAA both fulltime and freelance/contract, I have done some indie titles on mobile in between contracts or jobs.
And to this day, I still work on projects that are worked up to a decent alpha standard. In these projects, I mostly work on what I don't get from my day job (UE4 blueprints, shaders, gameplay, design etc) these projects help me to develop other skills, and I have a decent project to work up and potentially release, should I not be working.
So earlier I was trying to basically learn programming on my own while having no job for like six months but later I got a trainee job(software engineer trainee - game dev) and now I get paid to do the same as I did earlier whilst also experience being added to my resume.
its so hard to break into the game dev industry, ive worked 4 years into web development and still cant get interviews in game studios
I really love being an indie dev, but sometimes I do really want to take on a full-time dev position whether at an indie studio or a big AAA. I just don't where I'd want to work... One day 😊
I'm like you... A 5yo responsibilitie and not a lot of margin to be adventurous! I wish the 80's and 90's were like now in terms of accessability to tools and information! I would have been so much happier... anyway... Today's kids don't know what they have but still spend the all morning on fifa or LOL....
I liked this idea 16:03 so feel free to tell us!!!
btw, your game is funny on steamdeck! Check your itch! (I need to play more) Maybe it's time to start thinking again in those "flash kind of games" once people now can have a powerful controler with a screen in the backpack!
Great video! Chears!
I'm in a coding bootcamp at the moment for fullstack webdev, but my hopes are to get into game dev once my programming skills are better
fantastic video. all true. and thank you.
Thanks sir for providing your wisdom. 🙏🏻 please can you make a video on How to get a gamedev job. 🙂
some employment contracts limit or downright disallow side jobs/projects in competing fields of work. Some even to a point where employers might be in a legal position to claim it legally. If you plan to be employed AND work on the side in the same field you better have a closer look at your contract before doing so.
I've 12 años in the industry and if there's something that you must know. It's unestable.
Good video should help everyone. I am personally retired so no money problem i was a software developer and was doing the vertical development of my project so designee, UI, database, programing and documentation so for me it kind of helped when i decided to do games in my hobby time and a good opportunity to keep on learning new thing using unity in all i am having lots of fun hope you do all too. Remember if you do not have fun doing it find something else live is a terrible thing to waste at been unhappy
What do you think about the topic, do you have some experiences of your own to share? Drop a comment.
Visit the discord to hang out and chat: discord.com/invite/yeTuU53
Wishlist my current solo game
The thing is, i don't think i'm competent enough to get a job at a studio bc i didn't focus on any 1 skill, i know coding, animation, concept art and combat design but none of them are spetacular.
I also find really hard to move from one project to the other constantly, when i work on my game, i'm usually doing one thing at a time, i can spend sometimes an entire month just coding or creating concept art, i'm not sure working 9to5 then making my own projects simutaneously would work well, but that's probably a me problem.
I got a game dev job to fund my indie game dev dream. Not only for money, as i'm still an entry level and money is realy low, but in which other way could I practice game dev and be rewarded for doing so? I'm a 10thousand times better program after 1 year working on the industry than i was before I entered. Also, it tought me so much about making a project viable, opposed to planning a project that would be a good fit only for myself or would never be finished. Totally recommend. Ps.: I already have a family (wife and 1 kid) and I was already working in smth else. So, why not placing my time into getting my curriculum ready for a gamedev job, instead of spending all my time in a job that did not translate any knowledge into gamedev?
I'm one of those adults in their parents basement cranking out that yummy spaghetti code haha
I'm finding myself on the opposite side right now: I have no immediate economic pressure and I can work on my personal projects, but I WANT to get a job in the industry. I'm trying to make a good resume and portfolio with the little experience I have, so I can start applying at some indie studios
Sounds good, that path can be just as fullfilling; you get many of the perks without the overhead of trying to essentially run a business - which is what indie dev is. Be sure to look beyond the big name studios, in other market segments, like eduction and advertising. Those can pay more, and are easier to get interviews for, as they don't have the prestige of the big name studios. Good luck!
Question: if I were to create a game in the Godot engine, and added it to my portfolio, would that increase my chances of getting employed?
Or do I need to learn Unity or Unreal Engine too?
Always a pleasure listening to you. Thanks for your insights! Before launching my Kickstarter campaign and therefore funding my game (Above Snakes, you reviewed my Kickstarter page earlier this year!), I was a part-time indie game dev and part-time employed web developer. Even if you are working with different technologies, you still learn so much in a professional environment that you can use for your passion project too. Being a web developer was for instance super useful for creating well-designed and responsive UI in Unity.
Nice video 👏 i have 1 question
Do you see older! peaple working for first tine in the studio in the age of 35 to 40 i am 37! My skills are 3D technical environment Thanks
From folks I've spoken to in game-dev, it seems to lean young - not as bad as FAANG, but there's a whiff of ageism in some parts, so YMMV. That said 3D environment modeling & tech artists are in-demand across engineering, archviz, and other manufacturing-adjacent industries, so it might be worth looking there as well.
The question though is will leveling up your developer skills in a commercial game dev job make you richer compared to if you did not have the same level of skills? I'd argue that it would not make much difference, especially if you were to work solo after leveling up those skills. I mean, look at the creator of Stardew Valley. Never worked in a commercial setting and used skills he acquired fresh out of college. Yet he made millions.
I think people are intelligent enough to use the basics of a programming language and graphics and audio libraries to make the game they want to make. What will make them rich is more the type of game they are making (the game idea) than the quality of their code.
Thing is, you can spend/waste (pick your term) all this time sharpening your skills and still never get in, largely through no fault of your own. Anyone who's ever been the interviewer (not just the interviewee) will appreciate that there are an awful lot of variables that go into getting an offer or not and how good you are is only one of them. There's a good argument to be made that you'd be better off working some non-game job 9-5 then building something you actually like in your own time.
10:20 johhny depp?!?!?
Thats why I'm a web developer 😅 There is no Game dev industry in my country and by the time I discovered Game dev and stuff I was already 22 and 8-5 job no related to programming ✌️ so ...
Agreed having a biweekly job and stability to pay proves this
4:52 what if im a jr who's never had a job, and I already know about literally all these concepts quite deeply. But I have no portfolio because ADHD and can't finish a project to save the life of me.
The real question is how do you get the game dev job. Every job I come across has like 200+ applicants within a few minutes of being posted. Even with my decent game dev experience, how can one complete with that? Not only that, but I feel as of recent half of the available jobs are working on shitty mobile apps that think utilizing keywords like meta, blockchain, NFT, AR, VR and the like make them interesting.
Does anyone else feel extremely discouraged in this regard?
Hmm, two points. One, game-dev seems to run on networking, in the sense that "who you know > what you know". So if you're able, get involved in some social/professional groups of game-industry folks. Two, not all dev work is saving the world, but not all of it is the pits of hell either. Plenty of devs have stories about working on some dumb commercial tie-in project - it's still decent, paid work, you'll learn a lot, and you can make connections with coworkers & clients (see networking above).
Not saying you should toss out any personal ethics - I feel those are important, especially as our work can have an outsize influence. But figure out what your personal hardline yes/no positions are, and apply to jobs accordingly.
Bonus point! There are a lot of development jobs, even in Unity, that use game-tech or game-approaches, but are in sectors that you might not immediately think of, like architecture, or education. Always good to cast as wide a net as possible, and don't limit yourself to traditional-gaming companies. Good luck, and keep heart!
Game dev is a painful experience. But there is equally powerful and opposite reaction when you create something that actually works.
what's pit doing at 4:36?? context?
It’s very hard to get a game dev job. I applied for so many and most don’t even reply
lets see your portfolio
What if they make you sign non-compete agreement?
I discuss this further in the follow up video linked in pinned
Love the video. Don't you feel bad about getting a dev job while planning to leave once you have enough experience?
You may have mistaken me. I have no current plans to leave my job, I and will likely continue commercial dev in one form or another for the rest of my career.
Do you ever get burnt out!!
Well said.
great video mate
Actually watching the double-ads (hopefully you get more money) for once
Haha I appreciate that! YT pays peanuts for the time and effort put in to each video. Much love
I wouldn't recommend it. Did it for 10 years. Brutal work.
care to elaborate? And what do you do now?
Money
Skill gain
Discipline
What about language, is it possible to get a dev job if your english is not that good, or is this a big no?
Do you worry about your boss seeing videos like this at all?? It seems like it'd be a little worrying for your employer to know you aren't in it for the long haul.
The 'transition' I described can take years, or never happen at all. Nobody in tech stays in the same place forever, moving on is inevitable for most devs. Every rational tech employer understands this.
I am working on VisualHacker2D and luckily have a day job. I created a game company a few years ago. Been working on this game for like 2.7 years I think. Only stress to finish it is the stress I put on myself because I have a day job. But because I have that day job I can do what I need to do to make a game I'm proud of.