I Need Some Friendly Advice: Making Games is Fun and Trying

[Jason_Wanderer]

@MC Stryker;120343

Thank you Jason for the kind words, you my friend are awesome as well. It’s funny you mentioned Doom, aside from getting started with programming at 5 on an Apple II-GS, being a part of the original Doom modding community was my first ever step into real game development and I remember those days very fondly. Also, Romero is one of my all-time favorite devs and who I pull a lot of inspiration from. I think a lot of people take the term indie dev the wrong way in a lot of cases. Early on, it was hard to get any respect until some titles made it out and rated higher than some titles from full-production/fully funded . Then again, indie development has always been around but with open publishing models from PC to mobile, people now have easier means to distribute.

When I went to Microsoft last Oct, I had the chance to meet Frank Savage (XNA, Xbox One, Wing Commander 3 :)) and Boyd Multerer (XB1 and Founder of XNA) and I was telling them how when I was young, I remember reading EGM and about PlayStation 1 and 2’s DevKit, the NetYaroze (I know, really weird name) and how XNA gave me that first chance to experience my work on a console with controller in hand. I think kids these days that get inspired early on, have so many amazing tools and forms of distribution (especially UE4), that I really wish I had the same available to me growing up.

I agree on the industry changing and now being the perfect time. It’s a hard thing though, for the past week I’ve been deciding if I want to get a couple credit cards since funding is getting tight. I did link up with Senior Council from Perkins Coie and since they represent Microsoft, Amazon and Zillow to name a few, my lawyer should be able to really help out, but then again, that’s another extreme expense. But yea, it can be rough haha and I’m right there with you but all you can do at the end of the day is believe deep down and visualize you getting there. If you can see it, you can achieve it

But stay in touch buddy and let me know if you want to show me some stuff in the near future. I’ll be showing and sharing things too as well in the near future and definitely considering doing a Kickstarter so I’ll keep you posted. Best of luck!

Take Care!

-Matt

Hey Matt,

I feel the same way, those early modding communities were so much fun!
As for indie developers, you are right it really wasn’t until people saw potential that we were welcomed into the game development landscape.
Then again, even now people ridicule us or just complain about our philosophies. But, yeah, it’s all ok once we as a community is good with each other.
Haters will always be there (and rightfully so in some cases).

You actually just reminded me about something.
I’m sure, since like me you’re a big fan of Romero’s work you already saw this but if you (or anyone for that matter) has yet to watch this, give it a look (provided you have an hour and a half):
v=b86PwuzyxlY
Romero and Ryan McCaffery Co-Op through the entire first episode of DOOM. Romero talks about some really good stuff and gives some nice little hints and tips for all us level/game designers.

Also, I found two good videos featuring Carmack

Wolfenstein 3D (I enjoyed the quick talk about Catacomb 3D which most people don’t know about):

?v=amDtAPHH-zE

Lighting and Rendering Keynote (Quake-Con 2013):
v=IyUgHPs86XM
Congratulations on hooking up with Senior Council! It’s good to have them with you, just in case (if you need any more reason check out this thread I made: https://forums.unrealengine/showthread.php?27343-An-Odd-Occurance-I-think-I-should-ve-gotten-a-lawyer&p=118044#post118044 ).

---

You really make a good point. It’s really just on us and how much we can do.
I’ll definitely keep you posted. By Wednesday I should have finalized my design and which I will do (I have everything typed up now, so I can
clearly look at each idea).
By the way, I think doing a Kickstarter is a good idea, but just be careful there’s a great deal of controversy boiling around Kickstarter
(after the “Areal” fiasco).
Let me know if you ever need help, I’d be happy to take some time to lend a hand!

Good Luck,

~ Jason