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| I quit my job!; Going to make video games | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 23 2012, 08:41 PM (1,425 Views) | |
| J-R | May 23 2012, 08:41 PM Post #1 |
Crossover guru
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Ever since the start of this year and the crappy economy dropping a bunch, I have realized that my life stinks. I work at a job that used to give me 40 hours and now it's down to 20 hours. I make minimum wage so for every month, I now only make $400. My life is terrible at this point. I see no real joy from it other than video games. Video Games and the occasional anime/manga are the only joys I have in life. Ever since the start of 2012, I have realized nothing is going to change. I'm poor, I'm stuck in a dead end job, I have no money to go to college, nothing is happening. The only thing that is certain is that I will lose my job anyways because like I mentioned before, I'm only getting 20 hours and the reason why is because there is no work to be done. No one's coming to our store. Another thing I've realized is that all my life, I've been just following the flow of life. That's all I've known. My parents would tell me what to do, I would do it. My teachers, my boss, my whoever, I do anything anyone tells me. I've never done anything by myself my whole life. Well that stops now! I'm taking back my life! I want to do what I love the most and that is making games. Ever since High School, I would come home and work on game makers and make games as a hobby. That's all I ever wanted to do. My bro recently acquired an Xbox 360 and I noticed the Xbox Indie market. I looked into this and decided "That's it. I'm going to attempt this". I looked around a bit and I found out that people make like $500 on the first month making games for the Xbox live indie game market. I figured I'm making $400 at a job I hate that is probably making the higher ups more money while I'm still living in poverty. $500 for doing something that I love? Of course I want to do that. There is also YouTube as well. I'm working on making a YouTube channel that will hopefully get people to subscribe and get me partnership. That's another way to make money (not my current channel, that will never make me money). I'm tired of conventions. I'm tired of working day and night because that's the "normal" way of living. This is the year 2012, my options are much higher now than it was before. So this friday will be my last day. I'm going to make games for the Xbox Indy game market, I'm going to make another YouTube channel that will hopefully get me some ad revenue. I only have this one life, I don't want to spend it on a dead end job. I have a passion for video game making and I want to make the most out of it. |
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| LMG Gaming | May 23 2012, 10:13 PM Post #2 |
Still Alive an' Kicking
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I applaud your optimism! However, if you're only working a 20 hour week, I would recommend working on these side projects so you at least have some guaranteed form on income. Since you've quit your job, you will need a stream of income to help support yourself. I recommend applying for welfare. However, seeing as you are only making $400 a month from your job i'm assuming you live with your parents or friends right now and they might be supporting you. In terms of making games, I would recommend developing for IOS devices. The developer kit is only $100 and the scope of potential customers is quite large. The xbox indie market place is not as I don't believe it even exists outside of America. From IOS you can spread your wings and develop for steam and other things. If you're going to start a youtube channel, invest some money into it. HD camera, capture card, microphone and all of that. The people pay for quality. Just my 2 cents. When you get your channel up, let me know. I'll subscribe to help a brother out! |
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| J-R | May 23 2012, 11:01 PM Post #3 |
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Crossover guru
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Thanks for your encouragement LMG. My new YouTube channel will not require a camera because I'm going to draw the images. I happen to have some artistic merit and I've gotten compliments on it. I can also animate, which takes a long time, but I'm going to attempt to make animation. I'm hoping I can make something drawn for a YouTube channel that people would want more. Afterall, that's why people subscribe to channels, because they love the content so much they want more. That's the mentality I have behind YouTube channels. |
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| browland1 | May 23 2012, 11:11 PM Post #4 |
 
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Likewise, the move to take stock of your life and make some changes is commendable. Few of us would have the guts to do that, but I do echo LMG Gaming's sentiments that you at least want to have some guaranteed income. Perhaps finding something part time that can sustain your needs, and then pursue your passions on the side. Anyone who gets Youtube ad revenue will tell you that it's nothing you can live off of, unless you have hundreds of thousands of subscribers. Don't count on that to fill the coffers, at least not now. Either way, good luck to you, good sir. At the end of the day, as long as your needs are seen to and you're happy, that's what really matters. |
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| KingJames88 | May 24 2012, 12:44 AM Post #5 |
Ds Games!
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Join the armed forces. |
 >>My DS Collection Here<< 194 games and counting! | |
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| lol_pc | May 24 2012, 05:46 PM Post #6 |
\m/ (>_<) \m/
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I'm going to try my best not to sound too pessimistic, but getting into the video game industry is the single toughest thing i've tried to do in my entire life, I took an education in 3D modelling and animation, and the entire reason I took that education? Getting to work in the video game industry. It has been a while since I finished my education, and I have applied for job after job at many developers, and gotten nothing, all i've been doing since I finished is making CG visualizations for architects, just to make a living. And I know that this is the case for a lot of people, and all the layoffs at various developers has just made it so much harder. I hate being so blunt, but I feel like I needed to give it to you straight, because it's a dream that I share with you, that has caused me a lot of personal and financial problems, hopefully the end goal will make up for it. I wish you the best of luck with your future! And I hope that someday, both of us will make it ! Edited by lol_pc, May 24 2012, 05:52 PM.
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 Fin moron do Taazokaan fen kod zeim ul  | |
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| Justin.A | May 28 2012, 12:57 AM Post #7 |
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Where in the world is minimum wage $5.00 an hour? How long have you worked this job? Do you not get raises? I am 17 and have worked part time (8-25 hours a week) at a grocery store for 2 years and I make $11.50/hour. Which is crap compared to what some people I know make. Dude in my class is a Zamboni driver and makes $22.00/ hour. |
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| LMG Gaming | May 28 2012, 05:00 PM Post #8 |
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Still Alive an' Kicking
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America has crap wages for errybody. I make more in a month than J-R working 10 hours a week at a newsagents here in Australia. I'm 15 BTW. Seriously America, sort that shit out. |
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| XxKomebackKidxX | May 28 2012, 06:27 PM Post #9 |
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I don't want to sound to negative but Youtube is not a very wise way to try to make money. I think most people who have found their success on youtube didn't actively seek it or think they were going to be making money off their videos. Only people who have millions of views and subscribers can actually make a living at Youtube and this includes probably pumping out at least a video a day. I strongly suggest you get an education in something that somewhat interests you. Maybe multimedia design or graphic design. That way you will have something to fall back on while you are trying to pursue your dream. There are tons of ways to get funding for school nowadays. I was/am poor even while working full time and still managed to get college education. Grants, scholarships, loans are all out there. You must always have a plan B because let's face it, most people don't get to do what they want to in life. It is foolish to think that everyone can be an astronaut, a pro football player, or a rock star if they want to be. We hear all the stories of success but not the millions of stories of failure. I admire you for being optomistic but you need to be realistic as well. Keeping your job, as crappy as it might be, still supplies a certain amount of income that you can use or save. I contemplated quitiing my job and thought it would be better to stay and just save money despite how shitty the job is. Not to mention making quality youtube videos takes lots of hidden fees as well. Capture devices, a computer, Internet connection, mic, games to review, editing software, HD camara, etc. I believe you should think realistically before you go making rash decisions such as leaving your only means of income. |
   Check out my Youtube vids for reviews/ vlogs/ collections/ top10s/ pickups http://www.youtube.com/xxkomebackkidxx Like my Facebook Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/XxKomebackKidxXFanpage Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/XxKomebackKidxX | |
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| CarsAndGames | May 28 2012, 07:10 PM Post #10 |
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Level 4
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This is why in 48 hours I'm dropping everything in my life and heading to Vegas in 48 hours |
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| MidiPour | May 28 2012, 11:07 PM Post #11 |
Power of Sardines
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I've already pointed out how this is false, there are people with a chip of a fraction of a million who are well off on Youtube. I'm not trying to overthrow what you're trying to say, but you sound more pessimistic and misleading than 'realistic'. The reality is, it's not nearly as impossible as you make it out to be. Anything is possible if you set your mind to it, however alot of people either aren't willing or aren't able to approach their pursuit rationally. The point you made in regards to at least holding a job is still a valid one, even if it's part time, you'll need a source of income to make ends meet while pursuing what you're truly passionate for. |
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| Jason Keiderling | May 29 2012, 07:44 AM Post #12 |
Level 2
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Good luck J-R. I have six games on the Xbox Indie games market and 3 Windows Phone 7 Games and I think it's completely plausible to make a living off of Indie Games development. In fact, I already gave an extended notice at my day job and plan to be a full time game developer starting in August myself. I plan on using Xbox Indie Games as my main distribution channel for a while. Here are some random tips/thoughts. You should add me on facebook (Jason Keiderling) and hit me up with any questions you have as you get into Xbox Indie development. * Xbox Indie games make good money, but you don't get that money quickly. Microsoft pays out quarterly for Indie Game sales almost two months after the quarter ends. This means if you submit a finished game today (May 29th) it probably won't go live on the service until almost June 30th (certification is a pain). That means you'll get paid for the first few days of that games sales in LATE NOVEMBER and get the first full three months sales paid in LATE FEBRUARY. You need to have some money saved to live on if you start this or a side job. * If you aren't familiar with game development, Xbox Indie games are THE place to start. The programming environment you use to create Xbox games is called XNA. It's SO much easier than any other programming environment that I can barely express it in words. Xbox Indie games also make okay money with no advertising requiremed from you. The biggest downside to this platform is that microsoft has not confirmed whether or not Indie Games will be supported on the next console and most speculation suggests they won't :(. * If you learn to make Xbox games you will already know how to make Windows Phone 7 games and apps. They use the exact same programming environment (XNA). Windows Phone games don't sell nearly as well as Xbox games from what I've seen, but they're probably worth doing especially since the Xbox platform probably won't be viable for Indie Devs next console. * Making PC games again uses XNA. There isn't a great distribution channel available to Indie Devs other than Steam and Steam requires your game to be selling very well elsewhere before they will accept it, but if you can make one really high quality game and get it on Steam you can do VERY well. * Youtube is a completely viable way to make some money. I certainly wouldn't count on it paying any bills, but if you have the amount of free time that your new lifestyle will support you can probably put together some quality videos and make some side money at least. I don't think partnership is required for that. My channels are making enough to consider relevant and I'm not a partner. * I would stick to the above ideas for now to maximize your time management, but here are some other self-employment ideas. * IOS development is the second easiest programming for an Indie Dev to learn right now. It's no where near as easy as XNA, but it's a profitable platform and isn't going away anytime soon. This one requires a good investment as you'll need a Mac (you can't program IOS games on Windows), iPad, and an iPhone or iPod Touch. I will look into this myself if the next Xbox console really doesn't support Indie Games as people are speculating. * Android development isn't worth it. It's ridiculously hard and time consuming. I can LITERALLY make 8 Xbox games in the time it would take me to port one to Android. If they ever fix their horrible development environment I will consider them an option. Good Luck, Jason. Edited by Jason Keiderling, May 29 2012, 07:48 AM.
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| Jason Keiderling | May 29 2012, 08:26 AM Post #13 |
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A few more thoughts. I'm only able to make this jump because I have a successful photography business which brings in some money every month, residual income from the 9 games I already made, and some money saved to live on while I get started. I encourage you to make the leap and start making games if you can, but I want you to know what you're getting into. If you can't survive without income for AT LEAST a few months while you get started you will probably need a day job :(. If it helps, phone games (Windows Phone 7, IOS) pay out monthly instead of quarterly as long as you have earned at least $200, but MOST games for those platforms tend to make less money so I wouldn't count on quick cash from those either. |
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| XxKomebackKidxX | May 29 2012, 08:51 AM Post #14 |
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Just curious. What games have you worked on in the indie marketplace? |
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Check out my Youtube vids for reviews/ vlogs/ collections/ top10s/ pickups http://www.youtube.com/xxkomebackkidxx Like my Facebook Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/XxKomebackKidxXFanpage Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/XxKomebackKidxX | |
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| pokemonzrpg | May 29 2012, 02:33 PM Post #15 |
Zach Archer
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I am very curious as well. Overall those points were very insightful and definitely something for me to think about in the future as well. Very helpful! |
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| J-R | May 29 2012, 03:02 PM Post #16 |
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Crossover guru
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Thanks for the comments guys. I have officially quit my job now and my last paycheck will be two weeks from now, so my struggles officially begin. @lol_pc: I'm aware getting into the extremely difficult but when I said I want to make games, I meant it in a general sense. I would of kept my job if I could make games on the side but my job was so demanding, it kept eating up my time. After hearing the Xbox Live Indie market, I figured this is my chance. I just love making games and yeah, I do want to land a job in the industry but that dream is far off from now. @Justin.A: I doubt I ever got a raise. @XxKomebackKidxX: I'm aware that YouTube isn't the greatest source to make money but I figured it could get me a few bucks every now and again. If it can at least provide me $200 a month, it's well worth pursuing. @Jason Keiderling: Thanks for the advice Jason. I'm also planning to branch out to other platforms. I tried out my sisters iPad and I figured I can make great use of it. Also, I sent you a friends request on FaceBook.  EDIT: Looks like my job just won't let me go. My manager (or ex-manager) just called me and asked me if he wants me to work for this week cuz the guy that replaced me did not show up for the past two days and he's going to fire him, so he wants me to fill in while he finds someone else. So looks like I still have a job even though I quit? Edited by J-R, May 29 2012, 04:44 PM.
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| Jason Keiderling | May 29 2012, 09:21 PM Post #17 |
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Level 2
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@XxKomebackKidxX: The six games I have on Xbox are... Conquest (Soundtrack and Sound Effects by Jason Heine) - this is by far the game I'm the most proud of. Maids With Balloons (See AllGenGamers episode 36 for that story) Are You Smarter Than A Cheerleader (abbreviated to "Smarter Than A Cheerleader" on the dashboard) - I'd recommend playing the trial of this one. There's at least one easter egg thrown in that people reading this forum might appreciate. You can find this in the trial, so there's no need to buy the actual game. Video Poker (My first game) Finger Twist-Up Space Command @ J-R: I'm very glad to hear that you're working a little longer. I don't know your exact situation, but it seems to me like you'll need some kind of traditional employment while you get started in game development. |
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| J-R | May 30 2012, 12:53 AM Post #18 |
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Crossover guru
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This job is not officially over for me since I get my last paycheck next week so if I work this week, I'm working for that check. Next week I am definitely not going back until my last check, and when that time comes, it will all be over. |
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| RPGswagman | May 30 2012, 03:29 AM Post #19 |
Currently on a adventure.
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I wish you all the best JR. I too will be doing something gaming related in the future. Right now I am unemployed , have been for quite sometime since the town I live has no jobs or has jobs with extremely high requirements. If I cannot find anything soon I will probably go back to TAFE (Community College in Australia). I've been thinking of ways to make money on the internet but nothing I would go head on into atm. Eventually I will want to make an RPG and this year I may attempt to make one using RPGmaker as practice. Anyway again I wish you the best of luck and if you make 2 different games at least you can make the 3rd game a crossover title using characters from the other two.  |
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Youtube Channel RPGgibberish: My podcast I host with Aerodynamisch. Jammed packed full of RPG goodness!  
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| kuroi | May 30 2012, 04:28 AM Post #20 |
Welcome To Warp Zone!
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I'm cautiously optimistic about your situation. I'm glad you decided on something that want to do and want to pursue it, but the lack of an income, no matter the size, is disheartening. I quit my last job in August of 2010. I worked there for 4 years, slowly taking on more responsibility without any sort of benefits, raises, sick/vacation days, or any other amenities (like insurance). They ridiculously downsized in that time, and even when they hired new people, they started with my same wage, but were given insurance (WTF?). I decided to quit and go back to school. Here are some things I've learned in that time: 1. If you're still planning on attending school, financial aid is a huge factor. If you're 24 or older, you qualify for a lot more money with the new legislation that took effect in 2008. You do not have to pay this back. 2. Do any sort of odd jobs if you have the time. Networking is key to the success. I took a job for 6 months last November. I learned a lot and made some great connections should I decide to (re)enter the real estate business. 3. If your dream depends on your own motivation, find ways to stay motivated. Every day you're not working or pursuing your dream, the longer it's going to take for you to achieve your goal or start making money. 4. Don't rely on the help of others. I'm not saying that you should never ask for help or advice, but depending on others can lead to a life of heartache. Give and take is key. 5. Be realistic of your goals. Rome was not built in a day, and with that knowledge, money never comes quick. Don't push too hard if it's going to ruin the quality of the product. 6. Sacrifice. Resources spent elsewhere are resources not spent on your dream. It's pretty lame not being able to go out with your friends, but everything saved in that way allows you to apply it to your project. Don't be a shut in, but moderation is key. I recently hit the 1 year mark with my "dream." I took it pretty lightly, and I didn't focus at all on it beyond the planning stage. I haven't made much progress, but I'm getting back into the groove. I cannot in good faith say that I would do everything the same way again. I'm far too undisciplined, but I've gotten better as time has gone on. I've given myself a 3 month window to turn things around, and if not, I'm going back into the job market until I can finish school. With that being said, everything is looking good! If you can focus on exactly what you want, then you can achieve greatness. Good luck! |
 Kuroi's Video Game Collection | Warp Pipe Dreams | Kuroi's Youtube Channel | Watch Me Live on Twitch.TV | |
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| LMG Gaming | Jun 2 2012, 01:55 AM Post #21 |
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Still Alive an' Kicking
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Good luck, man. I wish you all the best 
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| SCScanlan | Jun 2 2012, 10:18 AM Post #22 |
Level 5
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How much is it for a videogame over there? Good luck J-R, make sure you're busy networking and spamming the living hell out of your youtube stuff when you get it up. |
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| LMG Gaming | Jun 3 2012, 07:44 AM Post #23 |
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Still Alive an' Kicking
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If you buy online, 60-70 dollars. I ain't no pavement-pounding, mouth-breathing, cud-chewing brick an' mortar store-going kind of guy. |
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