Miles_Valentine

The question of motivation came up here, so have some feedback on that. You need to sort out in your head WHAT your motivation is in it's purest form. For the vast majority of the people here, this is a hobby. A bunch of projects initiated and inspired by the original Cave Story. A hobby is only fit for purpose so long as it amuses you, for that is what a hobby is. If a hobby outlives that purpose, you're kidding yourself. Do what you do because you want to do it, not because yoru knee deep in it and don't know what else to do with yourself. You don't owe anyone anything, so as long as we're operating under "hobby" make damn sure you're actually enjoying yourself and there arent things you'd rather do.

Motivation is like pride in a sense. My nepehew recently had a question for me about pride. He was asking me why i was quite obviously proud to be a "brony" because he felt that it was a potentially embarrasing matter. He wanted to know where my pride came from because he isnt as proud of aspects of his life he indulged in. It took me a while to think on this, but i got an answer for him. In the "brony" example I said that neo sincerity and light heartedness are a welcome break from all the dreary, sarcastic, mean spirited junk we get these days. I also brought up points like the amazing creative people in the community and other things, basically telling him what made me "proud".

The conclusion was simple and brings me to my point. To have pride, you have to be proud of something. In the same way, to have motivation, you have to be motivated by something. Identify what makes your proud or motivates you and revel in it. If you have nothing to be proud of or have no motivation, you have the wrong hobby. The latter was my realisation.

Pfft i don't see much of a problem. Generally speaking you can see bad mods from way off. Chances are if the person typing the mod description cant get through that single post without making a dozen spelling or grammar mistakes, it isnt going to be good. Other tell tale signs include the premise being beyond stupid, asking for substantial help in the project and the number after the word "age".

When we're not talkign about the complete shit, but nevertheless badly flawed, yes we have that in spades. It's all down to tunnel vision i think. When youre making a game, or art it's almost impossible to see the big picture when your writing code fragments and picking out mimiga noses. You absolutely require consultation from someone who is not involved with the project, reguarly. Even then it can be very difficult to see the problems in your own game at all, even if they are highlighted.

Also, as a dude whom your last section refers to directly, people who stop makign a mod, I'll have to say a little something on that. In my case, I bit off more than i can chew. Or rather, that i wanted to chew. I spent between one and two years on every little thing and had a great time making it. I however never claimed to be a specialist, and i doubt i ever will be. Finishign the project probably called for another three years or so. I made the call that i did not want to be spending all of my creative time coding for that long. I like drawing, I like animating, I like writing, I like blogging and i have a bunch of hobbies and a craving for the odd bit of gaming. Not to mention i like to indulge in lazy consumerism like the rest of my fellow mortal men. So i simply couldn't let it dominate my life anymore, because at the end of the day it isn't me. I very much like the characters and scenarios i made, even if my game had shortcomings and i don't see it as a failure. It's another thing i've tried and had a blast doing.

Then theres people who start up projects for about a week or two then give up. I don't think i'd like to be categorised with what are simply quitters.

You want to solve the problem, reward users for providing meaningful criticism. Other people are required to help a busy artist see sense, even if it was futile, as was the case where my difficulty was concerned. Yes i admit it. Don't worry i plan to lets play that shit so you guys can get your revenge. Only playing it now do i realise how teeth shreddingly hard it is.

Seems like a fun idea. Looks like i may no longer have a monopoly on secret homosexual mimiga butt fun.

You're joking, right

Those are three that I found in like five minutes. There's dozens more threads with people helping modders. They stop helping you when you don't appreciate it or just prove that it's a waste of time for them - like when you abandon a project.

I think what he means is we hope noone does. Because 9 times out of ten a kid who shows up without so much as a screenshot to his name asks for help, doesnt have the drive to see it though. Naturally this leaves everyone involved with a "bad feel". Those people are then less likely to make somethign meaningful in the future off thier own backs.

So basically helping out a kid fresh into the forum who posts his mega awesome idea on his first forum post tends to damage the community because it NEVER works out.

Chill out guys, forget your memories of rage.