is independent game good to do? 10 common misconceptions to share

is independent game good to do? It is believed that, in many people's view, the development cost and difficulty of independent games are less than 3A, but independent developer Kee-won in a commentary article for Gamasutra that the game industry's misunderstanding of independent game production is widespread, In his article, he shared 10 common misconceptions about independent game production.

10. Independent games are less stressful than 3A game development.

That is not the case. If you make a living by making independent games, you're almost exhausted. You need to think about your game, your company, and how to make money every minute. Even if you work part-time to create a game, there is certainly no idle time left.

9. Independent games are easier to develop than 3A games.

It is true that your game may not need as many people as the mission call development team, but it will take more of your personal time. You have to be in the same position as a member of a large team, and one person is responsible for many tasks.

8. Independent gaming is easier to make money.

Wrong。 There are a few independent games sold millions of sets, but most of the independent game is not to make money. The goal of many independent game studios is simply to make ends meet.

7. Independent game production cost is low.

Even if you don't calculate the time cost (time is not free, of course), the cost of game development will grow rapidly. If you make a living, you have to spend money to buy software and hardware, to spend money on tools, and even if you are talented, you need someone else to help you-you have to pay for them. Marketing also needs to spend money.

6. You can get back to Ben in time.

For small companies, cash flow is always a problem, and independent gaming studios are no exception. In general, even if your game is sold successfully, you will have to wait 30 days for the actual sales to reach your bank account.

5. Independent studios can get venture capital.

Is it really so? From a strictly commercial point of view, any venture capital company will be cautious about the work-driven gaming industry, and the lack of love for companies with no name, a successful resume and a well-known IP. Even if they are interested, the proposed terms of cooperation may be detrimental to you. When looking for outside money (including angel Investment), you need to think carefully, especially when it comes with additional conditions.

4. As long as I work hard, my game can sell very well.

Stop dreaming. People on Earth don't owe you a game of independence. You can have your own artistic pursuits and work hard to achieve, but not necessarily be appreciated by the player. In addition, many of the players you want to influence may not even hear about your game.

3. As long as the game is done well, sales will follow.

A high-level game does not need marketing? Even Call of duty needs marketing. And any kind of marketing is time-consuming-especially when you're trying to establish your brand. Good products contribute to marketing, but in the independent gaming world, many high quality games have failed to reap the economic rewards due to weak marketing.

2. The cost of independent game art is low.

No one expects your game to be as cool as the Assassin's Creed, but its art style will be one of the key factors in determining the success of a game. At the marketing level, independent developers are not able to advertise the game picture as 3A companies, because of a lack of capital budgets. In general, you only have a few seconds to influence a potential user, and the player can only evaluate your game through 1-2 of images or videos.

1. I can create the games I want to create myself.

Indeed, you have more creative freedom than the publisher or IP owner, and you can be more ambitious and try to take risks. But you will still face many limitations, such as budget, time, and technical constraints. If your goal is to make money, then you have to develop a strategy and find the right partner.