How to Release an Indie Game Before You Graduate

How to Release an Indie Game Before You Graduate

Step 1: Set Goals

• Write down your goals for game development. Consider what you want to achieve by the time you graduate or even after.
• Determine why you want to make games and keep this motivation in mind.

Step 2: Assess Your Skills and Interests

• Identify the skills you already have, such as programming, art, or composing.
• Consider past experiences like group projects or activities you enjoy that could be relevant to game development.

Step 3: Build a Team

• Surround yourself with motivated individuals, whether they are online friends or real-life friends with diverse skill sets.
• Working in a team can provide support and encouragement throughout your game development journey.

Step 4: Avoid Tutorial Limbo

• While tutorials are helpful, strive to create original content rather than solely following tutorials.
• Experiment with adding your own twist to projects and aim to make changes based on what you've learned.

Step 5: Participate in Game Jams

• Engage in game jams to challenge yourself and receive real-time feedback on your projects.
• Focus on smaller game jams on platforms like itch.io to gain experience and improve your skills.

Step 6: Plan Your Projects

• Start with short-term projects and schedule your time effectively, especially during school.
• Plan out each day's tasks for longer game projects and prepare for unexpected events that may arise.

Step 7: Develop Realistic Ideas

• Avoid getting caught up in creating overly ambitious projects and focus on ideas that are both enjoyable and feasible to implement.
• Create prototypes to test the feasibility and fun factor of your game concepts.

Step 8: Create a Development Plan

• Lay out core features and expansion options for your game.
• Estimate the time required for each aspect of development and set a reasonable deadline to keep yourself on track.

Step 9: Market Your Game

• Don't overlook the importance of marketing your game and gathering feedback from players.
• Create a persona for your target audience and tailor your marketing strategies to appeal to them.

Step 10: Learn to Adapt

• Be prepared to adjust your schedule or project scope if needed to maintain a healthy balance between game development and other responsibilities.
• Embrace the learning process, even if projects don't turn out as expected.

By following these steps, you can work towards releasing your indie game before you graduate and gain valuable experience in the game development field. Good luck on your gamedev journey!