Written by Shiggins
Usually, I talk about films and anime but with the past few years being so poisonous due to gaming practices and myself adoring video games both AAA and independent, I decided to take a risk and try writing about something a lot of people don't take into account; The cons of creating your own video game without the help of a studio. Usually, people discuss the pros such as creative freedom, but I'm a special sausage. Let's take a blunt look at the cons, that I hope you consider before you go into developing your own game.
I feel like this picture could be a very fitting metaphor... |
Finance Management
You might think this is an obvious one, but we've seen many games be taken down because of it. I'm sure we've all seen a Kickstarter project announced, but then it disappeared from existence and we are left with only a memory. Being human beings, we often overlook small details until someone else points them out to us and knowing where to put your money is one of the smallest but most important details we can forget to triple-check.
And then there are those games that should have disappeared, but didn't. |
On a side-note, this disruption of plans can often happen in many other areas, such as forgetting to make sure that one piece of wall is hard instead of transparent. It can be frustrating to see someone start your work, and immediately find a fault when you spent so long working on it. Very frustrating.
Taking Advantage of Others
Did you know that you aren't the only person in the world who matters? It's true! In fact, there are people who want to be treated like you want to be treated! Scary, isn't it?
One thing you will often see when it comes to independent entrepreneurs is a brazen attempt to fuck people over through exploitation and manipulation. Studios often do this as well, but its far easier for the world to notice when a team of five is refused decent payment by an egotistical buffoon such as yourself... if you did that, I mean. If you did do that, we will find out.
Then again, you're not exactly promised a permanant job working under a big studio, are you... |
Personal Attachment
Say what you like about EA and Ubisoft, at least they can't get too personally into their projects. They often operate to an almost sociopathic degree of coldness when it comes to the games they sell, which is why they don't feel guilt or shame as they cut them open to fill them with nonsense and misery. Video games can have literally hundreds of people working on them in different ways, so it can be hard to be too invested.
An independent developer however, is the exact opposite. They are almost always attached to the project from its inception, and so they can spend almost every single day working on it. Perfecting it themselves. From expanding the size of the skyscraper to making sure the nipples of their masculine protagonist is just the right shade of red, the independent developer is a part of the game and can't as easily pass off every task necessary to someone else like a company can. And, as previously mentioned, the developer is a human who will be unable to resist getting attached in some way.
And often, one's love can lead to anger.
To the Dark Side, it will take you. |
Independent developers however, can feel attacked. In fact, thanks to Twitter, some of them are! And this results in lashing out, trying to get vengeance on those who negatively review their materials. It can be daunting if you spend weeks or months on a project and have someone turn around to call it shit, but multiple developers have made things worse for themselves by trying to get the reviews destroyed, Twittering up a storm like an American president, or even trying to sue someone for giving them mean reviews. (Hello, Digital Homicide!)
Why do I have a bad feeling he's never going to just kill this series? |
Not Noticed by Senpai
If there was any problem on this list that I can relate to the most, it's this one right here. It's a lovely idea that we can just put our creations on Twitter, Youtube, Steam, Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri or wherever and instantly get the recognition we think we deserve, but that doesn't automatically mean people will see it. I've seen amazing videos struggle to get half the amount of views that a dipshit badly playing a video game can easily, and it's heartbreaking.
LOVE ME!!! |
Trendy
Does anyone remember Fidget Spinners? That thing that was made for autistic children, but some twits turned into a full fad for the longest ten minutes of my life, until everyone realised it was dumb and moved on? Well, it turns out there is a game on Steam called Fidget Spinner Simulator! It's shit, obviously, but it perfectly highlights one of the biggest pits that independent developers can fall into.
In an attempt to make money or gain attention, developers can often try and follow the latest trend or fad and make a game entirely around that. This often results in giving a game an imaginative countdown, where you can practically see the game ageing poorly before your very eyes. To make my point more clearly, imagine you played a game where you have to decide what colours the dress is. Or a game where you have to play as the Overly Attached Girlfriend. Dated before it was finished, no doubt.
Then again, I wouldn't be adverse to playing The Most Interesting Man in the World... |
Did you enjoy this article? Any issues I left out? Any suggestions for articles or reviews? Let me know in the comments below!
(I had to include my favourite indie game somewhere!) My spirit animals. I have the charm of Papyrus but the appearance of Sans. I am... Sanrus! Papysans. No. Um... Ah, I got it... I am Sapy! |
Born under the stars of the Dark Gods, Shiggins owns the power of the Great Eye and is utterly magnificent in his omniscience. If you dare to discover more about someone as great as him, then go ahead. And to all my friends and family members, YOU are wrong and I should be disappointed! Not the other way round!,. You can find out about him or ask him stuff on ask.fm/shigginsishere or go to his tumblr page http://otakugajeel.tumblr.com/
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