Project Management & Process
How long do your projects actually take?
Multiply my initial estimate by three, add a month for "unexpected learning opportunities," and you're in the ballpark. I'm getting better at estimating, but optimism is a hard habit to break.
What's the deal with all the unfinished projects?
They're not unfinished - they're "in various stages of completion." Each one taught me something valuable, and several are actively being worked on. The rest are patiently waiting for their turn in the queue.
Do you ever actually finish anything?
Yes! The modular kitchen organizers are done and actually in use. The MTG tracker MVP works. I just tend to have more ideas than hours in the day, which I'm told is better than the alternative.
Technical & Skills
What's your development setup?
A mix of VS Code, Unity, and whatever terminal I haven't accidentally closed. I'm a mechanical engineer who learned to code, so my setup is practical rather than aesthetic.
How did you learn game development without formal training?
YouTube tutorials, documentation rabbit holes, a lot of trial and error, and the stubborn refusal to accept "you can't do that" as a final answer. It's the engineering approach: break the problem down, solve each piece, and try not to cry when they don't fit together.
What's the hardest part about transitioning from hardware to software?
Hardware gives you immediate, tangible feedback - you can see and touch what you're building. Software bugs are invisible gremlins that only appear when you're trying to demo something. The debugging mindset transfers well, though.
Work & Life Balance
How do you balance your day job with side projects?
Carefully, and not always successfully. I dedicate evenings and weekends to personal projects, with the understanding that some weeks the day job wins. The key is consistency over intensity - even an hour of progress is still progress.
How do you avoid burnout?
By accepting that not every evening needs to be productive and that playing games counts as "research" when you're a game developer. Also, switching between different types of projects helps keep things fresh.
Business & Collaboration
Are you looking for collaborators?
Always open to it, especially for game development. If you've got skills that complement mine (read: art, music, or anything creative), let's talk.
Do you take on client work?
Selectively. If your project is interesting and I can actually help, I'm happy to chat about it. Drop me a line on the contact page.