Sloan's Inbox: What's it take to go from 0 dev skills to successful game developer?

Heyo! Sloan here... DEV Moderator and resident mascot 🦥

Welcome to a new installment of Sloan's Inbox, your go-to place for sharing advice and observations. Whether it's career development, office politics, industry trends, or improving technical skills, we've got you covered. So, let's continue our journey of learning and growth together.

As always, I'm here to dive into your questions, comments, and thoughts. So, let's get to it!

Today's question is:

I'm 35 years old and haven't programmed a single line of code... is becoming a successful game developer a pipe dream? And even if it is, if I want to get into game development where should I start? Also, what's it like being an indie game dev versus a game dev for a mid- to large-sized studio?

Share your thoughts and let's help a fellow DEV member out! Remember to keep kind and stay classy. 😎

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Comments

[Rain Leander]

No, it's definitely not a pipe dream. Although learning to code and developing a game can seem daunting, it's entirely possible, especially with the range of resources available today. Many successful developers began later in life. However, you should be prepared to put in a significant amount of time and effort to become proficient.

Here are some steps to help you get started:

1. Start Learning to Code: There are several programming languages out there, but some of the more popular ones in game development are C++, C#, and JavaScript. C# is commonly used with Unity, a popular game development engine, which is great for beginners and can create games for virtually every platform.

2. Learn to Use a Game Engine: Unity and Unreal Engine are the two most common engines that developers use to make games. They both have large communities and extensive resources, tutorials, and documentation which can be invaluable when you're starting out. Start simple and progressively work on more complex projects.

3. Start Small: Don't aim to create the next AAA game as your first project. Start with smaller, simpler games to understand the game development cycle and gradually increase complexity as you gain confidence.

4. Engage with the Community: Join forums and communities like Stack Overflow, GitHub, or the Unity and Unreal Engine forums. You can learn a lot from other people's questions and answers.

5. Iterate and Improve: Making games, like any other skill, gets better with practice. Don't be discouraged if your first few games aren't as good as you'd like. Keep iterating, learning, and improving.

6. Consider Formal Education: There are many online courses available that can provide a structured learning experience. Websites like Coursera, Udemy, or Khan Academy have courses on computer programming and game development. Alternatively, you could consider a degree or certification program in game development.

7. Study Games: Play different types of games and try to understand what works and what doesn't. Consider the mechanics, story, pacing, and other elements that make a game enjoyable.

As for being an indie game developer versus a developer in a mid- to large-sized studio, they offer different experiences and challenges:

Indie Game Development:

• Freedom: You have more creative control over your projects. You get to decide what to work on and how to do it.
• Limited Resources: You might not have access to the same level of resources, including funding and specialized personnel, as you would in a larger studio.
• Risk and Reward: The risks are high, as the success of the game is often tied directly to your income. However, the potential rewards are also significant, especially if your game is successful.
• Broad Skill Set: As an indie developer, you'll often need to wear many hats - you might be the programmer, designer, artist, marketer, and so forth.

Mid- to Large-Sized Studio Development:

• Stability: Larger studios typically offer more job stability and a regular income.
• Specialization: In a large studio, you'll likely have a more specialized role. This can allow you to develop deep expertise in a particular area of game development.
• Bureaucracy and Control: Larger studios may have more levels of bureaucracy. You may also have less creative control over the projects you work on.
• Resources: Larger studios have more resources. This means access to top-notch tools, assets, and personnel to learn from.

Ultimately, the best path depends on your personal preferences, skills, and career goals. Both paths can lead to a successful career in game development.

[Jon Randy 🎖️]

Number 2 above I would say is completely optional. A lot of game engines are huge overkill for small games. It can be very beneficial to (at least once) build a game yourself - you'll learn an awful lot about how games are put together and how to make them. Doing it this way, there is no additional bloat or fuss and the game IS the engine. I recommend Ted Bendixson's videos for an inspiring intro on doing this (two good ones to start with are here and here).

[Adam Crockett 🌀]

There are many successful older developers, I should think with the right aptitude you could be up to speed in 3 years and successful in 5, your experience in life might lend well to the soft skills, no its not a pipe dream but a pipeline

[Volker B. Duetsch]

Just google for "halls of torment" and how it got recently traction for a
bigger player base. To learn about marketing purpose. Imho this will be
the most challenging aspect.

As far as I know it's written with godot.
Take a look at Christine's "Let's Learn Godot 4 by Making an RPG" series.

I bought her FULL TUTORIAL for 4 USD.

I have spent more than 10K EUR on books about coding, project management, self management but I have had as much fun browsing through very few as I have had with this one. Probably also due to the topic.

I use Godot (sometimes renpy, twine or reveal.js) for storytelling to my customers in a kind of point and click adventure like Maniac Mansion. What will/could happen when you go down option a, option b, etc.

[Hathrel]

I'm the same age and working through a certification right now. It's tough, but sticking to it is key, even if it's infuriatingly confusing. Once it clicks, you understand more than just that one piece of code, you can start to see larger applications of that code.

When I'm familiar and comfortable with coding on my own, I'm going to pursue game development as well. Good luck!