So how hard is RPG solodev? An AMA thread

[Tyranicon]

Since I've been doing this gig fulltime for five years now, with 3.5 games under my belt and more than 30k copies sold, I figured I'd offer an AMA here if you guys have questions. Besides, I like most of you more than reddit anyways.

If you want an answer to the title question, this image is probably worth a thousand words:

 

[lukaszek]

did you ever pick up grills by claiming to be a gaym dev? Did they ever google your portfolio?

 

[pOcHa]

is that one player you?

 

[Tyranicon]

did you ever pick up grills by claiming to be a gaym dev? Did they ever google your portfolio?

It's always real funny when I say "Yeah, I'm in the porn biz" and you can tell people are mentally analyzing you in a "what the fuck does he do, camera man? Maybe he has a huge cock." kind of way.

I always leave it vague to fuck with them.

is that one player you?

No, I'm not in game and I don't think steamdb counts dev keys, but I dunno about that.

 

[Lord_Potato]

It's always real funny when I say "Yeah, I'm in the porn biz" and you can tell people are mentally analyzing you in a "what the fuck does he do, camera man? Maybe he has a huge cock." kind of way.

I always leave it vague to fuck with them.

Well, after you fuck with them, they'll know you're the camera man.

 

[MarathonGuy1337]

Since I've been doing this gig fulltime for five years now, with 3.5 games under my belt and more than 30k copies sold, I figured I'd offer an AMA here if you guys have questions. Besides, I like most of you more than reddit anyways.

If you want an answer to the title question, this image is probably worth a thousand words:

View attachment 48055

By 3.5 is that meaning you are in the process of developing a new title?

Also what were the largest challenges you face in game development over those years?

What was the overall profitability of your games?

What engine did you use?

Do your games share a theme and genre or do you constantly experiment and change theme and game genre?

 

[Hell Swarm]

How much of a fucking loser do you have to be to not only make porn games but advertise you do it on a public forum? Do you think people want to hear your opinion when you make 'games' not even fit for the Epic game store?

 

[lukaszek]

"what the fuck does he do, camera man? Maybe he has a huge cock." kind of way.

both can help with only fans content, outstanding move sir

 

[Grauken]

What is your diet like? Lots of roots?

 

[Tyranicon]

By 3.5 is that meaning you are in the process of developing a new title?

Also what were the largest challenges you face in game development over those years?

What was the overall profitability of your games?

What engine did you use?

Do your games share a theme and genre or do you constantly experiment and change theme and game genre?

I just released my BG3 parody: https://rpgcodex.net/forums/threads...-parody-now-available-on-early-access.148458/

Largest challenge is probably always going to be making enough money to stay afloat.

Two of my games are not profitable at all, Memoirs is decently profitable. I'm making a little more than minimum wage in my area, so games aren't great for money.

Engine is RPGM, so you can leave your lols here. To make it sound better, I am like one of the leading experts on the engine or something and my version is mostly custom code at this point.

All my games share the same setting, both the SFW and NSFW ones.

How much of a fucking loser do you have to be to not only make porn games but advertise you do it on a public forum? Do you think people want to hear your opinion when you make 'games' not even fit for the Epic game store?

Eh, I'd say I'm about an average level of loser? Not sure what criteria you'd use.

For some reason I think I have a large stealth following on the codex. Probably because I shitpost here a lot.

What is your diet like? Lots of roots?

Nah, lots of junk food. I should probably eat better. I actually know how to cook decently well, so I have no excuse.

 

[Hag]

Do you think you work more or less on average than in a classical 40 hours week ?

 

[Tyranicon]

Do you think you work more or less on average than in a classical 40 hours week ?

Oh way more. I do 10 hour days, 7 days a week. No holidays off unless I have something planned.

But this includes a lot of low intensity work such as reading player feedback, interacting on forums and shit. And I'm my own boss 100%, so if I want to do nothing but play Helldivers or whatever for an entire week, I can.

 

[Grauken]

Do you think you work more or less on average than in a classical 40 hours week ?

Oh way more. I do 10 hour days, 7 days a week. No holidays off unless I have something planned.

So, do you have an exit plan for game dev or do you see yourself becoming the next Jeff Vogel (if less successful, you clearly need to use shittier art assets)

 

[Tyranicon]

So, do you have an exit plan for game dev or do you see yourself becoming the next Jeff Vogel (if less successful, you clearly need to use shittier art assets)

An exit plan besides abject failure? Probably will do the Jeff Vogel thing. Gamedev for me isn't a means to an end but rather the end itself.

I consider it a form of art and I'll use to explore my perception of truth. But with more money and higher polish.

Huh, it really does get funnier every time I say that.

 

[Galdred]

Is Steam the best platform for this sort of game? Do you think the lack of a "hide 18+ games from profile" is an issue?

 

[Falksi]

it can't be helping that for some reason Steam won't let me access it at the mo.

Once it does I'll grab a copy and tout it around social media for you. Might not do much good, but fuck it Roy.

 

[Tyranicon]

Is Steam the best platform for this sort of game? Do you think the lack of a "hide 18+ games from profile" is an issue?

Yes, Steam is the largest storefront. If you're releasing a PC game and you don't have 10+ million dollars, it's the storefront you're aiming for.

Also, they added a new privacy mode or something. I wouldn't know, .

it can't be helping that for some reason Steam won't let me access it at the mo.

Once it does I'll grab a copy and tout it around social media for you. Might not do much good, but fuck it Roy.

My game broke steam. Sorry.

 

[Lord_Potato]

So, do you have an exit plan

In these parts we call it a "3rd wheeling exit strategy'

 

[Falksi]

Tyranicon Right, promoted this in several groups now (although some of those posts are still awaiting approval). I'd be interested to see if it makes any difference at all with your sales.

I'll keep associating it with other big hitters (E.g. "Rebirth was fun for a while, but dropped off a cliff. I'm looking forward to playing Dragon's Dogma 2 and Baldrs Squid though" and we'll see if it gets any buzz going.

Gonna be tough coz there's so many big hitting games out at the mo which are drowning these groups out with posts, but worth a shot.

 

[Tyranicon]

Tyranicon Right, promoted this in several groups now (although some of those posts are still awaiting approval). I'd be interested to see if it makes any difference at all with your sales.

I'll keep associating it with other big hitters (E.g. "Rebirth was fun for a while, but dropped off a cliff. I'm looking forward to playing Dragon's Dogma 2 and Baldrs Squid though" and we'll see if it gets any buzz going.

Gonna be tough coz there's so many big hitting games out at the mo which are drowning these groups out with posts, but worth a shot.

Thanks for the assist, appreciate it.

 

[NecroLord]

What is your usual work schedule?
And why are you doing it?
Passion?
Creative urges flowing through you?
You seem to be a bit more "sophisticated" with your games than the usual furry/degenerate/trash porn games.

 

[Zanzoken]

Why make porn games?

Why do people play porn games, as opposed to just watching porn? I don't find cartoon stuff erotic at all.

What's the target audience for porn games? Men or women?

Do porn gamers actually care about the gameplay? Like turn-based combat for example.

What do you think are the keys to a good porn game?

Why did Hunie Pop sell so well? (that and Rance are the only ones I've ever heard of)

Do you draw the waifus yourself?

How much do your next projects build off of your previous ones? I am surprised more RPG devs don't go the Vogel route of just developing a style and sticking to it, come hell or high water. You may never have a hit but if you release a new game every year (Vogel is remarkably consistent with this) then you are always getting paid and growing your brand. I guess it's easy to get burned out that way though.

 

[Borelli]

How did you find the time to learn programming and be an artist, game designer, producer etc. at the same time?

Are there programming challenges where you think "if only i have an employee specialized in programming languages"?

 

[ERYFKRAD]

I'm not sure of your experience prior to gamedev, but how'd you figure to start with rpgs considering the complexity inherent to one, as opposed to simpler games?

 

[MarathonGuy1337]

Why make porn games?

Why do people play porn games, as opposed to just watching porn? I don't find cartoon stuff erotic at all.

What's the target audience for porn games? Men or women?

Do porn gamers actually care about the gameplay? Like turn-based combat for example.

What do you think are the keys to a good porn game?

Why did Hunie Pop sell so well? (that and Rance are the only ones I've ever heard of)

Do you draw the waifus yourself?

How much do your next projects build off of your previous ones? I am surprised more RPG devs don't go the Vogel route of just developing a style and sticking to it, come hell or high water. You may never have a hit but if you release a new game every year (Vogel is remarkably consistent with this) then you are always getting paid and growing your brand. I guess it's easy to get burned out that way though.

Do you really want answers to half those questions?