Mantras

Game development is the ultimate creative endeavor, with the potential to bring all forms of art, music, science and mathematics together. So it's no wonder why game developers often struggle with lack of motivation and creativity.

We have gathered experiences and advice from game developers in the community to create this reference to help you "debug" your motivation "errors" and get you productive again.

Too Large of Scope

Scope refers to the boundaries and limitations of a game development project, including its goals, timeline, and resources. It outlines what the project will and will not include, and helps ensure that the project stays on track and meets its objectives.

Lack of Clear Goals

Without clear goals, it can be difficult to stay motivated. Set specific and achievable goals for each task or project, and create a timeline for completion. Having a clear sense of direction can help maintain focus and motivation throughout a long project. So take the time to step away and lay out your design ideas in an organized list of priorities of what you need to get done. Making a checklist out of them often helps.

Negative Feedback or Harsh Criticism

In all cases, remember that criticism is an opportunity for growth and improvement. Take a constructive approach, listen to feedback, and use it to make the project better, or embrace it to fuel and inspire you to prove them wrong.

Perfectionism & Fear of Failure

Striving for perfection can be paralyzing and lead to procrastination. Accept that not everything will be perfect, and focus on making progress instead of achieving perfection with every step. Embrace imperfection and any failures as part of the learning process and a necessary step towards improvement.

Lack of Inspiration or Interest

If you don't see how to align your new interests with your current project, then make a decision to only allow yourself to start the more interesting project after you have completed the current one. Use your interest and inspiration in your next project as your reward and let that fuel your motivation towards

Isolation & Loneliness

As hobby game developers, we are usually working solo in secluded spaces for long times, hyper focused on our projects, and happily introverted. But introverted or not, working alone for long periods can be isolating and demotivating. So don't forget to check in with yourself if you start to feel too detached from others. 

Unsupported

At the same time and just as important, listen to what they have to say, and reflect on it. We can indeed get carried away by our passion projects and neglect people or responsibilities that should have more priority in our lives. The important thing is to communicate and adjust your life so that you don't feel guilty of the time you do spend in the hobby and the people around you will be more encouraging of time spent here as well.

Working Too Long

Ask any programmer because we have all experienced regretting so many wasted hours staring blankly at a problem, only to give up feeling defeated, going to bed, and then immediately realizing the solution when we wake up. We all wish we just took the necessary break sooner and paid better attention to our body's need for food and/or rest.

Imposter Syndrome

This is a common feeling among game developers. Game development is a field that stretches into many disciplines of learning, and each corner of the hobby can be learned to a great depth. It involves math, language, logic, art, music, writing, story telling, design, and more. Each of us have different strengths and skills and it's near impossible to be great in all of those aspects.

Lost Intrinsic Motivation

Many of us don't actuall

Lost Intrinsic Motivation

Many of us don't actuall

Lost Intrinsic Motivation

Many of us don't actuall

Images in this Guide by NerdyTeachers is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0