Automachef: a heartwarming moment

I recently received an email from a fan that touched my heart. A dad shared with me how his kids are big fans of Automachef, so much so that they’ve started designing their own automated kitchens on paper! They placed (or rather, drew) conveyor belts, grills, fryers and more on grid paper before translating their designs into the game. This story was a much needed reminder of the magic of game development and shows how the work we do can ignite imagination and creativity in others.

Game development is all about creating worlds and experiences that inspire and engage people, as much as it is about coding, 3D modeling, audio frameworks, feedback loops and whatnot. And, as I’ve said many times now, I think we shouldn’t underestimate the potential of games to teach, challenge, inspire, and touch lives.

This field is, however, not without its challenges… Far from it! Anyone in the industry can tell you about all the hurdles we face: games that don’t perform as expected, Unity updates that break your project, the constant battle against bugs, and, in the case of us indies, the pressure to wear way too many hats at once. One day you’re a designer, the next you’re troubleshooting code, and another day you’re trying to convince your publisher that the game really doesn’t need a crafting mechanic and battle royale mode.

As a cherry on top, the pressure to meet deadlines can lead to long caffeine-fueled hours and burnout. Sometimes, despite years of hard work, a game may flop, failing to connect with players. These are the realities that every developer knows… And yet we persist! We do so not only out of sheer masochism, but because moments like the one shared by this fan remind us of why we do what we do.

Personally, I love knowing that somewhere out there, tens or hundreds of thousands of people might be playing my games: maybe to relax after a long day, maybe to feel challenged, or maybe just to kill time. And, in all likelihood, some will also find new interests and inspiration through them. Who knows? Perhaps these kids will grow up to be engineers. Or chefs. Or retro-looking robots.

In the end, this is why we love game development, despite its challenges. We do it because of the stories we hear from players, the connections we foster, and the worlds we help create. And every now and then, a heartfelt message from a fan reminds us that it’s all worthwhile.