I read about the development of Stardew Valley in Blood, Sweat, and Pixels. One guy worked on it for five years straight. I had wondered how he did it. It turned out he worked on it full-time while his girlfriend supported him.
In a way, that’s a harsher existence because he had no breaks from it. But I guess I was hoping to hear about the triumph of part-time persistence, about someone that enjoyed life and fulfilled responsibilities, while making a dream game.