I hate to just end up saying "me too", but I agree with what everyone else has already said. I think that your chances for successfully finishing a game only *increase* as you get older. You're better able to deal with responsibilities, to set and keep your own deadlines, you have better access to tools and information. Sure, a lot of the younger guys can whip out a quick demo, since they have nothing to do all day but school, but they rarely ever finish a game. Look here for some ideas and pointers.

My advice would be similar to the anon poster: start with something small that you can complete. Something with all the bells and whistles. Sure, it's not something that you could ever sell, but you'll learn a lot. And finishing that first project is like a drug; you just *have* to do another one.

Take a look at this post-mortem by Kurt Miller, it describes his experiences writing a "simple" game.

Sorry for rambling. Good luck on your project; keep us posted.

Take care,
Bill

[edited by - siebharinn on April 4, 2002 3:12:39 PM]

Hi!

I think it''s important that you start with a small game. But also if you have a lot of experiences but you are a lone wolf it is difficult to make a big rpg or action shooter.
If game programming is only a hobby you have simply not enough time to finish large projects.
My current project is a simple game for children, but there is enough to do to make only the graphics (i want to make software, but i had to spend more time on graphics than programming).
If you really want to make a successfull game, i think you have to build a team of 3 to 8 artists, software developers, sound specialists, depending on your game requirements.

Start modest, spend a lot of time, make your experiences, and sometimes you will be able to make really good games.

McMc

You are combining two questions in one post.

First you ask: Is it worth it?
The answer is: There are a lot of worse jobs. But there are some better jobs. I bet if you are forty and still making games, you will get pretty tired of it. And the young people "might" not like your games anymore - maybe because you have different view of life at this age. Hell, I don''t want to make games my whole life. Its nice doing this and having a "big" income while studying, but ... I don''t know.
I wanna be a lawyer.

Then you ask: Can I do it?
Sure.

Btw. David, what is a "quaternion"??
:D

quote: Original post by Jester101
I bet if you are forty and still making games, you will get pretty tired of it. And the young people "might" not like your games anymore - maybe because you have different view of life at this age.

Jester, you are depressing me. I''m forty and want to start making games for a living. I already have the "better" job and want to do something I really enjoy.

Similar to Anon, I''m 35 and want to start making games (maybe never for a living, but making them). I''ve had the desire to do it since the early Atari 2600 days, but went the "safe" route with the "better" job and have been working in the embedded software field for the last 12 yrs. Although I like it, I have the constant feeling that I''d be happier doing game development.

If that''s what you want to do, do it. It''s up to you to decide whether you get into it when you''re 20, 40, or somewhere in between.