245 replies to this topic

[True Valhalla]

I mentioned rather off-handedly in another topic that it is a realistic goal to earn a living with GameMaker. Over the past 3 years I've been trying to do just that, and with the release of GM Studio I've made some real progress that I wanted to share here.

During July 2012, I made over $6000 using GameMaker Studio.
During August 2012, I made over $7000 using GameMaker Studio.

HTML5 is my current focus, but iOS and Android have the potential to be just as lucrative as HTML5, and even more so! Angry Birds really could have been made with GameMaker. Earning a living online is certainly no walk in the park....but it is possible, and in this day and age I would hope that more people would give it a shot.

The point of this post is to demonstrate that you don't have to be anything special to make money with GameMaker. I'm just a 19 year old kid with a laptop, after all.

[iceshield]

The point of this post is to demonstrate that you don't have to be anything special to make money with GameMaker. I'm just a 19 year old kid with a laptop, after all.

I'm 19 year old too , but I have a full time job (like most of the people here :D) and I also have to study for college so maybe I'll go from this year . So I don't have time for something else. Like searching for sponsors , talk to them and actually build a game. So for me making games with GM for money is just a dream ...

Keep going , maybe someone will notice you and offer you a real game programmer job at a big game company.

[True Valhalla]

maybe someone will notice you and offer you a real game programmer job at a big game company.

Even if they did, I wouldn't want it

[JacksonYarr]

Hurry up and start your own big game company, then offer us jobs.

[Kinta]

Keep going , maybe someone will notice you and offer you a real game programmer job at a big game company.

Who needs a big company anymore? If TrueValhalla can keep up the momentum, this might get him a greater income than any programmer job would.

I will try to achieve something similar as you when I finish my studies in a few weeks. I'm aiming for the android (and later iOS) market, to be specific. I would love to work as an indie developer, just to be able to create games based on my own ideas (I'm aspring to be a Game Designer one day btw.).

Thanks for the inspiration.

Kinta

[Rusty]

Plus being self employed in this manner means TV can basically select his own working hours and do just about whatever he wants. The advantages to this sort of career have no real end.

[TerraFriedSheep]

Plus being self employed in this manner means TV can basically select his own working hours and do just about whatever he wants. The advantages to this sort of career have no real end.

Doesn't even have to call in sick if he fancies a day off

How long are you spending a day working on all this stuff then TV? And does it still feel like a hobby, or a hobby with added benefits, or just a job? It's great to see how well you are doing with it all- your book looks like a really attractive option to anyone reading this...!

[Mercerenies]

Man that's my dream life. I can only hope I get so lucky by the time I get to your age.

[nujuat]

It's this kind of stuff that really gets me excited, and gets me thinking of the potential of the iOS module in Studio. You see, if my next iOS app is 99c, and gets just HALF the number of downloads that Drawing Galaxy (see my sig) has got durring the first month (which actually just ended today, I think) by the end of the year, well, that's a lot of money when you are my age (16). The stuff that you've done here says that it's possible, and that GMS really is a poweful tool! I really did not realise this a few months ago. Lots of people really are interested in games developed in GameMaker.

But, of course, I don't want to get over excited or I'm sure I'll be disapointed

Anyway, well done!

[True Valhalla]

Plus being self employed in this manner means TV can basically select his own working hours and do just about whatever he wants. The advantages to this sort of career have no real end.

It is pretty amazing. I can sleep in whenever I want, work from the comfort of my home, and do pretty much anything I feel like on any given day. But, the whole setup requires a certain self-discipline as well...I've removed a lot of distractions from my life, and I work 6 days a week. It's not easy by any means.

How long are you spending a day working on all this stuff then TV?

And does it still feel like a hobby, or a hobby with added benefits, or just a job?

It varies on a day-to-day basis. Sometimes I work 10-12 hours, sometimes I just answer a few emails. I was feeling a little stressed lately so I took 4 days off. So I work based on my mood

While I don't feel like this is a hobby anymore, it doesn't really feel like a job either. There are people out there that work 100 times harder than me to earn the same income...however, I treat it as a job to add some validity to my situation.

I still very much enjoy developing games, even if I'm not always working on what I want to be.

[cantavanda]

I started GM when I was 11, I hope I will become very good when I grow up

[Rusty]

Plus being self employed in this manner means TV can basically select his own working hours and do just about whatever he wants. The advantages to this sort of career have no real end.

It is pretty amazing. I can sleep in whenever I want, work from the comfort of my home, and do pretty much anything I feel like on any given day. But, the whole setup requires a certain self-discipline as well...I've removed a lot of distractions from my life, and I work 6 days a week. It's not easy by any means.

It's not easy now, no, but as you get along a bit, with your hard work and effort, you'll get more and more games out that will grant you more and more income. No business is easy on the start up but when it really kicks off you'll be reaping those rewards.

[cantavanda]

True Valhalla isn't doing Game Maker programming fun?

[nujuat]

True Valhalla isn't doing Game Maker programming fun?

There is ALWAYS such thing as too much of a good thing

[Mercerenies]

True Valhalla isn't doing Game Maker programming fun?

There is ALWAYS such thing as too much of a good thing

*Gasp* And you call yourself a programmer!

[OMGCarlos]

I've been freelancing for a few years, doing web development (recently joined a small firm to learn everything I could from the manager).

I don't know how it works in Australia, but in the US freelancers are required to keep track of their own taxes. If they audit you, you'll end up owing a lot (or get fees - or worse - for misleading).

Also, looks like I'm going to be punching you soon keep up the great work!!!

[True Valhalla]

I've been freelancing for a few years, doing web development (recently joined a small firm to learn everything I could from the manager).

I don't know how it works in Australia, but in the US freelancers are required to keep track of their own taxes. If they audit you, you'll end up owing a lot (or get fees - or worse - for misleading).

I'm doing my taxes next month actually. Going through an accountant

Also, looks like I'm going to be punching you soon keep up the great work!!!

Haha, thanks!

[Jobo]

Hurry up and start your own big game company, then offer us jobs.

Hear, hear. Haha.

There are many more ways to go about a GameMaker career - and many different levels of earnings.
The beauty about an independent GameMaker "career" is that you're as lucrative as ever. You work the amount of hours you choose to, when you choose to. You work on the platform you choose to, when you choose to.

GameMaker really does offer a viable solution to an indie career - one True Valhalla has truly discovered in the HTML5 market.

But as fun as the paycheck (usually) is, there is a lot of stress involved from time to time.
And then there's those periods of unemployment... Periods I hope HTML5 will save me from.
Only time will tell!

I'm currently focusing on the Android and iOS area though!
Developing a smash-hit (both gameplay and graphics wise) and it will be free to play for everybody - so I'll inform everyone here of its release, probably.

Keep the updates coming, TV

Edited by Jobo, 22 July 2012 - 02:22 PM.

[theweirdn8]

I'm awaiting for a port of GM to Linux and then I may begin this adventure in GM, right now sticking to C++.

[Terrified Virus]

It really is amazing how you can make so much money with GM. I remember when I was a kid in 3rd grade, and I visioned this happening to me. Hopefully it will, and I will make money with GameMaker, maybe even a lifetime off of it!