#But it ain't me and it would therefore project an image and expectations that I don't meet

[palehandgame]

Finishing Projects & Me

Lately, I've been thinking and working through the issue of finishing a project.

I know it's definitely not an uncommon problem in any independent scene, but it's certainly more problematic in independent game development due to the complexity of making games.

The motivation to make games extends firstly from inspiration and secondly from ambition.

In my experience, ambition has been the scariest part.

Ambition inspires questions like:

Is this what my audience expects?

Will the time invested in this payoff?

If it doesn't pay off, will it harm me?

What if my other projects would be more successful?

And on and on ...

and on...

Inevitably, new inspiration hits, a formerly loved project sits incomplete, and time marches on.

So what do I do?

Should I abandon ambition and focus on creation?

That seems like the proper practice, but what does that entail about independent game development and successful ambition?

Consider this:

Videogames are an INTERACTIVE MEDIUM. Meaning, they derive all value from being directly interacted with.

If people aren't playing your game, then what is it?

A dream. An idea. At best, a popular mockup...

but it ain't a game.

Animated gifs and screenshots are NOT interactive!

Therefore if that's all you've offered, your work is incomplete no matter how glossy the images and gameplay previews are.

So, to revisit the earlier question, "should I abandon ambition and focus on creation?'

The answer is bitter and sobering, but the truth is...

If it is not playable and available to people for play, then there IS NO AMBITION because there are NO PLAYERS!

And if there is no ambition without players, then what should YOU be doing?

Creating your game.

Demoing your game.

Finish your game!

Here's to a productive 2024.

I hope everyone who reads this finishes their projects with a renewed fervor and motivation to succeed.

Take all those likes and follows and make them players.

-Barry Burce (Pale Hand)

[the-busy-ghost]

First world problems I know but trying to make a cosy space that expresses your personality when your floor is grey fake wood is a nightmare