What It Takes To Solo Develop a Game (ft. Yahtzee Croshaw) | Dev Heads Podcast

This video is sponsored by GameMaker, the free, fast, and easy-to-use 2D game engine that’s helped power modern classics like Undertale, Hotline Miami, and Yahtzee’s upcoming Starstruck Vagabond - opr.as/GM-SecondWind
Welcome to Dev Heads! A brand-new podcast from Second Wind hosted by JM8, Tina Sanchez and Michael "Mikee" Tsarouhas focused on the games industry, completely hosted by game development professionals!
This week, the crew is joined by Yahtzee Croshaw to chat about his new game Starstruck Vagabond, and it takes to be the solo developer of a game.
Starstruck Vagabond is available now on Steam -- store.steampowered.com/app/24...
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[@Andrew.A.]

Conversation starts at 3:34

[@ashuggtube]

… but if you jump straight there you'll miss a very special secret message from Yahtzee

[@timmygilbert4102]

Thank you🎉

[@SkylorBeck]

I really appreciate hearing all of this as a fellow Solo Dev. Watching the Dev Diaries and ZP throughout the years has had a major influence on me and is definitely a reason why I am as passionate as I am about it.

[@Wahooney]

As someone who's shipped 4 games to Steam, going on a 2 hour livestream directly after release is a ballsy move.

[@ceeaymoore]

I just streamed the game for an hour. I was one of the QA testers, but I played this game for about two dozen hours AFTER the testing was done because I loved it so much. Happy Birthday Yahtz! Congrats on the release, and thanks for the opportunity to chip in, in some small way!

[@petpumpkin]

Great ep, really cool to hear Yahtzees insights post release, congrats on shipping Yahtz! Looking forward to more DevHeads, it's shaping up great so far!

[@Resopheed]

As someone who's always just wanted to go into space, I think this might be the perfect game for me.

[@thimization]

Kerbal Space Program, or Flight of Nova, might be up your alley!

[@Resopheed]

@@thimization Cheers for the recommendations, but I was merely making a reference to one of Yahtzee's old games, '7 Days a Skeptic'😄

[@lulairenoroub3869]

@1:44:00 I like seeing Croshaw's involuntary smile when he sees his game go over Phantom Liberty Sorry to get a little parasocial here, but it's fun to see him a little unguarded there

[@PlaskiJakDeska]

You should watch the Let's Drown Out series and The Ego Review if you want to see Yahtzee unguarded ;)

[@Jeougi]

​@@PlaskiJakDeskaYeah. There really has never been anyone that has been able to get under Yatzhee's skin as Gabe did.

[@szabolcsmiko4866]

This was really interesting to watch. Love the game development oriented content on this channel.

[@1xeshm]

Poor Yahtzee sounds absolutely knackered. Hope he gets enough rest and lots of sales! Sad I can’t buy the game myself because of international bullshit

[@Ile333]

Gotta say, I did my first 2,5 hours and so far the primary loop is great, very hooking and addictive in that 'one more crate' style, the story is fun and the soundtrack is really good. Great work Yahtzee!

[@gregbridge]

It would be very helpful do you could add time stamps at least for when the podcast begins, for those that weren't able to catch it live and it's a little annoying to browse through 2+ mins of "starting soon"

[@Billyisyourdad]

This is a super interesting pod, going into my rotation for sure. Haven't had a chance to sit down and play Starstruck Vagabond yet but it's already downloaded and ready to go since day one. Love you guys!

[@onedeadsaint]

i'm watching this as i play starstruck

[@lulairenoroub3869]

As a 6'2 person, can confirm, there is something strange about being around people that are taller than you Probably happens to me more than Yahtz, but it's still pretty rare. Especially if they're taller enough that I actually have to look up a bit I have some friends that are only slightly taller than me, and I don't really notice, but 2 inches is enough to do it.

[@ashuggtube]

Can confirm, when I encounter someone a good bit taller than me, it's VERY weird because if we're standing close to one another I can see up their nose when normally I'm looking at the tops of peoples' heads

[@lulairenoroub3869]

@@ashuggtube Innit weird how that's just not weird for most people? Like most people just have regular encounters with people taller than them

[@NotSoMelancholy]

The “it’s rude to be bad at warcraft thing” strikes a cord with me. Seeing a lot of criticism regarding games these days, and maybe in part helped along by the popularity of things like MOBAs and how general Gacha game progression goes. It feels less like people want mastery out of a game, and more just want to find the ‘recipe’. That leads to that toxicity of “Hey why aren’t you running thing XYZ? Equip it or get kicked”. I think it also leads to just a general toxicity towards difficulty. “I’m using the recipe, why can’t I win? The objectives must be broken/enemies must be OP/my items must need a buff” Which is kind of sad because I feel like it’s that sort of optimization which understandably has an appeal (just look at the chinese indie market, meta chasing/power for power is the draw for a lot of the RPGs we see on that front. I think it’s that focus that also takes away from the experience. Helldivers 2 is a good example in that I unplugged from it and only play solo or with friends. Helldivers is beautiful in constructing emergent gameplay experiences, through which a story is created. It’s difficulty system allows for anyone of any skill level to get those experiences and isn’t a progression gated by the numbers on your gear but skill and chance. So it’s sad seeing the push of “I need the power to beat the highest difficulty with ease!” Or “We need to win every event” or “you need to run XYZ”. Because the fun is in the struggle and giving it your all in a way you find fun. The loses make the victories feel sweet and failures make the successes feel impactful but everyone just wants to win all the time and when they lose it must be the fault of the game or it’s devs twirling their cartoonishly large mustaches cackling menacingly.

[@Texelion3Dprints]

I really couldn't do that, working on a game on top of my daily job, despite my daily job being making 3D models AND I have a degree in game art. I need to be 100% focused on one thing at a time and if I take a break I can never come back and finish it. I had unfinished projects for years now. XD Making a solo game is already hard. Making it while having another job is crazy.

[@jayWiggler]

Maybe this is the wrong place to ask but I can't find info anywhere else. I picked up Starstruck Vagabond and I'm enjoying it quite a bit, but I just learned immediately after spending all my credits on a warp drive that now I need a new air cycler ... what do I do now??? I don't have anything to sell, all the jobs in the sector are done. I don't know if I would survive just leaving.

[@Ile333]

You get a new job just by visiting a freight office. Should give you enough to buy an airfilter.

[@andrewhickinbottom1051]

Very interesting stream! Good to hear Yahtzee's thoughts on developing his game. I also love Eric's livestream editing wizardry at 1:10:50!

[@sharkkebunni]

4 hours laters, starstruck vagabond has gone up and is above "Content Warning" now, nice

[@CommandLineVulpine]

Congratz on the big day

[@ImpKnt80]

Consuming Shadows is very good too.

[@szabolcsmiko4866]

Also, can’t wait to try the game!

[@kes-3d]

Important point to make. Procedural and AI are NOT the same thing. (my day job is in VFX for films/tv) Substance is a procedural suite of tools but they also leverage AI/machine learning in a few procedures such as delighting photo textures. The two things are often used in conjunction with each other but are completely different on a technical level.

[@doifhg]

Game dev is interesting from a project standpoint, I changed jobs from someone that was always in the field to development of the thing I was always in the field for but still feel that often my feedback is ignored until it's too late, whereas videogame feedback is kind o fast and loose because anyone can just grab a game

[@loganharvey8086]

Any plans to bring starstruck vagabond to consoles? I know it wouldnt be anytime soon even if it was in the plans. Just curious as a primarily console gamer

[@illogicalbobcat8365]

Baking a cake that causes food-poisoning would take some serious talent...

[@Jack_Cooper_RFC]

"Now that you've shipped a game and understand all the stress and strain game developers go through, do you think you'll be a little nicer in your game reviews?" "No." LMAO

[@coreysierchio4650]

I wishlisted & purchased my copy on Steam & will be playing on the Steam Deck. *Thanks for the Content!*

[@lulairenoroub3869]

This dropped at the start of my work week. Been playing a little here and there. But I've had to watch this podcast like 8 times, because no one else is talking about it, which is dumb. Talk about it, internet!

[@lulairenoroub3869]

I literally rewatched the whole of dev diary. I just want this game in my face already

[@TheBalthassar]

Steam reviews from accounts that didn't pay for it on Steam don't count for anything in Steams algorithm.

[@ashuggtube]

About whether toxicity level is in any way genre-dependent (59:18) - let's be honest, it's not going to be genre-dependent, you're going to see it wherever man-babies congregate in sufficient numbers to form a critical mass

[@ashuggtube]

HBD: Herpes By Design

[@Jagerbomber]

Yahtzee on his height: "When it's the most obvious thing about you, it tends to be the only thing people focus on" I have Zero care for brands, but have a T-shirt that says Levi Strauss on the front. My uncle HAS to say it like I'M declaring myself "Levi Strauss". But the reality (of this happening) is that I'm extremely boring. so that's what i get for wearing... i guess, a "non-boring" shirt

[@ashuggtube]

Pffffft are you even a real Levi Strauss fan?? Name three songs!!

[@Jagerbomber]

@@ashuggtube I wouldn't be surprised if there are... AND I DON'T KNOW 'EM!

[@Tyrael007]

No magic words indeed, its the old "Cant argue somon out of a position unless thay themself argued themself into it" NPC is realy a apt turn, as alot of ppl nowdays dont know why thay think a thing, thay think it, thay say it, it is pre-programed by the curent culture insted of volenterely opted into in a informed manner sadly.

[@OrangeGenerator]

dw I'll retort the idiots in the comments for you.

[@T.M.034]

32:00 I'm sorry but I don't think red dwarf holds up. I could not stand that show.

[@BridgyP]

Not gonna lie Teanah kinda embarrassed herself with that question about yahtzees foray into game dev when he's probably be making games since she was in nappies 🤣 (Sorry Teanah you've been great so far otherwise)

[@erik_arman]

Who is Teanah and why is she there? She obviously knows nothing about Yahtzee’s history of game development or even basic stuff about what is happening in the stream.

[@ashuggtube]

Someone didn't watch the previous episode

[@erik_arman]

@@ashuggtube Correct. So who is she and why is she there?

[@Zxykary]

@@erik_armanDo we need to come get your daddy to hold your hand or can you do your own research?

[@erik_arman]

@@Zxykary ??? What is up with these replies?? Why not just tell me if you know the answer to my questions?

[@bloodangel13]

Used to be community manager for Infinity Ward since Modern Warfare up to Modern Warfare 2 then became a producer for Aphex then producer on GoW Ragnarok for Santa Monica Studios and now lead producer in Gravity Well.