What an amazing year it has been, both for Tuts+ and gamedev in general. New business opportunities have appeared in the form of indie-friendly consoles, publishers, stores, and bundles. Technology marches forward at a dizzying pace, with multi-platform game development becoming a viable goal for even the smallest of studios. Bubbles have burst and others have grown to take their place. Success stories abound. There has never been a better time to be a game developer.
The games industry has matured recently. On the way out are AAA spectacles and crunchtime, yet massive blockbusters will continue to dominate the charts long into the future. On the way in are low price (and no price) games you can play everywhere from your tablet to your television. Everybody, from your grandma to your little brother, plays video games now. The future looks bright, and a big part of that optimistic outlook can be found in the new generation of first-time gamedevs.
Whether you're a student with dreams of making the next Minecraft, an ex-AAA industry vet striking out on your own, or a talented gamedev with a day job, there is nothing quite like the games industry. Game development is a career and a hobby. A dream come true and a pipe dream.
This dream (making games for a living) is shared by many, myself included, and one sure way to get there is to continue to build your gamedev skills. Make games, not excuses. Stand on the shoulders of giants, learn from the masters, and then strike out on your own and build your dream game. You can do it.
I'd like to leave you with one request. In this time of reflection - where surely we gamedevs must all feel some degree of grateful disbelief at how lucky we really are, I would like to personally invite you to spread the love. If you're looking for a fantastic, well-established game-industry charity that does wonderful things for kids, then please consider donating to Child's Play Charity. They seek to improve the lives of children in hospitals around the world through the kindness and generosity of the video game industry and the power of play.
On behalf of the game development editors (Michael James Williams and Christer Kaitila) and all of our talented instructors here at Tuts+, thank you for your continued support.