Ideas, Mechanics, Inspiration, and Passion

This is quite a common thing. Lots of beginning writers suffer from the same affliction. They're incredibly enthusiastic about a story and characters when they're in the beginning phase where they get to create and make things up, but when it comes to the nitty-gritty putting words on paper, they lose interest and start a new project where they can start the brainstorming new ideas all over again.

My advice is to enter a couple of contests. If the deadline is soon enough, you don't have time to fall out of love with your game. I'd recommend the GDS challenge at BGDF.com

I'm not sure if there is one solution for regaining the creative drive for a game idea.

Speaking for only myself, board game design is very challenging for me because I have found that I can not "force" that type of creativity - It is either inspire-driven or it isn't. For instance, I can hammer out a web page design if forced or quickly write-up a short story if I absolutely had to... But game design, for me, either works or it doesn't. There have been many games that I have made where I have stopped and started working on several times before I have considered the game "done" (rules completely written out, playtested to some degree, an adequate presentable prototype made), my present one (in the playtesting section here) included.

I guess that if I had to present a solution, it would be to just keep creating, even if it is in a different medium. I am always writing short stories, contributing new creative materials for pen-and-paper role playing games, writing scripts, and even dabbling in areas like computer game modding, computer programming, web page design and other pursuits. Even when not creating, I am always looking for new media to inspire me - Pictures, drawings, audio, video, games, books... And sometimes going back through media I've already seen to draw new inspiration from that. You never know what will re-spark your drive to completing a game - For me, I've had bathroom tiles inspire one game and a wall display for miniature porcelain figures inspire another.

My only other suggestion might be is to not be "married" to any particular game play mechanic for your game. If your game doesn't work, then EVERYTHING (and I mean everything, from the look of the game to it's name) needs to be re-evaluated to understand why it didn't work. Sometimes, what you keep and what you modify will be subjective but, other times, it's pretty clear where the "fun" is and where it isn't. A lot of my games started out with a look or a mechanic that eventually had to be scrapped because it just didn't work. Once I got rid of that mechanic or theme, the game became better.

Good luck with getting your games completed.

No matter if as a creative type of person you write books or poetry, compose and play music, paint pictures, invent board games and other things I think there will be periods of “creative time out”

Depending at what stage you’re up to on a project you might force yourself to finish some tedious aspect of it that won’t hurt your final goal. Otherwise if it’s an important part of your creative concept I’d just leave it until reinspired as without that passionate enthusiasm the end result won’t be as satisfying.

I used to paint with pastel chalks and for a time was really into it but I haven’t done it now for years. I need to be inspired and enthusiastic or I know I won’t do it as well. You can’t force your creativity to get the best result.
Luckily for me i seem to be able to redirect it in another field of creativity or invention.

I'm relatively new to the tabletop game creator mentality, however I have a way that works for me and would like to share. The above ideas are great and work well, but if they don't... here's another. Focus on one game that you would like to accomplish and work on a second one that you are also passionate about when you need a break. Additionally when working on the ruleset for one game, focus on the story line as an alternative for the other. Essentially what you will end up doing is not burning yourself out completely and when the first game is at it's final stages, you will have a second game that you can polish up as a buffer to get you out of the first game's "grind". I really hope this helps and best of luck.

Absolutely, get this book. Check the library first, then second hand stores. Buy it if you can afford it.

That is a good list ReneWiersma.
And it is true, I don't like doing the bad parts since my goal isn't having it published in the first place.
However, I do like getting some people to play it. But most people in my environment don't have time or don't even want to. So I often loose the will to continue my work on my game. And just play with what I have, all by myself. A proper play test only happens once a year.

You could add "- Making proper prototypes". With "- Making art for the game".
Those 2 are what I am stuck on the most. I simply don't have the material. And I can gather the right material very slowly. Since it is slow, I slowly become slower too. I think you know what I mean. And it is those 2 that I need to get things sped up again in the play testing.

However, making some new calculations is always fun and easy to do for me. So my game is going to have some new rules soon. This way I will also keep my play testers happy.