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Geek Culture / SERIOUS programmer's block :/

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UFO
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Joined: 11th Oct 2005
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Posted: 26th May 2008 23:59 Edited at: 27th May 2008 00:00
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I haven't been able to program for long lengths of time for over a year now, since I ditched Bomb Roller 2. I really want to get back to programming, but I just can't make myself for longer than a few days. Has this happened to any of you? And what have you done to get over it?

I used to be good at finishing the projects I started, but now I have about 10 projects that I barely even started. All I have finished is a small hangman game :/
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Xenocythe
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Joined: 26th May 2005
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Posted: 27th May 2008 00:03
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Yes, I know how you feel.

We start one thing, lack motivation for it, think of something that appeals to be better worth your time and more fun to make, and so on in a circle.

The result is a circle of bugged and incomplete mini-3D set ups that lack whats needed to be called a game.

While its true that we could pull it off, we get bored, and tired of doing the lame work and boring programming portions it takes to create a game. If only it was actually click and drag

I'm aiming to create a team of people now, which would probably work better. This way, you know everyone else is getting stuff done, so you have the motivation to keep up with them and complete your friggin game.

Meh, it's the hobbyist programmer's life.

3.11 We do not tolerate posts made for the purpose of putting down another forum member, group of members, religion, our company, our staff or any of our moderators, past or present.
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draknir_
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Posted: 27th May 2008 01:01
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I had that for a while a few years ago, I found that just sitting at my pc waiting for it wasn't working. You need to get outside, play other games, watch movies, draw stuff, write stuff, just anything creative OTHER than programming. Thats how I found my inspiration again, and now I have more game ideas I want to work on than I know what to do with! Its always a challenge to stick with a single project, but if you have the right inspiration and motivation you can do it. Thats what you need to find again: the reason you wanted to lock yourself up in a room and program for 12 hours on end in the first place.
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UFO
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Posted: 27th May 2008 01:05 Edited at: 27th May 2008 01:17
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That's what I have been doing. Every few months or so I try again, but give up after a day or two. Then I go back to doing everything else. Maybe I'm TOO distracted by everything else?

I'm taking an online java class during the summer. It might help.

Edit: I think it is that I have been on the computer too much recently and I'm just not as creative anymore. I've been hopping from hobby to hobby and I just can't stick to them for very long. I will try to use the computer less and do other things I guess.
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dagger24
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Posted: 27th May 2008 01:48
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I feel your pain. Really. I've had similar experiences. I usually don't program for a year. Then come back to it.
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Libervurto
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Posted: 27th May 2008 03:35
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I had the same thing for about a year too
do you immediately feel bored as soon as you open the editor?
don't force yourself, try to use the same kind thinking in other ways, I tried programming on a calculator. Get a new perspective on coding that will open up new inspiration.

It is far better to complete a 10 line program than to start a 10,000 line program.
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Beast E Gargoyle
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Posted: 27th May 2008 05:07
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Programming isn't readily fun for me, but I put my mind and determine to finish a project and keep working untill I have something together. That's how I solve my problems, but than again I'm def not a great programmer atleast yet.

Streets of Rage the best 3d beat em up ever check out the wip on apollo forums!
The Last Great Swordsmen Wip here http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=124414&b=19
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Gil Galvanti
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Location: Texas, United States
Posted: 27th May 2008 05:53
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If you don't like programming, then just stop, don't force yourself to keep doing it or you'll like it even less, just take a few weeks to do whatever...watch movies, play games, etc.


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5Louiz
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Posted: 27th May 2008 18:12 Edited at: 27th May 2008 18:15
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aham Bedroom programmers program because they enjoy seeing things happening. If you do not have to make something happen, you do not have any motivation, and should quit - probably temporarily, until you have a really exiting challenge. That is the main point of every effort the life, I believe.

Every task can sound boring and depressing if you do not have a dream behind it. Actually, when you have a too concrete objective, you tend to lose interest.

Just do what will make you happy right now. Forcing things to be priorities is not a healthy thing, my person believes.

Cheers.

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RUCCUS
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Posted: 27th May 2008 19:11
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Yep, not sure if Im even remembered anymore on the DBP and Necommers boards but I used to visit there every day helping people with code, writing tutorials and mini snippets, and programming new projects every week, I had a few really promising projects going that I wanted to show the community when I had finished. Then I suddenly just dropped programming all together, sure I still do it for school, but I had like a reality check. Just thought to myself "alright, do I really want to end up sitting down hunched over a computer screen writing novels worth of code that only I and other programmers could appreciate?". So I switched mind sets, now Im doing art more, Ill still get into the games industry, but visually instead of "behind the scenes".

"Id rather be the guy that designed the awesome alien-controlled battle station, than the guy who made it possible for the player to collide with it." - Me

< /rant >

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Omega gamer 89
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Posted: 27th May 2008 20:53
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Whenever I get Programmer's block, I pick up one of my favorite older games. I look at it and I say "Wow, this is great! I've gotta make something like this." And it re-inspires me. Right now I'm using "Legend of Legaia" for inspiration. Great game for the PS1.

...but I am the ferret king!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! tremble before my ferret minions!

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Seppuku Arts
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Joined: 18th Aug 2004
Location: Cambridgeshire, England
Posted: 28th May 2008 01:05
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I've gone long periods without programming and it's hard to get back into - education has mostly stood in the way, plus with my dislike for my computer I've not felt encouraged to do much. However, I've just started small with something thats got me going, a text adventure, with Matt Rock's Text Adventure Comp on the horizon, it's worth giving it a go - if you can program yourself an engine to accomodate for such a thing, then you have an aim and what you do does haven't to be demanding - unless you feel once you're into it that "A parser needs to go there, this could be more advanced, etc."

Or other small things, I guess starting with small things like newbies do, is also a way to get back into the game and inspired.

"Experience never provides its judgments with true or strict universality; but only (through induction) with assumed and comparative universality." - Immanuel Kant
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tha_rami
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Joined: 25th Mar 2006
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Posted: 28th May 2008 01:14
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Oh no... Seppuku is entering too...


A mod has been erased by your signature because it was larger than 600x120
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revenant chaos
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Location: Robbinsdale, MN
Posted: 28th May 2008 02:04
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when that happens, i play alot of other video games and try to figure out how i could replicate every aspect. That usually gets things going for me because I end up thinking up another application for the same idea.
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UFO
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Posted: 28th May 2008 03:14
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Its not that I want to force myself to program, its that I want to make myself enjoy programming.

Thanks, guys. I'll do some other stuff then. I've been trying to learn to draw.

Quote: "Just thought to myself "alright, do I really want to end up sitting down hunched over a computer screen writing novels worth of code that only I and other programmers could appreciate?". So I switched mind sets, now Im doing art more, Ill still get into the games industry, but visually instead of "behind the scenes"."


That's what I thought a while ago, but then I saw one of my games on several game sites, and then I understood how programming games helps. Maybe its not the amount of people who play it, but more about learning how to program in general for college/jobs. I might eventually focus on web programming, but I'd rather stick to DB for now.
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BiggAdd
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Posted: 28th May 2008 11:21 Edited at: 28th May 2008 11:40
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I know how you feel. I've been going through artists block recently. Hate it.

Btw 5Louiz, Love the sig! Reminds me very much of the Mario Galaxy title screen. Good job

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5Louiz
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Joined: 15th Nov 2006
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Posted: 28th May 2008 17:40
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Thank you. ^^ Notice, though, that mine does not cowardly hide its aggressive message like Mario Galaxy's does.

Talking about blocks, I recommend a film. It is called "Secret Window", and is based on "Secret Window, Secret Garden", a Stephen King's nouvelle. The story spins around the block of Mort Rainey, a fictional writer whose mind gets lost between his life and his book. Not much of reality the filme contains, but its fictional intensity is what I find inspiring. It has some heavy scenes, so make sure that you can watch it. It is very catching.


Cheers.

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