I understand. Sometimes you get burnt out. At least you're not starting multiple projects and not finishing them. That'd be even worse! I'll happily stick around to see what you make next.
@vvcap capo if you feel attacked then lower the scope of your project and actually complete it. What's the point in having ideas if you don't make or complete them?
i don't see _anything_ wrong with starting multiple projects and not finishing them - the idea is that with each project you start, you're learning something new. (this still applies even if you count restarting the same project, with a slightly different structure, as a new project)
@@mattheww1072 it's also worth noting that a lot of the time, some projects are simply not possible - not without lowering the scope so much that it has nothing to do with the original idea anymore, at least
So damn relatable, man... Take all the time you need and finish all the new projects to gather experience and will for your main project. It will pay-off big in the long run. Who knows, maybe the experience you'll get from those 12 projects will make Nightmare Hunter even bigger and better. All the love to you, really dig your devlogs.
I'm a Musician and have gone through the exact same thing as you, starting new ideas all the time but never being able to finish them. At one point I realized that the reason why I had so many unfinished songs was because I was putting too much pressure on myself with each one, stop trying to do *perfect* things, you are not defined by each game or song you make, aspiring to perfection will get you nowhere because it's undefinable hence unachievable. Think to yourself that its more important to finish your ideas, and eventually when you see your finished work, You'll realize the beauty in it.
I agree. And also it´s said in game development: games are not finished, they are abandoned. We usually don´t know when to stop or even how to. Finishing something is not so much about reaching that point we had in mind, but accepting how far we have come and saying: ok, that it´s it. It´s done.
Super feel you, my friend. Game dev is so hard I was developing a game for almost 7 years. This was after completing a very successful game. This new game looks gorgeous and all my fans are extremely excited about it. But I just can't work on it anymore. It's just not what I want to be working on. But I learned a ton making it. Now Im really excited for my new project and super excited for yours as well! Thanks for sharing can't wait to see what you make!
Bro, I genuinely think you need a team to work together. It'll be much more fun brainstorming with each other, and he/she will motivate you to work and vice versa. Working together is just more fun and less tiring than being alone
It's not easy to find people who share such a niche interest. I asked a bunch of people, friends and family, if they'd like to make a game with me, something we could do together. When they weren't interested, I told them, I'd still do almost everything and should it become popular I'd even share the profits equally. In the end, I couldn't even get people to beta test my games. Heck, most people couldn't even be bothered to download my games. Most people have their own shit going on, their own hobbies. Most people don't have the time or a hobby that would make them want to participate in making a game.
@@maythesciencebewithyou it's worth that on the internet, it's a _lot_ easier to find someone with common interests. that's not to say that you're guaranteed to find people of course, but i'd bet it'd be a heck of a lot more likely
i don't know about it being "more tiring" and "less fun" working alone - especially since there's so much that can, and often does, go wrong when the wrong kinds of people work together - just look at the drama surrounding forager (the game), for example. that said, yes, finding someone with common interests is a good _suggestion_
I don't like working in a team because I don't want to have to chase up friends all the time, I don't have the money to pay people, and I don't want to have to commit to finishing the game within a certain timeframe/quality level. I just wanna make stuff cuz it's fun. I *do* however regularly post updates to my friends and chat with them about my game and get design ideas and feedback from them to help keep me motivated. I just won't let them work on the project.
Definitely sticking around! I appreciate how real you are being by sharing what happened to Nightmare Hunter. It's nice to see something that is really down to earth as I feel this happens a lot to game developers including myself so really nice to feel that I am not alone.
Never heard of Nightmare Hunter, just stumbled on this video randomly while looking for tutorials for making my own game/s, but it looks great as does your other games including Big Chicken. This was... surprisingly inspiring and I'm looking forward to seeing what you make this year!
Just discovered your channel and subscribed! The visuals for nightmare hunter look absolutely brilliant but I can understand why you need to take a break from it. I think your plan to make a game every month in 2023 is a great idea. I wish you the best of luck and look forward to future devlogs!
Man, I feel you on so many levels. I have been working on my game for about a year and a half, then maybe a month ago I hit the deepest rut I have ever seen. Been doing some reading on things about Spirtuality and success building trying to find some sort of guidance. But Nightmare Hunter does look really promising the artstyle is genius idk if you have played Nuclear Throne or Enter the Gungeon but I can see this game having a lot of pop or game juice because of the simple artstyle. But whatever you do on your game dev journey just keep at it. One thing I have learned is that video game development will develop you more than you develop the game, so who knows what great ideas you will be able to manifest by the end of the year or even later.
I've been in the same situation for since june, and a few days ago I changed engine and game totally and I feel like my flame's reignited! This is my first video of you and I'll be here for the rest of your journey!
Ayo 12 game 12 months devlogs? Been missing these since Yahtzee finished his. Best of luck! If its reassuring, after Yahtzee finished his 12 games 12 month dev dairies he got back into the swing of things pretty fast. Highly recommend that series. You got this!
Huge respect for taking such a tough decision - it seems to be motivated with positive intention and I really commend you for taking such a difficult step! Take your time with things and whenever a video comes out Ill appreciate and enjoy it
i love your games man SRM is so good and i have spent way too7ch trying to improve my pb in it, keep doing your thing because all of your games are great
God this sounds almost exactly like how my year went. I was thinking about doing smaller projects instead for this year as well! Good luck! Can’t wait to see more!
I DIDN'T KNOW YOU MADE JUMPWIG! Man, thanks to that game I started developing my own rage game with some friends and now I'm a full time indie game developer, you started all my indie career, thank you so much. ♥♥
This happened with my last project as well, 6 months since I officially stopped it i'm now looking at remaking an existing SNES game so I have a clear set of features and goals, love the idea of 12 games for the year, best of luck!
I think you’re doing the healthy thing. You’ve got to have passion for the project. I’ll definitely be sticking around to support Green Box Games on this journey.
Looking forward to seeing what you make! I might do something similar, working on my main game and doing side games to make sure I don’t get burnt out :)
Man, super sad to see nightmare hunter on the shelf, but know that everything you did there was a huge inspiration for me. Excited to see what else you have planned!
Looking forward to seeing what you create this year! I'm just getting started in Game Dev, and I'm focusing on Terrain Building and Player Movement in 3D environments. (Seems like a good place to start).
I've suffered from burn out in the past and it looks like your managing it really well! Cant wait to see more of your game Dev journey. By the way what notes software are you using at 0:32?
I’m glad you’re taking a break, burnout is not fun. I would really like to see Nightmare Hunter finished sometime in the future as it looks really fun and interesting! But do take your time and take care of yourself.
o man, i actually rly like the variety that comes with smaller games more consistently also, the 12 games in 12 months idea seems pretty cool - i have trouble with overscoping a lot, and game jams always seem to fall on inconvenient times, so smth like this might be something worth trying out myself as well :)
You still learned lots from working on that project and building the RUclips channel. Times spent creating cool shit like you're doing is never wasted :) Just found the channel thank you for the content it's inspiring!
I'd just started getting into game development not long ago. This video was not encouraging but it helps me be more realistic. Good to hear you'll be uploading more. Looking forward to it.
This is how most solo/indie games end up. Nothing bad with it but most solo developers either put too high of a goal (lets put every imaginable system in the game with realistic 3d models and a good story) or burn out of the game. Games are fun to start creating since you have a blank piece of paper and an idea but it slowly starts becoming less and less fun to create one and more and more burdensome to create it. I will tell you something simple to follow. Before creating a game... think your game through completely. Write all of the systems, art, design, etc. that you want your game to have on a piece of paper, look at it from a birds perspective and scratch 50% of the ideas off. Do that one more time and there, you have a game that you can create alone.
You made the right choice. And altho it sucks to be out of game Dev for so long, at least you'll see the warning signs a lot sooner next time. Liked and subbed!👍
This is where motivation fails and discipline is needed to make up for it. Motivation is great for starting projects, generating new ideas, and getting a general game plan together. Discipline is required to work past the parts where you feel like quitting or even "taking a break." (I'm not saying that it's haram for you to take a break or anything, but if you feel like you need to take a "hiatus" or pause for a FULL MONTH or anything like that, that's not your body honestly telling you to rest, that's your motivation breaking with no discipline to fortify it.) There's good news though: discipline is something you gain over time and through experience, and working for almost a year, even if it's on and off, will give you plenty of both! Your next project will probably fail. Maybe the one after that too. But, if you keep in the direction you're going (in the same way that discipline will eventually keep you on the path of developing and eventually completing a game) you'll be able to succeed eventually. :D
Nooo man... i know your channel by this project devlogs... i really like the project and i think is a great game. Do not surrender, keep inspire and focus...
I f*cking love your art style and nightmare hunters art so im sad to see it go but I have almost no life and and that means I have a lot of time of boredom that I fulfill with youtube so I will defiantly end up staying
As much as I liked Nightmare Hunter's concept and what you had shown so far, I completely understand. If you feel burnout and no motivation to continue the project, then you shouldn't have too. Looking forward to what you put out in the future, and hopefully we'll get to see more of nightmare hunter later down the line
This is a great approach and one that I also following of making a game once a month. I do my best to cut as much as my "Wants" and split them into chapters or new games.
I'd suggest really thinking about why nightmare hunter didn't work out. Give it some deep reflection. It will help either to give you closure, or to know when you can come back to it. And as for the 12 games in 12 months, I'm with you! Love this idea. Sorta thing I'd love to embark on too. Good luck!
Man, this game looks dope. Kinda inspires me to work on a game. Would really be cool to see you finish this project but i understand if you dont. You seem like a passionate person and if you lost passion for the project then i get it.
Do what you feel you need to get your creative juices flowing, man. Sometimes you need to take time off a project to gain perspective. Best of luck with the challenge you have set for yourself!
What allowed me to finish my game was making a simple version of what i wanted and calling it v0.1. it's a finished game on its own but i plan on expanding on it. Took me 5 months with 3 hrs per day
If you find yourself in a similar position again, I recommend asking yourself why you're doing game dev/RUclips and keep asking why until you get to the nub. Peel apart what you're getting from it, what need it's filling. The reason most give up on projects after the honeymoon stage is that there's no extrinsic motivation (paying the bills, completing college etc) and the game isn't filling a need. Or maybe game Dev isn't filling a need. Or RUclips isn't filling a need. Giving yourself self-imposed deadlines might work at first but it'll just become a grind if it's not filling a need. It's pretty hard to work that out but it's worth it. Best of luck with your challenge!
Some projects need a little shelf time now and again. Especially true for the bigger projects. Sometimes we are the ones that need a little shelf time. Sometimes both. Recharging is a real thing. Embrace it. Time boxes are pretty good tools. Forced production expectations rarely turn into good outcomes. It just adds unhealthy stress to what should be an enjoyable process. You're doing what you love day in and day out first. Everything else comes second to that. Live in the moment and enjoy it, or else. There are some interesting physiological things that happen when you over plan as well. Plan in short iterations (1-2 weeks) and don't be afraid to project hop. Plan one, do another. Bounce. Work on what inspires you in the moment. Don't start an iteration until the work your about to do has you inspired. Embrace the bounce and you won't ever get too far from your bigger aspirations. When you plan a bounce, you feel in control and the weight of not finishing something is greatly diminished. Example: I'm going to get two short iterations done (feature a, artwork b) and then I'll pick up a game jam and then we'll see what comes next. Plan a reward/break and don't over plan. Somewhere along the way, you'll find a minute to plan out a couple more things.
Lately my passion for indie game dev has been re-ignited from playing some of my fav games. I also had my GMS2 project shelfed for over a year. I would like to add that you are the master of your own design. As long as you stay true to yourself and stay positive, nothing will stand in the way of your success. It makes me happy knowing there are lots of people like me who had to push the pause button on their game projects. It's nothing to be afraid of because every day is an opportunity to try again and push the reset button. I'm just thankful for the video because it is very relatable and makes me feel less alone on my personal journey. Game dev is a long-time commitment but the rewards you reap at the end are going to be more than worth it. Even if it's just for yourself - to say you completed something that brings a smile to your face.
Its good to put something down when you've reached that brick wall. I find that the best ideas on how to continue with a project come when working on something else anyway! you might find the assets, or some of the code can be reworked into a more interesting and completely separate game idea also
I kinda spent over a year with that fallacy. Taking breaks then going back to the same project that was making me miserable. It was a load off and helped in a lot of other areas of getting things done to just drop it and go on to something else. Technically the same eventual project, just starting over with a game engine rather than trying to do everything myself. Although I'm not nearly as skilled or anything like that so it wasn't a huge loss. Just a lot of time.
even though the game looks great, i relate very much as many others here. the burden of perfection and bigger projects don't wanna go hand-in-hand in solo game dev. work on some smaller games, and try to come back stronger, whether that's to work on nightmare hunter or something else. i'm here for it!
We all got bored of our game sometimes. Especially the closer to the finish line we're, the harder it's to not give up. Starting a new game is so much easier. Although creating a successful commercial game or creating a gamejam game have a lot in common, some of the required skills are different. You already proved that you can create gamejam games. I hope that you'll recover your strength and come back to Nightmare Hunter with renewed vigor and finish it even better than what you'd initially planned. Good luck!
I just wanna say as someone whos been messing with game development for years this project has huge potential. I know its on the shelf for now but I really hope you come back to it. Sometimes progress feels invisible or meaningless but trust me we can tell you put in a lot of work.
I have been working on my game for a year now. I think my game is over ambitious(requires too much technical skill) and I am working solo. I constantly get burnt out but I am still working on it every day.
Instead of quiting, you should reduce your hours and work on a new project at the same time to get that flare back, even if you make a single tiny feature fir NH each day, eventually you will get flare back
I had to understand myself, that failing and starting over is necessary to grow. Don't see this as a sad end, see it as an opportunity for the stuff you learned to put to use In another project!
Could it be something about game structure when projects get big. To me it is really unmotivated when build steps starts taking a long time. It would be neat to hear your thoughts about what became the pain points in the end
It's difficult to work on a big project like this. I hope the smaller games give you inspiration and motivation again! I really like the style of your games.
It doesn't surprise me you got burnt out of it, even thoughits been years since i last played it, it looks exactly like how i remember hyperlight drifter. It looks like just making a reskin except from the ground up, so tons of extra work, on top of not feeling like your own authentic creation
I feel like procgen and roguelikes are more difficult to make than handmade levels. With a handmade level, if it's not super original or groundbreaking it can still be fun, but a mediocre roguelike will be miserable to play. I think you created a really nice art style for your game that is distinct from Hyper Light Drifter, so at least you have some art you can recycle if you find a use for it
I just wish you had finished that game project. It looks so much fun to play. You should have finished it . But now keep your promise and make 1 game per month.
I've felt burnt out over the last few years making my game so I can relate to that. But the idea of getting "the spark" back by shipping small games each month sounds... stressfull. It's probably the idea that the thing you're working on at week 3 on a project will be scrapped anyway next month is probably what sounds so un-appealing to me. But still, congratz on coming to the realisation that the game needed to be shut down. I know it's not easy, but sometimes thats the right decision.
Sucks that you struggle to continue with nightmare hunter but really good that you can identify that. I hope your year of making monthly games helps you and perhaps you'll have motivation to either continue nightmare hunter but pivot to something new. Good luck!
nightmare hunter looks like a game called unsight by the way, I loved it. Any way this is the first time that i'm watching ur channel and i'm looking fowards to see ur next games
I understand. Sometimes you get burnt out. At least you're not starting multiple projects and not finishing them. That'd be even worse! I'll happily stick around to see what you make next.
I feel deeply attacked damn..
@vvcap capo if you feel attacked then lower the scope of your project and actually complete it.
What's the point in having ideas if you don't make or complete them?
In in this comment and I dont like it. Hahaha
i don't see _anything_ wrong with starting multiple projects and not finishing them - the idea is that with each project you start, you're learning something new. (this still applies even if you count restarting the same project, with a slightly different structure, as a new project)
@@mattheww1072 it's also worth noting that a lot of the time, some projects are simply not possible - not without lowering the scope so much that it has nothing to do with the original idea anymore, at least
You’re super talented and I’m excited to see what you make, Nightmare Hunter or not!
So damn relatable, man... Take all the time you need and finish all the new projects to gather experience and will for your main project. It will pay-off big in the long run. Who knows, maybe the experience you'll get from those 12 projects will make Nightmare Hunter even bigger and better. All the love to you, really dig your devlogs.
Subscribed! Excited to see what game ideas you come up with!
I'm a Musician and have gone through the exact same thing as you, starting new ideas all the time but never being able to finish them. At one point I realized that the reason why I had so many unfinished songs was because I was putting too much pressure on myself with each one, stop trying to do *perfect* things, you are not defined by each game or song you make, aspiring to perfection will get you nowhere because it's undefinable hence unachievable. Think to yourself that its more important to finish your ideas, and eventually when you see your finished work, You'll realize the beauty in it.
I agree. And also it´s said in game development: games are not finished, they are abandoned. We usually don´t know when to stop or even how to. Finishing something is not so much about reaching that point we had in mind, but accepting how far we have come and saying: ok, that it´s it. It´s done.
Super feel you, my friend. Game dev is so hard I was developing a game for almost 7 years. This was after completing a very successful game. This new game looks gorgeous and all my fans are extremely excited about it. But I just can't work on it anymore. It's just not what I want to be working on. But I learned a ton making it. Now Im really excited for my new project and super excited for yours as well! Thanks for sharing can't wait to see what you make!
I feel u man. I'm glad you didnt give up on gamedev. I look forward to see your 12 games on 2023, sounds like a very cool concept!!!
Bro, I genuinely think you need a team to work together. It'll be much more fun brainstorming with each other, and he/she will motivate you to work and vice versa. Working together is just more fun and less tiring than being alone
It's not easy to find people who share such a niche interest. I asked a bunch of people, friends and family, if they'd like to make a game with me, something we could do together. When they weren't interested, I told them, I'd still do almost everything and should it become popular I'd even share the profits equally. In the end, I couldn't even get people to beta test my games. Heck, most people couldn't even be bothered to download my games. Most people have their own shit going on, their own hobbies. Most people don't have the time or a hobby that would make them want to participate in making a game.
@@maythesciencebewithyou it's worth that on the internet, it's a _lot_ easier to find someone with common interests. that's not to say that you're guaranteed to find people of course, but i'd bet it'd be a heck of a lot more likely
i don't know about it being "more tiring" and "less fun" working alone - especially since there's so much that can, and often does, go wrong when the wrong kinds of people work together - just look at the drama surrounding forager (the game), for example.
that said, yes, finding someone with common interests is a good _suggestion_
@@maythesciencebewithyou Hey, if you need someone with Sound / Audio background that is passionate about the games - please contact me!
I don't like working in a team because I don't want to have to chase up friends all the time, I don't have the money to pay people, and I don't want to have to commit to finishing the game within a certain timeframe/quality level. I just wanna make stuff cuz it's fun.
I *do* however regularly post updates to my friends and chat with them about my game and get design ideas and feedback from them to help keep me motivated. I just won't let them work on the project.
Definitely sticking around! I appreciate how real you are being by sharing what happened to Nightmare Hunter. It's nice to see something that is really down to earth as I feel this happens a lot to game developers including myself so really nice to feel that I am not alone.
Never heard of Nightmare Hunter, just stumbled on this video randomly while looking for tutorials for making my own game/s, but it looks great as does your other games including Big Chicken.
This was... surprisingly inspiring and I'm looking forward to seeing what you make this year!
This is the first video I found from you, and I'm excited to see how these next 12 games come about. You got my attention, and a new subscriber!
Just discovered your channel and subscribed! The visuals for nightmare hunter look absolutely brilliant but I can understand why you need to take a break from it. I think your plan to make a game every month in 2023 is a great idea. I wish you the best of luck and look forward to future devlogs!
This is a great concept man, Very relatable, I had to resize a couple times to find what I could accomplish for a first game.
I wasn’t around for nightmare hunter but this new idea sounds cool so I subscribed :)
Hey a consistent upload schedule, that's kinda neat
Man, I feel you on so many levels. I have been working on my game for about a year and a half, then maybe a month ago I hit the deepest rut I have ever seen. Been doing some reading on things about Spirtuality and success building trying to find some sort of guidance. But Nightmare Hunter does look really promising the artstyle is genius idk if you have played Nuclear Throne or Enter the Gungeon but I can see this game having a lot of pop or game juice because of the simple artstyle. But whatever you do on your game dev journey just keep at it. One thing I have learned is that video game development will develop you more than you develop the game, so who knows what great ideas you will be able to manifest by the end of the year or even later.
excited to see what u cook up this year!
Sometimes dropping projects is necessary. Keep at it though! You're definitely going places. Your art is beautiful too!
I've been in the same situation for since june, and a few days ago I changed engine and game totally and I feel like my flame's reignited!
This is my first video of you and I'll be here for the rest of your journey!
you got this! excited to see what you crank out this year.
Really excited to see the cool projects you get to develop through the year!
Ayo 12 game 12 months devlogs?
Been missing these since Yahtzee finished his.
Best of luck! If its reassuring, after Yahtzee finished his 12 games 12 month dev dairies he got back into the swing of things pretty fast.
Highly recommend that series.
You got this!
Your great man. Do what's best for you ❤
Huge respect for taking such a tough decision - it seems to be motivated with positive intention and I really commend you for taking such a difficult step!
Take your time with things and whenever a video comes out Ill appreciate and enjoy it
going back to smaller projects will definitely help you recover your passion! never give up
i love your games man SRM is so good and i have spent way too7ch trying to improve my pb in it, keep doing your thing because all of your games are great
God this sounds almost exactly like how my year went. I was thinking about doing smaller projects instead for this year as well! Good luck! Can’t wait to see more!
I DIDN'T KNOW YOU MADE JUMPWIG! Man, thanks to that game I started developing my own rage game with some friends and now I'm a full time indie game developer, you started all my indie career, thank you so much. ♥♥
This happened with my last project as well, 6 months since I officially stopped it i'm now looking at remaking an existing SNES game so I have a clear set of features and goals, love the idea of 12 games for the year, best of luck!
I think you’re doing the healthy thing. You’ve got to have passion for the project. I’ll definitely be sticking around to support Green Box Games on this journey.
Looking forward to seeing what you make! I might do something similar, working on my main game and doing side games to make sure I don’t get burnt out :)
hope this helps with the burnout! also shorter but better/diverse devlogs is good 👍
Man, super sad to see nightmare hunter on the shelf, but know that everything you did there was a huge inspiration for me. Excited to see what else you have planned!
Dude this is completely beautiful please continue
OH WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FUN WITH THIS KEEP IT UP BROTHA
Looking forward to seeing what you create this year! I'm just getting started in Game Dev, and I'm focusing on Terrain Building and Player Movement in 3D environments. (Seems like a good place to start).
You have a pretty sweet style man, I think you'll be successful in anything you put out
I've suffered from burn out in the past and it looks like your managing it really well! Cant wait to see more of your game Dev journey. By the way what notes software are you using at 0:32?
Its called Trello :)
@@green_box_games Thanks
I’m glad you’re taking a break, burnout is not fun. I would really like to see Nightmare Hunter finished sometime in the future as it looks really fun and interesting! But do take your time and take care of yourself.
o man, i actually rly like the variety that comes with smaller games more consistently
also, the 12 games in 12 months idea seems pretty cool - i have trouble with overscoping a lot, and game jams always seem to fall on inconvenient times, so smth like this might be something worth trying out myself as well :)
You still learned lots from working on that project and building the RUclips channel. Times spent creating cool shit like you're doing is never wasted :) Just found the channel thank you for the content it's inspiring!
You're amazing! Just keep going 😉
neat video, subbed
I'd just started getting into game development not long ago. This video was not encouraging but it helps me be more realistic. Good to hear you'll be uploading more. Looking forward to it.
This is how most solo/indie games end up. Nothing bad with it but most solo developers either put too high of a goal (lets put every imaginable system in the game with realistic 3d models and a good story) or burn out of the game. Games are fun to start creating since you have a blank piece of paper and an idea but it slowly starts becoming less and less fun to create one and more and more burdensome to create it.
I will tell you something simple to follow. Before creating a game... think your game through completely. Write all of the systems, art, design, etc. that you want your game to have on a piece of paper, look at it from a birds perspective and scratch 50% of the ideas off. Do that one more time and there, you have a game that you can create alone.
Good luck with the 12 games challenge!!
You made the right choice. And altho it sucks to be out of game Dev for so long, at least you'll see the warning signs a lot sooner next time. Liked and subbed!👍
This is where motivation fails and discipline is needed to make up for it. Motivation is great for starting projects, generating new ideas, and getting a general game plan together. Discipline is required to work past the parts where you feel like quitting or even "taking a break." (I'm not saying that it's haram for you to take a break or anything, but if you feel like you need to take a "hiatus" or pause for a FULL MONTH or anything like that, that's not your body honestly telling you to rest, that's your motivation breaking with no discipline to fortify it.)
There's good news though: discipline is something you gain over time and through experience, and working for almost a year, even if it's on and off, will give you plenty of both! Your next project will probably fail. Maybe the one after that too. But, if you keep in the direction you're going (in the same way that discipline will eventually keep you on the path of developing and eventually completing a game) you'll be able to succeed eventually. :D
Nooo man... i know your channel by this project devlogs... i really like the project and i think is a great game. Do not surrender, keep inspire and focus...
I may return to the project in 2024 but for now I just need be working on some other projects :)
I f*cking love your art style and nightmare hunters art so im sad to see it go but I have almost no life and and that means I have a lot of time of boredom that I fulfill with youtube so I will defiantly end up staying
As much as I liked Nightmare Hunter's concept and what you had shown so far, I completely understand. If you feel burnout and no motivation to continue the project, then you shouldn't have too. Looking forward to what you put out in the future, and hopefully we'll get to see more of nightmare hunter later down the line
Glad you're back!
Please do 5 minute devlogs, and maybe incorporate challenges/ideas from the comments to help challenge yourself more?
i can totally relate to you bro, you are doing the right thing. Hope you find your love for game development again soon
Good luck on your journey!
This is a great approach and one that I also following of making a game once a month. I do my best to cut as much as my "Wants" and split them into chapters or new games.
I'd suggest really thinking about why nightmare hunter didn't work out. Give it some deep reflection. It will help either to give you closure, or to know when you can come back to it.
And as for the 12 games in 12 months, I'm with you! Love this idea. Sorta thing I'd love to embark on too. Good luck!
Man, this game looks dope. Kinda inspires me to work on a game. Would really be cool to see you finish this project but i understand if you dont. You seem like a passionate person and if you lost passion for the project then i get it.
I can't wait to see what you'll come up with, maybe i'll try to do some games with time limits like you do it sounds like a fun idea
I am in love with your art style, hope we can collaborate in a project in the future
Oh nice! A new video!,🎉🎉
I’ve been waiting soo long for this
It's better to make your objectives time-bound to make sure they get accomplished. Best of wishes and good luck!
Do what you feel you need to get your creative juices flowing, man. Sometimes you need to take time off a project to gain perspective. Best of luck with the challenge you have set for yourself!
What allowed me to finish my game was making a simple version of what i wanted and calling it v0.1. it's a finished game on its own but i plan on expanding on it. Took me 5 months with 3 hrs per day
If you find yourself in a similar position again, I recommend asking yourself why you're doing game dev/RUclips and keep asking why until you get to the nub. Peel apart what you're getting from it, what need it's filling.
The reason most give up on projects after the honeymoon stage is that there's no extrinsic motivation (paying the bills, completing college etc) and the game isn't filling a need. Or maybe game Dev isn't filling a need. Or RUclips isn't filling a need. Giving yourself self-imposed deadlines might work at first but it'll just become a grind if it's not filling a need.
It's pretty hard to work that out but it's worth it.
Best of luck with your challenge!
Some projects need a little shelf time now and again. Especially true for the bigger projects. Sometimes we are the ones that need a little shelf time. Sometimes both. Recharging is a real thing. Embrace it. Time boxes are pretty good tools. Forced production expectations rarely turn into good outcomes. It just adds unhealthy stress to what should be an enjoyable process. You're doing what you love day in and day out first. Everything else comes second to that. Live in the moment and enjoy it, or else. There are some interesting physiological things that happen when you over plan as well. Plan in short iterations (1-2 weeks) and don't be afraid to project hop. Plan one, do another. Bounce. Work on what inspires you in the moment. Don't start an iteration until the work your about to do has you inspired. Embrace the bounce and you won't ever get too far from your bigger aspirations. When you plan a bounce, you feel in control and the weight of not finishing something is greatly diminished. Example: I'm going to get two short iterations done (feature a, artwork b) and then I'll pick up a game jam and then we'll see what comes next. Plan a reward/break and don't over plan. Somewhere along the way, you'll find a minute to plan out a couple more things.
Lately my passion for indie game dev has been re-ignited from playing some of my fav games. I also had my GMS2 project shelfed for over a year. I would like to add that you are the master of your own design. As long as you stay true to yourself and stay positive, nothing will stand in the way of your success. It makes me happy knowing there are lots of people like me who had to push the pause button on their game projects. It's nothing to be afraid of because every day is an opportunity to try again and push the reset button.
I'm just thankful for the video because it is very relatable and makes me feel less alone on my personal journey. Game dev is a long-time commitment but the rewards you reap at the end are going to be more than worth it. Even if it's just for yourself - to say you completed something that brings a smile to your face.
Its good to put something down when you've reached that brick wall. I find that the best ideas on how to continue with a project come when working on something else anyway! you might find the assets, or some of the code can be reworked into a more interesting and completely separate game idea also
That's amazing you already reach that far, I never reach that far into developing my own game yet.
I kinda spent over a year with that fallacy. Taking breaks then going back to the same project that was making me miserable. It was a load off and helped in a lot of other areas of getting things done to just drop it and go on to something else. Technically the same eventual project, just starting over with a game engine rather than trying to do everything myself.
Although I'm not nearly as skilled or anything like that so it wasn't a huge loss. Just a lot of time.
I hope you manage to finish the game someday looks promising, I would love to play it. But taking care of your mental health is always the right move.
even though the game looks great, i relate very much as many others here. the burden of perfection and bigger projects don't wanna go hand-in-hand in solo game dev. work on some smaller games, and try to come back stronger, whether that's to work on nightmare hunter or something else. i'm here for it!
We all got bored of our game sometimes. Especially the closer to the finish line we're, the harder it's to not give up. Starting a new game is so much easier. Although creating a successful commercial game or creating a gamejam game have a lot in common, some of the required skills are different. You already proved that you can create gamejam games. I hope that you'll recover your strength and come back to Nightmare Hunter with renewed vigor and finish it even better than what you'd initially planned. Good luck!
You got this man :)
Thank you :)
I just wanna say as someone whos been messing with game development for years this project has huge potential. I know its on the shelf for now but I really hope you come back to it. Sometimes progress feels invisible or meaningless but trust me we can tell you put in a lot of work.
Oh shit you did Super Rocket Monkey? The ludjam alumni is everywhere 👀
great idea! Do you think any of those projects will be sold commercially or just released for free?
Thanks! I’ll be releasing the 12 games for free on my itch.io page
I have been working on my game for a year now. I think my game is over ambitious(requires too much technical skill) and I am working solo. I constantly get burnt out but I am still working on it every day.
Instead of quiting, you should reduce your hours and work on a new project at the same time to get that flare back, even if you make a single tiny feature fir NH each day, eventually you will get flare back
I had to understand myself, that failing and starting over is necessary to grow. Don't see this as a sad end, see it as an opportunity for the stuff you learned to put to use In another project!
Could it be something about game structure when projects get big. To me it is really unmotivated when build steps starts taking a long time.
It would be neat to hear your thoughts about what became the pain points in the end
It's sad, good luck for the future
It sad i really enjoyed the nightmare hunter series hopefully it comes back but your health comes first hopefully u get back to it soon
Good potential in you, good luck.
hope you come back to this game at some point. i think it has lots of potential.
It's difficult to work on a big project like this. I hope the smaller games give you inspiration and motivation again! I really like the style of your games.
can someone please tell me what board planner he uses to plan out his structure for the game development. i need it badly.
It's called Trello :)
You should make 6 jam sized games and every other month do Nightmare Hunter with the same constraints
Dude that game looks so sick🔥. Hope you get to make lot more interesting games this year🎉
It doesn't surprise me you got burnt out of it, even thoughits been years since i last played it, it looks exactly like how i remember hyperlight drifter. It looks like just making a reskin except from the ground up, so tons of extra work, on top of not feeling like your own authentic creation
man never give up on your dreams, take a break and keepgoing it will be worse if you don't, you might regret it
I'd love to see your tutorials or your resources to learn pixel art and etc...
I feel like procgen and roguelikes are more difficult to make than handmade levels. With a handmade level, if it's not super original or groundbreaking it can still be fun, but a mediocre roguelike will be miserable to play. I think you created a really nice art style for your game that is distinct from Hyper Light Drifter, so at least you have some art you can recycle if you find a use for it
What's name of the website on the 0:33
I just wish you had finished that game project. It looks so much fun to play. You should have finished it . But now keep your promise and make 1 game per month.
I've felt burnt out over the last few years making my game so I can relate to that. But the idea of getting "the spark" back by shipping small games each month sounds... stressfull. It's probably the idea that the thing you're working on at week 3 on a project will be scrapped anyway next month is probably what sounds so un-appealing to me.
But still, congratz on coming to the realisation that the game needed to be shut down. I know it's not easy, but sometimes thats the right decision.
I played Super Rocket Monkey. That game was beautiful!
Sucks that you struggle to continue with nightmare hunter but really good that you can identify that. I hope your year of making monthly games helps you and perhaps you'll have motivation to either continue nightmare hunter but pivot to something new.
Good luck!
nightmare hunter looks like a game called unsight by the way, I loved it. Any way this is the first time that i'm watching ur channel and i'm looking fowards to see ur next games
Hyper light drifter?
YESSS A NEW VIDEO
Maybe open source the game and see what people come up with?
I second this