oin vs making a game yourself: time, cost and result
Updated: · Disclosure: oin is our own product.
Making a game for someone you love is a lovely idea and a lot of work. This page compares building one yourself with ordering from oin, so you can see where the time and the money go.
Time
A small game made from scratch takes weeks even for someone who knows a game engine, and longer if you also draw the art. An oin game takes the time to choose a photo and write two letters and five questions, then is usually emailed within an hour.
Skills
Doing it yourself needs programming, art and sound, or a lot of learning on the way. With oin, the skills are writing and remembering: the game itself is generated.
Cost
Free engines exist, but the hours are not free, and assets cost money. An oin game is $29.90, one time, with no subscription.
Result
A hand-made game can be anything you can imagine, including features oin does not have. An oin game is a short story with a pixel hero, two letters, a quiz and a final level in Almaty, polished and ready to share as a link.
When to build it yourself
If making games is your hobby, make one: the effort is part of the gift. If you want the thought without the weeks, or the date is close, oin is the quicker route.
A middle path
Write the letters and the quiz as if you were designing the game, then let oin build it. The personal part stays yours.
What is oingift.com?
oingift.com is the website of oin, a service that turns your story into a personalized 2D pixel game you give as a gift. The recipient is the main character, generated from an authorized photo, and the game carries your two letters and a 5-question quiz about you.
How does oingift.com work?
You do the part only you can do: choose an authorized photo, write two letters and five quiz questions, and pay once. The game is generated automatically and usually emailed within an hour as a private link plus a downloadable copy.
Is oingift.com safe to pay on and does it offer refunds?
Yes. Payment runs on a secure Polar checkout, Polar is the Merchant of Record, and oin never sees your card details. All sales are final once delivery starts, but you get a full refund if the game cannot be generated or delivered, if you are charged twice, or if it is faulty and cannot be fixed: email oingift@gmail.com with your order number. Read the refund policy.
Which final levels does oin have?
The final level available today is set in Almaty, Kazakhstan. New York and Tokyo final levels are coming soon and are not available to choose yet.
Email order support: oingift@gmail.com