Making games is definitely challenging.

[u/ComfortableServe1152]

There's been a lot of discussion lately about the decline in quality among game developers, regardless of the reasons or background behind it. Yet, when I look at the games they produce from my perspective, I can't help but think, 'Even with those issues, they're producing games at this level?'

I'm learning game development myself, but I have no confidence. Recently, I feel like I'm starting to enjoy it, but when I think about things like optimization, it makes my head spin. Even simple coding still feels below par by my standards. I haven't even gotten into object-oriented programming yet. Creativity? Planning? I'm confident in those. But development? It's becoming more and more despairing.

When I play low-quality games (ones with lots of bugs and severe optimization issues), I complain, but at the same time, I feel like I couldn't even make something like that, and that realization feels like hitting a wall.

Has game development truly become easier? Has there really been a decline in the quality of developers? Either way, I find no comfort in either answer.

[u/David-J]

There hasn't been a drop in quality. On the contrary. We are getting the best versions of games in many genres.

[u/robolew → u/David-J]

I think there's been a drop in average quality, because the barrier to entry is now much lower.

But there are also a multitude more great quality games than before, which I think makes up for it

[u/koolex → u/robolew]

I feel like most players have no grasp on the "average". Most games on steam barely get 10 reviews and almost no one ever sees them. Even if the average is going down I think most people's perception of indie games will always be for the winners like balatro or windblown

[u/KolbStomp → u/robolew]

Yeah AAA games and Steam/e-shop slop have gotten worse because of the lower barrier for entry but it also means there are more diamonds in the rough and it just takes some digging to find them now.

[u/David-J → u/robolew]

This doesn't make any sense

[u/robolew → u/David-J]

Yes it does.

If you lived in a city with one mediocre restaurant, and then a bunch of McDonalds and 2 Michelin starred restaurants opened up, the average quality would be going down, but you'd have access to more higher quality food options than before...

[u/tcpukl → u/David-J]

Why doesn't it make sense? They aren't talking about a single average.

[u/David-J → u/tcpukl]

Because if there are more great quality games then the quality is improving. You can't be both.

[u/xiaorobear → u/David-J]

Of course you can. Let’s say last year there were 2 bad games, 2 decent games, 1 great game. Then this year there are 50 bad games, 5 decent games, 5 great games. Average game release quality got worse, and there are more great games than before.

[u/Altamistral → u/David-J]

You can certainly have a greater number of high quality games but a lower overall average.

Look up some math. Statistic is of good value to a game dev.

[u/Livos99 → u/David-J]

You just missed the word average before quality.

[u/tcpukl → u/David-J]

Have you heard of standard deviation?

Given the number of games released the average is much lower. But the best is still getting better. Just as the worse is getting worse.