In the video "How To Make A Game Alone" by Thomas Brush, the creator shares his experiences and lessons learned from developing indie games as a solo developer. Thomas Brush is an experienced game developer who has created games such as Pinstripe and has also worked with publishers like Armor Games and Serenity Forge. The video offers insights into the challenges faced by solo developers, the importance of sticking to a schedule, and utilizing resources to speed up the development process.
Thomas begins by discussing the emotional toll of working on a game project alone and feeling like he made no progress. He explains that making games solo can lead to careless decisions and constant changes in the game's design, story, and mechanics. He shares his experience with his game Pinstripe, where he changed the story multiple times and spent weeks on the logo. This lack of focus and direction led to a patchwork demo that was rejected by the Indie Game Festival (IGF).
To overcome these challenges, Thomas implemented a milestone document and sought an accountability partner (his wife) to help him stick to the plan. He emphasizes the importance of not making the game your entire identity and being open to using external resources. He states, "just because you make a game solo doesn't mean you have to do everything yourself."
Thomas advises solo developers to utilize resources such as the Unity Asset Store, TurboSquid, contract work from Fiverr, and royalty-free music from Epidemic Sound or Pond5. He also suggests using templates and assets from websites like Craftpix.net to speed up the development process. For marketing, he recommends partnering with a publisher or aiming to secure at least 10,000 wishlists before launching the game.
After being rejected by IGF, Thomas submitted Pinstripe to a smaller festival called the Whippering Cup. He attended the festival and met the creator of Songbringer, who introduced him to crowdfunding. With this newfound knowledge, Thomas launched a Kickstarter campaign for Pinstripe, raising over $100,000 in 30 days. This success allowed him to become a full-time solo developer and partner with publishers like Armor Games and Serenity Forge.
In conclusion, Thomas Brush's video highlights the importance of not taking yourself too seriously as a solo developer, sticking to a schedule, and using available resources to speed up the game development process. By following these guidelines and securing funding through publishers, investors, or crowdfunding campaigns, solo developers can successfully complete their projects and achieve their dreams in the indie game industry.
