Placeholders, "I'll do it later" Options

[kayden997]

Placeholders are something I've seen people do in there projects while they develop. Whether it be maps or dialogue, is it really a good thing to do? Sure, someone can just make a map with the basic walking areas and what not, then leave it and go to another map. But what if they miss it or make so many placeholders that the project becomes overwhelming thus leading to it's doom?

Personally, I always spend a lot of time on a new map to really give it it's final feel. If I have to go out of my way to create an object specifically for that map, I would. It just leaves things out of the way instead of partially finishing it just to go back to it while you're finished half the game already. I think one would lose motivation to do much effort on the placeholder if that was the case.

Not sure about dialogue but again it's something that I believe has to be fully developed and looked at if needed.

So, what are your thoughts about placeholders?

[vvalkingman]

The things that are truly important in my opinion are the gameplay and the eventing(or fleshing out of the storyline). I create a map with a road for the npcs & characters involved in a scene, and I flesh out the scene...I don't worry about the trees, rocks, etc I just place the events and do the scene. I at least have an idea of what the map will look like, maybe I'll have a path mapped out too but I think of the trees and other atmosphere as "the cherry on top". I've noticed that everything in a game takes FOREVER to do, particularly when you are a one man army, and fleshing out the story and doing scenes(including animations and what not) feels like you are really getting stuff done. It's all about staying motivated.