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Want to mess up your first video game project? Follow these 5 pieces of advice from entrepreneurs!
In a previous article, we shared with you the five mistakes that (almost) all first-time video game developers make, including ourselves at YuzuPulse. We asked Sophie Maleval, who is responsible for monitoring video game incubation projects for Euracreative, a hub in northern France, to share her top tips for first-time video game developers. Have a read!
Having helped entrepreneurs set up their video game studios for over four years in an incubator, and having also taught project management courses at higher education institutions in the video game sector to help students create their end-of-course or end-of-year games, I have noticed some common mistakes. Here is a compilation of the phrases I have heard most often, which regularly lead to difficulties later on.
1/ "This is the game of my dreams."
Don’t imagine that your first game will be an immediately profitable smash hit, that it will make you popular, or that you’ve come up with a revolutionary concept tıhat no one else has thought of.
Don’t get bogged down in a first game that’s too long, too expensive, or too ambitious.
2/ "I want to be able to pay myself quickly and well."
Many creators hope to make a living from their project within a few months. But the reality is often very different: creating a video game is slow, uncertain and fraught with pitfalls.
Entrepreneurship is rarely a fast track to financial security. It takes time, patience and often several attempts.
Even inspiring stories like Tim Ferriss’s The 4-Hour Work Week are often misunderstood: it’s not about not working anymore, but about working better and more efficiently.
3/"I want to move fast"
The temptation to skip steps is strong. But moving too fast often means setting yourself up for major setbacks. The more constraints you have (time, money, resources), the more important it is to take the time to think, test and adjust. A poorly thought-out strategy is costly once launched.
4/"I'm doing a lot... but I'm not making progress"
Being absorbed in operations can give the impression of progress, when in reality you are going round in circles.
Without a clear vision, repeating the same actions will not produce new results.
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” (Albert Einstein)
5/ "I follow other people's advice to the letter"
There’s no such thing as a miracle method. What works for one person won’t necessarily work for you. In the video game industry, everything evolves quickly: tools, trends, platforms. It’s therefore crucial to adapt advice to your reality and to keep a critical mind.
Always stay up to date with industry news: you need to be constantly on the lookout.