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Leaving work to pursue art and game development
The time has come, I've officially left my day job to work on art and game development! I'll likely need to get a new job in the coming months, but until then, your support on Patreon can keep me afloat! You can also wishlist Isle Goblin to get notified on release, or hop in the discord to chat :) Thanks for dropping by!
If anyone out there is interested in going to school for gamedev check out my partner SNHU:
snhu.edu/wattd...
Patreon:
www.patreon.co...
Steam: store.steampow...
Discord: / discord
Instagram: / watt.designs
Twitter: / wattdesigns
Game Website: islegoblin.com
Personal Website: www.kilowattga...
Пікірлер: 224
I feel you Watt, I'm in the same situation on my current company, underpayed and working overtime, had a burnout a week ago. I'm decided to leave, I'm sitting on this thought though, but I will probably leave. And I stand by your decision, since you have talent and the necessary programming skills.
@WattDesigns
2 жыл бұрын
The break from work will definitely be nice, I hope you get to do the same!
@bojanraw
2 жыл бұрын
Leave and when you live you will ask urself why you didn't do it earlier :D
@MightyDantheman
2 жыл бұрын
I didn't realize how negatively work was affecting me until after I took a 2 week vacation one day. From that point on, I greatly reduced my hours so that I could spend more time doing what I care about. Soon enough I'll be able to work on it full time. The scary thing is that this never would have happened if it wasn't for me realizing that and taking the risk. Obviously this isn't applicable for everyone, but if a situation arises in which you're given an opportunity to safely quit your job or at least reduce your hours, do it.
@juliocesar-fc1nm
6 ай бұрын
@@WattDesigns I did, I had a break one month between jobs, it was very much needed, saw your new video that you returned to your job, It's kind of a tough situation, but I guess you will never be wondering "what if?", and that goes a long way. And I did leave that s**t company, I had the luck/skills to be employed the next month after. Nowadays I'm at a much better place with better salary(no overtime, and no bad bosses), but I'm still hoping to have a break from coding anytime.
Hey Watt, I recently graduated with a masters degree in comp sci. I decided to go the opposite approach to you and do what I like right off the bat. I was in a fortunate enough position to do so as my passion is AI development. Also, in college I became good friends with my boss who made a startup company. I could theoretically be making triple what I'm making now with my credentials and I don't regret it at all. Waking up and doing what you want to do rather than what you need to do is very rewarding. I can't help but think that you're on the right path with your decision here, I wish you luck and I hope this pans out so you don't have to go back to another job.
@Bigfoot1144
2 жыл бұрын
@@mahkhardy8588 Yeah that stuff is cool to me too, I don't do AI in games or anything like that. I use stuff like neural networks and custom algorithms to solve problems.
@Bigfoot1144
2 жыл бұрын
@@NeoHCgbz Thanks I never thought about it that way. It could be taken a step further as well, as people with stress tend not to live as long.
I've wanted to quit my job to become a full time homesteader but it's not in the cards quite yet. I'm glad you can follow your passion, hope you do great on your patrion 😀🎉
It’s crazy how many more comments there are then the first few devlogs! You’re really going places, keep it up
I recently quit a 25 year career as a sysadmin/software engineer to work on writing in general, but writing visual novels in specific! It's a scary leap, but exhilarating at every stage. I'm so glad KZread recommended your channel to me, it's really gratifying to see you go for it! Isle Goblin will be exceptional!
Its awesome that you have the courage to quit and tackle the challenges of running your own business. Don't beat yourself up too hard if its hard to adjust from working a normal job as an employee to having to manage the entirety of your own schedule. Its a lot to take on. This is the first video I've seen of yours and the game looks awesome btw. I'd seriously consider looking into doing a kickstarter or trying to get a publisher so you can have the time you need to finish it without needing to worry so much about freelancing or getting another full time job.
I didn't have mentors who can guide me that I have to focus on stable job first and I gave full time learning art and didn't even know which direction to go... but after 4 years of hard work I have become decent at art, which I was not when I first started and was very afraid of my future... Because I have already switched my career without proper planning from mechanical engineer to art guy(don't know where to put my skills) but I did got a job and still keep trying to move forward and will writes stories and make comic book by the side. It takes proper planning about the finances and what you are going to do. The clarity is most important and it comes from research and getting help from others, ask questions get answers, either from yourself, from the person you admire and industry you want to go in, everyone has a bit of information, start collecting and make a strong fact ground for yourself.
Sometimes KZread recommendations are useful ! This is quite comforting to be honest, as i'm planning to do the same thing myself ! I'd love to see your progress trough this tough yet wonderful journey that game dev is :)
I also resign my job of 17 years, I started my game dev journy 8 years ago partime and went fulltime on making my game about a year ago. My game comes out this week and happy to see people following there dreams!
The game is looking so polished and complete now, I know it isn't, but the content that's there looks better than ever :)
did the same thing as an experienced game designer (+6 years). Wanted to make my own games..long story short. I almost ended up in my car.
Hey Watt, love the video and topic. I can totally relate, many times I've considered leaving my job to pursue an artistic career that would leave me fulfilled but always opted against it. I'm both fortunate and unfortunate to have a well paying stable job as it makes the decision tougher. So at the minute I've taken the "in my spare time" approach to my craft. I whole heartedly support your decision to follow passions as you have a lot of talent and skills that will be a great asset. Wishing you the best and great success!!!
respect, this takes guts. I wanted to leave web dev for game dev but the anxiety won't let me :D I'm in web dev strictly for the money but it is so boring, the times have done game dev I had so much fun, but i don't trust myself to make something commercially viable with how crowded and competitive game dev is.
This is a big step so I wish you all the best! I've also thought about this, as I'm a software engineer working on games in my spare time. Spending a whole day coding for work and my hobby can seem a bit draining however I've learnt more in software than in games. I find the games industry, from indies to AAA, laggs behind in many ways but as long as I can keep a foot in both camps than I am happy.
This is a really great video man! Taking that leap towards making a living off what you want and for yourself rather than for a company that may not mean much to you is a tough decision. I had worked a job in a kitchen for 5+ years and eventually found myself managing the place, but similarly, people I liked working with began to leave and the job just wasn't fulfilling. So I cut down on expenses as much as possible, left tha job and got a simple part time job to help cover myself. I'd really like to build up an income from the game development as well. I wish the best of luck to you!
Congrats! I hope you're able to continue to be self-sustained and continue working full-time on your creative endeavors!
now that's some quality dedication
@Liz-with-a-smile
2 жыл бұрын
I know you boo. 😊
@MsOops12
2 жыл бұрын
What the fck are you doing here!?!?
@paradoxisheretohelp5067
Жыл бұрын
@MsOops12 he can watch other videos what do you mean what the fck are you doing here
The building auto-adjustment may be a bit unclear or fiddly for players as it could be moving about for no clearly visible reason; maybe it would be best to always align the placement with the door and just highlight the building in red if the placement is invalid? Improves visibility and avoids the door being placed in an unreachable area
Proud of you for making the decision to leave a job that you clearly weren't enjoying / getting paid enough for your labour! It'll also probably free you up for freelancing or a part time job if for some reason you needed extra money here and then, but most importantly you get to actually focus on what you enjoy doing!
I quit my day job to professionally beekeep full time. And I rapidly began making more money with bees than I ever did working for the man.
oh new video from goblin guy
I am working on quitting my job to be an animator. I want to make my own games and animations, for now focusing on the animations. But, I'm content for now since I work a nice job with family managing dogs. It's pretty flexible for now, and pays enough.
I was working some foundational system for my game discouraged because felt like such a big task to eventually even get to where you are..... But after watching i feel a lot better and encouraged thanks for uploading
Quit my interior design job last year which I moved country for as they decided that in the near further they would standardise all their employee contracts and pay everyone the same amount, even though we all worked in different sectors. No one would get a raise unless everyone got a raise. No one would get additional holiday leave, unless everyone did. Therefore no initiative to put in any extra effort so I quit and set up my own. Depending on how you look at it, I am lucky as I don’t have as high monthly expenditure as I was able to move back in with the parents while I get the company self sustaining. Although, there is also no possibility for myself to move out on my own as we have a huge housing crisis where I am. Everyone my age and older are back in with their parents. Slightly off-topic sorry, haha.
I so feel you bro I left my Job cause job is a toxic narcisist and it takes me 4 hours in roads everyday so now i took a 3 month break to put serious empehsize on development and ecommerce to escape this slave machine!!!! We need to start looking in making games profitable way also with this shared route of ours. The best way to win is to burn the bridge! Good luck on the game it looks cozy and amazing!
Eyyy, Quit my job a month ago, I got 6 months before I'm fucked! And I'm deciding to dedicate that time on trying to release a game, or 2... and hopefully sell the assets. I should, honestly, be consider doing commissions, it's just a much better ideas, since it's something within my skill... But oh well, here's me wishing luck for the both of us !! Let's make our games real ! (P.S. quitting your job in pursuit of making a game, without any backup plan is a terrible idea)
Thanks. I'm not in a career but I'm just out of my first semester of college and I've hated college so much. I recently discovered Aseprite and have gotten super into pixel art and game development. It's been going pretty well so far and I love learning about how to make these things work. I've been questioning myself off and on and my parents more so but I really think and hope that I can learn enough to really turn this into something
A very courageous and respectable step that is probably going to be both scary and adventures. Keep at it!
Best of luck! I love watching all those videos, so I hope working on the game for more hours without any distractions doesn't drain your energy and keep your passion! we support you!
As a bit of a goblin enthusiast and a game dev hopeful, I will be watching this game unfold! Subscribed!
It's not an easy decision to make, you have my respect. I've tried working on games several times on the side of my full-time job, so I can relate when you say it gets pushed aside The game is looking amazing so far, Good luck going forward, I believe you can do it
As someone who’s about to enter college for computer science I’m having the same dilemma, albeit prematurely. I want to do what I truly love but I also want a financially comfortable lifestyle. I hope I can find passion in a desirable skill set but I still don’t fully know where in the tech field I want to work. The uncertainty of where my passion versus income will lie is scary
A brave and inspirational choice indeed! I've only just stumbled upon your videos recently but I'm blown away with your talent and ambition. You will succeed, best of luck!
You should also consider selling some cleanup on isle goblin merch or giving it as patron rewards potentially. Your art is good and I could definitely see a shirt or something with it on being bought to support you.
Best of luck going full time indie! Don't be afraid to ask for help and fall back on your support system around you. Game is looking fun and adorbs! I'm really digging the dynamic lighting and shadows. Definitely makes everything feel more alive.
Hey Watt, I'll be finishing my Masters in Software Engineering next February and I've been thinking the whole time whether I should found a start-up, or take a well-paid job in the private sector, or a relaxed job at my university, where I work part-time at the moment. Your story really inspires me to go down the path with the start up idea. I still have to think things through, but thank you. When your game comes out I'll definitely buy it. Greetings from Germany.
I wish from my heart I could throw money at you right now, but sadly my situation atm doesn't allow for it. I'm without a job atm, heavy depression & social anxiety make it very hard to find something. And since March my mum has been in & out of the hospital, progressively getting worse - thankfully Germany has decent health care - but it doesn't help the search. I'll still support you as I can, spreading the word. Make your dream come true!
@WattDesigns
2 жыл бұрын
No worries at all, I wish you the best! Just hang in there, I'm sure things will get better :)
i dumped my dayjob for commissions/game dev work for the last 2 years, and I haven't looked back. Stressful at times, especially cause I had very limited savings. Worth it.
Best of luck, wish you the best
love it. same mentality. just too overwhelmed to start. about to graduate with cs degree finally and have no idea where to go next. it was hell to even get through the degree.
Ii am also an engineer, working in IT and have dreamed about this several times and am also ready to do what i love and earn money. Fortunately for me, my current wage is higher, time at work is less and cost of living is way lower. You really do inspire me. I hope it is enough to finally make it big.
I'm still in the "game dev in my spare time" stage, by day I'm a Full Stack Software Engineer, though most of my day is in C#. While my job is fairly chill (manager is pretty against working late or weekend work which is awesome), still dream of going full-time game dev. But feel like I need to bash out a few small complete game projects before I even consider making money from it. Hopefully I get there eventually, but we'll see. My 2015 Macbook air can also only take me so far XD
I really hope you can do this full time! Your project looks awesome.
I’d love to dump my day job to make my own company selling backpacking gear. I never made the leap because I have a family that I feel needs to eat food. I’d feel like a bad parent if all they are every day was potatoes if I had the potential to be able to give them a comfortable life style with my current work.
Good luck! I've been making games since 2004. It's a great adventure, especially when you can work on what you want and make it how you want.
Worked for a big game company for over a decade with a comfortable (tho getting very stale) job; in 2019 I decided to quit and use my saving to work on a game over the next 5 years
I’m graduating highschool right now, and I’m stuck between game development or going into a “real” computer science major and job, I’m probably going to go into that stable category, but I admire the work you are putting into the game, keep up the awesome work!
@chocolatekawaiigirl
2 жыл бұрын
Yea CS is harder but you can use it to go into game development or regular CS after graduation. A CS degree can let allow you to work in game development but it doesn't work vice versa.
You can see that youre passion is game dev so go and make it true!
Dude you have no idea how excited I am for this game
Hey Watt! You will not believe the coincidence. You released this video on 28.05 which was my birthday and this year... it was a week after a decided to leave my job to focus full time on youtube and making games. I also handed down my notice and I am finishing my work at the end of this month. I really hope this will work out for you well! I keep my fingers crossed and wish you all the best on this fantastic journey! I will definitely be showing up from time to time to see how you are doing! :)
I really hope you go far with this game it looks really good so far! I especially like the matching HUDs with the containers, cool details like that really liven games up. I hope you do really well man.
Nice man, good luck, hope everything goes right
I went to school for game programming, but work in a factory making menu HUDS (and I love it). But I go home and do event coordination in my spare time. Right now I'm doing mostly charity and school-funded alumni events, but would love to be the woman-behind-the-curtain and run my own game award shows and conventions. It's a big shift though
Congratulations! I know you're gonna do amazing
Your channel was just randomly suggested to me and I'm now subscribed and very interested in your game!
I had this same same feeling. I quit my 13 year career in the financial markets and I am now working as a 2D artist for video games. I had to hone my skills while working in my previous career before I made the jump. Now I love my job and utilising new things I learned from work helped me imrpove my my personal passion projects on the side.
Awesome video, honestly I think I'm gonna take some of this and try it out myself. Video games have always been my passion but I don't know how to make them what so ever. Plus I love KZread as well, but don't know how to edit videos or do any of that. But it's never to late I suppose, I'm going to get started here soon. 😎🤙
Hope everything works out for you man! ^^ I really wish I could help out even a little bit, but I've barely got enough to scrape by so sadly I can't. If I ever make something of myself though I'll be sure to come back. Wish you luck buddy :)
Dude, i just found you a few days ago but already watched quite a few videos. I wish you all the best in pursuing your passion!
Wonderful as always
Just watched your entire dev log beginning to now straight - super impressed with your consistency and dedication, great job!
it is very difficult to maintain a side hustle, especially if your day job is intensive or physically demanding. Been going through the same decision making process but can't make a firm commitment. Now's the time to experiment though, when you're young and have options.
i dumped my day job last month to work on my game. i gave myself 18 months and I'm cruising along with it. I do have a lot to learn with unity as I will be the only Programmer, but this can be ginormous for me and the little team i have if we pull it off. Its great to know there is someone out there that did the same thing I did and is happy with their decision. I know I am very happy with where I am at.
really interesting! can't wait to see more!
Good luck! I am in a similar boat but I don't think I could quit until I have a bit more of a nest egg as I don't want to feel pressured for my games to make money. Slowly building up the art skills in my free time and already have the programming skills due to my job. If all goes close to plans, then 2-3 years till the day I can focus full time on my own projects
Liked ur videos and style since the begining of ur jorney, not to mention all the jokes and beautiful art! Love ur commitment and will support u as much as i can. Waiting on this game, thank you for your excellent work!
Go you! I want to do the same but I think that will be a later me problem. Wishing you the best on the game, excited to play once it comes out
Im on this boat too! I recently joined a company that works with personal financial education and I'm learning about finance, im going nuts to quit and move to the new job but its a lot of info. Good job on your savings btw, that's the proper way to do it. Id suggest you map out all you have and all you spend, you might actually be wasting more than necessary on some things, when we do a financial analysis, we usually find a lot of money being spent unnecessarily and it can at times make a difference
This is so inspiring! I'm working towards the same goal, but first, I'll have to clear my student loans :p in the meantime, working on my game while building my skills. Hope to reach your level in 2 years!
Hope everything goes well man. Love ur videos
Great video and it’s so cool to see you being open with your audience on what’s going on in your life! Of course you don’t owe us anything but thank you anyways! 😊 I’ve been working since I was a teen and I actually quit my most recent job almost a year ago- 8 years later! Granted, I’m blessed that it’s a bit easier for me since my bills are Once I graduate though I’m going back into work 🤣 but it’s been nice having that extra time to spend with friends, family, and game dev!
Just came across this game and it looks so good, already can't wait to buy it! I practically tripped over myself wishlisting it so fast on steam
quitting to pursue a passion? wierdly enough i've been avoiding work on my game lately, unless i'm hanging out with someone in discord. I sincerely want to quit my job to pursue game-dev, but rn it's a mix of work & game-dev. I've considered Uber because in my area of the city ppl working 3 days/week(fri, sat, sun) average $1,500 per week.
This is so inspiring! I Hope you keep doing pixel art videos!
The shadows look lighter at the feet of some creatures and darker when far away... shadows actually work the other way round
@6Pope9
2 жыл бұрын
true, didn't noticed
Fantastic video! I wish you the best on your journey of artistic independence.
Wish you the best! Super inspiring. Keep dishin out the content and you'll do fine.
I have been struggling with this, but I'm happy to say I went on to do art! I kinda suck, but it's just the beginning for me!
definitely subscribing to your patreon! i beleive in you matt! youve made so much more progress than i thought you could working a full time job, i cant wait for the demo
@Kayla-io3ic
2 жыл бұрын
also calling you watt vs matt confused the hell out of me so if you can see the edits of this comment i dont say anything 👁👄👁
@WattDesigns
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks so much, it helps a lot! 😊 I’m excited to get the demo out to you!
I wishlisted this game and cant wait to play!
1 month notice is super kind
I wish you good luck! I made my transition in 2017 under similar circumstances against the opinions of my family haha. So far so good!
I just found your channel and watched all your videos in one sitting, your game looks really cool and I hope your able to do it full time
Way to go Watt!
I just found your channel and watched all the videos! The game looks so cool and I am happy you can follow your passion. I am still in university. I had a hard time figuring out what I want to do with my life job wise. One day I hope I can support myself as an author but that's still a good time away.
GOODLUCK, been there done that
3:10 that reminds me of what GMTK just posted a video on, with ‘managers’
Congrats! I wish you luck in your pursuits, I believe life rewards you for following your passion and doing the things you're meant to do... If you believe in that sort of thing :)
your game art is amazing
I'm in the same shoes as you. My day jobs is not cutting it and is unfulfilling. I got a lot of savings and have been working with a few friends to try and make a game. I have another hobby I'm trying to start up. My biggest issues is motivation and time.
Hell yeah brother!
I wish your success.... I am your patreon for eternity 🙂
I just love this! Keep going with the project, im looking forward to play it. Wishlisted already.
Here’s to hoping your dreams come true.
Congrats on taking the dive! Hope it works out for you.
Thanks for the video !
Good for you... I think
I have also quit my day job to work on my game full time. The thing is, if we have saved enough money to live for a long time, there is really no point in working to make someone else wealthy instead of working for our own passion.
Me about to graduate in Industrial Engineering and trying to decide to go into industry or make art and games getting recommended this video... KZread algorithm has been onto me
Love your work man