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.

🌐YouTube  📸 Instagram

🔗 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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