Posted May 25, 2015
This could be really offensive to some people, especially people that may already be in the video game development field, but if you are offended by this, I apologize, as that is really not my intention.
I am a teenager in high school, and ever since my parents introduced me to video games, I've always wanted to be a video game developer and implement my ideas into interactive creations, but it's only in the last 2 years that I've realized what the development of video games actually entails, especially if you're an independent developer. I saw a game on Steam called "Dev Guy" and looked at the reviews for it a little bit, and one of the reviews said, "I was developing my game, and I didn't want to anymore because of this game. It even has a virtual catgirl and a body pillow. This hits way too close to home." Before that, I was reading an article about the conditions of video game development, and I can't recall if it was one of the passages in the article or one of the comments on it, but there was something that said many video game programmers were antisocial people, because it required so much time at a computer that it attracted a certain type of person. I wasn't really sure what to make of all of this, mostly because I just brushed it off because that was probably just from the experience of those people, but then I really started to think, "Is the video game development community mostly antisocial people because of the nature of their work? Is there a way to balance successful video game development while still being a social person?" I have never really been a social person myself, but I enjoy talking to other people, so I wouldn't call myself an introvert, but are those kind of people really the only type of people that create all the games we enjoy and discuss today?
I believe that everybody should do what they feel they want to do and who they want to become, but I'm confused about what I personally want to do and who I want to become. I have no problems whatsoever with introverted people, but if video game development does require as much of an introverted lifestyle as I'm beginning to think it does, I don't think it's for me personally. As a young person, I'm going to start trying to be more of an understanding and social person, but I'm not sure if what I've wanted to do all my life contradicts that goal. I would love to make games, but I'm not sure I'm required to make the sacrifices it appears I may have to make.
What do you think the video game development community really is? Do you think I could find a way to balance trying to be more social while also trying to be in the video game development field? Are my conceptions about video game development and its conditions accurate? What do you say?
I am a teenager in high school, and ever since my parents introduced me to video games, I've always wanted to be a video game developer and implement my ideas into interactive creations, but it's only in the last 2 years that I've realized what the development of video games actually entails, especially if you're an independent developer. I saw a game on Steam called "Dev Guy" and looked at the reviews for it a little bit, and one of the reviews said, "I was developing my game, and I didn't want to anymore because of this game. It even has a virtual catgirl and a body pillow. This hits way too close to home." Before that, I was reading an article about the conditions of video game development, and I can't recall if it was one of the passages in the article or one of the comments on it, but there was something that said many video game programmers were antisocial people, because it required so much time at a computer that it attracted a certain type of person. I wasn't really sure what to make of all of this, mostly because I just brushed it off because that was probably just from the experience of those people, but then I really started to think, "Is the video game development community mostly antisocial people because of the nature of their work? Is there a way to balance successful video game development while still being a social person?" I have never really been a social person myself, but I enjoy talking to other people, so I wouldn't call myself an introvert, but are those kind of people really the only type of people that create all the games we enjoy and discuss today?
I believe that everybody should do what they feel they want to do and who they want to become, but I'm confused about what I personally want to do and who I want to become. I have no problems whatsoever with introverted people, but if video game development does require as much of an introverted lifestyle as I'm beginning to think it does, I don't think it's for me personally. As a young person, I'm going to start trying to be more of an understanding and social person, but I'm not sure if what I've wanted to do all my life contradicts that goal. I would love to make games, but I'm not sure I'm required to make the sacrifices it appears I may have to make.
What do you think the video game development community really is? Do you think I could find a way to balance trying to be more social while also trying to be in the video game development field? Are my conceptions about video game development and its conditions accurate? What do you say?
Post edited May 25, 2015 by Supereor