Non-Professional Game Dev - The Joy of Making - Extra Credits

Why are hobby and personal games important? Even though they rarely make waves in the mainstream game industry, they are a fantastic outlet for expressing a wide range of creative possibilities.
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♪ Intro Music: "Penguin Cap" by CarboHydroM

♪ “Moonsong” by Curly & GameChops

[extrahistory]

If a game matters to you, then it matters. Let's talk about non-professional game development!

[gathius]

Made a simple game on RPG maker to propose to my girlfriend when she finished it. Its technically terrible, but one of the things i'm most proud of. She said yes of course.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

Fun fact: Minecraft was originally Notch teaching himself how to code in Java. It was the massive interest in his alphadev that caused him to try to monetize it. And the gaming world was never the same since.

[hackerdackers]

"It doesn't have to be a world changing game to change the world of the people making it"

This is why I love extra credits :)

[joelsylvestre]

People gave a lot of unfair flak to the guy who made Flappy Bird. He never expected that level of success, he just made a silly little game.

[Verris_Ephemera]

I needed that. I'm about to release a small game next week and I'm nervous beyond words
but the thought that no one would ever see it helps hahah

[thomasrosebrough]

The "Code" at 1:22 is hilarious.

[Relachi]

this also applies to small a youtube channel.

I make video for my own entertainment and for my friends to watch, and this is how it should be. If I manage to attract more people, that'd be cool, but it's also fine if I don't.

Way too many people get over there head and invest so much in their videos expecting to be the next big hit, which then doesn't work out and then they quit.

[gmikese]

I feel like non-professional game dev is also an important part of increasing game literacy. Amateur film makers, writers, artists, photographers, etc all are people who appreciate their chosen medium(s) and act as ambassadors to their friends and family helping to increase the public knowledge about the work. I think the tools like RPG Maker and other systems that are affordable, collaborative, and highly approachable all help to make gaming a better thing for everyone.

[luis]

583, 000 Downloads
$3 Donations

LOL, ain't that the truth

[LaZodiac]

Legit, "Wife slays dinosaurs" game sounds rad as hell. Reminds me of Dark Void.

[accumbularatedop]

"It doesn't have to be a world changing game to change the world of the people making it."

Fantastic.

[ladsworld]

This is why I love the fangame community.

[SerpentStare]

You've done it again, Extra Credits.
Some friends of mine and I have been talking about making games together, and this video is a soft, warm welcome into the kiddie pool. A reminder of where we're starting. The ways in which we're limited, and the ways in which we're unlimited.
I've been learning how to code in my very first programming language. I picked up some graphics and developing software for us from a special Humble Bundle at $10 per person (I think that counts as not breaking the bank ;D) and the most established artist in our group has been messing around with Spriter learning to animate a version of his character using their "bones" system.
For us, this video comes at a perfect time. Thank you.

[Derekivery]

This episode could not have come at a better time for me. I have a full time job, I just got a promotion, it's nice, even meaningful, but I like doing small time game dev stuff. And every time I spend several hours over the weekend on a game I feel like "wow that was a waste of time, I'm never gonna be able to sell this."

But I enjoy doing. I enjoy the mechanics, I enjoy coming up against a problem and figuring out how to make it work and the feeling of seeing that thing that I never thought would work, suddenly working, and what that thing is is usually so small no one but me would notice it.

Thanks EC, keep gaming.

[Curly_Music]

I just noticed NOW that you were kind enough to use and credit my music on your channel, I wanted to say thank you so much for liking my work enough to include it in yours <3

[syferz]

Sometimes there are non-professional / hobby games that compete with professional games. Cave Story, Minecraft & Counter-Strike are all huge games that were just hobby games someone created while tinkering around.

[aug]

Step 1: wife
Step 2: make a video game where my wife travels back in time to fight dinosaurs!

[David-kdqr]

I love you guys. I'm not a dev by any means but I love the optimism and joy that your videos have. They always make me feel good and happy!

[nedlalordofthelegos]

When you said making them for valentines day or marriage proposal I just though "I'm glad I'm not the only one."