關于獨立游戲開發者的若干思考

作者：David Amador

1. 是否屬于獨立開發者

大家都可以說：“我是有抱負的獨立開發者”。你或有真正開發游戲，或者并沒有涉獵游戲制作。若你通過自己的資金著手游戲設計，那么你就屬于獨立開發者。很多人經常在得到融資的情況下稱自己是獨立開發者，因為他們也許再也無法獲得投資。

2. 這是個危險地帶

要成為杰出的獨立開發者沒有什么安全途徑。你無法通過采用他人的模式獲得成功（游戲邦注：這就是為什么建議僅僅是建議，有時可能可行，有時則不適合）。

3. 遺留雷區

雷區無處不在，獨立捆綁內容、“隨你付”模式、免費游戲、1美元游戲，基于這些模式創收的游戲遺留下糟糕內容，它們所帶來的是不愿支付眾多資金的用戶。

4. 真正制作內容

你將應該將讀到的內容付諸實踐，而不是僅僅停留在閱讀層面。

5. 你需要學習規則

憑此把握何時需要打破常規。

6. 你需要打破規則

把握其重要性所在。

7. 光體驗游戲無法讓你成為優秀的設計師

很多人覺得這就是成為優秀設計師所需的條件，我擅長體驗游戲，所以我定也擅長于游戲制作。但你要懂得如何批判性地體驗，這才是關鍵所在。

8. 獨立工作

這就像只用一根槳劃船。

9. 和團隊合作

這就像是2個人一起騎自行車，一個操控方向盤，一個人踩腳踏板。

10. 一夜成名

從無到有，這就是獨立開發者！一夜成名！數百萬收益！你覺得，“我做得到。”但是那些“一夜成名”的人士從來都不是一蹴而就的。《 Minecraft》？其開發者此前已投身游戲開發多年。《Super Meat Boy》？我猜Edmund至今已制作過30多款游戲。他們不過是一直默默無名。實踐非常重要。

11. 接受失敗

這點非常困難，尤其是當你覺得自己的作品非常杰出，但獲得的首個評論卻非常負面。從失敗中積累經驗，再次進行嘗試，但要做得更好。

12. 開發游戲絕非易事

你需要應對所有的反對意見。

13. 常常有人告訴你要大膽進行試驗

這些多數都是在騙人，他們覺得你非常懶，很難得到一份真正的工作。

14. 你的父母會翹首期盼

它們期盼你積極申請IBM或微軟的職位（游戲邦注：這是可以讓你賺錢的地方）。

15. 你通常會再三思考

當有人問你靠什么謀生時，你通常會再三思考若你是個醫生，對于此問題，你通常不假思索。（本文為游戲邦/gamerboom.com編譯，拒絕任何不保留版權的轉載，如需轉載請聯系：游戲邦）

Some thoughts about indie dev

by David Amador

1 – You either are, or you aren’t.

People can go and , “I’m an aspiring indie game developer”. You are either doing games or not, period. If you are starting in development with your own money then you are one. People tend to think they are indie developers when money starts rolling in, well think again, cause money may never come.

2 – It’s a jungle out there

There’s not a safe path on becoming a successful indie developer. It’s not like following another’s path will get you there. That’s why giving advices is just that, it might work or not.

3 – There’s a minefield being left behind

We see it everywhere, indie bundles, pay what you want, fremium games, games at $1, the ones who made money with those models are leaving behind a bad legacy and an audience that doesn’t want to pay much.

4 – Finish you stuff

You should actually be working instead of reading this.

5 – You need to learn the rules

… to know when they must be broken

6 – You need to break the rules

… to know why they matter.

7 – Playing games does NOT make you a developer

Yet many think it’s all it takes, I’m good at playing thus I must be good at making them. You should however play critically, that is the key.

8 – Working alone

..can be like rowing a boat with just one paddle.

9 – Working with a team

…can be like two people on a bike, one steering and another one pedaling.

10 – Overnight success

Out of nothing this indie developer! Overnight success! Million-dollar! And you think, “I can do that”. Yeah, except, those who are “overnight successes,” rarely appear out of nowhere. Minecraft? That dude’s been working in games for years. Super Meat Boy? I bet Edmund made over 30 games till now. They just stayed in obscurity for years. Work matters.

11 – Learn to fall

This one’s hard especially if you think your game is great and the first comment is “This is s***”. Learn from mistakes and do it again, but better.

12 – Making games is hard work

…and you will shoot fire from your eyes to whoever says otherwise.

13 – People who tell you to keep trying

…are mostly lying, they think you’re lazy and can’t get a real job.

14 – Your parents will keep the hope

…that you get your act together and apply for IBM or Microsoft, cause that’s where the money is.

15 – You will think twice

…when someone asks you what you do for a living. It would be the first thing said if you were a Doctor.（Source：gamasutra）本文轉載自: http://gamerboom.com/archives/50179