What drives you to make a game? If it's free, what's the point? If you charge for it, why?

[RCXDan]

What drives you?

Well let's see. There's so many layers as to why I make video games, so I'll just list them out in no particular order:

• I have a story I want to tell, even if it's not something from the original universe I've cultivated for years now. Writing has always been my favorite hobby ever since I was young and I've been working on refining the skill to a razor's edge. This, more than anything else, is the reason I use RPG Maker. Omocat of Omori fame said it best when she said that RPG Maker is a DIY storytelling tool - the engine is my canvas.
  • An important aspect too is that I'm far more of a visual medium person than a textual one. I find it more intuitive to have characters act with body language during a cutscene than having to describe it on paper, essentially.
  • I wanna do a fun twist on a trope.
• I want to make games that have the best versions of the qualities I like in other games, especially in regards to combat and convenience.
• Studying how things work is my favorite past-time, and it gives me endless joy to see my experiments work out. Especially when I accomplish it on my own.
• The idea that I'll have made something worthwhile to other people and something I can be proud of.
• Sometimes someone whose project I like never gets their game off the ground, so to shake off that hollow feeling I use the inspiration I got to make my own spin and keep their idea alive in my own way.

Why do you charge or not charge for your games?

I'd charge as a way to compensate my efforts, but I'm also completely fine with not charging at all.

I don't really make games for monetary gain (that's what my actual future job is for), so it's more about the experience and seeing how different people react to my work than anything else.

 

[Iron_Brew]

I do what I want!

It's that simple - I make my game because I wanna do it. I want a creative outlet, and I love making games.

I am a simple man

 

[RCDunn]

The challenge to actually complete a game is a major driving factor. I'm also hoping to complete a good game that I can be proud to show off to friends and family. So far I think I'm succeeding.

 

[BK-tdm]

Im just making a project to polish my own skills on the things i actually want to go commercial with, my art, so i just use the project as a practice to make assets from sprites with behaviours to busts and facesets, every map and scene is an exercise in the things i wanna sell, my project even if free is a showcase and a fun hobby to practice.

I also like to tell stories even if i cant make a 100% serious story no matter what