Full Games List
Featured Games
New Games
Reviews
Media
Images
Blogs
Game Updates
Images Feedback Summary
Game Design Highlights
Tutorials
Articles
Scripts
Utilities / Plugins
Resources
Engines
Engine Bulletins
What is Makerscore?
Past Events
Achievements
Misaos
Forums
Post History
Chat
New to RMN?
Full Store List
RMN Music Pack (free)
WHEN IS IT *GOOD* TO ABANDON A PROJECT?
Posts
CashmereCat
View playlists
CloseI'm sure all or most of us have that lingering doubt in our mind "why did I abandon so many projects, I have nothing finished now!" But when is it good to abandon a project? In my mind, it is good to abandon a project when it has no hope left. But how can one know?
What do you do?
What do you do?
I figure it out like this: If I'm working on a project and it comes to the point where I question abandoning it (which generally means I no longer enjoy working on it and I'm no where close to finishing it) I generally put it on the back-burner and focus on a different project, as I could just be experiencing burn-out.
After I've had a lot of time to distance myself from said project, if I still don't feel like its worth coming back to, I either put it on an indefinite hiatus, or, if I really really think its a lost cause, abandon it.
Since projects are huge time-commitments, it's all about how you want to spend your time and what you enjoy working on, in my opinion. And forcing yourself to continue working on a project when you no longer enjoy it will hurt the quality of the project too, in most cases.
I've had to indefinite-hiatus a project I've been working on for ten years, so I know it's hard, but in the end, do what's best for you.
After I've had a lot of time to distance myself from said project, if I still don't feel like its worth coming back to, I either put it on an indefinite hiatus, or, if I really really think its a lost cause, abandon it.
Since projects are huge time-commitments, it's all about how you want to spend your time and what you enjoy working on, in my opinion. And forcing yourself to continue working on a project when you no longer enjoy it will hurt the quality of the project too, in most cases.
I've had to indefinite-hiatus a project I've been working on for ten years, so I know it's hard, but in the end, do what's best for you.
Desertopa
775
If you're no longer a fan of your own project. If it's not going to be something you yourself think is good, your time would be better spent on something else.
Housekeeping
3571
author=Desertopa
If you're no longer a fan of your own project. If it's not going to be something you yourself think is good, your time would be better spent on something else.
I don't disagree with this, but, I don't know about everyone else, but I've always found the creative process to be propelled by bipolar tendencies, so a certain amount of depression/utter hopelessness is to be expected, along with manic days of "This is the greatest thing anyone's ever thought of in the history of the world." I guess if it's an extended period of depression then it's time to abandon. For me, though, I tend to spend a lot of time in the pre-development process. Before I do anything, I have an incredibly comprehensive outline, and I don't start working until I'm completely happy with my idea. I don't think I would abandon a project unless I had to make too many concessions over that initial idea because of technical/time limitations.
author=ShortStar
When you lose drive to do it.author=Desertopa
If you're no longer a fan of your own project.
I’d say these and often times when something catastrophic happens that completely demoralizes you, like a hard drive crash that wipes out all of your data and you forgot to save in quite some time, stuff like that. Although I’m one of those people that when you make a commitment to something that you see it through until the end no matter what the circumstance, even if the game doesn’t pan out like you thought it would or doesn’t do as well in the end in terms of overall success, at least you finished it, and that’s better than not finishing it at all.
I'd say there's no such thing as an abandoned projects. They're just taking a break. Abandon it all you want. One year, five years, ten years down the road, you'll think back to happier times and nostalgic points in your life and the back of your mind will start to itch and you'll start tinkering with your "abandoned" project again.
You can avoid abandoning projects by setting realistic goals for yourself. If you know what you can do and what your going to do then its less likely you should abandon your project.
I say you should abandon your project when it could potentially hurt you or others around you.
I suffer from this a lot. Most of it comes from a lack of motivation and my brief periods of depression only worsen it as well. A lack of comments ( especially over at RMW ) is probably the biggest killer for me as well, because it does actually slow down my drive to work on my projects. I value feedback above all else, after all.
RyaReisender
200
I don't think you can really tell by how much fun it is to make a game whether you should abandon it. Because finishing a project you suffered through can actually feel really good.
I see making games like grinding for a 0.01% drop in an MMORPG. You like the game but you repeat the same action over and over again for days. And it gets boring. But you continue and continue and suffer and pray. And finally after a few days, you finally get that one rare item and you are like the happiest person in the universe. Tell everyone in the game that you finally got it and everyone is like woohoo congratz. If you are at that point it's impossible to say that it wasn't worth it because the reward was just too good.
There are plenty of people who will never experience this feeling because they go by the philosophy and only doing what is actually fun. And that is valid philosophy too. I just wouldn't put this as the generally correct philosophy.
You should at least experience the reward from suffering at least once to tell whether it's worth it for you or not. Maybe not with a year-long epic RPG project, start off small.
I see making games like grinding for a 0.01% drop in an MMORPG. You like the game but you repeat the same action over and over again for days. And it gets boring. But you continue and continue and suffer and pray. And finally after a few days, you finally get that one rare item and you are like the happiest person in the universe. Tell everyone in the game that you finally got it and everyone is like woohoo congratz. If you are at that point it's impossible to say that it wasn't worth it because the reward was just too good.
There are plenty of people who will never experience this feeling because they go by the philosophy and only doing what is actually fun. And that is valid philosophy too. I just wouldn't put this as the generally correct philosophy.
You should at least experience the reward from suffering at least once to tell whether it's worth it for you or not. Maybe not with a year-long epic RPG project, start off small.
turkeyDawg
195
When your tastes change and you can't look at your project without thinking its the most wretched jumble of terrible ideas you've ever seen.
Otherwise, if its just halfway that, its likely that instead of abandoning it, you'll reformulate it or just cannibalize the good stuff into a new project.
Otherwise, if its just halfway that, its likely that instead of abandoning it, you'll reformulate it or just cannibalize the good stuff into a new project.
RyaReisender
200
Do your tastes in video games really change that much? Because I might add a new sub-genre or something but the general type stays the same for me.
turkeyDawg
195
Well, it doesn't have to be just genre. You might look at the story and think its an awful mess. Likewise, you can change the mechanics pretty drastically and still be in the same genre, especially with one as ill-defined as "RPG".
If I think there is no chance in hell I will be able to finish a game, if it's emotionally painful to even touch the thing, that's where project cancellation comes into play.
RyaReisender
200
Well, you always have the option to plan small. Design a game around minimalism. Don't plan anything that take more than two weeks to develop. I created some really good and finished games like that.
mightydarkchocolate
1683
If it was me, the only reason I will abandon my games only when I discovered it filled tremendous glitches and bugs that beyond repair @ requires me to start back from A to Z point to remake it.
I knew when people work on 2 or more game projects, they will likely to abandon one of them sooner or later, which is what I will avoid at any cost & focusing on 1 project at one time.
I knew when people work on 2 or more game projects, they will likely to abandon one of them sooner or later, which is what I will avoid at any cost & focusing on 1 project at one time.
RyaReisender
200
I know that working on two project actually helps some people not to lose motivation, because they have some variety.
But for me it's like with playing games, the moment I start a new one it's very unlikely I go back to a previous one even if I didn't finish it.
But for me it's like with playing games, the moment I start a new one it's very unlikely I go back to a previous one even if I didn't finish it.
When you completely lose interest in making it; you should never force yourself to make a game just to get it done.
trentinxd
12
author=RyaReisender
I don't think you can really tell by how much fun it is to make a game whether you should abandon it. Because finishing a project you suffered through can actually feel really good.
I see making games like grinding for a 0.01% drop in an MMORPG. You like the game but you repeat the same action over and over again for days. And it gets boring. But you continue and continue and suffer and pray. And finally after a few days, you finally get that one rare item and you are like the happiest person in the universe. Tell everyone in the game that you finally got it and everyone is like woohoo congratz. If you are at that point it's impossible to say that it wasn't worth it because the reward was just too good.
There are plenty of people who will never experience this feeling because they go by the philosophy and only doing what is actually fun. And that is valid philosophy too. I just wouldn't put this as the generally correct philosophy.
You should at least experience the reward from suffering at least once to tell whether it's worth it for you or not. Maybe not with a year-long epic RPG project, start off small.
These games are evil! But also, very addicting. It's basically gambling with time.
