Creating a Role-Playing Game as a Side Hustle
Posted by Mel @ brokeGIRLrich on December 20, 2023
A year and a half ago, a couple of college friends and I began a unique side hustle project. We created and published an exciting role-playing game (RPG) for couples, inspired by RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons, named “The Tavern of Conquests.”
We noticed a gap in the market and decided to fill it, not realizing then how much time and effort it would need. We started in July 2022, and the game was finally ready for sale on Amazon during Black Friday.
You’re probably curious about the costs associated with creating such a game, and the potential earnings. I don’t have many earnings insights yet, but the significant expenses for game development seem to be covered for now.
We’d love to hire an illustrator to enhance the cover and interior, but that’s an expense we can’t afford at the moment. For now, we’ve used AI filters and Adobe Photoshop to modify freely available art.
So far, we’ve made $289.97, split three ways. The hours we’ve spent on this project are too many to count, but we’ve loved every minute of it.
Between us, we took care of the writing, game mechanics development, social media, graphic design, and advertising. And here’s a breakdown of the costs:
– Adobe Suite Subscription: $297.59
– AI Art Subscriptions: $119.88
– Website Fees: $86.71
– Book Proofs: $41.27
– Advertising: $40
– IndieGoGo Fees: $20
– Etsy Clipart: $18.95
– Total: $624.40
So, we’ve got some ways to go before we’re in the green. However, holding a physical copy of something that was just an idea a while back was an incredible experience.
One crucial takeaway so far: a smaller book means higher profits. Sure, some parts of our 215 pages book could’ve been formatted differently or cut out, but we live and learn.
Interestingly, our 18+ game doesn’t pop up easily on Amazon, even when you directly search for “Tavern of Conquests.” So, naturally, our marketing has room for improvement.
Despite these challenges, the most significant work, i.e., creating the game, is done. All that remains is to get the word out. Here’s hoping we can eventually break even!
Stay tuned for future updates on our unique journey of marketing a game like this. Spread the word and if you’re intrigued about the process, you can read more here: (relevant links).