I’ve been developing for several months now and I don’t really know what to do anymore. Should I try to get hired? Should I continue selling gfx, models, and scripts? Should I continue learning? I really don’t know what to do.
I own a group on Roblox and I don’t know if I should continue managing and updating it too. I honestly just have no idea what to do for my dev career.
If someone could give me some options or advice on what I should do in my dev career it would be great. Mainly because of the fact that I’m just kind of lost now and I don’t really have an idea of where I should start.
Most people end up going two different directions at this point:
You continue learning and work towards not just being proficient, but a master in your field, or even game development on Roblox as a whole. You should consider:
Creating a solo game
Contributing to the DevForums
Putting together some tech demos to gain useful knowledge.
Creating open-source resources to solve problems for others
You go straight to work and learn on the job. You can do things like:
Join a development team and work on a game with others
Create a portfolio of some of your best work on the DevForum
Do commissions and gain practical experience.
Create closed-source resources to earn money from others
Both have benefits and downsides, but your choice should be based on your goals. Think about the following questions:
Is your ideal future having mastery in a field you find interesting or becoming skilled enough to make a living doing something you’re passionate about?
Do you prefer to work alone or in a team?
Would you rather work your own hours, pursuing what you wish, or someone in charge leading you?
Do you feel competent enough in your skills that you would be able to deliver to a paying client?
Do you have some crazy idea or dream game that you want to learn how to make?
Do you still feel like you can learn more?
You can always feel free to try one, then move to the other, or even mix and match. However, it seems like most people generally lean to one side or the other (and this post is by no means meant to say that those who try to master game development can’t make money nor that those who try to make money can’t become masterful in their field).
There is a little problem to this. I, however, have the huge ambition to make a game way above my level. Certainly, I do want to make a game that is around my level but I just can’t make myself do it. Do you think I should join a dev team and attempt to fulfill my desire to make something great, or create a game by solo that is around my level.
This post assumes you are going the professional level, getting hired and making a bit of Robux as a side benefit.
As someone who is trying to get hired myself, here’s what I’ve figured out:
You need a game to showcase in order to prove that you are a capable scripter/builder. Do note that if you are a builder, you might be better off creating a showcase.
If you are a scripter however, and need help coming up with your own game idea, here’s what I did to begin working on my game:
Choose any genre. I went strategy. Then think of a game you like. Civilizations (it doesn’t have to be the same genre). Then think about core mechanics from that game. For me, it was tile-based gameplay, with diplomacy options, and the ability to manage armies and units. Now, I’m working on that game.
After that, go for low pay jobs (these usually tend to be easier) and try one of those. You can begin racking up a portfolio, and earn Robux. You might have some more experience, and the arobux to possibly make a game of your own or hire a development team.
This is what I find to be then most effective approach.