MystiveDev

Full-Time Indie Dev Living the Dream! Right?

As a full-time indie game developer, people often tell me that I'm living the dream. That's doing what I love, getting paid for it, and enjoying my life journey. Well, you know, kinda it's true. Being able to make a living creating games is incredibly fulfilling, however, the reality of the job is far more complex than anyone thinks. The truth is that being a full-time indie game developer can be incredibly stressful, uncertain, and isolating.

Let's talk about reality.

First of all, there's stress. When you're running your own business, the buck stops with you. If something goes wrong - whether it's a bug in your code, a delay in your schedule, or a problem with your finances - you're the one who has to deal with all of it. That can be incredibly stressful, especially if you're working on a tight deadline or dealing with a difficult problem.

Then there's uncertainty. As an indie game developer, you're essentially running your own small business. And just like any small business owner, you never know what's going to happen next. You might have a successful launch with one product, only to see your revenue plummet the next. You might be working on a game for years, only to see it fail to gain traction in the market. That kind of uncertainty can be incredibly difficult to deal with, both financially and emotionally.

Financial Literacy

Financial literacy is critical for any indie game developer who hopes to build a successful small business. When you're running your own company, it's critical that you understand your cash flow, budget wisely, and plan for the future. Why? Check this out:
It's especially important to be financially literate when your game becomes successful, as it can be tempting to spend your newfound profits on frivolous expenses, extravagant hires, or a luxurious lifestyle. However, without a solid financial plan in place, it's all too easy to waste all your hard-earned money and ultimately collapse your business. By learning accounting, financial planning, and budgeting, full-time indie game developers can ensure that they're making the most of their resources and positioning themselves for long-term success.

Perhaps the biggest challenge of being a full-time indie game dev is the toll it can take on your personal life. When you're working on a game, it's not uncommon to work 12, 14, or even 18 hours a day. Forget about the "entrepreneurial" quotes where they tell you they abandoned their 9 - 5 job and now work 4 hours a day. That's nonsense, at least in the beginning. If everything relies on you, there will be days when you'll grind for over 12 - 14 - 18 hours a day.

That means you don't have a lot of time for anything else - including seeing your friends and family. It's not uncommon for indie game developers to lose friends or see their relationships suffer because they simply don't have time to devote to them. Why do I say this?

Personal Experience

This is from my personal experience. I've been in the gaming industry, firstly as a 3D artist freelancer, then as a level designer for a little over 8 years. 6 years ago I started a studio with another dev. Due to the sheer amount of work, throughout the years we've lost quite a few friendships. Mainly because we simply did not have the time to see anyone. There was always something that needed to be done or a bug that needed fixing.

In fact, my own relationship almost fell apart because of my work. I was so focused on making my game a success that I neglected my partner and our relationship. It wasn't until she confronted me about it that I realized how much damage I was doing. I had to learn to balance my work with my personal life, and it was a difficult lesson to learn. Trust me, when they say you need to "balance", it's harder than it sounds. Especially when you work as a solo dev. Sometimes "balancing" can greatly affect your game's release date. Push it for months, years maybe.

In addition to the challenges of creating great games, indie game developers must also become experts in marketing, business management, and entrepreneurship. Without the backing of a major publisher or a big development team, indie game developers must learn to wear many hats in order to be successful. This means learning how to market your game effectively, manage your finances, build relationships with industry partners, and more.

Marketing & Entrepreneurship

It's not enough to just create a great game - you also have to know how to sell it. That means learning about things like search engine optimization, social media marketing, email campaigns, marketing funnels, branding, networking, and so on. It means understanding the importance of building a brand and a community around your game. And it means being able to pitch your game to investors, publishers, and other key players in the industry.

All of this takes time and effort - and it's not always easy. But for those who are willing to put in the work, the rewards can be huge. Not only can you create a successful game, but you can also build a career as an entrepreneur and a business owner. And in today's increasingly competitive game industry, those skills are more valuable than ever.

While being a full-time indie game developer is a unique and specialized field, there are many similarities between running an indie game development business and running any other small business. In both cases, success depends on creating a product or service that people want, one that the market wants, and finding ways to attract and retain customers/fans.

Both indie game developers and small business owners must learn how to market their products effectively, manage their finances, and build relationships with industry partners. They must also learn how to manage their time and prioritize their efforts, as there is never enough time to do everything that needs to be done.

One of the biggest indie dev challenges

One of the biggest challenges for both indie game devs and small business owners is attracting and retaining customers. In both cases, it's important to build a strong brand and a loyal following. This requires a combination of effective marketing, excellent customer service, and a great product.

Finally, both indie game developers and small business owners must be able to adapt to changing market conditions. Whether it's a new competitor entering the market, a change in consumer preferences, or a shift in the economy, both types of business owners must be able to pivot quickly and adjust their strategies in order to stay competitive.

Conclusion

All of this is not to say that being a full-time indie game developer is a bad job - far from it. For those who are passionate about creating games and willing to put in the hard work, it can be an incredibly rewarding career. But it's important to go into the job with your eyes open, knowing the challenges that lie ahead. It's not all fun and games - there's a lot of hard work, stress, and uncertainty involved. But for those who are up to the challenge, it can be an amazing way to make a living.