Should You Give Up On Game Dev?

Let's answer a raw and honest question from one of my subscribers, Seth. He doesn't know whether game development is for him!

[thomasbrush]

Thanks for watching! Hope you learned a ton. 

[RealCoachMustafa]

I agree with what you said about "identity." This trend about what we identify as has gone too far. Everyone wants to "find themselves" now. You don't need to find yourself. You're right here. You're YOU! And when people get obsessed with these identities, they are limiting themselves. "I'm a night owl" then the person limits themselves to never wake up in the morning. Or "I'm not into sports" then that person limits themselves to never pick up a ball and try to move around. Hobbies and interests come and go, but what makes a person is their personality, their integrity, their faith. Traits that are more core to their foundation.

[krzysztofpitek]

Thanks Thomas, this one really hit me. Overthinking and overvalue my work really kills my creativity and joy. I've wasted a lot of time to think If I should be gamedev, environment artist, storyteller etc. Instead of just make things, share them and figure out what I really like without labeling myself.

Btw, my first ever comment here and I watched many of your videos in the last couple years. All the best ;)

[TegridyMadeGames]

"Take a break" is the most important part of making games. Grinding on the same project for years on in will ALWAYS drive you insane. Taking a break, maybe just making a quick 2D game with no thrills or plans of profits, but do something other than work on the same exact project every single day. Or you will get sick of it.

[KhroMcKrakken]

For anyone who decides they want to be a storyteller but doesn't want to make their own games, the path you're looking for is Narrative Design. And what that entails is helping other devs create the stories and other narrative elements for the games that fits the game design. If you want to do that, I recommend game jams along with making screenplays as well as game scripts using Excel, and branching narratives using Twine.
(And yes, I know the idea of using Excel for writing game scripts is odd, but it's for ease of programming. Campo Santo actually built their writing software for Firewatch based on an Excel system, you can find a GDC talk on that.)

[robertv]

Love what you doing. The delivery, the pace, the lighting, the motion graphics - the quality. Good stuff.

[foldupgames]

Great talk, Thomas, and great advice.
Look, we all get burned out and tired of what we're doing - even a career we love!
I've been a full time graphic artist for 20+ years and it gets BORING. I've written novels and I've made games. They all grow tiring.
But it can't be your identity. What you're doing for a job can change. You have a long life and many passions. Keep evolving.

[Shallsoar]

It’s amazing that videos like this are simply for free to watch.. What a source of encouragement!

[greenviewmedia]

Thanks for the spiritual take on identity, definitely needed this reminder. ❤

[mauricioventura]

Damn damn damn this was good and needed! I’m a cinematographer and have been working at this profession for the last 10 years and it doesn’t get any easier! Covid pretty much ended my career overnight and I’m still working to bounce back. I bought a gaming laptop recently and have begun to learn Unity since making games was my original career choice. It’s definitely just a hobby and will continue to be until I see real potential. I think I need to approach filmmaking in the same light and simply enjoy it rather than worrying whether or not I can call myself something as if It defines my whole being!

[tastysnak]

Great talk Thomas. Very thought provoking and a perspective I think a lot of people can benefit from hearing. I'll be sharing this one around for sure.

[ian_snyder]

This is such a great video, Thomas! You've put this really clearly and succinctly -- I love the idea "just embrace the fact that it's just a pebble" :D

[AtlasGamesDev]

miss ya brother! hope you're doing well, and im excited for whenever you get back to streaming!

[ThePixelExpedition]

Really needed this, Thomas. Absolutely brilliant insights that so many of us need to hear. Very real and very inspiring! These and your podcasts with other developers are my favorites to watch. So much to learn from you and others.

[skjoldgames]

Thanks Thomas! Taking a little time away from game dev is huge! It really helps you reconfigure your priorities in and out of game dev. For devs with families, that's even more important. I've been kind of forced to take about three months away from game dev because I ran out of funding and had to start looking for a job, but it has also really opened me up to taking my toddler son swimming, hiking, biking, etc, spending more time with my wife and ultimately landed me a spot at Apple which I'm very thankful for. Game dev is always going to be a part of my life, but never my whole life. I believe a higher power fills that void much better as well :)

[nookieswag]

Awesome video as always! I definitely needed to hear this 💪🏾 God bless

[OliverSwales]

Great advice Thomas, thanks for that. Definitely made me think it's time to do more, but not so intensely or with such a serious mentally! Thank you

[badadventurerstudios]

Excellent advice!
Wise words Thomas! Hope everyone can take something from this.

[LeanDirtyHands]

Inspiring words man!. Thanks for that. I been 3D game artist for a decade and now i'm going into web development. I have that idea to create games since kiddo and i love the idea of wearing many hats. Life is so long to have just 1 passion. I'm not saying you don't have to, i'm saying you can try as much things you want.. and if those things that likes you can be mixed together.. you will get a cascade of ideas.

[achorjustin]

This is so motivational... thanks Thomas...😌....The video described my situation...I actually wanted to pursue being a medical doctor but since I discovered blender and unity softwares, I was amazed and obsessed so I ventured into them....But now I now know that I can do both if I don't attach too much to game Dev or even worship it