Old School vs New School Game Development

The barrier of entry for game development has collapsed with the proliferation of resources. Game Engines are free, assets stores save thousands of hours of development, self-publication only requires an internet connection, and more individuals are desperate to have unique tastes, creating a spectrum of niche game genres. This is different from retro games, which were mostly constrained by shareholder interests, limited hardware, and a limited landscape of genres that allowed for innovation to be less scrutinized. This panel gives a satirical but honest comparison of the challenges and landscapes of the games we grew up on, and the games we play today. This is from the perspective of a solo developer who released 3 games, and was featured in MAGFest and BitSummit for their Indie Exhibitions. A lot of indie developers refer to retro influences and methodologies, however there are some common pitfalls that would cause development hell or scope creep. This was common in older game development, but there were universally creative ways to overcome challenges. This panel provides some insight on that, but focuses more on getting into game development as an introductory course. This is for all ages and experience levels, either a budding hobbyist, or a sleeping dragon tired of their day job.