Plan for Jeremy Alessi
by Jeremy Alessi · 08/19/2005 (10:22 pm) · 5 comments
I've been coming across a lot of people lately who have big dreams for games, writing, singing, acting, music ... everything really ... the other thing they have is a lack of physical understanding.
In my life I've gone from pudgy or generally out of shape to physically cut about 3 - 4 times. Everytime that I decide I'm getting out of shape I go back and start running, lifting, and playing some sports such as tennis, basketball, or surfing. Eventually after a few months I lean back out and redefine myself ... literally.
This is something that's been a big part of my life this summer and tonight in particular since I went pants shopping ;) I have a wedding to go to tomorrow so I had to buy a pair of slacks ... imagine my surprise when a 32 was too large and I actually needed a size 31. This is down from a size 34 (which was getting tight) in April. I literally swim in a size 34 now. Anyway, back to the point!
Whenever I get back out to exercise for the first time after a long hiatus I've got to start small. Two weeks ago I began running 2.5 miles every other day up from 1.2 miles. A month prior I was only doing 1 mile and way back when I began (again) I was only sprinting a 1/4 mile at a time and taking 1/10th mile walking breaks in between.
This whole thing applies very much to anything you accomplish in your life and just as much with video game development as with your body. This is where all those slackers I mentioned above come in. All of them want to skip the early baby steps to work their way up to their 10k marathon. They just want to run the marathon without all the prep work and then get all the glory. Of course they never finish the marathon ... and then they wonder why!
I don't care whether you want to make games, write a book, cut a record, or surf the North Shore of Oahu ... start small and go from conception to completion on as many projects as you can! Master the process over and over with larger and larger goals each time so that your brain doesn't die out before you can finish each goal. Push yourself each time of course but just past the point of the Burn and onto completion of the goal. You want to just get past the burn and have your goal waiting for you each time. If you set the goal to far ahead of the burn then your muscles (brain or bi's) will give in and you'll burn out.
As it applies to the body so does it apply to games. You can look at yourself in the mirror and imagine yourself being in great shape very easily. Just as easily you can whip up the ultimate game in your head.
Of course what happens when you 'imagine' that you're in good shape and then go out and try to run a mile or two off the bat? Yeah, that's right you stop running and puke your guts out because your body isn't in sync with your abstract imagination.
When you make games ... the same thing happens. If you attempt to go for the big one without working out ... completing the equivalent of the 1/4 mile run in games, the 1/2 mile run, the mile run, and so on you choke and puke your guts out figuratively.
Your brain is a muscle just like any other. If you want your muscles to perform a task then you've got to work them slowly up to that task by completing a 1/4 mile at a time (sounds very Fast & Furious I know). Nothing else matters (doh)!
All kidding aside ... don't try to run a marathon when you're not in shape ... you'll have a heart attack ... and don't try to create the next Harry Potter, Half-Life, 5th symphony ... or whatever without working out and stretching your brain just as you'd do with all your other muscles before attempting to run a 10k.
In my life I've gone from pudgy or generally out of shape to physically cut about 3 - 4 times. Everytime that I decide I'm getting out of shape I go back and start running, lifting, and playing some sports such as tennis, basketball, or surfing. Eventually after a few months I lean back out and redefine myself ... literally.
This is something that's been a big part of my life this summer and tonight in particular since I went pants shopping ;) I have a wedding to go to tomorrow so I had to buy a pair of slacks ... imagine my surprise when a 32 was too large and I actually needed a size 31. This is down from a size 34 (which was getting tight) in April. I literally swim in a size 34 now. Anyway, back to the point!
Whenever I get back out to exercise for the first time after a long hiatus I've got to start small. Two weeks ago I began running 2.5 miles every other day up from 1.2 miles. A month prior I was only doing 1 mile and way back when I began (again) I was only sprinting a 1/4 mile at a time and taking 1/10th mile walking breaks in between.
This whole thing applies very much to anything you accomplish in your life and just as much with video game development as with your body. This is where all those slackers I mentioned above come in. All of them want to skip the early baby steps to work their way up to their 10k marathon. They just want to run the marathon without all the prep work and then get all the glory. Of course they never finish the marathon ... and then they wonder why!
I don't care whether you want to make games, write a book, cut a record, or surf the North Shore of Oahu ... start small and go from conception to completion on as many projects as you can! Master the process over and over with larger and larger goals each time so that your brain doesn't die out before you can finish each goal. Push yourself each time of course but just past the point of the Burn and onto completion of the goal. You want to just get past the burn and have your goal waiting for you each time. If you set the goal to far ahead of the burn then your muscles (brain or bi's) will give in and you'll burn out.
As it applies to the body so does it apply to games. You can look at yourself in the mirror and imagine yourself being in great shape very easily. Just as easily you can whip up the ultimate game in your head.
Of course what happens when you 'imagine' that you're in good shape and then go out and try to run a mile or two off the bat? Yeah, that's right you stop running and puke your guts out because your body isn't in sync with your abstract imagination.
When you make games ... the same thing happens. If you attempt to go for the big one without working out ... completing the equivalent of the 1/4 mile run in games, the 1/2 mile run, the mile run, and so on you choke and puke your guts out figuratively.
Your brain is a muscle just like any other. If you want your muscles to perform a task then you've got to work them slowly up to that task by completing a 1/4 mile at a time (sounds very Fast & Furious I know). Nothing else matters (doh)!
All kidding aside ... don't try to run a marathon when you're not in shape ... you'll have a heart attack ... and don't try to create the next Harry Potter, Half-Life, 5th symphony ... or whatever without working out and stretching your brain just as you'd do with all your other muscles before attempting to run a 10k.
About the author
#2
08/19/2005 (11:17 pm)
I started doing this and I am finally happy instead of stressed out about making games. You are so right. Plus, it's much better to have a well rounded life with many different joys instead of just always obsessing about one thing that is always out of reach. The great part about keeping it reasonable is that you get to enjoy actually reaching your goals... cause you reach them. And everytime you reach your goal you are ready for a bit bigger goal. It's not overnight success. But that no fun anyway.
#3
08/20/2005 (2:42 am)
Excellent blog!
#4
08/20/2005 (3:58 am)
Pretty accurate article I would think.
#5
When I look at doing something new game making wise, I quickly sketch out a design for the game and list all of the programming features, be it the type of camera system, ui and it's subsystems, and so on.
Then I don't make the game, but make those features.
For example, if I wanted a World of Warcraft type of camera, then I would make that. Then do the next thing and so on.
Then, once I have a most (not necessarily all) of the features, then I can implement them in the game and then see if it works, and toss it out if it doesn't.
It may sound like a lot of work, but this acts like the practice and mini-marathons mentioned in the plan.
You get to work out on a small achievable item, and if it turns out, you can keep it as a piece of your main goal, the game.
08/20/2005 (9:37 am)
Good advice.When I look at doing something new game making wise, I quickly sketch out a design for the game and list all of the programming features, be it the type of camera system, ui and it's subsystems, and so on.
Then I don't make the game, but make those features.
For example, if I wanted a World of Warcraft type of camera, then I would make that. Then do the next thing and so on.
Then, once I have a most (not necessarily all) of the features, then I can implement them in the game and then see if it works, and toss it out if it doesn't.
It may sound like a lot of work, but this acts like the practice and mini-marathons mentioned in the plan.
You get to work out on a small achievable item, and if it turns out, you can keep it as a piece of your main goal, the game.
Associate Ben Garney