Plan for David Cobb
by David Cobb · 03/06/2005 (2:07 am) · 5 comments
Yeah, that's right, you heard me. I hate Torque2D, but it's not like you're thinking. Now that I've got access to a pretty cool 2D engine (T2D) I'm finding it hard to decide what to actually make. I'm stuck in what you might call analysis paralysis. I've got a number of ideas, but none of them seem to be "the one." I can't make my mind up on which one to try and hack together a prototype for first. Either they're too small, too derivative, or too big. Mostly, I can't seem to get excited about any of them. I'm excited about particle effects, I'm excited about AI, I'm excited about pretty graphics...I'm just not into any of the ideas I've come up with so far.
I made the decision to just cut/paste/change the tutorial...that was 3 hours ago. I can't bring myself to remake what has already been made. It's crazy, I've almost forgotten everything I used to love about making or playing games. Heh, I guess that might be part of finally getting that real game job. Having your day job be making games just kinda sucks it out of you. Barely a professional and already sick of it.
I always assumed I would be a good game designer. I've got a couple good ideas for 2D games, but they're both dauntingly complex for a first project in an engine. Now i'm trying to come up with the smallest measurable unit of fun and I've got nothing. "Oooh, put the player in...a spaceship...with guns...and enemies...yeah." That's the best I've got and it's demotivating. I can't think of a single sufficiently simple hook for a tiny game. I believe the marketeers refer to that as a USP (unique selling point). Everything I can think of comes directly from some previous game that I either enjoyed or heard about. Nothing is new under the sun.
So I guess I hate Torque2D because it gives me the world and all I can give it is yet another shmup.
*goes to make a last ditch attempt to come up with some original ideas before sleep*
I made the decision to just cut/paste/change the tutorial...that was 3 hours ago. I can't bring myself to remake what has already been made. It's crazy, I've almost forgotten everything I used to love about making or playing games. Heh, I guess that might be part of finally getting that real game job. Having your day job be making games just kinda sucks it out of you. Barely a professional and already sick of it.
I always assumed I would be a good game designer. I've got a couple good ideas for 2D games, but they're both dauntingly complex for a first project in an engine. Now i'm trying to come up with the smallest measurable unit of fun and I've got nothing. "Oooh, put the player in...a spaceship...with guns...and enemies...yeah." That's the best I've got and it's demotivating. I can't think of a single sufficiently simple hook for a tiny game. I believe the marketeers refer to that as a USP (unique selling point). Everything I can think of comes directly from some previous game that I either enjoyed or heard about. Nothing is new under the sun.
So I guess I hate Torque2D because it gives me the world and all I can give it is yet another shmup.
*goes to make a last ditch attempt to come up with some original ideas before sleep*
About the author
Recent Blogs
• Back in the Lab• Oddly Satisfying
• Fruits
• Animation sucks
• Torque Game Builder FTW
#2
Your first effort doesn't have to be your opus. Start small. Remake something that's been done, but make it look cooler, or give yourself a new ability (which also won't be new, but maybe it's from a different source). Take a game that you've played a thousand times and never get tired of, and make it but make different levels. Who wouldn't want to play the levels that never got made for Super Mario Brothers 3?
03/06/2005 (12:22 pm)
I think you nailed it when you said "Nothing is new under the sun."Your first effort doesn't have to be your opus. Start small. Remake something that's been done, but make it look cooler, or give yourself a new ability (which also won't be new, but maybe it's from a different source). Take a game that you've played a thousand times and never get tired of, and make it but make different levels. Who wouldn't want to play the levels that never got made for Super Mario Brothers 3?
#3
Just let things happen. It may take a while, but you'll think of something. You have to let your creative mojo do its thing on its own. That's not to say you should just neglect it and wait for something to pop in your head. You should feed your creative mojo with the end-product of other people's creative mojo - watch movies, play games, observe abstract art. FEED your mojo, and above all, have patience. Stay busy doing tech stuff to keep your skills sharp in the meantime. And before you know it - your mojo will be hatched and fully developed.
At least that's how I do it ;)
03/06/2005 (1:31 pm)
My advice? Just relax! Ideas are like art in that art is like a bird - hold it too loosely, and it will fly away. Hold it to tightly and it will be broken.Just let things happen. It may take a while, but you'll think of something. You have to let your creative mojo do its thing on its own. That's not to say you should just neglect it and wait for something to pop in your head. You should feed your creative mojo with the end-product of other people's creative mojo - watch movies, play games, observe abstract art. FEED your mojo, and above all, have patience. Stay busy doing tech stuff to keep your skills sharp in the meantime. And before you know it - your mojo will be hatched and fully developed.
At least that's how I do it ;)
#4
@Melv: If you delete my subscription I will just put on a truly crafty disguise (sombrero) and repurchase it as Juan Rodriguez. Seriously, though. This is pretty much the engine I've been trying to write for a while now. Of course I probably would've hated my engine just the same if I ever "finished" it. ;) Sidebar: Good job, and I can't wait for the networking to be in.
@Jeff: I'm not looking for an opus, just something with some originality to it. Soon as the networking comes out I'll just port (and finish) my half-finished game over and I'll be pretty happy.
@Bryan: Definitely going to stop forcing it. My day job is coding, so I don't think I have to worry about my skills falling off. ;)
Thanks for the comments guys. I still can't settle on an idea, but at least I feel less crappy about it. Heh.
03/06/2005 (4:03 pm)
All right, I'll admit, I was trying to force the creative process a bit here. I'm going to just play some games, watch movies, and draw stuff (basically what I normally do)...hopefully something will pop into my head from that eventually.@Melv: If you delete my subscription I will just put on a truly crafty disguise (sombrero) and repurchase it as Juan Rodriguez. Seriously, though. This is pretty much the engine I've been trying to write for a while now. Of course I probably would've hated my engine just the same if I ever "finished" it. ;) Sidebar: Good job, and I can't wait for the networking to be in.
@Jeff: I'm not looking for an opus, just something with some originality to it. Soon as the networking comes out I'll just port (and finish) my half-finished game over and I'll be pretty happy.
@Bryan: Definitely going to stop forcing it. My day job is coding, so I don't think I have to worry about my skills falling off. ;)
Thanks for the comments guys. I still can't settle on an idea, but at least I feel less crappy about it. Heh.
#5
It's like the story about the guy who waited all his life to do the Great American Novel. He finally rearranged his life so that he had a year to do it. And when the time finally came... he didn't know what to write.
I think my answer is --- just write. Just code. Just program. Do a GID and see what happens (doesn't have to correspond to an "official" GID). Just PLAY.
Good luck!
03/07/2005 (1:05 pm)
Man, I know the feeling. I feel your pain.It's like the story about the guy who waited all his life to do the Great American Novel. He finally rearranged his life so that he had a year to do it. And when the time finally came... he didn't know what to write.
I think my answer is --- just write. Just code. Just program. Do a GID and see what happens (doesn't have to correspond to an "official" GID). Just PLAY.
Good luck!
Employee Melv May
I'm good at designing software but I'm terrible when it comes to designing games.
All I know is that if I sit down with a pen and paper and try to think of a game, it never works. It's like when a thought is on the edge of conciousness and you try to force yourself to remember it and it never happens until you go watch some TV and then have one of those "eureka!" moments.
I dunno, for T2D, I've enjoyed running-up MAME (multiple arcade machine emulator) and just play some old classics. Immersing yourself may help get those creative juices going again.
Either that or call up 20 friends, get them to purchase T2D and maybe they can help you. heyhey! ;)
- Melv.