August 13th 2023.
When it comes to making games, it's not easy. Rogue Machine is one example of this. It took this reader almost six years to finish their own indie game and they decided to tell us why.
At the start, I estimated that I could finish the game in one and a half years. I was wrong. In the end, it took me almost six years to complete. I guess I just kept adding content like new maps, NPCs, and features. I also found myself becoming incredibly bored of the project. It felt like it was in a perpetual state of almost being done but still not quite there. There were times where I thought about giving up.
I think my main advice for anyone taking on a long-term project like this is to keep notes. It's really important to keep track of ideas you've had, what you're working on, and what's left to do. Writing down your thoughts is invaluable and makes it so much easier to pick up development after long breaks.
Another lesson I learned is to make the game first and then talk about it. I had written articles about the game before it was released, but since it took so long to finish, the interest in it had faded. If I had released the game first and then wrote the articles afterwards, I think that would have kept people more interested.
Making this game reminded me of why I enjoy it in the first place. There are so many skills required, like problem solving, art, sound, and coding. No other hobby has so many things going on.
I don't know if I'll ever make another game on this scale again. I've picked up a few other hobbies and I'm thinking of getting back into tabletop role-playing games. I'd also like to do some non-game related CGI and even buy a 3D printer.
Rogue Machine is now available for Windows and Android. It's got about three hundred levels, two dozen enemy types, and five unlockable arcade games. It's not without its flaws, but I hope anyone who plays it enjoys it.
That's my experience with making games. It's no easy feat, but it's definitely worth it!
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