New technologies are constantly evolving, making video game creation easier. According to some experts, cost should not be an obstacle for a game developer, especially since there are more and more free tools available. But the question remains: can an independent developer truly make a living from their games?
Evolution of the video game market
According to data provided by SELL (Syndicat des Éditeurs de Logiciels de Loisirs), the French video game market recorded a record revenue of 4.3 billion euros in 2017, nearly 1 billion euros more than in 2016.
This has been accompanied by a constant increase in production budgets, as well as a growing number of players. The rapid expansion of this market since the late 1990s has enabled it to become the leading cultural industry in France, ahead of cinema, music, and video.
While they were still in the shadow of games developed by major studios with enormous budgets a few years ago, independent games are now thriving, to the point of becoming a label synonymous with originality and quality. All signs indicate that titles like Minecraft, Undertale, or Celeste have paved the way for a new generation of creators.
There are two types of positioning that can be identified regarding the term “independent.” The first relates to financial independence from a publisher, which implies the idea of not being subordinate to them. As for the second positioning, it concerns creative independence, meaning the freedom to design a game according to one’s own vision, without external constraints.
How do you know if a game is profitable?
It must be said that the question of profitability should not be limited to the money you’ve spent. Indeed, another important criterion that must be taken into account is the time invested. After all, even when you’ve spent very little money on developing your game, if you’ve invested hundreds of hours in it, the question of return on investment becomes crucial.
However, an independent developer might say that passion for the craft takes priority over promises of earnings. But does that mean one should develop games at a loss? After all, you can’t live on fresh air alone. This is perhaps what explains the fact that a large number of games designed by indies are never revealed to the general public, either out of fear of failure or due to lack of resources.
Other developers, on the other hand, offer games at very low prices — almost free — counting on the variety of gaming platforms (tablets, smartphones, phablets, etc.) to reach more gamers and turn a profit. The most common examples are Angry Birds, Temple Run, or even Minecraft. The latter was purchased by Microsoft for 2.5 billion dollars, proving that an indie game can become a global phenomenon.
To conclude
To the question of whether an independent developer can make a living from their creations, the answers can vary from one person to another. What is certain is that the video game market is booming and there are many opportunities for those who know how to seize them. However, financial success is not guaranteed, and many indie developers must combine their passion with other sources of income.
If for you time is money, you must ensure that every minute invested is profitable, even if the budget allocated to game development is low. Otherwise, you can settle for spending a lot of money, doing good marketing, and waiting for the millions to roll in.
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