Calling it Quits - What I've learned here, and what will happen to my game
Akake on 2008/09/12 16:50
of The Laughing Fox
I've decided, in a calm mindset, after being talked down from major drama-ism, to just let this one go.
I'll be making Friba the Freebnot, but after the compo is over, and after I've gotten a couple other, simpler platformers under my belt.
I'm just gonna kick back, ride it out, play the entries, and be more prepared next time. :)
So this is pretty much it. It's been a bit of a roller-coaster for me, but I've learned some things about game making.
1.Keep simplicity in mind, or it will escape you:
----My movement scripting was vastly more complex than it needed to be. I had this problem because I didn't spend time figuring things out before the compo, and moreover because I didn't keep the timeless mantra "Keep It Simple, Stupid" in my heart, mind, and other cheesy parts of me.
2.Never code when you're upset:
----Anyone who read this or has been on #pyweek the past couple days can probably figure out how I found this out. It you're getting frustrated, take a break, go get something to eat, take a nap, play with your dog, or anything else that helps you calm down. You won't find solutions to any but the most obvious errors while you're angry.
3.Always look for help on IRC, but try your best to keep a level head:
----*Raises hand guiltily* I had this issue. I blew off #pyweek until yesterday, and even then, go to people for help with bugs as I found them, which was not a time when I was particularly calm. The people on #pyweek are very kindly patient, but this is not something to take advantage of.
4.It pays to make friends:
----One thing I found out is that if you make friends with your competitors, they're more liekly to want to help you. C'mon, who isn't more likely to help a friend? ;)
5.Remember:It's a game about games. It's not for keeps!:
----This is a problem I had, and I want to share it because I feel that I should at least say it if just to keep it in my mind. There's no firing squad if you quit, but the people who wanted to play your game may be bummed out if you aren't going to finish it later and post it on Pygame.org. There are no angry mobs if your game isn't fun or doesn't work. There's no million dollar prize if you win. It's a game.
Sometimes I need to be reminded of stuff like that :P
I'm shelving Friba the Freebnot. I'm going to make it once I've gone back and learned a thing or two about basic platformers. By then, I'll probably be able to do something with the concept, even something really simple.
Besides, she looks too cool to not use. I surprised myself with my Inkscape skills. Heh, all those games I did assets for but never coded payed off! XD
It's been fun overall, though. I really look forward to the next Pyweek, and I'll be more prepared for it! ^_^
*Takes a deep breath, and smiles*
This time around, though, like, I imagine, alot of peoples' first game making compo, I'm gonna take what I learned, what I can use, and all that, and just relax, play the entries, and try to do better next time.
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Tee on
2008/09/12 19:13:
Well, see you next time then. :)