What do you do when you are working on a game, maybe at a slow point in the development , and you have another *brilliant* idea? They are brilliant,right? lol
How many games do you work on at once before you start shelving ideas for later?
how many is too many?
Mon, 02/17/2014 - 20:00
Tue, 02/18/2014 - 10:02
#1
I am currently going back and
I am currently going back and forth between two designs; a nautical themed co-op dice placement game and a card driven wizard dueling game. I'm also finishing up a game as a present for a friend’s birthday.
I have plenty of others that are on the shelf that I could go back to if I stall out on either. For me two is usualy enough to keep me occupied but at the same time advancing the design.
Tue, 02/18/2014 - 10:56
#2
I have three
I have three games going on the same time. It helps a lot when they all are in different scope and in different states.
One's just a shameless ripoff of Formula Dé with not much work to be done, one's this somewhat basic Hero Quest-y thing with lots of cards that's on the work bench right now, and the last is mechanics heavy space combat/adventure that just sits in it's idea gathering phase.
I guess that'll be my line. I can't see dividing my creativity output in four places, something's gotta be put back then.
Tue, 02/18/2014 - 11:06
#3
I try to keep a notebook
I try to keep a notebook handy so I can jot down stray ideas for other things. That tends to satisfy my wandering mind and let me get back to work on the WIP. This happens all the time in my writing too. I've got a pile of notebooks on the floor next to my desk. I can't even count the ideas stored away over there.
I don't think you should limit yourself in ideas. Jot them down and come back later to see if they still have steam. Try to finish what you're working on though...better to have one or two finished things than fifty things forever in progress.
Tue, 02/18/2014 - 13:21
#4
Hey Donut... now i am
Hey Donut... now i am hungry!
I have several games always in the mix.
I focus on my main game, and when I get blind sided with an idea... usually at a fastfood restaraunt or on the thrown... I go ahead and make notes and put it in the file of what game it belongs. So when it comes Time to focus on that one game I have lots of craetive stuff to sort to develop it.
I also have a file for "mechanices" that is where I put all the stuff that doesnt fit in my "named" game files. Here i can retreive lots of various ideas if I get stuck and need a fresh approach to anything.
I am able to acheive my maintained insanity by filing the ideas... they are safe so they wont nagg on me and block the game I am working on.
I hope this helps!
Tue, 02/18/2014 - 16:18
#5
Since I don't have much time
Since I don't have much time on my hand. And it's just a hobby for me. I work on only one game.
A notebook is handy for writing down idea's. Or for calculating possibilities.
Tue, 02/18/2014 - 18:59
#6
Several projects on the go
I currently have my most advanced WIP ("Tradewars - Homeworld"), we are hammering out ideas for "The BEST CCG/TCG ever!", I also have another two games on the backburner ("Monster Keep" and "World Gymnastics Tour")...
So that's about four (4) projects that I have currently in different degrees of progress. Some I may not look for publishers others the goal is to publish, etc.
But some designers have HUGE lists of more than 20 projects in various stages!
Wed, 02/19/2014 - 05:56
#7
My family give me looks every
My family give me looks every time I come at them with a whole new game ideas :)
I am working on about 3 game ideas at various stages: Auction, Word Game (Which may hit the can as there is a word game on Kickstarter with a very similar theme/mechanic..bummer) and a trick taking game.
A notebook is definitely a necessity and I have about 6-8 ideas in it. The good thing about working multiple game ideas is you think of something cool for one game it may not work for one but may for the other.
Wed, 02/19/2014 - 14:33
#8
I've asked the same question
I've asked the same question on here a couple of times, and most people answered 2-3 max to not draw focus.
After having tried that out, I think the answer is different depending on your goal. If you are out to make a name for yourself as a professional, focusing on 1-2 games is likely the best.
For me, publication is likely a decade away due to my current lifestyle (full time employee with 4 toddlers), I have like 10 ideas with full early alpha rules, 1-2 ready for beta-playtesting, and like 70 more concepts/mechanics/rough ideas.
It's really mostly about why you design games, and where you are in the path to get something published.
