I am working on a pretty detailed game that I feel great about but nothing that I’ve put into the game is original content created by me. The hud buttons, i generated with AI, all characters are marketplace or CGTrader, all animations, fonts, particle effects, and other content are someone elses. I have a long list of attributions and I’ve been careful to make sure that everything I gather is licensed for commercial use. I basically just compiled resources from everywhere else, and did a crap ton of blueprint to make it a playable game. I also can’t fail to mention that 60% of what I accomplished was the result of watching tutorials, or nagging you fine folks here. I also have a kind of digital mentor that I met on these forums that helps me get another perspective when I’m stuck beyond stuck. I always have this nagging feeling that, even if this game turns out to be okay, its problematic that most of the project really isn’t even mine. I don’t really have a question here, just kinda looking for feedback on all of that.
It sounds like you’re having a bit of an introspective crisis…
For my first ( and most of my second ) game, virtually everything came from the Marketplace , or somewhere similar. Then I kit bashed most of it from there.
We already have too many hats to wear. ‘Programmer’, ‘level designer’, ‘marketeer’, ‘game designer’, etc… If we added ‘modeller’, ‘VFX artist’, ‘Sound engineer’ and many others to the selection, we would indeed be approaching god status 
Most of the vendors on the Marketplace just want to do their particular thing, and won’t or can’t do everything, and that works just fine. Because people like you or me can use what they made, and cobble together something playable and everything works in harmony. Really actually the purpose of the Marketplace.
My point is, YOU did write the game. You have spent countless hours refining the code and game experience. You had the idea for the game and are bringing it to fruition. It really is your game.
So just carry on and enjoy 
Hi SpawnGato,
I’d add that Collage is a form of art.
I’d ask yourself what the criteria for the “game turning out ok” is. (And your overall goals for the project)
One thing I’d like to see in more games instead of just a list of attributions is some sort of showcase where the creators and assets are celebrated. In this area you could also highlight the specific systems you are the most proud of.
As always very meaningful and appropriate insight. You are the “digital mentor” 
i appreciate hearing the feedback about essentially “doing it all,” and it makes a lot of sense. It would be impossible. It just perplexes me how people can make some of the assets that i see on the marketplace. It always makes me wonder if they did that and then made their own game with it. Then of course the next thought is something like “if they made a model that good and had to resort to selling it on the marketplace, then my game is a real mess.” Youre right! An introspective crisis indeed. But thank you for the excellent reassurance!
I laughed hysterically at this and then showed it to my wife who then wandered back off into her phone confused. I appreciate the feedback!
You also used an engine that someone else wrote, and you ran it on an operating system someone else developed!
Not to mention you ate food grown by someone else, and you’re speaking a language someone else taught you.
You’re really quite an impostor, aren’t you? I know the feeling.
But, you put in the work, and you follow the rules. This means its your game. Be proud of the work you did, and use the learnings to grow for the next time.
I think the criteria for me is mostly just two things.
- I really enjoy making it, and
- Maybe someone else enjoys playing it. Even if its just my kids.
Thanks for mentioning the thing about collage being an art form. I’m not much of an artist so i dont think about stuff like this. Im great with organization and arrangement so it makes sense that maybe types like myself (and others too) have our own form of art.