EQUIP STORY IS A nEWSLETTER ABOUT HOW TO MAKE GAME DEVELOPMENT AS FUN AS PLAYING GAMES

◈ Do you feel like your games don’t matter unless they generate money, attention, or both?
◈ Are you making a game and getting frustrated with the development process?
◈ Would you like to go on a journey with me? Are you willing to bring us snacks?

Equip Story is a weekly newsletter where I’m learning how to become a solo game developer for fun and self-fulfillment. Not for profit, to start a studio, or to change the world. By rethinking how I see my own art and its value, I’m hoping to make my life a little nicer.

Once per week, I’ll send you an email documenting my progress as I take on challenging game development projects that excite and even intimidate me. With every post, I hope to take a step away from thinking of game design as solely a tool to earn a living, grow a brand, or receive a round of applause.

I’ll send you my games, development diaries, essays, interviews, and reviews with a purpose: to reclaim my love for the act of game development. I hope to inspire you to do the same with your games, or whatever your art is. Let’s take this journey together. I’m serious about the snacks though.

I’M A PROFESSIONAL GAME DESIGNER SEARCHING FOR CREATIVE FULFILLMENT

Hi, my name is Geoffrey Golden. I’m a game maker, narrative designer, and interactive fiction writer from Los Angeles with over 15 years experience. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a professional writer. Through a mix of hard work and good fortune, I’ve had great success. Past clients include Capcom, Ubisoft, Square Enix, Disney, Gearbox, and indie studios around the world. The games I’ve worked on have won awards, received glowing reviews, and allowed me to earn a living practicing the craft I love. I’m asked to speak at conferences and podcasts. All that good stuff.

But when it comes to my personal projects, which should be my raison d’etre, I have an internal struggle. I’m quick to dismiss game ideas I really want to work on, deep in my soul, because I don’t think they’re commercial enough.

“Is there an audience for this game?”
“Will a publisher buy it?”
“Will it blow up on social media?”
“If not, then why bother?”

I’ve spent my career making money for other people with my craft. When do I get to make the art that excites me and maybe even scares me a little? This newsletter is a kick to my own ass to “Just Do It,” a unique and original phrase I coined for myself just now. 

LET’S FIGURE OUR SHIT OUT TOGETHER

When you subscribe to Equip Story, you won’t get all the answers. I’m not a guru with a self-help book or a 10- week virtual course to sell you. 

What you’ll get is my story, as I learn how to free my art from the cage of capitalism. My process, as I learn how to create and distribute uniquely non-commercial games on micro-budgets. My learnings, as I succeed and stumble to create personal projects in an impersonal world.

I think this journey will be a little less daunting, and a lot more fun, if we go on it together.

Images by pikisuperstar and gstudioimagen1 on Freepik