This inspired me to make a very small bitsy game for the first time.
https://zukigay.itch.io/how-i-miss-the-snow
And make me realize how much mental baggage I was holding about games, I somehow still had the idea in my head that making it big was success and that everyone should work towards that. When in reality people should just do things that make their lives more fulling and often that's making art just for yourself.
I played and loved the game, thank you so much for sharing it. I'm going to add it to the collection of responses to the manifesto. I hope you keep making (and enjoying making) things for a long time. :)
this really got to me; I've been working on video game "side projects" forever.
The emotional "but I can't!" reaction I had to the idea of just making a game today was something else. I was so resistant. so I did it. I made, finished, and published my first video game today. fish climb trees now exists! it's a microcosm of my highest hopes for it, terrible by that metric; but perfect in that it exists outside of me now.
I feel giddy about it. thank you.
Thank you so much for making and publishing your game! I wanted to ask if it was okay for me to add it to my collection of games made/published after reading the manifesto? The other ones I added to the collection are more 'about' the manifesto than this one, and because it's so personal I wanted to ask if it's okay first. Thank you for your kind words, I played your game and really liked what you did and the personal story it told, I'm extremely glad you put it online.
I appreciate you wrote this. I think the message is supposed to be “make games for yourself and not the hypothetical of others”, which I agree with, but the reality is that a lot of us try and recoup our losses. If I had infinite time and money I’d make a game for myself first and exclusively, but I need to make a game for myself and others to try and recoup the thousands I’ll spend.
Still, I appreciate the sentiment and I appreciate your write-up. Thank you.
This manifesto advocates against a strawman status quo which does not exist , as a result suggesting that it in fact does . If you're reading this : have you *ever* thought the way that this manifesto tells you not to? I think not , and I think no people ever hosted such fallacies sans a vocal minority .
This is awesome. Quite enjoyed. :] We like! :D We're going to be more fun and free now, thank you. :]
did you read the first point about how this is manifesto not for Gideon Kennedy seller of videogames?
I was just looking through my extensive wishlist of games on itch and realized nobody is going to buy these games.
Well I do agree, most of them. First the TUTORIAL HELL (you'll eventually stuck, doesn't matter which update)
Basically NOT ENOUGH QUALITY GAMES/PROGRAMS/OS.
No, you're talking about quantity, please. You're encouraging AI. NO!!
I do get it, we need to learn & improvise & happy with small task, achievements. Sure & move on.
I get it its a publishing/selling/buying PHYSICAL/ONLINE stuff IS VERY DIFFICULTY APPROACH. MARKETING is completely different beast. also understanding which CATEGORY FITS to your "PRODUCT/stuff".. Strategize what people want (even they don't know, no one knows, its like a choosing a mood with specific time & place, others to be related together to other dramas/rumors, like its convenience, HYPE == SELLS),
Which also don't forget, WERE ALSO a PRODUCT (our soul) to them You know "ToS" agreement. You have to be careful.
What about others PLAY/READ/WATCH (it doesn't matter if its free/buy/pirated)? We still need those people around you, that you can relate to them & to you, that you making them. A healthy community & creator itself. Balance is important. I didn't say it was easy. If you take it, then it takes a lot of responsibility.
And 1 last thing.
Did you know that you have to pay 100$ to publish 1 Steam game. Now count that.
> No, you're talking about quantity, please. You're encouraging AI. NO!!
Anyone who reads this and genuinely thinks "I should use generative AI to make a game" has absolutely abysmal reading comprehension and reasoning skills, and was probably already going to do it anyways too. Besides, it thinks there's probably zero overlap between people who will read this and people who would do that anyways.
> Did you know that you have to pay 100$ to publish 1 Steam game. Now count that.
Its sibling in Cthulu, you are currently on a website where you can post games for free. 🤭 Is there context it doesn't have? It got to the "You can stop reading here" and stopped, so there might be something it's missing from the expansions on the main section, but... Gabe Newell doesn't come to your house and shake you down for $100 to publish a game.
...He doesn't, right? If he does, someone ought to have told it so it can make sure its giant 3 is by the door to scare him off with.
Don't be defensive.
I know you can do it.
I believe in you
You read the documentation.
This is the start.
The funny irony is, you can do it advertisement like this project.
See this is the right category you got it it right. (this is how algorithm works, this is how other people see it. Look analytics, even if its small)
People DO CARE, they're CURIOUS.
Even though they're NOT TELLING YOU DIRECTLY. They're clicking you.
They say you need put 90% of effort. To get "famous". (but in reality, they're trying to do LURE you in, clickbait)
But I say, once you post on internet it stays. (exceptsome files mostly)
Even if its just a little, it matters.
One (without even thinking, that's really damn good) project can do popular. even later. (it just needs some time, that's how algorithm works & people mood)
The project has to be INVESTED in. (no matter how big it is)
You need to be ENTERTAINER on social media, example like Twitch, Youtube,..
It needs an effort. Of course you need to find a balance in your life at your OWN pace. (And figure it out their system/algorithm, cause its quite fast, it can quickly drain you away. (that's why they have cute pets on internet, ecosystem)
I recommend you read the Steamworks Documentation & SteamDB.
Small steps.
Some small bits of rebuttal I have
3. For some of us making Game Jam titles, them being more focused can also be forged from this push to prevent burnout during the jam. I've participated in quite a few jam projects personally where the team wrecked the scope and they couldn't even get a game to show for it
4. You should still aim to make sure you are making a game that is fun. If you aren't even having fun playing what you're making, you're just gonna burn out making it.
Also, smaller games are a good way to make you experiment on something without burning out. Wanna add some new mechanic to your big project? Make something smaller on the test bench, so you aren't getting buried under spaghetti.
Hi, I read this manifesto some days ago and really liked it. So I made a game without a wish of selling it https://hanamigi.itch.io/oh-it-is-wet
Posted the manifesto in a game design group and some ppl got very upset. Good.
I loved this manifesto and i've linked to it on my nekoweb site.
I've been working on making a game recently and while I do think i'm less capitalism poisoned than many this was a great reminder. And a good push to go get more work done on my shitty game that I love.
I love this because it has been my philosophy for making games all along. So far I have one game that I've finished (i.e., that I have resolved not to work on any further), a handful of games that are "playable" but not (in my mind at least) finished, and a bunch of half-working demo-ish projects. And I'm fine with that.