Where to begin? Now that is the question indeed. Well I'm not sure where to begin. You see, I have always worked with a team and have never really done a solo adventure. So I guess I'll go back a little, I went to college to be a graphic designer, but was soon bit by the bug of 2D animation. I shortly went from designing coupon books to creating 2D assets for games. Along the way I picked up a few skills about all aspects of the game development pipeline. During those years I went from contract to contract bouncing around between start-up and indie game studios. That is until I found, NDGO games, a venture start-up between a few awesome individuals and I. That's when I truly found a home in the game dev scene. The long nights and comradery built a solid team that was able to launch 2 games to mobile. Sadly, after five years, with IRL events, lack of experience in running an indie company and dwindling finances able to sustain the growth of the studio we unfortunately had to close the doors. After the emotional roller coaster with NDGO games I decided to take a break from game dev and I pursued other graphic design jobs for steady pay. Though those jobs never scratched that game dev itch. Before I knew it I was older and out of game dev scene, but the passion is still there. So last year I decided to get back into game dev, but where to start? Where's your team? Well you begin by taking steps forward, forging momentum through desire and passion but knowing your limits. Taking the time to understand the lows and inspiring yourself to push past the doubt and frustration that can make you quit. I don't have a team, although I would love to work in that environment again, so for now I'm going at it solo. I thought about it and over the past 5 years trying to collaborate with others where commitment is so casual that party members begin to fade away until the project never manifests. So who says I have to wait for a team just to make games. If you build it they will come, well maybe, if they do they do if not then don't let it hold me back. So having just a little mental fortitude can go along way with this treacherous yet rewarding journey I'm about to take. Yet I need more than mental fortitude to carry me across the finish line. I need skills and I believe I have an above average skill set but o wait I forgot, "I'm a 2D artist...I CAN'T CODE"! Well, that's not entirely true. I do know C#, enough to code basic mechanics but there in lies the problem. If the coding becomes more complex I will need help. So I will have to adapt, become resourceful. Utilizing the tech we have today to gain knowledge from video tutorials, online documentation and reaching out to other game creators. That's where I begin, right there, right where every other strong willed aspiring solo game dev has started. Mentally preparing for the task ahead and acquiring the skill set to pull it off. I have a fire inside, lets see what it can forge.