Game Plan
It's been a while since my last post, so by now I like to imagine you're wondering where I've been and what I've been up to. Since we only care about my developer-related activities, the answer is a resounding 'not a whole lot'. While I haven't been doing much in the way of programming, there have been some fun goings-on's in the past month or so. For instance, I built my first ever PC, and getting it up and running was a really awesome experience. But that's not why you're here, so let's talk about game development or something.
In my last post I cancelled my latest project, 2DF, and since then, I really haven't been working on much. I was in a bit of a slump towards the end of the project's lifespan and need to take a step away for a bit. Not to mention, when you go to work at dawn and spend your day in a room with no windows until the sun goes down, you really start to appreciate sunlight (especially during the summer). So I gave myself some time to reassess my goals and figure out how I wanted to move forward.
The main thing I've learned from my last few failed projects is that trying to make full games on my own simply is not working for me. I feel the main reason is that my interest in game development is not actually in making games. I know that sounds weird, so let me explain. Since I started dipping my toes into game development, I never really focused on making games, I typically created individual game systems. Some of my earliest projects include a dungeon generator, aiming/shooting for a side-scroller, and a top-down movement system. They weren't games, they weren't even really playable, but I was always proud of what I accomplished. Sure, I did try creating games along the way, but the only ones I finished were group projects for school or game jams. All this could be attributed to a lack of experience or commitment, but that's not what's important. The point is I keep starting projects, losing steam, and then getting caught between the desire to start something new and the guilt of abandoning another project. It's not productive and I need to play to my strengths and interests.
Ultimately, what I need to do is find my passion again. I need to go back to the days when I would have an idea and fill up several pages in a notebook fleshing it out before taking it to code. It doesn't matter if what I create is impressive or presentable, what matters is that I'm creating and enjoying it. To that end, I'm going to go back to prototyping, experimenting, and just working with stuff I haven't had much experience with. I have come up with a reasonable plan and it has reignited a fire in me. Needless to say, I'm excited. In my next post I will go over my objectives and outline what I will actually be doing and the part this blog will play. Stay tuned for that.