Business, Reality, Dreams and the Messiah!
by Stede Troisi · in General Discussion · 07/27/2002 (8:13 pm) · 144 replies
I have always had a desire to make a decent living from making games. Eventually I became a business programmer as the complexity and resources required to make a game became unrealistic.
At first I thought I would be a game programmer working for a great development company. Then I hear that most of these companies, capitalizing on the desires of young, talented programmers pay them $50,000 and make them work 22 out of 24 hours in a day while they make billions; also not for me.
Then I hear about GarageGames and their desire to become the new Messiah for game dreamers (the term I used for indie developers) in the 21st century.
Although you can learn a lot about development on this site the thing I have learned most (and value the most) is the business related issues.
One of my biggest observations is the fact that the Messiahs have/are now guarenteed to make millions! Think $100 * 10,000 subscribers to this site. Although there will be a few developed games most will fair or never get off the ground because of finance reasons.
I am amused to here Jeff Tunnel mention time and time again that financing is something YOU have to take care of but without you have Zero chance of success. I am also amused at the fear of many posts on this site of GG going out of business. I can't imagine how with so many game dreamers out there.
Do not get me wrong but I love the guys for opening this site. It has taught me a lot about the practical side of starting any business as I seek to go from an employee to an employer. I just wonder if anyone else realizes this?
Does anyone else know the chances of you becoming an sucessful indie developer is almost nill?
I would love to hear from all on all aspects of the BUSINESS side of things! Am I wrong?
Stede Troisi
At first I thought I would be a game programmer working for a great development company. Then I hear that most of these companies, capitalizing on the desires of young, talented programmers pay them $50,000 and make them work 22 out of 24 hours in a day while they make billions; also not for me.
Then I hear about GarageGames and their desire to become the new Messiah for game dreamers (the term I used for indie developers) in the 21st century.
Although you can learn a lot about development on this site the thing I have learned most (and value the most) is the business related issues.
One of my biggest observations is the fact that the Messiahs have/are now guarenteed to make millions! Think $100 * 10,000 subscribers to this site. Although there will be a few developed games most will fair or never get off the ground because of finance reasons.
I am amused to here Jeff Tunnel mention time and time again that financing is something YOU have to take care of but without you have Zero chance of success. I am also amused at the fear of many posts on this site of GG going out of business. I can't imagine how with so many game dreamers out there.
Do not get me wrong but I love the guys for opening this site. It has taught me a lot about the practical side of starting any business as I seek to go from an employee to an employer. I just wonder if anyone else realizes this?
Does anyone else know the chances of you becoming an sucessful indie developer is almost nill?
I would love to hear from all on all aspects of the BUSINESS side of things! Am I wrong?
Stede Troisi
About the author
#142
07/30/2002 (10:32 pm)
Wow, a lot has happened since my first post, and most of which that happened after I've ignored. I don't want to retract my statement and look like a smirking fool; I did agree with what he had to say up until my post. But once insults started flying around, I stepped back and stayed neutral. I sure hope I'm not "marked" now that I've agreed with a rebel, heh.
#144
07/31/2002 (6:47 am)
Been away for a while, eh James? 
Torque 3D Owner Eric Forhan
And this may be going off on a real tangent, but I seem to remember a news story years ago about this upstart software company started by a man and his wife called "Sierra Online".