How I Would Start Game Development (If I Started Over)

[@thomasbrush]

Thanks for watching guys! What about you? What would you do differently if you started over? ► Learn how to become a full time game dev, free: www.fulltimegamedev.com/opt-in-how-to-make-six-figures ► Enroll in my 3D workshop, free!: www.fulltimegamedev.com/opt-in-15-minute-3D-game ► Make your game instantly beautiful with my free workbook: www.fulltimegamedev.com/opt-in-instant-beauty-color-workbook ► Get my 2D game kit, free: www.fulltimegamedev.com/opt-in-2D-game-kit ► Join my 2D character workshop, free: www.fulltimegamedev.com/opt-in-2d-character-art-workshop ► Wishlist Twisted Tower: store.steampowered.com/app/1575990/Twisted_Tower/ ► Learn how to make money as a KZbinr: www.fulltimegamedev.com/opt-in-indie-game-income-workshop

[@Mutedthjop]

Is sale eneded ? I have tried to enroll bu there is no OFF

[@bezzdev]

1:04 define the game hook 2:06 define the game loop 3:23 play similar games 4:56 create a prototype 5:35 define the sizes of all mechanics 7:24 create a visual bible 9:02 make a 10 minute demo 11:16 create a team 13:03 use a project management tool 14:37 start a youtube channel

[@samuraischultz]

Thanks!

[@TRUFANATIC]

thx bro

[@drugsforhugs7106]

Thank you sir

[@kurtSquad]

lol it's already there on a video's tracker

[@manliestdev]

Developer of the game seen at 2:00 (Pushing It! With Sisyphus) here, haha I didn't expect to see my own game in a Thomas Brush video! Guess I've finally made it as a game developer

[@MikeGemi]

Locking in your measurements is such an important and understated thing. Its ridiculously important

[@johnsysays]

A beginner isn't going to lock in anything especially in writing. That's something they have to figure out as they go, not sure how Thomas didn't mention that

[@MikeGemi]

@@johnsysays When im saying locking in your measurements I mean the actual scaling of your assets and world compared to the size of your character. As for locking in writing I dont think people really do that. A lot of the time a story will change and evolve from the original idea

[@ChrisCypher]

Noob question, but I'm curious about this point. Does that mean there are people who use disproportionately sized assets and try to fix later rather than immediately making sure they're the right size relative to everything else? Or is it more a "this looks correct visually" but numerically is 50% larger than what it would be in real life relative to everything else which could cause..I dunno.. physics or translation issues? I thought some games have to cheat the sizes of certain things so that they appear "correctly."

[@MikeGemi]

@@ChrisCypher I would say both. Its just not being aware of the units compared to the player and the world. And you are right games will for sure make things certain sizes to give an illusion of how it should look. More of what im saying for example would be you make a sword thats 300 units tall when the character is 100 units

[@ChrisCypher]

@@MikeGemi I see. thanks for the explanation!

[@jamesjohnstone1207]

Love how the binary converts to "Wishlist Twisted Tower" 🤣

[@jackcarren8781]

Devs that don't play games, make worse games.

[@FunbobbyJ]

True! But... Devs that can't stop playing games never finish and release a game. I've heard multiple developers in interviews say they had to shun new games for two years in order to finish their own. There's always a balance there.

[@mainak08]

​@@FunbobbyJ True i have played more than 20 games but only have made 7 projects

[@mortache]

​@@FunbobbyJyeah but sometimes seeing some new way of making a game can open great new avenues for you to make your game, instead of being stuck in the past for years. Like a new inventory management system or xp progression system that is far more intuitive and popular

[@mortache]

​@@FunbobbyJsometimes you just get lost in your own thought process, and seeing a new thing might make you go "damn I didn't think of it that way"

[@pygmalioninvenus6057]

unless they are gay or black or female

[@victordayet]

I'm a simple man, I see a Thomas Brush video, I click

[@alanburns9466]

Hm. I must concur my good man. Quite a cultured ol chap you are.

[@Diego_2.34]

Same here 😂❤

[@Jadebones]

Good job, simple.

[@exoZelia]

youre not allowed to do this topic again until 2026

[@scuzzlerking]

I just found your channel a few days ago I start game development next month at full sail so I’m going to use your channel and content to educate myself as best as possible

[@c4GameDev]

this video is GOLD!!!!! crazy you doing this for free. thank you for sharing knowledge like this you the man

[@DrDemolition]

not free at all, he gets plenty of money from youtube haha :D

[@arnesso92]

@@DrDemolitionnot plenty, few cents / view ( and he has to pay others as well :D

[@DrDemolition]

trust me, i know - these aren't yt shorts we're talking about, it racks up very fast for videos above 8 minutes ​@@arnesso92

[@Qas22w]

@@DrDemolition if it's free for the viewer, it doesn't matter how much money he gets from youtube, it's free :D

[@ghostgiant2588]

I really like the comedy spin you are adding to the videos. Great work!

[@BravoPhantom]

Your videos are awesome now, I used to get a little bored from straight and linear paced videos before, glad to have you back as interesting again 🤩

[@papafhill9126]

I'd take that publisher offer. It feels like in that given scenario you have (1) the core mechanics sorted/tuned, (2) the art style established, (3) your workflows established, and (4) really just need to put in the legwork to add the content to finish. A year to do that would be amazing, because you can determine how big your game can be be the amount of time it takes to complete the workflow to add new content (not mechanics).

[@3dartninja]

I think thats the way to do it for sure. This is exactly what im trying to and what I messed up building my first two games which I never completed. I finally know enough and took the time to build out this type of polished loop of the game and its almost ready to just be filled with content which is predictable for me as an artist. It was neat to see it written out exactly lol

[@misteriwa]

I think I'm in a very similar situation. It feels amazing to design a core foundation and polish it with modular items. Building the bulk of the levels is then very easy by comparison!

[@mythrando]

I get the ten minute demo idea, but I think it's more appropriate to go for a sized demo that fully demonstrates your core gameplay loop(s) (not necessarily all of them). How much effort this will take is one of the things you should consider when figuring out what scope you can handle. +100 on scaling up a team AFTER your polished demo is completed. Game studios struggle with this as it can leave so many people sitting idle burning cash, and that's a tough pill to swallow.

[@BrendaMichelle-hp9wn]

I'm trying to get into game design, and your channel is literally the best one I've found. I feel like the topics you make videos about are all the things I didn't, and wouldn't have ever thought about starting this journey. Thank you for what you do Thomas!

[@Muhammad.AhmadXR]

You are my Biggest Motivation Sir.

[@surr3ald3sign]

The first rule of making indie mmos being "dont" makes me wanna devote my life to making one just to prove everyone wrong aint gonna lie 😂.

[@HermanManly]

One thing that I see way too few devs take into consideration is expandability. How easy is it to add new content to your game, and how does it alter or expand the existing experience. You can do a lot to make sure that you can get as big of an effect possible with as little work as possible in future content patches. Take an old RPG like Titan Quest for example: Instead of just having character classes, this game works with Masteries, of which you get to pick TWO, with limited skill points to divide between them. This very simple concept now allows them to exponentially increase the amount of content they get out of the work they put in. Instead of a new character class providing one new gameplay experience, that new Mastery is now combinable with all of the other Masteries, giving you 13 new experiences for the work of 1. And guess what? If you release another one, now you add 14 new ways to play the game. And so on. Of course, this also means you have to make sure that each new release works with each old class, so there is positives and negatives, but it's definitely something that indie devs should keep in mind and actively think about while designing, or even before designing - which is why I would add it to the... Quaternity?

[@AKiCK.Studios]

About the publishers: It might be worth it for US developers, but outside of US it's really bad. If a publisher takes 40%, so I'm left with 60% gross revenue. Then steam comes in and takes 30% and I assume this cut would be split with the publisher. So I'm left with 45% gross revenue. But then comes in the US withholding tax that cuts away 30%. Some countries have a tax treaty with US to mitigate this, but those who don't are screwed. After all of that I'm left with only 15% net revenue. 40% - publisher 15% - half of steam cut 30% or less - US withholding tax

[@studiologixgames]

the publisher is meant to take 40% of your revenue after expenses from steam and possibly the tax fee, this is a recommended style for a lot of devs

[@veeper]

I'm not sure why this is upvoted. This changes absolutely nothing. You take a deal with a publisher because you think you'll earn more money with a publisher than without one. Or because you want to take less risk. US tax withholding is not a factor in this equation. Also if anyone knows what to do with regards to US tax withholding it's probably the publisher.

[@oainsh]

Your revenue is what you get from Steam in your account and it's already -30%.

[@TesterProjects]

I struggle with playing games myself. Making the game IS my, "GAME"🎮😭

[@AndrewMaksymBrainNectar]

Lol I can't game as much as I used to. Need to use that Time and focus for making art and studying.

[@PatriciusKotugFilms]

This is one of the Top 10 videos on KZbin. The man is telling you how to do it. You literally just have to do it now.

[@fxy933]

Thomas how many effects do you want in the video? Thomas: Yes

[@kaydenhardcastle]

Thanks for being consistent for so long! Always love hearing your thoughts on game stuff, keeping us smaller or solo devs inspired!

[@NestGFX_]

Thanks a lot for your valuable suggestions

[@dinoeebastian]

I've heard pretty much all of these recommendations and I think they're great, but I think the one I liked the most that I haven't heard all that often is the 10 minute demo

[@blknmild]

I want to honestly thank you for your videos. I've been disappointed with games lately but I had an epiphany over the last year or so. I come from the film industry one of the first things I learned is: "Don't get attached to anything you work on, its NOT your film." Then I realized its the same with games. These aren't my IP's and I don't fund these projects. If I want to see what I want in games, I have to do it myself. Your videos have been an inspiration to me as well as informing me as to what may lay ahead on this journey. 🙏

[@vincentconnett5358]

This is the exact type of video I’ve been looking for because it finally made the starting steps click into place for me

[@TrentKaniuga]

Props to your video editor. This is at least a couple days worth of work (if not more. ) just to edit in all of the fx and vid cuts,

[@orangelimesky]

Its so hard playing games the deeper you get into developing your game. Makes me so jealous and feel like im wasting my time playing others' games while im supposed to be shipping my game and have others play my games instead

[@MichaelMacaluso]

I was very blessed to start in game modding when it was becoming popular. You learn a lot of about these pitfalls early on, and in manageable chunks. I also ended up paying for and using Click-up. I tried them all, and Gantt charting dependencies of assets is a must for me. You spend extra time flushing that out, it will pay big.

[@ManjeetD-lk1zn]

3:19 For those who wondering what it says - "Wishlist Twisted Tower"

[@MarushiaDark316]

Since you asked for recommendations ... If you're into game dev and not on the Pirate Software Discord, you're missing out.

[@dmkq9554]

Something good that will help you with the visual side is mock up screenshots, put together scenes in-game, photoshop whatever, just to put everything on the screen and see how it all meshes together

[@owdoogames]

Great fun video Thomas, and very helpful... good to see you getting back in your stride with this format .

[@AlfonsoVillaPG]

Cool to see it divided like that: Loop, Hook, Genre, Measurements and Gameplay prototype. It'd be great if you put markers in the video to be able to revisit each one without having to guess around haha.

[@kmturley1]

Your insights align with using the design process: - Empathize: Research user needs - Define: State user needs and problems - Ideate: Challenge assumptions and create ideas - Prototype: Start to create solutions - Test: Try out solutions

[@Chuck_Spadina]

I would take the offer if it meant you could keep whatever’s left of the 100k investment when the game is done. Steam already takes 30% of the revenue so you really “only” get 60% of the remaining 70%. Unless the game is doing super well it wouldn’t be enough to keep you going full time for long otherwise.

[@Tutterzoid]

Best Advice I have heard yet to become a Successful Game Developer

[@joel6376]

Scale is so important and underestimated. I imagine many gamers think a game looks weird, yet cannot explain why.. and a good chunk of those would have off scaling.

[@altakaltaf5302]

good job putting all those information together. I feel like now I know where to go or at least where to see. Thank you.

[@dodolab7256]

I think that the 10 minutes polished demo tip doesnt work for all kind of games. It may work with adventures/platformers where you will spend 98% of your time on polish, graphics and level design.

[@Rizzmaster9001]

Hook and Loop is basically drug addiction. The reason why someone starts and why someone continues

[@DejayClayton]

This is such a great video. I intend to refer people to it for advice when starting out in game dev.

[@Qas22w]

I felt that when you couldn't do 10,000*10 at 10:35. As I get older, I can't seem do the simplest math in my head

[@Kymricola]

I love how he has the same face on his last 5 thumbnails 😂

[@Kolbiathan]

Sir, that's 11 cents... or 6 I can't tell, BUT ITS MORE THAN 2!

[@eloctopusmakesgames]

I think that making a game is a lot about taking the best from games you liked playing...then you need a lot of fantasy to merge them all in your unique mechanics!

[@TheRealCzechmark]

This is an amazing video! Nice and simple is exactly what my overthinking brain needs. Thank you Thomas!

[@RatchetEden]

Ok i every new indie should this, amazing description of how to go from hobbyist to full time

[@Aaroncarter95]

I actually have a really great idea for a game. I got the world figured out, i got the setting, the hooks, the loop. I just dont have money for actually making it, and im not great at design.

[@CappicheGames]

Morning coffee and a notepad for this one, thanks a lot Thomas!

[@MarioCola]

1. I have 10 years experience living with my own startups and I also wouldn't give up such stake for 100k, but you can get funded in many ways so the point is strong 2. This channel is getting better and better 3. Subscribed.

[@mlntdtechbae]

This is very helpful, thank you!

[@nixantcreatives]

Ayo, video editing goes hard!

[@soggy_dev]

"With a team of 3 you can compress 3 years of work down to 1 year" This really isn't true in practice. You might shave it down to 2 years, or maybe you can tackle incrementally more scope or higher quality, but 3x the people almost never nets out to 3x less time

[@thedeveIoper]

Some powerful advise here, thanks!

[@1Shingami]

100K USD does not covers my development costs...

[@blakegocey]

Then make a smaller game

[@coreycarries6325]

If you as a solo dev plan on spending over 100k for a game. Start smaller

[@jp-sx1rh]

This was really insightful, thank you.

[@NanopunkGames]

I have started my own channel. But it feels like another full time job. It is hard to balance my normal job, game dev, and youtube. I usually have to decrease 1 in order to handle another. Thomas, do you have any advice?

[@Acromata]

decreasing one to handle the other is the way to go, don't stress over it is the biggest tip. you can't do all 3 at once, expect to neglect one, just don't neglect it for too long

[@AndrewMaksymBrainNectar]

I'm struggling too lol! 😅

[@srsherman7]

@nanopunkgames same struggle here.. I would suggest for the YT focus on shorts.. shorts bring in a lot of views and potentially build an audience for when you have the time to put together a full dev log vid.. 🤷‍♂️ that's what I'm going to start focusing on with my game dev channel

[@ElianeGameDev]

OMG BiteMe is featured here

[@nickname5846]

Amazing video!

[@paluxyl.8682]

About the part at 3:35 .... what if I don't like games that are in my "similar scope" ? Also, what if similar small games don't really exists ? About the part at 9:01 ... what if it doesn't matter if the demo is just 10 minutes long or few hours because of the work and details it takes to make them would be almost the same ? Btw, I think it would be also not bad to create an own website on which the demo or the final game can be downloaded. No one can tell if Steam will allow the demo or final game on their website, because of many reasons like the monetarisation or the content.

[@wolflove-mv6zi]

Dear Thomas, I would like inquire about the potential consequences of losing focus .

[@Mefrius]

How talk a lot about marketing, creating a brand, youtube and social medias. Could you make a video similar to that with tips and recommendations but about youtube, or something like twitter, instagram etc. If you know, you know how little many of indie devs know about marketing. And thank you for this video, great as always!

[@jaystewart4414]

I'm still working on the plot along with my hook. I have the idea but those two are very hard especially if I don't know what will be fun for me to play. I'm not thinking of everyone else at first. I have some skills already, but I'm not completely confident that my stuff will take off as even a demo this year. Still trying to hone the skills so that I don't get anyone thinking I'm not working on it.

[@MrLaggy]

So how does one make a game and now what’s engaging and fun to play if one does not play them?

[@YTmingle]

0:10 What a coincidence. Yesterday I was watching his (bite me game channel) Same video and other 2 3 recent videos. And today I searched for your video 😮 you both are amazing 😊❤ thank you

[@eerieentity3139]

Funny thing you say that I used to play games heaps without guilt but now that I make them and have my ideal game in mind I feel like I'm wasting time when I try play other games (except valhiem with my boyfriend atm) but making my game is still at the back of my mind hha

[@hocineache7033]

Thomas look i am not gonna lie i formed a bad opinion about your channel before because i felt like you were milking other people success but this video was amazing i loved it, Thank you

[@GhostRat__]

I just got use to pillars and now your giving me hooks.

[@ernestosantangeloregaladoa800]

Cheeky lil "Wishlist Twisted Tower" plug, I see you 😉😂

[@udoma8]

Hehehehe, "they love it, they love me, they worship me"

[@KanoKrone]

Hi there! so after watching your video i have got to say in terms of Hooks i have that all figured out after all i am using a game formula that i know works because it was Popular for a game that WAS in development but then dropped by the Publisher for unknown reasons. The community LOVED the game and it was vary polished and has all of us going threw withdrawal 7 years later! and i am even going to expand on that formula improving said Hooks. I am struggling to find the means to MAKE the game... the style of game does not have much in terms of tutorials for its basic style on the engine i wish to use. I could use a mentor or some sort of lessons or tutorials that are more hands on... taking classes are so expensive and at times redundant and fake... i have been ripped off before -_-

[@ChewitGames]

hello this video helps me! im Game Developer and i say what you say is true when you start making games think about the hook and about the loop and so on! im working also on severerel games! now im working on a heros shade because im a sonic fan i make a 2d jump and rund and because im a fan of 2d jump and runs and unerstand the topic of games i alredy have a loop and a hook! this video is great for learning to do something better and learn to make better games as a beginner

[@kidflid]

You might not say it's easy to make 100k wishlist, but you say it like it's easy

[@superanimeboi6547]

I would take the deal.

[@fjcat637]

I love it how the final point basically took a crap on all the previous 9. Wanna be a gamedev? Become a youtuber!

[@cathleeniapeterson4504]

What if you want to make a modern version of a game made when you were a kid? Specifically with online game play

[@naf546]

Isn’t starting a KZbin channel a full time commitment in of itself? A commitment that requires investment in cameras, lighting, suit of software tools, an artists eye, a writer, a good personality etc. 😅

[@joshualane1716]

It’s a good video for what it is, but this feels like how to start game development…for your next project. Is there an iteration of this you could do that’s focused on how you would begin game development if you had to learn it from scratch?

[@milantiquestudios7460]

Me - Mom I don't know what to tell ya. Thomas told me to play games for the betterment of my future. Mom - You haven't work on your game in a year -_- lol

[@jonnyjazzz]

10% conversion seems high.

[@LMPGames]

I would never take a deal from a publisher, period. I don't want a third party telling my to add in monetization features, change creative designs because they are too risky, and have other undue leverage over my ideas because they have invested money into it. Publishers are why gaming has stagnated, none of them want to take risks and want you to maximize money generation. This is why we have mtx, battle passes, cash shops for in-game items, and now ads in games. Developers need to start saying no. Otherwise I fully agree with a lot of the other points in the video. Overall great advice.

[@HarqoGames]

1:09 Wilhelm scream

[@airkami]

This isn't how to start game development. This is how to go into business of making a game designed first and foremost to make money for its stakeholders. Game development is doing something you want because you want to and if people like it, great, and if the don't great. All you care is you made a game because that's the goal to being a successful game developer.

[@thereseemstobeenanerror1219]

No

[@centripetal6157]

What is the point of making a game if it has no fun gameplay or if it makes no money? Nobody will play the game or reward you for your time and effort...

[@Mikoyan_Felon]

Some damn good editing

[@GGFTV]

The BiteMe games shout out is based lol

[@damori3604]

What did the binary text say?🙃

[@jackcarren8781]

Fixing your math here. $10 x 10,000 sales = $100k - 30% to steam = $70k - 40% to taxes = $42k - Value of your time x hours worked = Even Less

[@kamajuchikekenate]

Bro...what about HARDWARE? What PC build,especially a Budget one would you have recommended for a 3d game development? I'm asking bc. I'd have loved to try making a Cod-like story driven game,because I have a story I'd LOVE to tell,especially in 3d and also one that involves war,so that's what i meant with COD-like...ty in advance❤ Edit: I have a 2012 pc and want to upgrade,not only to play newer,but make my own games,bc. my current PC was a beast but now it's a shadow of it's former self that can't pull much and has to play on low settings and almost always crashes...so PLEASE could you make a video on what budget friemdly hardware,one could get that would also allow one to play and especially make games on...tky in advance again✌️

[@calebhensley4489]

Haha, "Old man". Dude, you're what...30? Great information, and thank you as always!

[@tanuguitar1]

if you are making a game studio do you have to setup a studio first (bank account, LLC and domains) before finish your game? I don't think anybody ever mention this?

[@xhxcxdrummerx]

Umm, a hook and loop is a fastening system (i.e. Velcro...)... hehe I digress, thanks for the video! 🤭

[@nTu4Ka]

I don't know what game is showcased in the video but it's too dark and feels undefined because of this.

[@Azrael_Bathory]

I love your videos, they're incredibly insightful and answer many questions that I find myself asking about the other aspects of game development especially since I'm starting up on my own at the moment. I find that a lot of your videos help to break away from that negative mindset that is so easy to fall into that kills motivation and as cheesy as it's gonna sound your videos (and ones like it) can really help spark that energy again to keep going. BUT... I disagree with only one thing you said in your video.... mutha f**** you are not old lol, you look like your maybe in your late 20's early 30's (I'm sorry if I'm way off >

[@dingledongle307]

Feels like I've seen this video a dozen times, just with different titles each time LMAO

[@modernliving6456]

I’m looking for people who want to create a game. I work at an international game studio and we do AA and AAA development. We were at GDC, and if you are looking at building something we’d love to hear from you. We do console, PC, Steam, mobile, VR, and more. Comment or Dm

[@ZimMabu_GameDev.]

thx

[@nTu4Ka]

I see first person who didn't mention Jira and Atlassian ecosystem. :D

[@hleroklite]

good content thomas