11 replies to this topic

[Aus]

The past few weeks I've been getting into Python and HTML a lot. I like them because they are easier than other languages I've attempted in the past. Problem is, if I sink several thousand hours into perfecting my Python skills...what do I have to gain from it? I don't plan on joining any big game or software companies ever - programming will always be an independent hobby for me. But if I can't even make a little money off of it I may just drop it for a different language altogether. For example: with flash games you can at least submit them to Newgrounds and Kongregate and other gaming sites and make ad revenue. You can do that with java games on some sites as well. C++ you can make phone apps to sell.....Python doesn't seem to have these opportunities that I know of?

Are any Python game programmers making money off of the games they've made? Any ideas how I can at least make a little profit off of the work I do in this language? I'm thinking long term here. I don't seriously expect to start cranking out AAA games by next month and selling them.

[Servant of the Lord]

The past few weeks I've been getting into Python and HTML a lot. I like them because they are easier than other languages I've attempted in the past. Problem is, if I sink several thousand hours into perfecting my Python skills...what do I have to gain from it?

Knowledge. Skill. Experience.

Knowledge of how software works in general.
Skill in a specific language that is a practical and powerful tool.
Experience seeing your projects through to completion.

For example: with flash games you can at least submit them to Newgrounds and Kongregate and other gaming sites and make ad revenue.

Barely any. You have to really work hard to get even a decent amount from ad revenue, or so I hear.

C++ you can make phone apps to sell.....

Kinda. iPhone uses Objective-C, and Android uses Java. Yes, there is ways of putting C++ code on smartphones, but it's not really the encouraged route. In the same way you can work extra hard to get C++ code to work on smartphones, you could likewise get Python to work on smartphones. But neither C++ nor Python have a pretty "Click to run on iPhone" button.

Python doesn't seem to have these opportunities that I know of?

If it runs on a desktop, you can sell to desktop users. Minecraft could've just as easily been coded in Python. Minecraft made millions before it moved to iOS and Android and XBox Live Arcade. Focus on desktop first.

Also, <insert obligatory comment that Eve Online is made in Python>.

Are any Python game programmers making money off of the games they've made? Any ideas how I can at least make a little profit off of the work I do in this language?

Make a game. Sell it. The largest install base of any console or device ever is the PC - that doesn't mean everyone who owns a PC also plays games, but it means your code works on billions of devices, and your only problem is making something that someone will want to buy, and then marketing it to that someone.

Whatever language you learn, once you master it (10,000 hours or so they say), will help you easily pick up other languages. When you decide to make a product targeting system X, if system X doesn't support Python, you can then take your Python-learned skills and apply them to rapidly learn whatever technology system X does support. Or, using your Python-learned skills, and alot of research and discipline, you can learn how to make system X support Python. But if you are working on a product, you should really focus on the desktop version first.

But your real focus right now should be learning and mastering Python.

[Tom Sloper]

Despite this thread's title, this is not a business post. It's a "from a mercenary perspective, which language/environment should I learn?" Which-language posts belong in For Beginners, so I'm moving this there.

[3Ddreamer]

Hi,

Some people claim to be making some money in the video game genre with little or no investment cost other than their computer, so you might want to look at no cost software alternatives. I expect Python games to increase in number for the next several years and maybe beyond. If an AAA quality popular game made with Python enters the scene in the future, then I will not be surprised.


Clinton

[Shippou]

Python requires wrappers and/or parsers to function outside of the python environment.
The person above me mentioned Eve being coded in Python - they are correct to a point - the game scripts were written in Python, while the engine was written in C.
Just be aware that to create a custom Python program to operate on a phone, or embedded in a web page, your going to have to write or find a parser - usually in C, C++ ( I've seen some Python parsers written in Java )

Edit: If you wish to see games written in PURE Python, please click HERE.

Edited by Shippou, 10 November 2012 - 04:06 PM.

[Aus]

Despite this thread's title, this is not a business post. It's a "from a mercenary perspective, which language/environment should I learn?" Which-language posts belong in For Beginners, so I'm moving this there.

I already picked the language. Regardless of the outcome of this topic I'm sticking with what I picked. I'm looking for a financial goal to aim for. Finances = business. But I wont tell you how to do your job.

Thanks for the posts everyone. Server of the Lord, thank you for the encouragement.

I will be sticking with Python for the long-term and dabble in html for a website I own. I was just curious what money opportunities this language has overall.

[Servant of the Lord]

The person above me mentioned Eve being coded in Python - they are correct to a point - the game scripts were written in Python, while the engine was written in C.

True, but such engines already exist - so a beginner creating general games wouldn't need to touch C for awhile.

The EVE Online client and server was coded in Stackless Python, though the engine may have been written using something else.

[Goran Milovanovic]

Money is poor motivation, as I explain in this post.

[Aus]

I'm not going to try to find your post in a separate thread. Feel free to explain why here.

Money is a great motivator for developing any skill. I've I'm going to spend thousands of hours of my free time perfecting a skill I certainly hope I can generate a little money from it at some point even if that ends up being years down the road. Some people do not need money to motivate them. But I do if I'm planning on sticking with something for the long-haul.

[MrDaaark]

...

Programming is programming. No matter what language you use, you are becoming a better programmer and gaining experience. If you outgrow Python, or want to try something different, you can easily move from python to another language afterwards, and you'll only have to learn a few different rule and syntax changes.

The basics of programming don't change much. It's all memory management and flow control statements, to express an idea. You allocate some memory, you fill it with meaningful data, then you use loops to process it and hopefully get meaningful results. You only need to learn to program once. After that, you just learn languages.

Python is a very popular scripting language. It is used to script programs like Blender, 3DS Max, and the game engines Panda3D and Unity3D (a variant called Boo).

[jbadams]

I'm not going to try to find your post in a separate thread.

He linked directly to it.

[stevo58]

I notice you stated you liked working with Python and HTML, so why not make a webpage? You can also generate an income with a webpage, with ads, games, selling... You can also program webpages in python/HTML, example using django web framework. You could even program games for the browser using javascript.

Sometimes it's a hit or miss, you either make money or you don't. Then you might look into developing something new, but it will probably be better then the last project because you will have more experience.

Python is more of a scripting language then anything. It's commonly used with other languages. As someone else stated you could also use pygame, or even use python with OpenGL and write the entire game in pure python.

C# is also a good candidate to make games at a faster pace. Easy to learn and easy to work with but limited on the platforms.

If you have a good idea, some good progress and you feel you need some money, well you could always start a campaign for funds example indiegogo.com, kickstarter.com.... are great sites where you could start a campaign, tell others about your ideas. If people like your idea then you will probably get a bunch of donations.

You might even want to look into working with a team(independent small company or just people like your self who want to do this on the side).

Honestly there are tones of possibilities out there, you just need to find what works for you, and have an end goal. Games take time and dedication!