CAUSE OF DIMINISHED INTEREST IN GAME CREATION

I remember my first big project in rm2k3 that was started 2005-2006.
It started as something small that grew bigger than planned. Well, for starters. it was an entirely different game to begin with. It wasn't serious, but stuff was added and it just grew bigger.
It was planned that it could be put up on some site since of all the work.

But it did feel sorta doomed considering all the unmade resources. Most work I had done was pretty much only map-related things like mapping, evening and the charsets and chipsets. No work on the battles whatsoever. I never really liked working with that kinda stuff. And all this while I had also fallen into some sort of addiction, even though I was getting tired of it. Kept working even though I knew it was doomed.

In 2008 I finally dropped it. Shortly after I started working on the next game, which would be the one that's on this very site. The old game now serves mostly as nostalgic material.

But more concerning the topic, I've have taken big breaks from the game-making. I've really needed it at times. Mostly when you get lost in big work on dungeons. But some times it can be cause I don't really know what to add as the next course of action in the game. Taking a break helps you think and gets you away from the mess in your head.

I find that 99% of my problems disappear after a good night's sleep.

I've pretty much stopped trying to create RM games because I've realised that there's too much work involved and to me the cost:benefit ratio is much greater than 1.

Or maybe because I like to pretend I have better things to do. idk.

only slightly - I'm a bit more comfortable being geeky now that I'm in (a very geeky) uni. Hell I've got an Anime Society meeting in a couple hours.

The bigger issue is the former reason, honestly.

Calvin : You can't just turn on creativity like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood.
Hobbes : What mood is that?
Calvin : Last-minute panic.

I've been getting burnt out on game making in RM2k3 on a regular basis for the last 6 years, but it's not an emotional train-wreck like the OP suggests. I enjoy every minute of it but I open up the editor one day and realize I'm bored with this and I go do something else. To this day I have never finished a game.

Or if something new comes up like SMBX I'll focus on that. I havn't worked in 2k3 for over 3 months because whenever I open it I feel like making a Super Mario level instead. After RMNbros2 I'm burnt out on Mario levels ^.^; I started playing Bass more(Rush songs of course) and might fall back in 2k3 soon. I kinda miss it now. During the time I wasn't working on my game I've had some good ideas and even thought of ways to improve what's already there. It's like Murphy's Law: You'll find it when you're not looking for it.

It's more like this for me

author=Radnen
- A compulsion to prove oneself
- Working harder
- Late nights
- Finish an aspect of the game but encounter 4 more problems elsewhere
- Repeat steps 1 through 4 for every problem that occurs until either the game is finished or 4 months have passed
- 4 months later... Burnout syndrome

:D

rather than sitting at your computer for hours on end staring at the editor waiting for an idea to shit out.

Some of us have RPG diarrhea though.

I really think that it's a syndrome called life, and that's that.

Interests in various forms of creativity wax and wane, as do non-creative responsibilities and recreational time eaters. Getting interested in writing, painting, or music can effect your game design, so can getting a job, or getting sucked back into WoW. There is only so much time. Likewise, all of these relationships work the other way. Game design can take time away from your writing/art/music, can take time away from real life responsibilities like family and relationships, and can cut into your Fallout: New Vegas vegetation time. Try as you might, if you have a live, several interests, and a need to unwind ,you will never be able to maintain an X Hour Workday on game design indefinitely.

I'm pretty sure it's overall lack of motivation and encouragement. Most people don't work on their games to the point of burnout.

I have experienced both, actually. They are both very real phenomena. I think overall, the lack of encouragement has always been the biggest problem for me. Then again, in spite of that, I have also released several complete games, so I clearly also have very strong self-motivation.

Anyways, the proof is in all of those awesome games we want to see completed but fall victim to this. Teams really do help and those games that do make it to completion usually have some kind of team backing it. The cause for team based projects failing is not burnout but something else (mismanagement, communication, etc. are other symptoms).

The drawbacks of teams far outweigh their benefits. Not to be all "FU I'M RITE" but there is an awful lot of experience here. Unless you're one of the lucky 1% who can find team members or partners you can UTTERLY rely upon (like Anaryu and his WIFE or um....Karsuman and Craze) it is a really really really really bad idea to make YOUR ability to advance your game dependent on someone ELSE'S talents or contributions. 10+ years of game design experience speaking here.

author=undefined

author=Max McGee
The drawbacks of teams far outweigh their benefits. Not to be all "FU I'M RITE" but there is an awful lot of experience here. Unless you're one of the lucky 1% who can find team members or partners you can UTTERLY rely upon (like Anaryu and his WIFE or um....Karsuman and Craze) it is a really really really really bad idea to make YOUR ability to advance your game dependent on someone ELSE'S talents or contributions. 10+ years of game design experience speaking here.

i completely disagree with this. there are a lot of reliable, talented collaborators out there (maybe more in other places than the RM scene but they do exist).

Me and Nessy also disagree with this. Rei...? He exemplifies your points.

Don't work with Reis, work with Nessies. You should be fine!

E: The amount of people who can find reliable partners is probably far greater than you expect. The fact that you naturally alienate people probably skews your experience! It's like Nightblade trying to get a partner to work with; except, y'know, Nightblade is a cool dude.

Not too hard to find reliable associates. People aren't motivated by many things, but inspiration and purpose are generally the best motivators. All team members have to "buy in" to the idea. That + deadlines = finished team game.