I was recently thinking about the same thing. I have a limited amount of productivity and it would be ideal if I can maximize its value when i have it.
One idea of mine you didn't mention, is getting more value out of your work by building systems that are easily extendable.
I'm speaking of things like episodic chapters, DLC, expansions, modability.
I suppose expansions are something you definitely mentioned. But my hope is that once my effort has resulted in gameplay, on the chance someone enjoys that, it will be much less effort for me to add new content that can be sold.
This hits home as I've been thinking about a game in my head for a while, not knowing where to start...but maybe designing and making the different components of the game-that-is-yet-to-be as separate mini games might make the final game a much more doable endeavour! Thank you!
Very good advice. That being said, there are so many clone games out there, I think a lot of solo devs are doing so anyway by trying to chase a trend! But I suppose you have to start somewhere.
I was recently thinking about the same thing. I have a limited amount of productivity and it would be ideal if I can maximize its value when i have it.
One idea of mine you didn't mention, is getting more value out of your work by building systems that are easily extendable.
I'm speaking of things like episodic chapters, DLC, expansions, modability.
I suppose expansions are something you definitely mentioned. But my hope is that once my effort has resulted in gameplay, on the chance someone enjoys that, it will be much less effort for me to add new content that can be sold.
Indeed, this approach worked with Stardew Valley (to mention an indie).
But I have so many ideas that I'm not sure I could make an extendable system. Thus my omission :-)
This hits home as I've been thinking about a game in my head for a while, not knowing where to start...but maybe designing and making the different components of the game-that-is-yet-to-be as separate mini games might make the final game a much more doable endeavour! Thank you!
Very good advice. That being said, there are so many clone games out there, I think a lot of solo devs are doing so anyway by trying to chase a trend! But I suppose you have to start somewhere.