August 3, 2004
90% Perspiration
Via Slashdot Games, an article by Michael Labbe with advice for independent / hobbyist game developers on finishing the games they’ve started.
The majority of hobbyist developers imitate big budget development houses. This is an insane undertaking.
[G]ames do not have a successful and vibrant independent underground movement like movies and music. There are no largely successful independents left for beginners to look up to. As a result, the [hobbyist] developers bite off more than they can chew and the work is never completed. … Ultimately, pragmatism is the only thing that matters. If you follow another God, your path may never lead to a finished product.