Jenny Jiao Hsia, co-director of the narrative game Consume Me, reflects on her decade-long journey creating an award-winning indie title with limited resources. In this candid microtalk from the D.I.C.E. Summit, she shares five practical lessons learned through trial and error. She emphasizes the critical gap between a functional prototype and a fully realized game, highlighting how maintaining focus and structure is essential for completion. Her insights reveal that consistent discipline often outweighs fleeting inspiration, and that small teams can lead to overwhelming workloads, especially when roles remain undefined or unacknowledged.
The talk also explores the emotional toll of long-term creative projects, where passion can blur into burnout. Hsia discusses how the initial excitement of building something meaningful can transform into daily grind, particularly without clear milestones or support systems. Her reflections serve as both a cautionary note and a guide for aspiring developers navigating the challenges of independent game creation. The presentation underscores the importance of sustainable workflows, realistic expectations, and recognizing the unseen labor behind every finished game.