Day in the Life of a Game Developer

Summary

Joshua McGraw, co-founder of Doppler Interactive, discusses the challenges and rewards of indie game development. He emphasizes the need for a diverse skill set, from programming and community management to marketing. Currently, they're developing a Unity plugin, 'Tidy Tile Mapper,' to aid game creation. McGraw highlights the importance of motivation, the struggle with piracy, and offers advice for aspiring game developers: ensure genuine passion and relentless hard work.

Takeaways

• 👨‍💻 Joshua McGraw is a programmer and partner at Doppler Interactive, a Sydney-based indie game and game tool development company.
• 🎨 The company focuses on a wide range of skills, including programming, community management, promotion, and marketing.
• 💼 Joshua has a computer science background and a strong belief in the importance of both technical skills and a creative mindset.
• 🎮 Doppler Interactive is currently developing a Unity toolkit called 'Tidy Tile Mapper', aimed at making game development more accessible.
• 💰 The company found it easier to make money from game tools than from games, as many aspiring game developers are willing to pay for tools.
• 🔄 Doppler Interactive's approach involves creating and refining tools before using them to build games, ensuring profitability at each stage.
• 🤝 The biggest challenge in game development, according to Joshua, is working with people from diverse backgrounds and aligning technical and creative visions.
• 💪 Staying motivated is crucial in indie game development, as there's no external pressure to meet deadlines or ensure success.
• 🌟 The reward in game development comes from the satisfaction of creating something from an idea and seeing others enjoy it.
• 🚀 Opportunities in game development often arise from market and technology changes, such as the emergence of new platforms like Android.
• 🔒 Piracy is a significant ethical issue in the game industry, with mixed views on prevention and leveraging it as a marketing tool.

Q & A

What is Doppler Interactive?

Doppler Interactive is a Sydney-based indie games and game tool development company or partnership.

What is Joshua McGraw's role at Doppler Interactive?

Joshua McGraw is one half of Doppler Interactive, where he does programming and other tasks involved in game development.

What is the significance of community management and marketing in indie game development according to Joshua?

Community management and marketing are significant because they are part of the wide palette of skills required beyond programming in indie game development.

What is the educational background of Joshua McGraw?

Joshua McGraw has a background in computer science.

What is the current main project that Doppler Interactive is working on?

Doppler Interactive is currently developing a tool called Tidy Tile Mapper, a plugin for the Unity engine that allows intuitive painting of game environments.

Why did Doppler Interactive shift from developing games to game tools?

They found it easier to make money from game tools because many people developing games are willing to pay for tools to speed up their development process.

What is the business strategy Joshua mentions for developing a game?

The strategy is to develop and sell tools first, then use the profits and refined skills to develop a game, ensuring profitability at each stage.

What are some of the challenges faced in the game development industry according to Joshua?

Challenges include working with people from different backgrounds, managing finances, and maintaining motivation without external pressure.

How does Joshua describe the reward of game development?

Joshua describes the reward as the satisfaction of seeing a difficult project come to fruition and being enjoyed by others.

What opportunities does Joshua see in the game development industry?

Joshua sees opportunities in market and technology changes, such as the rise of Android, and the need to adapt and create in response to these shifts.

What is Joshua's stance on piracy in the game industry?

Joshua sees piracy as a complex issue with conflicting opinions. He suggests doing the best to prevent it while also recognizing that it's a difficult problem to solve completely.

What advice does Joshua give to aspiring game developers?

Joshua advises ensuring genuine passion for game development, working hard, and being prepared for the competitive nature of the industry.