Dave Gilbert | 
07 27th, 2007| 
So yes, I have been very slackerish with this website lately. Chatting about development isn’t as fascinating as you’d think it would be. I’m basically spending most of my days in various coffee shops, writing dialog, coding stuff, futzing around with animations or just in general being a total nerd. I’m aiming to have this game finished by the end of August, so there’s lots of work to be done.
As one might expect, there are a lot of disadvantages to working for yourself. With no boss looking over your shoulder, it’s very easy to slack off, get distracted or lose any sign of productivity. I’ve certainly had my share of dealing with this, but there’s also the opposite problem. True, there’s nobody telling you to work, but there’s also nobody telling you to STOP either.
Longtime readers of this blog might remember my ramblings back in November/December, when I was working nonstop to finish Legacy like a man possessed. Yes, the game got done and reasonably on time, but I was a physical and emotional wreck by the end of it. For obvious reasons, I am determined not to repeat that.
So, I’ve paced myself. I now give myself a lunch hour, and try to work a maximum of 8 hours a day. For the most part it’s successful, but you’d be surprised how hard it is to work less. I’ve reached that point of development where everything is coming together and it’s really exciting and all I want to do is work work work! But… no.
When I compare myself to the Dave who existed a month before Legacy was complete, I can’t deny that I’m in much better shape right now. Yes, I am still working alot, but I’m more relaxed about it and not relying on three cups of coffee just to get me through till noon. I’m still going to sleep at weird hours, but I go to sleep when I’m tired and not when I’m ready to collapse from exhaustion.
Back in the Legacy days, I thought that nonstop crunching and pushing myself to the limits was the only way to get anything done on time. This is SO not true, and it’s a lesson I’m glad I learned.
