For me, the term “game dev” means so much more than just programming. It encompasses everything in the development of the game, from writing to lighting to acting to art and everything in between.
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I would propose that a gamedev can either create a game independently or contribute to one of the aspects of the development process in a gamedev company (code, art, sound, writing, design, marketing, testing, etc).
No matter the size of the team, the same things have to be done to ship a game.
It seems like that’s not the case for everybody, tho. A lot of folx even seem to feel excluded by the term. I called it the Game Dev feed, but I was using *my* definition of game dev. I’d love to see it contain every aspect of making games.
Gatekeeping game dev as a term always strikes me as pointlessly shitty. The people I see doing it most are either Gamers™️ or programmers with a god complex.
That’s odd that folks feel excluded by that because the discussion around game dev I’ve heard was that it was the preferred term for ‘everyone who worked on a game’ I hadn’t heard people say there was another broader term.
That's fair, but I also try not to discount it when folx that should be included feel like they aren't. I've mostly heard from writers, but there were some other non-programmer folx that have said the same.
Is there a better term that folx use to encompass all the parts of making a game? And what terms should I add to the filter so we can include more of the non-programming folx? Common hashtags would be *awesome.*
In my mind it includes everyone. At least everyone who touches the game during development in some way. What about marketing and SM? I’d say yes, since without them, no one would see the game, and no money for the next one.
I think marketing is a fine line. I'd be down to include marketing folx talking about marketing from a "doing the stuff" perspective. I'd rather include actual marketing ("Check out our new game, Tales from the Donkey Rapture XVI!") on its own feed. FWIW, I'd be happy to host that feed, too. 😝
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No matter the size of the team, the same things have to be done to ship a game.
"If you aren't touching code or an engine, you aren't gamedev." But with vitriol.
Even the people cleaning an office contribute.
Someone should hand out pamphlets! "It's a miracle any game gets made and treat people with kindness."