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Yeah and once you get that success the haters are gonna crawl back to you sayin “Oh me Saying you couldn’t do it helped you succeed.” So basically just “hey I was mad that you actually succeeded and didn’t get your dreams crushed like I did so give me money.”
34 now. Been developing video games for 17 years, I know 5 programming languages, music composition and production, done a bit of everything and shipped multiple games with mostly failures.... The biggest tip I can give to anyone. The 'world' which equates to the internet at this point, is very very very very superficial, and only growing more superficial every day. Literally most people buy something by going 'ooo shiney', this is no joke. Your front end, that is your website, logos, trailers, screenshots and at least the very beginning of your demo must be beautiful SUPERFICIALLY. 1) Sharp: high res, use upscaling or supersampling filters, make it at least 1080p 2) Shiney: bloom and glow 3) Animated: at least 5 frame animation if you're using pixel art or hand drawn, use squash and stretch. RPG Maker uses 3 frame animation, the difference is staggering between 5 and 3 frame animation. Many use vector art with bones, it won't look at good as hand drawn. 3D will take you too much time, but is possible. 4) Color values: Screenshot, turn it black and white, adjust colors, turn it back to color and adjust the game. 5) Shadows: Have hard high quality sharp shadows. 6) Minimalism: Do not make it detailed, you won't have time for that anyone as a single person. Also note, 3D takes a lot lot lot lot lot lot lot lot more work to get right visually. There are three main processes to game development. The first is game development itself. This is the part you probably love. The second is what I'd call 'clothing'. This equates to your 'front end', store pages and website and all of it's art and presentation. The third is PR which equates to keeping your social medias looking professional and being a social talkaholic so you can PM and or e-mail tons of people. The goal here is to get someone popular, mainly streamers, to try out the game. You can see the problem here right? The first step, making the thing, is an extremely introverted thing, while the third is extremely extroverted.
1-2: learn basic (unity, blender) 3: learn c# 4: rinse and repeat 5: make a horrible prototype 6: relax 7: fine tuning based on feedback 8: polish the visuals and feel 9: use saved money to buy stuff like music and logo 10: make the demo with 4K cover 11-12: pitch the game to 100 publishers/kickstarter
Dude, there's just something about the way you do these videos that gives me immense motivation to keep striving in my own game dev journey. Id pretty much given myself the same deadlines to a prototype but had been trying to do step 1-3+11-12 all within the first few months and getting frustrated to heck. This order and pacing of things is really going to help me, thank you!
@@Victor-oo4ux That's for people who have a job, but want to start something on the side. 6 to 9 is only something for people without a job or students.
I love the month-by-month steps, thank you so much! I always get overwhelmed when people just tell you what you should learn and in what order without telling for how long because then I fall for perfectionism and stay on the first task forever. So yay for this, thank you!
Anything worth doing, is worth doing right. Just imagine, the hard work you put in and you get that reward after 12ish months. Great advice. Getting my 13 year old to watch this as he's been doing Blender for 12 months and has now started Unity. I'm helping him by learning Unity and C#. Great road map to follow.
I've been working as a software developer for 5 years and I'm willing to make my own indie game company. Thanks for the video. This is the year. Wish me luck.
@@keeghanburk7906 After this comment I started learning Unreal Engine 5 and I'm now able to make some basic games. I'm currently participating at a gamejam and I have a small horror game project in the making. Thanks for asking!
Compressing a lot? In just 4 months? (Florida) High School had me learning Seven different classes at any given time, half of which I couldn't care less about, while taking tests out the ### and "learning" how to do A-Z while trying to maintain a passing grade. This should be a cake walk given this is something I want to learn lmaaoo.
Both of you are maybe missing the point. Don't focus on failure. Play til you win! Nobody EVER got anywhere by giving in/up...take chances because you really have nothing to lose.
@@efekaanaltas Fair enough, but that fact is not absolute. With new tech, tools and mediums for applying your dev gaming skills, there are many ways to succeed. Not just in game making. So while stating "90% of games in development will be not successful" might be true, at the time of the post, it still diminishes ones hope. Maybe we just need to elaborate on what game developers can do until they do get a hit game out there. Such as developing interactive apps for manufactures, training, assets, education, military, AI, etc... Those individuals broadening their horizons and getting involved in a variety of other avenues for exercising their passion can't help but be successful. I edited my last post as I feel I used a poor choice in words. Thanks for your thoughts on this.
@@g4fly4ever8 they won't be successful on their own, but the dev experience proves to be a necessary step towards what can eventually be a very successful game in the future.
BRO! I'm doing this right now for my little indie game! Wish me luck I have a lot of work to do ahead of me. Thanks for your videos! They motivate and inspire me to keep going.
This just came in time. I am already hustling and working hard to turn my vision of building best video game development studio of India into a reality. Thank you Thomas for all the inspiration man!
I found this video 3 months into my own venture and i was kind of excited to see my personal teaching was in line with your monthly milestones! im currently on month 3, just brushing up on C++ For Unreal Engine Dev! Thank you for giving me a good idea of where to continue going after this month and later!
Man, I cannot thank you enough for all these videos. Everytime I try to get something done I get more and more frustrated, but with every new video you release you encourage us to keep forward. This one is essential to any game developer. Most of us don't know how to measure how long it will take to make a game, or even a prototype. These 12 steps are PURE GOLD. This gives us an order, strategy and a key to measure our progress via small goals. Again, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
Thank you for saying that! You made me scroll through the related video thumbnails and I found a video from a channel I've never heard of called "what makes a good metroidvania" which is exactly the kind of game I'm trying to make! ❤
It might be an idea to mention finance, as softwarw isn't always readily available cheaply (things like Adobe), if you're to do it properly. Other than that though, superb video, really exciting to see how easy it is to start a studio, I'm looking forward to all the sorts of games that will be in our future! 🤩
glad to hear me and my roommate are on a good track for our game idea, we also realize with what you showed that our only stopping point is our learning of the game engine, blender and music parts, we have those in the bag now with who and what we plan to do, thanks so much for this video
I've got 9 & 10 covered 😅 (I'm a musician and an artist 😁👍) $3,000 saved! Seriously though, this is an invaluable guide. Sincerely, thanks for sharing this with us ✌️
It's crazy how well timed this was for my life. I have been debating in my head if pursuing my dream of a making games was realistic, and this pushed me to finally go all in. Thank you, your videos rock!
i havent been on this channel for a while and this video was EXACTLY what i needed. Seriously it is the best era in human history for learning...what a waste of time university was....Also people Blender 2.8 is out. It has HUGE improvements !!! if you didnt like it before give it another try !!!!! Thank you so much for your time and effort Thomas.
C# is very straight forward! Take your time and dig to understand, it's very easy after a short time. If you want to be a good programmer, always practice and dig deeper.
This video was while ago, and I really appreciate every bit of the experience you share with us... It is really inspiring to realize one way or another I was doing the first steps you mentioned for the first months... However I stopped... I will put my best to finish this time! Thank you for the inspiration
Depends on what your making right? IE pixel art is easier in photoshop no? And what about larger painted landscapes? Is that somethin u would recommend doing in illustrator
Hey, so I'm on that last step and I'm wondering... Where did you find 100 publishers!? I feel lucky to find a good 10-20 that are even still offering what I need.
I’ve had an idea for a game for years, and me and my friends have always wanted to play it. I’m majoring in MIS, and I’ve taken a few coding, database, and software design classes. It’s motivating me so much to just try to make this a reality. Right now I’m just focusing on learning code and development, while also writing lore and storylines to brainstorm the main concept of this. The idea is so far fetched for an indie developer that I just want to perfect everything I can from the beginning. Just manifesting the best right now, I really hope that 10 years down the line- I’ll have a beta version of something I’ve always dreamed of :)
Just one tip: Are there aspects of the game that in and of themselves could be their standalone game? Just building for that long and never releasing anything can be super demotivating. But if you break it down into smaller games, where each game add some features it can be more attainable. For example, if you imagine an MMO with cool combat: - Do a game that has combat in only one arena with enemies that get stronger. This is a game that can stand on its own and be published, while being much smaller (only 1 level/ environment, no networking, ...) - Next game could add a story and a more open world - ... You see, a bit like an onion, where each game you publish adds some more features.
Your videos have been a huge help to me! I'm a very novice game dev and an intermediate coder so your tutorials have given me confidence and things to think about/direction for my game. I've been stressing about a platformer that I'm making, but the plan I set up was very similar to the one here. Thank you for your videos, Thomas. Keep up the good work!
Tons Of Hun Studios inspired by Celeste but with different mechanics! I plan on doing everything myself except maybe the final art assets. I’m still in the prototyping phase and just getting the general game to work well. It’s a slow but steady process.
If you want to self publish i would add the following steps 0. Make sure you are the type of person that can work alone, can accept criticism, handle disappointment and is willing to invest time and money, for a small chance of success. 1. Decide why you want to make a game more then anything in the world. (Put that on motivational poster on the wall) 2. Get others to help with f.e. Marketing, finances etc 3. Challenge your idea against existing games. Why is yours better/different 4. Maximize your exposure with dedicated social media accounts, webpage, mailing list, discord 5. Do a develloper blog to create a following (post on reddit etc) 6. Have talks with other game developers about the things they are struggling with 7. Show your prototype at game dev conferences 8. Keep your prototype a prototype, and start building a production version with your new knowledge gained over time 9. Publish on multiple platforms 10. Send free review keys to influencers In short, make sure people know about your game and why it is awesome. Give it time as well, I believe the people that made angry birds, made 30 games before they had that big hit
WHOA. My next game Neversong comes out on Steam MAY 20th! Wishlist now to snag that tasty launch discount :) store.steampowered.com/app/733210/Neversong_formerly_Once_Upon_A_Coma/
having watched the video, I want to thank you so much. I have no idea do C sharp programming but there's no excuse to write a video game thank you so much for everything
3 years passed. I have just seen this video. I couldnt develope any game. I know unity and c#. I complety lost my focus. I dont know how to start again and re metivate myself. Do u have any advice?
This showed me that I went about my process completely wrong. Biggest mistake I made was polishing my prototype from the beginning and making too many levels instead of ensuring the core loop was good enough (which I'm still not sure about). I'm going to scrap it and start something new, following this advice.
Almost a year had passed away when this video came out. Anybody got any kind of success in building games and making it commercial? I'm about to strat my first year of game development. I'd love to hear about your experiences!
@@SidMakesGames Never really thought of meeting a fellow country mate here. It's so motivating to see that you're not giving up on what you like. I have started my journey but there's a lot to learn. Thanks for the words, sir. Every bit helps!
@@akashverma4280 Cheers dude! Thomas actually has a lot of Indian audience. Absolutely, you gotta keep working for it if you really envision to be a professional in the field. Best of luck for your journey ahead. You are going to need it :D
@@SidMakesGames I'm not going to give up. Life has been tough lately, I didn't even touched my project for about a week just because a wrong person came in my life and turned my life upsidedown, almost lost my sanity and I failed to see how some people can be so blind in their own ego that they stop caring about others. But I'm telling you sir, I'm stronger than ever and I will not quit. I can't get back all the wasted hours but I don't have any regrets because I thought she was genuine but every girl is same, she got bored, I guess. I'm not gonna trust anyone or invest so much in a person, especially bitches. I told her to end things in right way and I don't want to start a new journey based on negativity. I really tried my best. But fk her. I care about genuine people only not narcissistic people. I'll not give up on my passion, cuz it's real.
@@akashverma4280 I see, you must be going through tough time bro but don't worry, we all been there. It's just part of life. You always come back stronger. Stay connected with game development community, the whole community is very welcoming and helpful. Don't let any person be an obstacle in you and your passion coz nothing is above passion. People come and go but your skills and knowledge stay. Just like you said, you can't get back the wasted hours but what you can do is make the best use of the hours you have. Better not waste them anymore ;) You got this dude! 🔥
Honestly, I think the "spend 2-3 thousand dollars" advice is the worst in the entire list. I'm not saying that spending money isn't worth it, but you'd be super surprised what you can get for profit/equity share. There are a ton of good musicians and artists out there as hungry as you are, and if you have a decent product to show them that they feel they can latch on to, you'll drum up a bunch of interest.
Honestly I think if you don't have that kind of money doing this as a way of earning a living is not for you. I also think Thomas is unfortunately skipping/glossing over a lot of the risk and making other things seem far easier, faster and cheaper than they are in the real-world, especially so if you don't have the experience too.
while i agree that you shouldn't at all take this lightly, there is no reason for someone that hasn't grown up with rich parents or something like that to not start a game dev career if that is what their passion is. The thing is that people that only think because they like playing games or because it is "easy money" (which it isn't) they should start, that's who shouldn't start.
thank you! thank you! this is awesome. As someone who has been chewing on an indie game idea for years now but didn't know how to really start, this is very helpful. Many thanks.
Thomas you really inspired me... at this moment i done a terrible graphics one character and one enemy, background and "platforms" are done and starting with coding movements so excited when my character become alive ;) good luck on selling your game :)
@@santah0h0h09 Thanks for asking! I tried one project - realized I really overscoped it. Spent some time on my thoughts. Started developing a simpler (in terms of amount of content) game. Couldn't develop in december-january (exams), but you can see my progress on my channel!
With all die respect, i just really want to hug you and thank you i found this vid by pure coincidence and youve given me hope and happiness about my goals! And motivated me so much
I am an indie developer, using UE5, Blender, Photoshop, VS Code, C++, and a ton of other little pieces of tech. My game is big, so far inching up to a 1 billion square miles in this virtual world. I have been working on it for almost 9 years. Finances are my problem, but I am working through it slowly.
Hey Thomas, I really like your videos. You have an amazing skill set in art and game creation, and I am going to give it a real shot following your advice. It is my dream to create worlds and experiences that people can enjoy for years to come. Anyways, I just think you are super talented and thank you for all you do and your advice. You’re a source of inspiration and motivation. Thank you. Also, happy thanksgiving!
Nose to the grindstone is a saying. It comes from the days of millstones. A miller would put his nose down near the stone to smell if the oats were burning as they ground under the stone.
Love this! Regarding month 9, I did wanna say that I'm a composer, multi instrumentalist, and produce all my own music. I've wanted to make music for games my whole life, and finally have the means to.
In the beginning of this year, I've start working on my own game that I passionate about like 4 years ago but never finished it. Now I've just finished it and released it on Google Play Store for free to play. It's not easy, a lot of work then negative reviews come and boys that trully harsh. But I still not givin up yet. Love your videos!
Been working in games for over 10 years as a Senior 3D Character Artist and been thinking about starting a game company, first i will have to do a demo, i can do almost anything on the art side but the programming will be a nightmare.
5:22 "Just the basics- It's okay if you're not perfect. Just the basics." Man I needed that. I'm intermediate at modeling and now learning basic coding in Unity...
I am opposite... I am good with Unity and C# but I have no clue about art. I am still deciding if I want to make 2d or 3d art. Honestly considering 3D since I am a terrible drawer
Ive made my paperwork for steam appliance. Its a big next step for me :) Basicly ive just did c# for 7 years now, started blender and other things in the last past months.
Matdrox I could totally be wrong, but I assume they buy publishing rights to the game, and fund you a bit with their purchase and give you a completion deadline. Hopefully someone with more knowledge or experience can answer your question but I think this might be how it works.
Questions: 1) Do you need a publisher? Can't you self publish on digital stores (Steam, PS Store, Xbox Store, etc.)? 2) Should you outsource not only music but art too or is a month of Photoshop or blender enough? I am assuming you had skills to make your own.
Hi Thomas, nice video. I am glad that you did it. You can make money from game dev. It is a huge inspiration. I have skills in visual aspects but for me, C# and unity is a hard nut to crack. But I am fighting this for over 2-3 years. Also, I quit this twice indeed. After a couple of months, I realized that I don't want to quit and also that the big break was useful too. So I think making a month-long break is the most critical one in a path of an indie game dev.
I came in here very skeptical. I"m making an RPG right now, and this video is really great. I may follow your advice on the crowd funding. The only note is that coding can be hard to learn if you don't have the right teacher, or material to help you. I tell you this from experience. I was practicing to code for about 6 months on my own. It wasn't until I downloaded gamemaker and found Heartbeast which taught me SOOOO much of what i know right now. But it took me about a year to come up with a pretty bad concept. So learn to code from the right sources and i believe its possible also in about 3-4 months. Anyway guys, i HIGHLY recommend Heartbeast if you want to go with gamemaker. Gamemaker works well with my RPG system.
Thanks very much for tips! Please please please make as much detailed video as possible about working with publishers and second about making a kickstarter gampaign (with stretch goals, baker levels etc.)
This helped so much thank you, Im someone who doesn’t know a thing about game design but I do have game developer friends and we been working together to create a game I designed and structured and it’s exciting but this makes me believe I do need to major or learn the programs to actually front line my game more
How do you deal with innovative intellectual property if you pitch something in an Email that can get stolen? Obviously what comes to mind are NDA's but where do you draw the line while not pushing away investors. Even putting something on kickstarter is risky.
Good point. But to vaguely quote Gary Vee, ideas are nothing, execution is everything. If you have a great idea, it won't be successful unless you act on it. You're right, you don't want to overshare but as long as you make it if your idea is good so will your end product!
My only experience in coding was a one term of game dev class way back in college. I was really good at it but I never pursued it. Now, I decided to enhance that skill, start learning again and make a prototype. But I still have no vision on what game/genre I want to do. Should I learn first how to do the basics or should I figure out what game I want to do?
Thank you sooo much man. I look up to you and every time i feel like i won't make it in game development i just see your videos and it just sparks the fire in me. You're the best. Thanks for making people like me to be inspired day in and day out. ❤
I like your videos & content in general but I noticed that you are *very* focused on Unity, Thomas. Which is fine, because it is a great tool after all, *but* it's not the only good tool out there. If you're going for 2D game development, I can highly recommend the Godot Engine, which is MIT licensed, so completely free to use, no royalty fees. (Which is a big plus over Unity.) And it's very beginner friendly, if you've never done any game development before. Unity is still a valid option of course, but it's not the only option. That's all I want to say. :)
I think spending money on music is to specific of advice. IMO spending money on whatever assets would be improve your game but you can't make because of lack of skills/time would better. And also I think falling into the mindset that you can't find premade music that suits your game is kind of like thinking because you spend more money on an apple computer it will be more powerful. Maybe it will be, if you know what you're doing and what you want, or if it's extremely important for your game. (it would be less important in a competitive multiplayer game, then a game like Pinstripe for example).
Here to help if you need a great game trailer. If you are at the final pitch and fund raising stage with a polished game or demo... I have years of editing and game dev experience. I just never get a chance to work on game trailers. If you have something polished with assets for me to use in the edit I can help at a low cost.
As a fellow game dev (former Disney employee), this is the best possible summary of how to break into the industry that I've ever heard. Would add to the end that this is also a great way to get a game development job at another studio, as a fallback. :]
Can I tell you about my idea for a video game for a battle Royal game? Its called Zombie castle💀 With 100 floors of zombies, and boss zombies to fight, after clearing each floor.
We really have a best time in the human history. We got SkillShare and TH-cam so you don't have to pay expensive fee in University. If you are small studio with tight budget, you have Fiverr to hire freelancer. You pay based on complete task like consult for script, bug fixes, game design, art, compose sound or music. It's kinda cool if you can't pay per hour to hire freelancer
I really love your videos Thomas , they inspire me a lot, I don't really subscribe and comment people channels, but there's just something about yours that makes me addicted and inspired, thanks a lot.
just 2nd and 3rd advice made people learn UNITY while there are lots of great alternatives like Unreal engine and even get me started on Godot and hundreds of awesome free software out there. You are narrowing all of that variety to a single (imo) questionable proprietary program.
I am also a Game Developer, Musician , Artist , Animator, Coder, Audio Engineer, And im almost finish with my first ios game hopefully i will be able to get it out to a publisher. I seriously need some money. LOL, Hopefully everything will work out for the best. Thomas Brush if you can help me get my game out there i would love the help! Keep up the good work with your games!!!
I am a big fan of indie games. Every indie game I've played has their own unique and beautiful visuals, music and story. But most importantly every one if them taught me valuable lesson and inspired me to make my story. Hope everyone who watched this video build their Game Studio in 12 Month. I made my first game a week ago. Now I am going to start my next project, little bit bigger but achievable. Wish me goodluck guys. See you after this 12 months journey.
Hey Thomas, I just want to say that your video has inspired me to start the journey to set up my own indie game studio. I've bookmarked this video and I hope I'll be able to come back in a year or two and tell you I've succeeded. I'll see you down the road.
Hi Thomas, I've found your channel recently. I'm currently a Data Scientist, but trying to build up the courage to begin in the world of indie game development, and also digital art. I'm worried that I'm too old for that. I'm currently 27. At what age did you begin? Do you think that is still possible to pursue this dream?
I'm 27 as well. But I was planning on making a game studio as I got older lol. I'm also a Data Scientist. I don't think age should matter. I still see myself having a fantastical vision at 50 years old. Lol
1 win the lottery 2-8 hire people and make "the biggest game ever" 9-12 smoke cigar as you do a big marketing campaign while literally everyone on the internet is screaming how bad the final release is
I'm trying to think of more examples of "small, sticky" ideas. Some games, it's more obvious, but in others, I don't know what that idea would be. To use the Zelda franchise as an example, A Link Between Worlds, the "small, sticky" idea is the idea of being able to turn into a drawing on the wall, which gives a third dimension for puzzle-solving. For a game like Ocarina of Time, I'm not sure if it's as obvious. Is it the idea of being able to travel back and forth in time using your sword? Is it having a musical instrument that can act as a key or allow you to do certain things depending on which of the dozen (or however many there are) melodies in the game you play? Is it just the general concept of translating the Zelda formula set by A Link to the Past to 3D? Furthermore, what would you say this idea was in Pinstripe? Was it the slingshot?
Maybe the sticky idea is related to the character and/or setting? Like in Pinstripe the idea was, according to Thomas here, "a minister in Hell". Or the idea for my own game, Equis, where it's . . . hmmm, a bit of both I think. Basically I got a Pegasus character with different methods of "aerial flank-whooping". B) (Soooo, what do you make of that? What ideas come to mind? I know I got many ideas attached to this for the gameplay and setting already, but this is the core of the game I've been encouraged to pitch. So, sticky enough? Or do you need a bit more detail in order to get the idea I have in mind?)
@@Longma1 Ah, gotcha. That makes sense, as Pinstripe did feel very narrative-driven. So it's likely the idea that got it rolling was a minister in Hell, which of course begs the question, "What is a minister doing in Hell as opposed to Heaven?" I like the pegasus idea. As just a "small, sticky" idea, I think it's pretty good, but now I'm interested. Could you maybe define "aerial flank-whooping?" I understand you're referring to combat, but I'm having a bit of trouble visualizing what that could look like. I'm sort of picturing a Kid Icarus: Uprising kind of thing. What kind of game would you describe it as? (Ex: 2D platformer, top-down adventure, RPG, 3D platformer/adventure, Metroidvania, etc.) My game idea is sort of elaborate at this point (I'm kind of in the process of starting month 2 now), but basically I want a top-down, turn-based RPG (like an Earthbound or an Undertale) that follows that kind of Narnia/Wizard of Oz trope where you end up in an alternate world that you have to save before you're able to return home. Of course, there's more to the plot than just that, but that's the general idea. I also want to play with the idea that in this other, more mythical "world," your abilities are different, making you capable of certain magical powers, at which the player character would become more competent, both as the game progresses and as you "level up."
@@TheNightmare75II (Sry for putting off my response. Anyways. . .) Hmmm, based on your input and seeing how you presented your idea, I suppose I could amend my "small sticky idea pitch" for you (or just elaborate on it), though it is cool to see it piquing your interest as it is. Well, how about (on the gameplay front): "2d open-air action brawler with pegasus that has free flight and fights enemies in the air with hooves plus any weapons (melee or ranged) you can grab, use, and throw"?* Or how about (on the conflict front): "Dragon-trained Pegasus Faces Invasion of Nordic Cyberpunk Minotaurs FROM SPACE!" ^_^ Or on the setting front: "Equine planet Equis; within mythical cosmos, where each planet has one sapient, dominant kind originating there**, to be further explored in future stories, games and spinoffs; can pull from just about anywhere in mythology**". *(Have you played Owlboy? When I played it, I was surprised at how close certain mechanics felt, such as the flying and shooting, compared to what I had in mind for Equis. Except that mine will be a bit faster and have more melee focus.) **(No humans in this 'verse, and anything remotely humanoid is altered to resemble its relative locals [e.g. harpies and sirens, equinoid in Equis, or bovine in Minotaur world].)
AnthrozilWarrior3 No worries! I'm glad you wrote back, though. I'd forgotten all about this. I really like this idea! And no, I've never played Owlboy, but this actually sounds like a game I'd like to play after hearing your "pitch." I like the idea of a single pegasus fighting a bunch of Minotaur aliens. It's such a fun idea. Anyway, maybe I should check out Owlboy if it's similar in style. Hahaha
^_^/) Though there is a chance I might start smaller with a prequel game (especially if it were to be my first), to build the titular world, the characters, the journey, and the gameplay groundwork (plus incorporate some of my extra ideas that might not fit with the style of the main game, like LoZ-type exploring and dungeon-crawling. . . I mean, they could, but like I indicated, I'm just starting out, and besides, you don't wanna overbloat any one game with too many ideas or you'd have one mess of an experience). Kinda like how Dragonball set up its world---an alternate Earth full of strange sights and creatures---before expanding its scope to worlds beyond in Dragonball Z. (Other influences include My Little Pony, Metroid, Samurai Jack, and MCU.)
This is a goal I’d like to go after. Anyone ever get to this point but find you had another goal that could conflict or interfere with your available time or bandwidth? For me it’s screenwriting.
You say you make enough money with the game studio to pay everything, but you have a successful TH-cam channel and you sell products. It's very hard to understand how making money with only one or 2 games will pay for all that without the TH-cam and the products you sell.Just wandering, but beside that, it's an amazing idea. Thank you for taking the time to explain and for sharing the idea. Really cool !
My indie game studio is me, my cat, my daughter as tester and my wife as kickstarter foundings... because she have real job... I hope it is close enough ;)
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Hello. I was wondering if you could use a program like clip studios or Krita for your games environment and have you ever use one of these programs
NO
"There are a lot of people who don't want to see you succeed because they aren't succeeding", the polite version of 'haters gonna gate'.
Hate*
Yass
GD JUST GAME
Nah, they are gonna try to gate you off from success
Yeah and once you get that success the haters are gonna crawl back to you sayin “Oh me Saying you couldn’t do it helped you succeed.” So basically just “hey I was mad that you actually succeeded and didn’t get your dreams crushed like I did so give me money.”
shocking farground x WDYM???
34 now. Been developing video games for 17 years, I know 5 programming languages, music composition and production, done a bit of everything and shipped multiple games with mostly failures....
The biggest tip I can give to anyone. The 'world' which equates to the internet at this point, is very very very very superficial, and only growing more superficial every day.
Literally most people buy something by going 'ooo shiney', this is no joke. Your front end, that is your website, logos, trailers, screenshots and at least the very beginning of your demo must be beautiful SUPERFICIALLY.
1) Sharp: high res, use upscaling or supersampling filters, make it at least 1080p
2) Shiney: bloom and glow
3) Animated: at least 5 frame animation if you're using pixel art or hand drawn, use squash and stretch. RPG Maker uses 3 frame animation, the difference is staggering between 5 and 3 frame animation. Many use vector art with bones, it won't look at good as hand drawn. 3D will take you too much time, but is possible.
4) Color values: Screenshot, turn it black and white, adjust colors, turn it back to color and adjust the game.
5) Shadows: Have hard high quality sharp shadows.
6) Minimalism: Do not make it detailed, you won't have time for that anyone as a single person.
Also note, 3D takes a lot lot lot lot lot lot lot lot more work to get right visually.
There are three main processes to game development.
The first is game development itself. This is the part you probably love.
The second is what I'd call 'clothing'. This equates to your 'front end', store pages and website and all of it's art and presentation.
The third is PR which equates to keeping your social medias looking professional and being a social talkaholic so you can PM and or e-mail tons of people. The goal here is to get someone popular, mainly streamers, to try out the game.
You can see the problem here right? The first step, making the thing, is an extremely introverted thing, while the third is extremely extroverted.
Thanks for the advice sir. Can you please say what is your current success ratio as compared to the previous one?
The industrial revolution and its consequences...
1-2: learn basic (unity, blender)
3: learn c#
4: rinse and repeat
5: make a horrible prototype
6: relax
7: fine tuning based on feedback
8: polish the visuals and feel
9: use saved money to buy stuff like music and logo
10: make the demo with 4K cover
11-12: pitch the game to 100 publishers/kickstarter
Point 1 was to generate small game ideas every day.
Unreal is better.
@@yevheniishyshko7961 none is better
@@bevvy.bee9 comin in with da fax
@@shuraque wait isn't that illegal
You post this on my birthday, so is this my call to action for the year?
Happy birthday 🎂🎂🎉😊🎊
Yes it’s your time fella
Happy birthday
@@muhamedgalal3093 thanks!
Duuuude it's my birthday too!! Heck yeah!
Dude, there's just something about the way you do these videos that gives me immense motivation to keep striving in my own game dev journey. Id pretty much given myself the same deadlines to a prototype but had been trying to do step 1-3+11-12 all within the first few months and getting frustrated to heck. This order and pacing of things is really going to help me, thank you!
The key to all this is spending 2 to 3 hours every single day on your game.
that is truth
and scope!
Hey brother how are you
Does this apply to complete begginers who know nothing about games or cgi what so ever
2 to 3? Do you mean 6 to 9?
This ofc depends on the person, but 2 to 3 is on the low end. ;)
@@Victor-oo4ux That's for people who have a job, but want to start something on the side. 6 to 9 is only something for people without a job or students.
I love the month-by-month steps, thank you so much! I always get overwhelmed when people just tell you what you should learn and in what order without telling for how long because then I fall for perfectionism and stay on the first task forever. So yay for this, thank you!
Anything worth doing, is worth doing right.
Just imagine, the hard work you put in and you get that reward after 12ish months.
Great advice.
Getting my 13 year old to watch this as he's been doing Blender for 12 months and has now started Unity.
I'm helping him by learning Unity and C#.
Great road map to follow.
Would love to know how you two have come along since this was posted!
I've been working as a software developer for 5 years and I'm willing to make my own indie game company. Thanks for the video. This is the year. Wish me luck.
Hey, I saw your comment. How are you doing with your project?
@@keeghanburk7906 After this comment I started learning Unreal Engine 5 and I'm now able to make some basic games. I'm currently participating at a gamejam and I have a small horror game project in the making. Thanks for asking!
@@davidquezada2116
How'd the jam go?
@@BeardBarians It was a fun experience !
@@davidquezada2116 nice
Compressing a lot? In just 4 months? (Florida) High School had me learning Seven different classes at any given time, half of which I couldn't care less about, while taking tests out the ### and "learning" how to do A-Z while trying to maintain a passing grade. This should be a cake walk given this is something I want to learn lmaaoo.
Thomas brush is a indie game dev legend! Every video you post is nothing but positivity! Thank you for the energy. Love the channel
Yeah:) In reality. More than 90% of games in development will be not successful
Roman Guro You are a pile of niggativity
Both of you are maybe missing the point. Don't focus on failure. Play til you win! Nobody EVER got anywhere by giving in/up...take chances because you really have nothing to lose.
@@efekaanaltas Fair enough, but that fact is not absolute. With new tech, tools and mediums for applying your dev gaming skills, there are many ways to succeed. Not just in game making. So while stating "90% of games in development will be not successful" might be true, at the time of the post, it still diminishes ones hope.
Maybe we just need to elaborate on what game developers can do until they do get a hit game out there. Such as developing interactive apps for manufactures, training, assets, education, military, AI, etc... Those individuals broadening their horizons and getting involved in a variety of other avenues for exercising their passion can't help but be successful.
I edited my last post as I feel I used a poor choice in words. Thanks for your thoughts on this.
@@g4fly4ever8 they won't be successful on their own, but the dev experience proves to be a necessary step towards what can eventually be a very successful game in the future.
Thomas Brush: Spend 2 to 3 hours working on this.
Me: Wakes up at 3am and falls asleep trying too get ideas.
th-cam.com/video/A-NoTZYmRcE/w-d-xo.html
BRO! I'm doing this right now for my little indie game! Wish me luck I have a lot of work to do ahead of me. Thanks for your videos! They motivate and inspire me to keep going.
I'd like to demo your game. I'm interested
hey it's 2 years now, what happened? how are you doing with your game? :3
This just came in time. I am already hustling and working hard to turn my vision of building best video game development studio of India into a reality.
Thank you Thomas for all the inspiration man!
Would love to get in touch with you!
My Twitter is van_narain
@@van9628 Sure bro
Followed you, drop me a text whenever you feel like
All the best brother. Hope we meet someday on this path of setting up a studio in India.
@@sidmakes #IndianGameDev !!!!
I found this video 3 months into my own venture and i was kind of excited to see my personal teaching was in line with your monthly milestones! im currently on month 3, just brushing up on C++ For Unreal Engine Dev! Thank you for giving me a good idea of where to continue going after this month and later!
how's it going for you?:)
Man, I cannot thank you enough for all these videos. Everytime I try to get something done I get more and more frustrated, but with every new video you release you encourage us to keep forward. This one is essential to any game developer. Most of us don't know how to measure how long it will take to make a game, or even a prototype. These 12 steps are PURE GOLD. This gives us an order, strategy and a key to measure our progress via small goals.
Again, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
Dude, these thumbnails are cursed
Awesome Video
Thank you for saying that! You made me scroll through the related video thumbnails and I found a video from a channel I've never heard of called "what makes a good metroidvania" which is exactly the kind of game I'm trying to make! ❤
He could have added 1extra finger to both hand and it would have looked less cursed
These videos are so great! They inspired me to finally finish a game. It doesn't have any players obviously but it feels great
Awesome! What's your game about?
Reply with I link to your game. I’ll play it
It might be an idea to mention finance, as softwarw isn't always readily available cheaply (things like Adobe), if you're to do it properly.
Other than that though, superb video, really exciting to see how easy it is to start a studio, I'm looking forward to all the sorts of games that will be in our future! 🤩
glad to hear me and my roommate are on a good track for our game idea, we also realize with what you showed that our only stopping point is our learning of the game engine, blender and music parts, we have those in the bag now with who and what we plan to do, thanks so much for this video
How big is your team?
I've got 9 & 10 covered 😅 (I'm a musician and an artist 😁👍) $3,000 saved!
Seriously though, this is an invaluable guide. Sincerely, thanks for sharing this with us ✌️
It's crazy how well timed this was for my life. I have been debating in my head if pursuing my dream of a making games was realistic, and this pushed me to finally go all in. Thank you, your videos rock!
i havent been on this channel for a while and this video was EXACTLY what i needed. Seriously it is the best era in human history for learning...what a waste of time university was....Also people Blender 2.8 is out. It has HUGE improvements !!! if you didnt like it before give it another try !!!!!
Thank you so much for your time and effort Thomas.
Agreed! And that's great to hear about Blender. I just updated it and the new UI icons are so much better!
C# is very straight forward! Take your time and dig to understand, it's very easy after a short time. If you want to be a good programmer, always practice and dig deeper.
This video was while ago, and I really appreciate every bit of the experience you share with us... It is really inspiring to realize one way or another I was doing the first steps you mentioned for the first months... However I stopped... I will put my best to finish this time! Thank you for the inspiration
Gonna revisit this video in a year to post my first update :) thanks for sharing knowledge free of cost, spread love
As someone who has pretty much done exactly this, I can also say this is very on point.
Illustrator > Photoshop for 2D art.
Also Affinity Designer > Illustrator for artists on a budget!
Just got into Affinity Designer and have found it much easier to learn than Illustrator.
@Gonzalo 14 day return policy!
Prefer CorelDRAW personally
Depends on what your making right? IE pixel art is easier in photoshop no? And what about larger painted landscapes? Is that somethin u would recommend doing in illustrator
Instead of Illustrator you could also use Inkscape, it's basically the same but it's free!
Hey, so I'm on that last step and I'm wondering...
Where did you find 100 publishers!? I feel lucky to find a good 10-20 that are even still offering what I need.
What really? Last step? I wanna see the demo bruv!
Send a link to the demo!
Pick me! pick me!
I’ve had an idea for a game for years, and me and my friends have always wanted to play it. I’m majoring in MIS, and I’ve taken a few coding, database, and software design classes. It’s motivating me so much to just try to make this a reality.
Right now I’m just focusing on learning code and development, while also writing lore and storylines to brainstorm the main concept of this. The idea is so far fetched for an indie developer that I just want to perfect everything I can from the beginning. Just manifesting the best right now, I really hope that 10 years down the line- I’ll have a beta version of something I’ve always dreamed of :)
Just one tip: Are there aspects of the game that in and of themselves could be their standalone game? Just building for that long and never releasing anything can be super demotivating. But if you break it down into smaller games, where each game add some features it can be more attainable.
For example, if you imagine an MMO with cool combat:
- Do a game that has combat in only one arena with enemies that get stronger. This is a game that can stand on its own and be published, while being much smaller (only 1 level/ environment, no networking, ...)
- Next game could add a story and a more open world
- ...
You see, a bit like an onion, where each game you publish adds some more features.
Your videos have been a huge help to me! I'm a very novice game dev and an intermediate coder so your tutorials have given me confidence and things to think about/direction for my game. I've been stressing about a platformer that I'm making, but the plan I set up was very similar to the one here. Thank you for your videos, Thomas. Keep up the good work!
That's great! What is your platformer like?
Tons Of Hun Studios inspired by Celeste but with different mechanics! I plan on doing everything myself except maybe the final art assets. I’m still in the prototyping phase and just getting the general game to work well. It’s a slow but steady process.
@@nicholasnicoletti8253 Sounds cool! I wish you the best of luck!
How did it go?
If you want to self publish i would add the following steps
0. Make sure you are the type of person that can work alone, can accept criticism, handle disappointment and is willing to invest time and money, for a small chance of success.
1. Decide why you want to make a game more then anything in the world. (Put that on motivational poster on the wall)
2. Get others to help with f.e. Marketing, finances etc
3. Challenge your idea against existing games. Why is yours better/different
4. Maximize your exposure with dedicated social media accounts, webpage, mailing list, discord
5. Do a develloper blog to create a following (post on reddit etc)
6. Have talks with other game developers about the things they are struggling with
7. Show your prototype at game dev conferences
8. Keep your prototype a prototype, and start building a production version with your new knowledge gained over time
9. Publish on multiple platforms
10. Send free review keys to influencers
In short, make sure people know about your game and why it is awesome.
Give it time as well, I believe the people that made angry birds, made 30 games before they had that big hit
Great tips! Definitely agree with you about having that mindset for success and being really committed!
WHOA. My next game Neversong comes out on Steam MAY 20th! Wishlist now to snag that tasty launch discount :) store.steampowered.com/app/733210/Neversong_formerly_Once_Upon_A_Coma/
having watched the video, I want to thank you so much. I have no idea do C sharp programming but there's no excuse to write a video game thank you so much for everything
3 years passed. I have just seen this video. I couldnt develope any game. I know unity and c#. I complety lost my focus. I dont know how to start again and re metivate myself. Do u have any advice?
When would you legally start the company LLC
"10: make the demo with 4K cover" sorry but what do you mean by this? get an artist to do a cover art for the demo?
This showed me that I went about my process completely wrong. Biggest mistake I made was polishing my prototype from the beginning and making too many levels instead of ensuring the core loop was good enough (which I'm still not sure about). I'm going to scrap it and start something new, following this advice.
Almost a year had passed away when this video came out. Anybody got any kind of success in building games and making it commercial? I'm about to strat my first year of game development. I'd love to hear about your experiences!
Just do it buddy! You gotta put in real hard work to make through. And the road is fun and challenging ahead. Best of luck to you!
@@SidMakesGames Never really thought of meeting a fellow country mate here.
It's so motivating to see that you're not giving up on what you like. I have started my journey but there's a lot to learn.
Thanks for the words, sir. Every bit helps!
@@akashverma4280 Cheers dude! Thomas actually has a lot of Indian audience.
Absolutely, you gotta keep working for it if you really envision to be a professional in the field.
Best of luck for your journey ahead. You are going to need it :D
@@SidMakesGames I'm not going to give up. Life has been tough lately, I didn't even touched my project for about a week just because a wrong person came in my life and turned my life upsidedown, almost lost my sanity and I failed to see how some people can be so blind in their own ego that they stop caring about others.
But I'm telling you sir, I'm stronger than ever and I will not quit. I can't get back all the wasted hours but I don't have any regrets because I thought she was genuine but every girl is same, she got bored, I guess. I'm not gonna trust anyone or invest so much in a person, especially bitches.
I told her to end things in right way and I don't want to start a new journey based on negativity. I really tried my best. But fk her.
I care about genuine people only not narcissistic people.
I'll not give up on my passion, cuz it's real.
@@akashverma4280 I see, you must be going through tough time bro but don't worry, we all been there. It's just part of life.
You always come back stronger. Stay connected with game development community, the whole community is very welcoming and helpful. Don't let any person be an obstacle in you and your passion coz nothing is above passion. People come and go but your skills and knowledge stay.
Just like you said, you can't get back the wasted hours but what you can do is make the best use of the hours you have. Better not waste them anymore ;)
You got this dude! 🔥
Steps/Month 1-8: Ok I think can do this
Month 9-10: I don't have that kind of money
But it's still a great video.
Haha agreed
Honestly, I think the "spend 2-3 thousand dollars" advice is the worst in the entire list. I'm not saying that spending money isn't worth it, but you'd be super surprised what you can get for profit/equity share. There are a ton of good musicians and artists out there as hungry as you are, and if you have a decent product to show them that they feel they can latch on to, you'll drum up a bunch of interest.
Honestly I think if you don't have that kind of money doing this as a way of earning a living is not for you. I also think Thomas is unfortunately skipping/glossing over a lot of the risk and making other things seem far easier, faster and cheaper than they are in the real-world, especially so if you don't have the experience too.
@@noahhildebrandt1298 if you don't pay, don't expect neither good or timely results.
while i agree that you shouldn't at all take this lightly, there is no reason for someone that hasn't grown up with rich parents or something like that to not start a game dev career if that is what their passion is. The thing is that people that only think because they like playing games or because it is "easy money" (which it isn't) they should start, that's who shouldn't start.
Hi Thomas, i am starting a indie game studio we are about 5 people, been following some of your videos, been very help full thank you.
I've rewatched this video so many times to keep myself motivated. My favorite Thomas Brush video. Keep up the great work!
thank you! thank you! this is awesome. As someone who has been chewing on an indie game idea for years now but didn't know how to really start, this is very helpful. Many thanks.
Thomas you really inspired me... at this moment i done a terrible graphics one character and one enemy, background and "platforms" are done and starting with coding movements so excited when my character become alive ;) good luck on selling your game :)
I've been waiting for a sign and here it is!
I'm starting this today :D
It's been a year since your comment, how did it go?
@@santah0h0h09 Thanks for asking! I tried one project - realized I really overscoped it. Spent some time on my thoughts. Started developing a simpler (in terms of amount of content) game. Couldn't develop in december-january (exams), but you can see my progress on my channel!
I'm 13 and starting to develop my own 2D game, I've watched several of your videos and I think I'm ready to start developing my prototype. Thank you.
Watching this because I wanted to see a gaming setup for twitch and stuff, but realizing this is much more valuable with systems. Thanks man
With all die respect, i just really want to hug you and thank you i found this vid by pure coincidence and youve given me hope and happiness about my goals! And motivated me so much
I am an indie developer, using UE5, Blender, Photoshop, VS Code, C++, and a ton of other little pieces of tech.
My game is big, so far inching up to a 1 billion square miles in this virtual world. I have been working on it for almost 9 years.
Finances are my problem, but I am working through it slowly.
Look forward to playing it one day! Hope we don't die before then!!
@@SimonT54 lol, I agree.
Hey Thomas, I really like your videos. You have an amazing skill set in art and game creation, and I am going to give it a real shot following your advice. It is my dream to create worlds and experiences that people can enjoy for years to come. Anyways, I just think you are super talented and thank you for all you do and your advice. You’re a source of inspiration and motivation. Thank you. Also, happy thanksgiving!
Nose to the grindstone is a saying. It comes from the days of millstones. A miller would put his nose down near the stone to smell if the oats were burning as they ground under the stone.
Thank you, this is really inspiring. I would like to see the business side of making an indie dev studio also though
Love this! Regarding month 9, I did wanna say that I'm a composer, multi instrumentalist, and produce all my own music. I've wanted to make music for games my whole life, and finally have the means to.
In the beginning of this year, I've start working on my own game that I passionate about like 4 years ago but never finished it. Now I've just finished it and released it on Google Play Store for free to play.
It's not easy, a lot of work then negative reviews come and boys that trully harsh.
But I still not givin up yet.
Love your videos!
In my prototype, I use a lot of Mario 1,2, & 3 sprites just to code the base then later use my own :D :D :D
I'm a user of unreal but regardless of engine this is gold! Thanks for the encouragement and ideas on a path forward. Subscribed!
Been working in games for over 10 years as a Senior 3D Character Artist and been thinking about starting a game company, first i will have to do a demo, i can do almost anything on the art side but the programming will be a nightmare.
Nose on the grind stone is a phrase. It's also a song by Tyler Childers. You should check it out.
Yup, and its awesome
5:22 "Just the basics- It's okay if you're not perfect. Just the basics." Man I needed that. I'm intermediate at modeling and now learning basic coding in Unity...
I am opposite... I am good with Unity and C# but I have no clue about art. I am still deciding if I want to make 2d or 3d art. Honestly considering 3D since I am a terrible drawer
Damn i like how you put progress bar when skillshare ad poped up
Ive made my paperwork for steam appliance. Its a big next step for me :)
Basicly ive just did c# for 7 years now, started blender and other things in the last past months.
That's great!
How do publishers work? Do you sell your game to them or do they just help you advertise your game and make your own company?
Matdrox I could totally be wrong, but I assume they buy publishing rights to the game, and fund you a bit with their purchase and give you a completion deadline. Hopefully someone with more knowledge or experience can answer your question but I think this might be how it works.
Thank you so much.Now i can be reassured that my prototype can see some light eventually .
Bro Bless me, next year i will be creating my studio. Thanks for your energy.
Questions:
1) Do you need a publisher? Can't you self publish on digital stores (Steam, PS Store, Xbox Store, etc.)?
2) Should you outsource not only music but art too or is a month of Photoshop or blender enough? I am assuming you had skills to make your own.
Hi Thomas, nice video. I am glad that you did it. You can make money from game dev. It is a huge inspiration. I have skills in visual aspects but for me, C# and unity is a hard nut to crack. But I am fighting this for over 2-3 years. Also, I quit this twice indeed. After a couple of months, I realized that I don't want to quit and also that the big break was useful too. So I think making a month-long break is the most critical one in a path of an indie game dev.
I came in here very skeptical. I"m making an RPG right now, and this video is really great. I may follow your advice on the crowd funding. The only note is that coding can be hard to learn if you don't have the right teacher, or material to help you. I tell you this from experience. I was practicing to code for about 6 months on my own. It wasn't until I downloaded gamemaker and found Heartbeast which taught me SOOOO much of what i know right now. But it took me about a year to come up with a pretty bad concept. So learn to code from the right sources and i believe its possible also in about 3-4 months. Anyway guys, i HIGHLY recommend Heartbeast if you want to go with gamemaker. Gamemaker works well with my RPG system.
Thanks very much for tips! Please please please make as much detailed video as possible about working with publishers and second about making a kickstarter gampaign (with stretch goals, baker levels etc.)
I would also like to see a video about publishers!
I gonna get one of your games just out of gratefulness for your highly inspiring videos.
I definitely recommend Pinstripe! It is only
Man you are the best indie dev guide one could have asked for .
Each of us have our own difficulties to overcome, best of luck on your endeavor everyone as it ganno be a tough one to realize your dream.
This helped so much thank you, Im someone who doesn’t know a thing about game design but I do have game developer friends and we been working together to create a game I designed and structured and it’s exciting but this makes me believe I do need to major or learn the programs to actually front line my game more
How do you deal with innovative intellectual property if you pitch something in an Email that can get stolen? Obviously what comes to mind are NDA's but where do you draw the line while not pushing away investors. Even putting something on kickstarter is risky.
Good point. But to vaguely quote Gary Vee, ideas are nothing, execution is everything. If you have a great idea, it won't be successful unless you act on it. You're right, you don't want to overshare but as long as you make it if your idea is good so will your end product!
My only experience in coding was a one term of game dev class way back in college. I was really good at it but I never pursued it. Now, I decided to enhance that skill, start learning again and make a prototype. But I still have no vision on what game/genre I want to do. Should I learn first how to do the basics or should I figure out what game I want to do?
Sorry, question about 8:50 .. what if I don't drink beer? Game Over?!
I love your videos.. keep it up. Quite insightful!
This is a great birthday gift ,thanks!
Happy Birthday! stay blessed
You're probably the only one who makes content thats sooo insightful...
Thank you sooo much man. I look up to you and every time i feel like i won't make it in game development i just see your videos and it just sparks the fire in me. You're the best. Thanks for making people like me to be inspired day in and day out. ❤
I like your videos & content in general but I noticed that you are *very* focused on Unity, Thomas.
Which is fine, because it is a great tool after all, *but* it's not the only good tool out there.
If you're going for 2D game development, I can highly recommend the Godot Engine, which is MIT licensed, so completely free to use, no royalty fees. (Which is a big plus over Unity.)
And it's very beginner friendly, if you've never done any game development before.
Unity is still a valid option of course, but it's not the only option. That's all I want to say. :)
He probably focuses on Unity because that's what he has a lot of experience in.
Good point! I personally use Unity, but there are more options like Godot and others!
I think spending money on music is to specific of advice. IMO spending money on whatever assets would be improve your game but you can't make because of lack of skills/time would better. And also I think falling into the mindset that you can't find premade music that suits your game is kind of like thinking because you spend more money on an apple computer it will be more powerful. Maybe it will be, if you know what you're doing and what you want, or if it's extremely important for your game. (it would be less important in a competitive multiplayer game, then a game like Pinstripe for example).
Here to help if you need a great game trailer. If you are at the final pitch and fund raising stage with a polished game or demo... I have years of editing and game dev experience. I just never get a chance to work on game trailers. If you have something polished with assets for me to use in the edit I can help at a low cost.
Subscribed. I love your channel man and have learnt so much from it, keep up the great work and thank you for the brilliant content!
True with the music part. People underestimate the power of good music. It can break or make a game.
As a fellow game dev (former Disney employee), this is the best possible summary of how to break into the industry that I've ever heard. Would add to the end that this is also a great way to get a game development job at another studio, as a fallback. :]
Can I tell you about my idea for a video game for a battle Royal game?
Its called Zombie castle💀
With 100 floors of zombies, and boss zombies to fight, after clearing each floor.
We really have a best time in the human history. We got SkillShare and TH-cam so you don't have to pay expensive fee in University. If you are small studio with tight budget, you have Fiverr to hire freelancer. You pay based on complete task like consult for script, bug fixes, game design, art, compose sound or music. It's kinda cool if you can't pay per hour to hire freelancer
What if we don't have friends to pitch it to?
I really love your videos Thomas , they inspire me a lot, I don't really subscribe and comment people channels, but there's just something about yours that makes me addicted and inspired, thanks a lot.
just 2nd and 3rd advice made people learn UNITY while there are lots of great alternatives like Unreal engine and even get me started on Godot and hundreds of awesome free software out there. You are narrowing all of that variety to a single (imo) questionable proprietary program.
I am also a Game Developer, Musician , Artist , Animator, Coder, Audio Engineer, And im almost finish with my first ios game hopefully i will be able to get it out to a publisher. I seriously need some money. LOL, Hopefully everything will work out for the best. Thomas Brush if you can help me get my game out there i would love the help! Keep up the good work with your games!!!
I am a big fan of indie games. Every indie game I've played has their own unique and beautiful visuals, music and story. But most importantly every one if them taught me valuable lesson and inspired me to make my story.
Hope everyone who watched this video build their Game Studio in 12 Month. I made my first game a week ago. Now I am going to start my next project, little bit bigger but achievable. Wish me goodluck guys. See you after this 12 months journey.
Took me 3 years, but here I go.
Kickstarter is now live!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/storyquest/storyquest-a-village-tale
I wrote the story for my game in one evening. Just sit down and let it flow. just write as much as comes to mind for a few hours and then clean it up.
Hey Thomas, I just want to say that your video has inspired me to start the journey to set up my own indie game studio. I've bookmarked this video and I hope I'll be able to come back in a year or two and tell you I've succeeded. I'll see you down the road.
ayo how's that going
Three steps.
1. Copy assets from the asset store
2. Paste assets in engine
3. Upload to steam early access
Every aspiring indie game dev needs to see this video. Certainly inspired me for this year!
Hi Thomas, I've found your channel recently. I'm currently a Data Scientist, but trying to build up the courage to begin in the world of indie game development, and also digital art. I'm worried that I'm too old for that. I'm currently 27. At what age did you begin? Do you think that is still possible to pursue this dream?
I'm very sure that the age is not important at all! you can do whatever you want :)
I'm 27 as well. But I was planning on making a game studio as I got older lol. I'm also a Data Scientist. I don't think age should matter. I still see myself having a fantastical vision at 50 years old. Lol
1 win the lottery
2-8 hire people and make "the biggest game ever"
9-12 smoke cigar as you do a big marketing campaign while literally everyone on the internet is screaming how bad the final release is
Wow, this is exactly what I was looking for! Thank you!!
I'm trying to think of more examples of "small, sticky" ideas. Some games, it's more obvious, but in others, I don't know what that idea would be.
To use the Zelda franchise as an example, A Link Between Worlds, the "small, sticky" idea is the idea of being able to turn into a drawing on the wall, which gives a third dimension for puzzle-solving. For a game like Ocarina of Time, I'm not sure if it's as obvious. Is it the idea of being able to travel back and forth in time using your sword? Is it having a musical instrument that can act as a key or allow you to do certain things depending on which of the dozen (or however many there are) melodies in the game you play? Is it just the general concept of translating the Zelda formula set by A Link to the Past to 3D?
Furthermore, what would you say this idea was in Pinstripe? Was it the slingshot?
Maybe the sticky idea is related to the character and/or setting? Like in Pinstripe the idea was, according to Thomas here, "a minister in Hell". Or the idea for my own game, Equis, where it's . . . hmmm, a bit of both I think. Basically I got a Pegasus character with different methods of "aerial flank-whooping". B)
(Soooo, what do you make of that? What ideas come to mind? I know I got many ideas attached to this for the gameplay and setting already, but this is the core of the game I've been encouraged to pitch. So, sticky enough? Or do you need a bit more detail in order to get the idea I have in mind?)
@@Longma1 Ah, gotcha. That makes sense, as Pinstripe did feel very narrative-driven. So it's likely the idea that got it rolling was a minister in Hell, which of course begs the question, "What is a minister doing in Hell as opposed to Heaven?"
I like the pegasus idea. As just a "small, sticky" idea, I think it's pretty good, but now I'm interested. Could you maybe define "aerial flank-whooping?" I understand you're referring to combat, but I'm having a bit of trouble visualizing what that could look like. I'm sort of picturing a Kid Icarus: Uprising kind of thing. What kind of game would you describe it as? (Ex: 2D platformer, top-down adventure, RPG, 3D platformer/adventure, Metroidvania, etc.)
My game idea is sort of elaborate at this point (I'm kind of in the process of starting month 2 now), but basically I want a top-down, turn-based RPG (like an Earthbound or an Undertale) that follows that kind of Narnia/Wizard of Oz trope where you end up in an alternate world that you have to save before you're able to return home. Of course, there's more to the plot than just that, but that's the general idea. I also want to play with the idea that in this other, more mythical "world," your abilities are different, making you capable of certain magical powers, at which the player character would become more competent, both as the game progresses and as you "level up."
@@TheNightmare75II (Sry for putting off my response. Anyways. . .)
Hmmm, based on your input and seeing how you presented your idea, I suppose I could amend my "small sticky idea pitch" for you (or just elaborate on it), though it is cool to see it piquing your interest as it is.
Well, how about (on the gameplay front): "2d open-air action brawler with pegasus that has free flight and fights enemies in the air with hooves plus any weapons (melee or ranged) you can grab, use, and throw"?*
Or how about (on the conflict front): "Dragon-trained Pegasus Faces Invasion of Nordic Cyberpunk Minotaurs FROM SPACE!" ^_^
Or on the setting front: "Equine planet Equis; within mythical cosmos, where each planet has one sapient, dominant kind originating there**, to be further explored in future stories, games and spinoffs; can pull from just about anywhere in mythology**".
*(Have you played Owlboy? When I played it, I was surprised at how close certain mechanics felt, such as the flying and shooting, compared to what I had in mind for Equis. Except that mine will be a bit faster and have more melee focus.)
**(No humans in this 'verse, and anything remotely humanoid is altered to resemble its relative locals [e.g. harpies and sirens, equinoid in Equis, or bovine in Minotaur world].)
AnthrozilWarrior3 No worries! I'm glad you wrote back, though. I'd forgotten all about this. I really like this idea!
And no, I've never played Owlboy, but this actually sounds like a game I'd like to play after hearing your "pitch." I like the idea of a single pegasus fighting a bunch of Minotaur aliens. It's such a fun idea. Anyway, maybe I should check out Owlboy if it's similar in style. Hahaha
^_^/)
Though there is a chance I might start smaller with a prequel game (especially if it were to be my first), to build the titular world, the characters, the journey, and the gameplay groundwork (plus incorporate some of my extra ideas that might not fit with the style of the main game, like LoZ-type exploring and dungeon-crawling. . . I mean, they could, but like I indicated, I'm just starting out, and besides, you don't wanna overbloat any one game with too many ideas or you'd have one mess of an experience). Kinda like how Dragonball set up its world---an alternate Earth full of strange sights and creatures---before expanding its scope to worlds beyond in Dragonball Z.
(Other influences include My Little Pony, Metroid, Samurai Jack, and MCU.)
This is a goal I’d like to go after. Anyone ever get to this point but find you had another goal that could conflict or interfere with your available time or bandwidth? For me it’s screenwriting.
You say you make enough money with the game studio to pay everything, but you have a successful TH-cam channel and you sell products. It's very hard to understand how making money with only one or 2 games will pay for all that without the TH-cam and the products you sell.Just wandering, but beside that, it's an amazing idea. Thank you for taking the time to explain and for sharing the idea. Really cool !
My indie game studio is me, my cat, my daughter as tester and my wife as kickstarter foundings... because she have real job... I hope it is close enough ;)
wait.... you were not kidding ?