Stuck in game development before I've even got something, would LOVE advise from experienced game developers!
At the end of December, I set out to make my own game. While not my first project, it would be my first in Unity. Previously, I developed a complex, art-heavy mod for Conan Exiles, featuring a music and accessory system. Though I had help with the code, I learned enough to maintain it for years through game updates.
From the start, I had a clear vision: recapturing the magic of Habbo Hotel, a classic 2D isometric browser game. Unsure about multiplayer, I kept the scope small—prioritizing character movement, animations, and a furniture placement system, with farming or quests as future additions.
Despite my love for drawing, I opted for 3D assets with a pixel shader to save time. Having experience with 3D modeling, I created assets and bought ~$20 worth from the Unity store before diving in.
Now, four months in, progress has stalled. Every tutorial I find is outdated, and translating old Unity methods to the new version is frustrating. First-person survival and shooter tutorials don’t align with my isometric needs, and unlike Unreal, where things felt intuitive, Unity feels more complex despite its vast resources.
Currently, I have 3D assets, customizable characters with shapekeys, hair, a clothing set, and some store-bought low-poly assets—but no working movement, animations, or camera. I feel stuck.
I see three paths forward:
- Continue with 3D, hoping I eventually figure it out, risking more months of no progress.
- Convert my 3D assets into 2D sprites, animating them in Blender for a 2D project.
- Go fully 2D, using free assets from Itch.io or the Unity Asset Store to build the base before developing my own style.
I’m open to feedback from experienced developers. Any advice? The one thing I don’t want to do (yet) is give up.