Making a Living Making Games [Planning & Game Design]

I'm sure there's no shortage of aspiring game developers who watch this show. Well, it's time to get out there and break into the biz! This time, I'll be talking about what you need to do to get a job making games.

[FioreFire]

My advice as a game developer, to go along with this, is to not get too hung up on the details or on trying to make your dream project on your first go. Just make something, make it playable, finish it. Doesn't have to be big, doesn't have to be good, just the act of finishing something is a very valuable learning experience.

Also, don't just ask for feedback, actually watch people playing the game. Say as little as possible so as not to skew their perspective, and just take notes on how they play. There are SO many things that you'll find this way that people are very unlikely to report because they thought it was intentional or too minor to comment on.

Furthermore, and this may sound totally counterintuitive: the people you recruit for feedback don't need to be total strangers. Sure, a stranger might give the most straightforward and honest answer, but honest criticism doesn't always equate to constructive criticism. A friend might be more likely to just say the thing is good without elaborating, but they're also more likely to offer the kinds of suggestions that are actually rooted in a desire to see your work improve.

TL;DR: Just make a game!!

[thatfish]

Sakurai telling me to make games is by far the most encouraging thing I’ve ever heard

[Capcom_]

1:22 The "even if your first project mimics something else, it's still a feat of its own" quote is often overlooked, but it's very true (for many other things as well, not just making games). Props to Mr. Sakurai for mentioning it, because as a novice, it's really easy to get discouraged if your first project isn't entirely original.

[moseistrujillo]

I can't wait for the renaissance of gaming this series of videos will create in a few years. Hopefully Sakurai's wisdom is carried on to the next generation of developers.

[mystman]

I highly recommend WarioWare D.I.Y. to anyone who can get their hands on a copy and is wanting to try making their first games! It's a very easy to understand introduction to game development basics and the fact you're forced to make microgames means you're forced to keep your projects incredibly small, which is a good thing when starting out. Plus, it's just a really fun game!

[Bruhtato]

I've actually been starting to work on art for the characters of a game all on my own! The encouragement to continue with this path is so incredibly inspiring and heartwarming! I will do you proud, Mr. Sakurai!

[TheHylianBatman]

"You will be a fellow professional"
I love Sakurai so much. Hyping up anyone who wants to make to a game by saying "You will be on my level" is, in my eyes, extremely compassionate and encouraging.
Kinda like this whole channel.

[JettLee]

Honestly great advice that can be applied to not only game design, but literally anything. The first step is always the hardest, but once you take it you can see just how far you'll go!

[sebastienpautot]

How to get into anything :
1. Start
2. Learn from your failures
3. Iterate from there !

[blankets]

"Derivative or not, just making something is a feat of its own."
That's helpful advice to any creative person in the world. Even though what you create may be reminiscent to something else that already exists, that fine. Humans are simultaneously similar and different, so keep on creating things you took out of your own time, passion, and care.

[SweetBean]

"don't worry if you don't meet all of the job requirements they ask for"
excellent advice and something I think a lot of young professionals just getting started need to hear

[CRawr]

Never had any intention of working in the game industry but this video really made consider trying to get into it.

[matthewjones]

Specifying that it’s ok for a first game to be derivative is just what I needed to hear to encourage me. It really helps take a lot of pressure off, focusing on learning the tools rather than learning them _while_ innovating. :)

[AdriftInVR]

A great tip for many people which I don't see enough when it comes to some engines: ALWAYS CHECK THE DOCUMENTATION. While not every piece of software has great documentation, you're more likely to run into one that's easy to understand and that can take you pretty far! And I don't remember if this was said in a previous episode, but don't be afraid to ask around for help using certain functions!

[isaaccooper]

I wish Sakurai made these videos several years ago when I first started making games. I probably could have finished a few by now because I wouldn't have gotten sidetracked with other projects and stuff. But this video is good, I recently got back to work on my game and I'm gonna keep trying my hardest until I can achieve this dream: to support myself while making games all about fun

[SB-exnt]

I gotta say, it's really cool of Sakurai-san to feature Dragonsquat in his videos.
There's such a big history of passion and love behind it's history, and yet Dragonsquat is also so underspoken.

[benjaminfortune]

I think this extends to more than just games. I'm a software engineer, and the thing that really got me started was an internship with Cisco which basically repeatedly went: "We need a prototype for demonstration purposes, this is what it needs to do & here's some general guidelines: figure it out & put it together." In a few months at that internship, I felt like I'd learned nearly as much as the previous few years of uni; it absolutely landed me my first job, because the employer used technologies that I was already familiar with because of all of the prototypes I'd built.

[Jabersson]

Sakurai is such a wonderful inspiration! I'm glad he decided to make this channel

[HelixSnake]

One of the most important things for getting a job is having an example of relevant work, on top of a resume. Having something that your prospective employers can look at or play that clearly demonstrates that you are good at the job you're applying for can sell you much better than just having relevant experience or education; a lot of people who are not great at what they do have relevant experience or a bachelors, but if you can show the employer you're good at your job ahead of time, you can land a job much easier.

[mmking]

One piece of advice I'd like to add: always write down your game ideas, even if you don't make that game right away. It'll be something you can return to later down the road once you have some experience under your belt.