Sorry your browser is not supported!

You are using an outdated browser that does not support modern web technologies, in order to use this site please update to a new browser.

Browsers supported include Chrome, FireFox, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer 10+ or Microsoft Edge.

Geek Culture / the Game Making 'Blues'

Author
Message
Serge Adjo
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 3rd Aug 2006
Location:
Posted: 21st Jun 2013 11:13
Link
hello, everyone, it is the new, real Serge,

I think I've an interesting thing to post in the Geek Culture forum, ( other boards are support forums but I need a different kind of support )

(note: my language is improving slowly, I still have to learn, I know I'll have to travel one day, I'm eager to be able to speak English fluently & meet good persons...)

So I would like to say I often get the Game making 'blues', feeling a bit sad, I've started working on a indie game project, I was motivated, but now, I call into question the whole project:
-how to not waste my time...?
-I don't know exactly why I do all this coding no more...

I realize something is lacking, I realize that it's hard to make a game alone even if it seems to be exciting/ interesting.

I think it would be regrettable to give up after all these years, trying to build something.

now I know that we all need a "methodology" to achieve a project, I think I never had these methodology, even now and that's the problem...

I think game makers should not rely on their skills, they should learn how to be more productive, in a professional way... I mean they have to learn it at school, during training and not alone even when there are support forums to learn a bit.

do you agree? do you feel this kind of blues sometimes or do u think its not hard to make little indie games ?

thanks,
Back to top
Profile PM
Van B
Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 8th Oct 2002
Location: Sunnyvale
Posted: 21st Jun 2013 12:15
Link
I'm sure every developer on every level feels like this sometimes.

See, I find that the early stages of development are really fun, all the new ideas, new stuff getting added constantly - but then when you come to flesh it out into a game, well it's easy for that to get a bit tedious. It can be a real slog to get a project finished, sometimes it takes more than it's worth - but to give up would mean a lot more wasted time.

It's all about the attitude to the project I think. If your only going by your own instincts, then I can see how it's tricky to get a project completed. If your only wasting your own time, then that's not so bad - it's a lot harder to accept wasting other peoples time. So I would suggest that with a new, or even current project - get someone else involved. Either someone who wants to see your game finished, wants to be part of creating it, wants to be anything to do with it! - if you have even just 1 other person pushing, then it makes it a lot easier. Sometimes all you need is someone asking for the latest version, or giving suggestions for improvements, you don't even need to form a proper team, because that would be a nightmare unless the project is brand new - just someone to bounce ideas around with and test stuff mainly. Even just having a WIP thread here can help - it's something that always helps me stay focused on 1 project.

I got a fever, and the only prescription, is more memes.
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Libervurto
18
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 30th Jun 2006
Location: On Toast
Posted: 21st Jun 2013 13:04
Link
I think there is an internal conflict with hobby coders. We like to try and work things out ourselves, but that means repeating other peoples efforts and mistakes, and it is often a slow way of learning or getting anything done. We have to weigh up our fascination with programming and actually making games!

The difficulty in learning is not acquiring new knowledge but relinquishing the old.
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Benjamin
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 24th Nov 2002
Location: France
Posted: 21st Jun 2013 15:47
Link
Quote: "We like to try and work things out ourselves, but that means repeating other peoples efforts and mistakes, and it is often a slow way of learning or getting anything done."


So true.

"Sideboobs are awesome. Getting punched in the face is not." - Jerico2Day on violence and nudity
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Van B
Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 8th Oct 2002
Location: Sunnyvale
Posted: 21st Jun 2013 16:26
Link
Yup. But then on the flip side, if we actually knew what was involved at the start of the project, we might never start it, let alone finish it . Programmers with a lot of experience have to deal with procrastination instead. I find it's better to just get stuck in and hope you make it out the other side, we never know what we'll learn that way... makes developing much more interesting I think.

I got a fever, and the only prescription, is more memes.
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Kezzla
16
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 21st Aug 2008
Location: Where beer does flow and men chunder
Posted: 21st Jun 2013 16:45
Link
hey mate,
One never progresses without biting off more than one can chew.
The path is not linear.
Just keep that goal in your mind.
break it down, chip away.
The only way you fail is by resigning.
If you need a break then take a break.

My personal programming mantra... if it seems to big or too hard then I need to break down the subroutines and functions.

we all have periods of lethargy, just don't let anything get in your way. In the words of the almighty Happy Gilmore, "just tap it in."

I reduced this post to point form to reduce windbagging.

kezzla

I'm not a complete idiot -- Some parts are just missing.
Back to top
Profile PM
Pincho Paxton
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 8th Dec 2002
Location:
Posted: 21st Jun 2013 17:08
Link
I have a hurdle to program which is imaginary, because once I program I like it, and can't stop. Stupid phobia!

Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Aaron Miller
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 25th Feb 2006
Playing: osu!
Posted: 26th Jun 2013 11:29
Link
Quote: "-how to not waste my time...?
-I don't know exactly why I do all this coding no more..."

I code because it's what I want to do. It makes me happy. It challenges my mind. All I need is sustenance and a compiler (and editor). For me, no time is being wasted when I'm coding. A lot of people use it as a means to an end. I disagree with this type of thinking.

My point is that you should code because you want to, not because you have to.

In the past my main issues with "programming blues" were getting myself stuck into an architecture that I didn't fully think through that didn't handle new situations (or that new situations couldn't be integrated into elegantly).

A lot of people can get into the mindset of "can I do this?" or "will I be able to succeed at this?" That's not the right mindset IMO. Clear your mind of any negative thoughts and think about solving the problems at hand and what the next steps are. Figure out how to make your workload more interesting. If something is tedious and boring, improve it and make it more interesting (as long as you're not diminishing the design/function in the process).

Web - Tweets
“I'm going to punch DXGI in the face. Repeatedly.” ~Aras Pranckevicius
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
greenlig
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 30th Aug 2003
Location: Melbourne
Posted: 26th Jun 2013 16:26
Link
^ This is actually a really good post. Love the last paragraph.

ZacDuff.com
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Chris Tate
DBPro Master
16
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 29th Aug 2008
Location: London, England
Posted: 28th Jun 2013 20:09 Edited at: 28th Jun 2013 20:13
Link
Some of the greatest developers like Notch, and in general, many of the greatest inventors and entrepreneurs started out alone. Looking at what they did and how they achieved things can be motivational.

Striving to enjoy the work, doing things for the sake of fun, exploration and invention; rather than to only finish the job, does help make it a life rather than just a job; it is hard to finish something you don't enjoy working on!
Quote: "
I find it's better to just get stuck in and hope you make it out the other side, we never know what we'll learn that way... makes developing much more interesting I think"


That, and never assume how close you are completion; sometimes what looks like a problem is opportunity to invent.

Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Rick the Programmer
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 23rd Mar 2004
Location: Maryland
Posted: 28th Jun 2013 21:45
Link
I always end up with something like that when I end up on a tangent solving a problem. I spend several weeks working out a kink, then optimizing it, then working out more kinks. By the time I finish the "sub-project," I've lost my focus on the primary project-at-hand. Kinda makes me just want to click on a game icon and be done with it for a few nights.

Try tweaking existing features in your program to invoke the illusion of making progress, then ride the spiral as you get sucked into the next puzzle to reveal itself.

Ask not for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for ye!
Back to top
Profile PM
Burning Feet Man
17
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 4th Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posted: 1st Jul 2013 04:35
Link
Rick, that is exactly the same with me.

Lately, I've been remembering to take a constructive break; go for a walk, or play some Pikmin on the Gamecube.

Help build an online DarkBASIC Professional help archive.
DarkBasic Help Wikia
Back to top
Profile PM Website
Van B
Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 8th Oct 2002
Location: Sunnyvale
Posted: 1st Jul 2013 12:33
Link
Or Harvest Moon

Pikmin2 is a bit too hard for me tho.

I got a fever, and the only prescription, is more memes.
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Back to top

Login to post a reply

Server time is: 2025-05-15 20:20:16
Your offset time is: 2025-05-15 20:20:16