[brudgers]

How should I rethink my problem space

Games are fun problems, not optimization problems.

Also, sunk costs are sunk costs. And often the value from spending money is what you learn, not more money.

I could keep building it myself, although it involves much more than just software hours. There is a huge amount of work that includes 2D/3D art, sound, music, networking, UI, onboarding, testing, etc.

There's a reason triple-A games cost billions. When scope exceeds budget, reducing scope is often better. You can build a bicycle much more readily than you can build an airplane.

[pixelbyindex]

figuring out the bicycle version of a fully featured online multiplayer battle game is the reason I am seeking advice on HN :)

I had not thought about the learning cost of the experience. I have been trying to avoid the sunken cost mindset and looking to wise up before the next round of decisions

[brudgers]

If you start off constructing a bicycle out of bricks, no future design decisions will make it a viable bicycle.

That’s sunk cost.

Under-capitalization is a business architecture akin to a brick bicycle, airplane, etc.