Burnt Out Feeling
by John E. Nelson · 12/06/2009 (7:49 pm) · 12 comments
I am suffering from that Burnt out feeling right now, and I really hate that. It's a case of the game Development Bla's, and it feels awful.
Do you ever get burnt out when you are looking at the same video game projects for a very long time?
Seriously I have even been working on our games even on my vacation using a laptop.
Now I don't even want to read, look, or touch game development right now.
Today I came to the GarageGames.com site, (opps, I mean torque powered) to get some inspiration.
But right now I think I am going to take a break from it all till January at least.
Maybe I need to go to GDC in March and drink with some old friends, tell war stories, get the blood pumping again. I don't know, I am just not excited about scripting/coding, working in 3D Studio, or making textures in Photoshop, or editing audio in Adobe Soundbooth.
It's a job I have been doing for so many years that I am a bit sick of computers too.
A lot of my friends have left the industry, and that makes me feel old too. As studios get closed everywhere, many guys are just going into something else now. Money for investment in games is harder to get now.
I am sure we all go through these phases, and I am sure after I take a break from it, like a real vacation, I will get better. It's just that I need that jolt of inspiration to hit me, and jump start the developer part of my brain again, because right now it has flat lined.
I am sure I am not alone in this, but sometimes it feels like it.
Do you ever get burnt out when you are looking at the same video game projects for a very long time?
Seriously I have even been working on our games even on my vacation using a laptop.
Now I don't even want to read, look, or touch game development right now.
Today I came to the GarageGames.com site, (opps, I mean torque powered) to get some inspiration.
But right now I think I am going to take a break from it all till January at least.
Maybe I need to go to GDC in March and drink with some old friends, tell war stories, get the blood pumping again. I don't know, I am just not excited about scripting/coding, working in 3D Studio, or making textures in Photoshop, or editing audio in Adobe Soundbooth.
It's a job I have been doing for so many years that I am a bit sick of computers too.
A lot of my friends have left the industry, and that makes me feel old too. As studios get closed everywhere, many guys are just going into something else now. Money for investment in games is harder to get now.
I am sure we all go through these phases, and I am sure after I take a break from it, like a real vacation, I will get better. It's just that I need that jolt of inspiration to hit me, and jump start the developer part of my brain again, because right now it has flat lined.
I am sure I am not alone in this, but sometimes it feels like it.
About the author
An experienced producer of interactive media and games going back to the 90's.
#2
It can happen playing a favorite game for 6 years. I returned to the game after it hit it's 10th year anniversary and played for just a few months and quit again.
At some point I realised there was no real challenge and therefore lost interest.
I even took a break from Torque for a long time.
There is so much to learn with a game engine. Somebody once said "The better you know what is done, the easier it will be to know what to do".
So, I spend much of my time in quiet study of Torque, while I teach myself to use 3ds Max.
In my career job for 25 years of building electric signs, I have designed, sold, fabricated, Installed, and serviced every type of sign there is and I stayed on top of the new Tech as it came to market just to be ready for the next challenge.
It's when you reach this point that the challenge is gone, you have exploited every avenue to your fullest advantage and nothing surprises you,.. it's when your such a huge asset in the industry when you can take a call from a journeyman on the phone with a problem they cannot solve on-sight.. Walk them through the process and fix the sign without being there!... Thats when I took a career change. Been professionally welding anything thrown at me for the last 4 years.
I guess what I am saying is:
You likely have reached your maximum potential for the Development parts that interest you and the challenge is gone.
When you no longer go home at the end of the day with a feeling that you've accomplished something, then yes, it's time to take a break.
Inspiration will not come if you have lost interest.
I can relate to your dilema because I was in the same situation for the last 4 years. I decided I will start new in the electric sign business as an owner, to keep my interest elevated, I will tackle the one thing that never really interested me much.. Bending Neon glass.
Sure for me, I have done some minor repairs of it, but I have never really started out with a 4ft glass rod and melted it into some shape of a Letter or Bowling Pin, or even the form of a Car...
I decided that for the next 25 years I will tackle the art of bending glass and make a living of it.
So, you see.. my profession and yours are not all that seperate.
I believe that if you take a step back,.. Look upon the thing you have done already, you will appreciate what there is left to do.
Perhaps this is where your Inspiration will come from.
12/06/2009 (9:41 pm)
Getting burned out is common for anything you do in life.It can happen playing a favorite game for 6 years. I returned to the game after it hit it's 10th year anniversary and played for just a few months and quit again.
At some point I realised there was no real challenge and therefore lost interest.
I even took a break from Torque for a long time.
There is so much to learn with a game engine. Somebody once said "The better you know what is done, the easier it will be to know what to do".
So, I spend much of my time in quiet study of Torque, while I teach myself to use 3ds Max.
In my career job for 25 years of building electric signs, I have designed, sold, fabricated, Installed, and serviced every type of sign there is and I stayed on top of the new Tech as it came to market just to be ready for the next challenge.
It's when you reach this point that the challenge is gone, you have exploited every avenue to your fullest advantage and nothing surprises you,.. it's when your such a huge asset in the industry when you can take a call from a journeyman on the phone with a problem they cannot solve on-sight.. Walk them through the process and fix the sign without being there!... Thats when I took a career change. Been professionally welding anything thrown at me for the last 4 years.
I guess what I am saying is:
You likely have reached your maximum potential for the Development parts that interest you and the challenge is gone.
When you no longer go home at the end of the day with a feeling that you've accomplished something, then yes, it's time to take a break.
Inspiration will not come if you have lost interest.
I can relate to your dilema because I was in the same situation for the last 4 years. I decided I will start new in the electric sign business as an owner, to keep my interest elevated, I will tackle the one thing that never really interested me much.. Bending Neon glass.
Sure for me, I have done some minor repairs of it, but I have never really started out with a 4ft glass rod and melted it into some shape of a Letter or Bowling Pin, or even the form of a Car...
I decided that for the next 25 years I will tackle the art of bending glass and make a living of it.
So, you see.. my profession and yours are not all that seperate.
I believe that if you take a step back,.. Look upon the thing you have done already, you will appreciate what there is left to do.
Perhaps this is where your Inspiration will come from.
#3
What is fabled thing you call a real vacation?
uhhh ... I've spent 2 days refighting the India-Pakistan war of '71 on the turnbased strategy SPMBT ... not terribly productive on the Torque game creation front.
I'm sure the darker, colder time of winter doesn't help here.
But back to the herculean game dev effort tomorrow.
12/06/2009 (9:48 pm)
Quote:
take a break from it, like a real vacation
What is fabled thing you call a real vacation?
uhhh ... I've spent 2 days refighting the India-Pakistan war of '71 on the turnbased strategy SPMBT ... not terribly productive on the Torque game creation front.
I'm sure the darker, colder time of winter doesn't help here.
But back to the herculean game dev effort tomorrow.
#4
12/06/2009 (10:24 pm)
Everyone gets burnt out a bit and I am sure the winter coming doesn't help as it causes people to become slightly depressed because of being kept in (for those who live in frigid places at least). Best thing you can do as some mentioned is take a break if you can and do something totally different or just do something relaxing if possible. Just need to recharge the batteries every now and then. 
#5
Even though we're all working on ZDay as a hobby I can see that it's easy to become jaded and cynical in the game industry...
Holidays and breaks are good and much needed! :D
12/07/2009 (12:00 am)
I've been working on ZDay for about 2 years, and was working on assets that I bought to the game for about year or so prior to that... (the mists of time are bit clouded these days). We've just agreed on a 2 month break/ go slow for the team so we can all get some inspiration back. Even though we're all working on ZDay as a hobby I can see that it's easy to become jaded and cynical in the game industry...
Holidays and breaks are good and much needed! :D
#6
In my case, the best way to get out of the feeling is trying to do something related to it but completely different. Reading a book with a similar environment is good as you can get new ideas. Play games with similar rules. Do some research in related (non technical) topics. Or just go on vacations with the family and forget everything. In time I start thinking about what I have managed to complete and all the time and money invested. And suddently I notice it would be dumb to just leave everything there and the next thing I know is I'm back again and programming.
Take your time... but get back... don't get into another project.
Luck!
Guimo
12/07/2009 (12:14 am)
I think everybody here has got that feeling at some time and it is a recurrent feeling. Sometimes its just depression. Sometimes you are just tired. Remember game programming may be entertaining but it is still a job and you need to get a break from it.In my case, the best way to get out of the feeling is trying to do something related to it but completely different. Reading a book with a similar environment is good as you can get new ideas. Play games with similar rules. Do some research in related (non technical) topics. Or just go on vacations with the family and forget everything. In time I start thinking about what I have managed to complete and all the time and money invested. And suddently I notice it would be dumb to just leave everything there and the next thing I know is I'm back again and programming.
Take your time... but get back... don't get into another project.
Luck!
Guimo
#7
I may not have been as worn out as some people but i was still a little sick of just making simple gameplay/environments. I guess I felt like i wasn't working fast enough as I was still in the TGEA/T3D learning curve at that stage.
Anyway, good luck and I hope you feel inspired soon :)
12/07/2009 (7:23 am)
I had the same feeling about 6 months into my project, N.E.R(which is now on hiatus funnily enough =P) and i watch some making of videos from some collector's edition games i have (fable, halo, oblivion, etc...) and played throught the left 4 dead developers commentary, and i was back into gear a week later.I may not have been as worn out as some people but i was still a little sick of just making simple gameplay/environments. I guess I felt like i wasn't working fast enough as I was still in the TGEA/T3D learning curve at that stage.
Anyway, good luck and I hope you feel inspired soon :)
#8
I can't afford a month or two break so it's why I have something that's completely different (in every way) to distract me and reset my brain. In my case it's mountain-biking, particularly down-hilling.
I think that too much of one thing is extremely bad. I guess this applies to everything whether that be food, routine, hobby, work, whatever.
Go get distracted, come back with a fresh perspective.
12/07/2009 (7:56 am)
I get the same feeling, working on T2D month after month. You get low even though (for me) it's the greatest job I've ever had and I believe in what I'm doing heart and soul.I can't afford a month or two break so it's why I have something that's completely different (in every way) to distract me and reset my brain. In my case it's mountain-biking, particularly down-hilling.
I think that too much of one thing is extremely bad. I guess this applies to everything whether that be food, routine, hobby, work, whatever.
Go get distracted, come back with a fresh perspective.
#9
Never forget that we have a powerful enemy who works tirelessly to distract you from your purpose and laughs in victory at every moment when your heart is low or you tire from pursuing your dreams.
12/07/2009 (10:37 am)
I find that playing some other games (like Asheron's Call that Scott mentioned unless I miss my mark!) always gives me inspiration to keep going, as does focusing on small tasks which drive the project forward. It reminds you of the wonders of exploration and things that are new. I've been following Tribulation Knights for a long time and think it deserves to see the light of day. Never forget that we have a powerful enemy who works tirelessly to distract you from your purpose and laughs in victory at every moment when your heart is low or you tire from pursuing your dreams.
#10
i second that, a good hobby or better a sport, so you can relax and thinking in others things...
12/07/2009 (11:29 am)
Quote:Go get distracted, come back with a fresh perspective.
i second that, a good hobby or better a sport, so you can relax and thinking in others things...
#11
If you're available for an interview, I'd love to talk to you about Tribulation Knights for an article I'm writing for Ars Technica. Please drop me a note at mike dot thompson at arstechnica dot com
12/11/2009 (5:05 am)
John,If you're available for an interview, I'd love to talk to you about Tribulation Knights for an article I'm writing for Ars Technica. Please drop me a note at mike dot thompson at arstechnica dot com
Torque Owner Johnny Vo