Game development is HARD

Summary

Game development is both easier and more difficult than ever. While tools like Core simplify the process, the complexities of creating a game, particularly for indie devs, are immense. From managing various roles, such as programming, art, and marketing, to navigating the massive competition in the market, devs face numerous challenges. Even with large budgets, AAA studios experience crunch periods and bugs. To succeed, developers need awareness of the hard truths of the industry. Game dev is a tough but rewarding journey, requiring time, effort, and resilience to overcome the obstacles that come with it.

Takeaways

• 😀 Game development has never been easier due to modern tools and platforms like Core, which allow creators to build games without requiring advanced coding skills.
• 🎮 However, game development is still a highly complex task, with many challenges in terms of technical limitations, resources, and multi-faceted work required.
• 🔧 Even seemingly simple features like adding a door to a game require significant attention to detail, affecting gameplay and requiring careful design across various systems.
• 🎨 Indie developers, especially solo creators, must juggle multiple roles, including programming, sound design, art, level creation, marketing, and finances.
• 💸 Big-budget games like *GTA V* and *Cyberpunk 2077* have development costs in the hundreds of millions, reflecting the immense resources and time required for AAA titles.
• ⏳ Despite the massive budget, even AAA studios face issues like crunch time, which leads to employee burnout and often results in games being rushed to release.
• 🎯 Indie developers often struggle with marketing and getting their games noticed due to the sheer volume of games released every year across various platforms.
• 📉 The indie game market is flooded with titles, with over 28 games being released per day on Steam in 2020 alone, making it difficult for smaller games to stand out.
• 🔍 As a solo dev or small studio, you'll also need to handle all aspects of game promotion, including outreach to streamers, journalists, and the gaming community.
• 🕹️ Game development requires understanding both the creative and technical aspects, and as your ideas grow more complex, you'll face increasing challenges in execution.
• 💡 Even with all the advancements, game development remains a long, challenging journey that requires patience, perseverance, and continuous learning to succeed.

Q & A

Why is game development considered one of the hardest things to undertake?

Game development is hard because it requires mastering multiple disciplines such as coding, art, sound, and mechanics. Additionally, there is fierce competition in the industry, and creating a game involves a complex integration of many factors like design, execution, and distribution, which can be overwhelming for developers.

How has game development become easier, according to the video?

Game development has become easier due to the availability of powerful tools and platforms like Core, which allow creators to build games without coding skills. These platforms provide access to assets, multiplayer technology, and high-quality graphics powered by engines like Unreal Engine, making game creation more accessible.

What is the hidden complexity behind game ideas?

The hidden complexity lies in the fact that while game ideas may seem simple, they often require significant additional work in areas like art, sound, and distribution. Game development involves handling various challenges that aren’t immediately obvious when conceptualizing an idea, such as ensuring it’s feasible, engaging, and well-presented.

Why do AAA studios prefer building on existing ideas rather than innovating?

AAA studios tend to prefer building on existing ideas rather than innovating because creating something entirely new is risky. It requires a significant investment of time and resources, and the chances of success are uncertain. Instead, they focus on improving and refining existing foundations to ensure higher profitability and reduce the risk of failure.

What is the role of engines in simplifying the complexity of game development?

Engines like Unity and Unreal simplify some of the complexity by handling technical details such as compatibility with different hardware and controllers. However, as game ideas become more complex, developers still face challenges related to the engine’s limitations, and additional effort is needed for more advanced features like multiplayer or unique mechanics.

What are some examples of large-scale games' development costs mentioned in the video?

The video mentions the development costs of major games: Grand Theft Auto 5, costing around $137 million; Cyberpunk 2077, which had a development budget between $120 and $314 million; and Red Dead Redemption 2, which had a staggering development cost of around $500 million, with possibly half of that allocated to marketing.

How does the process of making games become more challenging for indie developers or solo devs?

For indie developers or solo devs, game development becomes challenging because they often have to handle all aspects of the process themselves, from programming and art to sound and marketing. They must also manage business-related tasks like finances, distribution, and promotion, which adds additional layers of complexity.

What is the 'door problem' and how does it illustrate the complexity of game design?

The 'door problem' refers to the challenges involved in implementing a simple feature like doors in a game. Developers need to consider whether the player can open all or some doors, how the doors are locked or unlocked, and how to signal their status to the player. This example highlights how even simple game mechanics require intricate planning and design.

How does the competition in the gaming market affect indie developers?

The competition in the gaming market is fierce, with thousands of new games released every year. Indie developers have to compete not only with other indie games but also with large studios. With many gamers already having a backlog of games to play, standing out and capturing players' attention becomes an enormous challenge, especially when there’s limited visibility for smaller games.

What are some of the factors that contribute to the difficulty of making games a successful career?

The difficulty of turning game development into a career stems from the combination of factors such as a high workload, limited resources, financial challenges, market competition, and the need for continuous innovation. Developers face the pressures of not only creating a game but also ensuring it reaches the right audience and performs well in the market.