PLEASE START US OFF BY INTRODUCING YOURSELF:


Hi there. I'm Protopop, a solo developer from Montreal, Canada, creating open-world games focused on nature, exploration, and storytelling for mobile, PCs, and Macs.





TELL US ABOUT WILDERLESS.

Wilderless is all about exploration, set in a procedurally generated wilderness with mountains, lakes, forests, and fields. I draw inspiration from exploring open worlds like Skyrim and magical, quirky games like Fable. After releasing two story-based open-world games—Nimian Legends BrightRidge and Nimian Legends Vandgels—I wanted to create a game where even I wouldn't know what lies beyond the next hill. So, I turned to procedural generation, where the game itself creates the world, giving rise to Wilderless.


HOW HAS THE DEVELOPMENT JOURNEY BEEN

Each game teaches me new ways to optimize and improve coding for a better player experience.



WHICH GAME ENGINE DID YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?


I began developing Wilderless around 2018, using the Unity Engine. I've used Unity since version 4 and find its intuitive, component-based systems reminiscent of my early days making Flash games in the 2000s



WHAT'S BEEN YOUR BIGGEST DEVELOPMENT HURDLE SO FAR?

The biggest challenge in game development for me is handling administration and wrangling technology. About 60% of my time is spent implementing and refining ideas, while the rest involves navigating app store deployments, bug fixes, and indie marketing. Releasing a game requires handling less glamorous tasks, but accomplishing them brings great satisfaction.

ADVICE FOR FELLOW DEVS?

For aspiring game developers, my advice is simple: if you want to make a game, start making one. Follow your passion through the challenging stages. Unity, Unreal, and Godot offer excellent free options; try them to find what suits you best. Simplify and clean your game components, building complexity by combining them rather than starting with something overly complex. Changes in a game often affect other parts, so stay flexible and prepared for adjustments.



ANY FINAL THOUGHTS?

I love creating games, and I hope you do too. Seek inspiration from games and experiences you enjoy, and don't hesitate to follow your instincts and try new ideas. Your uniqueness will distinguish your game, just as your personality distinguishes you in the world.

And if you'd like to support indie game developers, consider picking up a copy of Wilderless


-Protopop

❤️

Wilderless

iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wilderless/id1485263737

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Protopop.Wilderless

Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2230220/Wilderless/