Hello, When I played my first PC game, I knew that I wanted to write games as a profession. As of now, I'm doing mostly hobby and spare-time work on solo-projects that I think of. The first problem I have is actually ironic. I started off not knowing how to even get started on a game, so I aquired the necessary knowledge. Now, with the appropriate knowledge, I can't think of a good project to work on. What inspires creativity in your own experiences? The second problem that is a result of the first is keeping motivation positive after deciding on a project. I'll work on a design for a few days and then start programming. After I get it functional (not polished), I just want to start on another project. Show me your wisdom, Oh Game Design forum! [lol] toXic~

If you enjoy doing the programming but not the design, why not sign on as a programmer on someone else's project?

But if you want to try to design something which you will be motivated to work on for a long time, try making a list of all your favorite elements/features of your favorite games.

Quote:

Original post by toXic1337 The second problem that is a result of the first is keeping motivation positive after deciding on a project. I'll work on a design for a few days and then start programming. After I get it functional (not polished), I just want to start on another project.

That is a problem which every indie game developer faces. And there's no easy solution, or at least no solution which works for everyone. What works for me, most of the time, is to have a goal I'm striving for, and not to compromise on that goal. If at the outset I decide my IDE is going to smoothly slide in and out, then it's damn well going to slide in and out smoothly no matter how many hours of debugging it takes to get the last bit of jerkiness out. Compromising on quality helps motivate in the short term, but in the long term your target gets so diminished and battered that it's difficult to keep striving for it. That's just me, though; other developers will have completely different ideas on what the appropriate way to get motivated and stay motivated is.

@sunandshadow:
I've thought about signing on with some other project that I might be interested in, and it's probably a good idea for me to do so regardless. But at the end of the day, if I designed a game that was addictive and fun to play, programmed it, and did everything myself, that would be the best feeling in the world to me. I guess that's my typical American pride or somethin or other.

@Sneftel:
Your explanation describes how I motivate myself almost perfectly. Quality is almost always my first concern when I'm finishing up games. It's just that I get so lazy. Maybe it would be a good idea for me to join up with someone else so I wouldn't get so lazy "working" for myself.

Thanks for the comments guys.

[ADD]

After thinking a while... (this is going to sound so mechanized and cliche)... I want to create something completely new and innovative, and have everyone like it. That's my problem, I'm sure. I can't think of a new innovative game concept. I don't want to make another Mario, another FPS, etc etc. So, my obsession of staying away from genres I suppose in turn keeps me from producing anything of excellent quality.

[/ADD]