motivation...

General (non-technical) Off-Topic
#1

Hi y’all,
It seems like I have a lot of ideas, but am still learning and not have a lot of time to fully dedicate to this.
What do y’all do to keep motivated to keep going?

As of this writing I’ve only been able to vest around 28 hours into corona/lua and to be honest, getting very disappointing and frustrating that I can’t do more (between day job, weekends, family and other activities, it’s getting very hard to concentrate and am getting very tired of all…feeling like giving up).

Sorry if the post doesn’t apply to anything ‘corona’, but figured someone might shed some light on this new year :wink:

Thanks,
RD [import]uid: 7856 topic_id: 4881 reply_id: 304881[/import]

#2

i’m in the same position, so here’s some ideas…

get some more people involved (designers, writers etc) who would also like to make something. they might give you ideas you hadn’t thought about

ask people what app they’d like to play/use.

set yourself a goal to work towards.

take your time but make small steps towards that goal, even if it’s just separate examples of functionality you can include in your main project later

make small prototypes to see if they are fun/usable etc

play with some other apps/games to see what you like about them, what you don’t like about them, what could be better etc

step away from the computer and sit down with a pen and paper to sketch ideas out

good luck

j
[import]uid: 6645 topic_id: 4881 reply_id: 15717[/import]

#3

Thanks jmp909…so far, that’s what I’ve been doing (that’s why I’m posting constantly under ‘new users start here’ :wink: making small prototypes and trying to learn the language while at the same time always making notes on my phone (voice recordings of ideas and/or sounds)…

I come from gamesalad and the apps I made, sold so bad that doesn’t give me hope regardless of the ‘engine’ I’m using…I know they’re taptards, but I thought that perhaps adding OF or FB might make a difference.

I just wanted to get my money’s worth and that’s why I rush into things…if I knew corona was going to be free to use until I was ready, I wouldn’t have jump so quick to get it while in promo…now I’m faced with only 10 months left and only around 28 hours of small prototypes to show :frowning:

Not sure…still feel lost…perhaps like you mentioned, “ask people what app they’d like to play/use”; I just wanted to do quick knockouts instead of really dedicating the time and see what people liked…graphics are not my forte either so starting all over again might be a good idea…learning code and graphic design might be my goal :wink:

RD [import]uid: 7856 topic_id: 4881 reply_id: 15721[/import]

#4

Hi RD,

first I want you to welcome into the club. I am in the same boat like a lot of family man that have that strange hobby called game dev. And I struggle with the same problem. Not to have enough time on my hands to get things done. But that is simply something you have to accept. One thing you have to ask yourself is if you are focused enough. What I mean with it is that when you develop and work on a project, avoid by all means to be online and surf the net, chat or even participate in forums. This is all time that is taken away from your dev time.

JMP909 said that you might look for other people to work with. I would extend to this to look only for people to work for you. Why? Because if you are in a team, they can certainly expect that you deliver in time. And that seems do be something you have the biggest problem with. Working in a team with your/our real life factors (job, family, etc.) will put a big pressure on you and it will lead into frustration/depression. So only look for people who are helping you. Normally that means that cash is involved so it might be no option at all. So take the time and work on your skills.

A last thing I want to mention is that it seems to me that your biggest motivation to do mobile game dev is money! You read about all these success stories where someone gets thousands for just one game. Sure it happens, but there is no rule to this in the market. If money is the fuel that drives you then you are bound to fail. Because you will get depressed when the money doesn’t come in.

Your motivation should be to finish a game/app, release it and be happy if the people like it. Work on your talents and see how the people react on them. If the money is the only thing that drives you than you might also play the lotterie as the chances are basically the same.
I know quite a few people that make some good pocket money each month. (100-500 dollars each). But they have at last 5-10 titles out and these are all with decent quality visually and game play wise. Each title helps promoting the other one and all together they sum up to this ammount. For making ALOT of money you need great graphics, great gameplay (unique) and ALOT, heck even more luck to cash in.

Cheers
Michael [import]uid: 5712 topic_id: 4881 reply_id: 15728[/import]

#5

Hey RD, thought you’d been a tad quiet of late.

I’ve seen, obviously, a lot of your code and you’ve got great potential - you’re more advanced than I am in a few areas despite the fact this IS my day job.

Stick with it; try and make a little, simple title - maybe a kids app or something related to cooking - they do well, in my experience.

Even just whack together some soundboards to get a few apps up and boost your morale a bit. If you want a “template” to go by, you can use mine. Email me and I’ll send you this one; http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gun-soundboard/id412781581?mt=8&ls=1

It’s basic but it works well :slight_smile:

Anyway, hang in there - the slump will pass.

Peach Xx [import]uid: 10144 topic_id: 4881 reply_id: 15741[/import]

#6

I have to agree with MikeHart here and say that if making money is your only motivator, cut your loses and get out now. There are far more profitable things you can do with your time.

You’ve seen my game. It’s only made around 20 bucks total, which is ridiculous compared to the effort that went into it. But that’s the app store for you. Sure, launching at the heaviest time in the history of the App Store probably didn’t help, but I don’t think I would have made that much more regardless.

The thing is though, that I don’t mind. Sure I was hoping to at least cover the Apple program with the first game, but it’s no big deal. I do this because I love the challenge and seeing my product out there in the hands of players is great (I do have a few thousand users from the free promotion, though it didn’t really increase sales afterwards).

So you have to ask yourself why you’re doing this. If you’re hoping to get rich with quick “taptards” as you put it, then you better save yourself the hassle and stop now. If on the other hand you want to treat it as a hobby, that has a (slim) chance of making you money, then I have a few suggestions.

First and most important. Don’t try to learn everything about Corona and Lua for your first project. Pick something simple enough and concentrate on learning everything you need to get that done. In my game for example I stayed away from physics for this very reason. I have no idea how physics stuff works in Corona, because I didn’t need it. However I mastered the use of frame animations and spritesheets since my game relied on that instead. It’s much easier and less overwhelming if you focus on just a portion of Corona and learn that really well.

Second. In order to keep motivation going you NEED to set some goals (and keep them). In my case I arbitrarily set the end of the year as a deadline. I knew it would be tight, but that I also would be able to keep it if I applied.

Third. If you have a day job, then coding nights and weekends is your only option. This is obviously the most difficult part. You should try to ask for some time out from family to focus on coding. This was easier for me since I don’t have kids. YMMV here.

Also I would stay away from big teams. The project is bound to fail miserably WHEN (not if) one of the members loses interest or has to deal with real life responsibilities. Maybe partner up with an artist. However if all you’re offering is shared profit, they are gonna want to see a compeling portfolio. You should still be able to find someone less experienced willing to help you in order to build a portfolio of their own. [import]uid: 10835 topic_id: 4881 reply_id: 15745[/import]

#7

If I try to learn something new I always try to get a paid project in that field.
The pressure that I have to report to my clients keeps my motivation up.
If I just play around for myself I always get distracted. [import]uid: 4589 topic_id: 4881 reply_id: 15748[/import]

#8

While I see your point I’m not sure a paid project is the way to go in this case.

I for one, with my skill level and the amount of time I can dedicate to development (similar to the OP), wouldn’t feel confortable at all in that situation. What if I can’t deliver? I’d rather not tarnish my reputation.

If you can’t make goals and stick to them for yourself, I’d suggest partnering up with someone (just 1 person though, bigger than that it starts to become really hard to coordinate). That way you can both keep each other motivated and set delivery dates for progress reports, but no money is involved. [import]uid: 10835 topic_id: 4881 reply_id: 15751[/import]

#9

I always check which features are available so I don’t offer my clients anything that can’t be done and do a few checks myself. In case of corona I compiled a few of the samples and put them on my iPhone.

When I take over a project I do everything possible to get it done. So far I never came into the situation that I couldn’t deliver what I offered. [import]uid: 4589 topic_id: 4881 reply_id: 15755[/import]

#10

I was in no way implying YOU wouldn’t be able to deliver, but that us novice coders might run into some issues. Sorry if it came out that way.

Plus who’s gonna hire someone with 2 months coding experience? I wouldn’t hire me for anything coding related. The OP might find similar problems.

Plus I think working on something you love rather than someone elses project gives you a better chance to finish. This is supposed to be a hobby after all and it should be fun.

What I would really advise against though is starting lots of projects simultaneosly. Once they get to the boring part of bug fixing and optimizing you’ll almost surely move on to one of the projects that is in a more “fun” part of the process and not finish. I’m trying very hard to work on only one project at a time to avoid those temptations. [import]uid: 10835 topic_id: 4881 reply_id: 15756[/import]

#11

graphics are not my forte either so starting all over again might be a good idea…learning code and graphic design might be my goal

Since graphics aren’t your forte, I would say make learning code your goal and then try to team up with a graphics person.

It’s not easy to find teammates who will be dedicated (hell, they’ll be wondering how dedicated you are) so don’t underestimate that task. Definitely don’t go into any partnership expecting them to just do what you decide on; go into it eager to work on their ideas as hard as you work on your own.

One thing you have to ask yourself is if you are focused enough. What I mean with it is that when you develop and work on a project, avoid by all means to be online and surf the net, chat or even participate in forums. This is all time that is taken away from your dev time.

I would add to this that you shouldn’t feel like working on your game is a chore taking away from the stuff you love. I actually prefer working on my game to surfing the net (I’m not at my Macbook right now :E) and even then I have trouble working every day.

JMP909 said that you might look for other people to work with. I would extend to this to look only for people to work for you.

I disagree with this advice on practical grounds. I mean, if he had the money to hire talented iphone developers to make his game for him, then why is the day job even an issue?

I guess this really just circles back to my point above: if you have tons of money then sure you could hire people to do what you tell them, but if you want to build a partnership then don’t expect them to just do what you tell them to.

I’d suggest partnering up with someone (just 1 person though, bigger than that it starts to become really hard to coordinate).

Yeah you should really think partnership not team. Say “team” since that connotes game dev teams but think “partner.” [import]uid: 12108 topic_id: 4881 reply_id: 15754[/import]

#12

I agree, being greedy was what started this venture, but it was the fault of a game that I thought it sucked and it has made millions (doodle jump).

I thought, if something as dumb and simple as that made it big, why can’t my ‘taptard’ :wink:

Now the wifey is asking “where’s the money? you invested all this money (mac, iphone and licenses and time away from family) and no money to show for it…where’s the money?” (lol)

@PatrickDadzio, you hit the nail: If I just play around for myself I always get distracted.
I need some motivation…still unsure what that is :frowning:

and @MikeHart avoid by all means to be online and surf the net, chat or even participate in forums. This is all time that is taken away from your dev time.

I actually get online during work on my breaks (instead of going out for a smoke :wink:

I get y’alls point about ‘getting out now’ if this is the only reason I’m doing it for…but, I see potential and I’m not a quitter (maybe a whiner :wink:

I’ll take my time and keep at it, I really like doing this and don’t plan to give up (not anytime soon)…one step at a time…first code and then graphics (if I still suck at graphics, I can always pay for them and/or hire a decent designer, right?! :wink:

I like quick ‘pick up and play games’…I guess I’ll start there :wink:

Thanks y’all!

RD [import]uid: 7856 topic_id: 4881 reply_id: 15782[/import]

#13

Sounds like a great idea for an upcoming blog post :slight_smile: If I decide to write about it, I’ll post a link here.

In the meantime, as far as distractions go, I used to get distracted reading some of my favorite websites/blogs, etc. and it would get really distracting especially with some of the sites updating several times throughout the day (some every hour even).

So what I did was I loaded all of my favorite websites into Google Reader, downloaded the Reeder iOS app, and got in the habit of using my iPod touch to read my favorite websites instead of my web browser on the computer.

At first it was a little hard to get used to but now, I very much *prefer* using the app on my iPod rather than visiting the actual websites or sitting at the computer. I like opening that one app and it lists all the headlines I haven’t read, and I can mark them read or star them as I go.

Since it’s not natural for me to pick up a separate device and start reading something while I’m supposed to be working, distractions never happen “accidentally” like they used to. Now I read my favorite websites in bed before I go to sleep, or when I’m bored (not at the computer working). I’ve noticed that my productivity has gone WAY up since I separated the more non-productive tasks from the computer and onto a separate device (and therefore a separate time).

Also, I work with a partner which also happens to be my wife (she does much of the graphics work for our games), so I definitely agree with all those who said having a partner helps.

Since you’re limited on time, the best thing for you to do is to start a project, get REALLY motivated about it (you gotta like what you’re doing, or it’s going to make things 100x harder), set priorities on the tasks that need to get done and then see them to completion (instead of finishing some of it, getting another great idea and starting on ANOTHER project, and so on).

Anyway, that’s just my two cents. Stick with it! I’d really hate to see anyone give up (which I know–and am very glad–you stated you’re definitely not doing).

Good luck,

Jonathan Beebe [import]uid: 7849 topic_id: 4881 reply_id: 15908[/import]