The lies of solo gamedevs
So, how was Summer Game Fest?
Yeah, I like to watch trailers, as well.
My wishlist grows, my wallet... not so much.
But one thing that stuck in my mind was Geoff Keighley saying something when announcing Acts of Blood:
This next game is from a solo developer and 9 of his friends.
He didn't lie.
Only one game developer may have developed this game. Animators, graphic makers, writers, and composers are not developers. They are game creators in a way; they're contributing to the end quality, but they are not developers. For that, they would have to use programming languages.
I'm not trying to downplay their contributions!
I'm only saying that a solo gamedev is a title that one is worthy of only if he does everything alone1. Yes, it is a status game, and as Naval Ravikant teaches, they are not worth it. Unless you like to do everything (or as much as possible) alone and independently.
The problem with calling a game a "game made by a solodeveloper" is like calling someone a self-made man. It's hardly possible to call someone that. Because the truth is...
You will never make it alone.
Developers and their work are like concrete. Sure, they make everything stick together. But you still need a blueprint, bricks, windows, doors, logs, and all that stuff needed to build a house that I'm unable to name. You need stuff, you don’t necessarily know how to make.
Games are the same. You need music, assets, shaders, and so on.
Some people can do it all. That is awesome, awe-inspiring all the way. But there's a big chance that's not going to be your case (or my case).
Self-made men aren't really a thing. They didn't achieve it alone. Their parents help them with their education. So did teachers. Your knowledge comes from books. And they owe a beer to more people they remember, who helped them on their way.
And that's OK.
But we should not forget about all the contributors. If the solo gamedev isn't making 70% of the game alone, we need to ask the question whether he is solo, or whether he has a Team. If the solo gamedev needed 9 friends to make a game, that's not a solo gamedev! That's a team.
Respect the Team!
Respect the Work done!
Also...
No, sir, the dream is not to be like Kojima, the dream is to do everything alone and independently! (and the dream within a dream is to achieve Kojima-like quality while doing it alone). But enough about dreams, let's talk reality... How do you make a penguin race game?
not me, I'm just a shameless cosplayer 😉
It seems there's no clear line between solo and team gamedev. If you use assets made by others or AI-generated ones, are you still considered a solo developer? What about using third-party addons that handle half the work? And if you frequently ask AI for help, is it still solo? Even if most of your game relies on tools and assets created by others? Is vibe coding also solo gamedev since you don't need anyone else's help?
To me solo devs are those that take action to bring their vision to reality.
And yeah, you can do everything yourself... but why? Why not use tools, why not use different ways of reaching the end goal? A paid contractor for a few assets can be a tool. As long as you are the driving factor, the initiator, the one with the vision, the one bringing everything together and building the final product... you still are a solo dev.
Yet... I get your point, if other people become an intrinsic part of the process of creation, and not just a paid contractor for a few assets, this becomes more than just a solo dev game. This is where we need to spot the difference, this is where we find the fine-line between a true solo dev and a lie.