On the one hand, thank you, and I'm glad people (most people at least) aren't mad. On the other hand, standards matter. GT was completed for initial release in about 13-14 months. IF I'm able to keep to the current schedule, 3 will take SEVENTEEN, which is the opposite of the direction I want to be going in. I think the trade off is that the art and game in general will have a little more polish at launch, but I'm still very conscious of this stuff. It's almost a truism that the longer a project takes, the lower the chances are that it will ever be finished, which is why it's so important to close that circle promptly. I have seen so SO many games, comics, etc just left to rot in the field because they went on too long. I'm committed, above all else, to not let that happen to these, and so far I've managed to finish twice. I think that might actually be the hardest part of a project like this, something that most people don't realize. It isn't any one part, it's just pacing and sticking it out. It's a marathon, and you have to see it through to the end. But it is very, very satisfying when you do.
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it just feels like you're trying to speed through development to pump out the next game asap, which will make you burnt out faster
in my opinion, give yourself like a 3-5 day break from development and focus on other stuff like work, family, friends, etc. i've been in slumps many times and i find that when i'm starting to wind down and get burnt out, a few days of break leads to better production and less burn out
Oh I do have some consideration for that, largely because I have other things I have to get to here and there; as I've said elsewhere recently, I'm currently burning the better part of two weeks on hard physical labor doing yardwork for family for example. Admittedly it's only kind of a "break" to sub out one kind of work for another, but it does serve as a mental reset to some degree (and in this case the air, sun and exercise don't hurt either). And I do take a little space here and there, I kind of have to, because the creative process just won't flow unless the subconscious is happy. But for all the many issues I have, I've never really had a problem with burnout or creative block. Sometimes things are miserable and difficult, and sometimes they're fun and easy, but the difference is generally just random, it's not a case of clear diminishing returns as I push more and more.
Also, to put it bluntly, I don't work anywhere near hard enough to be hitting burnout anyway. I'm not out here putting in 60 hour weeks, as much as I wish I could sometimes. Other stuff is the limiting factor on how much work I can put in long before burnout kicks in.
BUT, I appreciate the sentiment. I'm glad people care, and are kind enough to recognize I'm a human. I know, even if I somehow took twice as long to finish the next game, people wouldn't just abandon it. But time does matter. Freshness does matter with these things. And on a personal level, there are a lot of things in my own life that are RIGHT on the cusp, that need this game out so they can finally tilt over the edge in a good way. So my drive is as much selfish as it is trying to make something great for everyone.
But we'll get there. I have a lot of unpleasant things in my life, but making these games is not one of them. It is an unbelievable gift that it's actually viable for me to spend my time like this, that I've finally found some dumb nonsense I enjoy that is somehow also enjoyed by lots of other people, to the extent that they're willing to pay me to make more. I try to never take that for granted.
Also that's a really cute av, holy shit.
1. lmao ty, that's why i chose it
2. i know burnout seems like something that feels like you gotta be doing something over and over for multiple hours on end, but in my personal experience, when i 3d model, even if i only do 6 hours a week, i get slammed by burnout and it seems to come out of nowhere, and i've had many friends who have had similar if not identical experiences
3. i would sub to your subscriberstar but my money is tight as shit so the best i can do is buying your games in the future
either way, keep up the good work! just don't work yourself too hard :p