WHY most indie developers fail

[@sealsharp]

The reason i do gamedev is that i need to create something. I am deeply unsatisfied with just the consumer role and as soon as i have some free time, i will create stuff, one way or another. Games are the new medium of my generation and gamedev fits well with my engineering skills, so it's the most fitting thing for me to create, but i don't think it would be the only thing that would satisfy me. My main problem is, that i'm also a "do it right or don't do it at all" person, so my dayjob takes over my throughts and my engineering projects are the thing all my creative energy goes into. It's kind of a luxary problem because my engineering dayjob almost satisfies my desire to create, so if i had a shit job, i would be much more productive in terms of games i assume.

[@jazen_gamic]

Thats fine but to actually do it right you need the first step

[@musicrocks0138]

“Deeply unsatisfied with the consumer role” is so real. Like, I want to leave something behind to be remembered by

[@KindSparkdev]

Funnily enough my "why"s got a lot stronger when I moved back to my home city. The game development scene here is next to nonexistent. I used to just do it because I wanted to tell my own stories and games felt like the best way to do it. But now my why is that I want to use my skills to improve my community. It may sound a bit too ambitious but I wanna get to the point where I'm inspiring the people around me to make games, hiring local people, and helping people see that working in the games industry is a viable option for their career without having to move to Cali, TX, or Atlanta.

[@ultimaxkom8728]

I'm impressed by your aspiration. To do it for the community is the endgame of all goals. It is the noblest stage reached only when you see and care about the bigger picture.

[@bitemegames]

A goal where you can positively influence others is infinitely stronger than one focused on purely personal gain. Make it a reality! -M

[@TheSmartestCrow]

I need to read both of those books on your desk...

[@miro5382]

There are two things that bring me back to my senses every time I lose motivation: 1.The feeling of successfully writing a very complex and thought-provoking mechanic or system in my games fills me with joy every single time. I love writing code from scratch and searching through forums for hours on end until I find the right solution. I love creating mechanics. 2.The second one is the feedback I received from my single, fully finished game for a game jam. I got to see people engage with my game and leave positive feedback. This experience made me feel like I had a purpose in life, and that game development isn't a waste of time by any means. The feeling of creating a product that others can enjoy and say to themselves, "This is fun," is the best thing I have ever felt in my life. So, these are my reasons. And here I am writing them. I hope that I never stop pursuing my dream and that someday, I can return here and have a little laugh while reading this.

[@stepheninczech]

I am an indie game dev because there is a game inside of me trying to claw its way out through my orifices.

[@bitemegames]

That... sounds painful...? I hope you can make it work! -M

[@stepheninczech]

@@bitemegames I imagine there will be some rectal bleeding. ^^

[@andrewalexart]

I'm already making games as Environment Artist (Atomic Heart, PUBG) for 10 years, but really want to make my own game with my own story and feeling. Now studying programming for 2 years already :D Thanks for the video, bro

[@morgan0]

i’ve done programming, art, and music separately for years, and i think one of my reasons why is that combining them together would make them into something greater than the sum of the parts

[@ElianeGameDev]

The fact that we want to prove everyone wrong is so true. I don't know if it's actually a "good" reason, but that's really motivating, as well as thinking about how disappointed the people you admire would be if you quit. Thanks for this video!

[@Surkk2960]

I will say this, I am a guy who has a Bachelors in game development, but never was able to enter the field (aka the college ripped me off with a false promise). I got trapped in a garbage job for over 4 years in the name of "work experience" and the entire time I let all my talents rot because I "had a job now". Through the entire time I felt like I failed my goals and was doomed to be a glorified car-key kiosk for the rest of my existence never to accomplish anything. I quit the job because I couldn't stand it anymore and am trying to work on game dev with Godot. It's very slow though due to me having to relearn both coding and a new engine as well as it is hard for me to communicate due to never showing off my work publicly. It also doesn't help that I'll probably have to return to another job, thus forcing the excuse on me again and the cycle repeats itself. I just want to use my talents to make people happy, but it is very difficult for some reason.

[@lotwar]

I was a software developer and designer for 10 years, maybe after 3 years I was already bored... With that ticking bomb; this spring I decided to make a game, BeachBallz, that I released on iOS and Android. I loved making games so much that now I'm taking a masters in Digital Games in Malta. When you talk to anyone that is in a creative work; their life was most likely very influenced by a certain medium, either books, music or games... For me it was without doubt games. For my "why", I want to have to same impact for someone else in a good way as it was for me.

[@kazukitakamura1311]

My "Why" is somewhat simple in comparison to most of the ones I read here. I use game dev as form of expression. I like drawing, but I want to make game dev progress if I draw too much. If I work on game dev stuff too long I want to draw. So they are my two anchors I want to keep creative balance. Plus, I like exploring the worlds I make, there is something cathartic about it. It's something passive medium can't quite fulfill for me.

[@Miccielly]

Hi, I think it is same for me. I like programming and I was drawing since I was a child, I even made few child boardgames that felt good to play at that age. Now that I am older I can combine all these skills in creating games that I love playing. Thanks to it I am even getting a little bit into music now, not to make it by myself but to have some understanding of it :) I also enjoy interactive nature of games and that players arent passive consumers as in movies, but they are acting out their decisions.

[@kazukitakamura1311]

@@Miccielly I may not have made board games as a kids, but me, my brother and a friend of ours made a card game based on Smash Bros. It featured characters outside of Smash and the mechanics were broken but it was fun.

[@Ant-iy7jt]

My why's: * There are certain titles I've been dreaming to create for eons. * I want to do something more exciting than what I'm doing professionally. * I want to release something where I'm allowed to share and talk to others about. * I want to experience the excitement and intensity of releasing a product, observing players playing the game, and reading reviews (good and bad) about the game. * I want to support a community long after a title was released.

[@zaftnotameni]

my man, I've grown to cherish and respect you guys so much

[@HamsterAccent]

My why is that I've wanted to make games my whole life, but I never felt supported by my family. I am in a healthier mindset now, and I want to pursue my dreams, especially because now I am an ESL teacher and I don't know if I want to do it for the rest of my life. Sure, part of it is that I enjoy playing games and learning how to make them has given me a deeper appreciation for the craft, but a big part of it is that I want to be able to make something that I can be proud of and prove all the doubts I have wrong.

[@JakeCollinge]

Very good concept, ESPECIALLY the aspects of it trumping scheduling and grinding dedication. Understanding the why can let you make peace with yourself and get out of your own way. (While obviously not being foolish and putting yourself in financial risk). I've also noted that when you are truly TIRED, you are half useless and will benefit from another activity and rest. The why will be there again tomorrow

[@MrMagic-lj2rb]

I've been on self-development for awhile now. My "why" is that I want to continue improving and learning to become the best version of myself, no matter how hard the journey is. I'm prepared to become an artist, musician, learn multiple programming language, businessman, storyteller, and even how to make an engine myself if that is what it takes. That, and , in a world full of too many mediocre games, I want to be able to show that indie is the future and that anyone who really wants to do it can, but only if they are willing to work smarter and harder than they ever have.

[@Silentstrike46_]

Very thoughtful video. Currently working in software dev and doing gamedev as a hobby and watching this video made me think a lot about the "why" I got into game development, and I think the fundamental answer is: I want to be able to make universes where people can experience the experiences I create, and my creations can positively impact people in some way, shape or form. What got me into programming in general was, ironically, Warcraft 3's custom maps and map editor. As a kid I really enjoyed making cinematics or scripted events in custom maps in the editor. Of course no one outside of family saw them, and they were terrible, but that side really sparked my interest and is why I became a programmer in the first place. Now, although I can work remotely, and although I'm enjoying my software job, I feel that passion slowly draining away from me. When I'm learning gamedev or working on projects in the evenings or weekends, or pushing for a gamejam, that's the few times I'm feeling that passion coming back. I guess that's my why: I enjoy making things and creating experiences that hopefully one day other people will get to experience too.

[@gamedevjourney4231]

My why is such a big why that it's really hard to achieve it. I want to make games not only to entertain people or because I like making games. I want to make a game that change peoples lifes. That after they played the game they have changed, like with a great movie where after you watched it you think: "Oh my god that was such an incredible experience. I don't know when I ever felt this way!" But of course this is really hard to achieve but I'm sure some day I will achieve this!

[@holy.diever]

I am so bored and unhappy with my day job and becoming a developer feels like the light at the end of this dark tunel of pain and suffering under an oppressive system of capitalism and bills. All i do right now is work. Because i cant afford to quit my day job and the rest of my time is spent working on my developer dream. I need to quit my day job. I need to have a life. I cant live like this forever. The closer i get to becoming a developer (not even just game dev but even the office job you described sounds way better than what im doing now.) I live in america, so balancing passion with actually being able to afford basic living expenses is near impossible (but theres still a chance) I want my freedom and to be able to thrive and not just work until i die. I want to do something i enjoy and learn new things and actually live a meaningful life. I want to get out of thw factory making someone elses products for them and make my own ideas and use my imagination and skills to bring good things into the world.

[@yohannaje]

All your content is truly awesome we can feel the passion and dedication put into all you are doing, i really wish you nothing but success in everything that comes ahead. Keep up the good work!

[@collinmbulo1464]

My "Why" comes from "why I became a gamer" Backstory: When young my father introduced me into gaming... We used it as a bond tool He then passed away... And Gaming was my coping mechanism and I always hold a sentiment of his memories when gaming My Why: I make games in uplifting my father's memories

[@RiesenradGameStudios]

Our (2 devs) biggest why is that we want to have the same freedom as you mentioned, working on games and being able to live of it is a dream of ours, but we are also realistic as we have fixed costs that have to be payed every month, so quitting our jobs was and is not possible for us. we work on our games in our free time, or in our main job time since we are both in home office, as we have very flexible IT jobs, where sometimes you can just chill after finishing your stuff - basically: as long as your work is done, do what you want. we wont to release some games for the experience and at some point, when we reached a point where all our games make enough revenue to go full dev we will definitely do that.

[@bluemuffincap2975]

If I may ask, what do you work? I'm currently a mechatronics technician and I'd also like a relatively flexible job.

[@MrPabolo77]

Keep it up BiteMe Games you are making great content! I am in a bit of a similar situation having left my previous job, that was becoming less flexible and boring. A few months back I started to develop a game to push myself to do something new that I always wanted to try. I believe you guys can make it even if many others laugh at you, having already accomplished more than many others have! Your videos also give me inspiration to finish my game and publish it as soon as possible so thank you!

[@homeofdeath212]

The reason why I got into the games business was because I wanted to make a sequel of a flash game I really loved as a kid. I waited for years but it never really happened. So out of spite of some sort, I attempted to make a spiritual successor/sequel of that game. I failed, twice. The 1st attempt, I lost motivation on it but I got it out in a barely playable state. It happened again the 2nd time I attempted it but this time it looked a lot better and playable but nowhere even close to the game I really wanted to make. I actually tried again the third time but I never even put it in any kind of "finished" state. It was a lot better than my previous two attempts mechanics-wise but I just really didn't want to make it anymore for various reasons so it was abandoned. I now know what I need to do exactly to make that game a reality but for now I'm keeping it in the backburner. I think my first "why" are as typical as it can get I assume outside one part of it. I lived and breathed games when I was a kid and I've always had a "showman" streak in me since I wanted to be like those "game masters" in the MMOs I played where the GMs would do events and you have masses of people just doing what they say. I found that cool as a kid so I wanted to be one. As I grew up, I realized that these people are more than likely community managers than the actual devs who wanted to play around with the people that are playing their games. Despite this realization my first why never changed. I still wanted to entertain people. I've gained more whys over the 10 years now I've been making games. I've faltered a lot in my first 8 but for the past 2 years now I've taken my profession a lot more seriously. But if I were to trim down my "whys" to the three I feel the strongest right now, it would be these: 1. I want to entertain people. 2. I want to make the coolest spectacles. 3. I still want to create that sequel/successor. I never wrote anywhere before why I feel strongly about making games. I'll keep it here so I can look back to it in the future and see how far I've gotten.

[@muttleygames6166]

Awesome, this video came at the perfect time. Aspiring game dev here and just yesterday I was writing down some thoughts on "What's my why". Great video. Cheers

[@AlanJhonninho]

The "why" in this video reminded me of Jim Rohn's lectures. It is really nice to see these kinds of philosophies applied to game dev.

[@AzureN0va]

My "why" is that I've been obsessed with game design from the moment I formed my first memories. The only problem is that I only care about the design part so programming my game is a huge slog, but I'm slowly making progress. I'm hopeful that one day I'll get people showing interest in what I'm making to give me that extra boost.

[@keitaro7968]

This time you tricked me into joining the discussion. This "why" infuriates me. Like a lot of others in this realm I am an graduated engineer (and also an artist) and seeing the whole gaming industry going downhill and "mainstream" drives me crazy. There is so much unrealized potential in this medium. Where are the story based voxel games? Dragon Quest Builders 1/2 were outrageously fun. Where are the creative racing games? I want to collect and drive all cars from the 70's and 80's. Where are good story and lore based RTS like Starcraft/Warcraft in general? Battlezone-likes? Yakuza-likes where optional side-activities are deeply interwoven with core mechanics and main story? Not just the 900th sameish fishing chore that leaves me hollow inside. Which developer took lessons from japanese adventure masterpieces like Yu-No or Kana Imouto? I don't know man. The last years I just figured if no one else answers these questions I need to do it myself. 😪 Thats the quest. The great adventure. 😁

[@javierrendon2634]

You guys are doing an excellent work with this YT channel, found about you a few days ago and I am binging all of your videos! Interesting topics and takes, keep this amazing job up and I am sure it will pay off!

[@bruceburnett5372]

Why not ? Is the answer for me... It checks a lot of boxes, expression, creativity, humour and the possibly of making others happy. For me tech is the barrier.. but I'm tenacious and I'll figure it out.

[@RockyMulletGamedev]

To me my "whys" are intertwined between gamedev and youtube. KZbin helps to set goals and have accountability to get off my butt and do the game that I'm going to talk about. I don't care much about being sucessful on youtube, but the little success is enough to accountability and get me to do it. And as why I'm making games ? Well that one is easy, it makes me happy, I like to build, I like to create and making game as always been watch scratch that itch. Games with map editors, I would always spend more time making maps that playing the game, I don't see myself doing anything else. I don't want to watch my life pass me by, with all the things I could've created and didn't.

[@animedreammachine7123]

My game has over 10k wishlists, pretty strong enough why I believe. But damn, but making games is so unbelievably difficult ❤

[@bitemegames]

At least you have one big hurdle cleared already! -M

[@MajesticMindGames]

The concept in this video is truly the secret to success. It is the endless burning fire inside you that will get you through all the obstacles you face in life.

[@viniciush.6540]

I'm starting because i hate having to be bound to a corporation, where all you do is the traditional build backend, build frontend, deploy, solve random issues not caused by you and having randomly defined deadlines because someone wants to please an executive. I always wanted to tell my stories, and I'll have to break into the game market, make some money, so i can move on to more ambitious projects with more resources and more people. Becoming a full time indie gamedev is my way to liberate myself from a sociopathic corporate culture

[@CyborgPrime]

I enjoy bringing things from my mind into existence.

[@rstorm7568]

My "Why" is that I want to be in a position where me, my family and close ones are living a decent life, and where I can help strangers get by and support them, and where I can decide when I can work or not, while making games for the rest of my life, and even if I'm too old for coding/programing, I want to have my own team/studio to create games I enjoy and hopefully sell well. I know its a lot to ask but I'm quite prepared for what it takes.

[@charlesmetal8224]

I am just trying to make one because I've been waiting for that kind of game for decades and have been left disappointed. So i am doing it myself, but definitely have no plans to do dev work full time.

[@VoltitanDev]

The reason I'm a indie game developer is that I want the creative freedom to create what my heart desires and bring my vision to life with my own hands rather than wait for somebody else to do it for me since the game I always wanted to play doesn't exist.

[@FlintFortDev]

It was strong and my first thought was " This guy has big balls of 'why' " )) But this topic made me think deeply.. It would be cool to hear about task planning, I think this topic is a pain in the neck for many people

[@blaze55551]

So far my "why" has been because life is stressful and video games have a way of relieving that stress of life. So being a game developer is my way of helping others de-stress.

[@jasontoddchampion]

Why? Because I'll die if I don't, and I'm not ready for that yet.

[@Cabolt44]

I agree that you need something to drive you in game development. Perhaps multiple something's that each push and pull on the other "why's"? My own (core) why hasn't really changed, but I have incorporated other drivers into what is essentially my passion and career. A passion for making and playing games.

[@DanielBonaker]

Wow actually very insightful, even though it's kinda obvious. My >why< is so much stronger and complete now, compared to the times before when I failed over and over. Now after some years, some new and important reasons popped up one after another. At this point I'm going to create the results I want to see.

[@Ben_of_Milam_Music]

as a certified insane person, my "why" is that developing games is my one and only calling. I simply can't see any future for myself other than full time game dev, even if I try. That means my realistic options are to either work dead end jobs all the way up into my 60's, or pursue my destiny and make games. Jonah didn't get anything done in the belly of the whale, and neither will I. I've just been studying design, programming, and 3D art for the past 8 years without really committing to a project and finishing it. I decided it's now or never, and I chose now. 😤

[@zelcion]

It is possible to summarize these "Why's" as core principles, values you have as a person. When you align those principles and values with a world view you wholeheartedly support, you become unstoppable.

[@ViewportPlaythrough]

question.. where do you find people to build a team that would seriously make games? i get game jams and all that, but at the end of the day most of them just want to do the jams and not really the long-term games

[@JakeCollinge]

It's a very great question. It is truly hard to have equal buy-in from multiple people outside of professional payment agreements as glue. Many people mean well but their inspiration is fleeting, or the timing is off...it is a big challenge. You may have to try your luck at in person evets and online communities for quite some time, if it is for a deferred payment

[@RizVNTV]

You almost got laughed at for what? For not having a degree in game dev? That's so dumb of them. You seem to care a lot about others opinion, so I'm glad you managed to use that and this entire community in your favor. Keep up the good work. You guys are doing great

[@BarbaOlof]

I definitely have a “weak” why, and I’m pretty certain that I will never make a complete game, or a polished enough to be released. I am into game development as a way of getting into C++ programming, and to learn various techniques involved in game dev.

[@turnerbrostv5425]

Man I'm way older than you but don't hold it against me, if I were in the cubicle next to you at work I'd be like "MARNIX LETS DO A TIER LIST" at least twice a day 😁

[@bananahammock924]

1. tired of how games are made these days, its hard for me to call them games when they seem like just a psychological process to keep people in as long as possible and spend as much as possible, i want to make games not cash shops with a hollow experience attached to it 2. i feel frustrated with decisions game companies make and constantly saying "were listening, oh btw heres a new update we know you will all hate" 3. i would also like to get out of jobs i despise that dont pay enough for me to get a head, its not my primary objective though as i am still not sure if i want to make games for commercial success or just to make games for my self 4. it interests me more than any thing else my reasons are pretty weak id say as i cant really get my self to do any thing any more and i dont actually have fun with games much these days as i have developed a negative outlook and i always see things that i dont like about a game and i let it ruin the experience for me, i mostly just want to make games with out a lot of what i think is BS in games, maybe its to grindy, or maybe the gear progression system is frustrating , or maybe the character design is hideous to me, i could go on and on, i have too many problems and will probably never be a game dev but its all i think about

[@Alexindiegamedev]

For me my reason is passion I love writing stories, creating worlds and characters

[@foxrings]

The reason why I am a hobbyist game dev… is because the simple space game I want to play, I can't find it on the android play store.

[@kenkai9097]

How do you deal with uncertainty regarding your future?

[@bitemegames]

I think it's just boneheaded certainty that if I give my all, it will work out. It's a bit of a bad answer I guess, but once you're in and giving your all every day, you'll understand. I always approached gamedev as a longer term endeavor, and while growth has been slow for a while, I always kept thinking to myself "this will pay off". So failure just isn't really an option or something I consider. Not sure if this is the best approach, but that's how I deal with it at least. -M

[@smalllixin]

I see Forge Industry don't have a good sales number. What do you think the reason :(

[@JustVoylin]

Belgium public transportation ... really can not get used to that anymore since I moved to Japan hahah 2 hours by car and 3 hours by train? O.o How do they expect people to use public transportation and reduce traffic jams? ^^" Also seeing so many red dots on your route feels so strange hahah does not really happen here in Osaka, atleast not that many dots :p

[@bitemegames]

Good thing I work from home (/anywhere else that I'm living at) now. The car is just for chill drives now. I've got a Japanese drivers license, guess I just need to experience the Japanese roads next time I'm there. -M

[@umoyGC]

Well I think i have a family reason for getting an indie. I want to earn enough money to have a good or maybe great life for me, my wife and our future kids. And I want to spend my time with them. If possible all day long. If I'm an successfull indie, I can work from home and see my then born kids rising and grow up. Right next to me. And I can always support my wife with all kinds of work, problems or what ever :D So that we can be a very happy and healthy family :).. so .. yeah.. that's why I wanna be an indie gameDev 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

[@Tbjbu2]

great vids thanks

[@BartMamzer]

I kinda feel like my "why" is not really there. I just do it for fun. Imo it's possible to do it with consistency even without "why". You just need to make it a habit. It's totally possible that I just don't know myself and I have a subconscious why, which I don't know about :)

[@JakeCollinge]

I'd take even more time to think about it perhaps. Doing things only because of habit may or may not be serving you well! Maybe ask yourself, what are the most rewarding moments of development? It may be a case where you don't have baggage or course correcting reasons to do it, but if you enjoy it and do it often there will be reasons :)

[@BartMamzer]

@@JakeCollinge I mostly do it because I feel good/satisfied when I work on the game and I feel bad when I don't work on the game. And I currently think that happiness is the goal of life. Not sure how true that is, but I guess I'll find out in a few years ;d But yeah, it's totally possible that there are other ways of life that would be even better.

[@EastElbow]

I'm tired of driving 2 hours to work too... I want to be my own boss so I can have creative freedom.

[@EastElbow]

Also... I have found love in animation.

[@siidaf]

Why no one will create a game like the one i will create

[@idklol4197]

you know those old people just want somebody to talk to.

[@idklol4197]

and their loneliness is so revulsing to you that you decide to make a video game just to get away from them

[@herohuntstudios]

add "how to avoid this" then i able to click this vid

[@jerryoverton7037]

I look forward to these videos and I'm not even a game developer. I'd be REALLY disappointed if you suddenly disappeared. So...remember that next time you're thinking about giving up. 🙂

[@bitemegames]

No pressure for me right ☺ -M

[@chiranjibparida3831]

I want prove to people that i can be a game dev and tell stories of India

[@themore-you-know]

Whys don't translate into physical matter, otherwise that would be called Kantian Karma. - "why" do you think wanting to infuence people creates mechanically and artistically better games than wanting to just create cool games? That's not how engineering works.

[@alexanderfranz3482]

It is about the motivation, which keeps you on your path. It is about a personal reason, to find motivation to overcome possible 'roadblocks'.

[@grindalfgames]

None of your reasons were a passion for games. What if somebody offered you a well paying job in another industry with flexibility on location and younger colleagues ect you have NO reason to stay in gamedev. Passion for games is the main reason to be a gamedev, passion for games is the main reason to push through and finish your game project. I normally enjoy your videos but this one I don't agree with

[@thygrrr]

Been making games progrssionally for 20 years. Still watches this video. You totally do not need a degree. In fact, most gamedev degrees are poor value for what you learn.

[@HealyHQ]

Kanban is a Japanese word, so should be pronounce like "kahn-bahn," rather than "can-ban." 👍 Anyway, excellent video, and exactly what I tell people who want to do all sorts of things, not just game development. To succeed in any artistic/creative endeavor, one needs a strong reason why. Learning for the sake of learning will get you part of the way there, but finding a reason to NEED IT -- that's what will propel you in the toughest of times, and allow you to realize success. Spot on.