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What’s it really like to make games solo? In this episode of the Ready Aim Fire Podcast, Kezia & Tom chat with Ryan Laley, teacher, YouTube content creator and indie dev behind Mimic, a multiplayer survival horror game built for players and streamers.
Ryan reveals how he went from teaching game design (including a member of the Sidemen) to building a thriving YouTube community and now running his one-man studio. We talk about the highs and lows of solo development, coding, art, marketing, late night testing and the surprising ways he keeps the momentum going.
You’ll hear:
- How a hobby project became a full time career
- Why teaching (and even architecture) shaped his process
- Letting fans watch and influence development live
- Building a community on YouTube
- Behind the scenes stories from conventions, Sidemen and Mimic
“I think the number one thing is having an idea that you are interested in first and foremost. Because games take a long time to make and you want to make something that you are interested in. If you don’t have interest in it, then it won’t matter” — Ryan Laley
If you’re curious about indie games, YouTube dev culture, or the future of survival horror, this episode is packed with insights, laughs and inspiration .
🧭 Timestamps:00:00 - Games: Art, Story, & Interaction
06:21 - Balancing Freedom and Responsibility
12:05 - Student Foley Project Success
18:18 - Teaching's Impact: Learning and Explaining
25:25 - Engaging Players in Indie Games
27:23- Game Launch with Diverse Maps
33:11 - Creating a Tactile Game for Son
39:45 - Blueprints: Intense Puzzle Gaming
43:27 - Role of a Game Publisher
51:05 - Passion Essential in Game Development
55:03 - Wholesome Feedback at Game Exhibitions
59:28 - Leveraging Audience to Fund Indie Game
👤 Guest Info:Ryan Laley - Is a notable figure in the game development community, known for his expertise in Unreal Engine. He shares comprehensive tutorials and educational content on YouTube & Twitch, helping thousands of aspiring developers. Ryan is also the founder of Ryan Laley Games and the creator of Mimic, a multiplayer survival horror game built for both players and streamers.
🔗 Resources & Mentions:(chronological order of appearance)
- KSI
- Sidemen
- Unreal Engine
- Mimic
- Ryan Laley Games
- Among Us
- Patreon
- Resident Evil
- Call of Duty
- Twitch
- Steam Deck
- Sony
💬 Quotes:
“I've always said, like, this wasn't my job, it would be my hobby. And it just so happened I fell into a job that pays me to do my hobby, which I feel very blessed.” - Ryan Laley
“When you're a solo developer, you don't want to be in that mind space of like, oh, I can just change things whenever I want, because otherwise you'll get into this pattern of never actually finishing a project.” - Ryan Laley
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🎧 Check Out More ReadyAimFire Episodes:
- Episode 1: Devora Wilde on Lae’zel and Performance in Baldur’s Gate 3
- Episode 2: Michael Geary on Warhammer, Magic, and Mushroom Warriors
- Episode 3: Damien Goodwin on directing Returnal, Helldivers 2 and more
- Episode 4: Doug Cockle on D&D love and voicing Geralt in the Witcher
- Episode 5: Tom McKay & Luke Dale on Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
- Episode 6: Kirsty Gillmore on directing for games including Baldur’s Gate 3
- Episode 7: Hannah Price, Oli Chance, Morgan Rushton & Martin Vaughan on Final Fantasy XVI
- Episode 8: Anthony Howell & Will Porter revisit Alien: Isolation
- Episode 9: Charlotte Mcburney on a Plague Tale
- Episode 10: Inel Tomlinson on voice acting, The First Descendant & Space Marine 2
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