2013-03-23, 01:20 AM
Here are some corollaries, but first. Rule #1, make the game you (and your group) want to play. It doesn't matter if only you want to play it, if you don't follow this rule your game will be a dud (and finish your game. Do you want to play an unfinished game? I didn't think so. Needless to say, this follows from Rule #1)
Figure out what your lifestyle is before making a commitment. Have a routine that is economical and not beyond your means, and stick to it. Eliminate distractions.
Know what you are doing before you do something. If you don't know exactly what you are doing, then do more research and preparation. You haven't done enough until you know exactly what you are getting into. That said you still won't know how things are going to end up going. If you are doing things right it will turn out much better than you had anticipated. If you fail to meet your expectations, then you didn't know what you were getting into. Try not to make that mistake twice. Invest more on the front end.
This is always good advice. If you find yourself doing this compulsively you will probably be successful most of the time (also as soon as you finish the hardest part move onto the next hardest part, its always downhill)
A plan helps but you don't want to invest too much time into, because most likely you'll throw your plan out the window if you get very far. And if you invest too much into it then you won't be willing to do this when the time comes. Then your plan is an albatross.
In some things perfection is worth striving for. But it depends on if perfection can be defined. For something like programming there really are such things as perfect solutions, if not in performance, at least in terms of input and output. But artistic domains can be really frustrating, and that is really what separates art from other things, its that sense of doubt that can never completely be removed from the equation and more than likely will always be the overwhelming presence in the room.
You can't succumb to that. It's better to compromise, and just keep practicing, keep observing, and know a happy accident when you see one, because most of the time what makes great art is just muddling around until you've accumulated enough happy accidents to take to the bank.
Not everyone is cut out to be an artist. But maybe there are other ways you can help. You don't have to do everything by yourself. This is just good advice that might not help an individual but if everyone were to take it to heart and be receptive to it we could get so much more done day in day out.
If nothing else. Even without help, don't try to do everything yourself. If there are resources, unless you can identify flaws in them, use them. Don't let pride get in the way of progress. Develop a critical eye. See the best in things. And don't shun the good in spite of the bad. What do you know anyway?
Quote:Work steadily.
Figure out what your lifestyle is before making a commitment. Have a routine that is economical and not beyond your means, and stick to it. Eliminate distractions.
Quote:Have realistic goals.
Know what you are doing before you do something. If you don't know exactly what you are doing, then do more research and preparation. You haven't done enough until you know exactly what you are getting into. That said you still won't know how things are going to end up going. If you are doing things right it will turn out much better than you had anticipated. If you fail to meet your expectations, then you didn't know what you were getting into. Try not to make that mistake twice. Invest more on the front end.
Quote:Start with the "hard parts".
This is always good advice. If you find yourself doing this compulsively you will probably be successful most of the time (also as soon as you finish the hardest part move onto the next hardest part, its always downhill)
Quote:Have a good plan before you start building.
A plan helps but you don't want to invest too much time into, because most likely you'll throw your plan out the window if you get very far. And if you invest too much into it then you won't be willing to do this when the time comes. Then your plan is an albatross.
Quote:Don't let perfectionism shackle you.
In some things perfection is worth striving for. But it depends on if perfection can be defined. For something like programming there really are such things as perfect solutions, if not in performance, at least in terms of input and output. But artistic domains can be really frustrating, and that is really what separates art from other things, its that sense of doubt that can never completely be removed from the equation and more than likely will always be the overwhelming presence in the room.
You can't succumb to that. It's better to compromise, and just keep practicing, keep observing, and know a happy accident when you see one, because most of the time what makes great art is just muddling around until you've accumulated enough happy accidents to take to the bank.
Not everyone is cut out to be an artist. But maybe there are other ways you can help. You don't have to do everything by yourself. This is just good advice that might not help an individual but if everyone were to take it to heart and be receptive to it we could get so much more done day in day out.
If nothing else. Even without help, don't try to do everything yourself. If there are resources, unless you can identify flaws in them, use them. Don't let pride get in the way of progress. Develop a critical eye. See the best in things. And don't shun the good in spite of the bad. What do you know anyway?