Resources. I can't strt from home, this pc is not of my own. So any projects on it are quite restricted. I also don't have my own pc, so just downloading a program and starting isn't as much available as it is a privalige. If I can't start and get exp. from home then where?

I simply don’t believe all of these obstacles exist or are truly insurmountable. Why can’t you get your own computer?
When I needed money, I worked at the local dog track. Fun job (love working with animals), decent pay, bought my own things from then on.
It sounds as though you already know how to start: Buy your own cheap-ass computer.

Don’t forget that I started on a TI-81 calculator which I believe cost $80. If you can’t afford a $1,000 laptop after 6 months of saving or an $80 (probably less these days) calculator then it is simply for lack of trying.

I's not so scary to write a program, no. But what is scary is time/reward. Statistically speaking, chances for this career to set off are slim at best, and the time investment is something I can never get back

The chances for this career to set off exactly depend on how dedicated and how much time you put into it from step 1 to ?.
Currently your chances are 0% because that is what you are making them.
But as soon as you start actually programming and sticking to it, your chances go very close to 100% quite rapidly.

You haven’t specified that you want to be a programmer, but that is the best way to make your own projects and to get into the industry, which is why I keep talking about it. It’s not as if you said you had any skill in music or art, and you simply can’t enter the industry straight as a designer, so…

And because I'm a teenager, I'm subjugated to people always telling me that games and careers are two different things, and to give up

It may be true that you hear that, but it’s not as if that works as an excuse to give up. Giving up is your own choice and there simply is no excuse for it.

It's stressful, you have to understand that.

I used to be a teenager too, you know? I was even younger when it happened to me.
By now you’ve noticed that I simply speak directly and frankly. Not hatefully, but bereft of sugar-coating.
When people told my 13-year-old self that I had better have a backup plan besides games, I told them in the same tone, “I do not need a backup plan; if you don’t believe in my passion and dedication then your opinion means nothing and you should keep it to yourself.”

It’s only stressful for someone who is unsure of him- or her- self.
If you are dedicated, passionate, and believe in yourself, their criticism passes like gas.

So next time someone harasses you about it, fart.


L. Spiro

You are just making up excuses for not just doing something about your dream.

So get the cork out and start doing.

Write everything down and make a todo-list.

One of the items on that list would be to acquire your own computing device.

And then just do it.

One note on your idea...

In a world that's growing ever more competitive, and ever more "social," I began to realize that video games are actually being recognized as a competitive sport, and I wondered: "How come nobody's capitalized on this yet?" And then I realized, we can't.

Sorry if this bursts a bubble for you, but people have already capitalized on video games as a competitive sport, and they're a pretty big thing that's only getting bigger over time!

This is the finals of a Starcraft Tournament in Poland:

[attachment=27209:sc_tourney_poland.jpg]

...and this is a qualifying round of a Starcraft 2 tournament in Australia:

[attachment=27210:ESWC.png]

HERE you can see a list of tournaments with prize pools ranging from $22,000 up to 281,000.

This is a League of Legends World Championship tournament:

[attachment=27211:W-7XLqxlw3J2.878x0.Z-Z96KYq.jpg]

It is not only possible to capitalize on gaming as a competitive sport, it's already being done!

Uh, LOTS of companies DO try as hard as possible to make their games competitive to capitalize on this. My friend recently won $400 playing ghost recon online.

Hell, I won over $1k playing warcraft 3 back when I had enough time to play it competitively.

Anyways, your idea of scope is completely messed up. From reading your post, it sounds like you want a large open world mmorpg with lots of customization. Start with basic tutorials instead.

Be in love with the idea of making games, not the idea of your single game idea. If your only interest is capitalizing off of one sole game idea, and you are simply in love with a game idea as a business idea, it won't happen. You have to throw your project/ideas out the door, and just start plain researching and set smaller goals. In this situation, you pretty much have to learn how to program. No amount of ideas or how great of a designer/artist you are will matter. So start poking at programming. If you think you want to work on phone games, you can look up how to make iPhone or Android games. PC, then just start coding on PC.

In agreement with LSpiro, you don't need the latest and greatest computer to learn to program. Until recently, I was stuck with a middle-of-the-course 7-year old computer that served me perfectly fine. Now, I have a brand new middle-of-the-course computer that serves me even better. You don't need to spend $1200 on a computer.

If you have a desk, get get a >$600 desktop + $120 monitor, if you can.

If that's out of your price range, which is understandable, or if you don't have a dedicated desk to set things up on, go for a laptop. If you have >$350, go for a Windows laptop. If you only have $150, go for a Chrome Book instead (only do this if you have a reliable (even if slow) internet connection - otherwise stick with a cheap Windows laptop). If you don't have $150, then that's your first obstacle to overcome - cut grass and do yardwork until you get $450 (it'll take 4 months or less), and buy a better Windows laptop.

If you have parents, emphasize:

A) It's for learning purposes. This is actually more important than most of what your school teaches (assuming you go to a public school in America, which typically aren't too great education-wise, at least in my limited experience).

B) You plan to dedicate X hours a day to studying/learning/programming, so their investment won't be wasted. (i.e. convince them this isn't a passing fancy of yours)

C) If they still aren't convinced, volunteer to do extra chores to 'earn it'. Personally, I'd preemptively make a list of the extra chores I'd do, and for how long, so I wouldn't get stuck with chores I'm not interested in.

D) If they're worried about porn or constantly playing games or social media time-wasting, offer to only use the laptop during the day and only to use it in, say, the living room or kitchen (i.e. a public area).

Emphasize computer programming more-so than game development. 'computer programming' sounds like a real skill. 'game development' sounds like "playing games".

Seeing the above, I'm content with my earlier decision to leave this in the Lounge. If Idea Guy #8 wants job preparation advice, he can start a new thread in the Job Advice forum. If he wants game design feedback, he can start a new thread in the Game Design forum.

Most people have focused on the “how to get started” portion of the original post (with some mentioning capitalization on the general idea he proposed, saying it’s been done). I don’t know what you have “seen above” other than that. His 2 replies also focused either directly or indirectly on specifically this, not on feedback regarding his ideas, which is inarguably a minor theme throughout the whole thread.

Yes, it should have been 2 threads.

It’s not.

It belongs in “Game Industry Job Advice” (I called it “Breaking into the Industry” because that is how it appears in the drop-down menu which is how I access all of the forums (which may or may not be how he does, but I have to pick one or the other with no information on how he browses the place)).

I had a bit more to say but there goes my heart skipping not just 1 but several beats.

So I will leave it at this. Just because I speak directly an unapologetically it does not mean I do not respect you tremendously.

L. Spiro

I don't see where any "game" is mentioned. Only a vaguely generic set of ideas.

Bear with my allegory for a moment. It'll pay off.

P.S. Yes, it's really me.

I live in Racine, WI.

I have in-laws in St. Paul, MN.

Upon occasion, like weddings and such, there has been need to travel from where I live to where they live.

It is about a 5.5 hour drive according to google maps.

I don't know how to do a five hour drive. Its too long. Its too far. If I think about it, I'll just quit.

So, instead. I drive to Madison, WI.

That's only a 2 hour drive.

Once I get there, I usually stop for gas, snacks, drinks, and to pee.

Then I drive to Tomah. Then to Eau Claire. Don't speed through Eau Claire, BTW.

And finally, I drive to St. Paul.

Why is this germane?

There are things that I am confident that I am able to do.

There are things that I consider impossible for me to do.

And there are things that I think I can probably do, but need to stretch my comfort zone a little.

See what I'm saying?