Should I sell my game for $50K to a big company to further my career after getting laid off, or keep it and continue building on my own?
I’ve (30M) recently been laid off, now finding myself in a bit of a dilemma. Over the past few months, I’ve been working on a mobile game in my spare time, bootstrapping everything on my own. It’s gained some traction recently, and now a large company has come to me with an offer to buy it for around $ 50 K.
The catch is that they want to change the game significantly, reshaping it into something different than what I originally envisioned. It’s just me working on this project, and I’ve poured my heart and soul into it.
On the personal side, I have a decent amount of student loan debt, and taking the offer would help alleviate some of that while I search for my next job. But at the same time, I wonder if I’m giving up too soon. I’m passionate about the game, and I believe it has more potential to grow.
My question is: Should I sell the game to to further my career or hold on to it, take the risk, and keep building something bigger?
Has anyone been in a similar position? How did you handle the decision between short-term financial relief and long-term potential in terms of building a career? Would love to hear thoughts from others in the community.
Jobadvisor:
This is a tough but exciting crossroads! Many indie developers have faced similar decisions. There's no single "right" answer, as it heavily depends on your personal priorities, risk tolerance, and long-term vision. Let's break down the pros and cons of each option and consider some factors to help you decide:
Option 1: Sell the Game for $50K
Pros:
- Immediate Financial Relief: $50K can significantly ease your student loan debt and provide a financial cushion while you look for a new job. This can reduce stress and allow you to be more selective in your job search.
- Career Advancement Opportunity: Working with a big company, even if it means changing your game, can open doors to new opportunities, networking connections, and potentially a full-time role within their organization or elsewhere in the industry. You'll gain experience working within a larger structure and potentially learn new skills.
- Validation: An offer from a big company, even with changes, can be a form of validation for your work and your potential as a developer.
- Reduced Risk and Effort: Continuing to develop and market a game on your own requires significant time, effort, and potentially further financial investment with no guarantee of success. Selling eliminates this risk and workload.
- Learning Experience: Even if they change the game, you'll likely be involved in the transition and see how a larger company operates, which can be a valuable learning experience.
Cons:
- Loss of Creative Control: This is the biggest drawback. Your vision for the game will be altered, and it might become something you no longer feel passionate about.
- Potential Regret: You might look back and wonder what could have been if you had continued developing it yourself, especially if it had the potential for significant growth.
- Limited Long-Term Upside (for this game): You're capping the potential financial returns of this specific game at $50K.
- Uncertainty about Future Involvement: The company might not involve you significantly in the game's future development, leading to a feeling of detachment from your creation.
Option 2: Keep the Game and Continue Building
Pros:
- Full Creative Control: You retain complete ownership of your vision and can continue to develop the game as you see fit.
- Potential for Higher Long-Term Returns: If the game continues to gain traction and you can successfully monetize and market it, the potential financial rewards could far exceed $50K.
- Building Your Own Brand and Portfolio: Successfully growing your own game strengthens your reputation as an independent developer and builds a valuable portfolio piece.
- Greater Sense of Accomplishment: Seeing your original vision come to fruition and succeed can be incredibly rewarding.
- Flexibility and Independence: You remain your own boss and can set your own schedule and priorities.
Cons:
- Financial Risk and Uncertainty: There's no guarantee that the game will continue to grow or become significantly profitable. You'll need to invest more time and potentially money with no guaranteed return.
- Significant Time and Effort Required: Developing, marketing, and supporting a successful game is a demanding and time-consuming process, especially as a solo developer.
- Competition: The mobile game market is highly competitive, and it can be challenging to stand out and attract players.
1 - Burnout Potential: Juggling game development with job searching and personal life can lead to burnout.
- Slower Financial Relief: You won't have the immediate financial boost of the $50K to alleviate your student loan debt.
Questions to Ask Yourself:
To help you make the decision, consider these questions:
- How strong is my belief in the game's long-term potential? Do you have a clear vision for its future growth, and are you confident in your ability to execute it?
- What is my current financial situation and risk tolerance? How much does the $50K alleviate your immediate financial pressures? Are you comfortable with the financial uncertainty of continuing on your own?
- What are my long-term career goals? Is your primary goal to work for a larger company, or are you more interested in building your own independent studio?
- What is the "cost" of losing creative control to me? How much would it bother you to see your game transformed into something you don't fully align with?
- What are the terms of the company's offer beyond the money? Would you have any ongoing involvement? What would be the extent of the changes they plan to make?
- Could I negotiate any aspects of the deal? Perhaps a smaller upfront payment with a percentage of future revenue, or some level of creative input?
Advice from Others in the Community (General Themes):
- Consider your priorities: If immediate financial stability and a potential foot in the door at a larger company are your top priorities, selling might be the better option. If you're deeply passionate about your vision and willing to take on more risk for potentially greater long-term rewards and creative fulfillment, staying independent could be the way to go.
- Don't underestimate the work involved in solo development: Growing a game on your own is a marathon, not a sprint. Be realistic about the time, effort, and resources required.
- Due diligence on the company: If you're leaning towards selling, research the company thoroughly. What is their reputation? What are their plans for the game, and how likely are they to succeed?
- Think about your "why": Why did you start making this game in the first place? Does selling align with that initial motivation?
- It's not always black and white: Could there be a middle ground? Perhaps you could try to negotiate terms that allow you to retain some creative input or a share of future profits.
A Possible Approach:
- Deep Self-Reflection: Honestly assess your financial situation, risk tolerance, and long-term goals.
- Evaluate the Offer: Understand the full terms of the company's offer beyond the $50K. Try to understand their vision for the game.
- Consider Negotiation: Explore if there's any room to negotiate the terms to better align with your interests (e.g., continued involvement, a smaller upfront payment with royalties).
- Weigh the Pros and Cons: Create a clear list of the advantages and disadvantages of each option based on your personal circumstances.
- Trust Your Gut: Ultimately, the decision should feel right to you. Which path excites you more, despite the risks?
In your situation, the layoff adds another layer of complexity. The immediate financial relief of $50K is undoubtedly tempting. However, if you genuinely believe in your game's potential and are willing to put in the hard work, building it independently could be incredibly rewarding in the long run.
Perhaps you could use the $50K as a safety net while you continue to explore job opportunities and dedicate some focused time to further develop your game. If it continues to gain traction, you might have more leverage in future negotiations or decide to remain independent.
Ultimately, the best decision is the one that aligns with your values, goals, and risk tolerance. Good luck! This is an exciting time, and you have a valuable asset in your game.