Just a quick post to let you know that I just followed my "burning desire" to become an indie gamedev.
I've done small budget games in the past for the italian market only, and left a bit the gamedev scene for 2-3 years doing boring stuff like office jobs, serious VB programming, and finally webdesign/web programming.
I was about to become a "standard mediocre man", with a boring job and no fun at all doing it, but after reading all those post in this forum, I started a game in my spare time, and yesterday (after 3 months of development) I finally made the "great step": went from full-time to part-time job! (to have more time to develop the game)

My parents and girlfriend fully support me, I must admit that the only one scared about this decision is... well me :)
I've also set a clear goal: finish the game BEFORE september of this year.

Wish me good luck :P

p.s. if I go bankrupt and lose also the part-time job, I'll consider YOU and Steve P. the responsible for that!!! :D (joking)

Wishing you great success! It takes courage to do that, but I think in the end, doing what pleases you (within reason) is the most important thing.

I myself have taken the great plunge. I used to be a full-time programmer but I was unhappy working for someone else. Is it better to be unhappily employed or to happily work for yourself and not have a boss to fear or co-workers to appease?

Now..I work full-time on my game(s) and within a few months, I hope to have an array of products available. It's a joy for me to go to sleep when I want, work when I want, do stuff that I want to do. It makes all the difference in the world. The only concern I have is, can I make enough to continue doing this once my funds dry up? I am living v.e.r.y. stingily and I am amazed how little one really needs to live. I was so foolish with my money in the past, wasting it on stupid things because I knew every two weeks, I had a fat paycheck coming. I think everyone lives this way so I don't feel too badly, but once you change your thinking, it's become very liberating. No more paychecks to depend on. No more bosses and no fear of losing one's job. Now..I work for myself, and I feel more in control over my life.

Good luck on everyone's projects, and wish you all great success! :)

I myself have taken the great plunge. I used to be a full-time programmer but I was unhappy working for someone else. Is it better to be unhappily employed or to happily work for yourself and not have a boss to fear or co-workers to appease?
Yeah, that's the big difference.
For now I haven't done a radical change: I have kept working, but instead of full-time, I do part-time (work only on Monday-Wednesday-Friday).
Switching from 5 day a week of work to 3 day already makes me feel better :)
With this solution I can still get some "safe" money, but I have enough time to work for what I love: game programming!

About the sacrifices... well I had always a "clear mind" on what was really important to live a decent life. Never wasted money on discos, pub, expensive clothes, crappy movies, and so on.

If you think carefully, what you REALLY need is not much. Of course this may work for me, but I know someone who earn over 2000 euros/month, and still manage to spend half of his salary going out at night and with girls...! luckily my girlfriend has my same point of view :D

I suggest everyone to watch Fight Club, for the phylosophy of "what is useful and what is useless" thing (and also because it really is a great movie!)

Congratulations! If you feel a bit anxious after the decision, it just means you have to get those butterflies in your stomach to start flying in formation. :)

Thanks! :)
But...ehm, what exactly does that phrase means?

(remember that I am italian and don't know exactly all the meanings of popular saying or... perhaps you're referring to galaxian? :confused: )

Sorry about that....

Butterflies in your stomach = feeling nervous or anxious

Making the butterflies fly in formation = transforming anxiety into passion and excitement... taking the nervous energy and channeling it into positive action.

Originally posted by Jack_Norton
My parents and girlfriend fully support me, I must admit that the only one scared about this decision is... well me :)
I've also set a clear goal: finish the game BEFORE september of this year.

Wish me good luck :P

p.s. if I go bankrupt and lose also the part-time job, I'll consider YOU and Steve P. the responsible for that!!! :D (joking)

Steve P. one day will find a whole crowd of angry failed game developers all around his house :)

Good luck Jack, though you need a hard work and talent more than luck. Support of friends/wife/relatives is very important.

I became full time indi in 1998, but failed after 2 years. Eperience of being my own boss and making all creative and business decisions myself was so enjoyable, that I gonna give it a second try soon. When I will fail one more time, tell me when you ready too, and we make a nice Steve P. hunt :)

Originally posted by Fariz
Steve P. one day will find a whole crowd of angry failed game developers all around his house :)When I will fail one more time, tell me when you ready too, and we make a nice Steve P. hunt :)

It's still your own responsibility :) The chance to succeed depend on a bit of luck. It's my experience that a bit of luck can help or without even break the game company.

Making the butterflies fly in formation = transforming anxiety into passion and excitement... taking the nervous energy and channeling it into positive action.

Thanks for the explanation :)

It's still your own responsibility The chance to succeed depend on a bit of luck. It's my experience that a bit of luck can help or without even break the game company.

Sure luck help. But never help like hard work and clever planning.
The game company I was working before failed because he was making software for the italian market only (you can smile now)
In this case you can't say that you were "unlucky" because piracy in Italy is really common...!

It is true, on the other hand, that bad luck may change a success into something simply "good, but not the best". An example (a recurring nightmare of mine) is someone releasing the same kind of game just a week or two before yours! :eek: