Cyborg3003 is a game that I developed over the course of about a year. But make no mistake, this was not my first game. Cyborg3003 was made in my spare time and during the process many improvements and adjustments were made.
When I started and managed to develop the first map and weapon for the game, I released the game on Steam as early access. At the same time, I started to develop a Road Map, which can be seen here.
Take a look on the final game Trailer:
This game was inspired by Killing Floor. I've always liked shooting games and explosions. Other games like DOOM, Serious Sam, Return to Castle of Wolfenstein, Half-Life, Crysis, Duke Nuken, Left4Dead, among many others, fascinate me a lot and have given me many hours of fun.
My name is Rodrigo Banzato and I hope to encourage and motivate other developers with this post.
It's not just about the money, but about doing what you love and always striving to improve. Different projects also lead me to learn more and expand my perception regarding art and gaming experience.
An interesting point is that over the years I've learned to deal with defeats, that they are part of the process. But with the experience I have today I can make fewer mistakes, and I want to be able to answer some questions from those who are embarking on this adventure that is developing games. Follow the topics:
Heading #1: What was the biggest challenge?
This is a very common and very broad question, as it can involve many aspects depending on the type of game we are making. I graduated in design in 2002 and have always been able to work on different projects, whether in animation, modeling, games, films, etc. This gave me a very good foundation to be able to create my projects today with more ease and tranquility.
But let's pay specific attention to Cyborg3003 and the Rodrigo from today, this is my fourth game project, in addition to the other projects I participate in. I could clearly say that in terms of production, the development of characters, weapons and scenarios is something that takes time, as well as animations, code, sound effects, visual effects, etc.
Images from Cyborg3003:
In other words, everything has its complexity and from the moment you learn to love each part, everything becomes easier and the difficulty is racing against time, developing everything that is needed, within the planned schedule. This is something that I consider very important, planning is the basis.
As I said before, with my experience, I was able to handle several aspects of production, working in my spare time and enjoying the process. But today, for beginners, we have a huge library of materials that can be purchased for production, which makes the life of the independent developer much easier, especially for those who are just starting out.
Heading #2: What was the biggest reward?
Without a shadow of a doubt, experience is what drives me forward, always wanting to explore new horizons, with the vision and total desire to be part of increasingly bigger and better projects.
In many moments, I was able to see that the real reward is not in the money, but in doing what you love and being recognized for it. The feedback and support during the process, the friends we make along the way, the professional and human enrichment we acquire are the best reward.
It is through this reward that we can see the graph of where we were in the past and where we are today. But never try to take a step bigger than you can handle, because everything takes time and only time will make you someone capable and expert in what you do.
Heading #3: What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out in game development?
Take as many courses as possible to expand your knowledge, meet as many professionals as possible, be present and appreciate the work of all developers, because just like you, they were once learning and you can always learn something new from anyone, from the most inexperienced to the most experienced.
Be grateful for each step, offer to work for free for a period of time, to gain experience and get to know people.
Be correct, be patient, be cold and realistic at the right times. Don't take everything literally, make your own reflections, professional and personal, because the personal part is also important. It's hard to be a good professional when your mind is not well.
Do exercises, they improve your brain's oxygenation. Don't create big barriers, create small initial barriers, which you can overcome.
And remember something VERY important... it's STEP BY STEP. That's where the success you seek lies!
Eternally grateful to my family, friends and Ayrton Senna, who always gave me good vibes and inspiration.
Aug 16, 2024
Thanks