On being a solo game dev + Discord server suggestions

[broken loop]

Hey there! And happy holidays to all!

Do you guys know some NSFW game developers discord server? Or any other place where developers gather and discuss about their game other than this site (which I love btw) ?

Being a solo game dev is tough, especially if you are just a programmer, with no particular skill for story writing, art creation or game design. I'll be honest with you, sometimes I feel overwhelmed by all the challenges that are ahead of me. I truly feel the need to have a confrontation with someone that has already walked this path.

I'm writing down this post to letting off steam a bit, and thank you in advance if you are going to take some time to read this.

I'd like to give you some context: I'm currently working full time as technical artist in the automotive field, but my dream is to be an indie game dev. I have a bachelors degree in computer science, and I believe I'm quite good in programming. In my spare time, I'm developing a 2D game, let's say is something that resemble SummerTime Saga, just to give you an idea. I've already developed several core features, like quest system, inventory, save and load system, time management, a rough dialogue system, in-game events based on certain conditions and player-to-world interactions. I tried to define all the features that I'd like my game to have. One of the most important among them is Live2D touch/strip system, which I'm currently working on (see an extraordinary reference: Natsuiro Lesson). Today, I figured out the effort needed to achieve the result reached by Natsuiro Lesson developers( previous link ). I realized it's simply too much for me alone. This realization has just dragged me down, making me wonder about what I'm doing. I admit I'm scared. Fear of wasting my time, fear of wasting my money and my efforts.

Having someone to talk about all this sh*t would be a huge improvement for my mental health. Also reciving tips and suggestions could help a lot. I really want to create the best 2D NSFW game ever, but I also have to face the facts that I'm on my own ( at least by now ).

PS: I'd like to cooperate with other people, a 2D Artist would be great, and figure out together the way to achieve the best possible result, so if you are interested, DM me anytime.

Alright! Enough complains! Let's summarize a bit:

• Being a solo game dev can be tough;
• If you know any discord server, or other place where I can talk with other game dev, drop a comment below!

If you made this far, thank you, just knowing that someone has spent a bunch of minutes of his life to read this, makes me feel less lonley in this journey

 

[Turning Tricks]

Hey, I'm working Christmas Eve (12 hours today) and will probably be working tomorrow during Christmas because I missed my planned release date for an update. And if I really want to get depressed, I just have to pull up the calculator app and do the math to find out that I am basically working for about $2/hour on average right now.

You are preaching to the choir about how hard it is to be an indie dev!

To not feel depressed, I remind myself that I am basically being paid to learn these skills. And - hopefully - I learn enough to get a game on Steam and then I can really start to spread my wings. And just because I am not enough of a masochist, I plane on buying a good graphics tablet this winter and practice some 2D art skills. Because coding in Ren'py, doing 3D renders in Daz, creative story writing and marketing are not enough... haha!

As for Discord, I don't have much to offer other than that possibly half the games on the site here all have links to the dev's Discord, if they have one. There's tons of them out there. And F95's Discord is pretty active as well. If you get a game on here or are part of a team that does have games on here, you can get the dev tag and access their special Dev channel on the server (as well as a private forum here)

I don't spend much time on Discord myself anymore because it's too much of a time sink. About the only SM I ever use is SIG's and Forums, like this one. I use my Discord just to communicate with my players and not really for social interactions.

Anyhow, Merry Christmas and cheer up. What is that saying again? There's fast, cheap and good. You can have any two. You choose.

 

[Noah Neim]

First of all, I think the premise of the question should be changed. A mediocre game that releases but never actually finishes is a very bad thing. I'm not quite ssure how familiar you are with this platform but we have severe issuess of solo dev gamess just taking absurdly long to develop. People were made with people like yandere dev for taking 10 years on a game? Most of the devs here are approaching that limit and then some while getting patreon money (if you don't know who yan dev is, look it up, for developerss its a very relevant story).
So, to answer your primary question, I think that releasing a game you feel is medicore is fine, as long as you feel that you can actually finish it. Because even if the product is medicore, you've proven yourself as a trusstworthy dev who can actually finish games.

Now as for discords, I've tried doing a surface level search and I truly can't say I can see any adult game dev servers, so you'll have to search sites like

You must be registered to see the links

, join, read the rules sand ask if asking about adult game development is allowed, if it's not try again.
There's alternatives to disboard, those are easily searchable.

Plus, you can head to the programing thread on this site, there are other developers who might be able to help you.

I'd advise trying first before giving up on it, then you can say you atleasst did, becaue even though I'm not a dev. I'm fairly familiar that they sometimes overestimate the effort something take and decide not to do it.

Good luck with your game.

 

[jamdan]

This is a dev server that is focused on NSFW and 3D games: https://f95zone.to/threads/discord-server-for-artists-and-developers-and-daz-stuff.5074/

For 2D VN's, this is a large discord that also has a NSFW section.

You must be registered to see the links

 

[broken loop]

Hey, I'm working Christmas Eve (12 hours today) and will probably be working tomorrow during Christmas because I missed my planned release date for an update. And if I really want to get depressed, I just have to pull up the calculator app and do the math to find out that I am basically working for about $2/hour on average right now.

You are preaching to the choir about how hard it is to be an indie dev!

To not feel depressed, I remind myself that I am basically being paid to learn these skills. And - hopefully - I learn enough to get a game on Steam and then I can really start to spread my wings. And just because I am not enough of a masochist, I plane on buying a good graphics tablet this winter and practice some 2D art skills. Because coding in Ren'py, doing 3D renders in Daz, creative story writing and marketing are not enough... haha!

As for Discord, I don't have much to offer other than that possibly half the games on the site here all have links to the dev's Discord, if they have one. There's tons of them out there. And F95's Discord is pretty active as well. If you get a game on here or are part of a team that does have games on here, you can get the dev tag and access their special Dev channel on the server (as well as a private forum here)

I don't spend much time on Discord myself anymore because it's too much of a time sink. About the only SM I ever use is SIG's and Forums, like this one. I use my Discord just to communicate with my players and not really for social interactions.

Anyhow, Merry Christmas and cheer up. What is that saying again? There's fast, cheap and good. You can have any two. You choose.

Totally relatable! And you are right, if it's cheap and good, it can't be fast, definitely.

I also did an invesment a few days ago, I bought Spine 2D pro. The good news is that a Spine license doesn't expire haha.

Thank you for sharing your toughts, wish you the best for your game!

 

[jinsaekki]

I can only talk from my experience. I am also a programmer in the software industry. I spent a long time learning how to program game engines, but I never released a game. I used to draw traditional 2D art, but I never transitioned to digital tablets, so I cannot do Live2D. Instead, I use HoneySelect2 to make my characters. I cannot model them myself, and I sure as hell cannot animate them, but I can pose them. That defines the limits of the games I am able to make. I wish I could make an expansive 3D game, or even a 2D RPG with amazing art, but I don't have the skill to do that, so I can only do what my skill allows. I know some people who make games with no art at all, or really basic arts, like Corruption of Champions. At some point, you just have to accept your limitations and try to work within them.

 

[broken loop]

I can only talk from my experience. I am also a programmer in the software industry. I spent a long time learning how to program game engines, but I never released a game. I used to draw traditional 2D art, but I never transitioned to digital tablets, so I cannot do Live2D. Instead, I use HoneySelect2 to make my characters. I cannot model them myself, and I sure as hell cannot animate them, but I can pose them. That defines the limits of the games I am able to make. I wish I could make an expansive 3D game, or even a 2D RPG with amazing art, but I don't have the skill to do that, so I can only do what my skill allows. I know some people who make games with no art at all, or really basic arts, like Corruption of Champions. At some point, you just have to accept your limitations and try to work within them.

That's a bitter truth. This is why working in a multidisciplinary team can make things a lot easier

 

[n00bi]

One common thing about 1st time solo devs is that 90% of them fail. esp thous who tries 3D.
What i mean by this. they have no idea how much work it is to create a "good" game.
They often have goals that is not realistic. "Been there and done that"

Its not as easy as to just toss some object into a engine and do some renders.
3D Engines are the worst if you ask me. "as a solo dev"
Because it soo much work. 1st you make you shit in Ie Blender.. make the materials etc.
then after you import it to a 3D engine. ie unity/unreal etc. you need to set up materials again for the model.
and lighting and god what not.

You have all the programing/scripting that needs to be done in either C# or C/C++.
Depending on the Engine used. some Engines use they own scripting language.

And all the GUI stuff, Menus, Interfaces/Hud etc needs to be made too.
Lets not forget, you probably want some sounds too in the game.

I think this is the reason many Artists prefer Renpy.
You dont have to be a Jack of all trades to make a game in renpy.
"Story Teller, 3D modeller, Texture Artist, Animator, Sound Artist, C/C++ programmer, Sofrware Engineer etc..."

Its a easy language to write code in. basically python, and you have no 3D aspect to think about.
Just adding in a set of renders / animation and just focus on "Game logic" instead of all the other small things that also need to be done in a 3D engine.
+ There is a ton of other game here you can take look at the code to see how things are done.
as you can decompress renpy archives and "de-compile" the scripts if needed.


But you said you have worked with several engines in the past and used to do 2D art.
Renpy would probably be a good choice to use for you.

 

[broken loop]

One common thing about 1st time solo devs is that 90% of them fail. esp thous who tries 3D.
What i mean by this. they have no idea how much work it is to create a "good" game.
They often have goals that is not realistic. "Been there and done that"

Its not as easy as to just toss some object into a engine and do some renders.
3D Engines are the worst if you ask me. "as a solo dev"
Because it soo much work. 1st you make you shit in Ie Blender.. make the materials etc.
then after you import it to a 3D engine. ie unity/unreal etc. you need to set up materials again for the model.
and lighting and god what not.

You have all the programing/scripting that needs to be done in either C# or C/C++.
Depending on the Engine used. some Engines use they own scripting language.

And all the GUI stuff, Menus, Interfaces/Hud etc needs to be made too.
Lets not forget, you probably want some sounds too in the game.

I think this is the reason many Artists prefer Renpy.
You dont have to be a Jack of all trades to make a game in renpy.
"Story Teller, 3D modeller, Texture Artist, Animator, Sound Artist, C/C++ programmer, Sofrware Engineer etc..."

Its a easy language to write code in. basically python, and you have no 3D aspect to think about.
Just adding in a set of renders / animation and just focus on "Game logic" instead of all the other small things that also need to be done in a 3D engine.
+ There is a ton of other game here you can take look at the code to see how things are done.
as you can decompress renpy archives and "de-compile" the scripts if needed.


But you said you have worked with several engines in the past and used to do 2D art.
Renpy would probably be a good choice to use for you.

Hey, thanks for your suggestions! What brought me down during xmas holidays was the fact that maybe the goal I want to reach could be not feasible. Actually at the moment, I managed to overcome that feeling, and I can say I'm back on track. I found out new ways where spine2D could make my life easier, and that goal seems not that far now.

Regarding GameEngine, I'll stick with Unity, because I can use it quite well, and it grants more creativity freedom. In the future, I'd like to take a look at RPG maker or Renpy

 

[AllNatural939]

I think this is the reason many Artists prefer Renpy.
You dont have to be a Jack of all trades to make a game in renpy.
"Story Teller, 3D modeller, Texture Artist, Animator, Sound Artist, C/C++ programmer, Sofrware Engineer etc..."

I agree that making something in Renpy is much easier than making something in, say, Unreal or Unity... But I'm still a do-it-all.

Making a game isn't just making a game if you only have yourself to count on. You have to create a story, write it, design characters (unless you go for the easy way and only put models that are often super repetitive because they're used in other games), create locations, even deciding what clothes the characters are going to wear... create the renders, program in Renpy, look for music or create your own, look for sounds or create your own, test thoroughly so you don't be a slacker who leaves everything to the same people who give you money to make the game (it's funny to think about this).
You also have to advertise so people know you're making a game and that's especially essential at the beginning. You have to keep an eye on the Patreon page, the Discord, the itch page, maybe also Steam if you decide to go big...
Making a game is more than it seems. That's why many fail, even if it's just Renpy.