blitzkrieg wrote:
Even if a person knows how to code a game, it will probably only be a rudimentary game since mainstream type games that are playable on consoles or PC's tend to have bigger budgets and lots of manpower to make them, relative to a single individual doing it as a hobby.
This is generally the case, I'd agree. I spent a few years planning the game in detail before I sat down and started working on it. And I've probably spent close to 5000 hours actually developing it so far. That's using mostly pre-made or edited versions of existing models, royalty free music, AI voices, and Chat-GPT for the writing. I'm lucky that I can do the other stuff myself. I'm also very lucky that I had no clue how much work would be involved when I began and in hindsight would never have done this otherwise!
But now I'm part way through and can't really stop. I'm obssessed with it!
Other than the combat system and saving (which both need an overhaul, as I'm not happy with them), the main functionality is mostly complete. It's just a case of expanding the level maps, adding more quest content (character models, animation, writing, voices), and then just improving things like the art on button icons, menu backgrounds, the playing cards, etc (which I'll leave until last).
If I can get the funding, then I can hire professionals to spend 6 months polishing everything to AAA standard. But at minimum, it'll be a playable RPG (co-op later on). So it is possible to (mostly) solo-dev a complete game if you have the time/skills/ignorance. But not sensible if you want any sort of a life for 5+ years!