A Game Made with Hope

Hi, my name is Vlad. I recently started making a video game for the first time because it was always my dream to create something unique in this world.

It was really exhausting in the first month, especially with finding experienced scripters, sculptors, animators, etc. I had to message a lot of people, review their portfolios, see if they were fit for the position, and agree on a monthly salary. But I finally managed to find a very experienced scripter, and things started to go as planned—or so I thought. I still had to find investors, animators, and sculptors. I messaged hundreds of people, but many didn’t even respond to my messages. I tried to stay calm, work hard, and remain active in the project. At some point, I realized that "teamwork makes the dream work," as I thought about all the companies that wouldn’t exist without collaboration. So, I invited a very good friend of mine to join the project.

He had good ideas, I had good ideas, and together we brainstormed and formed unique concepts that would boost our game’s uniqueness and give us a huge advantage over the existing games on the marketplace. For instance, our game is developing a Co-Op Campaign feature, advanced combat mechanics that simulate how a real gun works, an arcade mode, and other unique mechanics. This partnership also strengthened our friendship, and it became easier for me financially because we started splitting the costs 50/50 to pay the scripter, designers, etc.

However, I realized that if I kept putting more and more money into the project, I would end up broke. So, I started searching for freelancing jobs to make some extra income to fund the project. Things didn’t go as planned at first. I stayed up until 3 or 4 a.m. looking for a job that suited me and paid enough to invest in the game. I constantly reminded myself of the bigger picture. After several restless job-hunting nights, I became an outreacher for some editors. My job was to message people who needed video editing services and agree on prices, deadlines, etc. Things started to improve, and I made around $200 in the first month. However, the income began to decrease over time. I eventually found myself in a situation where I had to ask my partner to cover my share, which made me feel bad about myself. Still, I stayed strong, knowing my friend understood what he was getting into and trusted it was only temporary.

The thing that truly made me feel bad wasn’t asking for help; it was the realization that I couldn’t make enough money from outreaching to start contributing my share again. I feared my friend might end up in the same financial situation, and the project would "die." I decided to keep working for the editors because I didn’t want to let them down, but I also continued searching for other online jobs because freelancing seemed like my only viable option to earn extra income.

Eventually, I found a freelancing job that paid $200 per week. I had to outreach in this job as well, sending products to different people. I kept at it but struggled to secure clients. By January 2025, I was feeling hopeless, but I reminded myself why I started working on the video game and why it meant so much to me. That gave me a morale boost. I worked harder and finally made around $700. However, on January 3rd, the owner of the business told me things weren’t going well, and he had to shut it down. I begged him to stay, but he left anyway. I was devastated and spent the next few days unsure of what to do. Once again, I had to ask my friend to cover my share at the end of the month.

In the meantime, I was also put in charge of managing a group chat. It consumed almost all of my free time, and I wasn’t even paid for it. Eventually, I decided to make a schedule for the group, which made things much easier to handle.

In the following days, I talked to my friend daily about the project—its story, funding, and other details. Suddenly, he started ignoring my calls and texts. When he did respond, he offered no explanation. This went on for a week, and I grew increasingly upset. I finally confronted him about the situation. Initially, we argued, but during the call, I reminded myself why I was making this game. Instead of continuing the argument, I stayed calm and redirected the conversation toward collaboration and brainstorming. We talked it out, and while it was difficult to keep my composure, my hope and determination kept me going.

A few days later, on January 13th, we scheduled a video meeting with the other team members. Instead of turning off my computer happily after the meeting, I turned it off upset because my friend didn’t join and didn’t respond to my messages. Hours later, he called to apologize for missing the meeting. I accepted his apology but told him it would be the last time. I emphasized that the project required attendance at every group call or video meeting. He understood, but I remained upset and told him I wouldn’t forget this "childish" gesture.

The next day, I returned to work after a short vacation. It was really hard, especially with everything that had happened during the break. At first, I couldn’t stop thinking about the project, which caused me to make mistakes I’d never made before. I knew I had to find a way to focus on my work. I started turning off my phone and working for 20 minutes straight, then spending 5 minutes checking on the project. This routine helped me stay present and productive.

Before I share my vision, I want to talk about a doubt I overcame. When I first started making this game, I thought it would be easy. I assumed I just had to find some people, set a monthly payment, and let them work while I focused on my job. But the reality was completely different. It took me ages to find people, and at one point, I was determined to give up. However, I talked myself out of it by thinking about the bigger picture and the potential outcome if I kept working hard. That hope helped me find people for the project, which made me feel proud and happy.

Now, about my vision for 2025. I’m not much of a speech guy, but I’ll try my best. I believe many challenges lie ahead, including financial difficulties. But as long as the flame inside me keeps burning, I will keep trying. I will keep waking up early to go to work, paying for the game, and striving to make this dream a reality. This project is more than just a game; it’s a testament to my creativity and my drive to create something new and meaningful. Even if the game turns out to be a failure, I’ll know deep down that I tried my best. The experience will add to my growth, and I’ll be better prepared for the future. Without taking risks, you’ll never know what changes you need to make or what opportunities await you.

Looking back, I see how far I’ve come since October-November. Back then, I couldn’t have imagined that the game would advance this much. I’ve grown alongside the project, and I look forward to learning even more from this incredible experience.

I’m not attending this competition for myself; I’m attending it to secure funding for my project. The best investment is in yourself and your future. I see the same spark in everyone. Some just need the right tools to ignite it. For me, that spark is "Hope".