I just got a bombshell dropped on me when i got in to work this morning.
As some of you may know from my other thread, i've been working on game apps for some time. I've recently finally released my Zombie Crisp game on android after 1.5 years of learning and working.
I'm currently working on the iphone version and also implementing a Global Leaderboard into the game for that extra viral potential. So my hands are pretty full.
But as i said, a goddamn BOMBSHELL has been dropped on me this morning.
I come in and my coworker/business partner/teacher who does in game/promotional artwork for me told me that this guy he knows who's like a business mentor to him as well was playing the game on his android at a board meeting where he was meeting some clients, and apparently everyone started asking about the game and playing it and some app conversation started going on, and now he wants to make my coworker and I an offer to make an app for one of his clients!!!
I even briefly spoke with him on the phone about an hour ago and he was like "I'm currently charging my client 4000$ flat fee for this, but I need you guys to tell me how you're gonna do this, hourly or flat rate"
I just basically said "send us the requirements for the app, we'll make an assessment and get back to you regarding how we can approach this, thanks so much for the opportunity!!!!"
He's like "Oh don't worry this is just the beginning, i got lots more potential clients for you"
Guys I'm feel like i just got dropped into the deep end of the pool, with bricks tied to my feet!
He briefly mentioned the app, something finance related that the client wants to build a business around, and here is where i got some decisions to make and could use some opinions.
The thing is I'm a game developer first, and programmer second. I am NOT a professional programmer, i know my fundamental very well but I'm NO expert on the latest programming languages, libraries, cutting edge methodologies, nor did i need to be to make games(so far at least)
I use Unity3D as my main software, i have also purchased hundreds of dollars worth of plugin assets over the last 1.5 years while developing my game to assist in implementing certain features. I have personally written maybe 2000-3000 lines of code, mostly to create the actual GAMEPLAY in my game, the interactions between objects, simple AI, integration of the plugins into my game,etc etc.
Basically what im saying is I'm reasonably confident in my software environment, making casual games, but making a finance app is a COMPLETELY different type of beast, if i can't use my Unity3D software for it.
However I may have a solution. I'm really considering outsourcing as a viable option here for the following reasons.
1) I have a computer engineering degree, I have taken a course on software development and have created Use Case descriptions, technical requirement document, business requirement document, that kind of stuff.
2) I can think from the perspective of programmers since i have created my own programs, and i'm confident i can do a good job of clearly explaining the requirements of the app to outsourced workers.
3) FASTLANE! if i have to learn to code all these apps myself, then even if i earn enough to quit my day job, it will be replaced with a WAY MORE STRESSFUL coding job for clients. If i get proficient at outsourcing this stuff, I'll have the awesome position of MIDDLEMAN! I've always had pretty great people skills, and i've always had the introverted technical side as well. I really think I can do a great job at this!
But yea... as you guys can see my relatively calm morning just turned into a raging storm in my mind... talk about potentially life changing event. I have a good thing going for me, having a pretty low stress job with internet access and my Unity3d program installed on the work computer so i can work on my games at work and at home, maximizing my productivity.
I REALLY don't want to become a full time coder making big time apps for companies, i know fastlane means you fullfill NEEDS and not do what you're passionate about, but even when i make games there are many things I'm not passionate about like social features, performance optimizations, texture formats, etc, but i do these things because they're necessary. I'm not exactly passionate about outsourcing stuff either, but I really feel like i can do a good job, and that's what gets me excited at the whole prospect of it.
The big question would be price. I know on elance(or upwork now) even basic apps can cost around 2000 dollars to make, im thinking that since we're so new, even if I have to pay extra money out of my own pocket to get this app made, it'll be worth it long term since I'm building business relationships and experience in outsourcing. This feels like TRUE fastlane to me.
ANY OPINIONS?
I love you guys because you're all so candid.
As some of you may know from my other thread, i've been working on game apps for some time. I've recently finally released my Zombie Crisp game on android after 1.5 years of learning and working.
I'm currently working on the iphone version and also implementing a Global Leaderboard into the game for that extra viral potential. So my hands are pretty full.
But as i said, a goddamn BOMBSHELL has been dropped on me this morning.
I come in and my coworker/business partner/teacher who does in game/promotional artwork for me told me that this guy he knows who's like a business mentor to him as well was playing the game on his android at a board meeting where he was meeting some clients, and apparently everyone started asking about the game and playing it and some app conversation started going on, and now he wants to make my coworker and I an offer to make an app for one of his clients!!!
I even briefly spoke with him on the phone about an hour ago and he was like "I'm currently charging my client 4000$ flat fee for this, but I need you guys to tell me how you're gonna do this, hourly or flat rate"
I just basically said "send us the requirements for the app, we'll make an assessment and get back to you regarding how we can approach this, thanks so much for the opportunity!!!!"
He's like "Oh don't worry this is just the beginning, i got lots more potential clients for you"
Guys I'm feel like i just got dropped into the deep end of the pool, with bricks tied to my feet!
He briefly mentioned the app, something finance related that the client wants to build a business around, and here is where i got some decisions to make and could use some opinions.
The thing is I'm a game developer first, and programmer second. I am NOT a professional programmer, i know my fundamental very well but I'm NO expert on the latest programming languages, libraries, cutting edge methodologies, nor did i need to be to make games(so far at least)
I use Unity3D as my main software, i have also purchased hundreds of dollars worth of plugin assets over the last 1.5 years while developing my game to assist in implementing certain features. I have personally written maybe 2000-3000 lines of code, mostly to create the actual GAMEPLAY in my game, the interactions between objects, simple AI, integration of the plugins into my game,etc etc.
Basically what im saying is I'm reasonably confident in my software environment, making casual games, but making a finance app is a COMPLETELY different type of beast, if i can't use my Unity3D software for it.
However I may have a solution. I'm really considering outsourcing as a viable option here for the following reasons.
1) I have a computer engineering degree, I have taken a course on software development and have created Use Case descriptions, technical requirement document, business requirement document, that kind of stuff.
2) I can think from the perspective of programmers since i have created my own programs, and i'm confident i can do a good job of clearly explaining the requirements of the app to outsourced workers.
3) FASTLANE! if i have to learn to code all these apps myself, then even if i earn enough to quit my day job, it will be replaced with a WAY MORE STRESSFUL coding job for clients. If i get proficient at outsourcing this stuff, I'll have the awesome position of MIDDLEMAN! I've always had pretty great people skills, and i've always had the introverted technical side as well. I really think I can do a great job at this!
But yea... as you guys can see my relatively calm morning just turned into a raging storm in my mind... talk about potentially life changing event. I have a good thing going for me, having a pretty low stress job with internet access and my Unity3d program installed on the work computer so i can work on my games at work and at home, maximizing my productivity.
I REALLY don't want to become a full time coder making big time apps for companies, i know fastlane means you fullfill NEEDS and not do what you're passionate about, but even when i make games there are many things I'm not passionate about like social features, performance optimizations, texture formats, etc, but i do these things because they're necessary. I'm not exactly passionate about outsourcing stuff either, but I really feel like i can do a good job, and that's what gets me excited at the whole prospect of it.
The big question would be price. I know on elance(or upwork now) even basic apps can cost around 2000 dollars to make, im thinking that since we're so new, even if I have to pay extra money out of my own pocket to get this app made, it'll be worth it long term since I'm building business relationships and experience in outsourcing. This feels like TRUE fastlane to me.
ANY OPINIONS?
I love you guys because you're all so candid.
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