Wayward Realms Console: The Bumpy Road to Game Development

As I reflect on the journey of developing Wayward Realms, a console game, I'm reminded of the numerous pitfalls that we fell into along the way. Our project was born out of love, nostalgia, and a passion for the Elder Scrolls series, with no studio, no structure, and a shoestring budget of $0. While our intentions were pure, we underestimated the complexities of game development and paid the price in terms of time, money, and sanity.

After months of online meetings, weekend flights to plan in person, hundreds of hours of work, and thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses, I ultimately decided to call it quits. Looking back, I realize that our project was doomed from the start due to a lack of experience, resources, and clear direction.

One aspect of our project that still bothers me is the involvement of prominent figures in the gaming community, particularly those with large followings on YouTube. While their enthusiasm for the game was genuine, their involvement created conflicts of interest and raised questions about bias. For instance, when a well-known YouTuber with significant influence over the Elder Scrolls community takes an official position within the development team, it's natural to wonder how their opinions will be influenced by sponsorship deals or other forms of compensation.

Another issue we faced was the Council of Wisdom, which seems designed to give the appearance of taking feedback from the community while actually filtering and silencing dissenting voices. This bureaucratic process is intended to protect the developers' creative vision, but it also stifles constructive criticism and genuine input from fans.

In hindsight, I wish we had approached game development with more caution and a clearer understanding of what was involved. If my experience can serve as a warning to others, perhaps they will avoid some of the same mistakes we made. The story of Wayward Realms is a reminder that game development is a complex, time-consuming, and costly process that requires careful planning, resources, and expertise.

As I look back on our journey, I'm left with a sense of disappointment but also a newfound appreciation for the challenges that developers face when creating games. While it's tempting to idealize the process, it's essential to be realistic about the obstacles that lie ahead. Ultimately, my hope is that future game development projects will learn from our mistakes and approach their endeavors with greater wisdom and caution.

Wayward realms console