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The Harsh Truth of Gamedev: Why I Quit My Job - Ryu's Revenge Weekly Update #4

Ryu's Revenge: A Ninja Tale
A downloadable upcoming game

Welcome Back!

This is the 4th weekly update of Ryu’s Revenge, where I share the progress I’ve made over the last week.

It’s been 40 days since the previous Weekly Update, and you’re surely wondering, “WHY?” Let me tell you the full story.


The Full Story

On the 25th of May—after exams—I started working a part-time job at a grocery store, clocking in 6 hours a day. The goal was to earn some money and alleviate my family’s concerns about me not having a “real job.”

Unfortunately, things started to go downhill. I couldn’t maintain a consistent sleep schedule, constantly tweaked my daily routine, and cut back on activities just to squeeze in some game development time. The situation took a toll on me, leaving me sad and angry, until I stopped game development entirely on the 3rd of July (39 days ago).

Desperation set in as I waited for the day I could quit the job. That day finally arrived on the 2nd of August when lessons began, and I used studying as an excuse to leave the job, hoping to get my life back on track. Since then, life has been much better. Despite the ups and downs, I’ve regained my happiness and motivation.

What About Money?

Money isn’t a major concern for me right now. I have enough savings, and I’m no longer stressed about getting a computer. Next year will be my final year of secondary school, and here in Egypt, that year is incredibly important because it determines which university I can attend—hopefully, in computer science.

My father has advised me not to get a computer for now so it doesn’t become a distraction. However, he promised to buy me one if I achieve high grades.

With all these events in 2 months, what’s next?


What’s My Plan?

My plan is simple: continue making games this year, possibly launching Ryu’s Revenge and creating a smaller game. Afterward, I’ll pause game development for a year to focus on studying and aim to attend the Computer Science University.

Once I get a computer, it’ll be a fresh start for me.


Last Week’s Progress

Now that you’re up to speed, it’s time for a progress update.

The first two days after quitting my job were slow, with no significant progress to report. On the 3rd day, I tackled bug fixes—lots of them. For the rest of the week, I worked on building a settings menu. Progress was steady but slow, as I had lessons to attend and study sessions to manage, and I was still recovering from the effects of the job.

Despite the slow pace, I made daily progress. The week had its ups and downs, but I kept moving forward. I’ve managed to build a daily routine filled with healthy habits like reading and working out, although some days it’s challenging to stick to it. To unwind, I end each day by watching 2 episodes of Batman.

Settings Menu Progress

As for the settings menu, I faced some challenges with tab switching (using a keyboard or gamepads), so I developed my own logic for that, although it still has some bugs. Not all the settings are functional yet, but they can be edited from the menu. For the controls tab, I’m still working on a way to implement rebind settings.

Thanks for reading, and see you next week!


About The Game

Unleash your inner ninja! Become Ryu, seeking vengeance against those who betrayed him. This action-packed platformer challenges you with tricky levels and enemies to conquer. Master Ryu’s deadly katana and acrobatic skills to achieve justice.

Add Ryu’s Revenge to Your Collection, because a Free Demo will be out soon!

About Me

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