I like to be as clear as I can in my design documents so I can assist the
programming team. Also I like to be clear with the goals I have set myself. If your
all confused about what game to make and what to invest in I suggest you get
clear. Don't start a project if your all confused and unsure about yourself. Get
clear with your design and you plan. Once your company action plan is on paper
get excited and confident in your abilities to make it happen. Remember if you
budget within your income then relax its a hobby (or no new car :) ). Instead of
investing $100 a week into World of Warcraft or playing Golf you are now
investing into something you want to do.

Main points
  • Get clear with what you want to achieve by mapping it out in your action
    plan
  • Get clear with the game your making and avoid getting confused
  • Believe in your planing and your game design
  • Get support and advice to give you clarity in your design and action plan
  • Get clear with your level of investment and level of time free to commit a
    week
  • If its a part time hobby then be clear that it is
  • Don't hope a part time hobby will win you the lotto so you can quit your
    day job
Confidence for me comes from a solid plan and a clear vision for the company.
So I have a overall 1 year plan and 2 year plan. Get confident by getting
educated and aware of the whole business. Get confident in knowing that if your
first game is not successful according to your success markers, your ok. The
two biggest things you can lose is "time and money". You will however gain
experience and you will grow as a person. For a investment of 6 months part
time and about $ 2000 US dollars I believe this is a very cheap eduction course.
Also from putting together a product and giving it a go you will have something.

Personally for me I feel it is great. I will have lots of products at the end of the
year and a lot of experience in lots of areas. I have gained people skills,
management skills, art skills, marketing skills, project development skills, website
development skills, design document skills etc... Look at all these things I am
gaining this year from my investment of time and money. I think and feel this is
making my resume look "hot". If I go do a 1 year course in the city to round off
my art skills I am a game making machine. Companies who hire people like
confident people and they like to see commitment. What better commitment can
you have then 1 to X products you have created and invested in!.

In 2005 I played World of Warcraft for a solid year. It costs me about $780 which
was $100 AUD for the game, $ 280 for the sub and $400 for a flat panel monitor
(easy on the eyes for extended raiding sessions). So if I invested that $800 AUD
into hiring a coder plus my time and effort I could of created a product across
that year (a simple one). I would have gained valuable skills and would of
progressed in the real world. My epic items in World of Warcraft got made
redundant when the rules changes and the level cap was lifted to 70. So I made
a loss on my 2005 investment as now I am not leet in PVP anymore ;). Also one
of my simple products this year only cost $800 so a simple game can be done.

Main points.
  • Only invest what you budget can handle ( $1000 to $ 5000 a year?)
  • Get confident in your time table and plan
  • Balance your time table and don't over commit
  • Select simple projects and work your way up to bigger projects
  • Be aware of the gains you are receiving by investing into your business
  • Get and ask for support from your family and indie friends
  • Treat your business like hobby. Instead of $100 a week on Golf invest it
    into your business
Confidence
Consideration
Clarity
Be considerate to yourself and others, which for me means that you think about
others and you put yourself into their shoes. Even if you are hiring a team to
make your art or programming be considerate to them. Sometimes things don't
go smooth and in game development you have to expect problems. Work
through these problems with the team. By being nice and kind it will help you
build your people skills and business relationships. The people you are hiring
are providing you a service for a fee but another payment is appreciation.

Main points
  • Be kind and easy going
  • Be Understanding and work with your teams
  • Be fair and professional
  • If you want a solid commitment then be clear with this. Rent a Coder
    provides a expert guarantee system.