Skip to main content

Indie game storeFree gamesFun gamesHorror games
Game developmentAssetsComics
SalesBundles
Jobs
TagsGame Engines
(+1)

I like to advice that if you are facing some stress (even if it's small), burnout or for whatever reason yo need to, take a rest, breathe. You won't be making a game if you break yourself. This may sound basic, but is pretty easy to forget to prioritize oneself. Specially in the indie side, where many of the stuff to be done now will rely on your shoulders or in the people that you can hire.

Being said that, i'd like to respond about the development topic and the worldbuilding one. First Unreal and Unity can become attractive at first because those are popular/famous tools, but they not the best tools out there. (I am not saying they are bad, but they are build with a specific mindset and use cases that may go or not with you.)  If I can, I'd like to recommend you take a time to look around and see what other tools and engines are available. There are tools that may have some limitations but you may find way more easy to use that Unreal, specially if you are not a programmer or want to ease that weight a bit.

And second, talking about the world-building you are making and the followers. The entertainment market is over-saturated, doesn't matter if with music, stories, or games. As a creator you have to compete against million of stuff, even some that may have decades. I'm not saying 'give up'. What I'm saying is that the followers situation is not related with your artistic skills or worth as a creator. But more related to a 'self-marketing' strategy.  

It's normal to not have followers, specially at first, don't despair if after months your barely have views and 0 followers. That is normal. I started to have my first followers once I started to publish assets. And they don't even came in dozens per day, barely a little few per year (like 10 in one year in the best case). Perhaps, something that can help you if you need to raise morale is searching for communities/forums about what you like, specially if that's a niche, and share there. Make yourself visible between the groups that like stuff related to your world-building. Maybe small/new forums, subbreddits if you can, etc. 

Even so... maybe you don't need to create a game to begin with? keep developing your worldbuilding and then decide what you wanna or can do with it? perhaps it can help you start by creating  draft of short-novela, a comic or short film's/animations.  IDK, those are just ideas i came with. Hope may help.

But again, first take it easy on you.

Good luck.

(+1)

Thanks for the advice, it resonates with me.

Yup, I've only tried Unreal and Unity because of the popularity, and didn't really look into anything else. I did consider looking for another tool but was doubtful. However, I'll take your advice and do some exploring. I think that's a fair path to look into. Never know if you don't try.

I definitely do feel like it is a 'self-marketing' problem that's part of the issue, as well as the oversaturation. I've been given similar advice when sharing on Reddit, that I continue developing what I've got because it's a niche that people might look for eventually.

I agree that it's not necessarily a game I have to start with, and those suggestions are fair. Part of the reason I'm looking for a following is to show local gatekeepers there's interest in a certain style or theme.

Again, thanks for the advice. You're right. Remembering to breathe is just as important!