That empty feeling when a project is completed, And debating on how to fill it Options

[LostSamurai]

So, I finally finished my five year long project, The Ikode Trilogy. Aside from bugs and updates that may need to be implemented, the entire three game trilogy is complete.

And now I don't know what to do with myself. Even though I wasn't always actively working on a project the whole time these past five years, I have always had it on my mind. But now it's done. And I'm torn between several options:

Should I retire from RPG making? It has been a major part of my life for the past eleven years, a much adored hobby, outlet to much of my life's issues. But also a major time sink. I am 23 years old now, and I have invested at least 10,000 hours into RPG Maker programs (2000, 2003, and XP) and it is never going to be more than a hobby. I do not ever intend on becoming a professional game designer, programmer, etc. The only aspect that I ever plan on continuing after I retire is music. Maybe it's time to call it quits.

Should I continue to enhance the Ikode Trilogy more? I've improved in my game-making ability since Ikode 1, maybe I can enhance 1 and 2 to the level of 3 now that I've learned more. I also have a side-plot which never fully made it through the works successfully and has been scrapped. I had a couple of ideas with it to make the story and characterization more in-depth but it just didn't fit right. But all of the data is still there in the games, it just cannot be accessed by the players. But I feel burned out from this world. I feel like I need to get away from Ikode, it's been the universe that my games have taken place in for nearly 10 years now.

Should I revisit old, cancelled projects and finish those? I have four options here: 2 games for RPG 2003 that are nearly half-completed (but I mostly forget how to use 2003), 1 game less than 10% completed for XP which I have the story written down somewhere, I remember it being a really cool concept, and the original adaptation of Ikode 3: Broken Mirror, which is essentially an alternate retelling of the game. I long to finish these games, yet I feel like I should leave the dead buried.

Or should I start a brand new project? I always have new ideas brewing in my head. I have a couple of great story potentials, and I can try my luck at a new world, something away from Ikode. Perhaps make another joke game, similar to "The Two Moons." Maybe even a sequel. But this would be a long commitment if I ever hoped to complete it. I always tell my friends that it takes approximately an hour of work for a minute of game-play, not including stat time. And at the rate I work, I'm looking at at least a year if I want to make a 2-3 hour game. I made The Two Moons in about four months, so perhaps another short joke game is the way to go. But I have so many cool concepts for serious games that I would love to try too!

How do you feel when you finish a project? And what do you do about it? I'm curious to see how other people deal with this.

This post has been edited by LostSamurai: May 16 2012, 10:01 PM

[X-M-O]

You could always go back and finish other incomplete projects or start a new one, but there is something you didn't mention. =]

I'd recommend finding someone who is currently working on a project (and perhaps never completed one of their own projects) and helping them to accomplish the same thing you were able to accomplish.
I'm sure the experience would be very helpful to them. ^^

[shinyjiggly]

I feel that you should use this time in the void between projects to take a break. Not a permanent break, but just a long enough one to get the ideas flowing again. Once you're practically bursting at the seams, desperately wishing to start working on a project, that is when you should regroup and get back on the train. But if that never happens, don't try to force yourself back into it, this can lead to it feeling more like a chore or a ill-kept commitment rather than "creating your own baby".

Only re-join the fray if you truly want to do so. A hobby should not become torture.

But that's just my opinion. Yours is most likely more important since it's your choice to make, and not mine.

[LostSamurai]

I'd recommend finding someone who is currently working on a project (and perhaps never completed one of their own projects) and helping them to accomplish the same thing you were able to accomplish.

Hmm, you're right, I didn't even think of that. How selfish of me. I definitely plan on becoming a more active member of the forums now, so I will be doing this

this can lead to it feeling more like a chore or a ill-kept commitment rather than "creating your own baby".

I know exactly what you mean. In the past 5 years, at certain points I would just run fresh out of ideas, or my desire to work on it would just end. I would stop for perhaps months. Then all of a sudden inspiration would hit me and all of a sudden I couldn't work enough on it again.

but there is something you didn't mention. =]

My first thought when I read this was "Ikode 4." Of course this came to my mind, but I have decided that it would be complete overkill. I accomplished everything I sought out to do in this series, and adding more wouldn't make sense.

I think I will just toy around with the program a little bit, make some new maps and maybe some new songs for now until I'm sure where I want to take this time. In the meantime, I will see who needs some help with their own games.

This post has been edited by LostSamurai: May 17 2012, 07:40 AM

[rewells]

Seeing more teamwork rather than solo projects would be awesome. I just started play testing someone else's project and it's inspiring me to create some new stuff on my own. I find that giving feedback to others helps me reflect on what I can do better , so maybe you'll get your spark back!

I'd recommend finding someone who is currently working on a project (and perhaps never completed one of their own projects) and helping them to accomplish the same thing you were able to accomplish.

Hmm, you're right, I didn't even think of that. How selfish of me. I definitely plan on becoming a more active member of the forums now, so I will be doing this

[Magical_RuNE_Kni...]

@rewells: Yes, same. : )
i really enjoy learning and helping other people. It's really inspirational and i find i like it a lot more than working on a project on my own.
It's a nice break, it gives u a rewarding feeling, and it's fun. (usually..? '^')

And now I don't know what to do with myself. Even though I wasn't always actively working on a project the whole time these past five years, I have always had it on my mind. But now it's done. And I'm torn between several options:

Should I retire from RPG making? It has been a major part of my life for the past eleven years, a much adored hobby, outlet to much of my life's issues.

Nothing wrong w/ just doing what u want by the way. Or working on two things at once, even though that can be messy.
Just live how u want and have fun with it. :]

If you're having fun rpgmaking, i don't think u should necessarily stop that. If it destresses you and you truly like it, i guess what i'm saying is... 'who cares what other people tell you'?. If it calms you and it's something u treasure, u don't necessarily need to part with it; u shouldn't need to part with it. It's a part of who u are, you've worked hard with it, and it's a likeable hobby you enjoy. There're lots of people who keep at their hobbies they had as a kid, just because they like them and they mean something to them. : )
I guess it's different for me because i'm younger than you, but... i think that if you really care about something, you shouldn't give it up.

... If it encourages you, i rpgmake just for fun, same with drawing. I don't plan on ever being a game developper or graphic artist or anything-- heck, i want to work in robotics or engineering lol. but i just do it because i like it.

[LostSamurai]

I haven't had much time to do RPG maker related stuff lately, but I did start playing another person's RPG demo. It's very different, playing someone else's game than it is to test your own game. I'm not used to it hehe.

I've also been slowly making maps, in anticipation of a new project. Since maps are my weak point, and also my least favorite part, if I decide to make a game I want to have a large portion of the world completed before I begin. This project, if it is created, will most likely be much smaller than my last project, perhaps a 2-3 hour game in total. This all depends on the storyline, which I have very little planned so far. However, these maps are, in my opinion, the best map work I have done to date, so I am excited. If I end up cancelling the project, I will release them for public use.

I've also been working on some new songs for my next game as well.

This post has been edited by LostSamurai: May 31 2012, 08:48 PM

[Lato]

Hm if I were you I would keep updating your series, there is alot of default res in it. Ive been working on my Kingdom series for about 5 years and im still working on it and plan to keep updating it until well until a very long ass time lol. I think you should try and make your games more appealing to ppl, there is ALWAYS more work to be done, but if you need a break you could always start a new game or help ppl in theres.

[LostSamurai]

I've been considering returning to Ikode, and fixing the games up more. However it is not likely that I will ever get any more creative energy towards the Ikode Trilogy. I will probably only return to it to fix any bugs or glitches reported to me, or if I ever come up with a way to fix the sidequest storyline so it makes sense. I've been working in the Ikode universe for almost 10 years now, I'm getting very sick of it. I'm sick of playtesting the games that I have played through 50+ times, I'm sick of the same maps, and I don't feel like I can improve the game that much more to make it worth it. I think it's about time I journey elsewhere.

That being said, I am always open to suggestions. How would you suggest I make the games more appealing? And what do you mean by default res?

This post has been edited by LostSamurai: May 31 2012, 09:21 PM

[Lato]

I've been considering returning to Ikode, and fixing the games up more. However it is not likely that I will ever get any more creative energy towards the Ikode Trilogy. I will probably only return to it to fix any bugs or glitches reported to me, or if I ever come up with a way to fix the sidequest storyline so it makes sense. I've been working in the Ikode universe for almost 10 years now, I'm getting very sick of it. It's about time I journey elsewhere.

What do you mean by default res? And how do you suggest I make the games more appealing?

Well alot of your characters in the game are default RTP, it would be more appealing visually if you do some custom work, like char sprites or icons. The XP char creator program would be great for this. Believe me I know whats its like to get sick of your own work but just think of the ppl that play your games.

[LostSamurai]

I could be very wrong, but I was always under the impression that most people will only play a RPG Maker game made by someone else once, unless they really, really enjoy it. This is especially true, I believe, for games which are heavily storyline based, such as my own. After I released a game on this forum, several people would play it, and I would get feedback, some good, and some bad. But then the game would die down, and I wouldn't hear about it anymore, even after I released massive updates. So that's why I've always been inclined towards the "release new content" rather than continually work on the same game once the storyline is complete and the bugs are removed. The few people who enjoyed my and praised it were very intrigued to find out what happened next, and they were the motivation towards me making the rest of the trilogy.

What XP char creator program are you referring to? I use Character Maker XP on occasion, but I always find the sprites that I've created a little strange and different looking than the RTP graphics. Also, I have no ability to create my own sprites, facesets, icons, or portraits. I have no artistic talent whatsoever.

This post has been edited by LostSamurai: May 31 2012, 09:47 PM

[Lato]

I could be very wrong, but I was always under the impression that most people will only play a RPG Maker game made by someone else once, unless they really, really enjoy it. This is especially true, I believe, for games which are heavily storyline based, such as my own. After I released a game on this forum, several people would play it, and I would get feedback, some good, and some bad. But then the game would die down, and I wouldn't hear about it anymore, even after I released massive updates. So that's why I've always been inclined towards the "release new content" rather than continually work on the same game once the storyline is complete and the bugs are removed. The few people who enjoyed my and praised it were very intrigued to find out what happened next, and they were the motivation towards me making the rest of the trilogy.

What XP char creator program are you referring to? I use Character Maker XP on occasion, but I always find the sprites that I've created a little strange and different looking than the RTP graphics. Also, I have no ability to create my own sprites, facesets, icons, or portraits. I have no artistic talent whatsoever.

Thats the right program, just some of the char it makes are a bit offset with the eyes and such, any free paint program will fix this. I always hope that someone would play my games more then once and of course really like it, then again I always aim for the clouds lol. Its very good you have realistic goals so many ppl don't.