Eight weeks ago, I worked my last day as an employee. I decided to forego a stable job and a promising career to risk it all as a self-employed independent developer. I did so without a contract job lined up, or a game ready to be sold. I simply plunged headlong into what had been up to now a side project developed in my spare time. Man, it even seems crazy to me when I put it that way. Why did I take this route?  What is my motivation to become an independent? Well, I can essentially break it down to three key reasons: burning desire, freedom, and low risk.

Burning Desire

I’ve wanted to work for myself for as long as I can remember, but I have always been scared of pulling the trigger without being properly ready. To do so, I would need experience, a great idea, money saved up, knowledge of the real world, and a realistic expectation of success. Over time, I have worked to advance myself in each of those areas, and perhaps the most difficult challenge has been coming up with a great idea. It is possible that the idea I am currently working on is not amazing, but I have learnt something else over these past few years: the execution of an idea is a lot more important than the idea itself. I am not only confident in the idea I am currently developing, but more significantly, in my abilities to make it work.

Working for myself has been my dream. Whenever my previous jobs would get challenging, or demotivating, I would think ahead to the day where I would get to make my own mark on the world by taking charge of my life. I truly believe that I can become self-sustainable as an indie. Don’t get me wrong, my goal is not just self-sustenance, but straight-up success. However, I am convinced that, at the very least, I can find a way to work on what I want to work on and survive as an indie.

Being able to work on my own ideas, and seek compensation for those ideas excites me. To do things right, to work long hours on my ideas, not other people’s, to have a stake in my own hard work, in my success, to create something that is truly mine; this is what drives me. I am confident in my abilities. Five years ago, I believed I could do this, but I knew then that I did not have the requisite experience. The difference today is that, while I know I don’t have all the skills necessary to succeed, I have reached a stage where I can make it work, where I can acquire the remaining skills as I need them.

Freedom

The reason I so eagerly wanted to work for myself is the freedom it provides. Of course, having no source of income makes me dependent on being able to develop and sell a game. And this means that on some level, I will be dependent on others (be it customers for sales, console manufacturers for developer status, publishers for funding), but that is the choice I make. I choose what game I make it, and how I make it. I choose who I want to work with, and which platform I target.

Being free also entails a whole set of responsibility. Every decision is mine; all the consequences are also mine to bear. Every mistake I make, I have to pay for. If my project is delayed by three months, I have to find a way to cover my living expenses. If I need artwork done, I have to pay for it. Same goes for testing, localization, certification, buying development kits, etc. The puck stops with me. The reality of that situation is both exhilarating and nerve-wracking, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Low Risk

OK, I know it sounds a bit pretentious to say that this venture is low-risk but let me explain: quitting my job and risking my savings to create my own business is risky, but at the end of the day, if my business fails, if I blow through all my money and still can’t make ends meet, it won’t be the end of the world. I will still have options, and I can always find another job. Yeah, it’s a bit of a cop out, but it makes taking this risk easier to handle knowing that I will be able to land on my feet no matter what happens.

While there is always a risk that my current project will not be as successful as I would like it to be, having had that first taste of freedom ensures that I will have the necessary motivation to persevere and try again.

I am actually in an ideal situation to become an indie.  I am still young and I don’t have any dependents. If I hadn’t made a move, I would have risked a lot more by my inaction. Every day I waited was a day wasted. I could not live with myself not taking the risk. I don’t know how well I will do, but I would never know if I didn’t try. And not trying was eating away at me. Once you look at it that way, I had to become an indie. I couldn’t spend the rest of my years wondering “what if?”

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