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Trying to throw out a more personal and nuanced "solo dev" take. I consider myself a solo dev. There are a ton of exceptions and I enjoy working with others, but at work and at home for pay and for pleasure, 9 times out of 10 I am working alone.
1/12
1/12
In response to that VICE thing, especially the email that spurred the discussion, personally, someone using assets authored by someone else never disparages my work. I don't work solo because I want brownie points in the press.
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2/12
I don't consider all the roles I take on as a burden. It's not something that should put me on a pedestal. I enjoy working on multiple disciplines within one project because it gives a holistic experience that I wouldn't be getting if I was working in a bigger team.
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3/12
This discourse has also shifted so far away from the original email, even within that podcast. But it tends to just always be framed by capitalism or more specifically commercialism. All of the problems presented about "solo dev" are NOT AT ALL exclusive to solo developers
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4/12
People are undercredited, underpaid, underappreciated in games made by one person and games made by one thousand people.
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5/12
Are you a solo dev if you work with tools you didn't create? Yes.
Are you a solo dev if you work as a result from care and support from family and friends? Yes.
Are you a solo dev if you use assets made by someone else? Sure.
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Are you a solo dev if you work as a result from care and support from family and friends? Yes.
Are you a solo dev if you use assets made by someone else? Sure.
6/12
The false value being placed on being a "solo dev" is being created by the people trying to define what is and isn't "solo dev" in the first place. If you extract value from working alone, that's great.
7/12
7/12
If you're trying to devalue solo dev because you think it's "unfair" that people get undue "credit" for working on a game, don't do so by trying to devalue the entire practice. I'm sure there are examples out there but it's not because "solo dev"
8/12
8/12
We all stand on the shoulders of giants. We all depend on the care and support of family, friends, and kind people. "No man is an island" is a fine sentiment but also like
9/12
9/12
If you're going to be pedantic and expect me to credit my wife on my games for her support (note: I did exactly that on the last game I made), I'd ask where that expectation is for games made by 1000 people.
10/12
10/12
After all the discourse about who could be considered a "developer" - can we just settle on something as simple as
Call yourself whatever you want. Solo dev, game developer, indie, let it reflect how you see yourself, and see yourself in a positive light.
11/12
Call yourself whatever you want. Solo dev, game developer, indie, let it reflect how you see yourself, and see yourself in a positive light.
11/12
Don't steal from others and be kind when giving attributions.
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12/12
