The Future of Game Development

Summary

The video script discusses the speaker's hiatus from video game development and their recent rekindled passion for game creation, fueled by the open-source movement. They highlight the success of Blender, a free and open-source 3D graphics tool, and draw parallels to the growing popularity of open-source game engines like Godot. The speaker shares their positive experience with Godot 4 and its community-driven development, emphasizing the democratic and cost-effective nature of open-source software. They also mention the evolution of the game industry, the rise of indie development, and the accessibility of game creation tools. The video concludes with an announcement of upcoming tutorials on Godot, showcasing the speaker's commitment to sharing knowledge and embracing the open-source ethos.

Takeaways

• 🎉 The speaker has returned to creating videos after a three-year hiatus and is excited to share their experiences with the gaming community.
• 📈 Significant changes have occurred in the world and the game development industry over the past three years, with an increased focus on open-source software.
• 🚀 The speaker has been inspired by the open-source movement, particularly by Blender, a powerful and free 3D graphics tool that has gained popularity among professionals.
• 💡 Open-source software (FOSS) is publicly owned with an open code base, allowing anyone to modify and contribute to its development, which is democratic and user-driven.
• 🌐 The success of open-source projects like Linux demonstrates their potential to power mainstream products and services, including those in the gaming industry.
• 📚 The speaker acknowledges the challenges faced by indie game developers and the lack of unionization, but also highlights the positive aspects of the industry's growth.
• 🌟 The game industry has become the largest entertainment sector, with third-party engines like Unity and Unreal Engine making game development more accessible.
• 🔧 The speaker has been exploring the open-source game engine Godot, which has gained popularity and support from the community, and has found it to be a powerful tool for game development.
• 📈 The release of Godot 4 has been a significant milestone, offering a more robust and feature-rich platform for game developers.
• 💻 The speaker plans to release new videos on Godot, including a tutorial on creating a basic game and an overview of the GDScript language.
• 🌐 The speaker encourages viewers to consider the benefits of open-source software and to explore different engines and development methodologies, emphasizing that the choice of tools should be based on individual project needs.

Q & A

What has the speaker been doing since their last video upload over three years ago?

The speaker has been taking a break from video games and was not planning on making any new videos soon.

What issues in the video game industry had affected the speaker's enthusiasm for game development?

The lack of unionization, the challenges of keeping an indie game studio afloat, and the increasing pressure on developers had taken away some of the joy for the speaker.

What software did the speaker mention as an example of a powerful and popular open-source tool?

Blender, a 3D Graphics tool, was mentioned as an example of a powerful and popular open-source tool.

What does 'FOSS' stand for and what is its significance in software development?

FOSS stands for Free and Open Source Software. It signifies that the software is publicly owned with a public and open code base, allowing anyone to access, contribute, and modify it according to their needs.

How does open-source software benefit from volunteer work and donations?

Open-source software benefits from volunteer work and donations by being free from ties to any single entity, allowing for community-driven development and use without subscription fees or revenue sharing.

What is the significance of Linux in the context of open-source software?

Linux, which started as a small hobbyist tool, has become an integral part of the digital world, powering enterprise server systems, software for cars, televisions, Android phones, and most of the internet and world stock exchanges.

How have third-party engines like Unity and Unreal impacted the game development industry?

Third-party engines like Unity and Unreal have become industry standards, making game development more accessible by providing tools that were previously only available through in-house engines developed by game studios.

What is GDAU and why has it gained attention recently?

GDAU is a free and fully open-source game engine that has gained attention due to its recent updates and the growing community of developers contributing to it. GDAU 4, released in March of the previous year, was a significant rewrite of the engine.

Why did the speaker decide to start making games again?

The speaker decided to start making games again after seeing the potential and excitement around open-source software and game engines like GDAU.

What is the speaker's stance on using third-party engines like Unity or Unreal?

The speaker is not discouraging the use of third-party engines like Unity or Unreal. They emphasize that the choice of game engine is a personal decision based on what is right for the developer and their project.

What new content is the speaker planning to release?

The speaker plans to release new videos on GDAU, including a mega tutorial on making the first game with GDAU and a complete overview of the GD script language.

How does the speaker view the future of game development and open-source software?

The speaker believes that the future of game development could involve more open-source, democratically owned, and community-funded software, but they also acknowledge the importance of using the right tool for each project.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Returning to Game Development with Open Source Enthusiasm

The speaker begins by acknowledging a long absence from video content creation, citing changes in the world and the game development industry over the past three years. They discuss their personal break from video games, disillusioned by industry challenges such as the lack of unionization and the struggle of indie studios. However, their passion for game development was rekindled upon discovering the open-source movement, particularly through Blender, a free and powerful 3D graphics tool. They explain the concept of free and open-source software (FOSS), highlighting its democratic development process and independence from any single entity. The speaker also touches on the growth of the game industry, the rise of third-party engines like Unity and Unreal, and the expanding community of indie developers. They conclude by expressing excitement about the potential of open-source projects in the future of game development.

05:02

🚀 Exploring the Viability of Open-Source Game Engines

The speaker shares their initial skepticism about open-source game engines as viable alternatives to commercial engines but has since changed their perspective due to significant advancements in the field. They commend the game development community for these changes and highlight the emergence of new open-source engines like Godot, which have gained popularity and support. The speaker discusses the release of Godot 4, which they view as a significant improvement, and the subsequent increase in users and funding for the engine. They express their enjoyment in learning and working with Godot, which has rekindled their love for game creation. The speaker clarifies that they do not intend to discourage the use of third-party engines but aims to raise awareness of the options available and the potential of community-driven development. They reference a talk by Juan Linietsky, a co-founder of Godot, which provides insights into the benefits of open source in the game industry. The speaker announces upcoming video tutorials on Godot, covering essential aspects of the engine and the GDScript language, and mentions a new approach of releasing videos in Danish.

Keywords

💡Game Development

Game Development refers to the process of creating a video game. It involves various stages such as design, programming, art, sound production, and testing. In the video, the speaker discusses their hiatus from the industry and the changes that have occurred in the past few years, highlighting the growth and challenges faced by game developers.

💡Open Source

Open Source refers to a type of software where the source code is made available to the public, allowing anyone to view, use, modify, and distribute it. The video emphasizes the importance of open source in the game development industry, particularly with the rise of engines like Godot, which are free and allow for community contributions.

💡Blender

Blender is a powerful, open-source 3D graphics tool used for modeling, sculpting, UV mapping, and rendering. The speaker mentions Blender as an example of successful open-source software that has grown in popularity and is now a significant contender in the 3D graphics industry.

💡Godot Engine

Godot Engine, often referred to as 'Gau' in the script, is a free and open-source game engine that has been gaining popularity. The speaker discusses their experience with Godot, noting that it has revitalized their excitement for game development and represents a significant shift towards community-driven development in the industry.

💡Indie Game Studio

An Indie Game Studio refers to a small, independent video game development company that operates outside of the larger game industry. The script mentions the challenges faced by indie studios, such as financial sustainability and the lack of unionization, which have impacted the speaker's passion for game development.

💡Unionization

Unionization refers to the process of forming or joining a labor union to protect workers' rights and negotiate better working conditions. In the context of the video, the lack of unionization in the game industry is cited as one of the harsh realities that have affected the joy of game development.

💡Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)

Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) is software that can be freely accessed, used, modified, and shared. The video discusses the benefits of FOSS, such as democratic development driven by user needs, the absence of subscription fees, and the potential for community funding and volunteer work.

💡Linux

Linux is an open-source operating system that has become a foundational component of many digital systems, from enterprise servers to consumer electronics. The speaker uses Linux as an example to illustrate the widespread impact and potential of open-source software in various industries.

💡Third-Party Engines

Third-Party Engines are game development platforms created by companies other than the game developers themselves. Unity and Unreal are mentioned as examples of industry-standard third-party engines that have made game development more accessible to a broader community of creators.

💡Game Development Community

The Game Development Community refers to the collective group of professionals, hobbyists, and enthusiasts who are involved in creating video games. The video speaks to the growth of this community and how it has evolved from a small niche to a large, influential sector within the entertainment industry.

💡GDC (Game Developers Conference)

The Game Developers Conference (GDC) is an annual event where professionals in the video game industry come together to learn, share, and discuss the latest trends and developments. The speaker mentions a talk by one of the co-founders of the Godot engine at GDC, which focused on the benefits of open source in the game development industry.

Highlights

The speaker has taken a break from video games and wasn't planning on making new videos soon due to the harsh realities of the video game industry.

The lack of unionization and challenges of keeping an indie game studio afloat have impacted the joy of making games.

Open source software, such as Blender, has become a powerful tool in the 3D graphics industry and is now preferred by many professionals.

Blender is an example of free and open source software (FOSS), allowing public ownership and contribution to the codebase.

Open source software development is driven by the needs of its users, offering a democratic approach to software creation.

Volunteer work and donations fund open source development, freeing it from ties to any single entity and eliminating subscription fees.

Linux is a prominent example of open source software, now powering enterprise servers, cars, televisions, Android phones, and most of the internet and stock exchanges.

The game development industry has grown significantly, with third-party engines like Unity and Unreal becoming industry standards.

Indie development has expanded into a large community where both hobbyists and professionals publish successful game titles.

The game industry has surpassed music and movies to become the largest entertainment industry in the world.

Open source initiatives in game development, such as the Godot engine, have gained popularity and are seen as viable alternatives to commercial engines.

Godot 4 was released, offering a significant rewrite of the engine, making it a strong choice for many game projects.

The speaker has been using Godot and has found it to be further developed than expected, rekindling their love for game development.

The speaker encourages the use of open source engines but does not discourage the use of third-party engines like Unity or Unreal.

The speaker will be releasing new videos on Godot, including a mega tutorial on making a first game and an overview of the GDScript language.

The new videos will be in Danish, reflecting a change in approach and the current circumstances.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of considering different ways of organizing software in the game development industry.

A talk by Juan Lino, co-founder of the Godot engine, at GDC last year discussed the benefits of open source in the game development industry.

Transcripts

I've been thinking of something that I

could say to try and break the ice but I

think I'll just go ahead and do

it all right now that's out of the way

hello everyone it's been a while I hope

you've all been well the last time we

uploaded a video was over 3 years ago

and I think it's safe to say that a lot

has happened since then both in the

world and in The Game Dev industry

personally I've been taking a break from

video games and to be honest I wasn't

really planning on making any new videos

anytime soon I think for a while that

some of the harsh realities of the video

game industry had taken away some of the

joy that I used to feel when making

games from the lack of unionization in

Tria to the real challenge of keeping an

indie game Studio afloat I think there's

an ever increasing pressure on

developers as someone who started in the

Game Dev space very young with simple

and probably naive ideas of what it

means to make video games these reties

simply took it out of me for a while but

recently that changed a bit not because

I discovered some cure that will

magically make these issues disappear

because unfortunately I haven't and they

won't but simply because I saw something

that made me excited about making games

again in fact you could say that it's

been a game Cher pun intended and I know

that a lot of you feel the same I'm of

course talking about open source let me

explain I've long been a huge fan of

blender if you don't know blender is an

incredibly powerful and now very popular

3D Graphics tool it has capabilities in

modeling sculpting UV mapping hugely

powerful rendering and the list just

goes on and the thing about blender is

that it's 100% free

when I started using blender it was

still pretty small and not even close to

comparing to the mighty industry

standard Autodesk Suite but since then

it has become a huge contender in the

world of 3D Graphics preferred by many

professionals as well but how can

something that is free ever compete with

a hugely complicated software suite that

cost thousands of dollars in

subscription fees well at least part of

the answer is that blender is what we

call free and open Source software also

known as Foss this means that instead of

a company owning and controlling the

software with a private codebase the

software is publicly owned and has a

public and open code base that anyone

can access and contribute to if you

don't like something about the software

or you would like to add a feature to it

you can simply download a copy of it and

modify it to suit your needs and then if

you like the result you can reupload it

to see if other people would find it

useful too perhaps merging your changes

into the main program one of the great

benefits of this is that it helps ensure

that the software development is driven

by the needs of the people who use it

it's a hugely Democratic way of

organizing development on top of this

open source makes it possible to utilize

volunteer work and donations to fund

development this means that the software

is free from ties to any single entity

and makes it possible for anyone to use

it without having to pay subscription

fees or owing Away part of their revenue

and open source is actually not as niche

as you might think Linux for example

went from a small hobbyist tool in the

early '90s to powering Enterprise server

systems also so many of the completely

mainstream products of our time are

built on top of Linux such as software

for cars televisions and all Android

phones it also Powers most of the

internet and the world stock exchanges

so open source is already an integral

part of the digital world we live in

today now I mentioned that I started

making games when I was still very young

but looking back it feels like the

industry was as well in just the past

decade thirdparty engines like unity and

unreal have become huge and Industry

standard a big difference from before

where game studios would develop and use

their own in-house engines also Indie

development has gone from something that

very few people even knew about to a

huge Community where hobbyists and

professionals alike publish successful

game titles largely because of how

accessible these third party Indians

have become and the game industry as a

whole has become the largest

entertainment industry in the world

World far surpassing music and movies

put together now this is a lot of change

and not in a lot of time and while huge

growth like this of course creates

issues I think it's important to

remember that it also brings a lot of

positives perhaps most importantly

making games has never been more

accessible than it is now and also large

open source projects like a modern game

engine require a lot of manpower to

develop something that wouldn't have

been possible with the small Game Dev

communities of just 10 years ago in in

fact just before taking a break from

gamedev I was aware of a few open-

Source initiatives but I didn't think

that they were viable alternatives to

commercial engines but holy wow A lot

has happened since to convince me

otherwise and huge props to the Game Dev

Community for making that happen first

of all a bunch of new engines have

popped up and just like with blender

previously Niche software is starting to

gain massive followings with many

contributing their time and donating to

hire full-time developers the largest

example of this this being Gau gdau is a

free and fully open- Source game engine

that a lot of developers have recently

turned to and the timing really couldn't

be better for this gdau has actually

been around for a while but in March

last year gdau 4 was released which was

a huge rewrite of the engine in my eyes

making it a great choice for a lot of

game projects and of course Gau is now

riding on a wave of new users developers

and a huge influx of donations to the

Gau Development Fund I've been turning

around with it for the past few few

months and I've been well loving it

while many parts of the engan of course

have a ways to go it is overall much

further than I was expecting and perhaps

more importantly for me it forced me to

learn new things and reminded me of why

I fell in love with making games in the

first place now as for the title of this

video I'm of course in no position to

predict the future of the huge industry

that now is game development but I do

think that part of making that future

the best that it can be is to realize

just that game development is huge now

and while this of course brings a lot of

negatives it also means that there are

more game developers than ever before

who all share a love for the same thing

and that perhaps a part of this future

is software that is open source

democratically owned and Community

funded now I want to be totally clear

here I'm by no means encouraging you to

stop using third party engines like

Unity Onre or game maker nor am I saying

that you should all use Kau or any other

open source engine for for that matter

I've been using Unity for many years and

made well over 400 videos on it so it's

safe to say that I like the software in

the end the game engine is a tool and

you have to use the tool that is right

for you and your project all I hope to

do with this video is to inform you that

there are many engines out there and

hopefully to inspire you to think of the

possibilities of what can be achieved

through different ways of organizing

software at GDC last year one of the

co-founders of the Gau engine Juan netki

gave a talk titled Gau as an open open

ecosystem with a lot of sharp

observations about open source in The

Game Dev industry it goes into detail

about how open source can be beneficial

for the industry as a whole and I highly

recommend you check it out so in the

spirit of Open Source we'll be releasing

some new videos on Gau I've been hard at

work learning the engine and while I'm

no expert yet and things are a bit

different this time around there's no

team there are no Patron supporters we

aren't in an office in fact we're

recording this from our home

I with the help of Sophia have done our

best to create a couple of videos on the

most essential parts of gdau the first

video will be a Mega tutorial on making

your very first gaming gdau and should

be out next week the second one will be

a complete overview of the GD script

language and will be out within a month

we really can't wait to share them with

you and we thought that since so many

things are different this time around we

might as well try something new so the

new videos will be in Danish

[Music]

hello everyone and Welcome to our first

video on Gau