Thread: Indie game developers

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Posts
    64

    Indie game developers

    Currently, I'm a college student.

    I suddenly thought that I really want to enter on the world of indie game developers. But after reading how much money they've funded on even really small games that even beaten our family yearly expenses ($ 200, 000 ), I'm thinking that I have a really small or nearly impossible to make it possible.

    Any thoughts here? How much do you earn on your current job right now? Do you have your own company?

    Thank you
    Sarah

  2. #2
    and the hat of int overfl Salem's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    The edge of the known universe
    Posts
    39,660
    Well if you're going for full 3D with lots of CG rendered scenes, full motion capture and a host of other techniques which eat money, then yeah - it costs.

    But there's no reason why you can't start small with a simple puzzle game that you market on the apple/google app stores.
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
    If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Posts
    64
    Yes, you are right. What do you think about Xbox? Does targeting that platform cost too much? I don't have that console but I heard they have this kind of program for indie developers.
    Last edited by sarah22; 05-12-2010 at 10:25 AM.

  4. #4
    Making mistakes
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Posts
    476
    You can always use C#/XNA.

  5. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Posts
    64
    I've read the XNA Creators Club here XNA Creators Club Online - quick start guide - create a game and I found out you can pay $49/$99 which I think is possible for me to pay.

    I didn't have any idea with C# because I ignored it few years ago because of OpenGL and DirectX.

    Now, I don't have any choice because I want to earn money the simplest way. I don't know any company that sell games for me except Microsoft. So, I guess... I'll give it a shot.

    If anyone knows any better than XNA, please post.

    Thank you
    Sarah22

  6. #6
    (?<!re)tired Mario F.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Ireland
    Posts
    8,446
    Quote Originally Posted by sarah22 View Post
    Now, I don't have any choice because I want to earn money the simplest way.
    That's not doing programming. Much less video games.

    Besides, it seems you are the one cutting your choices. Did it occur to you making money by actually working hard? Just a thought...
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.

  7. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Posts
    64
    Pardon me, but I don't get what are you trying to say about working hard but are you trying to point out that working hard doesn't let me earn money? Yes, I know that but I want to start my own group in game development. Does my thoughts sounds stupid and not practical?

    Thank you
    Sarah22

  8. #8
    (?<!re)tired Mario F.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Ireland
    Posts
    8,446
    Were you to get me in a fool mood and I would say exactly that. But, right now I just think your thoughts are immature.

    Anyways, what I'm trying to point to you is that the "simplest way to make money" is not through software development. I can guarantee you that. And much less doing game development, which is a lot more complex than most programs you see and use everyday.

    But if instead you want to make money by working hard then yes, software development is a good way to make a lot of money... still.
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.

  9. #9
    Registered User
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Posts
    64
    Yes. I understand. I sound now stupid for saying it the simplest way. But, I'll give it a shot. In the name of Game Development. hehe

    I'll just create first some simple games. Not really complex one. Might be a tower defense made of circles or whatever.

    Sorry, if I made you angry or whatever. Sorry also if my english sucks

    Thank you
    Sarah22

  10. #10
    Making mistakes
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Posts
    476
    These may sound simple, but from my own experience I know that they aren't. Start with something really easy, like tic-tac-toe or pong. Later on write a space shooter with custom levels etc.

  11. #11
    and the hat of int overfl Salem's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    The edge of the known universe
    Posts
    39,660
    An alternative would be to get paid employment at some mid-sized games company for a couple of years. Along the way, learn what you can about design, marketing, sales and all the other "non coding" activities that go into making a successful program.

    It might be great when you're done with it, but if no one knows about it, you're still poor.
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
    If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.

  12. #12
    spurious conceit MK27's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    segmentation fault
    Posts
    8,300
    Quote Originally Posted by sarah22 View Post
    Yes, you are right. What do you think about Xbox? Does targeting that platform cost too much? I don't have that console but I heard they have this kind of program for indie developers.
    You might also want to consider how many games that currently sell on the xbox which were written by less than 6 people, and I would guess the answer is 0.

    I think the only platform on which it is realistic to consider making money as a solo game developer will be mobile devices like the iphone. A lot of those games are very cheap, sell thousands of units, and were made by only one or two people in a matter of months. I believe both android and iphone use openGL based technology too.
    C programming resources:
    GNU C Function and Macro Index -- glibc reference manual
    The C Book -- nice online learner guide
    Current ISO draft standard
    CCAN -- new CPAN like open source library repository
    3 (different) GNU debugger tutorials: #1 -- #2 -- #3
    cpwiki -- our wiki on sourceforge

  13. #13
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    3,229
    How much are you planning to sell your game for?

    Would you, honestly, pay that much for the game you're going to write, with the amount of marketing you are planning to do, written by some lone developer you have never heard about?

  14. #14
    Lurking whiteflags's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    9,613

  15. #15
    Registered User
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Posts
    64
    You might also want to consider how many games that currently sell on the xbox which were written by less than 6 people, and I would guess the answer is 0.
    No way. Where did you get that one? Did you ever tried reading threads in XNA Creators Club and also the gamedev forums? Have you ever heard the James Silva in Ska Studios?

    Well creating games in solo really need some serious devotion. I'm planning to create a tower defense or maybe a fighting game. I'm done creating games like pong, snake, tic tac toe, tetris and etc when I was in 1st-2nd year college. I don't have the source code now but I know I can do those. Now, I want to make some serious stuffs like what I mentioned. Though, I'll definitely not earn lots of money on what I'm planning but I know if I made something great, they will notice me, you might also see me.

    Yes, iPhone is one of my target. But, reading this GameDev.net - Practical Tips for Independent Game Development really helps.

    I know most of the people here will tell me not to do it but I'll create a game maybe in iPhone or PC. I just need to polish my game design first and start maybe next month in coding. I'll just hire some great artist for my arts if my skills can't do it.

    I don't know how much I'm planning to sell my game but I'm targeting less than $10 or much better is $1-$5. I don't know. Ask me when I'm half done.

    Now, I heard earning money here is hard but doable. But my current goal is to be noticed.

    Thank you
    Sarah

Popular pages Recent additions subscribe to a feed

Similar Threads

  1. how do the game engine and the api interact?
    By Shadow12345 in forum Game Programming
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 12-08-2010, 12:08 AM
  2. Need book to program game into multiplayer...
    By edomingox in forum Game Programming
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 10-02-2008, 09:26 AM
  3. C# - Building a SCUMM-like game.. questions
    By Iyouboushi in forum Game Programming
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 05-24-2008, 10:54 PM
  4. PC Game Developers
    By jservia in forum Projects and Job Recruitment
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 07-28-2004, 04:46 PM
  5. Game Developers United
    By MattNowaczewski in forum Projects and Job Recruitment
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 07-13-2004, 10:30 PM