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I MISS THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF GAME DEVELOPMENT
Posts
kentona
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CloseI look back wistfully at the time I got to spend on game design and development before responsibility seized my life. Now I don't seem to have the energy or time to devote to it like I once did, and I miss that sometimes.
Now I have a full time job, 2 kids, a business, a website (hi!), and volunteering at the community centre to do, plus floor hockey.
Last night I could have pulled out the laptop and do some work, but instead I sat down with a drink* (or 3) and watched Kung Fu Hustle and tidy the kitchen, and played some 'pokemon' cards with my 6yo**.
*the drink was Spiced Rum and Diet Coke, but I looked closer to the label, and it was actually 'rum-flavoured drink'. I checked the receipt and it came up as "PIRATE JUICE".***
**my kids don't play by the official rules - they just kind of wing it and use their imaginations. We eschew the energy cards. Basically, there is like an infinite energy cheat and the pokemon wallop each other with their most powerful moves each turn. At least it goes fast.
***that pirate juice was DAMN GOOD. maybe the best spiced rum I've had. Very smooth and flavourful.
So that's my life. How are you?
Now I have a full time job, 2 kids, a business, a website (hi!), and volunteering at the community centre to do, plus floor hockey.
Last night I could have pulled out the laptop and do some work, but instead I sat down with a drink* (or 3) and watched Kung Fu Hustle and tidy the kitchen, and played some 'pokemon' cards with my 6yo**.
*the drink was Spiced Rum and Diet Coke, but I looked closer to the label, and it was actually 'rum-flavoured drink'. I checked the receipt and it came up as "PIRATE JUICE".***
**my kids don't play by the official rules - they just kind of wing it and use their imaginations. We eschew the energy cards. Basically, there is like an infinite energy cheat and the pokemon wallop each other with their most powerful moves each turn. At least it goes fast.
***that pirate juice was DAMN GOOD. maybe the best spiced rum I've had. Very smooth and flavourful.
So that's my life. How are you?
Darken
3952
I basically just decided to pick up any game jam or event that comes my way and work on a game within a small deadline whatever the costs. Accept that the game will be small and condensed but try to inject something that I like or be proud of. I enjoy gamedeving for the sake of it in the end, and the best I can hope is that I take longer and longer jams until I can make a full featured game. I also really hated talking about my games, but lately I've just been trying to blog more or be public about my progress.
I got laid off by my job recently and although that is a considerate amount of setbacks as far as finding a way to get income/survive. I decided it doesn't actually affect the game development that much. I wouldn't call it "balance" per say but I try to tackle things as immediate as they come and try not to worry too much as long as things are being addressed. Though to be fair the closest I got in terms of family responsibilities is a cat... I do not have any other living being relying on me otherwise.
I would say if something doesn't hook you or grab you then just don't go after it. There's value in discipline towards improving your life etc. but idk it's complicated to address.
I got laid off by my job recently and although that is a considerate amount of setbacks as far as finding a way to get income/survive. I decided it doesn't actually affect the game development that much. I wouldn't call it "balance" per say but I try to tackle things as immediate as they come and try not to worry too much as long as things are being addressed. Though to be fair the closest I got in terms of family responsibilities is a cat... I do not have any other living being relying on me otherwise.
I would say if something doesn't hook you or grab you then just don't go after it. There's value in discipline towards improving your life etc. but idk it's complicated to address.
I can only imagine the kind of pressure & responsibility that comes with a family - especially children. Even just having a full-time career has taken up so much time, and it's hard to muster the energy to make games when I get home; coming home from a programming job to program more is tiring!
I've gotten to noodle around with GameMaker the past couple days though, and I'm still doing ridiculous stuff like cosplay and running D&D when I can. I've been slowly working hard to get to the point where I can take some time off to work on games, and see what I can get done. I'm pretty lucky to have a job and few enough expenses that I can get away with that, though, and it def involves a few sacrifices - not to mention being a bit scary & risky.
At the very least, game dev doesn't require you to be young & fit, so we can make games until we're dead!~
I've gotten to noodle around with GameMaker the past couple days though, and I'm still doing ridiculous stuff like cosplay and running D&D when I can. I've been slowly working hard to get to the point where I can take some time off to work on games, and see what I can get done. I'm pretty lucky to have a job and few enough expenses that I can get away with that, though, and it def involves a few sacrifices - not to mention being a bit scary & risky.
At the very least, game dev doesn't require you to be young & fit, so we can make games until we're dead!~
Sometimes I wonder what it would've been like to have been born 5 years sooner, 'cause there's days where it feels like I was born a bit too early for the big gamedev boat. I didn't pick up gamedev until I was 26 and by that time I was finishing up my Master's and starting a career in a field completely unrelated to tech and programming. I guess I've only ever known gamedev as a hobby (and more recently a small side gig), and at this point, doing it while holding a full-time job is a challenge in itself and since it's the ONLY programming-related thing I do, my chances of breaking out of RPG Maker or other user-friendly engines anytime soon are pretty slim.
But I'm kinda glad it ended up that way. At least I have stability to make games at my own pace and how I want. It's something that helps keep my life varied.
But I'm kinda glad it ended up that way. At least I have stability to make games at my own pace and how I want. It's something that helps keep my life varied.
Darken
3952
author=Sgt M
Sometimes I wonder what it would've been like to have been born 5 years sooner, 'cause there's days where it feels like I was born a bit too early for the big gamedev boat. I didn't pick up gamedev until I was 26 and by that time I was finishing up my Master's and starting a career in a field completely unrelated to tech and programming. I guess I've only ever known gamedev as a hobby (and more recently a small side gig), and at this point, doing it while holding a full-time job is a challenge in itself and since it's the ONLY programming-related thing I do, my chances of breaking out of RPG Maker or other user-friendly engines anytime soon are pretty slim.
But I'm kinda glad it ended up that way. At least I have stability to make games at my own pace and how I want. It's something that helps keep my life varied.
While things like gamemaker tutorials and helpful reddit posts (compiled over the course of 5 years), are insanely helpful right now... I still rationalize to myself that it still would have taken me 14ish years to start actually finishing games and getting to some satisfactory level of skills/taste in a bunch of areas regardless of the time period I came into.
Though it seems most people would wish they were born EARLIER so they could be the 1/10000000000 people that became coding gods with the apple ii or something. But the 80s probably smelled.
Sooz
They told me I was mad when I said I was going to create a spidertable. Who’s laughing now!!!
5354
Jesus, kentona, when do you SLEEP?!
I'm p. busy myself, between part-time day job, keeping house, freelancing, and doing my comic. Still manage to squeeze in some gam mak here and there. I'm hoping to come out with one within a few years. :Ia Part of me wishes I could speed up the creative stuff, but that would involve either sacrificing quality, burning out, or dropping a project, and fuck all of that!
I feel like hobbyist games (and hobbyist anything else) are a valuable part of the creative ecosystem. You got your big AAA safe things and then the slightly more daring indie careerists, but both of those are ultimately beholden to what does well in the market, and are hindered by an expectation of highish quality. Meanwhile, the hobbyists are there and able to experiment and just make whatever they want, introducing lots of new ideas and methods to gammaking. I mean, yeah, MOST of them are gonna be shitty knockoffs or plain old kusoge, but it's still super valuable.
I also think it's very important that non-coders have access to tools they can use to make games, since that introduces new ways of thinking and gam mak that coders probably wouldn't have tried. Variety is the best!
PS Darken I hope you get a good job soon!
I'm p. busy myself, between part-time day job, keeping house, freelancing, and doing my comic. Still manage to squeeze in some gam mak here and there. I'm hoping to come out with one within a few years. :Ia Part of me wishes I could speed up the creative stuff, but that would involve either sacrificing quality, burning out, or dropping a project, and fuck all of that!
author=Sgt M
Sometimes I wonder what it would've been like to have been born 5 years sooner, 'cause there's days where it feels like I was born a bit too early for the big gamedev boat. I didn't pick up gamedev until I was 26 and by that time I was finishing up my Master's and starting a career in a field completely unrelated to tech and programming. I guess I've only ever known gamedev as a hobby (and more recently a small side gig), and at this point, doing it while holding a full-time job is a challenge in itself and since it's the ONLY programming-related thing I do, my chances of breaking out of RPG Maker or other user-friendly engines anytime soon are pretty slim.
But I'm kinda glad it ended up that way. At least I have stability to make games at my own pace and how I want. It's something that helps keep my life varied.
I feel like hobbyist games (and hobbyist anything else) are a valuable part of the creative ecosystem. You got your big AAA safe things and then the slightly more daring indie careerists, but both of those are ultimately beholden to what does well in the market, and are hindered by an expectation of highish quality. Meanwhile, the hobbyists are there and able to experiment and just make whatever they want, introducing lots of new ideas and methods to gammaking. I mean, yeah, MOST of them are gonna be shitty knockoffs or plain old kusoge, but it's still super valuable.
I also think it's very important that non-coders have access to tools they can use to make games, since that introduces new ways of thinking and gam mak that coders probably wouldn't have tried. Variety is the best!
PS Darken I hope you get a good job soon!
PRO TIP
also more pirate juice because that sounds rad as hell. I've done sprite with sailor's jerry's spiced rum which is alright but it's kinda wearing off on me but I love sugary drinks.
also more pirate juice because that sounds rad as hell. I've done sprite with sailor's jerry's spiced rum which is alright but it's kinda wearing off on me but I love sugary drinks.
author=SoozIt's not so bad.
Jesus, kentona, when do you SLEEP?!
I wake up around 5:45am (and roll out of bed at like 6) and do a workout until 630. Get the kids up, shower, feed the kids, prep lunches and backpacks, get the wife going, out the door to daycare by 730, work by 8, leave at 430 for daycare, make a quick supper, then:
Mondays: coach floor hockey for 6-9yo from 630-730, 10-13yo from 735-835
Tuesdays: join my kids at Taekwondo from 615-745
Wednesdays: take kid to singing class and kid2 to art class
Thursdays: join my kids at Taekwondo from 615-745
Fridays: nothing so far!
Saturdays: yardwork/housework, and eventually coaching indoor soccer(starts in Oct)
Sundays: supervise family gym night at the community center 630-730pm, adult floor hockey 8-930pm
I tend to fall asleep around 10-1130. Some nights I am up late drinking and shitposting.
somehow I am still terribly out of shape and overweight. might be the drinking and fastfood.
also, I manage the community association's webpage, and seem to get dragged into their various events and BBQs and whatnot because my wife is treasurer. free labour I guess.
Last December I had to start my own business because the company I was employed by folded up shop. So now I also need to manage that, send monthly invoices, remit PST monthly and GST quarterly. So that's been an experience too.
Then there's you bastards at RMN... ;)
Sooz
They told me I was mad when I said I was going to create a spidertable. Who’s laughing now!!!
5354
Dang, I wish I had the energy to keep all that up!
Though probably I'm just using most of it on constantly drawing shit. :/
Though probably I'm just using most of it on constantly drawing shit. :/
Alas, I'm at a point in my life where there are quite a few things I enjoy more than game dev.
I think I'll still be taking part in game jams/competitions every now and then, but I've pretty much abandoned the idea of working on a single project for several months/years.
Also, I'm probably gonna sound silly but:
Is it normal for parents to do these many activities with their kids? I can't remember my parents ever being this invested in what I did outside of school.
I think I'll still be taking part in game jams/competitions every now and then, but I've pretty much abandoned the idea of working on a single project for several months/years.
Also, I'm probably gonna sound silly but:
played some 'pokemon' cards with my 6yo**.
Mondays: coach floor hockey for 6-9yo from 630-730, 10-13yo from 735-835
Tuesdays: join my kids at Taekwondo from 615-745
Wednesdays: take kid to singing class and kid2 to art class
Thursdays: join my kids at Taekwondo from 615-745
Is it normal for parents to do these many activities with their kids? I can't remember my parents ever being this invested in what I did outside of school.
Haha....my parents just got my brother and I video game consoles and left it at that. I can't imagine them having the time/energy to actively play games with me/take me to extracurricular activities/supervise extra curricular activities in addition to their (very demanding) day jobs.
LockeZ
I'd really like to get rid of LockeZ. His play style is way too unpredictable. He's always like this too. If he ran a country, he'd just kill and imprison people at random until crime stopped.
5958
Instead of having responsibilities and loved ones that use up my time, for me it's just a crippling lack of energy that causes me to stare at Reddit and Discord all day instead of doing anything.
author=LockeZ
Instead of having responsibilities and loved ones that use up my time, for me it's just a crippling lack of energy that causes me to stare at Reddit and Discord all day instead of doing anything.
take a step back, take a break (or break yourself), and reset.
...but then again, why take advice from someone who has had 3 pirate juices tonight already?
Housekeeping
3571
There are highs?
The whole family thing sounds pretty sweet; I've basically put that stuff off so I can chase the dream. Now Jimmy's out and doing okay but not "this is a career" good, and I'm 33 and way behind on a lot of other life goals--so it's not like pure game dev is all peaches. Plus your kids are almost old enough to enslave into helping you with your games.
The whole family thing sounds pretty sweet; I've basically put that stuff off so I can chase the dream. Now Jimmy's out and doing okay but not "this is a career" good, and I'm 33 and way behind on a lot of other life goals--so it's not like pure game dev is all peaches. Plus your kids are almost old enough to enslave into helping you with your games.
Sooz
They told me I was mad when I said I was going to create a spidertable. Who’s laughing now!!!
5354
author=Housekeeping
Plus your kids are almost old enough to enslave into helping you with your games.
Got some great monster designs already!
LockeZ
I'd really like to get rid of LockeZ. His play style is way too unpredictable. He's always like this too. If he ran a country, he'd just kill and imprison people at random until crime stopped.
5958
I've been taking a break, from everything, for the last year. My problem is I can't stop taking it.
