Entitled to any grants/benefits etc?

silk_2

Hi all,

Been working full time since I was 16 (now 34) and thinking of quitting work a while to persue my life goal which is to write computer games, nb. I'm a programmer of 17 years experience.

My OH is earning *just* enough to support us if I do this, and I have rent coming in from a property I have a mortgage on - which covers said mortgage.

Rather than live off beans and toast, I wondered is there anything out there that could help me financially if I wish to pursue this? Any sort of grants for small business ventures, that sort of thing. I doubt I could claim dole if I quit work voluntarilly.

Emmzi

student loan

you do know this is a very competitve field and it pays peanuts?

copa_feela

Emmzi wrote: »

student loan

you do know this is a very competitve field and it pays peanuts?

And something that most people do in their spare time.

Emmzi

and something where you usually get to programme tiny segments not a whole intersting game..

I think as an employee (own company is different) it's one of the duller professions, have you spent a day job shadowing to confirm it is what you want before giving up work?

silk_2

Emmzi wrote: »

student loan

you do know this is a very competitve field and it pays peanuts?

Yup, but it's also a great time to get into it if you know your stuff. Indie gaming scene is hot right now, especially with steamworks and mobile gaming. Also it'll pay whatever I decide to pay myself, which may or may not be peanuts depending how well my games do.

I have some wicked ideas, and I have the skill to make them real.

My only obstacle is that I come home absolutely drained after work every day, and it's really stopping me from getting anywhere.

I have a lot of backup plans if it just doesn't work out, so whilst it's a bit of a gamble there's no chance of me ending up homeless or any such extremity. I just wondered if there's anything out there under the government that can help people looking to do stuff like this.

You mentioned a student loan but I'm not sure it'd be classed as education.

jonsyt

Give this site a look over or give them a ring they should be able to tell you everything you need to know . They help people set up buisnesses and going self employed

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/home

Emmzi

silk wrote: »

You mentioned a student loan but I'm not sure it'd be classed as education.

It will be if you sign yourself up for a qualification in games development, and you may learn something about sales, copyright etc also if you pic the right course. You can do work on your own projects while at uni and won't be so drained. You'll learn stuff to be self employed or an employee and if you do a placement year may make good contacts.

Or...

ask for a 4 day week at work.

or...

ask your local council about what support is on offer to start ups. But you will need a better plan than "wicked ideas." They may have advisors who can help with that.

theoretica

Emmzi's suggestion to see if you could go part time at work seems a good one to me. I know people who started their own businesses by going part time and lowering their hours at work as the self employment took off.

Savvy_Sue

Emmzi wrote: »

Or...

ask for a 4 day week at work.

Which is what DS1 has done: he started writing games at Uni, doing LOTS of weekend competitions etc. Carried on with this after graduating, did a short spell of non-games-related self-employment which wasn't exactly profitable. Then started working for a local company, found he didn't get enough time for game dev and asked to go down to 4 days pw.

I don't know if he'll ever make a living from it (even though his tastes are simple) but he has got one game doing quite well (in indie terms) and others he's written jointly getting reviewed. I keep having "That's my boy!" moments when he posts links to these reviews ...

FWIW he decided not to get a day job working on computer games because he felt he'd lose interest and motivation if he HAD to do it. For him it's the best of both worlds.

silk_2

Ta for the replies all.

I don't think my workplace will do the part time thing but I'll certainly try that as the first port of call. I'd prefer 3 days though, as I want to spend some serious time on game dev (I'm also doing my own graphics and sound). I've saved up quite a bit so will just eat into that a bit if need be.

If it doesn't work out, I'll just go back to doing what I do now. At least I can say I tried.

Savvy_Sue

Where in the UK are you, out of interest? Do you know any of the local indie game developers?