Dave Gilbert’s gamedev blog

I’ve discussed “crunch time” in an earlier entry – which refers to that period of development where you work insane hours and get little sleep trying to get things done on time. I once attended a lecture on project time management, and I gained some neat little bits of advice. The lecturer discussed the infamous “crunch period”, and talked about the dangers.

Of course its dangerous, that goes without saying. Sleep and proper food exist for a reason, and cutting those things out of your life even for a short period is bad. I can tell you this first hand, as the entire month of December was a nonstop crunch for me.

This lecturer went on to say that crunch periods are usually necessary, but to be smart and safe about it. Schedule a crunch EARLY. It’s far easier – and far less stressful – to work long hours without the weight of a deadline crushing you down.

So, I am going to give this a go. I’m aiming to release my next project in July/August, and I decided that I wanted to have the majority of the dialog and programming finished by the end of May. I’ve been working steadily all month, all the time knowing beforehand that I was going to crunch during the last week.

Aaaand… tomorrow is the beginning of the last week. So, I am going to attempt this “early crunch” thing and see if it works. I’m curious. Yes, the last-minute crunch is stressful and nerve-wrecking because of the looming deadline… but, without the looming deadline, would you work as hard?

We shall see. See you in a week.

So I haven’t updated this blog in a while, and I suppose that’s because I’ve been busy stressing out over getting this next game on its feet and running.

This process has been a far cry from the first Blackwell and Shivah, which seemed to leap from my brain and into a working design document almost instantly. Once again, I am learning the definite differences between doing this for a hobby and doing this full time.

There’s no pressure when it’s a hobby. If you’re motivated, you do it. If you’re not, you don’t. Simple. It’s EASY to work hard (and for long stretches at a time) when you are motivated and jazzed up and excited about what you are working on. It’s fun. It’s an escape. It’s a rush.

But what happens during those stretches when you are NOT motivated? When inspiration just doesn’t come, and your creative well is dried up and barren? Do you just stop working? Sure, if it’s a hobby, but not if it’s your full time gig. Suddenly, it stops being fun. It’s now WORK. And let me tell you, work sucks.

Four months it’s taken me to design this game. I had the story, backstory, and plot details all in my head but I was having a devil of a time getting it all to mesh correctly. Countless stumbling blocks and quesitons faced me at every turn. Should a specific character be introduced here or here? Should the player have access to this location at this point or that point? Is this section important, or is it just padding out the game? Is this animation actually possible, using the resources I have? Can this be cut? SHOULD this be cut? Should I just start over again?

So yes, this was work and I was beginning to hate it. I’d drag myself out of my apartment and into a coffee shop. I’d stare at my notebook for ages, forcing ideas out of my beleaguered brain. It was hard, but eventually it came. It didn’t come out in a rush like my previous games, but piece by piece, slowly but consistantly.

So if you’re ever in my shoes, when you are stuck and nothing seems to work, just keep trying. You’ll fume, you’ll stress, you’ll curse at yourself and your stupid brain, you’ll want to hide in a dark room, but just keep trying. Eventually, it will happen. Have faith in your ideas, and be persistent.

Personally, I feel like I’ve won a major battle with myself. I get to actually create the game now, as opposed to being creative (and believe me, there is a difference). Work has become fun again, and I couldn’t be happier.