It is a dream for many people to make a living by developing games and publishing them. But how feasible is that idea and whether it can be made into reality, is a question that many are not able to answer. In this post we will see what options are available to make that dream a reality and what you need to know to succeed.
First thing to know here is game development is no longer a difficult task as it used to be in the 90s. What used to be a complicated job reserved exclusively for developers, designers and computer lovers has become almost a routine today. Even kids are able to make games thanks to the advanced game engines available for free in the internet.
Today’s Game development scenario
Young people are no longer wasting time playing games for hours, but creating them massively. Mostly the ones for mobile phones. However, it is not only about creativity and entertainment, but also about the possibility of making a serious profit. Technology for creating programs and games has advanced a lot in the last 10 years. Kids from the third grade can easily make simple games. Some use the easy-to-use game engines like “Game Maker” whereas, some prefer a little more complicated and more equipped game engines like “Unity”.
The video game industry is one of the largest industries in the world. Its suffice to mention that it makes more money than the music and film industries together. Many people have the idea that making video games is just a hobby and fun, but on the contrary, it is a very serious work, and it can be a well-paying job too.
The tools needed to engage in video game making are not difficult to obtain, and most are free. Of course, depending on the direction you want to go depends on what tools you need to learn. The writer needs a pen and paper to start, as well as someone who thinks of being a concept artist, while someone who is thinking of programming needs a computer and one of the programming languages. You can know more on how to make a game.
Make a living by developing games-the options
Well there are two major options when it comes to making money by developing games. Let see what the option are about.
First one is by joining a company that makes games and the second option is to be an indie developer.
The first option is much easier and almost a guaranteed way to make a living. All that you have to do is select which area you want to work, for example,programming, modelling or be an artist and then master the tools required. Once you know the tools most company will accept you as intern and then you can grow from there. You can learn courses on Unity and master it in almost a month. Here are some best courses to consider.
Being a indie game developer is not that easy, if you don’t know what you are doing you might fail terribly. The main issue with indie developer is not the game making part, it’s the selling part. Most developers make beautiful enjoyable games and fail to sell it. So, if you plan to go indie you need to learn everything about game development. Our starter kit should give you enough idea to get started.
Market research for Indie developers
First you need to evaluate the potential share of the game in the specific part of the market you have opted for. In doing so, it’s crucial to research the competition so you know what’s been successful and what’s not. This will help you make decisions about the design of your game and predict potential revenue.
You need to explore all the distribution options available for the platform for which you are developing the game. Online distributors usually take about 30% of the revenue. Selecting the platform and distribution channel will play a significant role in the overall revenue of the game.
Identifying and understanding your target group is crucial. All demographic factors (geography, gender, age, etc.) must be taken into account. The price of the game, or the price of in-game virtual goods, should be determined based on the consumption limit of your target group. Too high or too high a price will directly affect the potential for monetizing your game.
The conclusion
If you want to make a living by developing games then you need to consider your position. You are going to need some time to make money if you are planning to go indie. My suggestion is to join a game development company to learn the game development process and start a side hustle. You can then switch to indie once you start making some money.