JulieWilhelmine said:
I hadn’t considered that anyone would end up here for any other reason ?

I am probably one of the very few that doesn't primarily aim for making a game here ?

For me it's the journey of discovery that counts. I can make things of course (after 40 years of programming, I should know how to do some of that, right?? ? ) but finishing something is not that important to me otherwise. I know I can finish it if I want to or need to (ie work), but it's just investing time into it to make it go forward. I don't care much for the actual topic of the program either. In the end, you're always explaining to a computer what you want it to do in terms of variables, values, statements, functions, and objects,

The most surprising things I found here is that people do write elaborate and careful answers if you ask a good question. You can find every level of expertise here, from professional game developers to hobbyists and beginners. Lots of discussions about performance, and last but not least, there no hidden secrets in the art of illusion ?

Of course I also learned of the existence of relevant notions in game development. I never realized there is “game design” before (the art of deciding what the user should be doing and how, while playing the game), but it makes sense of course. I learned about game engines and how they compare against regular programming in a common programming language. Probably I forgot to mention lots of topics here!

fleabay said:

I would suggest to ask real questions or give real advice and get off the BS questions that you asked in the OP. Most people have no patience for that and I'm in the minority to actually tell you.

I used to worry about my tone being too harsh on occasion. But given this flies, I think I won't worry about it anymore.

JulieWilhelmine said:
I’ve not given up this place yet though

I think you deserve a better place.
Once upon a time, this was a peaceful and friendly place. People just helped each other learning how to make games. Moderation was never needed.
Sadly, not anymore. Idk why. But maybe this currently applies to the games industry as a whole, and what we see here is some reflection of that.

• What made you decide to create your game? Did you start out with the idea of what you wanted to make, or knew you wanted to make something and then found out what it would be?

When i saw Atari as a kid, i wanted to make my own games too. And after begging a long time, a home computer allowed me to do so.

• Did you start out alone? Joined or created a team? What's your take on working alone or with others?

Yes, alone. I was the only kid having figured out how to program. Shortly after, they tried to teach programming to every kid in any school, back then in the 80's. But it did not work.

• What is your best experience with game dev so far? And what is your worst?

I like the experience i have after figuring something out, making something work. You know, making games is difficult. If you want to make something like Doom, you hear about BSP trees, or perspective correct texture mapping, etc.
It was not easy to learn all this and doing it myself. But then, when i understood and could use it, i knew that's useful knowledge i can apply to all kinds of problems. It felt a bit less hard to make games with time, and i felt progress.
I did not stop at learning such existing methods. After some time i rather stopped making games (having released some mobile games), and shifted focus entirely on tech research. I looked for open problems and searched for solutions.
The goal was to enable new games from new technology. And i have succeeded on some things, but now i realize i'm probably already too old to make those new games.
So i'm currently completing my stuff, making it ready for production, and then i'll try to sell it to the industry.

In case i'll fail, i guess this will become the worst experience.

It will be worse then all the personal insults i've got here from some kind members, or being indirectly accused from socially incompetent mods about racism after making silly jokes about WW3 after China eventually bombing Taiwan. I do not really see what politics and economy have to do with races.
But well, that's another story. However, racism can actually end careers, because it's a really bad trait which i luckily do not have. So personally i'll better stay away from this website, after many years of contribution for free, while certain mod was away all the time.
I'm just here because some PM conversations still go on, but i already have given up this place. Too bad. It was a long time, and i like some people here.

Sorry about misusing your question to answer questions some other people should actually ask themselves.
But reading this thread, it becomes once more obvious i'm not alone, so i wanted to take the opportunity to say what i want to say (it's hard to do so where it belongs after being censored from a thread lock).
I'm aware that's not really motivating for you, on your beginning journey into games development. But i could not resist. Sorry.

Anyway, good luck and have fun with making games!