The term game developer (gamedev) has been overused, misused
and mistreated by many. The same applies for a pixel artist. I am going to
focus on the first term here. What is a game developer? When does one have the
right to be called a game developer? Who gets to call someone a game developer?
Recently, people who install and run any game engine give
themselves the honor of being called game developers. I have even seen some
rookie testers calling themselves game developers. I am calling them rookies
because they only play a beta version and complement it without any knowledge
of the software testing protocols. There are other professional game testers
out there adding so much value to the gamedev industry.
RQ1. (Validity): Does
installing and running an engine make you a gamedev?
RQ2. (Originality):
Does playing around an engine and creating short/test games make you a gamedev?
RQ3. (Identity): Does
every task related to game development considered gamedev?
RQ4. (Stupidity):
Is every artist a gamedev?
If you are able to create a game using an engine specialized
for its genre then you gotta work harder to earn the title gamedev. For
instance, I am currently using Adventure Game Studio (AGS) to create my point
and click adventure games. I refused being called a gamedev for only doing so,
even though I created my graphics and story from scratch. I have to put several
mini-games and “non-adventure gaming material” in between. Simply, using an
engine for a different genre which requires tons of original code. I even reached
a point where I had to edit the engine itself (AGS is open source) to test some
of my custom functions.
Nowadays, game engines attract hobbyists with the most
appealing line: few or no coding knowledge required. This kills the game
development experience instantly. IMO this only creates a game director rather
than a developer. I am now asking all of you hobbyists to edit your profile and
change your gamedevs to game directors! This industry is suffering enough. You
are being an extra burden.
Oh speaking of suffering and burdens, if you’re into gamedev
for the money, I got bad news for you. You can work for years on a game -a
super game in your case, by the time you finally manage to release it, it would
be as old as the mobile device you were using during the time you decided to
purchase the engine you are using. Who is going to buy your old looking game
(assuming during the development time no one else created a better version..)?
A few ‘game director’ friends and/or a couple of people into classics and
near-dead genres?
So basically, you have to know the gaming core mechanics
and be able to manipulate them yourself. Meaning, if the engine you are using
lacks a feature but you managed to include it with your own work (probably
code) then you are on the right path of being a gamedev. If you use a
combination of available features to mimic something your engines lacks, then
you are on the path of a game director.
But no. Something inside me refused the whole background. I was postponing the change because the room has a lot of functions, regions, doors, and a GUI for botany related tasks that allow you to grow different plants... 
The room alone is about 2KLOC but there are extra global functions that adds 500LOC to the sum. A lot had to be changed, coordinates, positions, walkable areas, regions... So I spent the last 3 days working on that. I really hope the new background is considered an improvement.
