[JKCalhoun]

> The #1 tip though is that you're writing a game, or an engine, not both.

Not sure I agree. I have always done both.

Ostensibly I am writing a game but not using someone's engine. And then my own "engine" comes out of the effort.

Then I write a second game and pull over the rendering-sound-etc-code from the first game. This "engine" gets further refined as a result of being pressed into service for the new game.

Often it improves with each iteration and I move the newer version back to older games and refactor them as required.