Let me tell you my little story now to encourage you. We might even help each other along the way.
I have almost the same computer background. Started up with the C64 at early age and loved to create my own games with the inbuilt basic. Also fiddled around with peeks and pokes , graphics and sound.
Same with Atari520 and Amiga500 (just can't get those AMOS-times back can I?). Became interested in 3D modelling alreeady with Real3d and Imagine.
Studied to be a musicteacher but always worked with small hobbyprojects going nowhere but sharpening my skills in graphics, design, audio and some code, but still I got a family pretty early (no accident!) and somehow I really thought that the days for a solo developer was kind of over with the C64 era.
Recently when I discovered Blitz during a hobbyproject of mine I decided to participate in a gamecontest (3 weeks period). After that contest a small publisher mailed me and asked if he could publish my game if I finished it correctly. Things started slowly to rotate in side my head and questions about if it's possible to actually make money of this hobby popped up.
I then discovered the world of Gameportals and casual game market which I honestly didn't knew existed a year ago. January this year I decided to actually give it a try, not quitting my daytime job but to create a game during night and honestly see if I could pull it through. One big reason for this is that this last year my son got diagnosed Asbergers syndrom and I would like at least be at home a little bit more so he can be at home where he feel safe in his room.
In March I showed an early version of the game I'm working on and an established publisher contacted me and wanted to help me out finish it and publish it.
Of course I had lots of thoughts about this but still it was a chance that I was willing to take.
April I started up my company and still no money has been brought in but the game is now at a testpanel for approval and then we'll see. I have recieved a few yay's about my game and very few nay's.
Maybe it wont work at all.
Still I am writing, designing, tweaking on a new game now that I think is exatcly what the market is looking for now and hopefully I'll be able to realize this one within a year.
I understand your concerns and I think it's not really about age but about having an established environment (probably family as well?) and you just cannot throw your yourself into something like that without knowing it might work.
I say go for it! At least try it out, spending a few hours each day (night) working on something that is commercial working now. Do researches about whats hot and whats not and try not to be too "clonish" nor too "inventish".
If you're interested, as I'm new in this as well, we could have some contacting back and forth checking how we're doing, exchange experiences or even help each other out with our games to get a smoother start (I create all elements myself and think I'm doing quite well)
best regards and wishes of luck
Andreas Jirenius
I have almost the same computer background. Started up with the C64 at early age and loved to create my own games with the inbuilt basic. Also fiddled around with peeks and pokes , graphics and sound.
Same with Atari520 and Amiga500 (just can't get those AMOS-times back can I?). Became interested in 3D modelling alreeady with Real3d and Imagine.
Studied to be a musicteacher but always worked with small hobbyprojects going nowhere but sharpening my skills in graphics, design, audio and some code, but still I got a family pretty early (no accident!) and somehow I really thought that the days for a solo developer was kind of over with the C64 era.
Recently when I discovered Blitz during a hobbyproject of mine I decided to participate in a gamecontest (3 weeks period). After that contest a small publisher mailed me and asked if he could publish my game if I finished it correctly. Things started slowly to rotate in side my head and questions about if it's possible to actually make money of this hobby popped up.
I then discovered the world of Gameportals and casual game market which I honestly didn't knew existed a year ago. January this year I decided to actually give it a try, not quitting my daytime job but to create a game during night and honestly see if I could pull it through. One big reason for this is that this last year my son got diagnosed Asbergers syndrom and I would like at least be at home a little bit more so he can be at home where he feel safe in his room.
In March I showed an early version of the game I'm working on and an established publisher contacted me and wanted to help me out finish it and publish it.
Of course I had lots of thoughts about this but still it was a chance that I was willing to take.
April I started up my company and still no money has been brought in but the game is now at a testpanel for approval and then we'll see. I have recieved a few yay's about my game and very few nay's.
Maybe it wont work at all.
Still I am writing, designing, tweaking on a new game now that I think is exatcly what the market is looking for now and hopefully I'll be able to realize this one within a year.
I understand your concerns and I think it's not really about age but about having an established environment (probably family as well?) and you just cannot throw your yourself into something like that without knowing it might work.
I say go for it! At least try it out, spending a few hours each day (night) working on something that is commercial working now. Do researches about whats hot and whats not and try not to be too "clonish" nor too "inventish".
If you're interested, as I'm new in this as well, we could have some contacting back and forth checking how we're doing, exchange experiences or even help each other out with our games to get a smoother start (I create all elements myself and think I'm doing quite well)
best regards and wishes of luck
Andreas Jirenius