I do hope this hasn't been a topic before, I searched for one...
Anyway, I was making my game, and I realized everything I'm doing right now is total crap. Maybe I've been working to hard, or maybe I'm just tired of this idea already (I hope not!), or maybe I've just been having a bad week, but all the same I can't do anything of quality.
As I'm sure others have had this problem, what do you guys suggest?
Stay up really late and take drugs.
I think variations on the common methods to get over writer's block (http://www.scribblesnscraps.com/blog/?page_id=232) should work also for game design.
I suggest taking a month's break from the game. One option is to take a break from game development altogether, another would be to participate in this month's MAGS (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=30757.0) to work on something smaller, less ambitious.
When you return then return to your main project, you may be able to see what's wrong, make a minor change and continue work. Or perhaps you realize that nothing is wrong with the idea at all, and that you can't wait to get working again. Worst case scenario is that you discover that the idea is absolute crap and that nobody in their right might would play the game, but even in that case you wouldn't be wasting more time working on it.
Good luck!
MAGS is a notorious hangout for psychadelic and cocaine addicts. Tell them I sent you.
I said I had Creative Burnout, shbaz, not wanted to be a Creative Burnout. ;)
In all seriousness, a lack of sleep is great for my creativity.
I don't really know about the drugs.
Quote from: shbaz on Mon 02/04/2007 22:08:54
In all seriousness, a lack of sleep is great for my creativity.
Oh hell yes, I can vouch for that. I used to stay up for 24 hours or more everytime i had art-class. This resulted in the most bizarre things imaginable. One of the pieces STILL hangs in the school cafeteria.
I get creative by not eating. Yup, the starving artist stereotype is definatly real. Real artist should appreciate their lack of substance other than noodles boiled in the kettle. In the middle of the night, when the stomach rumbles more than Amon Amarth. Nighttime is also a very inspiring time, but I try to work until sundown, which makes winter very unproductive and summer the opposite.
Coffee. Lots of it. I mean, really, really really much. And staring out of the window while drinking it. That usually works for me.
Call me a square, but GarageGothic's suggestion is probably by far the most effective one. What you need is some perspective and circumspect consideration. If you lack that no amount of chemical amusement aid will help you.
Take a whole day off from the project, it'll make you feel a LOT better. Try and do another activity to keep yourself busy (Exercise is good - it will helps your brain), but don't worry if you think about the project during the break, just don't actually work on it.
When you return to the work, reasses the individual parts you were working on and study what is wrong with them and whether you want to remake them from scratch.
Give it time, creativity comes in waves. I can design for twelve hours straight if I'm in the mood, but I can also do nothing for twelve hours straight if I'm not.
Quote from: Akatosh on Tue 03/04/2007 10:35:10
Coffee. Lots of it. I mean, really, really really much. And staring out of the window while drinking it. That usually works for me.
"A programmer is a machine for turning coffee into code."
I actually just use my old thing when this happens. If I get this with drawing, I take my guitar and play, if that tastes bad, I write something. If I can't write anything, I'll read stuff. If I don't feel like reading, I'll draw, if not drawing, then playing guitar etc etc etc. You know there's always inspiration to do something, you just have to find out what it is. That or I hangout at #AGS...
Quote from: Tuomas on Tue 03/04/2007 16:52:35
That or I hangout at #AGS...
For me hanging out on IRC or just brainlessly surfing and browsing forums is a good way to kill all inspiration and motivation :-\
I'm going off on a bike ride to Target, great exercise, and I'm gonna get either Sim City 4 or the Sims 2, for some totally off-topic gaming. That should help. Yesterday's Christopher Guest-athon helped some, but not enough for me to feel confident I won't try and start and get totally pissed (off) and abandon the idea.
Quote from: shbaz on Mon 02/04/2007 18:49:01
Stay up really late and take drugs.
This not a bad surgestion, but you should not nessecary expect the result to be good.
I once made an entire poem collection where I made a rule that said that I could only write when I was stoned. Just to check out if it was true that you get more creative when you are on drugs. I wouldn't say that you do, but the result definitely gets a different edge to it that when you are sober.
Sometimes it helps to get away from the project for a while and maybe work on something else.
Good luck...
I doubt very much I'll be taking any drugs...
I'll just play some Sim City 4, see if that helps. I'm getting better! I don't cringe when I think about it!
Warm water stimulates brain activity. I get my best ideas during long showers.
I'm the same way. The shower is my brain storming room. (http://xiigames.com/2006/11/29/wlbswheac-post-mortem-part-one-concept/)
In all seriousness, I have been rather dehydrated lately...
I shall get some water, because I don't have the time for a whole big long shower. Maybe some hot chocolate?
My main problem isn't that I'm out of ideas, it's really that I have to change something in a way that may require a lot of work...It's like I'm procrastinating, only I can't wait to open up AGS again.
EDIT: The original formatting was rather confusing and ambiguous.
EDIT2: The original formatting is now irrelevant, I changed the content!
In all seriousness, showers do actually help.
During a long visit to really boring relatives today, I mapped out the whole plot for my mags game. So, get some boring relatives and visit them.