69 - Indie Career

[matt]

Someone asked questions about my indie career, so I made another video:


Enjoy!

[RightClickSaveAs]

What! So you mean working in the game development industry isn't like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRWvfMLl4ho
or this?? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAFLfx3mvIg

Seriously though, thanks for putting that up, I love hearing about people's experiences in game development. I've recently started getting really interested in the process, mostly inspired by the awesome documentary series 2 Player Productions is doing for the Double Fine Kickstarter game.

Has anyone heard of a new podcast called Tone Control? It was started by Steve Gaynor, the lead designer of Gone Home, who also left a studio to start an indie company. He talks with people in the industry about design, the first one is with Jake Rodkin and Sean Vanaman, who were story leads on the Telltale Walking Dead game, who recently also left to start their own indie. There's a pattern emerging...

[matt]

All three of them were on the excellent idle thumbs podcast, so maybe it's like a reunion show. I know Sean Vanaman personally. He's super sharp, and I'm really excited about his new company.

Indie development is definitely the most fulfilling, but it is really TOUGH to actually make a living doing it.

[sunsetbrew]

Matt,

Thanks for answering all my questions. I totally relate to your POV. I would love to do so many other things than what I do now. However, I do find the compensation adjustment to be a major barrier for me, especially since I have a wife to remind me.

The only option I have is to do gaming from a hobby perspective. In part I want to do some games for my daughter. Naturally, everyone that cares about what they are doing wants to do it the best they can. So right now I am simultaneously learning the UDK, the art of Cinematography, 3D modeling and Photography. Man, it is a huge everyday commitment.

Anyway, I feel honored to be able to confide in you. So thank you for that and sharing you view in these videos! I have learned a lot from you.

BTW: two things we have in common. (1) playing games on easy and (2) wanting to fill the KS circle for the cool animation. Could not finish the KS circle yet as I recently purchased a kick ass Canon for my gaming project.

Thomas

[matt]

Fortunately, my wife has only known me when I was an indie developer, so we never had to adjust our lifestyle to accommodate my poor salary.

Learning game development is a challenge, but I think you are going about it the right way. Sometimes the biggest barrier is just to start. It seems like you are diving right in, which is admirable.

Cindy Au from kickstarter asked me if the pie chart of the different categories was a motivator for backers, and I told her I thought so. Why not make it complete? I think I cheated and backed some random restaurant that seemed like it would be unsuccessful. At least I completed my circle!