My Two Decades on the Virtual Farm: Why It’s Time to Leave the Pigs

For almost twenty years, my entire game development journey has revolved around one central theme: the animal farm. From raising digital pets to managing pig farms, this concept has been my anchor, my testing ground, and my comfort zone. Now, as a solo developer, I’m looking back at this long, strange trip from 2005 to 2024, and realizing it’s time to change the scenery.

The 20-Year Evolution of the Virtual Farm

It’s astonishing how long I’ve stuck with the farm theme. This wasn’t just one project; it was a constant evolution across multiple platforms and technologies:

• The College Years (2005+): My earliest attempts were simple pet and farm simulators made with Visual Basic and later Java. These were purely learning exercises, but the theme was already set.

• The Mobile Experiment: I even created a version for iOS, trying to figure out the challenges of the mobile market.

• The Steam Ambitions: Most recently, I developed two separate versions of the farm/pet-raising concept for the Steam platform, hoping to finally get a commercial release right.

Across more than five distinct projects, the theme of animal care and farming has been the only constant.

The Evolution of a Solo Developer

This singular focus wasn't a limitation; it was a structure that allowed my skill set to evolve gradually. I was essentially "slowly graduating" from the college of animal farm development.

Every project taught me something new, often forcing me to learn a skill from scratch:

• 2005–2010: Focused heavily on Programming and the basic logic of game loops.

• 2011–2018: Added basic Drawing and 2D asset creation to give my games a more personal look.

• 2019–2024: Dedicated time to learning 3D Modeling and refining my approach to Game Design.

The success wasn't in the finished product, but in the accumulated skill. However, that skill set has been molded by the gentle, repetitive nature of a farm simulator.

Time for a New Horizon

Twenty years is a long time to stick with one topic. All those past iterations—all those versions of the same game—have finally led me to a critical conclusion: It is time for a change.

I have learned programming, modeling, and design. I have my own skills and a unique perspective forged by two decades of persistence. Now, I need a new canvas that truly challenges this accumulated knowledge and pushes me to create something fresh and invigorating.

The farm has served its purpose. It was the perfect place to grow my skills, but the time has come to apply them to something completely new. I’m ready to leave the fence posts behind and explore a new world.

Stay tuned for my next post where I’ll reveal what this new direction looks like!