Make Money with Indie Games Realistically, Surviving 16 Years as Indie Game Developer - Jake Birkett (Gamedev Podcast from Cria Jogo)

In this interview with Jake Birkett from Grey Alien Games, we talk about how to work full-time with indie game development, how to make money with small and casual games and how to survive on the long run in this industry. Jake has been a Full-time Indie Game Developer for 16 Years.

Video and transcription:

• Available as video (with optional Portuguese subtitles): https://youtu.be/KooZ-H72i7Q
• Transcription: https://criajogo.com/podcast/

Like what you see? Want to support the content?

• My Patreon: https://patreon.com/alfredbaudisch
• PayPal: http://bit.ly/CriaJogoPayPal
• Jake's Patreon: https://patreon.com/GreyAlien

Additional info:

Jake Birkett has 16 years of experience as an independent game developer, 13 published commercial games. Jake is an authority in the indie games and casual games market.

Is it possible to develop your own games and make money with them? How to not go bankrupt with game development?

Jake Links: 

• Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/developer/GreyAlienGames
• Itch: https://greyaliengames.itch.io/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/GreyAlien
• Site: https://www.greyaliengames.com
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GreyAlien
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JakeBirkett

Videos and articles:

• You are spending too long making your game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmIFaAU0mJg
• You're Spending Too Long Making Your Game | Jake Birkett: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkEE5pvQOR8
• How to Survive in Gamedev for Eleven Years Without a Hit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmwbYl6f11c
• T-Minus 30 interview with Jake Birkett: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iEcjQNeK8I
• Lessons From 10+ Years Fulltime Indie Dev | Jake Birkett (Grey Alien Games) | MGD #28: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBpXAEaWZT0
• TBoIG 2018: Jake Birkett - Make Money from Small Indie Games: You Don't Need a Huge Hit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTZdNVeApTM
• Are Casual Games Recession Proof?: http://greyaliengames.com/blog/are-casual-games-recession-proof/

Index / Table of Contents / Chapters:

• 00:00 - Introduction 
• 00:46 - Who is Jake Birkett and Grey Alien Games? 
• 02:38 - Full-time indie, rich and famous 
• 06:02 - Jake's Games 
• 08:41 - How to have game ideas? 
• 12:33 - Finish or abandon projects? 
• 14:17 - How to deal with ambitious game ideas? 
• 15:32 - Your first game must be small 
• 17:23 - How to cover the costs of game development? 
• 20:51 - Chances of having a hit ("Notch factor") 
• 21:35 - Make games or earn a salary from a job? 
• 22:37 - Publish many small games 
• 24:19 - More games lead to more fans and cross sales 
• 25:43 - Sustainable or successful? 
• 26:51 - Casual games market 
• 32:10 - Where to sell your games? 
• 34:37 - T-Minus 30, Jake's new game 
• 38:00 - Engine and tools 
• 41:16 - Who makes the art for your games? 
• 42:59 - Aesthetics matter 
• 43:22 - Where is my computer gone? 
• 44:42 - Where do you live? 
• 45:31 - Where to find Jake and his games? 
• 46:21 - Closing words and final advice