Comments on: Screw Art (Or, Passion & Indie Game Dev)

By: Macguffin

Macguffin — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:40:18 +0000

You know, I usually am banging the “reduce scope” drum myself. Recently, I found myself dealing with this balance of passion versus practicality… Looking at them both, I’d have to amend this to say go small, but take inspiration over small if you have to. If not inspired, make it REALLY small.

By: Jake Birkett

Jake Birkett — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 02:53:38 +0000

Sounds sensible. Reduce Scope … ship! (or at least improve chance of shipping). For people making their first Indie game, my advice is SEVERELY reduce the scope and get something out there even if it’s not awesome. This will teach you way more than making a massive magnus opus that never sees the light of day. Then improve on things in the second and subsequent games.

By: dl willson

dl willson — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:02:10 +0000

art is subjective… the only thing “art” is…is the “friction between heaven and earth”

being “good” is art… being so bad it is good is art.

By: Macguffin

Macguffin — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:05:14 +0000

Thanks for the link – I will check it out.

You know, I can see that sort of advice having a little more validity in the world of AAA games and crowded retail shelves – the barrier to entry and budgets are so high that it makes most risk something to be avoided. But in the much more personal world you can make of sticky online communities and personal relationships with your players? S’crap.

By: Jason Maskell

Jason Maskell — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:02:21 +0000

It’s funny, I subscribe to this completely – I can only make games that I love. At least in my own company. I am “ok” at busting my ass for other peoples crap projects, but only for a short time. That extra mile comes from passion.

But what I really thought about was a Gary Vaynerchuk thing I listened to/watched lately that addresses this very point. I highly recommend it, he’s got some really motivating points. Here’s the specific thing:

http://garyvaynerchuk.com/post/79804838/chasing-dollars-instead-of-passion-many-people

Oh, and I was once told by a (d-bag) producer I was pitching that making games that you loved was sure to get you an audience of 1. Pfft.