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How To Stay Committed To Projects In A One Man Team (Forums : Suggestions : How To Stay Committed To Projects In A One Man Team) Locked
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Oct 23 2013 Anchor

I was wondering if anyone had nay advice on how to stay committed to a project in a one man team and how to properly go about creating a game in a one man team.

I ask this because I often find myself being overloaded with work once I come up with a simple idea I really like that I could possibly finish on my own. How can I regulate my workflow better and not get disheartened to continue my game projects.

Oct 23 2013 Anchor

I started doing weekly Skype meetings with a friend who is also working on a solo project. It's a great way to leverage peer pressure! It's also nice because it keeps me thinking about the project and I can bring things to the meeting that stumped me during the week.

Oct 24 2013 Anchor

About planning
1. Buy extra strong sticky-notes.
2. Read up on scrum and apply it in any way you want. Allaboutagile.com
3. Put up small and reachable goals and milestones.
4. Every task should be small enough to do in less than a day, if it seems like it actually is bigger than one day - figure how to break it up in sub-tasks.
(Work this ensures clear progress.)

When you get a problem with a feature of any kind in your game, prefer the quicker and ugly solution at first to get a proof of concept and when you got the proof make the pretty solution instead.

Too quote Phil Fish (creator of Fez) from a lecture: "Keep it simple stupid!" :)

Edit: I think Kyou said something important in the post below about how being alone can be really hard, by that I just wanted to mention: don't be afraid of getting help with let's say sound and music or maybe graphics. Sometimes you don't wanna be the jack of all trades.

Edited by: Sjonsson

Kyou.
Kyou. Mornin.
Oct 24 2013 Anchor

Goals and milestones. Having reachable goals helps keep you on target and not seem so swamped in work. Break down the work you are currently doing into smaller parts to decrease the chance of becoming fatigued from working. I myself found it easier to work on something if I only focus on the one goal at a time I would recommend looking into setting some goals as it has helped me stay on the right path.

I think alot of people start projects to find out all of a sudden they have alot of work that begins to drown them especially in your case as a solo team. Keep a level head and best of luck!

Oct 24 2013 Anchor

Some good advice here.

Basically if you find yourself forsaking your projects you need to keep scaling down until you start achieving at least prototype / alpha stages.

And for long-term commitment the general rule of thumb is to plan your game projects last up to 3 months. Anything beyond that is more likely to fail, sad as it might be. This is a rule discussed among some experienced game dev hobbyist and I suspect there might be much truth to it.

Edited by: shadowflar3

Oct 24 2013 Anchor

I am doing the same atm. and as I am a entrepreneurand have my own business on the side of work....so mate I know how it is.

But for my is to follow some rules that works for ME, and that makes sens for ME.

1.The clearer the dream/goal is, the clear is it to realize and forge the dream on the path.
This is what i ask my self to when i dont have the motivations:
If you did it perfect how would it be.........and how would the result be if you make it perfect like You want to!! And then you write it down.

2. Motivations is what push you,habits is what keep you going.
Is it is for my I often find out i don't have the motivations now...so i need some ..and then i suddenly waste tons of time on motivate my.
So there is where the Habits come inn.( and if you a read, this is a goood book that are not as mechanic as it sounds, rather it talks about the feelings,inner drive,willpower and thinking vs doing)
Stephencovey.com

Also some good entrepenour rules
(8 to be Great Youtube.com )

Also as you are alone......I would say......its not dangerous to say hey I need some help to something or just throw out ideas and get help and view from others to lead you and guide you when its overwhelming. A key part of being entrepreneur is actual to do what you are best to, and then get other to do what they best on.

Edited by: Hexagon4

Oct 26 2013 Anchor

Thanks for all the great advice guys!

Nov 1 2013 Anchor

Hello all, I'm new here.

I wanted to chime in because I've dealt with this a lot. It's been said but I don't think it can be stressed enough; break up your projects into small, obtainable goals. That makes a world of difference in itself. Seeing those small achievements keep me pumped to keep going.

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