"If you're asking for a programmer, without decision making power, who isn't paid, that's not something feasible, and in that case, I'm not interested." This. This right here. This is something that someone should tell them, I was going to say that exact thing too. I feel like this is something that isn't said to beginner game devs enough. If I wanted to start up a barber shop, I do not go to professional, licensed barbers and say "hey, I know you spent years honing your craft and earning your license, but I want you to come work at my shop for free. When you work with me, you do exactly as I say, you're working as an employee, and I decide your hours for you." I see asking anyone in the game dev industry to do work for free the same as dming a commission artist to ask if they will draw something for free or for "exposure". It's ridiculous to ask people who spend a lot of time and money learning how to do something and buying the tools to do that something well, to give up their time to do all this work just so they can get what they want, without giving a single thing in return. It's parasitic, and I wish there were more people like you who would tell these people the truth.