Time gets in the way
by Rob Parton · 09/03/2006 (9:40 am) · 7 comments
As mentioned in my previous posts, I have been working on a number of skinned interface objects over the last two months. I have the progress bar and buttons working well now, though there are a few features I want to add to them. I have put all my other Torque-based projects on hold for now because of these.
However I have struck into a dilemma. I work long days at my new job, I get home relatively late in the evening and go straight to bed. I end up needing a lot of sleep and because of this the only days I have off to do anything are my weekends, and on those weekends because I'm so busy all week, I need to spend my time off doing errands I would have used to do right after work at my prior job. I really want to sit down and work on the stuff I have working so far so I can throw them up as a resource knowing you could just drop them in and have them work (as it is now, they do technically work, but there are some things, primarily resize-stretch issues I have not put in).
This is ultimately a question to all you indies out there. A good deal of us have full-time jobs, since that's how we survive. How do you get the energy and time to work on your projects?
However I have struck into a dilemma. I work long days at my new job, I get home relatively late in the evening and go straight to bed. I end up needing a lot of sleep and because of this the only days I have off to do anything are my weekends, and on those weekends because I'm so busy all week, I need to spend my time off doing errands I would have used to do right after work at my prior job. I really want to sit down and work on the stuff I have working so far so I can throw them up as a resource knowing you could just drop them in and have them work (as it is now, they do technically work, but there are some things, primarily resize-stretch issues I have not put in).
This is ultimately a question to all you indies out there. A good deal of us have full-time jobs, since that's how we survive. How do you get the energy and time to work on your projects?
About the author
#2
For me it all comes down to patience, planning, and really asking yourself what you want out of life and how much you can give every step of the way.
Ask yourself... Is game development a hobby or is it something you would like to pursue full time as a career? Either answer is fine but you need to be clear on this in order to set appropriate goals for yourself.
As a hobbyist, I wouldn't beat yourself up too much. Do what you can when you can and be content with that.
On the other hand if you have a serious passion for game development you are going to need to dig down deep within yourself and find motivation to keep that passion burning. Remember that no one is going to make your projects and goals happen for you... if you can't do it then no one will.
On the other hand, we only have so much energy... so no matter what you have to be practical about how much you can give every step of the way. The best thing is to set reasonable goals. If you can only work an hour a week then make sure to schedule that hour. If you can get up early and work an hour a day that is a big win. If you can spend one eight hour day working on the weekend that is a huge win. BTW... Vacations are a great opportunity to work on your own projects. Grab a three day weekend or a full week off if you can and dedicate it to your work.
Don't just spend your time working on whatever suits your fancy either... take a step back and figure out what you really want out of life and what you need to do to get there. Then one hour, one day, one year at a time get a step closer to your goal. That is how this s**t gets done. =)
-Unk
09/03/2006 (10:09 am)
I am lucky to be in a position where I was able to leave my previous game job and go to work for myself as an indie.For me it all comes down to patience, planning, and really asking yourself what you want out of life and how much you can give every step of the way.
Ask yourself... Is game development a hobby or is it something you would like to pursue full time as a career? Either answer is fine but you need to be clear on this in order to set appropriate goals for yourself.
As a hobbyist, I wouldn't beat yourself up too much. Do what you can when you can and be content with that.
On the other hand if you have a serious passion for game development you are going to need to dig down deep within yourself and find motivation to keep that passion burning. Remember that no one is going to make your projects and goals happen for you... if you can't do it then no one will.
On the other hand, we only have so much energy... so no matter what you have to be practical about how much you can give every step of the way. The best thing is to set reasonable goals. If you can only work an hour a week then make sure to schedule that hour. If you can get up early and work an hour a day that is a big win. If you can spend one eight hour day working on the weekend that is a huge win. BTW... Vacations are a great opportunity to work on your own projects. Grab a three day weekend or a full week off if you can and dedicate it to your work.
Don't just spend your time working on whatever suits your fancy either... take a step back and figure out what you really want out of life and what you need to do to get there. Then one hour, one day, one year at a time get a step closer to your goal. That is how this s**t gets done. =)
-Unk
#3
Thanks for the suggestion, however where I live it tends to be pretty difficult to get a full-time job at all. My choices are pretty much what I have, or I can pick up multiple part time jobs which won't give me the health benefits I need given my medical history. I definately try to prioritize my time when I'm not working, but with my current working hours it can be pretty difficult. Since I do have a new shift schedule coming in the next few weeks, hopefully I will have time during the day on my work days to get my errands done so I can do what I want on my days off.
@Unk:
Very true and I will take those words to heart. If you think about what some people do on the Game-A-Day challenges, that's only 24 hours. 1 hour a day per week would only turn that into not quite a month, which isn't too bad!
09/03/2006 (10:43 am)
@Phil:Thanks for the suggestion, however where I live it tends to be pretty difficult to get a full-time job at all. My choices are pretty much what I have, or I can pick up multiple part time jobs which won't give me the health benefits I need given my medical history. I definately try to prioritize my time when I'm not working, but with my current working hours it can be pretty difficult. Since I do have a new shift schedule coming in the next few weeks, hopefully I will have time during the day on my work days to get my errands done so I can do what I want on my days off.
@Unk:
Very true and I will take those words to heart. If you think about what some people do on the Game-A-Day challenges, that's only 24 hours. 1 hour a day per week would only turn that into not quite a month, which isn't too bad!
#4
I can only offer 2 suggestions as someone who's been in your shoes. Here's what I would do if you want to make games that don't take 10 years to make.
1) figure out what you are good at and what of that is worth being paid for and spend your time building a portfolio of work that you can use to get a full time job making games.
2) don't waste the next 4 years trying to make a whole game in your part time. It's IMPOSSIBLE!! Nobody can do it. don't listen to people who tell you that it's doable. It's not. Sad, but true. You are going to have to get to do this as a real job before you start making any real progress.
I did this and this is the way to do it. I now work my ass off making games for a living, but now i'm not working my ass off wishing i had time to make games in my spare time.
09/04/2006 (12:59 am)
Look around here and notice that hardly any games get made. Nobody who works full time at something else gets far fast. That's just how this is.I can only offer 2 suggestions as someone who's been in your shoes. Here's what I would do if you want to make games that don't take 10 years to make.
1) figure out what you are good at and what of that is worth being paid for and spend your time building a portfolio of work that you can use to get a full time job making games.
2) don't waste the next 4 years trying to make a whole game in your part time. It's IMPOSSIBLE!! Nobody can do it. don't listen to people who tell you that it's doable. It's not. Sad, but true. You are going to have to get to do this as a real job before you start making any real progress.
I did this and this is the way to do it. I now work my ass off making games for a living, but now i'm not working my ass off wishing i had time to make games in my spare time.
#5
I can only suggest, from my own experience, to use those spare moments that are found between activities (walking to the bathroom at work, driving, brushing your teeth) to develop a solid idea of what you want in your game. The more solid your idea is when you sit down to work on it, the more motivation you'll have to see it through. If you look forward to the end of the workday, not because you get to go home, but because you get to go home to flesh out this image of yours, then you are in a good place.
09/04/2006 (7:58 am)
"Life gets in the way of art."I can only suggest, from my own experience, to use those spare moments that are found between activities (walking to the bathroom at work, driving, brushing your teeth) to develop a solid idea of what you want in your game. The more solid your idea is when you sit down to work on it, the more motivation you'll have to see it through. If you look forward to the end of the workday, not because you get to go home, but because you get to go home to flesh out this image of yours, then you are in a good place.
#6
I know the feeling, took a full time (perminant) .NET Technical Lead spot at logicalsolutions.net in April and have very little time to-do anything outside of work and family. Find myself working from ~7AM - ~7PM daily and then doing another 2 or more hours of work after the kids are put to bed. Before this position I was a C# .NET contractor working from 9AM - 5PM with loads of free time and was able to spend a couple of hours a night working on things I enjoyed.
Its a huge trade off, whats more important? working on side projects that result in nothing more than a resume bullet or makeing money putting food on the table and paying the bills. I choose to former seeing that I have 3 kids etc.
09/04/2006 (10:37 am)
@Rob,I know the feeling, took a full time (perminant) .NET Technical Lead spot at logicalsolutions.net in April and have very little time to-do anything outside of work and family. Find myself working from ~7AM - ~7PM daily and then doing another 2 or more hours of work after the kids are put to bed. Before this position I was a C# .NET contractor working from 9AM - 5PM with loads of free time and was able to spend a couple of hours a night working on things I enjoyed.
Its a huge trade off, whats more important? working on side projects that result in nothing more than a resume bullet or makeing money putting food on the table and paying the bills. I choose to former seeing that I have 3 kids etc.
#7
09/04/2006 (11:38 am)
I had lots of free time for game dev projects until about two weeks ago. My boss sold his pizza place, and now I'm the store manager. The salary is nice, but now I'm working 8-12 hours a day. Exhausted. I feel your pain, Rob, just keep plugging away when you can.
Torque 3D Owner Phil Carlisle