Why I Start a GameDev Blog at 51 Without Ever Working in the Industry

From Code to Games

I write games for over 35 years. My first ones were written on the C64, then DOS and I also experimented with homebrew SDKs for Gameboy and other consoles. Thesedays I mostly use Gamemaker with a bit of Unity on the side.

I never worked in the gaming industry. But I'm a full-time software developer for almost 30 years. Game development was never a job for me. It's a hobby. Like solving puzzles. Something that helps me unwind after a hard day at work.

Writing Was Always There

Another hobby of mine is writing. I wrote my first articles for my school's pupil magazine; but this is a story for another article. Over the years I kept writing for magazines and other blogs.

These days I write game reviews for a newspaper. They gave me the chance to attend gamescom as a freelance journalist. That's when it occurred to me: it's the right time to start gamedev.wtf, a blog that shows my view on games and game development. Maybe it’ll even help me finish a project or two.

What I Want to Build

I have lots of ideas. What about reimagining a classic 1980s RPG that looks like Ultima, Wizardry or The Bard's Tale, but explores today's technical possibilities. Can modern tools, almost unlimited memory and better input devices capture the charm of these old games while still appealing to a modern audience?

I love to dissect systems. What makes a game playable? How were certain things solved technically? That's the stuff I want to write about. Not in step-by-step tutorials, but from the perspective of a developer with many years of experience.

Who This Blog Is For

Many resources are aimed at novices. I want to offer a different perspective and write for people with years of experience in software development - either professionally or as a hobby - who are curious about getting into game development themselves. At the same time, I want to give younger readers some insight into how "older" gamers think, what they care about, and how they play games.

Why I Chose Blogging

I deliberately decided to write a blog. I prefer reading over watching video tutorials. I find it more efficient and clear. I'm also more flexible when revising my texts, without having to cut, re-record, or render anything. I want to write, not perform.

Looking ahead

Will this blog turn into something more? We'll see. If, six months from now, someone says, "Your articles gave me the final push to start mygame", then it was all worth it. If my content turns out to be good enough I might consider adding a paid option. But in the end it's a hobby. And that's how it should feel.