From Laid off to CEO: Building a Multi-Million Dollar Software Company [Progress Thread]

[EmotionEngine]

02/24/24 Update #4
My mobile game project is slowly making progress. I recently achieved some major wins with user input functionality working for mobile devices and game state transitions. Most of the art is still placeholder, and the first-time opening cinematic scene is empty. The title screen is just black with two buttons to either start or resume the game, no sound effects or music. The list goes on… With a ton of work remaining, I estimate that I'm currently around 10-15% complete.

However, I'm facing a difficult decisions. I am unemployed, actively searching for, and applying for positions in the tech industry. (This is important, as not doing so could lead to potential consequences with the state.) My apartment lease is ending soon, and I'm planning to renew it for a short term of 6-7 months. After that I may make a pilgrimage and move to a new area. Maybe Phoenix or Austin. We’ll see.

It’s getting to that point where winning is necessary. I do my best work when my back is against the wall anyway. Based on my budget and planning, I’ll need to complete the game by the end of May. My unemployment benefits will end shortly after and I’ll begin to burn through my savings. I could end up being broke and homeless If I'm not careful.

Up Next:

• More art: This includes backgrounds, time-of-day variations, and general art and animation for other game objects.
• Game logic and event system programming: The main game loop and triggers need to be programmed.
• Sound and music integration: Start incorporating sound effects from a sound library and explore music licensing options from the asset library I have access to. I wrote the audio manager code already. Just have to plug stuff in and hook events and sound file references.

 

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[Goldman21]

After nearly four years of service at a software company trying to go all in on the crypto gaming space, I was laid off today, right before Christmas with a weak severance package.

This turn of events has kickstarted my move to creating a multi-million dollar game company with just $5,000 of start-up capital. I'm a reflective and sentimental person, and I know that I could never live with the regret of not having taken this chance. Also, I cannot and will not go back to working for folks that do this to people!

I will be documenting this journey here, sharing my milestones and failures periodically so that you can see the process unfold. My first project will be a unique puzzle game with a captivating theme and a surprising twist. Featuring my own artwork, it will combine vibrant 2D sprites with 3D backgrounds to create a visually striking experience. I'm aiming for a 2024 release.

As the sole project owner, I will handle art, design, and programming myself, leveraging my diverse skillset. Music will be licensed, and I will hire contractors for specific tasks as needed. Generative AI will also play a role in development, assisting with code review and providing feedback.

The first steps include forming an LLC, obtaining developer tool licenses, securing trademarks, and designing a logo. I've been contemplating names for this venture for months and have narrowed it down to a few finalists. My goal is to choose a fun and memorable name that resonates with players of all ages.

Plan:
Year 1:

• Make games that people want to play. Create a franchise that becomes a household name.
• Survive by producing value and breaking rules. I have no choice but to win.

Year 2 - 9

• 100+ million units sold of high quality and fun software. $1 billion annual profit. We become a direct competitor to Zynga, Rovio, King. We constantly attack and exploit their weaknesses for massive damage. We’re constantly draining their market shares.
• We employ 200-500 talented artists, programmers and designers. We’re a small group that works well together and gets stuff done. We keep it small to remain flexible and nimble. We never bite off more than we can chew but we also do more than we think.

Year 10

• Exit time. Entered acquisition talks with multiple large software publishers.

Thanks for reading.

I am on the same situation

I worked full-time as an Amazon seller for a clothing company. I have over 10 years of experience selling on Amazon,I used to sell my products before when competition came from China it was hard to get profits. I decided to build my career as a Marketplace specialist. I accepted an offer for $80K and they promised me that I will make more. The company was losing a lot of money the whole year TACoS was 30% and ACoS 45%. Some experts used to run their account before. I am still wondering how this agency still exists and getting clients.

First two months I was analyzing data. They had over 5000 SKU, half FBM. I completely stopped doing FBM and focused on FBA. Sales started picking up slowly with Amazon ads. I hired a good listing developer and we increased the conversion rate of our 50 top best sellers by 15%, it used to be 7%. Then I hired inventory management to do replenishment and other work with inventory.So I had more time to focus on marketing and analytics. I built the whole ecommerce department because there are a lot of ways to grow.

I used my programming skills. I do coding on the side because I love it, it keeps my brain in good shape. I got Amazon Ads API to build and optimize existing campaigns faster. I build 10000 new campaigns with different strategies. One of my tricks for some campaigns I used “of” words: example “of shirt”, “of clothing women” all broad which bring A LOT OF traffic. Everything was perfect. After two months I started optimization for new campaigns and another month hit 15% ACoS and average TACoS was 8% some days we had 4%. We finally increased sales up to 200% and did $5M in revenue.

Everything was working as a clock, and one beautiful day, not beautiful anymore, the CEO told me that they don’t need my work anymore, you did a good job, fixed our company and you can go. I didn't understand, I built the whole system and trained new people. I heard they hired a guy from their community and things went bad again.

I started my agency and now I am Amazon Ads Verified Partner. My service lists are Amazon ads, Google ads, Facebook ads and building custom software for marketplace sellers.

 

[EmotionEngine]

03/16/24 Update #5
Still unemployed, so I'm cranking away on this game while I have the time. A recruiter from a well-known Silicon Valley corporation contacted me, but they ghosted me after the initial interview, even though it went well. To buy myself some time, I also renewed my lease for 3 months. However, unemployment benefits will end soon, and I'll start burning through my savings account. At times, I struggle with anxiety. My application tools are open on my computer, but I find myself staring at their interfaces without taking action. I'm getting much better at tuning out that anxiety now, though.

I've completed the 2D backgrounds for my levels. I had to update them to fit the iPad since they weren't displaying properly on those devices. I've also created two new characters for the game, and I've completed a few animations for both of them. Since this is more of a puzzle-style game, they'll primarily serve as visual indicators. It feels great to have created intellectual property that I own. Sometimes, I surprise myself with what I can accomplish, even though I'm not an expert in art or coding. I'm about intermediate in both, but that's where AI comes in.

Gemini and ChatGPT4 have been crucial to building this game. It's literally like having a free programmer and mentor at my side at an insanely low cost (0.60 cents a day). I write code, submit it into the prompt, and ask questions. It provides feedback and edits, mostly competently, though not perfectly. However, its accuracy is often scary. As most already know, this is changing and will continue to change the world. It's helping me with the code for the game's rule logic.


ChatGPT4 editing my code with ease. Look at it go.

So I have a milestone to report. I got the game running on Android after some trouble. The game transitions smoothly from the temporary company splash screen, to the title screen, and then into the game itself when the user taps the "New Game" button. Touch controls also work within the actual playable game. Holding the game phone in my hand and seeing my art rendered within the game is a wonderful feeling.


Game compiled into an Android package and running on a Samsung Galaxy S23.
Will remove the Unity splash on release. It will go straight to my company name.

Up Next:

• Continue working on main game logic and event handling.

 

[Dushko]

03/16/24 Update #5
Still unemployed, so I'm cranking away on this game while I have the time. A recruiter from a well-known Silicon Valley corporation contacted me, but they ghosted me after the initial interview, even though it went well. To buy myself some time, I also renewed my lease for 3 months. However, unemployment benefits will end soon, and I'll start burning through my savings account. At times, I struggle with anxiety. My application tools are open on my computer, but I find myself staring at their interfaces without taking action. I'm getting much better at tuning out that anxiety now, though.

I've completed the 2D backgrounds for my levels. I had to update them to fit the iPad since they weren't displaying properly on those devices. I've also created two new characters for the game, and I've completed a few animations for both of them. Since this is more of a puzzle-style game, they'll primarily serve as visual indicators. It feels great to have created intellectual property that I own. Sometimes, I surprise myself with what I can accomplish, even though I'm not an expert in art or coding. I'm about intermediate in both, but that's where AI comes in.

Gemini and ChatGPT4 have been crucial to building this game. It's literally like having a free programmer and mentor at my side at an insanely low cost (0.60 cents a day). I write code, submit it into the prompt, and ask questions. It provides feedback and edits, mostly competently, though not perfectly. However, its accuracy is often scary. As most already know, this is changing and will continue to change the world. It's helping me with the code for the game's rule logic.

View attachment 54755
ChatGPT4 editing my code with ease. Look at it go.

So I have a milestone to report. I got the game running on Android after some trouble. The game transitions smoothly from the temporary company splash screen, to the title screen, and then into the game itself when the user taps the "New Game" button. Touch controls also work within the actual playable game. Holding the game phone in my hand and seeing my art rendered within the game is a wonderful feeling.

View attachment 54756
Game compiled into an Android package and running on a Samsung Galaxy S23.
Will remove the Unity splash on release. It will go straight to my company name.

Up Next:

• Continue working on main game logic and event handling.

Thanks for the update.

 

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[cYn]

From a software engineer to another, I wanted to drop by to give advice that I hope is helpful.

Focus on the core (game play) instead of peripheral aspects like artwork and sound.

If I'm to build a plane, I need to first build the engine/propeller. Get it to fly even for a few feet, then iterate on the flight. Ultimately, get it to land. Then I will focus on building seats, lavatories, overhead bins, etc.

With your game, it sounds like you already have the engine. Now let's focus on the game play (flight). Don't worry about physics or animations, work on raw game play spawned from the idea in your head. Then, work on the terminal state (landing) of the game. What does it look and feel like, for your customer to reach the end?

That's it. If you have prototype it's easier to know if you're on the right track and if it's something your customer wants. You're not in the business to sell background artwork or sound effects, it's game play. Focus on the core first and the fun parts (polishing) will come.

 

[EmotionEngine]

From a software engineer to another, I wanted to drop by to give advice that I hope is helpful.

Focus on the core (game play) instead of peripheral aspects like artwork and sound.

If I'm to build a plane, I need to first build the engine/propeller. Get it to fly even for a few feet, then iterate on the flight. Ultimately, get it to land. Then I will focus on building seats, lavatories, overhead bins, etc.

With your game, it sounds like you already have the engine. Now let's focus on the game play (flight). Don't worry about physics or animations, work on raw game play spawned from the idea in your head. Then, work on the terminal state (landing) of the game. What does it look and feel like, for your customer to reach the end?

That's it. If you have prototype it's easier to know if you're on the right track and if it's something your customer wants. You're not in the business to sell background artwork or sound effects, it's game play. Focus on the core first and the fun parts (polishing) will come.

Bad analogy considering you need seats to fly a plane. Anyhow, I do know that. Since I'm also the principal artist as well as the programmer and designer, sometimes I'd rather draw and animate then code. If I'm not in a mental place to code I don't do it. Also, I do not finalize artwork until the end. (For example my first time user cinematic is not even in. It's a green screen.) Doing this at times also gives me ideas when I go to write code later.

 

[cYn]

Bad analogy considering you need seats to fly a plane. Anyhow, I do know that. Since I'm also the principal artist as well as the programmer and designer, sometimes I'd rather draw and animate then code. If I'm not in a mental place to code I don't do it. Also, I do not finalize artwork until the end. It also gives me ideas when I go to add more to core game logic.

All the best to you man

It's a wild job market right now in our industry.

 

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[EmotionEngine]

04/10/24 Update #6
This update has two sections.

1. I’ve made huge progress on my game. The core logic is mostly complete. ChatGPT was so amazing with assistance and helping me get over some technical hurdles. After much back and forth and code editing, I was able to create some great algorithms for my game which does everything from sorting and placing objects in unique shapes without overlapping. It’s a monster 295 line .cs file with 6 algorithms, in the form of class methods. I can invoke them and they produce a chain reaction with desired output for the game screen.

The game design is very modular for getting levels built. I can pass inputs programmatically and have levels be created with a configuration of my choosing. The code is written in a way that each level adheres to rules but every level is dynamic. For example you can play level 1 over and over and it will be different each time. The game will have over 180 levels that operate this way. All this would have taken forever by myself. If you have a solid intermediate foundation of coding experience, ChatGPT makes you an expert because you have the software design principles AND you know what to properly prompt it. I can’t imagine what it does for already expert coders.

I’ve also created a bunch of new art for the game. The player now has health that displays and it’s fully functional. The title screen minus the logo is fully complete along with the backgrounds for the levels which are reused throughout. A music composer has been hired to work on the soundtrack. This individual is very talented and all I’m doing is guiding them on how the music should be structured for a mobile puzzle game like this. Overall, I'd say the game was 25% complete on my last post, then it's about 40%+ now.

2. I was contacted in March by a recruiter from a well-beloved software company and they wanted me to interview. I actually couldn’t believe it. So far I’ve passed multiple stages of interviews. I’m now in a weird position. Since I’m unemployed and it’s ending soon, I need a job. This one pays very well and more than my previous one. This leaves me at a fork in the road. Go all in and continue working on my game or go back to the 9 to 5 matrix. I may have to go back because I fear the possible event of my game not doing well and still remain unemployed. This company also has a policy where you can't develop and sell products for others while employed. If I don’t pass the final interviews then it would be business as usual and I can continue building my product and carry out the company formation.



*Those who have seen the Matrix movie will understand this photo...

 

[Bekit]

This company also has a policy where you can't develop and sell products for others while employed. If I don’t pass the final interviews then it would be business as usual and I can continue building my product and carry out the company formation.

Can you negotiate that?

Sure they have a policy. But if they like you and extend a job offer, would you be able to say, "Hey can we modify this clause so that I can continue to work on the side on my own private passion project that I might want to sell one day?"

Congrats on the development progress and on the promising interview!

 

[Bounce Back]

Can you negotiate that?

Sure they have a policy. But if they like you and extend a job offer, would you be able to say, "Hey can we modify this clause so that I can continue to work on the side on my own private passion project that I might want to sell one day?"

Congrats on the development progress and on the promising interview!

I've been able to do this at each company I've worked at with no problem. Even "big" tech. Worth a shot.

 

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[EmotionEngine]

I've been able to do this at each company I've worked at with no problem. Even "big" tech. Worth a shot.

It's a big boy for sure. I'll give it a try if I reach the offer stage.