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Ask HN: I spent personal money on game dev. How to turn stalled project around?

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Re: Ask HN: I spent personal money on game dev. How to turn stalled project around?

#11
post #4

How should I rethink my problem space Games are fun problems, not optimization problems. Also, sunk costs are sunk costs. And often the value from spending money is what you learn, not more money. I could keep building it myself, although it involves much more than just software hours. There is a huge amount of work that includes 2D/3D art, sound, music, networking, UI, onboarding, testing, etc. There's a reason trip…

figuring out the bicycle version of a fully featured online multiplayer battle game is the reason I am seeking advice on HN :) I had not thought about the learning cost of the experience. I have been trying to avoid the sunken cost mindset and looking to wise up before the next round of decisions

If you start off constructing a bicycle out of bricks, no future design decisions will make it a viable bicycle.

That’s sunk cost.

Under-capitalization is a business architecture akin to a brick bicycle, airplane, etc.

Re: Ask HN: I spent personal money on game dev. How to turn stalled project around?

#12
You could scope it down to a demo. Share with people and see the results

If good, continue with it, if bad, give up.

Demos are so good for that purpose, if you show the game loop and it sucks, you'll need plenty of work to change this situation around (if even), so try it.

Re: Ask HN: I spent personal money on game dev. How to turn stalled project around?

#13
In finance there is the concept of ‘sunk cost’ and not letting it factor into future decisions.

You have spent money and have got so far, now you need to forget the money spent and ask yourself if today you still see this project as viable based on projected future costs and your use of time needed.

Forget money spent already, and detach emotionally, make a decision as of today.

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