Gabe Cornish, a seasoned game creator with over 40 published titles, shares his journey navigating the game industry. He emphasizes the thrill of making games regularly for fun rather than profit. Gabe advocates for embracing imperfection and exploring freeware development for sustainability. He discusses balancing personal projects with career challenges, highlighting the importance of community and innovative monetization strategies like Patreon. His insights inspire a carefree and passionate approach to game development.
Gabe emphasizes the significance of creating games for joy and skill-building to combat burnout and foster creativity.
He advocates for sustainable practices like freeware development and alternative monetization to address industry pressures and support developers.
Deep dives
The Challenge of Enjoyment in Game Development
Many game developers are experiencing a lack of satisfaction in their work, often feeling burnt out despite creating successful games. Several factors contribute to this morale decline, such as repetitive projects, cancellations, and industry pressures. Gabe Cornish highlights the importance of joy in the development process and how personal experiences can shape this perspective. To counter burnout, he suggests that developers may benefit from engaging in side projects that reignite their passion for creating games.
Timeless Game Design Principles
Timeless game design revolves around clarity and accessibility, often exemplified by successful franchises like Nintendo. Gabe emphasizes the importance of creating games that are easy to learn but hard to master, inviting players to engage with their depth over time. He believes that whenever developers focus on providing a welcoming experience for players, they increase the likelihood of their creations standing the test of time. This approach ultimately fosters lasting player engagement and builds a loyal fanbase.
The Journey into Game Development
Gabe's journey into game development began with a fascination for video games during his childhood, leading to a realization in college that he could turn this passion into a career. Over time, he learned that independent projects, such as freeware games, served as an effective way to cultivate skills, foster creativity, and enjoy the process without commercial pressures. He advocates for lowering barriers to entry, urging aspiring developers to experiment and create games for fun. By engaging in personal projects, developers can enhance their professional skills while maintaining their passion for gaming.
Sustainable Practices in Game Development
The podcast underscores the necessity for sustainable practices in the game industry to address the feelings of disenchantment among developers. Gabe Cornish notes that many professionals feel disillusioned amidst studio closures and financial pressures, raising concerns over the industry's future. He argues for the importance of creating a fulfilling work environment that prioritizes developer well-being alongside commercial success. Advocating for freeware game development, he highlights how this model can serve as a healthy balance, allowing creators to explore their artistry and maintain a connection to the core joy of making games.
Gabe Cornish is a game creator with over 40 published games on itch.io and a decade of experience in the game industry. He's worked on hit mobile titles like Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery at Jam City and more recently at Paradox Interactive. Gabe is passionate about making game development more accessible and sustainable for creators.
In this episode, we explore Gabe's journey in game development and his unique perspective on creating games for fun rather than profit. He shares insights on:
• Make games regularly, even if they're small and imperfect, to maintain enthusiasm and improve skills • Don't judge your creations too harshly - you never know what will resonate with players • Consider freeware development as a sustainable way to weather industry uncertainty • Look for alternative monetization methods like Patreon to support ongoing creative work