For the longest time, I had this idea that I would be able to make a game on my own. I spent years learning what I could about 3D modeling, design, programming, etc.

I thought

A) it's my creative vision and no one will care as much as I do, so I shouldn't bother asking for help.

and B) No one would want to work with me anyway, or I don't know how to get people interested in working with me.

Problem is, it has resulted in me “dipping my toes in the water” for 7 years, and still having nothing to show for it. No demo, art portfolio or even proof of concept. I have a lot of ideas but the process of “doing” them feels as if it's behind this invisible, indestructible wall, because I'm overwhelmed by all the stuff that needs to be done, and burnout follows immediately after that.

I've finally pulled my mind out of my behind and decided I need a team. There's not enough time in the day for me to do everything that goes into making a videogame. Not only am I currently working a day job to make ends meet, but I have other responsibilities. I need to specialize, so my time can be managed better.

I've tried to start a couple teams in the past, but none of them have worked out.

My biggest challenges for starting a team are:

1. How can I get someone to work with me?
2. How can I maintain a level of control over my creative vision, while still taking input from those who have their own ideas?
3. How do I choose the right people? (so everyone gets along on a professional level)
4. What incentive can I provide when starting out, when I can't offer to pay them for their time?
5. What would prove my project is worthwhile?
6. What's the best way to maintain communication between members of the team?
7. How should this team be structured, and how do I figure that out?
8. Can someone please help me understand how VCS's (like github) work? I've seen a lot of videos, but I can't make sense of what they're saying. No matter what I watch, it still feels like an alien language. I feel this is a necessary tool for starting a team.

I've already wasted the better part of a decade trying to get started. How do I get out of this hole? How did you guys get to a point where you could confidently start a team/dev project?

If you spent 7 years and literally have nothing, my guess is this probably isn't for you. If you have money and can fund the project, go nuts. But in general people expect a team leader to have a reasonable amount of technical skills. Unless you're a very rare exception, it's likely not going to fly. Did you ever consider working on someone else's project just to make some connections and demonstrate you are capable?

Is there any element of the medium that you are confident in? Do you feel that you're a decent artist, or programmer, or writer, or something else besides?

If so, it might be worth focussing on that in order to produce something that you can show to others. This may then help in sparking interest, as well as demonstrate what you can contribute to a potential team.

My 2 . harsh cents,

No one is interested in you unless you provide something for him /her

No one is interested in realizing your vision

No one wants to work for free

Unless you have a good deal of money to put in your project , no one will be interested in you

Look like you do not have a clear idea in mind of what to do , yes game programming is overwhelming, but today is not like 20 years ago, we now have engines, start with unity, learn c#, show you can do something other than putting yourself as the top of team chain and tell the others what to do , rememebr you do not have money to pay people, why someone with a lots of experince more than you shold work on your dream for free ?

@whatdothlife , it's unfortunate that you've gotten some harsh replies. I'm answering your 8 questions in the most honest way I can.

1. Have money, business credentials, contacts, and a business plan.

2. Money can buy that.

3. Hire an existing team that already gets along on a professional level. Building your own team is very hard and takes a long time, involving a lot of learning mistakes along the way.

4. Offer them unicorns that can jump over the moon. Seriously, you can't do what you're trying to do without money.

5. A solid demo and a solid business plan.

6. Weekly check-ins with the team lead via video conference.

7. Hire an existing team that is already well structured.

8. Nobody can. The videos are telling the truth the best way they can. If you don't understand them, learn the language they use.

For more about your question read https://sloperama.com/advice/lesson29.html​ - it's about starting your own company, but the advice in there also applies to what you're trying to do.

Gnollrunner said:

If you spent 7 years and literally have nothing, my guess is this probably isn't for you.

I think that is a bit harsh and possibly incorrect. OP didn't say exactly what their skill level is in the different disciplines. It could be that OP has spent a week learning stuff and then 3 months procrastinating in cycles for 7 years, or it could be that OP has learned CS theory and art fundamentals over that time. If it is the former, then what you say is likely correct. If it is the latter, it's likely that OP could ramp up very quickly by just having the right focus on a single project.

perry_blueberry said:

Gnollrunner said:

If you spent 7 years and literally have nothing, my guess is this probably isn't for you.

I think that is a bit harsh and possibly incorrect. …..

Technically it is by definition 100% correct as written. Certainly my guess could be wrong however. If he proves it wrong, so be it. Maybe he will, I just find it unlikely. As for being harsh, I would say it's direct. I don't think I was rude nor was I trying to be. I see a lot of these posts on various sites. It seems many people have the idea of making a game but a lot of them don't have the skills or drive to do it since it's very hard work. this could very well apply to me, but I keep chugging along because as the OP correctly stated:

A) it's my creative vision and no one will care as much as I do, so I shouldn't bother asking for help.

The fact is people are impressed by working demos not ideas. So barring having enough money to fund it yourself, or having a successful professional track record, you will have to produce something to show others.

@gnollrunner

I didn't mean to say you were rude to OP, just that what you say might be needlessly harsh if it turns out OP actually has gained some skills but hasn't put them into practice. In that case OP is just missing some confidence. If OP hasn't gained any skills over the last 7 years then it might be time to consider pursing something else, as you say.

@WhatDothLife I am in the same boat as you. Feeling like you are just spinning your wheels and not getting anywhere. All I can offer is my advice on the mistakes I have made

How can I get someone to work with me?

Simple answer is ask someone. I'm willing and I know there are some who are as well.

How can I maintain a level of control over my creative vision, while still taking input from those who have their own ideas?

Find only those people that share your values. Much like all relationships, you are going to have to reject those that are not bringing anything to the relationship.

How do I choose the right people? (so everyone gets along on a professional level)

You won't. Nobody is perfect and you will make mistakes. You want to maintain the role as a leader and if I could tell you how, I wouldn't be here.

What incentive can I provide when starting out, when I can't offer to pay them for their time?

Everyone is looking for something, and it doesn't have to be money. Just remember you get what you pay for.

What would prove my project is worthwhile?

Stop trying to prove your worth. Just keep working. Don't stop. Eventually your work will speak for itself.

What's the best way to maintain communication between members of the team?

Depends on the team. Email works for me. Chat rooms are relatively easy to find and there are always message boards. If you want to maintain leadership and creative control, its on you to initiate the communication.

How should this team be structured, and how do I figure that out?

Less democracy and more dictatorship. Counter intuitive yes, but you want people to follow your vision, right? Start with making it easy as possible to see that vision.

Can someone please help me understand how VCS's (like github) work? I've seen a lot of videos, but I can't make sense of what they're saying. No matter what I watch, it still feels like an alien language. I feel this is a necessary tool for starting a team.

It is an alien language. First, you need to have some kind of project. Start with a readme document or any notes you have on a project and WRITE SOMETHING EVERYDAY. The only way you learn VCS is by using them and understanding how you can f* things up with them. The best tool to learning one is to constantly loose your work, mess things up and once the panic settles down, trying to recover your lost work. That is where the learning comes from.

I really hope you stick with it. As far as the 7 years and nothing to show for it, I doubt its true. You may not have a finished product, but I bet you have made mistakes.

I find it odd that so many people are saying source control is difficult. Using Git is orders of magnitude more simple than developing games. You can learn the basics, push; pull; add; commit; stash, in 1 hour. To use more advanced features like: submodules; interactive rebase; squashing; amending; creating pull requests; different remotes, honestly only takes a few more hours to get a grasp of. This is probably the number one reason why I have trouble sticking to gamedev teams, because no one understands Git or is interested in using it properly.

The other thing about teams is that for you to stay with them long term you have to like each other. If there is no incentive like money, the only thing keeping you together over the long term is wanting to have success together. So the best bet would be to find people IRL and create a team with once you get to know them. Doing it over Discord is also possible but then you would need to spend some time in voice chat getting to know people. Also playing games together likely helps with bonding as well as finding a common language and goals to strive for.